I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 34.2

Seeing that she was truly being treated like a tourist, Jiang Yiqing felt a bit helpless: “Mingsheng, you really don’t need to look after me. I can manage on my own here.”

Unexpectedly, Shui Mingsheng said, “A girl your age can’t possibly stay cooped up at home; you’ll definitely want to walk around.”

Jiang Yiqing laughed and said, “Then I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you, Mingsheng. I really am someone who can stay idle.”

“Haha, then Miaojiang is perfect for you, Yiqing. The pace here is much slower than in the big cities,” Shui Mingsheng laughed. “But are you really not going to the creek valley? There are many butterflies this season, too.”

How could Jiang Yiqing resist such a temptation? Though she had lived in the prosperous capital and seen magnificent sights unseen elsewhere, she had never traveled ten thousand miles. She had no real concept of the country’s famous mountains and rivers. Having the chance to see the natural landscapes of Miaojiang was naturally very appealing.

“I…” she said hesitantly.

Shui Mingsheng said, “No need to be polite with me.”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

The next day, Shui Mingsheng took Jiang Yiqing to a place called “Little Creek Head.” Along the way was a gurgling stream, its banks blooming with butterfly orchids, sweet flags, and various other wildflowers. Butterflies danced among the blossoms, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, falling on the stream and making the water surface shimmer like mercury.

At noon, they had a picnic on the spot. Both leaned against a large tree, surrounded by nothing but trees and flowers—pure natural scenery. There was no one else but her and Shui Mingsheng, yet Jiang Yiqing felt very comfortable.

“Is the sandwich good?” Shui Mingsheng asked Jiang Yiqing.

Jiang Yiqing only knew of a food called “triangle cake” and had never eaten something called a sandwich; it was a thing that only existed in this world. Thinking about how countries separated by vast oceans were connected in this world, Jiang Yiqing found it incredible.

She nodded and said, “It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad.” It was worth getting up early to cook, Shui Mingsheng thought with a smile.

After eating the sandwiches, Shui Mingsheng washed some wild fruit she had picked along the way in the stream and gave them to Jiang Yiqing, saying, “Try these. In ancient times they were called Linqin, but now they’re just apples. You won’t find this local variety elsewhere.”

Jiang Yiqing had eaten Linqin before, so she took a bite. Sweet juice immediately filled her mouth. She swallowed quickly and said to Shui Mingsheng in surprise, “They’re so good! They taste exactly like the ones I’ve had before.”

“Really?” Shui Mingsheng was amused by her and used a tissue to wipe the juice from the corner of her mouth.

The movement was so natural that neither of them noticed anything unusual. The girl’s soft, tender lips were more enticing than the juiciest fruit; as Shui Mingsheng withdrew her hand, her gaze darkened slightly.

After lunch, the two continued along the stream. On the way, they saw many mushrooms. Some were flagged by the system as containing spiritual energy, so Jiang Yiqing picked them. She even found a very rare orchid in a quiet patch of grass called “Willow-Leaf Black Ink,” valued at 1,000-star coins.

Seeing how busy she was, Shui Mingsheng smiled and said, “I didn’t expect you to be so knowledgeable, Yiqing. There are plants here even though I don’t recognize.”

“Not really, I’m just collecting things that I think have value.”

Walking and stopping like this, they finally reached Little Creek Head. Jiang Yiqing saw a few ancient dwellings standing by the stream.

Shui Mingsheng took her hand and walked forward, saying, “Yiqing, these dwellings are several hundred years old. They are where my ancestors lived. Our Shui family began ruling Qingfeng Ridge starting from that generation’s chieftain. The chieftain then found our family’s heirloom Gu, the Spirit Snake Gu, right here. Moreover, this is the only place where the leaves that the Spirit Snake Gu eat grow.”

Jiang Yiqing followed her forward and saw that the path and the walls in front of the dwellings were built of stone, and the weeds had not overgrown the path. They pushed open the door and went inside. In the backyard of the house stood a massive tree. The leaves were as lush as mulberry leaves, and the enormous canopy had almost crushed the old house beside it.

