Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!

Chapter 352 - 344: Identity in Doubt

Cheng Xiaoxiao removed her goggles and looked up at Zhou Yanlan, her eyes filled with tears.

"Why did you close the Stone Gate? Don’t you know there’s an old monster inside?" Isn’t this cutting off our own escape route?

This is really turning into a big mess.

The close contact made Zhou Yanlan’s whole body stiffen. The person in front of him was too soft, and the faint fragrance from her hair could be smelled at such a close distance.

She looked up, and the warm breath from her words spread across his chin, soft and warm, running through his entire body with a peculiar sensation.

This feeling came inexplicably, leaving him at a loss, so he could only focus on listening to her words.

"Hmm."

Hmm, my foot, but considering that she just saved him, he softened his tone and explained in a low voice, "There’s an old monster of unknown power inside who wants to use an infant to practice Evil Skill. If he succeeds, no one in the world will be able to defeat him."

"This is the reason you appeared here," replied Zhou Yanlan, a hint of coldness in his tone.

According to Leng Qi’s feedback, Miss Cheng would disappear irregularly from time to time; he only rescued people with her at the very beginning.

Previously, they speculated that her good deeds weren’t free of charge and required some cost, just like assassins taking money to solve people’s problems.

But the tasks this young lady took on... always seemed beyond her capability. Who was behind her, sending a girl like her to complete tasks way beyond her ability?

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t expect him to respond with such evasive answers.

She could only smile reluctantly, "I have no choice but to do this."

Zhou Yanlan was caught between laughter and tears. His usually cold and hard heart couldn’t help but feel a touch of sympathy, "Having no choice means coming here to offer your head."

Cheng Xiaoxiao choked; it seemed true.

But what could she do, whether she sticks her head out or not, there’s still a knife.

"Host, they are about to start."

Because of the crying child inside, the sound of the Stone Gate closing was covered, and they hadn’t been discovered yet.

"Let’s save the child first."

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t give Zhou Yanlan a chance to question her, grabbing him to move forward.

At the end of the long stone tunnel, there was another world.

As they approached the exit, the two slowed their steps. Cheng Xiaoxiao stretched her neck, quietly peeking out half of her head.

The inside was incredibly spacious and grand, making her eyes sparkle for a moment. It was like a miniature Topkapi Palace, magnificent and grand, bright as day, with carved beams and painted pillars, yet there was no firelight at all. Before and after, one, two, three... there were six Luminous Pearls the size of a baby’s fist embedded in the stone wall; their lustrous glow was so lovely. Isn’t it a waste to embed them in the center of the stone walls?

She suddenly felt quite poor; even one of those pearls surpassed her entire family fortune. Comparing oneself to others really is insufferable.

Moreover, a row of tall stone columns on either side held everything up, with dragons twisting up them, remarkably lifelike. The worst part was the dragon’s claws adorned with diamonds.

Did the ancients here recognize value?

Is this how diamonds should be used?

What a waste!

Seeing someone’s expression change unpredictably, colorful and varied, ending in a face full of pain staring at something regrettably.

"Just mundane objects."

"What do you mean just mundane objects? You wealthy people can talk like that because you’re not suffering. Anything here could feed a village for generations. The wealth gap is too big; the imperial era was horrendous."

Cheng Xiaoxiao’s casual words sounded heavy with doubt to Zhou Yanlan. He’d already questioned her identity, and after spending some time with her recently, he was sure this person wasn’t the timid and stable village girl trying hard to protect her siblings.

No matter how great an opportunity or change someone encounters, their inherent nature invariably reveals itself in certain small habits.

For instance, the ’imperial era’—such a term felt more like an outsider’s view, a satire of the current atmosphere, where every dynasty revered imperial rule, yet she stood apart.

Occasionally new terms popped up, customized management systems, gender-neutral education concepts—none aligning with the divine teachings except for the ability to foresee disasters.

Moreover, she had many unique items, like the telescope before, the goggles now, and many little gadgets. Her adept skills in drawing couldn’t possibly have been honed without several years of practice.

The most incredible was that divine weapon called the Soldier’s Shovel. Not only could it excavate stones and mountains, but he also saw her use it to withstand a covert assault from a Void Power master; its hardness far exceeded Mystic Iron.

Where did this young girl come from, posing as a Cheng Family daughter? What was the so-called mission she had to complete? The more he interacted with her, the deeper the mystery became, and the more he wanted to uncover and explore it thoroughly.

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t know how much his imagination had run wild from one remark, still observing the layout inside, looking for a way to escape and keep the child safe.

The palace seemed to have hollowed out an entire hill, with a large platter in the center. In the middle of the platter was a large four-legged incense burner at least three meters tall; narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, with a vividly detailed cloud pattern relief adorned all over. Handles in the shape of coiled dragon forms were positioned in the east, south, west, and north, with blazing fires underneath the burner.

An attendant took a sealed box from a tray held by another attendant and opened it.

"Host, it’s full of Poisonous Insects, densely packed."

Cheng Xiaoxiao: "..."

Outside, the battle raged on. Han Yi’s team had drawn some of the fire, but the turned battle situation instantly fell apart due to the sudden arrival of six warriors. One by one, the men in black fell; Gu Ming’s people dwindled in number.

At this time, the old butler hurriedly reported, "To the Great Elder, the Clan Leader is too caught up to come, so he asks you to temporarily lead the ritual ceremony."

Elder Ouyang’s face was stern with disdain for the Family Head’s actions; it was just a son. For the big things they were about to do, that pales in importance.

"Hmph, doesn’t know what’s important."

Hearing the disapproval in the Great Elder’s tone, the old butler pressed on, "Most in the house can’t move, and those who practice martial arts can’t muster Qi Force."

The old butler also thought all this was too coincidental, likely someone’s trick, so he told the Great Elder everything that had happened tonight.

"What’s there to guess? The clan was peaceful, and tonight incident after incident. Isn’t it clear?" It must be these people in black causing trouble, and they probably have other accomplices.

Realizing the flaw now, how useless. If only his son took the Family Head’s position, such oversight wouldn’t happen today.

Seeing the butler’s eager eyes on him, the Elder didn’t plan to overstep with orders and said coldly, "Find the Family Head to decide; what are you looking at me for?"