C9 Listen to the Old Master!

As the bloodstains were rinsed from the two snow rat eyeballs with clear water, Zhao Zhe couldn't help but marvel at their clarity. They were like two pristine pearls, not at all resembling the eyes of a rodent but more akin to transparent, grape-sized crystals, complete with the unique patterns characteristic of eyeballs. The moment he received them from Xiaoxue's hands, a chilling sensation spread from his palms throughout his body.

Zhao Zhe was so enamored with the eyeballs that he forgot their original purpose, reveling in the icy coolness and comfort they provided. Despite the discomfort of the cold, the smoothness and comfort of holding them were too delightful to let go.

"Oh no, what bad luck, Master. The heart of this snow rat hasn't crystallized," Xiaoxue lamented as she dissected the carcass with her military knife. Zhao Zhe jumped at the sight but was relieved to know Xiaoxue wouldn't harm him; otherwise, he'd be no match for her.

"It doesn't matter," Zhao Zhe replied, unconcerned. He was more taken with the two orbs in his hand. "Go ahead and clean up. You should also tend to your wounds to avoid infection. I have bandages, antiseptic, and antibiotics here. Take a bath first, and we'll address your wounds afterward."

Xiaoxue hauled the snow rat's body out the window, and once it had frozen, she buried it under the snow beneath the window, covering it with a fresh layer. Zhao Zhe could only watch; the young girl wouldn't let him intervene. With her injury, she still managed to clear the battlefield, her strength seemingly boundless as she handled the massive rat carcass with ease.

"Master," Xiaoxue spoke up timidly after tidying up, "I might need to use a bit more hot water, but I'll help you with laundry, cooking, cleaning, and even hunting and chopping wood..."

Zhao Zhe was puzzled. "It's just hot water; use as much as you need. The kettle on the brazier is boiling again. I'll add some wood, and soon we'll have another pot ready. Feel free to use it."

Xiaoxue regarded Zhao Zhe with the awe one might reserve for a wealthy patron, yet she couldn't help but caution him, "Master, our supplies for keeping warm are limited. We should be conservative. The house is already quite cozy; there's no need to stoke the fire so vigorously. Otherwise, we'll soon run out of things to burn."

Zhao Zhe gave it some thought and realized the gravity of the situation. The land had been blanketed in ice and snow for countless years, making it improbable for vegetation to thrive. Consequently, combustible materials were scarce. Without heating equipment to combat the biting cold and blizzards, it was no wonder that the local humans treasured warmth so dearly.

"Burn whatever you like!" Zhao Zhe declared with a dismissive wave of his hand, feeling every bit the magnate. "Once it's all gone, I'll find a way to procure superior materials that burn even hotter than these logs. If necessary, I can even install a geothermal heating system here, which will make it much warmer."

Xiaoxue, unaware that Zhao Zhe hailed from Earth, had no knowledge of coal—a resource still abundant there, despite its dwindling reserves. Coal remained the premier material for heating back on Earth.

First, Zhao Zhe attended to their personal hygiene, as being caked in blood was far from ideal. He then retrieved the medical supplies he had stored in the shelter. When he handed the medicine to Xiaoxue, instructing her to tend to his wounds, her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

"Master! Is this... really medicine?" Xiaoxue asked, her voice faltering.

Zhao Zhe gave her an exasperated look. "What else would it be? Can't you see the label? And this red solution is an antiseptic. You should disinfect the wounds first..."

"I can't read," Xiaoxue confessed without a hint of shame about her illiteracy. "But Master, if this is indeed medicine, it's far too valuable. I... I shouldn't use it. This amount could be traded for a hundred girls like me. Please... take it back."

After a moment's consideration, Zhao Zhe understood her perspective. The civilization of this world had likely been in ruins for some time, making medicinal supplies exceedingly rare. This scarcity led most of the populace to remain ignorant about medicines, perhaps even regarding the remnants of past pharmaceuticals as miraculous panaceas. Thus, Xiaoxue, of humble station, dared not use such precious medicines.

Zhao Zhe's eyes flickered. "Xiaoxue, I'm your master, right?"

Xiaoxue hung her head meekly, like a wife who had been scolded. "Yes, Master, you are indeed my master."

Zhao Zhe pressed on, "So, you should listen to what I say, shouldn't you?"

"Yes, Master," Xiaoxue replied. "You rescued me, provided me with food and shelter. I must listen to you. Otherwise, if you were to cast me aside, I'd be forced to wander the streets again, possibly freezing to death."

Zhao Zhe gave a sly smile. "Well then, as your master, I command you to take these medicines and tend to your wounds. There are pills to take and ointments to apply. I'll explain how to use them."

Xiaoxue hesitated, then nodded in agreement, realizing the truth in his words. She needed to heed her master's commands and accepted the medicines from Zhao Zhe's hand.

