Though Youzi and Xiaozǐ were spirits with no fixed abode, their rootless existence had, paradoxically, made them intimately familiar with their surroundings... For instance, with just a brief observation of any given area, they could swiftly determine the direction of the nearest water source or the spot where the wind blew strongest, and so on. Under the guidance of this remarkably useful survival skill, she soon led Lin Luo to a secluded area near a beautifully situated pond.

Lin Luo surveyed the area. The pond water was crystal clear, so much so that he could see the fish swimming below; it lacked any oppressive, murky atmosphere. The fresh blossoms scattered near the pond released wafts of delicate fragrance, immediately refreshing the spirit.

“Good work. You’ll get a lollipop later as a reward.” Lin Luo was thoroughly satisfied with the location and couldn't help but praise Xiaozǐ, promising such a prime reward. Then, with a mere flick of his wrist, a thoroughly modern, high-tech house descended from the sky, settling directly around the pond, utterly shattering the elegant, antique ambiance of the surroundings—a jarring sight everywhere he looked.

“Ah!” Xiaozǐ, after all, could not be measured by the standards of an ordinary loli; the lollipop held little appeal for her. But when she saw the house, she was utterly stunned, her mouth hanging open, completely speechless. Seeing her reaction, Lin Luo felt a slight surge of superiority.

He waved a hand in front of her face to bring her back to earth, then said, “Stop staring blankly. Hurry up and go inside.” With that, he pushed the door open and entered first. Though the house wasn't vast, it was compact and perfectly equipped.

As Xiaozǐ stepped inside and gazed upon the dazzling array of furnishings, her eyes swam. Moreover, she had never seen any of the objects before. Overcome with curiosity, she couldn't help but ask Lin Luo, “This… what is this?” “It’s the house we live in, of course,” Lin Luo stated matter-of-factly.

But seeing Xiaozǐ still looking utterly bewildered, he realized that such an explanation was useless. After all, no matter how powerful a spirit she was, she couldn't conjure a house out of thin air. Thus, he could only say, “Don’t think about it anymore.

Just treat it as an illusion so real it fools the eye. You won’t find the answer no matter how hard you try to puzzle it out.” “Oh.” Hearing Lin Luo say this, she reluctantly let the matter go, feeling a faint sense of disappointment. “I’ve already given Youzi’s injuries a preliminary treatment.

While there shouldn't be any major issues now, it’s best not to move her for the time being.” Lin Luo pushed open the door to a bedroom, gently placing Youzi onto the bed, then led Xiaozǐ back to the living room, gesturing to the sides. “That’s the bathroom over there; you can wash up. It has both hot and cold water.

Go take a good soak later. The instruction manual for how to use the bathroom is inside—look it up yourself.” “The room over there has clean clothes. I don't know if any will fit you, but they’re certainly better looking than what you’re wearing now.

And see that large cabinet? That’s the refrigerator; it has food inside. If you get hungry, go look there for something to eat… Alright, that’s all for now.

I’m going to sleep.” After speaking, Lin Luo didn't wait to see if Xiaozǐ had understood; he headed straight for the room upstairs… Normally, he would have patiently taught her step-by-step, but now he was utterly exhausted in body and spirit and simply lacked the energy. As soon as he entered the room, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. Meanwhile, Xiaozǐ, still lingering in the living room, chewed on her finger while looking first one way, then another, seemingly unsure of what to do.

After hesitating for quite some time, she finally decided to follow Lin Luo’s instructions step by step… Starting with the bath. Stepping into the bathroom, the smooth, brightly lit walls almost blinded Xiaozǐ’s eyes. Especially when she caught sight of her own countrified reflection in the mirror, the contrast with the luxurious room made her instantly feel ashamed of her appearance.

Perhaps to avoid spoiling the “scenery,” Xiaozǐ quickly stripped off all her clothes, not forgetting to close the bathroom door, and began searching for the instruction manual Lin Luo had mentioned. She found the manual quickly enough, but the problem was, she didn’t recognize the characters. The characters, clearly, didn't recognize her either, offering her no hints.

Fortunately, the manual was a beginner’s version, complete with illustrated step-by-step guides. Coupled with her naturally keen perception, after a nearly half-hour struggle, by studying the pictures and practicing, she finally mastered a skill unprecedented in her experience… using a bathroom! Then came bathing and changing clothes, which consumed another hour going back and forth.

Clad in her new attire, she transformed from an ugly duckling into a swan, looking decidedly fresher. Had she been presented with such an opportunity under normal circumstances, Xiaozǐ would have certainly indulged herself fully. But at this moment, her concern was for Youzi’s injuries.

