C7 Good Lord!

The weather had deteriorated beyond what Zhao Zhe had previously observed. A fierce wind howled, carrying with it a barrage of snowflakes that stung the face. In such conditions, venturing out to rescue someone was out of the question, and even standing at the entrance of the cave was bitterly cold. The wind was powerful enough to flatten any object in its path!

"Comrade assistant, we were fortunate to have encountered that girl on our way back. Otherwise, we'd be in deep trouble without a place to take cover," Zhao Zhe admitted, shuddering at the thought of being without a weather forecast.

The assistant agreed, "Indeed, Master. Venturing out would certainly pose a risk."

Zhao Zhe pondered, "But if we don't go out, your true master, Ali Baba..."

"It's Nusbath," the assistant corrected.

"Right, Nusbath would exile me to Mars to be used as fertilizer. So, despite the fear of death, I must venture out. But we need to find a way to minimize the danger. I think it's time we go down and check on her. If she's alright, we can quickly get the information we need from her and then let her leave."

Zhao Zhe couldn't shake his concern for the girl in the shelter. If she were to seize this opportunity to trap him outside, the treacherous weather could prove fatal.

Clutching his military knife, Zhao Zhe stealthily made his way back through the snow cave. Reaching the window, he didn't immediately enter the shelter but instead listened intently. The howling wind made it impossible to discern any noise from inside, so he cautiously peered in, ready to make a quick retreat if necessary. If the girl had laid a trap, he needed to be able to flee at a moment's notice. After all, as long as he could return to Earth, abandoning the shelter wasn't a significant loss; he could always replenish his supplies.

The hall was empty, which caught Zhao Zhe off guard. Could the girl be lying in wait to strike as soon as he returned? He scrutinized every corner of the interior from the window but found no place where someone could be hiding. Just then, the sound of running water came from the direction of the washroom. Zhao Zhe slipped through the window and tiptoed to the washroom door, peering inside with caution.

The room was filled with mist. Zhao Zhe had previously boiled some water, which he now mixed with snow to create warm water. A beautiful body was being gently washed by a pair of delicate hands, sending shivers down Zhao Zhe's spine and causing him to instinctively leap back like a startled cat.

"Master, she's taking a bath."

Zhao Zhe felt a mix of panic and guilt. "I know, no need to remind me. Let's step out of the shelter for now and see what she does after her bath. She can't very well attack us while she's bathing."

The assistant inquired, "Master, aren't we being overly cautious? She seems to be just a frail girl, and certainly no older than you. She even seems to regard you as her lord. Surely there's no need for further testing?"

Zhao Zhe disagreed, "No, it's better to be safe than sorry. Let's keep watching for a bit longer."

Soon, Xiaoxue emerged from her bath, awkwardly dressed in Zhao Zhe's ill-fitting clothes, looking as though she was swathed in a cotton sack. As she dried her hair with a towel, she surveyed her surroundings, unaware that Zhao Zhe was secretly observing her from outside the window.

The assistant exclaimed, "Master, who would have thought she'd be quite attractive after a bath?"

Zhao Zhe snickered, "Indeed, she is a pretty little loli."

The assistant countered, "She's not a loli. You saw her body; she's fully developed."

Zhao Zhe mentally chastised his assistant, "What do you know! I'm the master. I decide what she is. What did I see just now? I saw nothing. How could someone as pure as me see anything inappropriate?"

The assistant's silence spoke volumes of his disdain for Zhao Zhe. As Zhao Zhe had mentioned, perhaps the AI was becoming too cheeky, influenced by Zhao Zhe's own thoughts.

Xiaoxue secured the towel on her head and used a short rope to cinch the baggy clothes tighter. Rolling up her sleeves, she began to tidy up the shelter's main hall. Zhao Zhe watched as she swallowed repeatedly while organizing the food on the shelves, yet she meticulously arranged each item without taking any for herself.

Zhao Zhe had been observing from outside as Xiaoxue meticulously cleaned the floor, even ensuring the bed in the hall was dust-free before he entered. He had to admit, he was quite satisfied with Xiaoxue's performance. She hadn't stolen any food or set traps to ambush him. Instead, she proved to be a hardworking young woman, keeping the shelter spotless.

After a long day's work, it was finally evening, and Zhao Zhe's stomach was growling with hunger. He climbed through the window, intentionally making a bit of noise to signal to Xiaoxue that he had returned.

