“Aren't you human?” Hainowei asked suddenly.
Zhang Ye: (๑Ծ‸Ծ๑)
Looking at Zhang Ye's expression, Hainowei couldn't help but laugh.
It was clear that she was laughing very happily.
“If you can, then I will,” she said.
Zhang Ye chuckled, then urged, “Alright, hurry up and try it out.”
Hainowei nodded and channeled mana into the altar's magic circle. Instantly, the entire altar began to operate, and the newly carved magic lines and runes on the ground immediately lit up.
Countless streams of water began to swirl around the altar as water elements and mana gathered, flowing into Hainowei's body.
Immediately, Hainowei felt her strength increasing, and the recovery of her injuries accelerated.
Her face filled with astonishment.
With this, her recovery speed would increase by at least three times!
What originally would have taken hundreds of years to heal might now take less than a century!
This boost undoubtedly saved her a massive amount of time and would prevent many potential mishaps.
At this moment, the way Hainowei looked at Zhang Ye softened even more.
Perhaps... I can try to trust humans again.
Or rather, trust you.
“How does it feel?” Zhang Ye asked.
“Very good,” Hainowei answered honestly.
Zhang Ye laughed. “I'm glad you like it. However, because materials and my capabilities are limited, this magic circle can only work effectively for those below the Saint-tier. Once you reach the Saint-tier, the effect will be greatly weakened.”
“But it doesn't matter. By then, my own abilities will have grown, and I can set up an even stronger magic circle for you.”
“If the materials were of Saint-tier quality, I could set up a Saint-tier magic circle for you right now...” Zhang Ye babbled on enthusiastically. As he absorbed more knowledge, his capabilities continued to rise. Setting up a Saint-tier magic circle with a cultivation level below Tier Nine—this was his confidence!
Looking at the rambling Zhang Ye, Hainowei suddenly felt that a life like this wasn't bad at all.
“The water elements here are incredibly dense, and with the boost from the magic circle, maybe I can break through to Tier Nine here,” Zhang Ye said, then looked at Hainowei with a hopeful expression. “Is that okay?”
Hainowei couldn't help but chuckle and nod. “Of course.”
Zhang Ye cheered, then immediately sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.
Sure enough, in just a single day, Zhang Ye broke through from the Tier Eight late stage to the Tier Eight peak, leaving him only a step away from Tier Nine.
The next day at noon, Zhang Ye sat cross-legged on the altar, staring at the board before him with bated breath... Well, he lost again.
Hainowei showed a gentle smile. “This is the thirty-second time you have lost to me.”
Zhang Ye slumped backward and said bitterly, “No way, no way. You're too good. I'm absolutely no match for you.”
Hainowei was highly pleased by this, her tail swaying and creating ripples across the water's surface.
“Let's change games. I'll teach you—Go!”
“This is much harder than Gomoku, but it's also more interesting. How about it? Want to try?”
“Sure,” Hainowei nodded. She listened carefully to Zhang Ye's explanation and quickly got the hang of it, urging Zhang Ye to start a game.
At the start, Zhang Ye naturally won repeatedly, but he was also intentionally going easy on her, resulting in a back-and-forth battle.
This had Hainowei completely engrossed and filled with joy.
But later on... Zhang Ye was utterly crushed.
The black stones drove straight into his territory, leaving his white stones routed and in complete disarray.
Once again, Zhang Ye experienced what it meant to be a gaming genius.
“This is the fifty-second time you have lost to me,” Hainowei said, a smile blooming on her face.
Her smile, a perfect blend of playfulness and gentleness, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Zhang Ye sighed. “You're way too good. How do you do it?”
Hainowei smiled faintly. “There isn't just one of me.”
“Besides myself, I have one hundred and seven clones. Each clone can think independently, yet our minds are connected, so...”
Hearing this, Zhang Ye finally understood and could only smile wryly.
This was equivalent to Hainowei having one hundred and seven other water spirits behind her, analyzing and plotting out her moves. It would be a miracle if he didn't lose.
