Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 171: Chapter 171: She’s So Ugly, It’s Others Who Are in the Most Danger

"What is this thing? What is this thing?"

The moment she saw the back of her hand get stung, Song Jiulai subconsciously flicked it, trying to fling the scorpion off.

The scorpion was about the size of her palm and looked quite ordinary, but her flick failed to dislodge it.

Its tail was lodged firmly in Song Jiulai’s palm, sending a sharp, stinging pain through her hand.

She could clearly see that it was bleeding.

System: "It was decomposed from that chunk of ore. Have you forgotten?"

At the same time, Song Jiulai suddenly felt a jolt run through her soul.

A faint, fragmented voice echoed in her mind.

’Hungry... hungry...’

’So hungry...’

It was like the system, but different. She couldn’t feel the system’s presence in her mind, only hear its voice.

This voice, however, seemed to be communicating directly with her consciousness.

Then the system said, "It’s saying it’s hungry."

Song Jiulai was completely dumbfounded. She looked at the scorpion in her hand. "It’s talking?"

System: "Yep. How fascinating! An animal that can talk!"

Song Jiulai: "..."

’Did you just have a system error? Did you forget this is the Cultivation World?’

A talking scorpion wasn’t actually that strange. The strange part was what on earth this thing was.

This was the thing that came from the ore?

Song Jiulai remembered when she bought that Disposable Magical Treasure, the Cultivator who sold it to her had given her a chunk of ore as a gift.

The system had used up a lot of energy to decompose it.

And now, the process was complete.

And it turned out to be a scorpion?

’Guess I’ve seen it all now.’

The scorpion’s stinger was buried in Song Jiulai’s palm, and it was actively drinking her blood.

Afraid of what might happen if it kept drinking, Song Jiulai pinched the scorpion and forcefully yanked the stinger out.

Besides, she recalled that scorpion stingers were venomous. Was it really drinking blood through its stinger?

In response, the scorpion thrashed wildly, waving its pincers.

The voice in her head started up again.

’Hungry, so hungry! Hungry!’

Song Jiulai retorted, "Then stay hungry! Starve for all I care!"

’What kind of normal creature starts sucking your blood the second it shows up?’

She glanced at her palm. Other than the bleeding wound, there were no signs of poisoning.

The scorpion: "..."

It seemed to understand her, as it suddenly went still.

’So mean... so mean...’

Song Jiulai: "..."

She was shocked. "It can understand me?" she asked the system.

The system was also a bit puzzled. "The decomposition is complete, but an energy scan shows it has no Spiritual Energy. I’m not sure what it is yet, but considering how much energy it took to create, it’s probably not ordinary. The fact that you can hear its thoughts after it drank your blood—and that I can hear them too—means it’s definitely not simple. You should keep it. You’re bored anyway."

Song Jiulai held it between her fingers, still feeling uneasy. "But it drinks human blood. That doesn’t exactly scream ’good guy,’ you know."

Her Jiezidai was currently inaccessible, and besides, it couldn’t hold living creatures. Song Jiulai had wanted to put it in the system’s inventory.

But the system said, "Nope. It won’t go in. This is strange."

"It won’t go in?"

Song Jiulai glanced around. "I can’t just hold onto it forever, can I? This thing is creepy. What if I let it go and it drinks someone else’s blood?"

Even though this was a Secret Realm within a small world, she couldn’t just release something that would harm others.

Song Jiulai had no intention of walking the path of an Evil Cultivator.

Its thoughts echoed in her head again.

’Just a little more... let me drink a little more, and I’ll be full...’

Song Jiulai: "..."

The system helpfully translated, "It means it’ll be full if it just drinks a little more blood."

Song Jiulai said flatly, "I understand its gibberish perfectly. You don’t need to translate."

System: "I was just worried you weren’t smart enough to understand."

Song Jiulai: ?

Song Jiulai still felt uneasy.

’I don’t even know what this thing is. How can I just let it drink my blood?’

But it wouldn’t go into the system’s inventory, and just as she was trying to figure out what to do, a girl’s voice suddenly called out from behind her, "Excuse me, miss?"

Song Jiulai spun around, smoothly hiding the scorpion in her sleeve.

The newcomer was none other than Qin Yongkang’s personal maid, Little Cui.

The scorpion, seizing the opportunity, immediately began to prick her wrist with its stinger.

"..."

’Damn this thing.’

’Losing a little blood can be fixed with an Elixir Pill. Even though I can’t open my Jiezidai right now, I still have my Spiritual Energy. My healing speed is fast, so it’s not a huge problem.’

The only reason she hadn’t dealt with it immediately was because she had spent a huge amount of energy to create it.

She had to observe it for a while to find out just what it was!

"Ah, it’s Miss Cui. Is there something I can help you with?"

Song Jiulai smiled warmly at Little Cui, but her mind was racing. ’Earlier today, I wanted to approach Little Cui, but another Cultivator beat me to it.’

’Now I’m here gathering information, and Little Cui just happens to run into me.’

’Could it be that we’ve been assigned some kind of hidden roles in this small world?’

’Judging by how the disciples from the other Sects are acting, that doesn’t seem to be the case.’

"Calling me ’Miss’ is too formal, you’re embarrassing me. Just call me Little Cui. I saw you at the banquet earlier today." Little Cui was a plain-looking girl, but she had a friendly smile. "You’re a guest from out of town, right, miss?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" That was the same story Song Jiulai had told the old women at the banquet. She nodded furiously. "Is there something you need, Little Cui?"

"Not at all. I just noticed you don’t seem very familiar with our town. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to ask."

Song Jiulai hadn’t expected such a lucky break. Her eyes lit up, and she brazenly made her request. "I am indeed from out of town. I was just passing through when I saw Young Master Qin was getting married, so I came in for the wedding feast. But I’m running out of money and don’t have a place to stay. Would it be possible to stay at the Qin Mansion for a few days? I’m fine with staying in the servants’ quarters, and I’d be happy to help with chores."

The system commented drily, ’Well, you certainly cut to the chase...’

To her surprise, Little Cui nodded immediately. "Of course. Why not? All who come are guests. Since you’re here for our young master’s wedding, you’ve come to offer congratulations and add to the joyful atmosphere. The Qin Mansion has plenty of guest rooms. Please, follow me."

Song Jiulai hadn’t expected to get into the Qin Mansion so easily. Outwardly, she looked delighted. "Wonderful, wonderful..."

But she didn’t let her guard down.

She knew that in this trial, the problem lay with either the bride or the groom. Wandering around town like a headless chicken wasn’t getting her anywhere.

Getting inside the Qin Mansion was a much better option.

As Little Cui led Song Jiulai into the Qin Mansion, Xiao Yushu, a disciple from the Starlight Sect, saw them and looked surprised. "Isn’t she a Sect Disciple, too? How did she get into the Qin Mansion?"

"She’s not actually planning to stay in the Qin Mansion, is she?" Tao Yitian of the Biyin Sect asked, his face a mask of disbelief. "Anyone who stays there is bound to be chosen as the next bride. Has she gone mad?"

Xiao Yushu looked thoughtful. "Not necessarily. Didn’t another disciple get in this morning?"

"True enough." Tao Yitian recalled Song Jiulai’s face. "She’s so ugly, Qin Yongkang probably wouldn’t even consider her. The others are in more danger."

Xiao Yushu: "..."

’Tao is too harsh,’ he thought. In truth, he felt the same way but was too polite to say it aloud.