ccnovels #363 - A little red on the brow
#363 - A little red on the brow
When Amina found Gao Huating, she almost didn't recognize the little songstress.
Her face was haggard, her eyes were somewhat hollow, and she was curled up on the bed in a corner, hugging her guitar, with empty bottles of the Fortress's specialty low-alcohol beverages beside her.
Amina wasn't good at comforting people.
But now, Wang Jixuan was in seclusion and out of sight, and Gao Huating was of unusual importance to them.
Amina stood outside the door, pondering how to start the conversation.
She looked at Mudan beside her and said with some surprise, "I just noticed, you've changed your clothes?"
Mudan was wearing a fishtail dress, elegantly displaying her excellent artificial figure.
Mudan slightly curled her lips: "The master is away, so the maid is naturally on vacation."
"Uh-huh," Amina said, crossing her arms and thinking carefully.
Mudan asked, "Aren't you going to try to persuade her?"
"I'm not good at persuading people," Amina said, turning her head to look at her two subordinates.
The handsome man and beautiful woman lowered their heads in embarrassment at the same time.
They used to be the type to throw their weight around and were good at lecturing people, but they weren't very good at persuading people.
Amina said, "Moreover, this matter is too complicated."
"Complicated?"
"Yes, Gao Huating was used by that guardian of the City Above the Clouds. The other party used some unknown means, which led to Wang Zheng's demonic possession and loss of control this time, and the other party's purpose was to have Gao Huating take away Wang Zheng's virginity, thereby taking away half of Wang Zheng's cultivation and allowing Gao Huating to enter the ranks of cultivators."
Amina pursed her lips, not knowing how to express it for a moment.
Mudan said playfully, "The commander's virginity."
"That description may not be accurate, but that's roughly it."
"You should still try to persuade her," Mudan said. "I've tried all sorts of methods, and in the end, I can only let her drown her sorrows in alcohol."
"Then I'll try my best."
Amina directly twisted the doorknob and walked in.
Gao Huating looked up and put down her guitar somewhat restrainedly, wanting to use the bedsheet to cover up the messy empty bottles.
Amina smiled and said, "No need to bother, I've been watching you outside for a long time."
Gao Huating gave an awkward smile.
Mudan outside the door couldn't help but raise her hand to support her forehead.
This big sister really doesn't seem to know how to comfort people… …
Then she heard Amina say:
"You may not know, I went to an ancient civilization site and also saw the guy who claimed to be the remnant spirit of your past life, but I can't be sure if he really is.
"Before Wang Zheng went into seclusion, he told me to take care of your mental state. He was worried that you would fall into self-blame.
"There's really no need to blame yourself.
"Just like all humans, including me, can't choose their parents, this isn't your fault."
"Yeah," Gao Huating said, trying hard to open her eyes and smile, "I'm just in a bad mood, nothing else. Adults have to learn to regulate themselves."
"That's good."
Amina secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Did she succeed in persuading her?
Now that she was here, she should still do her business first.
Amina sat down in a chair next to her, gesturing for Gao Huating to sit down as well.
Amina, in her original appearance, that is, when she was active as the big size, would subconsciously put on airs and try to be as elegant as possible. This was a habit she had formed over the past seventeen thousand years, and it was difficult to change in a short time.
"Let's assume that the guardian is the soul of your past life, then, how much do you know about the remnants of your past life's soul?"
Gao Huating said, "Not much… … Most of her communication with me is to advise me on some things."
"What kind of things?"
"That is," Gao Huating looked to the side, "in many aspects, from clothing, food, housing, and transportation to how to make friends, she has some inexplicable demands on me, and she constantly encourages me, asking me to build a good relationship with Commander Wang Zheng, and she once said that ordinary humans have limited lifespans and limited youth, and in twenty years, I will have a chance… … things like that."
Amina asked, "Does 'ordinary people' refer to Ling Tong?"
"Yes, it should be."
"When did this kind of persuasion start?"
"About ten months ago, I remember, or even earlier. At first, I just took her words as a joke."
Gao Huating lowered her head and sighed:
"At the beginning, I didn't think much about it.
"But after being told by her, I gradually became confused about whether my emotions towards Commander Wang Zheng were purely admiration."
"Admiration and affection are often interconnected, and you don't need to feel guilty about it."
Amina said simply:
"Although I have no interest in romantic relationships, I have seen too many situations like this.
"Don't worry, you are a healthy and mature woman of childbearing age, and reproduction is the basic instinct of living beings."
Gao Huating's face turned a little red.
Amina continued to question her, all around Gao Huating and her past life.
It was true;
According to Mudan's emotional detection instrument, as Amina and Gao Huating chatted, Gao Huating came out of that dejected mood.
