Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Hug Me, This Is the Antidote

 

Shen Yirong rubbed her eyes again. Song Yin was still Song Yin; everything just now felt like a hallucination.

 

Could it be because her body is too weak?

 

Shen Yirong walked forward two steps and stretched. Afterwards, she felt even more lethargic.

 

Shen Shuci flew over from somewhere, burrowing into Shen Yirong’s sleeve.

 

Seeing the host’s poor complexion, Shen Shuci suppressed a belly full of words she wanted to say.

 

After walking only two steps forward, she felt as if all her strength had been drained. Shen Yirong leaned against the wall, a deep panic slowly surging within her. She asked, “What’s happening to me?”

 

Shen Shuci poked her head out of her sleeve. “Host is just tired. Rest more and you’ll be fine.”

 

Shen Yirong smelled deception.

 

She lowered her gaze to conceal her displeasure, smiling as she said, “This feeling is the same as in my past life.”

 

In her past life, when Shen Yirong was ill, the System was not by her side, but Shen Shuci could sense that it was an especially difficult time.

 

She wondered how the Host managed to endure while bearing such a huge secret alone.

 

Shen Shuci still felt this world was too dangerous. The modern world was different; it was much safer.

 

Shen Yirong had a sudden surge of stubbornness. Someone was watching her in secret, presumably someone sent by Song Yin, but Shen Yirong didn’t want to call for help. She insisted on walking this stretch of the path by herself.

 

Every step she took required mobilizing all her strength; her legs felt like they were filled with lead.

 

Sweat streamed down her face, but Shen Yirong was full of smiles. She scoffed at the suffering before her. “Heh, this is much lighter than the suffering of my past life.”

 

Shen Shuci sat back on her shoulder. Looking at the host’s stubborn profile, she seemed unable to do anything but sigh.

 

After an unknown amount of effort, Shen Yirong returned to her room. She collapsed into the bed, giving the red quilt a big hug.

 

“Phew! I have no strength left.”

 

Shen Shuci hopped on her shoulder, seemingly giving her a shoulder massage.

 

Her vision gradually blurred. Shen Yirong heard Shen Shuci quietly complaining about her stubbornness.

 

Shen Yirong didn’t want to continue sleeping. She had slept for too long, sleeping through four hundred years, only to be abandoned by the times when she woke up.

 

She forced herself to cheer up and sit up, then reached out her hand, letting Shen Shuci lie in her palm. “Talk to me for a while.”

 

Shen Shuci felt an indescribable sadness in her heart. She nodded. “What does Host want to talk about?”

 

The current Shen Shuci looked quite cute. Shen Yirong touched her head, feeling like she was touching a cold, smooth mirror.

 

Having read so many novels in the modern world, Shen Yirong had seen all kinds of Systems, but she had never seen a System that wanted to be the Host’s daughter.

 

Shen Yirong was not very resistant to the System’s idea. She touched Shen Shuci’s head again. “Why do you want to be my daughter?”

 

Seeing Shen Yirong’s finger about to move away, Shen Shuci simply hugged Shen Yirong’s finger and rubbed it against her head.

 

Shen Shuci said contentedly, “Because Host gave me a name and brought out my emotions, teaching me right from wrong. So, to me, Host, you are my mother.”

 

It was a pity Shen Yirong couldn’t remember any of it.

 

She tried hard to recall, but her mind remained blank.

 

Not dwelling too much on this issue, Shen Yirong asked, “What were you called before? Where did you come from?”

 

Shen Shuci just shook her head. “I don’t remember where I came from. At first, I only knew I was called Eleven, and I remembered that I needed to protect you.”

 

Recalling the past, Shen Shuci smiled happily. “Master said that ‘System Number Eleven’ was too unpleasant, so she gave me this new name.”

 

After speaking, Shen Shuci flew to the bronze mirror in the room. She skillfully integrated herself into the mirror. After a flash of golden light, the scene in the mirror began to change.

 

A baby appeared in the mirror. She had big round eyes, a rosy face, and reached out to touch the toy hanging over her cradle.

 

Unfortunately, her arms were too short, and she could only make unwilling cooing sounds.

 

Shen Shuci’s voice suddenly became very excited. “Master, look, this is you! I even encrypted this part heavily in case the data was lost. How about it, isn’t it cute!”

 

This felt quite new. Shen Yirong didn’t have any photos from her infancy, so seeing herself across time felt quite novel.

