C17 Go near Her Hug Her and Bring Her Home!

Deep within a cave at the bottom of Giant Tree Lake, Sunn Cheng clenched his jaw, enduring the excruciating pain that tore through his mind as he slowly came to his senses.

After pondering existential questions like "Who am I?", "Where am I?", and "Where am I going?" for quite some time, Sunn Cheng was certain that the sensations he experienced in his semi-conscious state were not a figment of his imagination.

The moment he was revived from the brink of death by a dark green glow, he felt it – a glimpse of the jade bracelet vanishing into his body.

His body began to circulate its cultivation technique involuntarily. Upon awakening, his cultivation level surged as if he had been reborn under a new sky.

Lying there in a daze, Sunn Cheng's eyes sparkled like stars against the dim backdrop of the cave.

He glanced at the shattered porcelain bottle in his hand, now devoid of the Spirit Pill, and felt a surge of relief that his hunch about the jade bracelet's extraordinary nature was correct.

The eight-year burden had been lifted with surprising ease, and his long-stagnant cultivation had advanced significantly. Sunn Cheng's heart was a tumult of emotions at that moment.

The excitement was indescribable, overshadowed by a profound sense of gratitude for having survived against the odds.

He had given it his all, and what was meant to be had finally arrived. His perilous quest for the Spirit Pill was successful, surpassing even his own expectations. Sunn Cheng felt he should be elated.

With a groan, he sat up, shaking his head to clear the lingering dizziness, and looked ahead.

In an instant, he froze, his skin prickling with shock as he inhaled sharply, his mind snapping into focus.

Three massive heads loomed less than ten meters away, their six green eyes fixed intently on him.

Sunn Cheng sprang to his feet, bracing himself with his palm against the ground. He drew his meat knife, poised and ready to defend his life.

"Why is this creature still here? Did it drag me out? That's just disgusting!" Sunn Cheng's mind raced with thoughts of his newfound lease on life.

But then, something seemed off. The Thunder Snake's trio of heads remained still, their eyes devoid of the previous day's ferocity, almost appearing submissive and eager to please.

Sunn Cheng swallowed hard, cautiously rising to his feet. The Thunder Snake swayed its massive form and flicked its crimson tongue, yet it didn't launch the attack he had braced for.

The Thunder Snake nodded its three heads at Sunn Cheng before turning to gesture towards the small cabin, seemingly signaling something. Once Sunn Cheng was sure the Thunder Snake wouldn't attack, he breathed a sigh of relief. He surveyed his surroundings, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness within the mountain cave.

Inside the cave was a small wooden cabin, an oddly out-of-place sight. The Thunder Snake appeared to be beckoning him to enter. Puzzled, Sunn Cheng walked towards the right, feeling increasingly as though he was nearing an underground volcano as he approached.

The sight of the churning, blood-red Blood Pool before him was startling. Sunn Cheng moved closer, passing through what seemed to be a faint barrier. The overwhelming, pungent odor forced him to cover his nose and hastily retreat.

Thankfully, a magical formation seemed to contain the scent of the Blood Pool. Sunn Cheng examined the pool with trepidation, sensing a formidable power contained within.

Realizing this phenomenon was well beyond his comprehension, Sunn Cheng decided it was best to keep his distance for safety's sake.

The Thunder Snake watched Sunn Cheng, growing impatient as he lingered outside the cabin. It let out a soft growl and once again nodded at him with its three heads.

Sunn Cheng noticed a significant gash on the massive snake's belly and began to piece together his escape. He hesitated at the cabin's threshold, muttering to himself about the risk of a potential trap set by the Thunder Snake. But then he reconsidered, doubting that he could really be outwitted by a snake.

With a determined bite of his lip, Sunn Cheng steeled himself, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

The interior of the cabin was nothing like Sunn Cheng had anticipated; it was an entirely new realm. The sky was a deep blue, dotted with white clouds, stretching over an endless grassland—a fresh and wondrous enclosed space.

Upon closer inspection, however, the blue of the sky resembled a layer of paint, giving it a dull appearance. The clouds were static, like sculptures, and the grass would instantly regrow if plucked.

It was all an illusion, a void of nothingness—a silent, lifeless space.

Sunn Cheng blinked and continued walking forward, spotting someone asleep on the grass in the distance.

To his surprise, as he quickened his pace and drew closer, he realized it was a little girl who had collapsed. She appeared even younger than his sister, Xiaonuo, likely around twelve or thirteen, with a delicate build. Her hair was styled into two braids, and she wore a lopsided hat. Her outfit was elaborate, with a top that bared her snow-white arms, paired with a short skirt and floral shoes that left the tops of her feet exposed, all accented with two red ropes tied around her ankles.

Her attire was unlike that of the Great Qin people, bearing a closer resemblance to the traditional dress of women from the Hundred Yue Country to the south.

The girl was strikingly beautiful, with porcelain skin that seemed soft and youthful, like a sprite, a divine creature graced upon the earth by the heavens.

Sunn Cheng was momentarily spellbound. He squatted down, intending to lift the girl, yet hesitated, fearing his coarse hands might harm her fragile form. It felt like a common man encountering a celestial being; even the slightest taint felt like a grave transgression.

With utmost gentleness, he helped the girl up and cradled her in his arms, feeling an unfamiliar nervousness in the presence of a girl.

"Little sister! Little sister!" Sunn Cheng called out tenderly, lightly patting her tender cheek.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes gradually opened, revealing no alarm at the sight of the stranger before her. Although Sunn Cheng attempted a friendly, natural smile, it came off somewhat goofy and awkward.

The girl beamed sweetly and said in a soft voice, "You're awake!"

Sunn Cheng blinked, taken aback. Wasn't that his line?

