Big Head Doll, Gift

The pavilion of Qiu Shui Tower.

Inside the room.

Ying Bing sat with her slender legs pressed together on the cold marrow jade bed, yet the icy chill of the jade seemed to have lost its effect, unable to calm her restless mind.

The scene from earlier was seared into her thoughts like a brand, impossible to shake off.

She was no naive fool, ignorant of the world.

She knew exactly what she had accidentally witnessed.

"Stop thinking about it... Don’t think about it anymore..."

"I saw... nothing."

Ying Bing grabbed a money jar and began counting the scattered silver and copper coins inside.

She had taken it with her when she left the hotpot restaurant earlier.

Her eyes, faintly misty with unshed emotion, focused intently on the task.

"Twelve taels, three maces, and seven coins... Thirteen taels, five maces, five coins... Eleven taels..."

Why was the total shrinking the more she counted!?

Frustrated, the ice-cold beauty started over.

The clinking of coins continued for a long while before finally settling into a steady rhythm.

Only after calming down did Ying Bing check her system.

[Congratulations, Host. The corresponding punishment has been completed. Rewards are now being distributed.]

[Reward One: Black Phoenix Feathered Robe.]

[Black Phoenix Feathered Robe]: "The Black Phoenix sheds its feathers once every thousand years, and the collected plumage can only craft a single robe. Impervious to fire and water, resistant to all weapons, and imbued with a trace of the Black Phoenix’s aura—radiant, majestic, and peerlessly noble."

At first glance, the robe with its grand cloak appeared deep black, but upon closer inspection, it shimmered with iridescent brilliance.

A true "colorful black," so to speak.

Running her fingers over the cool, feather-light fabric, Ying Bing snapped back to reality.

[Reward Two: Divine Heavenheart Sword Codex (First, Second, and Third Forms)]

[Divine Heavenheart Sword Codex (Fragment)]: "A fragment of a divine sword technique. The sword’s heart is my heart, and my heart is the heart of heaven! A hundred intentions of the divine heavens, yet my will stands alone!"

A divine-grade sword technique!

From this point onward, Ying Bing would only treat swordplay as a supplementary skill.

She had once possessed a divine sword technique, but it required the Nine-Colored Mystic Phoenix’s soul to wield. Now, the only form she could use was the "Selfless Sword."

This new sword codex had arrived at the perfect time.

"Even if it’s just the first three forms, it’ll suffice for now."

With a thought, a sword sigil materialized from the void and imprinted itself on her forehead.

Understanding blossomed in her mind.

The abstruse sword techniques posed no challenge to the accumulated wisdom of the Phoenix Heavenly Empress.

"Mastering the first three forms will grant me the Enlightened Sword Heart."

Ying Bing murmured to herself.

With this, her journey to Hengyun Sword City would be much smoother.

She had already been determined to go, no matter what.

Ah, right.

There was also Jiang Chulong.

The little princess of the Yu Dynasty had been spared the hardships of her past life, and her injuries had healed well.

She should have reached... the Inner Breath realm by now?

While the Inner Breath realm wasn’t particularly impressive for a martial arts summit, the event was being held at Yunzhou’s largest sword sect this time.

She might still have a chance to compete.

I wonder if she’s even considering going to Yunzhou.

"And then there’s... him."

Ying Bing suddenly realized something.

Unbeknownst to her, Li Mo’s swordsmanship had progressed to the point where he could shine brilliantly at Hengyun Sword City!

What a shame, though.

His talent lay in comprehension, not in innate sword aptitude or bone structure.

A true pity.

Still, his greatest strength wasn’t swordsmanship to begin with...

The moment the young man’s name surfaced in her mind, Ying Bing’s recently calmed emotions stirred once more.

She shook her head and turned her attention to the final reward.

[Reward Three: A Void Storage Item, customizable in appearance according to the host’s preference.]

Void storage items were rare treasures across the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

She currently didn’t own one, making travel inconvenient.

Customizable appearance? That was convenient.

"What did my void storage item look like in my past life?"

Just as Ying Bing tried to dispel her wandering thoughts and recall the past—

Suddenly.

[Based on the host’s subconscious desires, the corresponding void storage item has been generated.]

Ying Bing: "?"

She hadn’t even given the command yet.

System, do you understand the concept of "random thoughts"?

Plop—

A chibi doll landed on the bed.

