I Got Together with the Goddess [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 49

Shui Mingsheng went to pour a glass of water for Xia Yi. Xia Yi took two sips and, with Jiang Yiqing’s help, raised her upper body. Leaning against the headboard, she pointed her finger at the bookshelf opposite them and said, “Mingsheng, go and fetch that thing for me.”

“Alright, Auntie Xia. Where is it?” Shui Mingsheng approached the bookshelf and saw that it was packed with academic books related to the Miao frontier, as well as a large pile of research reports written by Xia Yi herself.

“It’s tucked inside the book titled Biological Compendium of the Miao Frontier. It’s on the second shelf, in the third compartment,” Xia Yi said.

Shui Mingsheng opened the book according to her instructions and found a very old piece of yellow paper being used as a bookmark. Had it not been for Xia Yi’s guidance, anyone who saw this paper would never have considered it something important. However, having seen the fragment of the Ancient Inheritance before, Shui Mingsheng could tell that the terrain drawn on this paper was very similar to that fragment; amidst the faded ink, an ancient map was faintly visible.

Shui Mingsheng brought the paper to Xia Yi, but Xia Yi waved her hand and said, “I estimate I don’t have much time left. You two keep this.”

“Auntie Xia, what exactly happened to you?” There was a hint of piercing pain in Shui Mingsheng’s eyes as she pressed for an answer.

“As an outsider who stayed deep in the Miao frontier for so long, how could nothing go wrong? Not only did I visit many places in the frontier, but I also collected many experimental materials. To be able to live until today… it’s all thanks to this,” Xia Yi said. Her palm turned wood-like once again, and the two saw a capsule-like bulge in the center of the withered, woody palm. Inside, the silhouette of a Gu insect was faintly visible.

That bookshelf of research reports was undoubtedly Xia Yi’s life’s work. However, out of her protective love for the Miao frontier, she hadn’t dared to publish them after finishing her research. Firstly, she feared bringing trouble to the region, and secondly, she feared being targeted by those with ulterior motives.

“Is it a Tree Gu?” Shui Mingsheng had rarely seen such a vivid Tree Gu and asked upon seeing it.

The Tree Gu was a powerful insect. Possessing it allowed one to mimic any habit of a plant, but the side effects were equally potent: the human body would gradually be assimilated. A powerful Gu Master controlling a Tree Gu could live for over a thousand years, but ordinary people could hardly endure the intense pain brought by the “arborization” of blood vessels and flesh. Living for over a decade was already considered long-lived.

“Yes, Mingsheng.” Xia Yi closed her eyes, appearing to fall into a memory. “I still remember that day. I entered the dense forest of Wufeng Ridge and encountered a Snake Gu there. Just as I was about to be bitten to death, this Tree Gu saved me. Or perhaps ‘saved’ isn’t the right word—it also wanted to devour my body as nourishment. But at that time, my willpower was very strong. I knew I still had unfinished business, so I made a deal with it. I allowed it to completely devour me once I fulfilled my wish.”

The willpower Xia Yi spoke of was her sincere curiosity toward the land of the Miao frontier and her strong academic aspirations. Yet, no one knew any of this. Seeing Auntie Xia living in such a cramped room today made Shui Mingsheng feel ashamed; why hadn’t she discovered earlier that Xia Yi was carrying a Tree Gu?

“Mingsheng, you don’t need to feel apologetic.” Xia Yi seemed to read her thoughts and said, “I called the two of you here because I want to entrust you with my dying wish. The things I haven’t finished, you must finish them for me.”

Xia Yi’s eyes had been dim and hollow, but at this moment, a strange spark of light appeared. “Witness in my stead the grand spectacle of ‘Ten Thousand Gu in Procession’ from the sacrificial ceremonies of the Miao people a thousand years ago. Witness the legendary tale of harmony between man and nature. I hope you will follow this map to find the treasure left by the Saintess of a thousand years ago. With the two of you working together, you can surely accomplish this.”

Shui Mingsheng and Jiang Yiqing exchanged a look, then took out the fragment they had found previously. “Auntie Xia, we also found a fragment. Look, is the red dot on this map the location of the treasure?”

Xia Yi’s eyes looked at the dim map with a bit of a daze. Seeing this, Shui Mingsheng took out the Green Lamp Gu. The light instantly illuminated Xia Yi’s withered face, which now showed a look of longing. She pointed her finger at her own map and said, “That’s right, it’s here. It’s this place called Daobei Ridge. The paths inside the ridge are winding and difficult to find, and there are restrictions left by the ancestors. Only those who have truly immersed themselves in study can follow the map and find the correct path to the treasure. If you two follow the route I’ve drawn, you won’t go wrong.”

After saying this, Xia Yi picked up a vermilion brush nearby and, using all her strength, forced her fingers to draw a winding, zigzagging path on the ancient map.

Previously, they couldn’t pinpoint the exact location of the treasure, but with Xia Yi’s guidance, everything suddenly became clear.

“However, as you approach this place, strange phenomena are bound to occur. Many formidable Gu Masters have sought this treasure in vain and are eyeing it greedily. Once you take action, you will become their rivals. You must proceed with extreme caution,” Xia Yi warned.

“Auntie Xia, rest assured, we won’t act recklessly.”

“Speaking of which, a Tree Gu with spirituality can speak.” Shui Mingsheng looked toward the palm of Xia Yi’s hand, which had returned to normal, and said, “You should be able to as well, right? Why not talk to us?”

