Chapter 296.2: Xie Xinsu
Qi Yuan refused without even thinking. "No, thanks. My robot cooks at home."
Eating out was expensive. With only one hundred million in savings, he had to spend carefully. Nowadays, people were panicking about when war would break out. Once it began, the price of supplies would definitely skyrocket.
Wu Qi couldn't help but say, "The food made by robots is a bit hard to swallow. How could it compare to a chef outside?"
She had eaten it before. Generally, food made by robots was not only simple, but also made from prepackaged meal kits. After becoming wealthy, Wu Qi never touched them again.
Qi Yuan’s eyes flashed with a glimmer of pride. "My Zero-One is different. It cooks very delicious food."
Over the past month, besides cultivating, he had also been modifying Zero-One. He had integrated advanced puppet techniques into Zero-One. With the combination of modern technology and advanced puppet arts, it was no longer an ordinary robot.
It was a shame that his skill was insufficient to awaken Zero-One's intelligence. Otherwise, the robot could have developed self-awareness, just like the spirit of a magical treasure.
Of course, even without it, Zero-One’s spirituality and consciousness were gradually growing. As for how long that would take, Qi Yuan himself didn't know. Not that accelerating the process would be difficult. He just had to imitate how he used to walk the vegetable knife.
If he took Zero-One out for dozens of walks, it would definitely become even smarter than the vegetable knife. Besides, Zero-One was already unique as it was, capable of simple pill refining.
Qi Yuan even began entertaining the idea of building a factory to industrialize and systematize alchemy. Of course, it was only a thought.
"Robot-made food can actually taste good?" Wu Qi drove on, inwardly surprised. "How about I come over and try it?"
He refused. "Don't try to freeload food and drinks!"
A man and woman alone late at night would look inappropriate. Moreover, he was only coveting her blood, not her body!
Thinking of something, he grew serious. "You've been driving for me for quite a while now. Should we talk about something serious?"
Hearing the gravity in his tone, Wu Qi's heart suddenly sped up, and she nodded cautiously. She was full of anticipation. Could it be that her sincerity had finally moved him.
Qi Yuan asked sincerely, with a hint of pleading, "Since I ride in your car every day, can I get a discount?"
A merchant usually gave a discount for bulk purchases. Staying in a hotel for a whole month was usually much cheaper too.
Wu Qi froze at the unexpected words. She forced out a smile uglier than how she looked when she cried. "Sure."
"In that case, how about 25 dollars per trip?"
Wu Qi nodded. "Okay."
She felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through her mind. Of course, even if she had objections, she didn't dare say them.
Her doubt also began to arise. Could it be that her persistence had been wrong? But she had persisted for so long! She couldn’t possibly give up with such a huge sunk cost?!
The car sped along and soon arrived at Qi Yuan's residential complex. He was just about to pay her after getting out of the car when something occurred to him.
With a casual gesture, he shaped the money into a small bird. "Your blood is still in your body. Consider this the interest."
It contained a certain amount of power, such as protection and tracking. He gave it to her because, as his strength increased, so did his curiosity about her blood. Yet at the same time, he hadn’t used her blood, leaving it stored inside her for so long. Qi Yuan felt a bit embarrassed stringing someone along like this.
Wu Qi took the paper bird with delight. "Your folding skills are amazing! How did you fold it? Can you teach me?"
The bird, which was folded in less than twenty seconds, was much more lifelike. It was completely different from traditional paper cranes or other origami.
"You won’t be able to. To fold this, you have to cultivate to immortality." Qi Yuan was always honest. "Kuang Huan gave me ninety million before I agreed to teach him immortal cultivation."
Wu Qi's eyes widened, full of confusion. "Immortal cultivation?"
She pondered, Did immortal cultivation really exist?!
Though her manager mentioned that Qi Yuan's deal with the viscount involved immortal cultivation, Wu Qi never believed any of it. Hearing it directly left her frozen in shock. By the time she came back to her senses, Qi Yuan had already disappeared.
She stood there in a daze, her thoughts in turmoil. Is he joking, or is this for real?
If it was real, then wouldn't her worldview of all these years collapse? She clutched the paper-money bird tightly, countless thoughts racing across her mind.
If what Mr. Qi said was true, that would be wonderful.
***
Inside the Junan Residential Complex, Xie Xinsu cried miserably.
Oh no, I'm stuck in the manhole!
Her head got stuck in a sewer opening, leaving her panicked. Not only was it pitch-black inside, the stench was also nauseating and sour. Meanwhile, her backside hung awkwardly out of the manhole. She seemed like a scallion planted upside down. With food scraps stuck to her, she appeared pitiful beyond words, ragged and tattered.
Uh-oh. What if a man comes by from behind?
Thinking of this, Xie Xinsu shuddered. In her current state, she had absolutely no ability to resist. If she encountered some perverted man... Just imagining it was terrifying.
No, wait. I'm a cat right now. What if I run into a male cat in heat?
Her fear transformed into an overwhelming indignation. Compared to a tomcat, a human man was easier to accept.
Wuwu... For a dignified fairy maiden of Profound Heaven Sect, carrying the great responsibility of revitalizing the sect, I've had such rotten luck.
After spending three years undercover on Brilliant Star, I finally obtained classified intelligence, only for the world to reset and send me back ten years!
Going back in time would've been one thing, but I turned into a cat! Even my brain isn't working properly! And now, I’m stuck here!
Xie Xinsu held bitterness she couldn't even express. When other people's worlds reset, they returned to their original timeline. Meanwhile, she became a cat. Her sect members were likely worried after discovering she had vanished.
Xie Xinsu let out another miserable cry. "Meow, meow, meow!"
She was becoming weaker and weaker, and her consciousness increasingly blurred.
Someone, please come save me... I'll pass on to you... immortal cultivation methods, the art of eternal life!
With that thought, she finally drifted into unconsciousness.
