My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 25.1

Feng Jue burst into laughter, her long hair cascading over the bed as she lazily sprawled out and pulled a storybook from her Storage Ring.

“Come here,” she said, patting the bed.

03 floated over, watching as Feng Jue retrieved food and a wine jar, placing them on the small table by the bed. She leaned back against the piled-up pillows, giving it a pointed look.

Alright, alright.

Without a word of complaint, 03 drifted behind the book Feng Jue held. Soon, the soft sound of her reading filled the room. The Fire Rock Jiao had somehow swum to the window, its large head resting against the glass. After glancing at Feng Jue on the bed, it closed its eyes, comfortably beginning to refine the Beast Core in its belly.

Peace reigned in the room.

The woman and the System passed the entire night in this way. When the first rays of dawn, streaking across the sky, finally appeared, Feng Jue sprang up, refreshed and invigorated. She looked at 03 in surprise. “I’ve discovered another incredibly useful thing about you,” she said. “Even cultivators would be annoyed after reading all night, let alone ordinary humans. They’d be exhausted.”

“Being a System isn’t so bad after all,” Feng Jue mused.

With that, she pulled a box of Spirit Pearls from her Storage Ring and, in front of 03, placed it in its Storage Ring.

Though it was simply a matter of moving the pearls from one ring to the other, 03 still bowed gratefully, bowing, bowing.

“Being a System is great,” 03 said calmly, “but I think you’re praising me because you want me to keep reading these storybooks for you in the future.”

“What are you talking about?” Feng Jue said with a teasing glance, chuckling softly. “Even if I didn’t praise you, you’d still have to read the storybooks for me whenever I want, right?”

03 never refused a request within its host’s capabilities. “Of course,” it replied calmly.

Feng Jue reached out and patted 03’s head, though she couldn’t actually feel anything. The gesture was enough.

After reaching a friendly agreement about reading the storybooks, the two—a human and a System—left the Jade Chamber. With a wave of her hand, Feng Jue stored the chamber in her Storage Ring. The Fire Rock Jiao, which had been coiled around the chamber with its head resting on the roof, thudded to the ground, its head landing on the grass and startling Qiu Shuangshuang, who was still resting nearby.

“You scared me!” Qiu Shuangshuang exclaimed, scrambling to her feet. She had spent the night on a makeshift bed of large leaves, using her cloak as a blanket. Now, she stood in her drab robe with her hair loose, looking like a beggar next to Feng Jue’s resplendent attire and proud demeanor.

Fortunately, her pretty face prevented anyone from mistaking her for a beggar.

Feng Jue stood a distance away from Qiu Shuangshuang, her expression somewhat disdainful. She extended her hand, and Ling Shi, who had been lying on the ground, quickly swam over and nuzzled her palm affectionately.

“Speak,” Feng Jue said, her tone lacking any genuine concern. “How did the Young Mistress of the Autumn Water Pavilion end up in this state? Where are the other disciples of your pavilion?”

Qiu Shuangshuang flushed at Feng Jue’s question. Clearing her throat, she draped her cloak over her shoulders, her demeanor completely different from yesterday’s tearful self. “I entered the Secret Realm separately from the other Autumn Water Pavilion disciples,” she said in a tone that suggested everything was perfectly fine. “We haven’t encountered each other since.”

“If you can deliver me to my fellow disciples, you’ll have saved my life, and the Autumn Water Pavilion will owe you a debt of gratitude,” Qiu Shuangshuang added.

If not for this condition, Feng Jue wouldn’t have wanted to burden herself with such a low-cultivation-level nuisance. But having encountered no other cultivators in the past half-month, she didn’t know the location of the Autumn Water Pavilion disciples.

“Do you have a Communication Talisman to contact your sect?” Feng Jue asked, eager to be rid of the burden as soon as possible.

Qiu Shuangshuang pursed her lips. “I was in a hurry when I left… I didn’t bring one,” she replied softly.

Feng Jue’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. What does she mean by “didn’t bring one”?

03, nestled on her shoulder, let out a questioning “Huh?” “Did she sneak away?”

Looking at Qiu Shuangshuang’s age—wasn’t this the rebellious phase where teenagers did exactly what their parents forbade them to do? Feng Jue assumed that Qiu Shuangshuang, being young and impetuous, had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage at a tender age and developed a reckless, fearless attitude. After hearing about the Chongshan Secret Realm, she had secretly snuck out despite being warned against it, even going to the trouble of disguising herself.

Feng Jue glanced at the gray robe Qiu Shuangshuang was deliberately wearing, recalling how she had covered herself in thick mud yesterday to hide her identity. The corner of her mouth twitched as she slowly spat out a single word:

“Stupid.”