 

She slowly walked to the bronze mirror, reaching out to touch the mirror surface, wanting to grasp that tiny hand in the mirror.

 

She grasped it.

 

Another person’s hand appeared in the mirror. This hand held the baby’s hand. That person wore a straw hat used for farm work and a floral short-sleeved shirt that her grandmother would wear. Her face was unclear.

 

This rustic outfit gave Shen Yirong a strange sense of familiarity. She leaned closer, wanting to see the person’s face clearly, but the result was the same up close.

 

The scene then shifted. The baby and the woman were gone. Shen Shuci acted like a fanatical celebrity follower.

 

She then pulled up another precious piece of footage. In the mirror, Shen Yirong was now nine years old.

 

At the age of elementary school, it looked like it was during her Children’s Day performance. The makeup was done by the teacher. The revered teacher’s teaching was impeccable, but the makeup application was truly questionable.

 

She wore a Northeastern-style padded jacket on top, high-saturation green pants below, her face painted like a monkey’s butt, paired with bright red lips, and a dot of the same color lipstick on her forehead. Her hair was tied into two sky-high buns, coupled with a miserable expression. It was truly a bit comical.

 

Black history!

 

Shen Yirong was completely mortified, but Shen Shuci was as excited as if she were drunk.

 

“Host, look, isn’t it cute? That reluctant little expression! Ah! Amazing!”

 

Amazing my butt! If she stood at a traffic light looking like that, who knows how many traffic accidents would happen!

 

Shen Yirong couldn’t stand it. Sleep? What sleep! How could she possibly sleep now!

 

The weak Shen Yirong suddenly erupted, grabbing the edge of the bronze mirror. “Delete this segment for me!”

 

The monkey’s butt in the mirror disappeared, replaced by a stick-figure crying face composed of three curves. Shen Shuci’s voice came from the mirror. “I don’t have the authority to delete it, and besides, it’s very cute.”

 

Shen Yirong grabbed the bronze mirror and started shaking it wildly. “I don’t care! Delete it now!”

 

The two curved eyes in the mirror turned into spiral eyes. Shen Shuci sounded dizzy. “I can’t do it, truly.”

 

Perhaps she was shaking it too violently. The mirror surface turned into a static screen, like a TV with a bad signal. After the static disappeared, a black sheep appeared in the picture.

 

Shen Yirong looked at the horizontal pupils of the sheep. Through the mirror, she seemed to feel killing intent. Then the sheep charged over.

 

The screen tumbled. Shen Yirong saw a lot of withered grass. After the screen stopped tumbling, it focused on an uphill slope, and the sheep charged again with its head lowered.

 

Shen Yirong closed her eyes. She saw the sheep being lifted by its horns by something, its front legs forced upward.

 

“Baa~”

 

The black sheep’s startled cry rang out along with her own crying. The scene shifted again. It was her, carrying a school bag, covered in burrs, wailing uncontrollably.

 

That year, she was ten years old.

 

Shen Yirong was originally pondering the sheep’s strange state, but upon seeing the snot-nosed, grass-covered child with burrs stuck in her hair, her face turned blacker than the sheep.

 

She grabbed the bronze mirror and continued shaking it. “What! Are! You! Doing!”

 

Shen Shuci genuinely didn’t mean it. She extended a golden thread as a hand and treated the mirror as her own head, making a pledging gesture. “I swear to the heavens, I really didn’t do it on purpose!”

 

“Don’t lie! The Heavenly Dao in this world can’t do anything to you! Tell me! How much more of my black history have you saved!!”

 

Shen Yirong was so angry that her complexion actually looked much rosier.

 

The dizzy Shen Shuci uncontrollably broadcasted more memories.

 

Shen Yirong then saw all her embarrassing moments from the modern world, including being chased by bees after passing a rapeseed field, dancing on a school’s ping-pong table when she was too young to know better, picking river clams in a stream and being chased by her mother with a bamboo stick across half the village for coming home too late, and playing ‘statues’ with the big rooster at home for half an hour out of fear of being pecked, but still failing to escape the pecking.

 

High-definition! All in high-definition!

 

Shen Yirong was silent. She looked up at the ceiling, preventing her tears from falling.

 

She paced difficultly around the room, finally comforting herself. “Anyway, only two people know about these things. It’s fine, it doesn’t matter.”

 

After saying that, Shen Yirong started smiling again. That smile was terrifying, even when seen during the day.

 

Shen Shuci crawled out of the bronze mirror. She perched on the dressing table, looking at the terrifying scene. She was about to say that Song Yin knew too but silently closed her mouth.