The assistant's voice echoed in Zhao Zhe's mind, "Master, you should simply order her to attend to you in bed."

Zhao Zhe snapped back angrily, "Get lost. I, as her master, am not so depraved."

The assistant protested, "Master, I was merely voicing the thoughts deep within your heart..."

Zhao Zhe, feeling his innermost desires exposed, lashed out in embarrassment, "As your master, I command you to power down and keep quiet! Go away and stay out of sight!"

Xiaoxue was quick-witted, grasping the medicinal instructions after just one explanation. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the wound on her arm, dabbed it with antiseptic using a cotton swab, sprinkled on some healing powder, and then neatly bandaged it. When she looked up, she caught her master's gaze fixed upon her.

Startled, Xiaoxue couldn't fathom why the master was staring. Glancing down, she realized her fair arm and freshly bathed body were only covered by a thin white shirt, which made her feel exposed. She quickly crossed her arms over her chest and rose to her feet.

"Master... I'll go to another room to take care of the rest of my injuries," she stammered.

Zhao Zhe, slightly embarrassed, wiped his mouth and responded, "Go ahead, take care of yourself. I have some errands to run and will be out for a few hours. Stay here, and when I return, there's an important matter I'll need your assistance with."

Xiaoxue seemed to momentarily forget about the awkwardness of her chest when she heard his plans. "Master, you're going out? There's a blizzard raging outside. It's far too dangerous to venture out now. You mustn't take such a risk! Please, let me handle whatever you need."

Zhao Zhe reassured her, "The place I'm heading to isn't dangerous. There won't be any trouble. Stay here; I must go now, or it'll be hard to explain my prolonged absence."

Upon Zhao Zhe's return to Earth, he coincidentally ran into Chen Xiaomeng at the school gate. Chen greeted him with excitement, "Zhe, you skipped another day of school..."

Before Zhao Zhe could offer an explanation, Chen Xiaomeng interjected, "I get it. You were off saving the world! Since it's the weekend, I've got a big surprise for you."

Zhao Zhe patted his waist, realizing he hadn't brought back any snow from the world of ice and snow. He sighed, thinking about how Xiaoxue's distraction had cost him a few hundred yuan. He needed to repay Cutie quickly; it was a lingering concern. Even though Cutie wasn't short on cash, Zhao Zhe, destined to save worlds, couldn't stand the thought of being in debt. It was a matter of pride.

"Cutie, got any cash on you? I need to borrow some," Zhao Zhe said, dismissing his previous internal monologue as nonsense.

Chen Xiaomeng was indifferent to the money. He emptied his pockets, handing over several hundred yuan, the largest portion from that morning's beverage sales. "Zhe, what's up? I'll just send you a red envelope."

Zhao Zhe snatched up the cash, "No need. I'm going to buy some clothes."

The image of Xiaoxue in his oversized white shirt haunted Zhao Zhe. She hadn't realized the need for a bra when she was rescued, and it certainly wasn't something Zhao Zhe had thought to stock in the shelter. He didn't need an eye mask to sleep, so to save himself from future embarrassment, he decided it was essential to provide something for Xiaoxue to wear underneath.

"Master, I wasn't making fun of you. It's just that we share a consciousness, and I simply voiced your inner desires," said the assistant, who seemed at a loss for where to cool off.

Zhao Zhe replied in frustration, "Zip it. I'm a normal guy, alright? It's natural to have certain thoughts when I see certain things. I didn't vocalize them. If you keep snooping into my thoughts, I swear we'll both go down!" He was genuinely infuriated, as any man concerned with his reputation would be.

Chen Xiaomeng noticed Zhao Zhe was about to leave and said, "Zhe, wait for me. I've got a surprise to tell you about."

Zhao Zhe was in no mood for surprises. "Cutie, just head home for now. We'll touch base later tonight. The place I'm headed to isn't for you."

But Chen Xiaomeng was not easily dissuaded. "What place isn't suitable for me, Zhe? It's not like we haven't been to the foot bath place before. I'll even pick up the tab this time."

Zhao Zhe was at a loss for how to explain to Chen Xiaomeng that he was planning to buy some women's bras. He was about to concoct an excuse to get rid of the clingy Cutie when he spotted Teacher Zhou Haoyang emerging from the academic building, who couldn't help but smile upon seeing Zhao Zhe.

"Zhao Zhe, there you are. I've been looking for you all day. Come on, Xu Jian has asked for you. If we don't hurry, Xu Jian will be off work and heading home."

Zhao Zhe was kicking himself for not leaving Chen Xiaomeng sooner. He approached his former classmate, Zhou Haoyang, "What does Xu Jian want with me? I... I've got a stomachache..."