The Host Has Fallen for the Second Female Lead Again - Chapter 72

Xu Cu returned to the mortal world after her cultivation was abolished, becoming a regular person with no spiritual power. She had no money and no family. In a time that was already demanding for women, survival became even harder. On top of that, she noticed her appearance was changing. She was over a hundred years old, and without her immortal power, she couldn’t maintain the look of a sixteen-year-old girl.

When she first arrived, Xu Cu hadn’t shaken off her sense of superiority as an immortal. It took her a month to truly grasp that she was no longer connected to immortals in any way. If she told people she was the disciple of the Supreme Immortal Wu Yin, they would only think she was crazy.

She could no longer hold her head high because she had to bow her head to beg for alms, eating one meal and missing the next.

She was too old, unable to do even manual labor.

Xu Cu touched her wrinkled face, her expression contorted. Many people who passed by and saw her face ran away.

She didn’t want this, but she also didn’t want to die.

She didn’t know when she would die—tomorrow or the day after. There was no certainty.

“Miss, would you like to take a look?”

“No, thank you.”

Xu Cu froze when she heard the familiar voice. She looked up and saw Ji Mingxiao not far away, dressed in a light green dress, looking incredibly aloof.

She got up and wanted to run toward Ji Mingxiao to tell her she knew she had made a mistake, but her legs were rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Ji Mingxiao walked closer. She had already seen Xu Cu’s appearance.

She hadn’t expected her to become like this—looking like a decrepit old woman in her eighties or nineties.

The two of them locked eyes, and Ji Mingxiao’s face remained impassive.

Ji Mingxiao walked away without saying a word.

Xu Cu watched Ji Mingxiao buy two candied hawthorn skewers, knowing they were for Xi Ruan.

Her figure quickly disappeared, and the spell on Xu Cu’s legs was released. Her legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground, covering her face and weeping bitterly.

When Ji Mingxiao heard the notification that the mission was complete, she paused but showed no reaction. She returned to the inn where she and Xi Ruan were staying and handed her the candied hawthorn skewers she had just bought.

“Mission complete.” Xi Ruan bit into a hawthorn berry and looked at Ji Mingxiao. “What did you two talk about?”

“Nothing.” Ji Mingxiao rested her chin on her hand and looked at Xi Ruan. “Should we go back after you finish eating?”

“Okay.” Xi Ruan nodded.

With the mission complete, there was no longer any urgency. They could go back whenever they wanted.

After Xi Ruan slowly finished the candied hawthorn, they strolled around the street again.

As they were about to head back, Xi Ruan tugged on Ji Mingxiao’s sleeve.

“What’s wrong?”

“Next time you go back, can you come find me and we can go back together?”

“Okay.” Ji Mingxiao nodded, her eyes on Xi Ruan.

Xi Ruan smiled, her ears turning a little red. She didn’t know why she had said that, but she felt that walking with Ji Mingxiao after the mission was completed was quite nice.

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.” Xi Ruan nodded.

Just as she was about to return, she saw Ji Mingxiao seem to lean in.

She didn’t see what she did.

Ji Mingxiao lay in bed, touching her lips. What a shame it wasn’t her own body.

Even though it was just the forehead, it was still good.

She suddenly realized that Xi Ruan not remembering what happened after she returned might not be a bad thing after all.

She took out her bracelet and looked at her profile.

This had basically become the first thing she did every time she returned.

Name: Ji Mingxiao Code Name: Xiao Xiao Completed Worlds: S(2), A(1), B(1), C(0), D(0), F(0) Points: 19,800 Rest Duration: 675 days Rank on Leaderboard: 97,897th

Ji Mingxiao looked at her rank. It felt like her rank had dropped a bit, but she wasn’t interested in it anyway. The ranking didn’t seem to have much purpose.

She rubbed her neck and opened her contact list. There was only one person in it: Xi Ruan.

“Ruan Shaojia,” Ji Mingxiao whispered the name softly.

[Xiao Xiao: I’m back.]

[Ruan Ruan: I know.]

Ji Mingxiao stared at the screen, unsure of what to say.

On the other side, Xi Ruan also stared at her screen, waiting for Ji Mingxiao’s reply.

At the same time, both of them fell silent.

Finally, Ji Mingxiao spoke first.

[Xiao Xiao: Want to meet up?]

[Ruan Ruan: Okay.]

[Xiao Xiao: I’ll come find you then.]

[Ruan Ruan: Okay!]

Xi Ruan subconsciously touched her face, thinking she should put on some makeup. Then she realized there was no makeup here.

She had always seen Ji Mingxiao with a bare face, so Xi Ruan went to the mirror and looked at her reflection.

A youthful and beautiful eighteen-year-old girl.

Xi Ruan smiled with satisfaction.

Ji Mingxiao pushed the door open and walked out. The corridor was crowded, but people didn’t interact much. They would just glance at each other and then look away.

Even though she had seen strange creatures before, seeing a giant, hairy cockroach made Ji Mingxiao’s legs feel weak.