 

But the Host looks like she’s about to go crazy. This is too scary. How much longer does Song Yin need to wait?

 

Shen Shuci suddenly wished desperately that Song Yin would suddenly appear in this room. Unfortunately, her wish was dashed.

 

After Shen Yirong left the discussion hall, Song Yin dropped all smiles. She looked at Bai Yuzan, who was trying to slip away. “Valley Master Bai, won’t you come in and sit down?”

 

Bai Yuzan stopped. She still held a glimmer of hope, so she continued walking toward the door. But as soon as she took a step, she saw someone walking towards her from around the corner.

 

The person was dressed in an orange outfit, smiling, and looked quite harmless.

 

But the moment Bai Yuzan saw this person, she started sweating all over, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

 

The person stood in front of Bai Yuzan, still smiling politely. “Valley Master Bai, the Venerable requests your presence.”

 

Seeing the Fourth Protector’s half-burned sleeve, Bai Yuzan’s breathing quickened. She took two steps back and slowly revealed her form.

 

After all, she was someone who had survived that chaotic era, so she didn’t show too much panic upon being discovered.

 

Furthermore, she had confirmed one thing: the situation might not be as bad as she imagined, and Song Yin might not be as dangerous as she thought.

 

So, she asked calmly, “Why did the Venerable lure me here?”

 

Song Yin bypassed her and looked at the smiling Fourth Protector nearby. She instructed, “You may leave first.”

 

“Understood.” The Fourth Protector cupped her hands lightly and withdrew.

 

After the Fourth Protector left, Song Yin said, “Sit.”

 

Many conjectures arose in Bai Yuzan’s mind. She sat opposite Song Yin, looking directly into her eyes without fear. With just one glance, she saw that Song Yin’s body was still troubled by her inner demon, just as before.

 

To increase her bargaining chip, Bai Yuzan immediately said, “The Venerable’s body is the same as before. Are you really not considering my method for conditioning it?”

 

“No. This inner demon is quite useful. I believe leaving it might not be a bad thing.”

 

Bai Yuzan started itching all over again. Seeing that Song Yin didn’t seem to be joking, her skin seemed to itch even more.

 

What use could an inner demon possibly have? It could only be used for self-destruction of her cultivation or self-termination.

 

She couldn’t help but scratch her arm, desperately trying to suppress her emotions.

 

Calm down. The person facing her is Song Yin. She must remain calm.

 

After reciting the Cleansing Heart Mantra several times, Bai Yuzan finally regained her senses. She let out a long breath. “The Venerable doesn’t seem like someone who can’t afford six million spirit stones.”

 

Song Yin was unmoved. “I am not very concerned about what you are talking about. However, Valley Master Bai does indeed possess something I am interested in.”

 

Bai Yuzan had many guesses, but Song Yin paused after speaking.

 

The silence eroded Bai Yuzan’s sanity. Without a definitive answer, she kept guessing, trying to figure out what Song Yin was interested in.

 

Many possibilities flashed through her mind. Bai Yuzan once again urged herself to be calm.

 

She gazed at Song Yin. “What is the Venerable interested in?”

 

Seeing her calm down again, Song Yin showed a hint of appreciation in her eyes. She withdrew her technique, and her demeanor became much gentler than before. “I want to ask for a technique from you.”

 

“A technique?” Bai Yuzan was confused. “I don’t think I possess any technique worthy of the Venerable’s learning.”

 

The surrounding wind suddenly stopped. The main hall became a windless, confined space. Even the scenery outside changed color, turning into a pure black.

 

Bai Yuzan was startled. “This is the Sword Venerable’s technique, but…”

 

“But she shouldn’t remember it, right?”

 

Bai Yuzan didn’t deny it. Before Shen Yirong and Song Yin reached that tragic ending, she knew Shen Yirong had lost her memory, but she thought losing her memory was better.

 

In the past, when Shen Yirong didn’t want to see people, she would use this technique to isolate herself.

 

Bai Yuzan looked at Song Yin. “How did the Venerable learn it?”

 

Song Yin didn’t answer the question. “This place is safe. It’s a good place to make a deal. The technique I want is your Body Lending Technique.”

 

Bai Yuzan’s pupils contracted. “What Body Lending Technique? I don’t know anything about it.”

 

Song Yin was not in a hurry. She casually waved her hand and released the Soul-Guiding Lamp. The light flickered eerily. Upon seeing Bai Yuzan, the artifact spirit cried out anxiously, “Run!”

