My System, My Wife Feng Aotian [Transmigration] - Chapter 48.1

The “friendly exchange” before the Eastern Continent Grand Competition had the most significant impact on 03: she could no longer sleep in the large bed at Youfenglaiyi.

Many eyes were envious of Lanyang Palace hosting the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, and seeing Lanyang City’s flourishing prosperity, Feng Jue anticipated non-stop commotion tomorrow. Her mood for shopping vanished, and she took 03 back to the palace, planning to give her a proper tour of the city after the competition.

03 obediently followed Feng Jue back to the palace, but upon reaching the entrance, she was abruptly turned away.

“?”

03 stared at Feng Jue, who blocked the doorway. Tentatively, she extended a foot, but before the tip touched the ground, Feng Jue said, “No.”

03 slowly withdrew her leg, her face puffing up in a cute pout. The Bubble System’s signature adorable reaction, when applied to such a large, icy face, remained undeniably endearing. Feng Jue hardened her heart. “It’s not like I’m denying you sleep. I’ll have someone prepare a room next door. You can sleep there.”

“You don’t want to sleep in the bed?”

I do, 03 said earnestly, “but I want to protect you.”

Feng Jue scoffed, crossing her arms lazily. “This is Qihuang Peak, and I’m the Palace Master of Lanyang Palace. Who would dare make a move on me in my own territory? Besides…” She turned and waved dismissively. “I lived perfectly fine for twenty-five years without you.”

The door slowly closed in front of 03. She held her fingers to the crack, then to herself, sighed in disappointment, and prepared to leave. Just then, the door opened again. 03 whirled around, her eyes sparkling.

Feng Jue pulled 03 close and whispered, “I almost forgot to give you this.”

She retrieved the Phoenix Token from her Storage Ring—the same one she’d shown the welcoming cultivator at the Weaver’s Workshop. The token was shaped like a phoenix, luminous as jade, with a crimson phoenix spreading its wings, a colorful cord dangling from its tail.

“Don’t lose it. This is very important.” Feng Jue fastened the jade pendant at 03’s waist. “With this, wherever you go in Lanyang Palace, it’s as if I’m there in person. No one will dare bully you.”

03 nodded. “No one can bully me.”

That’s true, Feng Jue thought, but the pendant is really to give others some sense—to prevent them from being bullied by 03. If someone does get bullied by 03… well, that’s on them for not being more observant. Feng Jue lowered her head and chuckled softly, her pale fingers twirling the multicolored cord.

03 tilted her head, studying Feng Jue. She saw only the corners of Feng Jue’s lips curled in a smile. Feng Jue seems to be in a good mood, she thought, mirroring the smile. “Feng Jue, then tonight we—”

“No.” Feng Jue’s smile vanished in an instant. She pointed to the next room. “Go play.”

Aiya, Feng Jue is truly resolute! 03 mentally recited the exchange with emphasis, planning to look up some human communication skills books later. After silently repeating the phrase “disheartened,” she tried to negotiate under Feng Jue’s resolute refusal, “May I go play with Lingshi?”

Feng Jue nodded. “Yes.”

“May I take it out to play?” 03 asked again.

Feng Jue suspected that 03 simply didn’t want to leave, and her heart softened. But she wanted 03 to understand that being human was different from being a System. Steeling her resolve, she nodded. “Yes, you can do whatever you want. Didn’t I already agree?”

Within Lanyang Palace, 03’s whims ran wild.

“Ah,” 03 sighed, reluctantly leaving, glancing back three times. Feng Jue watched her retreating figure disappear around the corridor bend. After a long moment, the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile as she turned back to her chambers.

Qihuang Peak was vast; the so-called “neighbor” palace was a considerable distance from Feng Jue’s residence. 03’s new room was spacious, its vermilion door standing wide open. Moonlight spilled across the stone steps and jade tiles, illuminating the courtyard.

Curiously, 03 stepped inside. On the table sat Barbie Ball’s mansion, surrounded by an array of Feng Jue’s formations. The snowballs 03 had piled earlier remained in the courtyard, and the ceramic figure Lingling still smiled serenely by the carved window.

She approached the table.

The slender shadow of the human stretched across the floor. 03 had intended to retrieve the data orb from the Storage Ring to keep Lingling company, but Feng Jue had confiscated it. Now Lingling could only maintain her serene, porcelain smile alone.

03 met Lingling’s gaze, feeling somewhat hollow. She searched through her data packets and found an expression created by the Main System that she had never used before. In the Bubble System, a matchstick figure clutched a ball, its eyes fixed straight ahead, while the word “Loneliness” descended from above and crashed onto its head.

Loneliness?

“Loneliness?” 03 flipped open her electronic dictionary and read the definition, a question mark appearing above her head.

Do I feel lonely? No, I don’t!