"Uh... I'm awake! Did you know I was outside?" Sunn Cheng asked, slightly puzzled.

Resting weakly in Sunn Cheng's embrace, the girl replied softly, "I can sense what's happening outside. Are you the owner of that treasure? I'm sorry, the Thunder Snake swallowed you. I apologize on its behalf. Can you forgive it?"

The young girl spoke earnestly, her eyes brimming with sincerity and hope. She was concerned that Sunn Cheng wouldn't forgive the little snake.

Sunn Cheng blinked, his thoughts in a haze. He was merely a minor Qi Gathering Realm cultivator; when did he become someone who warranted an apology from a powerful Demonic Beast at the Spirit Reflection Middle Period?

Yet, the behavior of the Thunder Snake was peculiar, continuously nodding at him. Perhaps it had a change of heart and felt remorse for consuming him?

The earnestness in the girl's gaze made it impossible for Sunn Cheng to feel anything but compassion. He smiled and nodded, "Of course, I forgive the snake. You can rest easy!"

Her face lit up with a delightful smile as she chirped, "Thank you, you're a kind person!"

After a moment's thought, she pouted with a hint of sadness, "But the Artifact Spirit that saved you might have to sleep for a very long time! Its Spirit Body is gravely injured and requires a great deal of Spiritual Force to heal. Now that the treasure is within you, it can only be nourished by your own Spiritual Force..."

She spoke with furrowed brows and a sympathetic expression.

Sunn Cheng nodded, as if a lightbulb had gone off in his head, and then inquired, "Little sister, what's your name, and what brings you here?"

Muh Yi blinked her large eyes, her expression dimming as she spoke with a heavy heart, "I'm Muh Yi... Senior Brother Hee trapped me here, saying he was waiting for Doudou to transform into a Spirit Pond, so I could help him extract the fifth level Bloodline Divine Beast... It's all my fault... I'm to blame for Doudou's fate..."

Tears streamed down her cheeks, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

"Hey, please don't cry!" Sunn Cheng said, feeling somewhat helpless. He might not have grasped the full meaning of Muh Yi's words, but he understood that she was no ordinary girl.

Then, a critical detail struck him, and he asked, somewhat stunned, "You're saying... you've been locked up here? That once inside this cabin, you can't get out?"

"Yeah! This is a restricted space. You can enter, but you can't leave. The key to unlocking this space is with Senior Brother Hee..."

Sunn Cheng's heart clenched. He sprang to his feet and dashed back the way he came. As he feared, the door he had opened was nowhere to be found. Everything around him was identical. In the desolate space, only Muh Yi and he remained.

"I've been duped by a snake! Damn it all!"

In his despair, Sunn Cheng looked up and bellowed, cursing loudly. Then, something occurred to him, and he rushed back to the young girl's side, pleading, "There's got to be a way out, right? Please, tell me quickly!"

Muh Yi cocked her head, pondering for a moment. Her brow furrowed as she said, "Unless you use a mighty Spiritual Force or a formidable magical treasure to shatter the space... But I don't know what's wrong with me; I can't summon any strength... And your cultivation is too weak to break through this place..."

Muh Yi bluntly pointed out Sunn Cheng's meager cultivation level. Sunn Cheng, feeling his pride sting, no longer cared about appearances. After a moment's thought, he drew his meat knife and asked earnestly, "Muh Yi, do you think this magic treasure of mine is powerful?"

Muh Yi blinked her large eyes, examining the knife closely. She shook her head, her expression a mix of confusion and innocence, "I don't know... I've only seen such knives used for cooking at home. Is it really that powerful?"

Sunn Cheng found himself at a loss for words at the girl's response. He shrugged, holding the meat knife, and walked aside. He caressed the chilly blade and whispered, "Old buddy, don't let me down! My entire reputation is riding on you now!"

With that, Sunn Cheng clenched his teeth and concentrated, channeling the last remnants of Spiritual Force from his meridians. He lifted the meat knife high and brought it down with all his might towards the sky!

As the knife sliced through the air, it seemed to cleave through something, scattering sparkles of light.

Sunn Cheng's gaze sharpened as he bellowed, "Slash!" A massive cross appeared, carved into the air with two swift cuts.

Suddenly, the whole space trembled slightly, as if a thin veil had been sliced open. The traces of the previous three slashes transformed into dazzling beams of light, materializing from nowhere.

With a crisp "pop," the space began to tremble violently. The once vast grassland rapidly contracted, and the surrounding scenery turned translucent, revealing the rock walls and the Thunder Snake waiting outside.

Sunn Cheng, spotting the door materializing before him, couldn't help but smile. He slid the meat knife back into his waistband and muttered to himself with a chuckle, "Damn, that gave me a fright. Good thing my trusty blade didn't let me down..."

Turning to the astonished little girl, Sunn Cheng knelt on one knee and, without thinking, smoothed back his hair from his forehead. He looked at her earnestly and asked, "Am I not impressive?"

Muh Yi clapped her hands joyfully, her eyes shining with sincerity as she nodded and exclaimed, "Yes! You're very impressive!"

Sunn Cheng's smile broadened, and in a gentle, tender voice, he offered, "Come on! I'll carry you out."

Blushing, the little girl gave a shy nod, wrapped one hand around Sunn Cheng's shoulder, and let herself be lifted into his arms, curling up comfortably against him.

A delightful blush spread across Muh Yi's cheeks, a sensation unlike any she felt when riding on her father's back. It was curious, comforting, and filled her with a profound sense of safety.

Sunn Cheng glanced down at the bashful girl in his arms, grinned broadly, and strode confidently out of the cabin.

In that moment, he saw himself as a knight who had rescued a princess from the clutches of a demon! Now, it was time to carry the princess home.