Carrying that freshly produced "interactive storybook," Gu Chengming once again set off on the path to Cangjian Pavilion.
This time, his luck was good; he didn't come up empty-handed.
Yu Wenqiu was sitting upright behind the large rosewood desk, holding a jade slip in her hand, seemingly diligently handling sect affairs.
But Gu Chengming keenly noticed that her gaze was somewhat unfocused; clearly, her mind wasn't on the jade slip at all.
Seeing Gu Chengming walk in, Yu Wenqiu's eyes immediately lit up.
She clearly remembered Gu Chengming's promise of a "unique copy" from last time.
"Cough, cough."
Yu Wenqiu put down the jade slip in her hand, straightened her back, and cleared her throat.
"Gu Chengming, why have you come today?"
Gu Chengming didn't expose her, and with a smile, took out the beautifully bound storybook from his embrace, offering it with both hands.
"This disciple has fortunately not failed in his mission; I have found the 'book containing the truths of the mortal world' that the elder required, and specially present it to you."
Yu Wenqiu's gaze lingered on the thick storybook for a moment. She reached out, seemingly casually, but in reality, she took the storybook with extreme speed, and then, with a very practiced motion, smoothly slid it into her wide sleeve.
Her movements were fluid and seamless, clearly the act of a repeat offender.
"Hmm, you've put in the effort."
Yu Wenqiu nodded slightly.
Of course, this kind of occasion was definitely not suitable for flipping through it immediately.
After all, there were other disciples moving around, and as an elder, she still had to maintain her facade.
The two chatted briefly again, mainly Yu Wenqiu subtly inquiring about the storybook's origin and its continuation, while Gu Chengming vaguely brushed her off, only saying that if the elder liked it, the continuation would naturally be presented later.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Yu Wenqiu was in a great mood, and even, uncharacteristically, showed Gu Chengming a genuine smile.
Seeing that his objective was achieved, Gu Chengming wisely took his leave.
........................................................................................
That night, in Yu Wenqiu's cave abode.
On that comfortable wicker hammock, Yu Wenqiu changed into her light purple casual home clothes, and eagerly pulled out the storybook she had hidden all day.
Under the soft glow of the moonstone, she opened the first page, and indeed, it was a unique copy she had never seen before.
Yu Wenqiu secretly rejoiced, thinking, "Little Gu is indeed honest; he didn't lie to me."
She adjusted into a comfortable position and began to read.
At first, she merely approached it with a scrutinizing and recreational mindset.
After all, she usually preferred romance storybooks about scholars and beauties, and love-hate relationships, and had little interest in stories that clearly depicted cultivation trials and monster-slaying for upgrades.
However, as she read on, her expression changed.
The narrative style of this storybook was too unique!
Unlike the straightforward narration from an observer's perspective in traditional storybooks, this storybook was entirely unfolded from the first-person perspective of "I."
That delicate psychological description, that immersive environmental portrayal, made her feel as if she had instantly traveled into the world of the book, becoming that humble but ambitious servant disciple.
That anger when being bullied, that ecstasy when encountering a fortuitous event, that tension when facing a powerful enemy...
Every emotional point precisely struck a chord with her.
"This sense of immersion... it's too strong, isn't it?"
Yu Wenqiu murmured to herself; she had originally only intended to casually flip through it, but unknowingly, she had become completely engrossed.
She read it for the entire night.
Until—
When the story reached a critical juncture, and the protagonist faced a life-or-death crisis, having to make a choice, two prominent option boxes suddenly appeared on the page.
"Option One: Swallow your anger, hand over the treasure to save your life. (Please turn to page 45)"
"Option Two: Fight with your life, activate the power of the remnant soul to forcefully break through. (Please turn to page 68)"
"This..."
Yu Wenqiu was stunned.
"It can be like this?"
"I can even make choices for the characters in the storybook?"
This unprecedented and novel method instantly aroused her strong curiosity.
"Hmph, how could I, Yu Wenqiu, be someone who fears death? Of course, I'll fight with my life!"
She unhesitatingly chose the second option, and turned to page 68.
However, the subsequent plot left her dumbfounded.
Because the protagonist's strength was insufficient, forcefully activating the power of the remnant soul caused his meridians to shatter, and although he severely wounded the enemy, he himself exploded and died.
"Ending: Heroic Sacrifice."
"Achievement Unlocked: Some paths cannot be walked solely on a surge of passion."
"Dead?!"
Yu Wenqiu's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
She, a dignified elder of the Wenjian Sect, actually chose a dead end?!
"No, no! This doesn't count! Start over!"
She defiantly turned back to the option page, and this time chose the first option.
The result, upon turning to page 45, was that although the protagonist saved his life, because he handed over his core treasure, his Dao heart was damaged, and from then on, he was disheartened and faded into obscurity.
"Ending: Living in Obscurity."
"Achievement Unlocked: Surviving ignominiously is shameful, but is it truly useful...?"
"Ahhh! I'm so angry!"
Yu Wenqiu, fuming, threw the storybook onto the hammock, and rolled around on the bed in a tantrum.
"What kind of terrible options are these! No matter what I choose, it's a tragedy!"
She herself definitely didn't want to die, and even less did she want to see such a pathetic ending!
But...
That strong unwillingness to accept defeat, and the craving for the storybook's subsequent plot, made her unable to resist picking the storybook back up.
"I don't believe it! There must be a perfect ending!"
Thus, this usually aloof elder began to contend with this storybook.
Like someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder, she tried every single option, not even letting go of those that seemed utterly absurd.
Even though she hated seeing the protagonist die, that strange desire to "unlock all endings" made her unable to stop.
This thrill of walking on the edge of death and controlling the direction of fate was simply a hundred times more exciting than just reading a story!
Unknowingly, the sky outside the window had already turned a fish-belly white.
"Phew... awesome!"
She contentedly closed the storybook, and stretched with a big yawn.
However, when her gaze inadvertently swept across the bright daylight outside the window, her entire body instantly froze.
"Oh my..."
Yu Wenqiu looked at the storybook in her hand, then at the big sun outside the window.
"I've been reading all night?! Oh no, oh no, I still have to go to work!"
She let out a wail, sprang up from the hammock, with two faint dark circles under her eyes, and frantically began to wash and change.
While tidying her appearance, she was also itching with impatience.
"No, I have to finish reading before going to Cangjian Pavilion."
After making this decision, Yu Wenqiu didn't even bother with her half-dressed state, and started flipping through the storybook again.
However, when she turned to the last page, still immersed and anticipating the next part of the story, she saw a line of extremely annoying small text:
"Part One · End."
"To know what happens next, please listen to the next installment."
"It's finished already?!"
Yu Wenqiu was so angry her teeth ached.
Looking at such a thick book, she thought it was a complete story! But it actually ended here?!
"Ahhh, damn it!"
"I really want to read the rest!"
"Wait, I think I skipped work again."
.........................................
Rate on N.U.
