The effects of the pills given by the Hardwork King System were genuinely impressive. After resting in the pit for about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, Shuqi felt that most of her physical strength had recovered.
She looked around and saw no one else, which only deepened her confusion. Just moments ago, she had clearly seen a figure—though hazy, it was unmistakably a woman.
Could it be that she was hallucinating from severe injuries?
Remembering that she was now someone with a system—even if she didn't quite know how to use it yet, still...
"Hardwork King System?" Shuqi lowered her voice on purpose, testing the waters. "Did you happen to see a beautiful woman just now? She seemed to be wearing a light cyan gauze dress, rather slender, and about this tall..." As she spoke, she raised her hand to gesture a height within the spatial dimension, not really caring whether the system could see her.
That soft, murmuring tone almost made Xitong laugh out loud.
"Stop looking. That was me just now. I am the Hardwork King System, considered your life-saving system. There's a good saying humans have: a life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body. So after I saved you, I bound myself directly to you. From now on, you'll just help me earn money to pay off your debt."
A cyan figure appeared instantly before Shuqi, accompanied by the voice.
Oh, this... Shuqi was somewhat dumbfounded. This was definitely not the reason for binding she had expected. She had thought she might be some kind of chosen child or exceptional talent; wasn't this system supposed to be her cheat code? After thinking it over, she felt she could still put up a struggle.
"Well, actually, I can pay with money too," she muttered stealthily. Thinking Xitong hadn't heard her, she was caught off guard the next second when a cool voice replied: "Didn't you just say you didn't have any money? Isn't working off the debt only natural?"
Xitong narrowed her eyes, looking at Shuqi as if she were looking at a freeloader. "So young, yet already trying to get things for free."
"Ah?" Remembering what she had said earlier, Shuqi realized it was somewhat awkward—she had completely forgotten about that. She could only let out a couple of dry, awkward chuckles while putting on an ingratiating expression.
Stealing a glance at the system, she noted that she still couldn't make out her specific facial features, but judging solely by her silhouette, she should be a quite attractive woman.
"I'll pay the money back properly," Shuqi promised. Seeing Xitong's expression soften slightly, Shuqi let out a breath of relief. The system's expression just now had been terrifying, as if she would have attacked her right then and there had she dared to mention freeloading.
Alas, what was done was done, and the binding was already complete. Besides, she was still stuck in this pit, with her little arms and legs unable to climb out.
"Um, could you fish me out first? I can't climb up," Shuqi said, then lowered her head, looking wronged as she twiddled her index fingers together.
"That's an extra charge."
"......"
Shuqi was stunned. Convinced at last, she realized this wasn't a cheat code; this was basically loan sharking!
She opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't help speaking up for herself: "But if I can't get out, how am I supposed to repay you for saving my life..."
Xitong raised her gaze and impatiently interrupted her, "Enough..." Then she raised her hand and formed a Hand Incantation. In just a flash, Shuqi felt her body lifting upward, and before she knew it, she was out of the pit.
"Thank you..." This expression of gratitude was exceptionally sincere, as if she weren't the same person who had just been arguing back a moment before.
Xitong gave her a faint glance and uttered a rather aloof "Hmph!"
There is nothing more terrifying than a sudden silence in the air. Shuqi cast a stealthy glance at the figure beside her; it seemed she was angry.
"Are... are you angry?"
On the surface, Xitong was as calm as a tranquil lake, but internally she was desperately fighting the urge to scratch something, her hands clenching and unclenching. Failing to hold back in the end, she irritably turned her head and snapped, "What is it now?"
"......" Ah, so she hadn't misread the situation—the system really was angry. After pondering for a moment, Shuqi decided it would be best not to bother her further for now.
So, she searched around the perimeter until she found a thick, long branch. *Trot-trot-trot* she ran back to the pit she had just fallen into, reached out with the branch, but couldn't reach the bottom. She tried a few more times, leaning almost half her body over the edge, only to find she still couldn't reach. Her temper flared as well, and she threw the branch down in frustration, sitting heavily on the ground, completely disheartened.
Xitong had already noticed when Shuqi went looking for a branch, simply watching quietly from the side. Now, seeing Shuqi plop down onto the ground with a dejected expression, the conscience that had been away for a long time finally returned. She walked slowly over to Shuqi and lowered her head. "What are you trying to do? I can help you!"
Hearing this, Shuqi raised her head in surprise, staring blankly at her for a long while without reacting.
Seeing her like this, Xitong couldn't help frowning. "Do you not need my help, then?"
"No, no, I do need your help!" Shuqi scrambled up from the ground in a hurry, as if afraid Xitong might change her mind. "Could you please help me fish out the bamboo back-basket in the pit and the Migu Branch beside it? Thank you in advance."
Xitong felt a trace of surprise and couldn't help taking another look at the little girl. She was such a tiny bundle, with eyes shining brightly, standing barely up to Xitong's thighs—yet she actually recognized a Migu Branch.
"......" Shuqi felt a bit embarrassed under that gaze, standing quietly without daring to say another word.
Perhaps noticing the child's discomfort, Xitong looked away and walked straight to the edge of the pit. Peering inside, she saw a delicately woven back-basket. Likely because it had fallen from a height, most of the medicinal herbs inside had spilled out. At a rough glance, they were all rare herbs, and the Migu Branch the little girl had mentioned was among them.
As she looked, the corners of Xitong's mouth curled up involuntarily. With a casual wave of her hand, she executed a dharma formula, retrieving all the contents from inside.
"Pack your things, we're heading down the mountain."
For some reason, Shuqi felt that at this moment, the system's mood seemed exceptionally good. Was she imagining it?