Chapter 2: A Hero Saves the Beauty

Qu Wanwan shouted loudly, “Zhishan, Zhitong, don’t go too far. Yun Yi might have low spiritual power, but she’s working hard on her cultivation. She’s minding her own business—how is she bothering you? If you don’t stop, I’ll slap you into the wall so hard you’ll be stuck there for good!”

Zhishan sneered relentlessly, “Yun Yi, here comes your knight in shining armor, huh? Planning a little hero-saves-the-beauty act? I’d love to see how that turns out.” As she spoke, she cast a spell toward Qu Wanwan.

Qu Wanwan quickly gathered her spiritual energy into a shield, dodged the strike, and countered with a spinning side kick. Zhishan barely avoided it and snarled, “So we’re doing this for real, huh? Zhitong, attack!”

Zhishan exchanged a glance with Zhitong and launched an attack. Qu Wanwan was knocked back to Yun Yi’s side, and Yun Yi immediately joined the fight. Their spell attacks were just about to land on Zhishan when Zhitong drew her spiritual bow. Whoosh! Whoosh! Two arrows shot out. Qu Wanwan hastily raised a shield, and the arrows dropped harmlessly to the ground.

Just then, Zhishan charged behind Qu Wanwan and slammed her palm into her back.

Pfft— Qu Wanwan spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yun Yi stepped in front of her and pleaded, “Please stop. I’m sorry. We’ll leave now. Just let us go…”

Tears welled up in Yun Yi’s eyes, about to spill over.

Zhishan raised her chin arrogantly. “It’s good you know your place. Next time, don’t get in my way. With a face like yours, trying to look all delicate and pitiful—who are you trying to charm? Don’t even dream of provoking us. You’re just a low-tier fairy from the lower realms. The Nine Heavens are no joke—there are rules here. You should thank me for teaching you the rules today. Got it? Or next time it won’t just be one palm. Hmph.” She punctuated her words by stomping on Yun Yi’s fingers.

Yun Yi held back her tears and murmured softly, “I understand. I won’t do it again.”

Hearing her surrender, Zhishan and Zhitong turned to leave, muttering as they walked, “Two vixens trying to seduce some deity, dreaming of becoming phoenixes. If we don’t teach them a lesson now, they’ll walk all over us later. Climbing up the ranks with flattery—get real!”

Once they were gone, Yun Yi turned and asked, “Wanwan, are you okay?”

Qu Wanwan wore a calm expression. “I’m fine. Let’s go heal first.” But inside, she was screaming, Fine, my ass! It hurts like hell! How do those two harpies hit so damn hard? Trying to play the hero and save the beauty, and I end up humiliated. Can’t even beat them. How the hell am I going to finish this mission?! Oh heavens above!

Their residence was a small courtyard with a simple room. Qu Wanwan sat down to meditate and heal while Yun Yi channeled spiritual energy into her. Soon, Qu Wanwan’s pale complexion improved, but she kept her eyes closed in meditation and called out to her system.

“System, system!”

「I’m here, Host.」

“Do you have any pills that can boost spiritual power quickly?”

「Nope. But you can learn. This system can offer a few cultivation manuals.」

“Learning now… I guess that works. I used to be a top student, should be fine, right?”

「That depends on you. Right now, I can provide: Frost Technique, Clear Wind Technique, Shadow Technique, Toxicology, Alchemy, and Core Cultivation Method. Read as you like.」

Qu Wanwan opened her eyes and said to Yun Yi, “Yi Yi, I still feel a bit unwell. I’ll meditate alone. Can you help with today’s chores?”

Yun Yi frowned slightly but said nothing more. “Of course. You rest well.” She left and gently closed the door.

As the footsteps faded away, Qu Wanwan eagerly opened the system interface and began reading. The system soon discovered her unusual trait—she had a photographic memory and could master anything after seeing it once. Thankfully, the system’s manuals came with dynamic visuals. By nightfall, she had already finished studying the Frost Technique and Clear Wind Technique!

The Frost Technique focused on manipulating water and ice, offering wide applications.

The Clear Wind Technique centered on wind control—great for running away.

That night, the stars sparkled in the sky, and a dreamy full moon bathed the heavens. Star Lord Sanye had already laid the night’s veil and gone to rest.

