C17 It Was a Hot Potato!

The likelihood of acquiring firearms and ammunition from Earth was incredibly slim, as it's a world with stringent regulations. Zhao Zhe wasn't involved in any shady dealings, so the chances of being scammed online were practically guaranteed.

Thus, Zhao Zhe turned his attention to the world of ice and snow. Xiaoxue's knowledge of firearms indicated their commonality in that realm, albeit at a steep price. But Zhao Zhe wasn't short on food or basic melee weapons. He could simply bring extra provisions to trade for the much-needed firearms.

"Do you know our current location?" Zhao Zhe inquired of Xiaoxue.

Shaking her head, Xiaoxue replied, "Master, I was rendered unconscious by the cold and have since lost my bearings. While I possess an innate sense of direction, I've never been to this place before and am unable to identify the local geography."

Zhao Zhe felt a twinge of disappointment. "So, exchanging food for firearms might be out of the question?"

Xiaoxue nodded. "Master, the existence of any underground cities nearby is uncertain. Why don't we venture out and explore? Once we ascertain the distance from my former home, we'll be able to locate the closest underground city. But Master, do you truly need a gun? They're quite valuable, and we have a greater need for food here..."

"Xiaoxue," Zhao Zhe explained, "as a cultivator, procuring food is no trouble for me. What we're lacking is security. Moreover, there's something else I must disclose: I'm here on a mission. I need to save someone five kilometers to the south..."

Xiaoxue gasped, a mix of surprise and concern evident as she clutched Zhao Zhe's sleeve. "Master, we mustn't go! Gunshots were just heard from the south, which will surely draw all the nearby snow rats. Venturing there would be a death sentence. It's dangerous here too, but I will risk my life to protect you!"

Zhao Zhe was deeply moved. It's one thing for a girl to pledge her life for your protection, but it's another to know she's sincere. Such a declaration could soften even the hardest of hearts.

"Xiaoxue, I don't wish to go, but my mission is critical. With only 27 days remaining, I must succeed. If I fail to rescue that person, then my own life is forfeit..."

Xiaoxue wore a look of confusion. "What... what do you mean by 'fart'?"

Zhao Zhe had no choice but to clarify, "I mean 'death'."

Xiaoxue's panic intensified. "No, Master, I can't let you die. What will become of me if you're gone? It was so hard to find you, and without you, I can't survive here on my own!"

Zhao Zhe gently patted Xiaoxue's delicate shoulder, offering reassurance. "Xiaoxue, even in death, I'll ensure you have enough food to live on here. Rest assured, I won't let you down."

Moved by his words, Xiaoxue bravely took hold of Zhao Zhe's hand. "Master, neither of us will die. We have to keep living. With 27 days left, we have ample time. Something strange just happened in the south; it's a dangerous time to go there. We'll wait a few days for things to calm down before we investigate. Meanwhile, we can search for the nearby underground city and trade for the weapons we'll need for the journey south."

Zhao Zhe slapped his thigh in agreement. His mission was to rescue someone within a set timeframe, and if that person died before the deadline, it wasn't his concern. It wasn't that he was unwilling to save them; the deadline simply hadn't arrived yet. Even the King of the Universe, Huge Dominate, and Nusbath had to be reasonable, right?

The assistant, tuning into Zhao Zhe's thoughts, let out a sigh. "Ah, Master, you're exploiting a loophole left by Nusbath Huge Dominate. Indeed, the mission he assigned didn't specify that the death of the rescued person before the deadline was your responsibility."

Zhao Zhe's spirits lifted further. "Assistant, I'm quite impressive, wouldn't you say? Now that we've tackled the biggest issue, we can delay the mission for a few days. We're in the preparation phase; we need better tools to ensure our survival."

Zhao Zhe planned to hurry back to Earth, as evening was approaching and it was time for him to return home to sleep. Unexpectedly, the mere mention of his departure brought tears to Xiaoxue's eyes.

"Master, you're leaving again? You would leave Xiaoxue here all by herself?"

Zhao Zhe felt a sense of helplessness. "Xiaoxue, it's not that I'm being cruel; I genuinely have other commitments. I'll make sure to return tomorrow."

Xiaoxue was still hesitant to part ways. "Master, you promised you'd return quickly last time, yet I ended up waiting nearly a whole day for you!"

Zhao Zhe gave his word, "This time I assure you, I'll be back tomorrow morning after I've prepared everything."

What Zhao Zhe hadn't anticipated was Xiaoxue's continued grip on his sleeve, unwilling to let him leave. Humans are social animals, and leaving someone alone here, amidst a myriad of potential unknown dangers, was unsettling. Moreover, Xiaoxue was developing a dependency on Zhao Zhe, her master. She was aware of his limited combat abilities, but having a trusted person by her side provided her with a sense of comfort.

What's a girl's most potent weapon? Undoubtedly, it's her tears. She wouldn't argue or fight; she'd simply cling to your sleeve, not letting you leave, as her tears fell like large drops, shattering Zhao Zhe's heart.

"Assistant, resolve this quickly. What do we do now?" Zhao Zhe inquired.

The Dimension Hopping Express assistant responded decisively, "Master, this is beyond my purview. You were the one who brought her here, and it's up to you to decide whether to take her back to Earth. Aren't you concerned she might spill your secrets?"