Qiu Shuangshuang’s face flushed with shame, her eyes reddening as tears threatened to spill over. But she held them back, trailing after Feng Jue and pleading, “I was afraid someone I knew would recognize me! They’d never let me come, but why should they stop me?! I reached Foundation Establishment at fifteen, but Mother and Father keep me locked up in the sect, telling me to ‘consolidate’ my cultivation. They won’t let me go out and gain experience! At this rate, when will I ever broaden my horizons?”

03, perched on Feng Jue’s shoulder with its dark circles under its eyes turned backward, watched the resentful girl trailing behind its host like a scrawny chick. “Once you’ve consolidated properly, you’ll be able to come out.”

Feng Jue’s lips curled into a smirk, but she didn’t turn around. “So, have you broadened your horizons now?”

Now that you’ve gained some experience, you’re crying for help.

The girl behind them fell silent.

Qiu Shuangshuang wiped her eyes and muttered, “I never imagined the Chongshan Secret Realm would be so perilous. Before entering, someone even tried to steal my Jade Token. If I hadn’t been quick-witted enough to disguise myself as a Golden Core Cultivator and scare him off, who knows what might have happened…”

But she hadn’t anticipated that the interior of the Secret Realm would be even worse!

No matter where she went, the Spirit Beasts she encountered were all at the Golden Core Stage. Even the spirit plants bearing Spirit Fruits were at that level. She had simply wanted to pick a Jade Spirit Fruit, but nearly lost half her life in the process. She had used every protective artifact the elders of her sect had given her over the years just to escape with her life. Not only had she gained nothing, but she had also suffered this humiliating defeat!

Qiu Shuangshuang viciously kicked a rock blocking her path, her lips pressed into a deep frown.

03 turned around and opened the data panel.

The pale blue panel floated in the air, and Feng Jue could see its contents out of the corner of her eye. 03 showed no intention of hiding it from her. She watched with interest as 03 replaced the image of Qiu Shuangshuang covered in mud with one of her walking forward with a sulky expression, a messy wad of black lines drawn above her head.

The silver System diligently labeled the data:

[Qiu Shuangshuang: Daughter of the Pavilion Master of the Autumn Water Pavilion, Young Mistress.]

[03’s Note: Under development. Watch this space.]

“Heh.” Feng Jue chuckled softly, looking away. She raised her hand and conjured a ball of fire, using it to sever the dense curtain of vines hanging before them. Fresh green sap sprayed from the severed ends, evaporating in the heat and releasing a faint, herbal fragrance.

The vines that had leisurely hung from the thick branches gradually withered away, revealing a massive tree nearly a hundred meters tall. Its dense canopy blocked out the sky, while its branches were adorned with palm-sized, pure white flowers. Beneath each flower hung a fist-sized, round fruit.

The fruits were translucent, with a texture like jade, their color somewhere between white and emerald green, and they emitted a faint glow.

In the Cultivation World, almost everything imbued with spiritual energy possessed this glowing aura. After a quick scan, 03 estimated that there were tens of thousands of exposed fruits visible on the tree alone.

“Jade… Jade Spirit Fruit!” Qiu Shuangshuang gasped, staring up at the colossal Jade Spirit Fruit tree. “It’s so huge! Even bigger than the one I saw before!”

With a tree this massive, a single lash could probably take my life! Qiu Shuangshuang shivered and quietly edged closer to Feng Jue.

Feng Jue was explaining the properties of the Jade Spirit Fruit to 03.

“Jade Spirit Fruits aren’t rare; they can be found everywhere. It’s the age of this particular Jade Spirit Tree that’s uncommon. The fruits are sweet and juicy, and rich in spiritual energy. They can be eaten for pleasure or used to make Spirit Recovery Pills.”

03 diligently took notes, synchronizing Feng Jue’s words with the effects of the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree in the data and map.

“When we return and if there’s nothing else pressing, you can visit the Lanyang Palace’s library. I’ll show you the records of rare treasures and curiosities,” Feng Jue said cheerfully.

“Do you want me to read them?” 03 asked.

Feng Jue raised an eyebrow.

03 didn’t ask again.

******

Of course she wanted him to.

With such a massive Jade Spirit Fruit Tree bearing countless fruits, Palace Mistress Feng wouldn’t personally harvest them. Instead, she used her spiritual energy to weave several vines into a swing, settled onto it, and pulled out a book.

03 joined her, still reading the unfinished final volume.

Fruits began falling from the branches one by one, quickly piling into a small mountain before the swing. The scattered glimmers of light coalesced into rippling waves. Qiu Shuangshuang stood nearby, wringing her hands as she watched the Fire Rock Jiao coiled around the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree, swiping at the fruits with its tail. The corner of her mouth twitched.