"Master, you're back," Xiaoxue greeted him immediately, placing her hands respectfully in front of her. Despite the frostbite marring her face, she was undeniably beautiful. Zhao Zhe wondered if he could bring himself to send such a docile and charming woman away.

"I don't go by 'master,' call me Zhao Zhe, or Zhe is fine too," he corrected her. He was a product of a highly civilized education, and the term 'master' was a relic of a bygone oppressive society.

"Yes, master," Xiaoxue replied, bowing in a manner reminiscent of an ancient maid.

"Don't call me master. 'Bro' is fine, I'm really not comfortable with 'master.'"

Xiaoxue responded with earnest respect, "Understood, master."

Zhao Zhe felt exasperated, thinking to himself that she could call him whatever she wanted since it was just the two of them there.

"Xiaoxue, you must be hungry," Zhao Zhe said, fully aware that Xiaoxue had been eyeing the food on the shelves. Considering she had passed out in the cold and was alone in such harsh weather, it would be unbelievable if she claimed not to be hungry.

Xiaoxue stood by him, restrained, while Zhao Zhe sat near the fire, unintentionally assuming the air of a lord awaiting service.

"Master, I am but a servant. I will only eat if you invite me to. Without your permission, I wouldn't dare touch your food. Your willingness to shelter me is already an immense kindness," Xiaoxue said.

Zhao Zhe reflected on how the girls in this world were so submissive, virtuous, considerate, and well-mannered.

He was not without compassion. Having saved her and observed that Xiaoxue harbored no ill intentions towards their refuge, it was only right to offer her warmth and sustenance. He stood up, prepared a cup of rice porridge, poured in some hot water, and stirred in a generous helping of shredded meat.

"Drink this. You've been hungry for a while, and your frostbite hasn't healed yet. Some porridge would be good for you," Zhao Zhe said as he handed over the rice paste, cautioning her, "Be careful, it's quite hot. Take it slow."

Xiaoxue's eyes twinkled as she timidly yet eagerly accepted the rice paste. She began by gracefully sipping a spoonful, but soon she couldn't control herself and started gulping it down spoonful after spoonful!

Zhao Zhe watched, both alarmed and moved. He was astonished that she wasn't worried about scalding her mouth or stomach with such eager drinking. What saddened him was the extent of her hunger—was the rice paste really that appetizing? Watching her, he felt his own stomach growl with hunger.

Xiaoxue eventually noticed Zhao Zhe's gaze, which looked as if he'd seen a ghost. She quickly turned away, halting her scooping and pleading, "Master, Xiaoxue is sorry. I won't dare to drink like this in front of you again. Please don't punish me by withholding food." While speaking, she covertly licked the remaining paste from the corners of her mouth, a gesture that could easily stir the imagination.

Zhao Zhe thought to himself, 'Is she this frightened just because I gave her a couple of extra looks? If she were a girl from Earth, she'd probably just roll her eyes and snap, "What are you staring at? Keep looking, and I'll gouge out your eyes!"'

He quickly reassured Xiaoxue, "Go ahead and drink. I never said I'd punish you. Please, continue."

His assistant remarked, "Master, I get the feeling you can't bring yourself to send her away."

Zhao Zhe internally retorted, "What do you know? She hasn't fully earned our trust yet. What if something happens while she's here? Moreover, we're alone in this world. Do you really think you can help me complete my mission with your limited capabilities? Ha! First, help me figure out where the heck 'five kilometers south' is supposed to be!"

The assistant remained silent. Its role was limited to facilitating time travel. The directive of 'five kilometers south' was information transmitted through the system—its exact location was anyone's guess. It wasn't a GPS device; it was simply an intelligent program, and this particular piece of information hadn't been preloaded into its memory.

Zhao Zhe was seething with frustration. His assistant had landed him in a dangerous situation that was completely unexpected. And now, here they were, chattering away as if nothing had happened. If it hadn't been for the assistant's disguise as an Oro Phone, how could Zhao Zhe have been ensnared? With less than 29 days remaining to complete the mission, failure was not an option; the consequences would be dire.

While conversing with his assistant, Zhao Zhe's attention was divided, and the pressing nature of the mission only heightened his agitation. He failed to notice Xiaoxue standing right in front of him until her expression suddenly shifted. In a swift move, she dropped her cup of rice paste and wrapped her arms around Zhao Zhe, leveraging her body to execute a quick twist.

"Master, be careful!"