Chapter 39 - Home Service Vote for Recommendation

The sky was growing dark as the moon began its ascent, bringing a tranquil silence to the scene.

“The Wasteland is so quiet at night~”

“The moon is also strange.

In my memories of this world, it seems either hidden by rainy weather or it’s a bright, full moon.

Occasionally, there’s also the phenomenon of a blood moon.”

“A moon without its phases is not a good moon.”

Xu Shu was cooking instant noodles while his mind wandered, staring out the window.

He felt there was something eerie about the moon and thus abandoned the idea of venturing out to explore at night.

After preparing a simple yet visually appealing dinner, Xu Shu pushed the meal cart towards room 301, creaking along, and knocked on the door: “It’s time for dinner, I’m coming in.”

Upon opening the door, he found Gu Pan crouched in the corner, looking somewhat uneasy.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Shu casually said, “Sorry about that.”

“Huh?”

Gu Pan was taken aback and took a while to process it.

He’s actually apologizing for dragging me inside this afternoon?

I’m almost used to his strange mental state and moody, erratic behavior.

An apology out of the blue feels uncomfortable…

“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”

As Gu Pan spoke, she quickly hid her slightly damp soup bowl under the bed when Xu Shu wasn’t looking.

“Well, let’s eat.

You were calling out quite loudly just now, must be hungry.

Don’t be shy.”

Xu Shu said, and began to eat his noodles, the steamy food offering the sole warmth in the cold winter.

Gu Pan nearly blacked out when she heard that.

Shit!

He could hear me after all!

Half the day calling out with no response, I thought Xu Shu wouldn’t come out today, and I had to desecrate the soup bowl out of desperation.

Who knew that he would suddenly come over after I had already poured most of it out, frightening me enough to scramble and discard the water.

“Damn, that was close, nearly got caught.

Good thing I’m quick on my feet.

If I had known he was back to normal, I wouldn’t have…

Damn it!”

On the surface, Gu Pan kept a composed façade, but her heart was racing almost out of control.

She sat down next to Xu Shu, looking at the deliciously aromatic dinner on the table—chicken, noodles, meatballs, and fruit—she couldn’t help swallowing her saliva.

But…

I haven’t washed my hands yet—

“I, um, need to use the bathroom, okay?” Gu Pan tried to maintain an awkward smile.

“Oh, sure.” Xu Shu waved his hand, focusing on his meal.

He actually had no intention of making things difficult for Gu Pan; it was just that the afternoon situation had been different.

“Maybe she’s been holding it in all afternoon?

Next time, should I leave a chamber pot here for her?

Girls have it tough.”

They continued to have meals as usual, with Gu Pan taking care of washing the dishes.

Over the past few days, an unspoken understanding had developed between them, and Gu Pan no longer complained.

Maybe she didn’t even realize how adaptable she was.

Ah, the power of habit is terrifying…

After the meal,

Xu Shu didn’t rush to leave but waited for Gu Pan to return before asking, “I want to ask you something.”

“Ah, go ahead.”

“Although you’re not a Transcendent, you should have more knowledge than me about the leveling system,” Xu Shu inquired.

…Are you going to die if you don’t mention that first part?

Grinding her teeth inwardly, Gu Pan responded, “Mhm, what do you want to ask me?”

Xu Shu weighed his words carefully before speaking, “The thing is, our current situation is quite dire; it’s incredibly dangerous outside, and moving around this area is nearly impossible without risking death.”

What?

You roam around twice a day, and in light-hearted conversations, you bring back a dozen monster corpses.

And now you’re telling me you’re having trouble moving around?

Are you joking?

And talk of possibly dying if not careful?

Bullshit, more like if you’re not careful, a monster is going to die, right?

Gu Pan rolled her eyes, wanting to curse, but managed to respond with a questioning “Hmm?”, indicating she was listening: “So, do you have any sort of plan?”

Xu Shu tapped the table, “I want to find someone to help.

Coincidentally, I saw someone on the world channel who happens to be near us, probably within a few dozen kilometers at most!

“He’s posting about forming a team to clear out monsters, but I can’t contact him.”

Gu Pan thought for a moment and then said, “That’s how it is, huh?

You’re not level 12 yet, are you?”

“Yeah, I just reached level 6 today.

Is there any way around this?”

“There’s no other way.

You have to reach level 12 to speak on the leveling network.”

Gu Pan’s words left Xu Shu somewhat disappointed.

The next moment, Gu Pan added, “But with all the Erosion Crystals you’ve got today, once they’re fully assimilated, you should be close to reaching level 12.”

Xu Shu glanced at her and said, “I’ve used them all up.”

Gu Pan’s expression froze for a moment before turning self-mocking.

Right, he consumed a level 9 Erosion Crystal and only gained one level.