 

There was no way to run now. But as soon as the lamp appeared, Bai Yuzan understood.

 

She rubbed her temples. Her weary face showed a mix of disbelief. “You can extract memories? That’s also your Master’s technique.”

 

Song Yin put the noisy lamp away. She rarely smiled. “I am Master’s disciple. It’s not strange for me to learn her techniques.”

 

The pride in Song Yin’s words was very genuine, startling Bai Yuzan.

 

She felt as if she saw the Song Yin of four hundred years ago again.

 

At that time, she went to the Tai’an Sect to treat Shen Yirong. At the mountain gate, she encountered Song Yin returning from the mortal market. The other person was carrying a bamboo basket filled with many things: candy, a wooden sword, wind chimes, and some medicine.

 

The basket was truly large, carried high above young Song Yin’s head.

 

Although she knew the disciples of the Tai’an Sect were different from those of other sects, she couldn’t help but take the basket off her shoulder.

 

Song Yin was truly a good child who brought joy at first sight. Compared to the other people at the Tai’an Sect, she was incredibly normal.

 

At that time, the other party was still lively. Perhaps because she had just successfully become a disciple, her joy hadn’t faded. She talked a lot while walking up the mountain.

 

She was very proud. “My Master is the Sword Venerable Shen Yirong, the number one sword cultivator in the world. Who are you, Senior? With that attire, you don’t look like someone from the Tai’an Sect.”

 

Bai Yuzan touched the gourd on her waist. “Do you know what this is?”

 

Song Yin glanced at it. “A gourd artifact?”

 

“This is the symbol of the Medical Immortal Valley. If you see someone dressed like this outside, you can ask them for medicine.”

 

Song Yin’s eyes lit up. “You are the Senior who treats Master, right?”

 

Bai Yuzan nodded.

 

Song Yin’s attitude immediately became much more respectful. She reached out and took the basket from Bai Yuzan’s shoulder. “How dare I trouble Senior? I can carry it myself.”

 

The basket was back on Song Yin’s shoulder. After securing it, she said, “I heard from the Sect Master that your medical skills are the best in the world. You can save anyone even if they only have one breath left. Then my Master will be cured, right?”

 

Bai Yuzan’s eyes were dim. Even with such superb medical skills, she couldn’t save everyone.

 

In the past, she couldn’t save Su Wanxing, and now she might not be able to save Shen Yirong.

 

But under Song Yin’s hopeful gaze, she couldn’t say the cruel truth. So, she smiled and said, “Mm, she definitely will.”

 

At that time, Song Yin’s eyes reflected the sunlight after the rain. She said, “That’s wonderful.”

 

But everything had changed. Shen Yirong changed, Song Yin changed, Liu Qianfeng changed, and Su Zhao and Song Yin also changed.

 

Bai Yuzan sighed. She said weakly, “The Body Lending Technique is not something you can learn just by wanting to. It took me a long time to barely create a body that could integrate a soul.”

 

“So the Valley Master is willing to teach it.”

 

This person was truly good at grasping the key point. How could she not teach it? If she didn’t teach it, she probably couldn’t leave this space.

 

Remembering the drawbacks of the Body Lending Technique, Bai Yuzan couldn’t help but warn, “But the body created can’t last long. It would be better to let her return to her original body.”

 

Afraid that Song Yin wouldn’t agree, she added, “Four hundred years have passed. My medical skills are much better than before. I might be able to heal her damaged body.”

 

“The Valley Master only needs to teach me the Body Lending Technique. Nothing else needs to be said.”

 

“…Alright.”

 

An hour later, Bai Yuzan was surprised to see the body with closed eyes before her.

 

The body looked very similar to Song Yin.

 

Song Yin patted “herself” on the shoulder. After one eye closed, the other Song Yin opened her eyes.

 

Bai Yuzan was speechless. She was very familiar with the technique she created. This technique consisted of two steps: body creation and soul transfer. The first step was much harder than the second.

 

After all, the structure of the human body was exquisitely complex, and perfectly replicating the body of the recipient was even more difficult.

 

Song Yin returned to her original body. She looked at Bai Yuzan with much kindness. “If the Valley Master doesn’t mind, please stay in the Demon Palace for a few more days.”

 

Bai Yuzan was still in shock.

 

Her shock lasted until Song Yin withdrew the confinement technique of the space.