Mudan slightly analyzed… …
This should be because Amina subconsciously treated Gao Huating and that ancient civilization guardian as two separate individuals.
The effect was really good.
Half an hour later, Amina frowned slightly.
Gao Huating's mouth was dry, and she asked in a low voice, "Do you have anything else to ask?"
Amina shook her head slightly.
She pressed her forehead with her fingers, slightly sideways, elegantly expressing that she had a headache now.
Amina said, "Now it seems that this ancient remnant spirit is indeed very good to you, everything is for your consideration, including this time leading to Wang Zheng's loss of control… … Has she ever mentioned Wang Jixuan, these three words to you?"
"Wang Jixuan?"
"Yes, this seems to be Wang Zheng's real name, but Wang Zheng said that Wang Zheng is his real name, and I can't tell the difference."
"It's a Daoist name," Mudan poked her head in from outside the door to remind her, "Jixuan is the Daoist name, Wang Zheng is the secular name. Those who cultivate immortality will use Daoist names after embarking on the path of immortality."
Amina suddenly looked enlightened: "But what that guardian told me was that his real name was Wang Jixuan… … There seems to be a lot of problems hidden here."
Gao Huating asked, "Do you need me to ask her directly?"
"Not for the time being."
Amina opened her right hand, and a ball of light golden flames slowly burned.
Wanda's core circuit.
Moreover, it had been processed by Amina, without Wanda's mark and memory, leaving only the pure core circuit.
"See if you can resonate with it?"
"Me?" Gao Huating was a little surprised.
Amina smiled and said, "Yes, you can try it. Of course, it's just a try, because Wang Zheng suddenly had a problem, and our original plan to select new spiritual cultivators was also delayed, so let's start with you."
"Such precious resources… …"
"This is a kind of revenge," Amina said indifferently, "That guardian looks down on our spiritual cultivators, and if you, who she cares about most, become a member of the spiritual cultivators, her expression will definitely be very rich. Come forward a little."
Gao Huating took a few steps forward hesitantly.
The golden flame vibrated gently, and a light curtain naturally expanded, with a honeycomb-structured hexagon on it, and a golden crown of thorns in the center.
Resonance successful!
"As expected."
Amina suddenly waved her hand, suppressing the core circuit and taking it into her palm.
Gao Huating asked, "I can resonate?"
"Not only can you, but it's a perfect resonance."
Amina stood up and said:
"I have other things to deal with, take care of yourself.
"Don't attribute the evil deeds of others to yourself. You are Xiao Huating, a virtual singer who tries to bring hope to the Fortress with her songs, not just an inheritor of some civilization.
"If you're still feeling down, you might as well change your style and try something you've always wanted to try but never dared to do.
"Note, don't fall into depravity, Wang Zheng wouldn't fancy a depraved woman. Men have a bit of a mental cleanliness fetish in their bones."
Amina winked at Gao Huating, and Gao Huating nodded weakly, then embarrassedly raised her hand to tidy up the hair beside her ear.
'As expected of a spiritual cultivator who is seventeen thousand years old, she really understands.'
Gao Huating said with such emotion.
And Amina, who had walked to the door, turned into a small size with a bang, clenched her fists, pursed her lips, and punched the wall, leaving a dent.
'Damn it, how did I end up persuading her!'
The handsome man and beautiful woman behind her chased after her.
"Master, where are we going next?"
"Go find that Zhou Zhengde! If Wanda's circuit can resonate, stuff it into his mouth!"
"Okay, Master, why are you so resentful? Is it because you also want to become a cultivator, but the cultivator Wang Zheng won't give you his virginity?"
"Get out! If you mention the word virginity again, I'll exile you two!"
"But Master, you still have your virginity, don't you? Let's exchange it equally, and we won't suffer."
"Wang Zheng has no virginity long ago! No, shut up!"
The little Amina's wailing echoed in the corridor.
Mudan shook her head.
As she expected, there are more and more women coveting the beauty of her commander.
… …
Wang Jixuan opened his eyes.
What came into view was a white beach, two round moons overhead, and seemingly endless blue waves in the distance.
He just sat there blankly, barely regaining his senses after about twenty minutes.
It was like having a nightmare;
It was like wandering in the clouds for a long time;
It seemed that a single misstep would lead to endless purgatory, and the immortal realm he wanted to go to was nowhere to be found.
Some insights flowed like mountain springs;
Many insights poured down like mountain torrents;
The remnant soul of the Mahayana stage merged with the Golden Core, and a new phantom appeared within the Golden Core. That was his current Primordial Spirit, which already had a prototype.