Tossing aside the dictionary, 03 walked over to the large bed she had been dreaming of. The room, arranged by Feng Jue’s palace attendants, was far more refined than the empress’s chambers. The quilt was a deep blue embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, and the gauzy canopy was pure white.

03 lay down carefully, rolling over a few times. She lifted the quilt and rolled some more.

So comfortable!

She closed her eyes and began to drift into a daze.

The System doesn’t sleep, only hibernates. Even with a human body, 03 didn’t know how to sleep. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind of all thoughts.

Three minutes later, the hand resting outside the quilt twitched.

Five minutes later, 03 shifted her feet.

Ten minutes later, 03 opened her eyes and pulled out her Mission Panel to organize it.

With the Mission Panel organized, she decided to tidy up her Data Box next. After organizing the Data Box, she thought about looking at Feng Jue’s photo again. Feng Jue was truly beautiful; she wanted to see it one more time… Then she remembered she should organize her work log.

After two hours, 03 got up and said, “I’ve slept well and am ready to leave.”

She picked up her sword and veil, strode purposefully to the door, and noticed it hadn’t been closed while she was asleep. Apologizing to the door, she carefully shut it.

The moon hung above the willow tips, and the depths of the palace were steeped in night.

Lanyang Palace was unusually quiet tonight, with barely a wisp of spiritual energy dancing in the air. 03’s foot faltered momentarily before she smoothly resumed her practiced stride toward the previous mission site.

In another wing of the palace, Lingshi lay on the floor, cultivating its cultivation technique. The final battle in the Chongshan Secret Realm had left the Late Golden Core Stage Fire Rock Jiao Dragon not only half its cultivation, but also imparted its cultivation technique. If Lingshi cultivated diligently, acquiring a human form was now within reach. Moreover, Lingshi sensed a critical moment approaching—it was on the verge of being able to—

“Lingshi.”

A pale, furtive head peeked out from the open window, its cold voice sounding as if it had been fished from an icy pond. The figure, backlit by the moonlight, was impossible to see clearly. He stood straight and called out again:

“Lingshi.”

Gah! Lingshi shot up, her upper body thrashing wildly in the hall as her dragon form swayed like a ghost.

03 swayed along curiously. “Is this how the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon Clan welcomes guests?”

Lingshi: …This voice sounds familiar.

She stopped thrashing and cautiously lowered her head into the moonlight. 03 climbed through the window, extended a hand, and said, “Hello, Lingshi. I’d like to invite you to play with me. Would you like to be friends?”

Lingshi: “!!!”

It was Beads! Beads had transformed into a human!

Lingshi eagerly swam forward, coiling around 03 again and again. 03 reached out to touch her scales. The fiery red scales burned like flames, feeling…

“Scorching,” 03 said honestly, patting Lingshi. “You must be working hard.”

After all, it was summer.

Lingshi stared blankly at the human she had wrapped up, her azure eyes fixed on the woman with a face like a clear moon, bright eyes, and a radiant smile. Silver hair cascaded down like flowing moonlight over her azure robes, refracting the lunar glow.

The Fire Rock Jiao Dragon couldn’t resist letting out a low roar and rubbing its large head against 03.

Ah~ I wish I could transform into such a beautiful young woman.

Clutching this lovely wish, Lingshi continued to rub against 03 several more times. Rocked by the rubbing, 03 let out a friendly “Ha ha!”

Since she’s letting me rub against her, does that mean we’re friends now?

03 reached out and placed the veil hat she’d been holding onto Lingshi’s large head. The sheer white gauze draped down the sides of the dragon’s head. 03 adjusted it, parting the gauze to reveal the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon’s eyes. As she straightened Lingshi’s hat, 03 pondered: If I make friends with a dragon, what could we do together?

She stared at Lingshi’s head for a long moment, then her eyes lit up.

The sun rose in the east, and mist began to rise from the mountain valleys.

Siyi, clutching Feng Jue’s message token, arrived at Qihuang Hall. She stood outside the hall’s tightly shut doors, her thoughts swirling. The Grand Competition was imminent, and Feng Jue knew how busy she was, yet she’d still summoned Siyi to entertain this “extremely important friend” of the Palace Master’s… But when did the Palace Master even make friends?

And what did this friend have to do with the heavy snowfall last night?

Pushing aside her doubts, Siyi curved her lips and was about to knock when she suddenly heard the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon’s roar from the Back Mountain, filled with fury and—was that… grievance?

Siyi’s eyes flickered as she glanced at the tightly shut door. Arching an eyebrow, she headed toward the Back Mountain.

In the garden at the Back Mountain, a fiery-red Jiao Dragon coiled among exotic flowers and rare grasses, its tail arched high and occasionally slamming down to crush vibrant blossoms into a pitiful, scattered heap beneath its tail.

Siyi stood behind a pillar, watching the person playing Go with the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon. Her eyes widened involuntarily, filled with awe and astonishment.

