Calamity Messenger

Chapter 228 - 181: Bitter Melon

On the morning of the sixth day, Pharmacist’s Wish woke up promptly at seven.

For ordinary families, this time is actually a bit late, but Demonic Messengers are typically night owls who go to bed and get up late. Many of them find it hard to sleep at night and would rather drink themselves into a stupor than close their eyes. They only feel a sliver of safety during the day and are startled by any slight noise.

According to Rabbit Heroine, they suffer from stress-induced neurosis. Although Pharmacist’s Wish does not have this problem, since everyone follows this schedule, there’s no need for her to be unique. Getting up too early might disturb others’ sleep.

Wuqiu and Shidong had long prepared hot towels. Upon hearing Pharmacist’s Wish wake up, they knocked and entered the room, then skillfully helped her wash her face, groom, and comb her hair. Wuqiu gently brushed Pharmacist’s Wish’s teeth with a toothbrush dipped in fine salt, while Shidong tied her hair at the back.

When Pharmacist’s Wish stood up, they helped her change out of her propped-up pajamas and into a binder and tight clothes, don Inner Armor, Bright King Armor, skirt armor, Vajra Armor, and cape. In no time, Pharmacist’s Wish was fully equipped, all without moving a finger as the maids attended to her meticulously.

"Though I’ve seen it many times," Rabbit Heroine lounged on the bed, her little feet flicking back and forth, "I always feel like you’re just like a baby, sister. Even my brother isn’t as lazy as you; at least he brushes his own teeth and finds a place to shelter when it rains."

"You don’t understand, sister dear. Wuqiu and Shidong are accustomed to serving me. If I don’t let them, they’ll be upset."

"Yes, yes," Wuqiu and Shidong nodded repeatedly.

"Sounds kind of like coaxing decent women into unseemly roles."

Pharmacist’s Wish sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing Rabbit Heroine’s little head, "Though the world has strong individuals like you and me, there are many weak people too. Unlike strong people who can find their own paths, the weak need stable reliance for peace of mind. My father did a lot wrong, but one thing he did right was his extravagant feasts’

"Small banquets every three days, grand feasts every five, the food must be exquisite and finely prepared. Just catering to the banquets at Duke’s Mansion creates thousands of jobs, benefiting thousands of families. Not to mention the slaughtered animals that are classified and enter the market, further lowering Chang’an’s prices."

"Strong people can obtain endless rewards from Secret Realms, but if they live frugally and impoverished, how would their Spiritual Jade flow into the market? How can others, who can’t access Secret Realms, benefit? The greatest significance of the weak in this world is needing something from the strong."

Rabbit Heroine tilted her head, "But what does making Wuqiu and Shidong serve you in the morning have to do with it? Even if you washed yourself, you’ll still need them to do your laundry and cook, so they’re needed by you."

Pharmacist’s Wish was silent for a moment, then hugged Rabbit Heroine and tousled her hair, "You’re such a chatterbox. You both come here and give the Heroine a taste of a Commandery Princess’s morning treatment so she won’t have anything to say."

Wuqiu and Shidong came smiling, covering their mouths as they helped Rabbit Heroine wash. Normally Rabbit Heroine would wear full armor while meditating, and getting up was merely a matter of extending her leg, waiting to thrash anyone who dared intrude with her sword. Yet last night she became unusually clingy, hugging Pharmacist’s Wish to sleep after bathing, her hair now loose upon waking.

Pharmacist’s Wish had Rabbit Heroine sit at the vanity and braided her hair, "How’s this? Isn’t it prettier than when you do it yourself? Having maids serve you is sensible; it’s more precise and less cumbersome to let them do it."

Rabbit Heroine shook her head, "But I actually don’t need to untie my braid, even if it’s dirty, rinsing it is enough."

Pharmacist’s Wish knew she was telling the truth, never having seen hair as unique as Rabbit Heroine’s; freshly washed, it dried instantly, each strand so smooth water droplets couldn’t linger, like glass.