Wang Jixuan looked inward at himself.
Wang Ji Xuan's Dao realm had unknowingly stepped into the third stage of the Heaven and Earth Bridge realm, and he would soon enter the fourth stage.
His Dao body, having been tempered by the previous onslaught of demonic energy, was already extremely formidable, capable of directly withstanding the violent impact of twice his current mana.
His nascent soul had already taken shape; soon, it would break out of the golden core, and he would become a Nascent Soul Daoist.
Transformation was just around the corner.
Wang Ji Xuan was greatly encouraged.
However, the most important thing this time was his Dao heart.
A great dream as if just awakened;
Only then do I know that I am me.
Wang Ji Xuan slowly rose, stretched lazily, his Dao heart clear as a mirror, all demonic and murderous thoughts refined. Even if he were to use demonic techniques and fall into the demonic path, he could easily recover himself.
"From today onwards, this humble Daoist will only do three things."
"Cultivation, enjoyment, and earning merit."
"Though the body enters the mortal world, the heart still yearns for the immortal path."
Daoist Wang patted his belly, took a step, and with a few leaps, arrived at the vortex of the exit, lowered his head, and plunged into it.
The light and shadows shifted before him, and Wang Ji Xuan was already inside the cargo hold of a transport plane.
Ahead, there was a surgical table where Mudan was using two highly precise welding tools to modify a spiritual energy armor.
Shen Qionglin, who hadn't been seen for a long time, was also wearing protective clothing, assisting Mudan.
Wang Ji Xuan's sudden appearance clearly startled Shen Qionglin and Mudan.
However, Mudan's hand remained steady, preventing the expensive modification experiment from failing.
"You guys are busy," Wang Ji Xuan waved his hand, "Don't mind me."
Mudan, without turning her head, said, "Commander, should we send a message to the Commander-in-Chief and Colonel Ling Tong about your exit from seclusion?"
"Send it. How is her injury?"
"It was fine before, and there weren't any scars left," Mudan smiled, "It's no secret that you like Colonel Ling Tong's delicate skin, is it?"
"Is that so?"
Daoist Wang smiled, narrowing his eyes, "Your bionic skin actually feels pretty good, it's just a pity, it still lacks that bit of realism."
Mudan was immediately filled with resentment.
Shen Qionglin blinked and asked from within her protective suit, "Is this how you guys usually chat?"
"Otherwise?"
Wang Ji Xuan had already taken a bottle of pure water from the corner refrigerator, tilted his head back, and took a few gulps, gently exhaling.
He rummaged through it, found two low-temperature-stored sandwiches, the filling was ham and cheese, the taste was not bad.
Daoist Wang swallowed large mouthfuls, the slight feeling of fullness brought some pleasure.
Shen Qionglin had already taken off her protective suit, replaced by other mechanical assistants to help Mudan.
Professor Shen's figure was petite, but her proportions were quite good, black tight jeans paired with a simple white short-sleeved shirt made her look like a pure student on campus.
She sized Wang Ji Xuan up and down, wondering:
"You... are you really okay?"
"I should be okay," Wang Ji Xuan swallowed the food, "If you've noticed that my temperament has changed, then you shouldn't be wrong."
"Why?"
"It's a kind of mental improvement," Wang Ji Xuan said, "You can simply understand it as, I used to be too tightly bound by myself, and cultivation and comprehending the Great Dao don't have any requirements for these. Now I can let go a bit more."
Shen Qionglin nodded as if she understood.
Wang Ji Xuan asked, "What are you guys up to?"
"Ah, it's a new type of spiritual energy armor. I'm still customizing specialized medical machinery, so I asked Mudan to come over and help."
"The Blade Beasts aren't causing trouble?"
"After you went into seclusion, the Blade Beasts went into full defense. No new Pillar Blade Beasts have been activated."
"How are Amina and Gao Huating?"
"I can't get Amina's information. Gao Huating seems to still be active in the No. 76 Fortress ruins."
Shen Qionglin handed Wang Ji Xuan a wristband with a built-in projection screen:
"This is the intelligence I can get every day, it's automatically compiled, take a look."
"No need," Wang Ji Xuan refused with a smile, "Have your transport plane send me to Ling Tong's side, I miss her a bit... Mudan, send a message to Amina, set up an online meeting."
"Yes," Mudan replied simply.
"Oh, okay," Shen Qionglin hesitated.
Wang Ji Xuan asked, "If you want to say something, just say it."
"What's that red dot on your brow?"
"Hmm?" Wang Ji Xuan casually grabbed a mirrored tray not far away and looked at himself.
There was a jujube-sized red mark on his brow.
That's bad...
Demon Lord's Mark?!