The cockroach noticed Ji Mingxiao was looking at him and even spoke, though Ji Mingxiao didn’t understand a single word.

The considerate system provided a translation.

“Host, he said, ‘What are you looking at, you ugly freak? Haven’t you ever seen a handsome guy?'”

Ji Mingxiao: …

Ji Mingxiao walked away immediately. She was afraid she would throw up.

It took her a while to find Xi Ruan’s room, as the layout of this place was incredibly complex.

Xi Ruan was in her room, waiting, and was about to fall asleep when she heard a knock on the door.

She sat up immediately, straightened her hair, and checked the mirror to make sure she looked perfect before opening the door.

“Want to come in?” Xi Ruan asked Ji Mingxiao.

Ji Mingxiao nodded and followed Xi Ruan inside. Xi Ruan’s room was similar to hers, but the wallpaper was pink.

Noticing Ji Mingxiao’s gaze, Xi Ruan smiled. “I didn’t know what to do when I first got here, so I just decorated it. At least I didn’t expand it…”

“It’s nice. It looks comfortable to live in,” Ji Mingxiao said, sitting on the sofa.

Xi Ruan poured Ji Mingxiao a glass of complimentary plain water.

“Just drink it. I’m broke.”

Ji Mingxiao: …

“It’s fine. Want to go out?” Ji Mingxiao asked, looking at the cup provided by the system.

“Okay,” Xi Ruan nodded, looking at Ji Mingxiao. “Why aren’t you going to work right away this time?”

“I need to rest a bit,” Ji Mingxiao said with a smile. “What, you don’t want to see me?”

Xi Ruan blinked. This question was a trap.

Answering yes or no wasn’t a good idea.

So she chose to avoid the question and changed the subject.

“Let’s go. Do you want to work out? There’s a free gym here.”

“Okay.” Ji Mingxiao was a little surprised that Xi Ruan had actively suggested exercising.

However, as soon as Xi Ruan said that, she regretted it. Why on earth did she say that? Why?!

She didn’t want to exercise at all.

“I think we can go somewhere else.”

“No, I think working out is good. Even if we’re dead, we should still maintain our physical health,” Ji Mingxiao laughed, a playful glint in her eyes.

Xi Ruan: …

“Don’t you think what you just said sounds a little creepy?”

“No.”

Xi Ruan sighed. The gym was huge, stretching out of sight. She let out a long sigh.

“Have you not been here before?” Ji Mingxiao asked Xi Ruan.

Xi Ruan was silent for a few seconds. “I have… I passed by, is that not allowed?!”

“Alright, alright.” Ji Mingxiao pulled Xi Ruan inside. To make sure Xi Ruan didn’t feel awkward, she grabbed her wrist.

Xi Ruan felt the warmth on her wrist and pursed her lips.

There were quite a few people inside, but also plenty of equipment. They found two adjacent treadmills and got on.

After running for five minutes, Xi Ruan wanted to stop, but she saw Ji Mingxiao next to her, not even out of breath, and bit her lip, saying nothing.

If she stopped after just five minutes, Ji Mingxiao would definitely burst out laughing.

Xi Ruan glanced at Ji Mingxiao.

Ji Mingxiao: ???

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Xi Ruan huffed lightly again.

“Can’t run anymore?”

Xi Ruan: …

“Are you kidding? Am I the kind of person who can’t run after five minutes?” Xi Ruan said.

“Yes, you are.”

Xi Ruan: ???

Xi Ruan glared at Ji Mingxiao, bit her lip, and took a deep breath.

However, despite her efforts, she resolutely stopped after ten minutes.

Forget it. What’s the point of saving face? If Ji Mingxiao dared to laugh, she would…

She sat down on a nearby bench, watching Ji Mingxiao, and took a sip of water.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Running on a treadmill, I’m not tired.”

“What kind of logic is that?” Xi Ruan frowned.

“I don’t know either.”

Ji Mingxiao ran for half an hour and then got off. She was about to sit next to Xi Ruan, but as soon as she sat down, Xi Ruan ran away.

“You’re sweaty. Stay away from me.”

Ji Mingxiao: …

“Tsk.” Ji Mingxiao raised her hand and ruffled Xi Ruan’s hair, then rubbed it a few more times.

Xi Ruan subconsciously wanted to yell Ji Mingxiao’s name but held back, realizing where they were. If she called her by her so-called fake name, it wouldn’t perfectly express her frustration.

While she was thinking, the best time to yell had already passed.

Xi Ruan hit Ji Mingxiao’s arm. “Don’t mess up my hair! I just washed it.”

“I can help you wash it again.”

“No, thanks.”

Ji Mingxiao chuckled softly.

“Let’s go. I’m going to get a mission.”

“So proactive?”

“I can’t help it. I’m broke,” Xi Ruan said, looking at Ji Mingxiao and sighing.

Ji Mingxiao followed behind Xi Ruan. “I really want an S-level mission.”

The people nearby glanced at Ji Mingxiao, but she didn’t mind.

Xi Ruan also looked at Ji Mingxiao. “Then you’d better pray hard. I heard S-level missions are rare for you guys.”

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