Xia Yi looked at her in surprise, seemingly realizing what Shui Mingsheng was trying to do. However, Shui Mingsheng’s words caused the Tree Gu to suddenly sprout branches. Xia Yi controlled the Tree Gu to prevent it from rioting, soothing it by saying, “I will not break our agreement. Until then, if you break the contract, I will certainly not let you have your way.”

Shui Mingsheng turned to Jiang Yiqing and said, “Yiqing, do you remember the Gu Market we saw together? The Immortal Gu within possess spirituality. They can use humans as nourishment for their cultivation, but they cannot kill indiscriminately. The best way is to form a contract with a human. This Tree Gu has likely reached the ‘Half-Immortal’ stage. The reason it contracted with Auntie Xia was that it took an interest in the wisdom within her mind. By obtaining that, you expect to have hope of becoming an Immortal Gu, don’t you?”

“You little girl, your insight is quite good.” A dry, aged voice echoed in the room.

Xia Yi wasn’t very clear about what Shui Mingsheng was saying. She had never understood why the Tree Gu had chosen her; only now did she realize that the knowledge in her head could be used by a Gu. Gu Immortals even possessed the wisdom unique to humans.

“Tree Gu, even if you obtain wisdom, you might not truly become an Immortal Gu. How about this? Come with us to Daobei Ridge to seek the Ten Thousand Gu Inheritance. If you obtain the hidden treasures of the slumbering Immortal Gu, wouldn’t you absolutely be able to become an immortal? How could a little girl like me be your match? What do you think of this idea?”

Jiang Yiqing, listening from the side, thought Shui Mingsheng was brilliant. But would this Tree Gu fall for it? Regardless, they couldn’t sit by and watch Xia Yi be devoured and die.

“You want to save her, don’t you?” The Tree Gu let out a laugh. “Shui Mingsheng, you carry a powerful Gu insect that exceeds the limits of what someone of your age and experience should possess. You mentioned the Gu Market—could it be that you obtained some kind of opportunity there?”

Having her own background exposed by the Tree Gu was quite unpleasant, but Shui Mingsheng didn’t hide it, saying boldly, “So what if I did?”

“I recognize your strength,” the Tree Gu said. “I can agree to go with you to find the Ten Thousand Gu Inheritance, but I have a condition: you must make a contract with me, just like Xia Yi. Once the inheritance is found, you must allow me to devour you.”

“You must be crazy, you old monster!” Jiang Yiqing, who was usually reserved and steady, couldn’t help but curse upon hearing such an arrogant demand.

“Little girl, what’s your hurry?” the Tree Gu retorted. “Shui Mingsheng herself might not get the inheritance, but you could. By sacrificing one of you, the other can use the inheritance to become the undisputed Saintess of the Miao frontier for the next thousand years. Isn’t that a good thing? Or is it that you two lovers can’t bear to sacrifice yourselves for the sake of the other?”

“Truly an old monster!” Jiang Yiqing wished she could rip it out of Xia Yi’s body immediately. Gu insects weren’t just benevolent; there was no shortage of these cunning, spirit-like creatures. Jiang Yiqing felt the reality of that danger now.

Thinking of Xia Yi entering the deep mountains alone, unarmed yet possessing a willpower unimaginable to most—for such a person to face the fate of an early death made Jiang Yiqing feel deeply sorrowful.

The Tree Gu didn’t get angry at Jiang Yiqing’s accusations. It simply said, “That is my condition. Anything else is off the table.”

After saying that, it shrunk back and fell silent.

Xia Yi tried to persuade the two: “You don’t need to worry about me. Your young people have your own destinies to grasp. Why bother with me? We are not even related.”

“Auntie Xia, how could Yiqing and I leave you to die? Besides, by showing us the way, you have become our true mentor,” Shui Mingsheng said.

Jiang Yiqing looked at her, fearing that a sudden surge of loyalty might make Shui Mingsheng let the “old monster” possess her. Seeing how much Xia Yi was suffering, Jiang Yiqing would absolutely not allow Shui Mingsheng to do the same.

“The meaning of my life lay in finding this ancient map,” Xia Yi said. “I have already entrusted it to you; my mission ends here. Don’t worry about me. Take the thing and leave now.”

“…” Looking at Xia Yi in this state, Jiang Yiqing felt that the moment they left, she would be devoured by the Tree Gu.

“Is there a time limit on your agreement?” Jiang Yiqing asked. “Auntie Xia, we will go find the treasure immediately. If only you could wait for us to return… we want you to see the results of your research with your own eyes.”

The Tree Gu seemed slightly moved by their persistence and said, “…Ten days. That is the limit. If you two girls have the courage to seek the Ten Thousand Gu Inheritance alone, I will grant you a favor: I will not touch her for ten days.”

Though their hearts were heavy, Jiang Yiqing and Shui Mingsheng left the building.

“Our only choice is to try our luck at the treasure site,” Shui Mingsheng said. “If we can find an exceptionally powerful Gu insect, maybe we can satisfy the Tree Gu’s demands and save Auntie Xia’s life.”

“I’m going with you.”

“Then what about your studies?” Shui Mingsheng said. “Yiqing, don’t be foolish.”

Her deeper concern was the danger of the journey; Shui Mingsheng didn’t feel safe letting Jiang Yiqing come along.

“…Mingsheng, actually, there is a magical item in the System that allows me to have ‘double time.’ That way, I can attend school and visit Teacher Xia, while simultaneously going with you to Daobei Ridge to find the hidden treasure.”

“…Is that item too expensive to buy right now?” Hearing her speak this way, Shui Mingsheng immediately understood her concern.