Chapter 40: The Grub’s Lament and a Budding Romance

Within an outer sect dormitory on Purple Cloud Peak, a young man clad in a green cloth shirt was currently huddled on his bed, his head completely obscured by a large quilt.

His entire body was curled up within the covers. To his roommate, the boy resembled nothing less than a giant, pathetic grub.

As his backside wiggled, faint whimpers emanated from beneath the quilt, making the peculiar creature seem even more repulsive.

Outer sect disciple Rongqiao silently observed the sorrowful state of his roommate, Xiao Yao Yun You.

For a moment, he was at a loss for how to comfort him.

The reason for his uncertainty was simple: Rongqiao still hadn’t figured out if Xiao Yao Yun You was distressed because his task reward had been seized by inner sect disciple Xiao Changgu, or if it was due to the confiscation of his illicit picture books during the elders’ surprise dormitory inspection that morning. Perhaps, it was a combination of both.

Regardless, seeing that continuously wriggling bundle of blankets filled him with a sense of helplessness and a profound physiological aversion.

Just as Rongqiao, still pondering the situation, prepared to leave the dormitory to allow the ‘great grub’ to wallow freely, a faint knocking sound reached his ears from outside the door.

‘Ding ding ding~’

The knock was barely audible. Had he not been listening intently, it would surely have been drowned out by Xiao Yao Yun You’s current wailing.

Rongqiao heard the knock, yet he paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

Outer sect dormitories were segregated by gender. Typically, male visitors would knock wildly, or even push the door open without a second thought.

Who could possibly be so prim and proper as to knock so delicately?

As Rongqiao pondered this, a voice he had long yearned for, a voice that haunted his dreams, drifted in from beyond the door.

“Junior Brother Rongqiao, are you… are you there? If so, please open the door. I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Hearing the voice of his beloved Senior Sister Zhou Zhiruo, Rongqiao felt as if he were floating on clouds.

‘This must be a dream, right? It has to be a dream!’ he thought.

‘My goddess is right outside my room, and when she spoke just now, she even seemed a little shy! What is happening?’

Barely believing his ears, Rongqiao, to ensure he wasn’t dreaming, fiercely pinched his own thigh.

The resulting pain made him grimace, a mask of agony on his face. Yet, despite the outward suffering, Rongqiao’s heart felt as sweet as if it had been smeared with honey.

After composing himself, tidying his outer robe, and running his fingers through his hair, Rongqiao finally spoke, his face flushed but feigning composure.

“Senior Sister Zhou, I-I-I’m here.”

As he spoke, he swiftly scanned his room at the speed of light, checking for any forbidden items.

At that moment, he felt immense gratitude that the elders had conducted a random inspection that day, confiscating Xiao Yao Yun You’s adult picture books. Otherwise, what kind of terrible impression would he have left on his goddess?

In three swift seconds, having dealt with everything with lightning speed, Rongqiao finally opened the door.

Upon doing so, he beheld his long-desired goddess, accompanied by an incredibly adorable silver-haired little girl.

****

The ‘little girl’ that outer sect disciple Rongqiao saw was, in fact, none other than the small fox demon, Xiao Xixi.

Just moments before, after proposing the idea of ‘cultivation,’ Xiao Xixi had followed her Senior Sister and Master down the mountain on their swords.

As Su Mei was a peak master and Bai Luozhu a ‘direct disciple,’ while both were eager to teach Xiao Xixi ‘cultivation,’ their statuses were a significant hurdle.

Thus, with no other option, Master Su Mei entrusted Xiao Xixi to Elder Jia, with whom she had already made arrangements.

Naturally, the first lesson for a student entering school is a tour of the campus.

As luck would have it, while touring the ‘Azure Phoenix Sect Outer Sect Disciple Territory’ with Elder Jia, Xiao Xixi encountered Zhou Zhiruo, who she had met previously when accepting a task in the mess hall.

Having meticulously reviewed the 996 tasks she had previously undertaken, Xiao Xixi had deduced from the intricate prerequisite clues that Rongqiao and Zhou Zhiruo secretly harbored feelings for each other. She had also learned that Xiao Yao Yun You’s roommate was Rongqiao.

Consequently, eager to complete her red-level task, Xiao Xixi abandoned the ‘old and fading’ Elder Jia. She proactively engaged with Outer Sect Senior Sister Zhou Zhiruo, asking her to guide her on a tour of the Azure Phoenix Sect, which led to the scene unfolding now.

Ever since Rongqiao opened his door, Xiao Xixi noticed that the two of them were like mutually attracted magnets, their faces flushed crimson, yet awkwardly unsure of their next move.

Observing such innocent affection, Xiao Xixi, despite her eighteen years of life, had never experienced romance herself.

But at this moment, it did not prevent her from playing the role of a little matchmaker.

Soon, seeing the two of them paralyzed by shyness, Xiao Xixi gently tugged at Zhou Zhiruo’s sleeve and then, with an innocent tone, spoke.

“Sister Zhiruo, Brother Rongqiao, why are both your faces so red? Are you two sick, xi?”

Upon hearing Xiao Xixi’s innocent words, the already crimson faces of the two deepened in color.

Zhou Zhiruo, a girl with thin skin, was about to tell the seemingly innocent and adorable girl, who reminded her of a neighborhood sister, that she wasn’t sick.

However, just as she shook her head, she heard the little girl in front of her continue to speak with childlike innocence, her cherry-like lips parting.

“Sister Zhiruo, Brother Rongqiao, I heard from Senior Sister Luozhu that if a boy and a girl blush when they look at each other, it means they like each other, xi!”

After saying this, seeing their embarrassed, hesitant expressions, Xiao Xixi seized the moment.

“Brother Rongqiao, do you like Sister Zhiruo?”

At Xiao Xixi’s innocent, crisp voice, a moment of silence fell upon the air.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Zhiruo had already lifted her peach-blossom-like face, her bright eyes wide with anticipation, watching him nervously.

Seeing his longed-for Senior Sister Zhiruo look at him with such hope, Rongqiao, completely smitten, nodded solemnly.

He felt incredibly shy and worried he might be corrupting a little girl, but ultimately, under Zhou Zhiruo’s hopeful gaze, he affirmed his feelings.

As Rongqiao nodded, Xiao Xixi simultaneously heard a system prompt.

“Congratulations, Host! You have completed the side quests ‘Rongqiao’s Affection’ and ‘Zhou Zhiruo’s Secret Crush.’ You are now awarded ‘One Black Lace Bow Thigh Ring’ and ‘One Pair of Pure Cotton Cute Strawberry Panties.'”

Just as Xiao Xixi prepared to check the attributes of her rewards, a voice filled with extreme grievance and a choked sob echoed from within the room.

It was the grub-spirit hidden under the quilt—Xiao Yao Yun You.

“Wuwuwu, I’m already so miserable, and you two are openly feeding dog food right in front of me! I… I don’t want to live anymore!”