“Um… I think the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree is trembling,” she whispered.

Trees fear fire, and the Fire Rock Jiao was entirely crimson, flames burning perpetually from its horns. It seemed like a single misstep could set the entire forest ablaze.

From the moment the tree climbed the Jade Spirit Fruit Tree to pick its fruits, the branches swayed violently, as if battered by a fierce gale. This caused many Jade Spirit Fruits to “voluntarily” fall to the ground.

Feng Jue, engrossed in her book, reacted a moment too late. “If you’re so concerned about the tree,” she said impatiently, “then make it get down and you climb up to pick the fruits instead.”

Qiu Shuangshuang immediately clamped her mouth shut, her cheeks puffed out. She’s just talking! she thought. This Palace Mistress of Lanyang Palace is impossible to communicate with—her words are all barbed and pointed. Who at the Autumn Water Pavilion would dare speak to me like that?!

Since she was under the eaves, Qiu Shuangshuang had no choice but to bow her head. She dropped heavily to the ground with a thud, pulling at the grass unhappily, wishing she could see her Autumn Water Pavilion companions this very instant.

The Jade Spirit Fruits were juicy, so Ling Shi would be picking for a while. Feng Jue continued reading her book and took out some snacks.

03 produced a small popsicle, barely half-eaten.

He still hasn’t finished it?

Feng Jue shot 03 a speechless look and clicked her tongue. “Have some dignity.”

With great dignity, 03 stuffed the entire popsicle into his mouth, his entire Data Orb shivering from the icy sensation.

“Chilly,” 03 said in its icy voice.

“Stupid,” Feng Jue replied lazily.

“Enough!” Qiu Shuangshuang suddenly stood up, her voice tinged with displeasure. “I just looked at the Jade Spirit Fruit a little longer than usual! Why are you calling me useless and stupid again? I didn’t even take any of your fruit!”

Both Feng Jue and the System stared at Qiu Shuangshuang in surprise, noticing her reddened eyes and the tears beginning to fall.

“I just reached Foundation Establishment! I don’t like eating Sustenance Pills, and my servants usually prepare delicious meals for me. I just forgot because I had to leave in a hurry! Everyone makes mistakes! You’re at the Golden Core Stage and still enjoy eating—can’t I even look at food when I’m hungry?” Qiu Shuangshuang whimpered, her voice breaking as she burst into tears.

Feng Jue: “……”

Being too casual with 03 was a mistake. I’ll definitely remember to use a transmission spell in the future.

But when she saw 03, with a popsicle stick dangling from its mouth, silently drift behind her, Feng Jue fell silent.

What are you hiding for? Isn’t this the Young Mistress you’ve been waiting for?

“You… never mind.” Feng Jue rubbed her forehead, thinking to herself that Qiu Shuangshuang really had a knack for attracting trouble. She raised her book to cover her face, waved her hand dismissively, and said, “Take as many Jade Spirit Fruits as you want. I’m not going to begrudge you a few.”

Out of sight, out of mind. Feng Jue didn’t want Qiu Shuangshuang to go back and spread rumors that she was stingy, refusing to even share a bite of food. She pulled two more pastries wrapped in brown paper from her Storage Ring and tossed them onto the ground.

Qiu Shuangshuang stared in disbelief. “Are… are you really giving them to me?”

“Mm.”

“Can I eat the Jade Spirit Fruits too?”

Feng Jue nodded behind her book.

Qiu Shuangshuang’s eyes darted around, and her voice lowered. “Then… could you give me a new dress? The one I’m wearing is already two weeks old…”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Feng Jue lowered her book and glared at her with utter disdain. Qiu Shuangshuang covered her face in embarrassment and stamped her foot. “Aiya, I said too much!”

Feng Jue suddenly stood up and walked farther away, where she wove a new swing from vines and sat down. The dress she had abandoned hung from the original swing. She raised a finger. “Three rules.”

“During the time I’m escorting you, no crying, no fussing, and you must bathe promptly.”

Qiu Shuangshuang: “…I’m usually very clean.”

But having gone without a bath for half a month and having her face smeared with mud made her words sound utterly unconvincing.

Feng Jue, her expression cold, continued: “If you comply, I’ll ensure not only your safety, but also a decent quality of life. But if you continue to whine like a troublesome fly…”

She let out a cold laugh, and a ball of fire appeared in her hand. The Jade Spirit Fruit closest to Qiu Shuangshuang instantly vaporized.

Qiu Shuangshuang stiffened, then nodded instinctively. “Yes.”

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