CHAPTER 388: CHAPTER 388: QINGNIAO LEAVES THE PASS

The vast stone cave was actually completely sealed!

Qingniao couldn’t remember why she had trapped herself, nor could she remember how to get out. She didn’t even know where she was, having no complete memory, no Storage Bag, no Storage Ring, not even a single Spirit Stone.

After reincarnation, her realm was unstable. It wasn’t until she successfully exited using Immortal Jade and got away from the Carefree Lotus that Qingniao discovered she had degenerated to only the Enlightenment Realm.

Her mana was too low to break through the damned stone wall, and she didn’t have Fasting ability, so she had to eat all the edible parts of the Carefree Lotus.

Now that the mission was complete, the Carefree Lotus withered entirely. She was starving for several days and felt close to death, her tears falling involuntarily.

A cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Tribulation Crossing Realm, once one of the strongest beings who could call the wind and summon the rain, yet just upon successful reincarnation, she was about to starve to death. Without any means and power, Qingniao was cold, thirsty, and hungry, curling up in a corner unsure of what to do.

"Someone save me!"

The only response was the hollow echo.

"Hey! Can anyone hear my plea? Save me, don’t let me starve to death here!"

"Wuwuwu... whoever saves me, I will take them as my beloved disciple and teach them everything I know!"

......

Over these past two days, she thought of every method possible. She really didn’t expect to be trapped. Clearly, someone came in last time!

Back then, her feet hadn’t yet separated from the Carefree Lotus, making normal movement impossible, so Qingniao mistakenly thought she could leave once she successfully exited. However, she couldn’t have imagined, after countless circles in the vast cave, she still couldn’t find the exit!

Time passed without her knowing how long; she was so hungry that she almost couldn’t speak.

Looking up at the ever-present crude stone wall, Qingniao was shrouded in the shadow of death and solemnly swore, "Upon Heaven and Earth above! Whoever saves me from here, I will regard them as my savior for life, willingly being their servant without regret!"

Jiang Yuan happened to hear the last sentence when he teleported in, puzzled, he asked, "Who do you want to serve as a servant? What happened?"

"I..." Qingniao thought she was hallucinating from hunger when she saw the young man she had seen the first time. Instantly, she felt like she was struck by lightning.

Just after making the vow, someone really came!

How did my reincarnation end up such a failure? First, I got trapped by some unknown junk; then, after finally breaking free, got trapped in a cave, and precisely after swearing to serve my savior as a servant, he shows up!

Qingniao wanted to cry but had no tears, as her empty stomach made a "gurgle" sound, even echoing a bit in the vast silent cave.

So embarrassing!

She wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

"Are you hungry?" To replenish physical strength and energy, ensuring he could maintain his best condition at all times, Jiang Yuan always had gourmet food to use as Elixirs in his Storage Bag. Hearing her stomach grumbling, he quickly took out a steaming hot meat wrap and handed it over, "Scallion pancake wrapped in marinated beef, it’s delicious."

At the thought of serving as his "servant," Qingniao looked extremely resentful but couldn’t resist the steaming fragrant food, and grudgingly took it with an "awo" bite.

"Eat slowly, I won’t fight you for it." Jiang Yuan said with a smile as he took out two more wraps.

Ever since the wheat grown in his field could be milled into flour at the mill, he had loved eating wraps with everything, like marinated beef, braised pork knuckles, spiced shredded chicken, with some spicy shredded potatoes or crisp lettuce—all could be wrapped up!

With carbs and a good amount of meat, tasty and filling, it’s simply the best partner for travel.

"So good!" Qingniao took a bite, her mouth, ravenous from hunger, was first greeted by the soft and pliable scallion pancake, its wheat fragrance bursting in, followed by the firm, rich meat flavor of the marinated beef, paired with the unknown leafy greens’ freshness, making her hungrier the more she chewed. She just chewed hastily and swallowed before stuffing more into her mouth.

A large wrap of marinated beef was gone in less than a minute, and then she lifted her head, looked at Jiang Yuan with wide eyes, "Can I have more?"

"Eat, eat, you can have them all." He said, half-laughing and crying, astonished, that this was the scene awaiting him after coming to pick her up per the task, "If these three wraps aren’t enough, come home with me, and I’ll make you more delicious food!"

The little brother seems nice, and his cooking is really good, as Qingniao downed another wrap, the happiness from the food made her less resistant to the vow she had made.

After all, she had nothing left and was worried about having nowhere to go!

Initially, the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt that a once mighty reincarnated being ended up "selling themselves." But as she ate, the words and thoughts became smoother.

Even if she managed to escape this wretched place on her own, what then? A small cultivator at the Enlightenment Realm, just marginally stronger than Foundation Establishment, let alone in the appearance of a three or four-year-old child, where could she go? Who could she beat?

No resources, no stable residence, unable to even perform basic cultivation to consolidate, how could she utilize the gradually recovering memories of her past life to reach great heights again?

Might as well stick to this young man, eat his food and live under his roof. Once her memory slightly clears up, occasionally guiding his cultivation could benefit him greatly!

Thinking this, Qingniao, who had just demolished three wraps, wiped her mouth, stood up, and declared, "Little brother, you are my lifesaver. To repay your kindness, from today onwards, I, Qingniao, will follow and be willing to serve you as a horse or ox!"

Jiang Yuan: ...

A little child like you serving as an ox or horse?

The cows in my barn either produce milk or are for beef; even horses can be ridden. You, who’s fallen to the Enlightenment Realm, aren’t much stronger than Yun Mo, even less than the cows and horses.

"I have a fairly decent little courtyard, and a few people at home. I can provide food and shelter, but what can you do?" He considered. Taking on a disciple seemed unlikely since a reincarnated big shot wouldn’t usually bow down;

A contracted pet was even less possible; A mount... with those tiny legs, who knows who’d be riding whom; and then unlike Yun Shu, who could be bound as a tool person, without proper system-contract restraints, Jiang Yuan wasn’t keen on letting uncontrolled individuals into his courtyard.

"I can do a lot!" Qingniao puffed out her chest confidently, only to get stuck.

Her memories hadn’t returned, even the cultivation technique only recalled partially. She didn’t even know what level or technique she was cultivating. What now?

"Gurgle～"

Her stomach embarrassingly protested again, making her even more awkward.

Jiang Yuan was amused, "Okay, you first come back with me, eat and drink till you’re full, then think slowly. Anyway, my little courtyard doesn’t support idle people. You can stay for two days, and we’ll evaluate each other."

"I want fish!" Qingniao swallowed and said sincerely, "Especially fish that’s charred and fragrant. I’ve dreamt of eating it!"

"Fortunately, there are plenty of fish Yun Shu caught, I’ll make you grilled fish!" He signaled the little fellow to follow along, as long as they teleport back to the courtyard, the task would be considered complete? Building Duplication Card, into the pocket! I’ll have two alchemy rooms, hahahaha...

Standing on the teleportation array that Qingniao couldn’t see, Jiang Yuan spent some Spirit Stones to instantly teleport with her to the ancient teleportation array in the cave behind his house.

[Task 2: Successfully welcome Qingniao’s return. Reward: Building Duplication Card issued]

[Task 3: Help Qingniao raise her realm to the Fusion Realm. Reward: Building Renovation Card +1]

[Building Renovation Card: Can be used on any non-functional building, upgrading and renovating it, with various styles to choose from]