This person was…

“You lose,” a cool voice emerged from pale pink lips, as calm and uninflected as her expression—cold, serene, devoid of any discernible emotion. She sat cross-legged, her fair fingers holding a black stone that she placed decisively on the board.

The stone clicked crisply against the board.

“This is your 3,216th loss,” the woman stated in a detached, emotionless tone.

The Fire Rock Jiao Dragon began to thrash again.

Behind the pillar, Siyi paused, blinking.

As if sensing her presence, the peerlessly beautiful woman with unconventional hair color turned to look in her direction. Siyi’s lips curved upward, but before she could speak, the woman—whose cultivation level was undetectable, leaving no trace of spiritual power—suddenly stood and waved at her.

“Good morning, Siyi!” 03 said enthusiastically. “Want to play an honest game of Go with me?”

“What kind of game is this?”

Siyi wondered how 03 had recognized her. She walked over to look at the board and chuckled softly. “Ah, Five-Star Alignment.”

“Yes, Alignment,” 03 replied calmly, tidying the board and returning the white and black beads to the box. “Lingshi can’t beat me at this, but that’s no surprise. No matter what kind of board game it is, none of you combined could ever defeat me.”

Siyi’s mouth opened, her gaze sweeping across 03’s face again. She detected no trace of arrogance or smugness; 03’s expression remained calm, as natural as drinking water. She didn’t seem like someone who would make such a boastful claim. Siyi guessed that 03’s bold assertion must be backed by confidence. Smiling, she asked, “Your Excellency, did you cultivate through the path of board games?”

03 shook her head and raised the sword beside her. “I am a swordsman.”

The Lingshan Sword Venerable.

“I see,” Siyi said.

“Ah! Please don’t call me Senior. I’m 03,” 03 said hurriedly. “No, wait—I mean Xi Lingren.”

Unfamiliar with human names, 03 covered her mistake with laughter. “Hahaha!”

Failing to notice 03’s embarrassment, Siyi said, “…Alright, Xi… Lingren.”

“What a truly memorable name.”

03’s eyes lit up. “Thank you for the compliment,” she said gratefully.

“Haha,” Siyi chuckled.

Her lips curved into a gentle smile. Just as the Palace Master said, she thought, this fellow cultivator has an innocent clarity, untouched by worldly affairs, like a legendary disciple raised in seclusion by a reclusive master, untouched by the dust of the world.

Unaware of the dramatic story unfolding in Siyi’s mind, 03 climbed to her feet, brushing grass fragments from her clothes—splattered there by Lingshi’s tail, leaving stains of plant sap.

Though the scent was pleasant, this was Feng Jue’s clothing! 03 touched the fabric guiltily.

Siyi, quick-witted and perceptive, noticed 03’s discomfort and suggested with a smile, “Miss, why don’t you go change first? I’ll wait for you outside the palace.”

But I have nothing to wear. I should have bought clothes yesterday.

03 sighed.

Siyi chuckled softly. “My Storage Ring has two sets of Lanyang Palace disciple robes. They originally belonged to my disciple, but I retrieved them due to an unexpected situation. If you don’t mind…”

03 looked at Siyi and replied cheerfully, “I don’t mind at all. I’ll wash them thoroughly and return them to Xue Mengtao.”

Siyi paused, nodded, and her gaze swept over the Phoenix Token resting against the hem of 03’s robes. Her smile deepened as she said softly, “Just take it and wear it. There’s no need for such trouble. I’ll have new clothes sent up the mountain quickly.”

Following her gaze to the jade token at her waist, 03 replied honestly, “Feng Jue gave it to me.”

If the Palace Master had entrusted her with the token, it meant the master-disciple relationship between Feng Jue and Xue Mengtao must have been confirmed by the Palace Master herself. Siyi’s eyes held a wistful look as she said softly, “This token symbolizes the identity of the Palace Master of Lanyang Palace. The colored cord was personally woven by the Old Palace Master. Though I don’t know how you came to know the Palace Master, her decision to entrust you with this token shows she trusts you completely. The Palace Master has always been devoted to the Dao and has never had a close friend before. Miss, please do not betray her trust.”

I wouldn’t dare. I’ll only protect Feng Jue! 03 gave Siyi a thumbs-up.

By the time she finished changing, the sky was bright. Lanyang Palace remained as tranquil as ever. 03 invited the Fire Rock Jiao Dragon to go out and play. The dragon coiled around her wrist as they followed Siyi to the Enforcement Hall.

Upon reaching the hall’s entrance, Siyi glanced at 03’s waist, but the Phoenix Token was nowhere to be seen. “I put it away,” 03 said, patting her belly.

Since this was a precious item left behind by Feng Jue’s mother, it needed to be carefully preserved.

Siyi’s gaze softened further as she murmured, “Alright. If you need anything, feel free to come to Mingshi Hall and find me.”

After waving goodbye to Siyi and watching her depart, 03 turned her attention to the palace before her.

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