The lady in red had left, and the youth was left in the room with Feng Yongrui. Thankfully, the youth did not seem to notice Feng Yongrui's presence. He had put on his outer robes and was reading a book on his bed.
Meanwhile, Feng Yongrui had turned away from the youth and looked around the room, hoping to find anything suspicious or find any clues regarding the Mystic Stone. Unfortunately, the System's description of the Mystic Stone was too poor. Feng Yongrui only knew that it was a round stone.
The size, color, and other details of the stone were unknown. Feng Yongrui had searched for a long time but returned empty handed. Anyway, he could not search properly at the moment because he did not want the youth to notice him.
Feng Yongrui could only sigh internally. This time, the System's task was really hard. Did he have to wait until the youth left the room, so that he could search the room properly? But... what if the Mystic Stone wasn't here at all?
Feng Yongrui had so many concerns and almost became bald because he was thinking too much. His thoughts were broken when the door was opened and a servant entered.
Unlike the ladies in the brothel, who wore flamboyant dresses with bright colors, the person who came inside reminded him of a ninja. Dressed in black from head to toe, even the person's face was covered with a mask! Feng Yongrui didn't even know whether the person was a man or woman!
The youth looked up and broke into a smile when he saw the person.
"Little Nine," He called out.
The "ninja" bowed and replied, "Young Master."
Feng Yongrui's eyes widened. That voice was soft and crisp, obviously belonging to a woman. No, not a woman... it sounded more like a teenager!
...Is this child labor? Well, in ancient times, working teenagers was not a big deal and even considered normal....
The youth sighed and shook his head helplessly. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me by my name? Little Nine, you're so stubborn," he said.
"Young Master, it would be inappropriate..." The ninja who was called "Little Nine" walked closer to the youth and poured him a cup of tea. However, the youth grabbed her hands, stopping her and making her look at him.
Under his fierce stare, Little Nine finally relented and spoke.
"Hu Zemin."
The youth, no, Hu Zemin, gave a gentle smile, like a blooming rose, and tilted his face towards Little Nine. His face was obviously filled with joy, but in the next second, his face contorted in pain.
"Argh!" He yelled and curled his body, clutching his abdomen. Sweat glistened on his eyebrows and he screamed in agony.
"Hu Zemin!" Little Nine held her Master's arms and hugged him.
"Why is it happening again...?" She whispered.
Hu Zemin groaned and bit his lips, trying to suppress the pain. Within a few seconds, he could not bear it and yelled at the top of his lungs.
"AARGH! Huff... Huff..." Hu Zemin opened his eyes and looked at Little Nine.
"It hurts... It hurts so much, I'd rather die... Argh!" His handsome face was twisted so much that his originally handsome countenance could not be seen.
Little Nine grabbed Hu Zemin and put his arm over her shoulder, meaning to bring him over to his bed. They had not even walked three steps when Hu Zemin buckled under the pain and fell to the floor. Little Nine had a small figure, but she practiced martial arts.
With great effort, she tried to lift Hu Zemin to the bed.
"Painkiller... Just get me my painkillers..." Hu Zemin whispered with a strained voice.
Feng Yongrui could not see Little Nine's expression because she was wearing a mask, but he saw Little Nine rush to the shelves and rummage for a bottle of medicine.
When Feng Yongrui first saw Hu Zemin suffer and scream in pain, his first thought was that Hu Zemin had eaten too much spicy food and now had a stomach ache.
Of course, Feng Yongrui's naive thoughts were ridiculed by the System.
"Isn't it obvious that the pain he's feeling isn't normal?" The System complained.
Feng Yongrui wanted to roll his eyes. He wasn't a doctor, okay? And things were developing so fast and so out of control that he was quite confused. He should be helping Hu Zemin, but Feng Yongrui didn't know Hu Zemin's real sickness and was afraid of making things worse.
"...Should I just leave?" Feng Yongrui whispered. Little Nine had given Hu Zemin his medicine, and Hu Zemin had calmed down significantly. His face, however, was even paler than before. He was even breathing roughly and he clutched his abdomen in pain from time to time.
When Feng Yongrui was busy thinking, the puppy in his arms suddenly moved. It jumped down from his arms ran to Hu Zemin, who was lying weakly on the floor.
"Little guy!" Feng Yongrui could not react in time and hissed. It was over! What if Hu Zemin noticed something?