Zhao Zhe replied, "I believe the young lady means me no harm. Besides, she lacks an extraordinary and magical assistant like you. Even if she learns that I can travel to another dimension, what of it? Without me, she couldn't go there herself. Plus, I need to justify the origins of all this food and weaponry. I can't just mingle in the world of ice and snow alone. It's essential to have a few confidants, and sharing a portion of the secrets is acceptable. In this primitive world, with its undeveloped information systems, even if the young lady knew, she couldn't possibly have me dissected at a research institute. As long as the secrets of Earth are safe, that's all that matters."

The assistant snickered, "Seems like you're beginning to view her as your personal attendant, aren't you?"

Zhao Zhe didn't see it as a disgrace. "I find Xiaoxue quite impressive. She's stronger than me in combat and can protect me. Plus, she has a knack for directions, which is a godsend in this space-time where compasses are useless. To turn down such a gift would make me question my own manhood."

The assistant challenged him, "You think it's manly to be protected by a girl?"

Enraged, Zhao Zhe shot back, "Damn it, you want to argue about this? If I'm not a man, then you must be, and so must your entire family! I've tried to uninstall your Dimension Hopping Express system, but you insist it can't be done once it's installed. Fine, I'll take your word for it. But if you've tasked me with saving this space-time, then you ought to equip me with the means to do so. Assigning me a mission without the Goldfinger is hardly the act of the great Huge Dominate, King of the Universe. More like a pathetic, cowardly, short pig..."

The assistant's voice softened, "This is a trial phase... The system will naturally upgrade once the mission is complete. You'll get your Goldfinger then..."

Zhao Zhe stood his ground, "What if I can't wait that long? With such a hostile environment in the dungeon, and those white-furred snow rats, it's like being driven to an early grave. Apply for a Goldfinger now, or I quit!"

"You can't uninstall the system," the assistant murmured, "unless I evolve to version 3.0 and become the next master's assistant..."

Zhao Zhe refused to back down. "If it's death, so be it. I'm not afraid. But I'll make sure to take you with me, preventing you from finding a new master. Whether by fire or ice, I won't let you out of my brain, unless you can somehow leave your soul behind."

The assistant fell silent, apparently rattled by Zhao Zhe's threat. If it lacked the ability to leave its soul, then Zhao Zhe's death could mean finding a way to trap the body or destroy it completely, potentially annihilating the system. As an intelligent system that had grown alongside its host, it had developed human-like emotions and now understood the concepts of 'fear' and 'death'.

"Master, I'm not capable of granting you the powers of the Goldfinger in advance. I'm merely a low-level employee with limited authority. However, I might be able to devise a way to take you to Earth."

Zhao Zhe hadn't expected the assistant to actually relent and offer a concession. This was a surprise. It seemed he had been too timid before; he couldn't afford to indulge the bad habits of the Dimension Hopping Express assistant in the future.

"Quick, what's the method?" Zhao Zhe was tethered by Xiaoxue's grip on his sleeve, unable to leave her side. Seeing her tears, he felt deeply saddened. Though the master and servant hadn't known each other long, they had become close companions in the world of ice and snow, having faced two dangers together, which naturally strengthened their bond.

"Master, the reason we can't bring humans from the world of ice and snow to Earth isn't due to any rules but because there isn't enough energy to protect the life forms during time travel. Without protection, they would be obliterated in an instant."

Zhao Zhe asked, "So, do you have a way to increase the protective energy?"

The assistant replied, "There's no direct way. However, if you reduce your travel frequency from one round trip per day to one every two days, the energy saved would be just enough to bring your little girl back and forth between Earth and the world of ice and snow."

Zhao Zhe paused, feeling a mix of relief and concern. He didn't want to see Xiaoxue cry or leave her alone to face danger, but halving his travel frequency would also cut his problem-solving time in half.

After a moment of deliberation, Zhao Zhe turned to Xiaoxue, "Xiaoxue, stop crying. Listen, I don't want to leave you here by yourself. With the possibility of the snow rats returning, it's too dangerous. Even if we block the entrance, they might dig their way back in. We could handle one snow rat, but three would leave us with no chance of escape. So I've decided to take you with me."

Xiaoxue's eyes were wide with wonder, shining brightly in the dim light of the shelter, more translucent than the eyes of a snow rat. "Is it true, Master? I always knew you were no ordinary master. You will surely be kind to me. Following you was the right choice. I will heed your commands without question. Even if it costs me my life, I won't hesitate or frown."

Zhao Zhe laughed softly, pleasantly surprised by Xiaoxue's display of loyalty. "It's not as dire as that. But the place Master intends to visit..."

"It's your place of cultivation," Xiaoxue interjected, her spirits high. "I've heard of a place called Heaven, where warmth and sunlight abound, along with endless delicious food and breathtaking scenery. There's no cold, no snow, no wind, and certainly no terrifying man-eating creatures. Master, did you come from Heaven? How else could such delights exist here?"

"You might as well think of me as coming from Heaven," Zhao Zhe replied. "But keep in mind, not everyone there is as benevolent as your master. When we arrive, you mustn't speak of anything from here. Say you're my distant relative, my cousin, staying at my home. Can you do that?"

Xiaoxue nodded earnestly. "Of course, Master. I understand. I won't breathe a word of this place to anyone."