 

Song Yin seemed to be saying something to her, but she didn’t hear a single word, only following Song Yin in a daze.

 

“Valley Master Bai.”

 

After Song Yin’s call, Bai Yuzan finally returned to reality. She suddenly remembered Shen Yirong’s pale face and said urgently, “Her body can’t hold up much longer. We must quickly transfer her body.”

 

“Hahahaha!”

 

Shen Yirong’s laughter came from the room. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe it as thunderous. Not only was the sound loud, but why did it also carry a hint of madness?

 

Song Yin walked in with a smile. The speed at which she switched from a cold face to a smiling face was astonishing.

 

Seeing the two people in the room sticking together again, Bai Yuzan’s foot, which was about to enter the room, slowly retreated.

 

Bai Yuzan’s figure was blocked by Song Yin, so Shen Yirong didn’t see her.

 

She reached up and wiped the sweat from Song Yin’s forehead, asking in confusion, “Why did you make yourself look like this?”

 

Song Yin let her do it. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

 

Shen Yirong frowned. “I’ve been sleeping too much lately. Are you two hiding something from me?”

 

Song Yin was honest. “Mm. Is Master angry?”

 

Angry wasn’t the right word, but the feeling of being protected like a porcelain doll was irritating.

 

From another perspective, Song Yin’s possessiveness seemed to be manifesting in another form.

 

Shen Yirong only sighed. “I’m not angry. Did you manage to see Valley Master Bai? Did she check your body?”

 

“She did. The influence of the inner demon is still there.” Song Yin spoke lightly, as if discussing someone else’s business.

 

Shen Yirong had seen Song Yin’s inner demon flare up. She reached out and pulled open Song Yin’s collar. The crimson vines had climbed up to her collarbone.

 

“This… What did Valley Master Bai say?”

 

Shen Yirong was hugged by Song Yin. Following this movement, the vines on her collarbone slowly retreated downward, out of Shen Yirong’s sight.

 

Song Yin rested her chin on Shen Yirong’s shoulder. “Valley Master Bai said, you should hug me more often.”

 

How could Bai Yuzan give such strange medical advice? Clearly, this person was lying again.

 

But it seemed to genuinely have an effect.

 

Since it was effective, Shen Yirong let her hold her.

 

The Heart Demon, who had been eavesdropping, couldn’t help but defend itself: I’ve been wronged! I wasn’t causing trouble just now! Sword Venerable, don’t be deceived by that bad woman!

 

Unfortunately, Shen Yirong couldn’t hear the Heart Demon’s cries. If she could see the Heart Demon, Shen Yirong would definitely chop it into mincemeat.

 

In Song Yin’s embrace, Shen Yirong’s head grew heavier and heavier. Finally, she slumped into Song Yin’s arms.

 

Song Yin looked at her gently. She took out the Soul-Guiding Lamp. The light shone on Shen Yirong’s face, and Shen Yirong’s soul turned into green smoke, absorbed by the Soul-Guiding Lamp.

 

The body in her arms slowly shrank, finally becoming a doll full of cracks.

 

Shen Shuci looked at the object on the ground in surprise. “What did you do?”

 

Song Yin, “Shh. Let her sleep well for a while.”

 

Putting the Soul-Guiding Lamp away, Song Yin took out another object—a shimmering, floating golden liquid.

 

Shen Shuci became unsettled upon seeing it, because the golden liquid was exactly like her own original body.

 

She really did manage to research it.

 

Shen Shuci didn’t know how to describe her feelings. She flew over and looked at the silently floating liquid.

 

It was a very strange feeling.

 

Shen Shuci extended a golden thread, touching it carefully as if caressing a new life.

 

There was a peculiar sense of familiarity. Although she was very resistant to the creation of something exactly like her, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike this newborn System before her.

 

Shen Shuci couldn’t help but touch it again with the golden thread. Her actions seemed to have woken the other entity up.

 

The golden liquid emitted a cold, mechanical female voice: System initializing…

 

Song Yin smiled. “Is she just like you?”

 

Exactly the same.

 

Shen Shuci suddenly realized she wasn’t so averse to having a counterpart. She flew onto Song Yin’s shoulder and asked, “Did you name her?”

 

“Not yet. How about you name her?”

 

Shen Shuci quickly shook her head. She burrowed back into Song Yin’s sleeve.

 

But after a moment, she poked her head out again, looking at the floating liquid.

 

The cold, mechanical female voice sounded again.

 

“System 011, at your service.”