Jiang Yiqing watched as Shui Mingsheng nimbly climb the trunk, plucked many leaves, placed them in a bamboo basket she carried, and then jumped lightly down from the tree.

With a slight flex of her left hand, the silver chain on Shui Mingsheng’s wrist began to chime. Jiang Yiqing saw the image of the Gu insect she had seen yesterday gradually appear at the floral part of the chain—it was jade-white. Shui Mingsheng placed a fresh leaf by the Gu’s mouth, and the insect began to chew gracefully. However, in just a short moment, it had consumed the entire large leaf.

“Let’s head back, Yiqing.” With the final goal of the trip achieved, Shui Mingsheng took Jiang Yiqing’s hand to head back.

However, they hadn’t gone far when the sky suddenly darkened. Jiang Yiqing asked in confusion, “Does it get dark this fast? It’s summer.”

Shui Mingsheng pulled her close, her expression solemn yet tinged with a hint of pleasant surprise. She said, “Yiqing, follow me closely. Whatever you do, don’t let go of my hand.”

“I understand.”

Shui Mingsheng led Jiang Yiqing to hide behind a tree trunk and whispered to her, “I didn’t expect to encounter the Gu Market, a sight seen once in a decade, on our first outing together.”

“Gu Market?”

“In places where natural spiritual energy is strong, immortal Gu and mid-to-high-level Gu insects occasionally gather and fly out together, circling and dancing in the sky. Some Gu insects can’t keep up with the group and are left behind—this is known as the survival-of-the-fittest mechanism for Gu. But for humans, even the rejected Gu insects are far better than what can usually be found. Thus, the stroke of luck picking up these Gu insects is called a Gu Market. At these times, the sky changes unnaturally, like a red glow appearing at night or day suddenly turning to night. Those who are destined to see the Gu Market often reap extraordinary rewards.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yiqing also felt lucky and asked, “What should I do?”

“Don’t make a sound, lest you startle those sensitive Gu insects. Once they sense a human presence, they will never return here,” Shui Mingsheng said. “The Gu Market only lasts for less than fifteen minutes. We just need to watch quietly.”

Almost as soon as Shui Mingsheng finished speaking, Jiang Yiqing saw flashing shadows suddenly appear in the dark forest.

The light appeared emerald, green against the backdrop of green leaves. Within a few breaths, twinkling lights appeared throughout the entire forest, like a forest of fireflies.

The scene before her was incredibly beautiful. Her eyes met a vast forest filled with countless mysterious glowing creatures. Jiang Yiqing couldn’t help but hold her breath.

Soon, the Gu insects gathered, forming a swarm like a river of stars, or a shimmering silver ribbon. At this moment, the Spirit Snake Gu on Shui Mingsheng’s left hand also began to flicker faintly. Shui Mingsheng hid it in her sleeve and continued to watch the Gu insects intently.

The Gu insects began to swim rapidly through the forest. When they drew near their hiding spot, Jiang Yiqing began to see text floating above the silver lights.

“Traveling Immortal Gu × 1”

“Spirit Cloud Gu × 1”

“These are all Immortal Gu! But they are highly aggressive. If you try to take them by force, you’ll suffer a dangerous backlash,” the system remarked.

Hearing this, Jiang Yiqing did not collect them, allowing them to return to the mountains.

But one tiny Gu insect suddenly broke away from the group and flew toward them. Jiang Yiqing looked at Shui Mingsheng; in the darkness, the other girl’s eyes held a steady, trustworthy look. She squeezed Jiang Yiqing’s hand to signal that everything was alright.

Because the swarm was so large, this single Gu falling behind went unnoticed by the others. It flew onto Jiang Yiqing’s lapel. Looking down, she saw it was a slender, tiny young Gu.

“Sleep-Talk Gu × 1”

Jiang Yiqing collected the Gu insect.

Just as Shui Mingsheng had said, in less than fifteen minutes, the Gu insects disappeared, and the sky brightened once again.

Just now, Jiang Yiqing seemed to have seen a few spots of light fall into the forest—they must be the Gu insects that had dropped out. Shui Mingsheng moved through the thickets, picking up the Gu insects that had fallen to the ground.