Chapter 118: Sticking to the Script
— System! System!
[Reporting for duty, Host! How may I assist you?]
— Is there something wrong with your script?
[The script provided by the system is absolutely accurate and reliable.]
— Then why doesn’t it match reality? Older Sister’s precognitive dreams are all coming true!
[Ding! Friendly System Reminder: Beware of new scams. Young men should be careful when venturing out into the world.]
— What? You’re saying she’s lying to me? That’s impossible! What would she gain from that?
[Ding! Another System Reminder: The more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive you. Only the system is your truly loyal companion. Heart emoji. Mua~]
“Hmm…”
He pondered the system’s words.
Something did feel off, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Her precognitive dreams only differed from the system’s script in one aspect: the method of treatment.
In the script, he would follow his Beautiful Sect Master’s instructions, preparing a medicinal bath. They would both bathe naked in the pool, their palms pressed together, performing a modified form of dual cultivation without actual intercourse.
In her dreams, however, they engaged in actual dual cultivation, their relationship evolving from sworn siblings to lovers during their month-long intimate treatment.
If she was lying, how could she know about his “Azure Dragon Crescent Blade,” which hadn’t even been enhanced yet? How could she know about his sensitive ears, his preferred positions, and other intimate details?
Could the script be wrong? But honestly, while there were often minor discrepancies, the major plot points always aligned with reality. He and Ji Ya were supposed to be sworn siblings, not lovers. The script couldn’t be wrong about something this fundamental.
Wait, why did he have to choose between the script and her dreams? Why couldn’t both be true?
A sudden realization struck him. A bold hypothesis formed in his mind:
She wasn’t lying. They did become lovers in her dreams. But those dreams were from a parallel worldline!
A parallel worldline that wouldn’t unfold in reality, merely a glimpse into an alternate possibility.
The script’s path was the true path, the one that would actually happen!
There was no contradiction!
The problem was, her precognitive dreams had already sparked feelings within her. Her overly enthusiastic behavior clearly indicated her desire for a romantic relationship.
This wouldn’t do.
They were supposed to become sworn siblings, not husband and wife.
But it shouldn’t be a major issue. He just needed to propose the “non-intercourse dual cultivation” method when he examined her later.
After all, in her dreams, their feelings developed during their intimate dual cultivation sessions.
Those feelings weren’t pure. They were born out of necessity.
If he could cure her without actual dual cultivation, she wouldn’t insist on pursuing a romantic relationship.
— Clarity!
“You still don’t believe me, do you, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
She gazed at him with a hint of reproach, as if wondering why he was so cold and distant after she had bared her soul to him.
“Ahem, well, after everything you’ve said… how can I not believe you? But…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “To suddenly tell me that we’re going to… do things and become lovers… It’s a bit much to process.”
“Am I not beautiful enough?”
“You’re stunning, Sister Ji Ya. But this isn’t about beauty. It’s about principles.”
She chuckled inwardly. He’s still the same serious, clueless Little Brother Yan Zhen…
Any other man, hearing her confession, would have pounced on her immediately. Only this fool would talk about “principles,” even seeming a bit resistant. She would have to resort to some… tactics to win him over.
— You little rascal… making me say such embarrassing things! Just you wait! I’ll get you back!
“Don’t worry, Little Brother Yan Zhen. I understand. I won’t force you to accept our future relationship right away. I just… hope we can be closer, to nurture our bond. That way, when we perform dual cultivation, it won’t be out of necessity, but out of mutual affection, a natural progression towards… intimacy.”
— Hmph, you’re overthinking things, Older Sister! There’s no intercourse in the script!
“Is dual cultivation really necessary?” he asked, his tone skeptical. “What kind of illness do you have, Sister Ji Ya?”
She extended her arm, her wrist facing him. “You can find out yourself, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
As if I don’t already know… He grumbled inwardly, placing his fingers on her pulse, feigning a thorough examination. He channeled his Mystic Power, then used his Spiritual Perception to scan her body before speaking.
“Your meridians are blocked by unrefined medicinal energy from pills. Not only is your cultivation stagnating, but you can’t use your full strength in combat. Furthermore, the prolonged accumulation of medicinal energy has damaged your meridians, causing periodic bouts of excruciating pain… And since the pills are the root cause, you can’t consume anything but Supreme Grade pills, which are completely pure. Otherwise, your condition will only worsen. And when you have an episode, only a Supreme Grade Detoxification Pill can provide relief… It’s a rather troublesome condition. You’ve been suffering for a long time, haven’t you?”
She smiled faintly. “Not that long. About three years.”
Three years… the same amount of time I spent at my lowest point. He felt a pang of sympathy for her.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
“It’s nothing. If not for this illness, I wouldn’t have met you, Little Brother Yan Zhen~”
Her gaze, filled with affection, made him blush. He quickly looked away.
— Stop saying such seductive things!
“As you said, the treatment involves dual cultivation with a Mystic Refiner who possesses an Extreme Flame. To be more precise, we’ll use dual cultivation, combined with my Extreme Flame and alchemy skills, to refine the accumulated medicinal energy within your body into a new pill, using your body as a cauldron. The concept is simple, but the execution is quite complex. I’ll need to consult with my master to finalize the details. And… there might be an alternative method that doesn’t require… intercourse…” He hinted heavily.
She, however, dismissed his suggestion.
She knew about the alternative method. He had used it in her previous life, treating her with a medicinal bath instead of dual cultivation. She had been overjoyed at the time, but now, each time she remembered it, she felt a pang of regret.
That method required more time and precious ingredients. If he proposed it, she would simply claim they lacked the time and resources.
“Why bother with an alternative method when the original method is perfectly effective? Don’t trouble yourself with such things, Little Brother Yan Zhen. Just focus on curing my illness.”
— No, no, we have to consider it! I’ll ask my Beautiful Sect Master to teach me how to prepare that medicinal bath.
Despite the numerous deviations, he was no longer worried.
— I’ll just treat her precognitive dreams as… well, dreams. I’m sticking to the script!
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