After the time travel, my cheat program disappeared.

Cold sweat poured down her back, and her beautiful eyes widened, but her pupils were constricted, as if she had seen something terrifying, and countless images she didn't want to recall kept replaying in her mind.

"Astragalus?"

It was several minutes later when Shi Hongqi finally came to her senses from that terrible 'nightmare'.

Her back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

This is why Shi Hongqi has hardly slept since reaching the Golden Core stage.

She was afraid—

I'm afraid to step into that terrifying dream again.

An endless, vicious cycle of despair.

In other words, the girl was wearing loose clothing. And the color of the dress was a solid black, so you couldn't tell.

If Shi Hongqi were wearing Shi Yan's spaghetti strap dress instead, it would probably be soaked with sweat and become translucent, clinging tightly to her body.

At this point, Shi Yan finally managed to coax Shi Wei back to peace.

Shi Hongjian also issued an order to leave.

She was feeling quite unhappy and wanted to go back to soak in her cold stream for a while longer.

All three girls were driven out of the bamboo forest by Shi Hongjian.

Standing at the entrance of the bamboo grove, Shi Wei wanted to take Shi Yan to her little home.

Then... he was stopped by Shi Hongqi.

Shi Hongqi had a cold expression on her face.

Because of that nightmare, the girl's expression looked even colder than usual.

“Since the chieftain has already instructed me… to be her guide, it is only natural that I should also arrange her accommodations.”

Shi Hongqi is serious.

In truth, she would rather Shi Wei just take Shi Yan away.

But it won't work—

Shi Hongqi's sense of responsibility and meticulous nature wouldn't allow her to do that.

Even though my body was screaming repeatedly, "Stay away from that demon!"

But... Shi Hongqi's will still compels her to take Shi Yan away.

Shi Wei looked at Shi Hongqi.

The girl's face remained cold.

If it were anyone else, even the clan chief...

Shi Wei might even suspect that she has taken a liking to her younger sister, Shi Yan.

But... Shi Hongqi was different.

She and her sister, Shiyan, were sworn enemies.

Feeling somewhat aggrieved and pitiful, Shi Wei had no choice but to agree with Shi Hongqi's explanation.

I don't have a soft, fragrant pillow to hug at night anymore.

And so they parted ways.

Shi Hongqi led Shi Wei in another direction from "Heaven and Earth".

It's not even a courtyard.

Instead, it resembles a 'dormitory' that's like the worst kind of backwards-facing room.

Shi Yan frowned slightly, thinking that Shi Hongqi was deliberately trying to mess with her.

But... after seeing Shi Hongqi skillfully push open the door and pour a cup of tea, Shi Yan realized... something seemed off.

"Where is this..." she hesitated.

I opened the mini-map.

Shi Hongqi answered faster than Xiao Motu.

"—My room."

Part 360: Teacher's Words: I'm a very quiet sleeper [First update, 4K words]

"Shi Hongqi's...room?"

Upon hearing the girl's words, Shi Yan's expression suddenly froze.

She looked at the room in front of her, which was so simple and plain that it was almost excessive... Indeed, as soon as Shi Yan stepped into the room, she could smell a faint fragrance that was very similar to the scent on Shi Hongqi.

But...why?

Such a young Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

Why would a girl who grew up with Shi Hongjian live in such a simple, dilapidated building?

The lighting is poor and the environment is terrible.

Besides being excessively simple and plain, it also has almost no sound insulation or noise reduction capabilities.

With just a slight perk up, Shi Yan could hear the creaking sound of the bed upstairs shaking.

Typically, these upstairs buildings are where servants live.

"Why..." Shi Yan looked at the girl in front of him.

Shi Hongqi had just pushed the cup in front of Shi Yan, her face still maintaining that cold, aloof expression.

"This is my cup."

"It's already been washed." There weren't even any extra cups in the girl's room. "If you mind..."

Shi Hongqi suddenly stopped speaking.

In front of her, Shi Yan held a narrow bamboo cup in both hands, taking small sips.

Shi Hongqi blinked.

Actually, the girl in front of me is the kind of girl who is very pleasing to the eye.

Her beautiful face and sly smile made it impossible for anyone to dislike her.

Even among girls, he would probably be very popular.

They are completely different from an annoying person like myself.

But... for some reason, Shi Hongqi just found this guy in front of her very annoying.

It even made her feel hatred.

No... if I had to be more precise, it would be... that she was terrified.

Just looking at the girl sitting in front of her, Shi Hongqi felt as if she could see... the girl suddenly leaning over with both hands on the table, then reaching out... to lift her chin...

Those recurring "fantasies" are like those of people who are afraid of heights; when they stand on the edge of a tall building and look down at the earth, they subconsciously think... what if they fall? Or, when carrying a fragile water bottle past a corner, they always think, what if the bottle bumps into something...

It's a hypothesis that's completely unstoppable and completely uncontrollable.

However, Shi Hongqi did not show that fear.

At least... from the girl's own perspective, she didn't show any fear.

Shi Hongqi sat down opposite Shi Yan.

The girl placed her hands awkwardly on her thighs, looking as if she had wandered into someone else's territory rather than her own home.

The girl's fingertips unconsciously traced patterns on her thigh.

"What...why..."

Shi Hongqi's brain was working at lightning speed.

The girl in front of me... what exactly did she mean by asking "why"?

Why did I bring her directly to my house?

He couldn't very well say that he was different from Shi Wei, who was highly respected and well-known in the "Heaven and Earth" and had ways of doing things wherever she went.

Someone as annoying as myself probably wouldn't be able to arrange accommodation for her at this point.

Although she could speak the truth, Shi Hongqi didn't want to reveal any potentially embarrassing 'handles' in front of Shi Yan.

"I am your guide—"

"While I am tasked with supervising you... I also have a responsibility to protect your safety."

"So...is there a problem with staying here with me?"

"Or perhaps..." the girl's voice held a hint of sarcasm, "that the environment here is simply unbearable for a rich young lady like you?"

"No..." Shi Yan put down the cup in his hand.

Shi Hongqi's eyes twitched as she looked at the cup in Shi Yan's hand.

“What I mean is…why would you live in a place like this?” Shi Yan raised her hand, and the creaking and shaking of the bed upstairs grew louder.

Shi Hongqi's gaze followed Shi Yan's upward movement, and a barely perceptible blush suddenly appeared on the edges of the girl's face.

She reached out and set up the surgical technique with practiced ease.

"No matter what, you're a Nascent Soul cultivator, and you're so young...and beautiful..." Shi Yan looked at Shi Hongqi in front of him very seriously.

Although she covered herself up completely and didn't wear much makeup.

Her hair was simply tied into a ponytail.

But a girl's natural features are undeniable.

Moreover, she kept herself very clean.

They are clearly the same... dark gold eyes that symbolize "a phoenix feather" and "resurrection from the dead".

Shi Hongqi's eyes, however, give people a sense of ethereal clarity.