The puppy had trotted over to Hu Zemin and was sniffing his abdomen. Feng Yongrui glared at it, signalling with his eyes for it to come back, but the puppy acted as if it could not see him and instead laid on Hu Zemin's abdomen. The puppy even took deep breaths, as if enjoyed Hu Zemin's scent.
"Haha, Host~ Look, even the puppy knows that you are easily bullied~" The System said gloatingly.
"...If you say one more word, I won't keep the puppy anymore," Feng Yongrui threatened.
...The System shut up immediately.
Feng Yongrui directed his attention to the puppy again. It seemed very happy and content, breathing in deeply and rubbing against Hu Zemin's abdomen affectionately. As Feng Yongrui looked, he wondered... The puppy was sticking really close to the Demonic Energy.
Was this a coincidence?
"System, by the way, where is the source of that Demonic Energy that is polluting Hu Zemin? Why is there Demonic Energy gathering around him like that? I want to know the cause of it..." Feng Yongrui said.
"Host, you need to find out yourself~"
Feng Yongrui knew the System would be like this and was quite prepared.
"Alright, give me a tool or item that lets me see the root of the problem. Do you have X-Ray glasses or infrared vision? ...Or something like that?"
"Host, you watch too many sci-fi movies."
"...Are you selling it to me or not? If not, I'm leaving. It doesn't seem like the Mystic Stone is here anyway, so it would be better to search somewhere else."
Although he was curious about this Young Master, Hu Zemin, and his relationship with the brothel, Feng Yongrui prioritized his life and his disciples more. Curiosity killed the cat -- he still wanted to complete his tasks and get his rewards.
"Fine. Here's an item that fits your description. It will let you see anything that others can't see."
"...That doesn't include ghosts, right? Is this permanent? Can I 'switch it off' if I'm not using it?"
Feng Yongrui felt the System rolling its eyes -- if it had eyes -- and said, "You humans sure have a lot of wants. Hurry up, if you don't want it, I won't sell it!"
"What kind of seller are you? Fine, fine, I'll buy it!" Feng Yongrui huffed.
"Ding~ The System has deducted 5 points~"
5 points? Feng Yongrui had the urge to cry. Why was it so expensive?
The next moment, Feng Yongrui's eyes hurt a little and he closed his eyes instinctively. When the pain was gone, Feng Yongrui slowly opened his eyes. Everything seemed quite normal and he didn't see any ghosts...
Wait! What was that?
Feng Yongrui looked at Hu Zemin's abdomen and inched closer. Now, he could not see the black Demonic Energy. Instead, he saw a round shape near Hu Zemin's light spirit root.
"Is that a tumor?" Feng Yongrui thought. Was it possible for cultivators to have tumors? And, how could a tumor be so perfectly round and shiny?
"...Don't tell me that's the Mystic Stone?" Feng Yongrui muttered carelessly. He did not think it would be true.
"Ding~ Congratulations, Host. You have completed the task 'find the Mystic Stone in the Intoxicating Fragrance House' (extra hard). You have been awarded with 10 points."
...What?? What??
His task was done, just like that?
"Wait, wait... My brain can't keep up with this development. That thing inside his stomach is the Mystic Stone? Did Hu Zemin eat it or something?! Why would he eat a stone anyway?"
"And also! When something goes inside your stomach, shouldn't it be digested? How come the stone is still intact? Just what is going on here?!" Feng Yongrui roared inside his mind, his thoughts running wildly.
The System did not answer him and simply watched coldly. Feng Yongrui tried to calm down, but he couldn't. Instead, he inched closer to Hu Zemin. Feng Yongrui wanted to take a closer look at the stone.
He didn't think his random mumbling would actually be true...
The Mystic Stone was shining brilliantly at first glance, but when Feng Yongrui looked closer, he saw several patterns and thinly made engravings on the surface. Feng Yongrui, forgetting that he was now a "ghost", reached his hand, trying to take the Mystic Stone.
However, his hand touched Hu Zemin's abdomen. When they made contact, Hu Zemin suddenly sat upright and yelled.
"Who?!"
Feng Yongrui was stunned and retracted his hand immediately.
***
*A puppy curls up and nuzzles in his abdomen*
Hu Zemin: *feels nothing*
*Feng Yongrui touches his abdomen accidentally*
Hu Zemin: WHO DARES?!
Feng Yongrui: "..."
Hu Zemin, you are so biased!!