Even though Lin Luo had said she was fine, Xiaozǐ remained uneasy. So, after hastily grabbing some food from the refrigerator, she went to tend to Youzi. In the bedroom, watching Youzi lie quietly on the bed, observing the exquisite room and the spread of food she had never seen before, Xiaozǐ felt as if she were walking through a dream… There was a time when she, too, had yearned for such a peaceful and happy life.

But she knew that was mere fantasy, because spirits as weak as they were had no right to peace, much less the freedom to enjoy happiness. What she could never have imagined, however, was that in less than a day, they would transition from hell to paradise. Even now, Xiaozǐ could hardly believe it was real.

“If this is a dream, I truly hope it never ends. Don’t you agree, Youzi?” Xiaozǐ smiled faintly, murmuring to herself. A short while later, overwhelmed by exhaustion, she too slumped down by the bedside and fell fast asleep.

Youzi had a dream. She dreamt her soul was drifting aimlessly far away from her body, the pain in her heart unbearable, making life worse than death. Yet, every time she felt she was about to perish, a warm power shielded her, and gradually the agony vanished.

Her soul seemed to return to her body, no longer ethereal but tangible, something that could truly be seen and touched. This sensation brought her great comfort. Then, after an unknowable span of time, she finally opened her eyes and awoke from the dream.

When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a stark white ceiling, causing her to pause instinctively. She turned her gaze and found herself in an extremely unfamiliar room. The place she lay on was a warm, beautiful bed.

On the bedside table were numerous dishes of food, and even Xiaozǐ was asleep beside the bed. What was happening? Youzi was confused.

She searched her memories and instantly recalled the encounter with the werewolf. A wry smile touched her lips. “It seems we’re both dead.

But arriving in a place like this after death isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I suppose.” Youzi spoke with a touch of bitter humor, but shortly after speaking, she realized she wasn't dead… Though she didn’t know what came after death, she clearly knew what it felt like to be alive. However, as to why she and Xiaozǐ had survived, she fell into complete bewilderment. The consequence of burning her soul, combined with the side effects of the healing, had caused her to lose a portion of her memory.

Her final conscious memory stopped at the brink of death after igniting her soul… It seemed like something had fallen from the sky at that moment? But why was she still alive? Logically, after burning one's soul, death was inevitable.

Youzi tried desperately to recall what had happened after she lost consciousness, but she could not remember anything. Finally, she looked toward Xiaozǐ for help. At that moment, Youzi’s movement woke Xiaozǐ.

Seeing Youzi’s eyes open and looking at her, Xiaozǐ was instantly overjoyed. “Youzi! That’s wonderful!

You’re really alright!” Youzi managed a smile that was neither happy nor sad, but she didn't share Xiaozǐ’s excitement. She asked, “What exactly happened? Why am I not dead?” “Big Brother Lin Luo saved you,” Xiaozǐ replied immediately.

On the way there, Lin Luo had vaguely introduced himself with a simple fabricated story, so Xiaozǐ wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with him. But Youzi was confused. “Big Brother Lin Luo?” She had no idea when Xiaozǐ had met such a person.

Subsequently, Xiaozǐ narrated everything she knew about what had transpired. Only then did Youzi understand the reason for her survival, but the shock she felt outweighed the relief of being saved… To be able to save someone who should have died after burning their soul—how powerful was this person?! “Youzi, do you want something to eat?

I heard this thing called cake is very delicious.” With the heavy burden of her friend’s safety lifted, Xiaozǐ immediately picked up the cake from the bedside table, recommending the tastiest food she had found in that refrigerator to Youzi. However, Youzi seemed unconcerned with food. Her gaze swept across the room before she frowned and asked, “Where is the person who saved me now?” Xiaozǐ, while eating cake, pointed upward with her hand.

Seeing Xiaozǐ’s contented demeanor, Youzi felt a bit annoyed. She suddenly snatched the cake from Xiaozǐ’s hand. “Stop eating for a moment.

I have a question for you: Why did that person save me?” “Huh!” Xiaozǐ was momentarily stunned, then replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “Does saving someone require a reason?” “…” Youzi was immediately speechless. In Xiaozǐ’s view, the reason Lin Luo saved Youzi was simple: Youzi begged him, and he agreed. But Youzi knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

Killing might occur without reason, like the werewolf who killed simply to vent, but saving someone absolutely had to have a motive. Especially in this chaotic age, no one offered charity without expecting something in return. Moreover, from Xiaozǐ’s words, Youzi gathered that Lin Luo seemed to have suffered some significant injury after saving her.

So, why would he risk harming himself to save a stranger like her? Youzi was deeply suspicious of Lin Luo’s motive for saving them, but rack her brain as she might, she couldn't fathom what valuable thing they possessed that he might want. Or was it truly, as Xiaozǐ claimed, that there was no reason at all?!