---

Qu Wanwan looked at the night sky and thought: Time to stir up some trouble!

She stealthily crept toward Zhishan and Zhitong’s room. “Hehe, revenge is a dish best served cold. Mess with my beauty? Get ready to be crushed!”

She quickly set up a soundproofing array and began chanting the Frost Technique, lowering the room’s temperature. Zhishan and Zhitong shivered.

“So cold… what’s going on?”

Suddenly, Qu Wanwan leapt in. “With a thunderous boom, your goddess has arrived! You hags, it’s payback time!”

The two sisters froze. No wonder it hadn’t rained—it was the wind dispersing the clouds before the storm.

Zhitong scoffed, “Didn’t you learn your lesson yesterday? You still dare come looking for trouble at night? You’re asking for it!”

She moved to strike but realized something was wrong. Her movements were sluggish, her spellcasting slow, and her spiritual energy hard to gather.

“Sis, she did something!” she exclaimed to Zhishan.

Zhishan was already trembling from the cold. Forget spellcasting—she just wanted to crawl under a blanket. If only she knew fire spells!

Qu Wanwan smirked smugly. She hadn’t just dropped the temperature; she’d frozen the water in their bodies into ice. No wonder they were freezing. With a wave of her hand, she marked them with a frost seal.

“Check your hands. That’s my frost seal. If you’re smart, get on your knees and slap each other silly. Otherwise, you’ll die in minutes.”

Zhitong, being stronger, still resisted. But the pain and cold kept breaking her focus. After a few failed attempts, the two eventually knelt.

Zhitong groaned, “We’re freezing. Even if we wanted to slap each other, we can’t move anymore.”

Qu Wanwan thought, Yeah… they’re basically popsicles. How are they gonna slap anyone? So she dialed down the ice just a bit.

“Hurry up! Don’t make me do it for you. If I do, even your parents won’t recognize your faces. And remember to say sorry while you’re at it!”

And so, a ridiculous scene unfolded: two fairy maidens, kneeling and slapping each other. At first, it was half-hearted. After a few scoldings, the slaps got louder and harder, red palm prints blooming on their cheeks until their faces swelled.

Meanwhile, Qu Wanwan secretly recorded it all with a memory stone. If they ever dared to cross her again, she could expose them with a simple play of the video—perfect blackmail. Ahahahahaha!

Nearly until dawn, Qu Wanwan finally let them stop. She cast a recovery spell on their faces and warned, “If you say a word about this, that recording will be seen by everyone.”

---

The next morning, Qu Wanwan meditated briefly before getting to work. Whether in the modern world or a novel, life was still full of chores. Miserable! Exhausting! After chores and training, she returned to her room and showed Yun Yi the memory stone.

The two of them giggled and played around before hugging warmly.

Although Yun Yi felt vindicated, she also worried. “Wanwan, I appreciate you avenging me, but don’t stray down a crooked path. Let’s try to live in peace, alright? I’ll grow stronger—one day, I’ll protect you. Besides, the Emperor treats me well. I just don’t want to trouble him over petty matters. If they cross the line again, I’ll go to him.”

Qu Wanwan smiled, “Yi Yi, I’m not straying. I just got a new cultivation manual. Don’t worry. And I believe in you—you will become strong. I’ll be waiting for you to protect me.” Her charming peach blossom eyes curved in delight.

---

That night…

“Hey hey hey, I’m baaaack!” Yep, Qu Wanwan returned. Using the frost seals again, she froze them and made them slap each other again. In the morning, she used her recovery spell like nothing ever happened.

Day Three: Same routine. Skipping the details.

「Ding! Main Quest 1 complete. Reward: 50 Mission Points. Access granted to Phoenix Divine Fire Technique.」

Qu Wanwan was emotionally wrecked. Ha… 50 mission points? This damned system! The elixir costs 1000 and I get 50?! Where’s the dignity? At this rate, I’ll never afford that Nine Reincarnations Revival Elixir! AAAHHH! This is so unfair! Life is meaningless! I could’ve had three good nights of sleep but no, I had to do missions—and for this?!

Sensing her wavering resolve, the system piped up:

「Don’t lose heart, Host! The next mission offers a big reward. We’re a kind and honest system—no scams here! Don’t die!」