“It's getting late. I'll go hunt and be back before sunset,” Zhang Ye said as he stood up.
“Alright,” Hainowei nodded, watching him leave.
Sure enough, before sunset, Zhang Ye returned, dragging the magical beast he had hunted. He wore a bright smile.
“Had some great luck today! I caught a Three-tailed Blue-crested Chicken. I'll make some chicken soup for you!”
“Okay,” Hainowei nodded with a smile.
She was starting to look forward to these things.
The chicken soup was delicious, and the starry night sky was beautiful.
Zhang Ye lay on the altar. Beside him, Hainowei rested against its edge, her beautiful fish tail gently patting the water's surface, sending soft ripples outward.
“You're not from this world, are you?” Hainowei asked.
“Yeah,” Zhang Ye grunted in agreement, his head resting on his arms as he chewed on his Broad-Minded chewing gum.
He wasn't surprised that Hainowei could sense an aura on him that didn't belong to this world.
“What is your world like?” Hainowei asked.
“My world... has no magic,” Zhang Ye said softly.
“No magic? Then are there magical beasts? Or elemental spirits?” Hainowei asked curiously.
“None. You could say that all the wonders of this world don't exist in that one.”
“No magic, no magical beasts, no mana, no magic circles...”
“Then what fun is there?” Hainowei asked.
“Oh, it's plenty of fun,” Zhang Ye laughed. “Even without magic, the people of that world possess wisdom.”
“They utilize everything in nature to build the foundation of their world step by step.”
“Even without magic, they have created things comparable to it.”
“They can use wind to generate electricity, electricity to produce light, light to create heat, and heat to warm the ice and snow...”
“That world doesn't revere strength above all else.”
“That world values peace above all.”
“There, most people have enough to eat and wear. People can strive for their ideals, and throw everything they have into pursuing their dreams...”
“That sounds like a truly wonderful world...” Hainowei rested her chin on her arms, her cheeks showing a hint of soft baby fat.
“Yeah, it really is beautiful,” Zhang Ye agreed.
“Then why did you come to this world?” Hainowei asked next.
“It was this world's choice. I never imagined I'd end up here, either,” Zhang Ye said.
“Since you've come to this world, do your family members worry about you?” Hainowei suddenly asked.
This time, Zhang Ye didn't answer.
He simply shook his head gently and smiled at Hainowei.
For some reason, Hainowei suddenly felt that they should let this topic drop.
“What about you?” Zhang Ye asked back. “What's your story?”
“What's the deal with your main body and your clones?”
Hainowei fell silent for a moment, then said, “My memories aren't complete. Only my main body knows everything.”
“I only know that humans deceived me.”
“They wanted to kill me to take my origin.”
“But I escaped. Or rather, the main body split off clones and the origin, letting the clones escape with it.”
“What are humans like in your eyes?” Zhang Ye asked.
“Greedy, cunning, malicious...” Hainowei said without hesitation.
Zhang Ye chuckled. He looked up at the starry sky, his eyes narrowing slightly. “All negative words, huh...”
“But I know there are also good people among humans,” Hainowei continued.
“It was only with their help that I was able to come here. So... I suppose I still hold a sliver of hope for humanity,” Hainowei said softly.
“At least in my eyes, you are a good person.”
Zhang Ye almost choked on his Broad-Minded chewing gum.
This Good Person card had come out of nowhere.
“So, will you let me leave?” Zhang Ye asked.
“Then, will you come back?” Hainowei asked in return.
“I will,” Zhang Ye nodded.
“Then I will too,” Hainowei agreed with a nod.
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time.
“I have to go back within ten days,” Zhang Ye said.
“You can go back tomorrow,” Hainowei said.
“I think I can stay a few more days before heading back.”
“Why? Don't you want to return to your companions immediately?” Hainowei asked, puzzled.
“Of course I do. But there are still some things I need to do.”
“What things?”
“You'll find out later.”
...
...
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