CHAPTER 357: 0227 THE GIRL’S TACTICS (TWO IN ONE)

Ordinarily, the System is meant to protect the host, as the host is usually in a weaker position.

However, Xu Chang’an, who exists as the "last line of defense," the "savior," the "hope," is not exactly a Child of Heaven; perhaps a higher existence is more fitting.

Thus, while it seems the System is taking care of him, in reality, it’s entirely the other way around.

If you think about it carefully, you’ll realize that even when he exchanges rewards from the System, he’s ensuring the security of the System’s existence.

After all, if the System holds no meaning to Xu Chang’an, then it truly loses all reason for existence.

Yet lately, Xu Chang’an has been increasingly resistant to the System, even fading its presence from his life... This has become quite a significant crisis, but the System has no way to assert itself in Xu Chang’an’s mind while in the presence of the young woman, thus it can only gradually fade away imperceptibly.

Unexpectedly, Xu Chang’an brought it up himself, granting it a small yet special significance.

Of course, for the System, to genuinely escape danger, it needs to get Xu Chang’an to reengage with it, or even trust it again.

Otherwise, all stability is but an illusory bubble.

Never mind that it once tried to please the young woman, even orchestrating a Celestial Tribulation for Xu Chang’an as a spectacle; in truth... all these combined are less effective than Xu Chang’an showing a mere flicker of interest in the System.

Still, at least the System has taken the first step.

Revival, none could be more so.

Dong dong, dong dong—

High Heaven above, it seemed someone was violently and urgently striking the celestial bell, the clamorous noise reaching Yun Qian’s ears.

Though loud, Xu Chang’an couldn’t hear it.

For Yun Qian, not being exposed is very important as well, so anything concerning the System cannot be conveyed into Xu Chang’an’s "dreamland".

Xu Chang’an couldn’t hear the bell, yet he raised his head in slight confusion, from within this valley one could vaguely discern the sky growing darker, as if brushed with a gloomy hue, the scene all around heavy with a sense of impending rain.

"Is it going to rain?" Xu Chang’an asked.

"Perhaps, but it doesn’t matter." Yun Qian clasped the towel button in one hand, slowly stood up.

"It’s not a problem." Xu Chang’an nodded.

Everything within the valley was well-designed, the springs situated beneath rain shelters, and all around was steam, with warm springs of varying sizes and temperatures spread here, ensuring the young lady wouldn’t catch cold.

"I want to go to the spring behind to refresh myself." Yun Qian looked toward the path behind.

The springs here refer to the slightly cooler cold springs.

Of course, called cold springs, in reality they are warm, just flowing water, usually used to refresh and cleanse after the hot spring, at that place Yun Qian wouldn’t be oxygen-deprived like in the hot spring. According to medical expertise, spending a while there after a hot spring can even tighten the skin, making one appear younger.

Xu Chang’an had suggested Yun Qian head back there to refresh earlier, referring to this spot.

"Alright, let’s go together, just as..." Xu Chang’an was about to rise and lead Yun Qian over, but Yun Qian gently pressed his shoulder down.

He clearly was still speaking, but Yun Qian slowly shifted her gaze, deeply settling it in a place beyond Xu Chang’an’s countenance, her fine brows faintly furrowing.

The young lady spoke a sentence that left Xu Chang’an stunned, even slightly uneasy.

"I’ll go alone."

"Alone?" Xu Chang’an was taken aback.

"Yes."

Yun Qian nodded, her fingers combing her hair forward, her slightly lowered face a pond of stillness, revealing no hint of the emotions beneath.

——

Even as he was still beside her, the young woman wanted to act alone.

For Xu Chang’an, this was unimaginable.

In the past, wasn’t every visit to the cold spring after the warm spring a joint venture with Yun Qian?

For her to request separation so proactively was unimaginable coming from Yun Qian.

Was the sky about to fall?

Xu Chang’an glanced upwards, seeing that though the sky was bright, it was not the light of early dawn but a lingering duskiness.

It really seemed like the sky was about to collapse.

But the young woman’s next words put everything into perspective.

"You really seemed to enjoy this place earlier, stay a while longer, no need to accompany me." Yun Qian’s slender fingers pointed at the steaming surface of the hot spring, saying, "I won’t fall asleep at the back."

Xu Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief.

Apparently, she noticed he was fond of the springs and didn’t want to dampen his spirits.

That made it quite sensible.

"Miss, let’s go together." Xu Chang’an shook his head, thinking he cherished the hot spring, not for this place ultimately, but for the companionship with the young woman.

"Listen to me." Yun Qian’s expression was calm, yet there was no room for argument.

The young lady rarely exhibited such firmness, apart from when she asked for meals, so when she gently pushed Xu Chang’an back into the spring, Xu Chang’an found himself with no other choice.

"Then... I’ll soak for a while longer and then come find you." Xu Chang’an compromised, though he cast a glance at the gloomy weather, he still left a wisp of True Yuan on Yun Qian, just to prevent her from catching a chill if it rained.

A person in a dream drenched by dreamland rain catching a cold seemed fitting.

"Mm." Yun Qian responded, heading alone down the path behind.

"..."

After Yun Qian abruptly left alone for the other spring, Xu Chang’an watched her silhouette vanish, only then did he furrow his brow.

"What happened?"

He felt something was amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint what, so he began to contemplate all the preceding events.

Slowly, slowly... Xu Chang’an coughed, as if something had touched his heart, widened his eyes, and clenched his fists.