Chapter 68 (1/2): Witch’s Shop

“I told you, I will take care of your body.”

The Woman with the Umbrella walked over gracefully.

She raised her umbrella again, shielding the raindrops— and covering Bai Xiaozhi as well.

Bai Xiaozhi seemed lost in a daze.

She clutched Wu Xiaomi tightly, tears streaming down her face in heavy drops.

“I should take her now.”

Vines wrapped tightly around Wu Xiaomi’s arms and legs, her waist and abdomen, dragging her away from Bai Xiaozhi’s embrace.

Bai Xiaozhi held on desperately.

She would not let anyone take the girl from her.

“Let go.”

“……” Bai Xiaozhi said nothing.

“Let go. Her body belongs to me.”

Bai Xiaozhi still didn’t release her grip.

The Woman with the Umbrella did not grow angry; she sighed softly.

“Bai Xiaozhi, everything in this world comes at a price.”

What do you want?

“Even miracles come at a price,” said the Woman with the Umbrella.

Bai Xiaozhi froze.

What… miracle?

In Bai Xiaozhi’s memories, the only miracle she knew was one.

The illness she had suffered.

When every hospital declared her hopeless.

When she’d been in a coma for half a month, already glimpsing the gates of heaven.

Suddenly, she recovered miraculously.

“What miracle?! Explain yourself!”

The Woman with the Umbrella smiled.

At the moment Bai Xiaozhi’s attention faltered, the vines suddenly tugged, pulling the girl’s body from her arms.

“See you again. Live well. We will meet again—and so will this silly chive.”

What does that mean?

Silly chive… Wu Xiaomi?

Hadn’t she already…?

The Woman with the Umbrella casually opened a Space.

On the other side was apparently a courtyard, filled with brightly colored flowers.

She stepped back into the courtyard, and the vines carried Wu Xiaomi inward.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be back soon.” The Woman with the Umbrella turned.

Bai Xiaozhi reached out but grabbed only empty air.

She stared at the courtyard, the vines, the gate, the girl being dragged away.

And the Scarlet Moon.

Memories flooded back.

She had clearly seen this scene before!

That night, before her recovery, in a dream!

……

Wu Xiaomi wandered, dazed.

She had no idea how long she had been walking in the darkness.

No light guided her, only the sound of a zither somewhere, faint and distant.

She wanted to call out, “Is anyone there?” but her throat ached, no sound emerged.

She groped around but felt nothing.

This place was boundless and empty.

At least there was the zither’s melody to keep her company.

Without it, she didn’t know how she could face this endless darkness and loneliness.

……

Was it just her imagination? The zither’s sound seemed to be growing faint.

No, not a hallucination.

It was really fading!

Don’t stop! Please!

No— no— no!

……

The zither’s melody finally ceased.

Only deathly silence remained.

Terrifying stillness.

No heartbeat, no breath.

Wu Xiaomi curled up in despair, clutching her tail.

Everything stretched on endlessly— time blurred, day and night lost meaning, even life and death indistinguishable.

Is anyone here?

Is anyone there?

Kill me.

Please, just kill me.

[Hey, wake up.]

!

Who’s speaking?!

[Time to get up, Little Chive.]

Wu Xiaomi blinked, looking around in confusion.

Suddenly, the ground seemed to collapse beneath her.

In a strong feeling of weightlessness, her body gradually regained sensation.

Though still weak.

But Wu Xiaomi knew she was back— out of that Hell of Desolation, back in her body.

A flood of chaotic sounds entered her ears— cicadas, birds… though only in mono, it was enough to soothe her.

Sound is such a blessing~

Too bad her eyes were still pitch black.

“I just fixed one ear; the other ear, eyes, and vocal cords aren’t repaired yet. Just make do for now.”

It was the Witch’s voice, very pleasant.

She saved me?

This opportunistic woman—what is she scheming now?

“Of course, I don’t do losing deals.”

Just as I thought.

“As payment, before you fully recover, you have to be my shop assistant.”

Assistant?

Witch’s Shop?

“Of course, you can’t do much like this, so just lie quietly for now.”

Who said that!

It’s just that I can’t see or speak yet— I can still do blind writing and use sound positioning!

To prove it, Wu Xiaomi fumbled and tried to get out of bed.

The Witch didn’t stop her.

She lifted her foot.

Took a step.

Plop.

Fell flat with fluid ease.

“I forgot to tell you, your balance nerves aren’t repaired yet.”

…

“Lie down.”

Oh.

Good girl, lying down.

“Now, stick your butt up.”

???

You’re weird!

“Come on, stick it out.”

No!

Ah—

Suddenly, vines wrapped around her waist and limbs, suspending her in midair.

Help! Xiao Luobo, save me—

A cool breeze brushed down her back.

The Witch mercilessly lifted the back of her clothes.

Then, her fingertips gently brushed over Wu Xiaomi’s back.

So ticklish—

Stop it! It’s so ticklish!

“Don’t move, I’m painting Lingwen.”

Lingwen?

Hmm… like the ones on your back?

“Lingwen can help repair your body and replenish Lingyuan.”

