Chapter 171: Why not just optimize her?
Well, that’s what they say.
But after all, she was my superior.
Besides, as long as the Sect Leader isn’t found, my promotion and raise are just daydreams.
This time, it’s not for anyone else.
It’s only for my Punishment Department’s throne.
Young Master Sang was determined to find that little girl, Hua Jianglian, as soon as possible.
When he got home, it seemed that Zhang Xiaoying had already finished talking with Gu Yingmian.
The two were huddled in the kitchen, with Zhang Xiaoying cooking and Gu Yingmian watching.
“You don’t need to chop it too evenly; a bit of irregularity looks better when plating.”
“Ah… uh-huh.”
“When you pour the seasoning, don’t use a big spoon; pour it gently with a little spoon. If it’s too light, you can add more, but if it’s too strong, it’s hard to fix.”
“Ah, I’m sorry…”
Zhang Xiaoying seemed to be patiently teaching Gu Yingmian how to cook, practically hand-holding her.
Gu Yingmian didn’t act high-and-mighty at all; instead, she was seriously taking notes on every detail.
This made Young Master Sang, who was sneaking a peek, feel a bit emotional.
Here was a dignified Sword Immortal learning to cook.
How did Xiaoying pull that off?
But Young Master Sang didn’t approach them; instead, he quietly moved to the side to pack his bags.
Just as he was halfway through packing, he suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him:
“Why are you leaving again right after coming back?”
“Even if you’ve been out there raising people, you don’t need to stay outside every day, right?”
Young Master Sang was too lazy to respond to that familiar voice and casually said, “You think I want to? This is genuine overtime, most likely unpaid overtime.”
“If it weren’t for my Punishment Department position, I’d rather not leave the warm bed with my wife and kids.”
Upon hearing Young Master Sang explain, Si Jingzhu pondered and said:
“So, you mean you need someone to go along with you to find the Demon Cultivators Sect Leader?”
“Exactly.”
“But right now, there’s no one around who can go with you, right?”
Si Jingzhu suddenly blinked her eyes: “Senior Sister Yan and Senior Sister Shi are both out, Aunt Yu can’t leave the Watergate branch, and Meng Qiyan’s girls at the Heavenly Punishment Department are busy running all over the place.”
“Yeah,” Young Master Sang sighed, “Sister Gu is restricted by her position and can’t take action, and Xiaoying’s cultivation isn’t that much higher than mine.”
“Looking at everyone around, there’s really no one usable.”
“Eh~ I see~”
Si Jingzhu suddenly cleared her throat, her face inexplicably flushed, and with a helpless expression raised her hands:
“Oh dear, that’s really a headache.”
“Our little love saint of the Demon Cultivators, at a crucial moment doesn’t even have anyone from the harem available.”
“Hehe, what a waste! Can’t get anything done without women~ waste~”
She covered her mouth and laughed teasingly: “There seems to be only one choice after this round of looking.”
“Sigh, yeah.”
Young Master Sang also drooped his head: “Only one choice.”
“Well, it’s okay.” Si Jingzhu put her hands on her hips smugly, “As long as you obediently beg me, say a few nice words to coax this young lady. Seeing how helpless and useless you are without me, this young lady could be magnanimous enough—”
“It seems I can only shamelessly call Senior Sister Shi back.”
“—to join you on the journey… eh?”
Si Jingzhu turned her head in shock, looking at Young Master Sang who was picking up the Communication Device to message Shi Qingyan.
“Hey, Senior Sister Shi, how busy are you over there?”
“If you’re not too busy, come back for a bit; we need to go out for a mission together.”
Watching Young Master Sang and Shi Qingyan exchanging “hmm” and “uh-huh” on the phone, Si Jingzhu stood beside them, stiff and confused, raising her hand only to drop it, mouth opening and closing.
“…Okay, it’s settled then. Tomorrow, I’ll pack my things and see you at the Demon Cultivation Mountain Gate.”
After hanging up, Young Master Sang turned around and got a fright.
Si Jingzhu was now teary-eyed, with snot and tears, tugging at his clothes, looking extremely wronged:
“Why?!”
“Why would you rather call Senior Sister Shi back than take me with you?!”
“Even if my cultivation isn’t that high, I just broke through to the Transformation Stage, okay?!”
“And I’m the Original Immortal; if I get hurt, at least I can save some money on medicine!”
“At worst, I can help warm the bed, move luggage, and fetch water for washing up!”
“If you take me, I could be of some use, right?”
“So why,” Si Jingzhu’s fair face, now slightly red, was pouting as she began to throw a tantrum like a little child, “Why won’t you even take a glance at me?!”
“Am I, am I really that unlikable? Waaaah…” she cried out dramatically.
Young Master Sang looked at her strangely.
Well, it’s not that I have anything against this little girl.
First of all, your just-formed Transformation Stage doesn’t seem stable enough; not like Shi Qingyan’s stability.
After all, she comes from a dark guard background; her experience crushes a little girl who only knows how to cry all day.
As for moving luggage and warming beds…
I’m a fully able-bodied adult male, why do you make it sound like I can’t even take care of myself?
And you say you’re the Original Immortal, able to save on medicine…
Come on.
Relying on you for healing, who knows if I’ll heal or end up losing half my soul?
Besides, the effect of the Original Immortal has already been absorbed by the system; why would I want to carry along a troublesome little girl?
With all that considered, after looking around, Young Master Sang really couldn’t find a reason not to optimize this little girl away.
But looking at her pitifully tugging at his clothes, eyes full of longing and grievance, it was as if she was about to throw a tantrum on the ground.
Young Master Sang felt a headache coming on, but still said: “Alright then, if you want to come, you can come along.”
“Better than staying at home, wasting food every day.”
Si Jingzhu directly filtered out the “wasting food” comment as sarcasm, wiping her slightly reddened nose, and asked pitifully:
“Y-you really mean it?”
“This time, you really are willing to take me?!”
“I’m only letting you lend a hand,” Young Master Sang warned, not in a good mood: “Remember, this trip has a formal task. Don’t cause trouble for me and Senior Sister Shi.”
“If you keep bothering us with that annoying tone, you might find yourself hung up on the roadside for a spanking.”
But as soon as he said that…
Looking at Si Jingzhu’s eyes light up, Young Master Sang suddenly felt a pang of regret.
It was as if “this is such a good deal” was written all over her face.
“Hmph. It turns out in the end, you can’t bear to leave this young lady.”
The next second, she returned to her previous haughty yet teasing expression, laughing arrogantly: “What a pity, seeing how clingy you are, I’ll reluctantly accompany you on this journey.”
“It’s to keep our little puppy from crying lonely on the road. Woohoo~”
Witnessing Si Jingzhu restored her teasing demeanor, it was as though the earlier tearful and pitiful visage had never existed.
Young Master Sang suddenly felt some regret.
…Why not.
Better just optimize her away.
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