Chapter 7: Xiao Xixi’s Bitter Awakening

The moon hung bright, its light sparse among the exceptionally radiant stars that blazed in this world untouched by industrial pollution. Under the brilliant moonlight, Purple Haze Peak was enveloped in an aura of profound tranquility and peace. This serene calm, however, did not persist for long, swiftly shattered by a series of pitiful sounds.

“Achoo… A-Xixi,” a soft, bubbling sound followed.

The one who had sneezed was a petite girl, adorned in a white *ruqun*.

Why describe her as petite, one might ask? It was because the white *ruqun* she wore at that moment was undeniably too large for her frame.

Both of her small hands were completely concealed within the wide sleeves of the white *ruqun*. Coupled with her reddened nose, and the adorable gesture of lifting the long hem to wipe away a recently popped snot bubble, she presented an utterly charming picture.

This pitifully behaving girl was none other than Xiao Xi, who had just transformed from a fox. Or rather, that wasn’t quite right. She now bore a new name, and from this moment on, she was to be known as Xiao Xixi.

But why had Xiao Xi’s name been changed to Xiao Xixi?

There were two primary reasons for this transformation.

Firstly, the two youthful and radiant figures before her—her Master and her Senior Sister—had both unanimously declared ‘Xixi’ to be an exceptionally beautiful name.

As Xiao Xixi had only just completed her transformation and could only utter soft ‘xixi’ sounds, unable to form human speech, she found herself with no means to object. Thus, she was compelled to accept this new designation.

The second reason was that, upon transforming into human form, a peculiar entity known as the ‘Rescue System’ had suddenly manifested within Xiao Xixi’s mind.

The very first action this ‘Rescue System’ took upon its activation was to inform her of several crucial matters, conveyed through a mechanical, synthesized voice.

[Congratulations, Host! You have randomly drawn the hidden SSR character, ‘Xiao Xixi’. We hope you thoroughly enjoy your time in this book world and successfully rescue the innocent characters within it. Should you save 70% of these innocent characters, you will be safely returned to reality, and one ‘non-world-destroying level’ wish will be granted. We encourage your diligent efforts. Good luck!]

Upon hearing the sudden voice of the system after her transformation, Xiao Xixi found herself surprisingly unsurprised.

Before transmigrating into the book, she had encountered options on a pirated app, which had given her a vague understanding of her purpose: to rescue certain characters within the story who were not meant to die.

The crucial point, however, was that this perceived mission was merely her own speculative conjecture.

Since her transmigration, no one had offered any explanation for the inexplicable events unfolding around her.

Consequently, during the month following her transmigration, Xiao Xixi often found herself recalling numerous villain-centric novels she had previously read.

Drawing upon the experiences of protagonists in other such novels, she pieced together a theory.

Xiao Xixi had indeed surmised that she, too, might eventually acquire a system.

After all, it only made sense that someone would eventually clarify her current circumstances and reveal the true purpose of her transmigration.

What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was that while the system had indeed arrived, it had also delivered a truly shocking revelation.

Xiao Xixi had genuinely never imagined that her initial random selection would be so potent, granting her an SSR character in a single draw.

While it was true that in this novel, the character ‘Xiao Xixi’ possessed an abnormal ‘fluffball growth physique,’ making her a truly deserving SSR character for completing the ‘rescue mission,’ there was a catch.

Her growth capabilities were immensely powerful, far surpassing those of ordinary cannon fodder who typically only survived for a few fleeting scenes.

At first glance, becoming Xiao Xixi after transmigrating seemed like an absolutely perfect beginning.

However, after a moment of careful consideration, Xiao Xixi realized there was a significant issue at hand.

The problem itself was rather straightforward.

It was the undeniable fact that her former self, a boy, had now transformed into a girl named Xiao Xixi.

Could she truly ‘activate’ the ‘fluffball physique’ like the original Xiao Xixi in the novel, and thereby enhance her strength?

Xiao Xixi pondered this question for precisely one second.

The mere thought of her former ‘good brother’ pressing his ‘good brother’ against her back sent a shiver down her spine. She instinctively decided to abandon that line of thinking.

After all, if this spiritual root were truly ‘activated,’ Xiao Xixi — or rather, the former Xiao Xi — had an unsettling feeling that something profoundly important within her psychological framework, as a man, would irrevocably shatter.

Yet, upon closer reflection, if she couldn’t utilize Xiao Xixi’s extraordinary ‘growth’ talent…

Didn’t that imply that her SSR draw, far from being a boon, was actually a devastating loss?

After all, her previous incarnation had been a genuine, bona fide boy.

As Xiao Xi, a boy in his former life, he had, like most boys, countless times fantasized about engaging in various activities with the captivating female protagonists of the novels he read.

Now, not only had his ‘tools of the trade’ been confiscated, but he had also transformed into a delicate, easily bullied girl. The more Xiao Xixi contemplated this, the more she felt utterly cheated.

****

While Xiao Xixi was deep in her silent contemplation.

Bai Luozhu, a direct disciple, had utilized this time to journey to the outer sect disciples’ quarters, a place she once resided, and retrieved a bowl of ‘cold-dispelling herbal soup.’

The reason Bai Luozhu sought the medicine from the ‘outer sect disciples’ quarters’ was not due to poverty, despite her status as a direct disciple. She was far from lacking even the most basic cold remedies.

The primary reason was that in this world of cultivation, practitioners typically transcended common colds once their cultivation reached the late Qi Condensation stage. Those in the Core Formation realm could even achieve *Bigu*, sustaining themselves by absorbing spiritual energy from the air.

As a direct disciple of Purple Haze Peak, Bai Luozhu’s cultivation had already advanced to the early Crystal Formation stage. She had long since passed the point of succumbing to common colds and, naturally, no longer had any use for such low-grade remedies as ‘cold medicine.’

Therefore, given these circumstances, she had no choice but to seek the necessary medicine within the outer sect disciples’ dormitories.

As she pushed open the door, carrying a bowl of steaming, dark medicinal broth…

She saw her newly transformed, petite junior sister, Xiao Xixi, nestled pitifully against their Master, her nose a distinct shade of red.

The little one, at that moment, seemed lost in thought, her cheeks slightly puffed out. She resembled a small forest hamster, her petulant expression utterly endearing and amusing to behold. One might even be tempted to gently pinch her soft, pale cheeks.

Realizing the nature of her own thoughts, Bai Luozhu paused, slightly taken aback.

For in her everyday life, such ‘worldly’ desires were exceptionally rare for her.

After careful deliberation, Bai Luozhu concluded that the exquisite sensation of touching ‘silk’ moments earlier must have unsettled her Dao Heart.

Silently reciting a Heart-Clearing Incantation to quell the burgeoning ‘impulse’ within her, Bai Luozhu then extended her long legs and began to walk towards Xiao Xixi and their Master.

Cradled in Su Mei’s embrace, Xiao Xixi was deep in conversation with the newly activated system in her mind when she suddenly caught a strong, pungent whiff of traditional Chinese medicine.

Snapping back to reality, her gaze fell upon a sight that made her heart sink: a pitch-black, bitter-smelling medicinal bowl, and most alarmingly, it was larger than her own face!

Staring at the ‘jumbo’ medicinal bowl, Xiao Xixi plunged into a moment of profound contemplation.

‘I merely have a cold, don’t I?’ she thought. ‘Do I truly have to consume this traditional Chinese medicine, which promises to be utterly horrendous?’

‘And the sheer volume in this bowl—is it actually serious?’

Despair.