Not only that, her skin didn’t retain moisture at all. Once out of the tub, she was clean and pristine. Clothes still wet would dry swiftly upon wearing, like a walking ray of sunshine... No wonder when they first met near Qishan, the three were grimy, but Rabbit Heroine seemed a fresh young girl just out on a spring outing.

They couldn’t take the time for hygiene while fleeing, yet Rabbit Heroine, if she passed a water source, could jump in to wash herself. Coupled with her ability to keep alert while resting and ignore distances to deliver supplies, the image in Pharmacist’s Wish’s mind was summed up in one word: handy.

No need to worry about safety, no need to consider logistics, only to pinpoint a location on a map and she could dash there tirelessly, always maintaining her beauty, as if the Creator initially devised her to be a practical and lovely tool.

But one can’t live merely like a tool... Pharmacist’s Wish squatted slightly, her head next to Rabbit Heroine’s, "Bathing is enjoyable. If you find it troublesome, let Wuqiu and Shidong assist. I’ll braid your hair too."

"If you never need us, we’ll feel sad."

Rabbit Heroine tilted her head towards her, "Didn’t you just say you’re a strong person? Strong people need others too?"

"Because you and I are not merely strong individuals, but sister and sister," Pharmacist’s Wish smiled, "An elder sister surely wishes for the younger to be more dependent and needier."

Rabbit Heroine gazed at the little girl in the mirror, "So from now on you’ll braid my hair?"

"Okay, it’s a deal," Pharmacist’s Wish extended her pinky, "A promise for one hundred years unchanged."

"This may be just right for you, but it feels a bit childish to me," Rabbit Heroine teased, still linking pinkies with her, "A promise for one hundred years unchanged."

When the two girls left the room, the servants outside had been waiting a good while. They weren’t surprised and followed them to the second-floor meeting room of the Demon Slaying Hall.

"Uncle Beiyou, you’re not painting anymore?" Rabbit Heroine curiously asked upon entering, finding the table clean, without scrolls or messy paint.

"All done," Beiyou replied, "Not quite satisfied, waiting for the right moment to revise."

"Why wait for the right moment?"

"You don’t paint; it’s hard to explain."

"I bet it’s poorly done, too embarrassed to show," Rabbit Heroine suggested.

"Enough with the nonsense!" Blood Phase impatiently interjected, "Five days are up; as you’ve seen, we haven’t conquered the Corpse King or obtained Si Wuxie’s legacy."

"Expected," Pharmacist’s Wish said, "Yet you really persisted till the last moment. I thought you’d seek us yesterday."

"I indeed wanted to seek you yesterday, but Prajna and Blood Phase felt unwell and believed they couldn’t challenge the Corpse King even if we found you, thus waiting till today," Beiyou explained.

"Worried that defeating the Corpse King meant we couldn’t compete with you for inheritance?" Pharmacist’s Wish exposed their careful thoughts, "I feel honored; a challenge you couldn’t overcome in five days, but trust we can resolve immediately upon arrival."

"If even you can’t succeed, this hurdle might block humanity for another hundred years," Prajna bitterly smiled, "These five days have disheartened me; Si Wuxie left an unsolvable puzzle."

"Lead the way," Rabbit Heroine glanced at the sunshine outside, "Fighting swiftly, maybe we’ll still catch lunch."

Blood Phase sneered, too lazy to mock her. But Rabbit Heroine suddenly remembered something, "Uncle, you still owe me a bitter melon, don’t you?"

"If you break through Corpse Bone Forest, I’ll eat a bitter melon raw in front of you," Blood Phase hesitated, "Before noon."

Not only the girls, but even Beiyou and Prajna cast odd glances—not only was conquering Corpse Bone Forest a monumental challenge, you even added a time limit?

Don’t know whether to call you scared, or commend your confidence in them?