On her snow-white jade back, enchanting patterns slowly took shape.

Starting from the spine, then the waist and abdomen.

She’s even drawing on my tummy?

Hmm?

Hmm???

This feeling…

Damn it! Don’t think I don’t know you’re drawing little hearts!

“Pffft—”

You even made yourself smile!

Picking on me since I can’t speak, huh?

“Um… okay… done!”

The Witch put down her brush.

Erase it! Now! Immediately!

“Looks pretty~”

Pretty my foot!

“All right, Little Chive, go to sleep now.”

“You’ll barely be able to move by this time tomorrow, and your hearing will recover. As for your eyesight… that will take longer.”

“Sleep. Sleeping speeds recovery.”

Why are you in such a hurry to make me sleep?

Are you trying to do something bad while I’m unconscious?

Oh no! This witch— could she be planning to open the shop and use me to make money while I sleep?

That’s a lewd witch for you!

The more I think about it, the more likely it seems.

No! I won’t sleep!

“Gulp—”

A sweet fragrance suddenly filled her mouth, prying her jaws open; the slippery nectar slipped down her throat.

“This is a sleep aid.”

Sleep aid???

Your sleep aid method is really unique.

“Good night.”

No way!

No…

Mm…

Huff…

…

The next day, Wu Xiaomi was awakened by a sharp pain.

“Don’t move.”

Pain…

“I’m giving you an injection. If you move and break the vessel, I won’t be responsible.”

OVO

Instantly obedient.

Feeling the liquid flow through her body, the wound throbbed faintly; the girl frowned miserably.

“I left a little Hollow Stem inside— it’s what you call a Retention Needle. So you don’t have to get pricked every time.”

Wu Xiaomi cautiously touched it.

A thin plant stem, half inside the vein on the back of her hand, half outside.

A small flower bloomed where it was exposed, petals sticking to her hand to prevent it from falling off.

“You should be able to activate your Spirit Hunting Instinct now, to navigate instead of vision, but don’t use it too long every day.”

Oh.

“Since you can move, it’s time to start working.”

?

That’s way too fast…

“The medicine’s expensive, and I don’t want this money wasted.”

Yes, yes, fair trade— I get it, I get it.

“This is Feisi City, a trade port in the Coastal Federation, and one of the wealthiest cities in the east.

As a Witch’s Shop assistant, you must maintain noble manners and sharp judgment at all times—don’t ruin my reputation in transactions.”

Mm…

“From today on, you’ll be responsible for cleaning the shop, negotiating, and organizing goods.”

ZZZZZ…

“…”

Her ankle tightened.

Ah! Snake! No…

Vines!

I’m being hung up!

“Let me be clear again: you better be worth this investment. Also, until you pay off the medicine debt, don’t even think about escaping back to the White Space— you’re under confinement now and cannot teleport.”

Blink.

Okay then.

Speaking of which…

“Hah—” trying to open her mouth, attempting a sound, “m— ma—”

A tiny voice, faint, only audible if pressed close.

“I’m not your mom, but I’m not lying; they will be watching your performance.”

So that means…

So that means!

I really… really have parents?

In this world?

And Xiaozhi, Xiaozhi isn’t an orphan either?

“You will see them, all of you, and soon.”

٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧

Long live the Witch Leader~!

……

In the blink of an eye, the day of the Strategy Guide began.

Bai Xiaozhi stared blankly at the teleport prompt.

No nervousness, no expectation.

She had lost all interest in this survival game.

“This time’s arrival point… Feisi City?”

Oh, a new city.

Because the Mangu Mountains incident ended completely, all Mangu Mountains strategists advanced to [Tier 2], unlocking a new teleport region.

Feisi City, the Coastal Federation’s richest town.

Countless merchants and VIPs gathered here, including the famous tycoon “Wilson.”

New area, new enemies.

Strength was crucial.

Bai Xiaozhi wasn’t worried about strength.

Thanks to Wu Xiaomi eliminating the Mangu threat, as a teammate, she also earned a hefty reward of Strategy Points.

A full thirty thousand.

But Bai Xiaozhi felt no joy at all.

She suddenly understood why Wu Xiaomi was so stubborn about joining that social event…

Perhaps because of what she said to her— that outstanding performance at the event would yield generous side rewards.

Since she had already overheard the doctor’s diagnosis, knowing her time was short.

That meant…

She knew that even if she completed side quests, time was limited and the rewards meaningless.

So why did she still try so hard?

Clearly.

She wanted a grand departure.

There were many ways— better ways.

But she chose this one because she wanted to leave meaningfully.

“Bai Xiaozhi? Wake up.”

At the teleport destination, Kang Jie called to Bai Xiaozhi.

“Hm?”

“You don’t look well. Don’t get distracted during the strategy.”

“…Don’t worry,” Bai Xiaozhi shook her head, “I won’t relax. This life is a gift from Xiaomi— I won’t waste it.”

“I understand how you feel. We all owe her.” Kang Jie forced a smile. “Look on the bright side, that woman said before leaving, you’d meet again. Maybe she just took Xiaomi to recuperate, and soon you’ll see her bouncing back.”