Looking at it that way, him reaching level 6 today is far beyond expectations, heh, heh heh heh…

Is this the power of the Epic Curse Seal?

Epic—something many people dream of obtaining.

And it just slipped away in front of me…

Gu Pan, you idiot…

Xu Shu saw her suddenly close her eyes with an expression of complete despair, and was also mystified.

“What a weirdo, you’re such a capricious freak, no wonder you like cross-dressing as a man; you must have some psychological issues.”

“Let’s call it a day.

Tomorrow morning we’ll start a journey simulation to sort things out with that bunch who got me killed last time, starting with taking down that damned Nagoul’s little demon, and then challenge the human-headed griffin to see if I can take on three at once!

“As for Narrow Sleeve Guanyin, forget it, I can’t beat it, but if I survive killing Nagoul in the simulation, I might as well go and see how powerful my ultimate skill, Jingwei, really is.”

Thinking this way, Xu Shu got up and left.

However, just as he stepped outside, about to lock the door of room 301, Xu Shu hurriedly glanced at the small iron window behind Gu Pan and saw a face filled with pity.

The two’s gaze briefly met.

Whoosh!

Xu Shu quickly lowered his head, his pupils constricting, not daring to look any longer.

A storm of panic rose in his heart.

Damn it, how could it come here?!

Primordial Spirit·Wisdom—Narrow Sleeve Guanyin!

Just like mentioning Cao Cao and he appears, I was just thinking about challenging it in the simulation tomorrow.

But now, it has come knocking on my door!

Just hanging there outside the window upside down, if Xu Shu hadn’t had a strong mind, anyone else might have screamed at such a sight.

“This morning in the simulation, it was just a statue, lying there, unable to move freely…”

“Can it actually move?”

“How could it just happen to come to the prison like this!”

“Damn, it can’t get in, can it?”

Although the plan tomorrow was to try challenging it in the simulation, that was just to gauge how much of a gap there was.

Xu Shu was very clear in his mind that even now, at level 6, he was absolutely no match for this monstrous thing.

Level 6’s attributes weren’t that much higher than level 2, it just meant one additional skill.

In fact, this morning I died without so much as the ability to fight back!

It’s not even in the same league.

Xu Shu broke out in a cold sweat.

One second it was a cozy routine, the next a direct switch to death mode.

He was sweating profusely, literally.

“It can’t get in, right?

Yes, as long as it can’t get in, and I don’t look at it directly, I’m not in danger.”

“This weird thing seems to follow some strange rules when it kills, unlike other creatures and demons which are like wild beasts, it’s different!”

Xu Shu’s heart gradually calmed down.

At this moment, Gu Pan, seeing him standing at the door for a long time not moving, tentatively asked, “What’s wrong?”

Did I anger him again?

Xu Shu tried to speak to her with a composed tone, “Nothing much, just come over here now, and whatever you do, don’t look behind you, or you’ll die.

Have I made myself clear?”

“Ah???”

What do you mean don’t look behind?

What does that mean?

Is there something behind me?

Gu Pan suddenly felt a chill all over, a shiver ran from the base of her spine to the top of her head, damn it you’re scaring me!

I was fine until you suddenly said that, now I want to look even more!

Her teeth chattered as she said, “Don’t, don’t scare me, what’s going on?

Is there, something, behind me?”

“Yes, there is!

Look and you’ll die!

If you want to live, less talking, just come here.” Xu Shu’s eyes were fixed on the ground, he dared not lift his head. seaʀᴄh thё Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Okay, okay!”

Upon seeing this, Gu Pan was also struck with a chill.

Then she chose to trust Xu Shu; he told her not to look around recklessly, so she really kept her blinking eyes on Xu Shu, and moved slowly towards him.

This somewhat relieved Xu Shu.

Thank goodness, she was obedient.

At a time like this, the last thing you want is someone who won’t listen to reason, who insists on courting death; not even a god could save them.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl in such moments.

Xu Shu felt that every step Gu Pan took seemed to last an entire century, and only after she had passed in front of him and walked onto the corridor without daring to look back did Xu Shu allow himself a slight sigh of relief.

“Good, that ghastly thing, it doesn’t seem to attack on its own?”

“If that’s the case, as long as I don’t look at it, no matter what it does outside, I won’t have to worry!”

“Can’t possibly go out today; going out means dying faster, while staying in the prison where it can’t enter is actually safer!”

Xu Shu closed the iron door and was about to lead Gu Pan away.

Suddenly, he was struck with terror.

At the end of the corridor, on the small iron window, the effigy of Guanyin, Narrow Sleeve Guanyin, had somehow moved there, now inverted, looking at him.

The face of the statue bore no expression, just silently observing him.

Silently, watching.