[Host, where the heck are you going?]
"I will hide since they'll let me be alone for a good while." Chang Xiuying ran behind a bush and sat there.
[Very well, as I said, your power was temporarily reduced since it really reached a terrifying state. While you're unconscious, your body began to emit sounds and your cultivations began to viciously react. Before that, supposedly that I can contact you whenever or whatever the circumstances may be, was jammed. I do not know what to do that time as I can't find the connection for almost hours! Thankfully, I contacted the main system and they agreed to help you. Those bogus people made it worse and I personally stepped in.]
"Oh... I see." Chang Xiuying nodded and continued to listen to Xue.
[Because of your sudden eruption of power, it may poison all of your surroundings and nothing will be left behind. I have to prevent that by all cost. Now, your cultivation power became so strong that it cannot be contained by your own physical body. Your mental chains became so solid that it cannot be called as a net anymore. But a wall that cannot be penetrated by usual means. Right, I wanted to tell you this badly, there's a silver pearl lingering inside your brain. I still have to investigate its origin and power.]
"Maybe that's the power left in me when I was in the body of another girl."
[What? Did you experience another life while being asleep? I may say, I do not really know what happened and I can't seem to enter your memory lane. Tell me everything that happened.]
"To tell you the truth, it's all a blur now and it's disappearing when I'm trying to remember all of it. All I remember clearly is the pain I felt and when I was shot by that Silver-something."
[You're useless.]
"You can't blame me, if I can, I will tell you every detail of that strange occurrence. You're not a stranger, Xue, why would I hide things from you?" Chang Xiuying sighed.
[...]
"Xue? Oh? My Xue is speechless." Chang Xiuying teasingly grinned.
[Shut up. Anyway, there's still 4 hours and 43 minutes to think of ways to settle your monstrous power. Please choose from the options: (1) I'll seal your energy and it will be activated once it can be handled by your physical body; this is not the same as the method of using jades and crystals. (2) Maintain the current power, train harder to match it with your physical appearance as I will give assistance to cover your energy. (3) Forcefully upgrade your body; it's very dangerous and you'll be a threat to the village, very expensive but it is affordable with your current contribution, and it is also very effective that the change will be seen by the naked eye. Stating of options, done.]
"I pick (2). I will be venturing through the outside world by myself, I can't just scream for help whenever I'm in trouble or even ask for your assistance. I have to learn to regulate the energy that I will secrete as I can't fully do it when I was on Earth. One more thing, I still need to hide it from them."
[Option considered. I prepared a pair of earrings for you. This is the highest grade seal that I bought from your current contribution points. This seal is used for dangerous uncontrolled energy, wear it when you're around them. This earring can control the pathway into your energy and the power it releases. Remove it once you're not around them anymore.]
"Okay." Chang Xiuying felt that she was tricked. She frowns and shook the entire thought away as she wears the small pearl earring on her ears.
[Incoming.]
"Yeah." She covered her face on her knees and began to contemplate about the matter of her current power. On how will she sneak out by night and come back by morning, or just said that she'll play with Yao Chen but will go to a different place.
...
Her figure looked like a scared little bunny behind the bush. Jiang Hao's stare becomes softer as he saw this.
'Indeed, a child's heart is so fragile...'
Jiang Hao gently sat in front of Chang Xiuying then softly said, "Ying'er, I know what you saw was shocking. But it's one of the abilities of the beastkins, they'll grow when they grew stronger. Yao Yun is still Yao Yun, he's waiting for you inside with a hurt expression. You should go and apologize to him, hmm?"
Chang Xiuying slowly raised her head and didn't look at Jiang Hao's eyes as she slowly nodded. "Un..."
Jiang Hao's chest throbbed as he felt hurt. He still can't believe that the child didn't address herself with her name as she pushed him away. He carefully carried Chang Xiuying in his arms then walked towards the pagoda. "Are you still mad?"
Chang Xiuying was hugging Jiang Hao's neck with her frail and small hands. She clutched his collar tightly as she heard his question. Jiang Hao felt this silent response as he sighed heavily. He rubbed Chang Xiuying's back as he kissed her head. "Just tell Uncle if something is wrong. Don't run away like today and just come directly into my arms. Uncle would not tolerate this behavior."
When Jiang Hao's voice died down, Chang Xiuying shrunk on his shoulder and he felt her nod. "Ying'er, ah, where is my Ying'er? My very adorable and energetic Ying'er? Is she gone or did she hide? I was planning on giving her some of her favorite foods. Now that I can't see her, maybe I'll give it to Yun'er."
Chang Xiuying's little hands suddenly yank Jiang Hao's ears with a cute pout. "No. Ying'er is here. Uncle Jiang can't give Yao Yun my favorite foods. Uncle Jiang, you meanie."
"Ow ow ow, Ying'er is so strong! Uncle would not give your foods to Yun'er. Are we alright, now, hmm?" Jiang Hao coaxed her more as laughter filled the atmosphere. Chang Xiuying continuously tapped Jiang Hao's cheeks as she pouted with remorse.
Irene, Yao Chen, and Yao Yun saw this and they instantly warmed. However, it was only for a few seconds. Irene was instantly filled with melancholy as she saw his husband's loud laughter when she can't see or hear this when they're alone together.
Yao Chen shivered as she still remembered the child she fought one month or more ago. The child's attitude is really completely different as she can only see the wide smirk of the child which it shouldn't have.
Yao Yun also wanted to make that kind of reaction from Chang Xiuying. He clutched his hand as he made up his mind for the following time.
[You look stupid, Host.]
Chang Xiuying didn't stop her actions as she replied to Xue telepathically. "Shut it, I am trying my best. Don't ruin it."
...
As time goes by, Chang Xiuying stayed inside the South Garden Pagoda with the persuasion of Jiang Hao and Yao Chen to Irene. For some unknown reason, Yao Yun also stayed inside but he was on another floor. The interior of the South Garden Pagoda changed dramatically as they proceeded to clean the exterior of it. Since people started living inside, they had to clean it to make it habitable. They also have a precious child to take care of, technically two.
2 years have passed since then. The moss-filled pagoda was now squeaky clean. All of the floors became available for living. There are a total of 6 floors; Chang Xiuying was on the uppermost floor, the dining room is in the fourth floor, Irene moved into the third floor, Yao Yun is inside the second floor, and the fifth and first floor were they put the living room. The field around the desolate pagoda was greener and became much lively.
When people passed by and saw the pagoda, they stared in awe. The pagoda changed so much ever since their little goddess lived inside.
"Why didn't Irene cleaned it like this in the first place?" An old man with his back arched asked as he fixed his stare on the pagoda.
"Shut it, Gu Feng. Irene is the only one living inside, why would she bother cleaning it?" Yan Ruo harrumphed.
"Eh. That so?" Gu Feng rubbed his chin. He continued to walk with a hidden smile in his face. Yan Ruo was startled and chased after Gu Feng. "Wait for me, you senile fool!"
Chang Xiuying saw this as she observed from the sixth-floor window. Her hair grew to waist length and it was tied into a ponytail. Her face became slightly mature along with her aura. She rested her chin on her hand as she looked far beyond the village.
Multiple knocks sounded out from the door, Chang Xiuying glanced and saw Irene entered with a smile. "It's your first day at Morning Light Pavilion, you should get ready and we will personally escort you."
"Oh, right. I'll be down in 10 minutes." Chang Xiuying straightened her posture and politely said.
"Also, Yao Yun will be entering too. Guide him, alright?" Before Irene closed the door, she winked at her one last time then left.
[What?!]