The doll was no larger than half a palm, depicting a young man in white robes, holding a sword in his left hand and a hammer in his right. Exquisitely crafted and lifelike.

Except for the oversized head, which made it look adorably cute.

Yes.

It was a chibi version of Li Mo.

Ying Bing pinched the doll’s oversized head, her expression complicated.

[Host, you must be wondering how to use this void storage item, right?]

[Rest assured, System products are guaranteed to be top-tier in quality and extremely user-friendly!]

[Simply twist off the chibi doll’s head to access the void space.]

At this point, there was no turning back.

After a moment of silence, Ying Bing twisted off the doll’s head.

A quick inspection revealed an astonishingly spacious interior...

[Ding.]

[Due to the host attacking the ranking leader during a bath, evaluation has dropped.]

[This time’s "Defeated One" punishment reward is rated: D-]

[Random reward selection in progress......]

D-...

Seriously?

............

Meanwhile.

Soaking in the hot springs, Li Mo rubbed the back of his head and sighed heavily.

Why did the ice block always act a little strange at the end of the month?

Hmm.

Young Li pondered rationally, then suddenly had an epiphany.

Could it be... that time of the month?

Just like how he sometimes struggled to control himself, certain physiological reactions were unavoidable, even for martial artists.

Like "Uncle Chen" or "Aunt Flo."

So that’s why Ying Bing hadn’t wanted him to look at her earlier?

"This world doesn’t even have anything like leak-proof pads..."

"And mood swings would make sense too."

"No wonder her expression was so weird!"

Li Mo felt he had uncovered the truth!

I wonder if the Divine Armament Peak’s craftsmen could use special materials to create something similar...

Having identified the cause, Li Mo relaxed.

With his mind at ease, he glanced up at the moon nearing its zenith and suddenly remembered something.

It was almost time for Little Princess Jiang’s lesson.

And he hadn’t prepared at all today!

He had originally planned to discuss some questions with Ying Bing, but the earlier incident had completely derailed his thoughts.

"What do I do now...?"

Li Mo refused to let the infallible "Celestial Venerable Teacher" persona crumble.

Ah, right.

Hadn’t he promised Chulong he’d visit her?

Thinking this, Li Mo retrieved the Jade Sword Peach Blossom Branch from his system space and let his consciousness sink inward.

.....

Sunshine, sandy beaches, and a luxurious villa.

This time, Li Mo didn’t use the Veil of Glass.

Before long, ripples of disturbance appeared.

Jiang Chulong emerged, clutching a branch and carrying a small basket on her back, her petite figure slightly dirtied.

The moment she saw Li Mo, her entire body tensed up.

"L-L-Li... Li Big Brother... why are you... here?"

She wanted to step closer but hesitated, feeling too grubby—and too overwhelmed by sheer delight.

So she just stood there, frozen.

Her little brain seemed to have short-circuited.

"When I was asleep, I dreamed of a wise man."

"He said you wanted to see me, so I waited here for you."

Li Mo smiled warmly as he approached, removing her basket and ruffling her hair.

Hearing his gentle voice and feeling the warmth of his touch on her head...

The corners of Jiang Chulong's lips couldn't help but curl up slightly:

"That... that is Chulong's... teacher."

"Just an outsider's perspective, but honestly, he does seem profound, immensely powerful, and transcendent."

"It's... it's really good that Big Brother Li could come."

Jiang Chulong's joy was unmistakable.

"I promised you before,"

Li Mo reached into his sleeve.

"Once you reached the Inner Breath realm, I'd give you a gift."

"A... gift?"

Jiang Chulong stood there in a daze.

Back in the palace, she had been treated like a plague, a ghost.

The maids and eunuchs avoided her, pretending not to see her, while her siblings acted as if she didn’t exist.

She had never received a gift before.

"Do you like it?"

A delicate and exquisite peach blossom branch was placed before her eyes.

Li Mo actually felt that this jade-carved peach blossom branch was somewhat unworthy of Princess Jiang's status.

After all, it was merely a Named Artifact.

But its advantage lay in its simplicity—unless wielded, it would appear as nothing more than a beautiful blossom branch, unlikely to draw unwanted attention.

Hm?

Li Mo found it odd.

Jiang Chulong was staring blankly at the peach blossom branch.

A strip of cloth fluttered down.

Plop—

A few teardrops fell, splashing against the back of his hand, scattering like glistening petals.

...