Chapter 26: The World’s Best Sword is Indeed a Good Sword

Don’t force it.

A grass-woven little rabbit couldn’t prove anything.

After all, anyone could weave a rabbit. Some craftsmen could even make ones far more lifelike and detailed than Mu Ge’s.

Yet Cheng Huan felt the weaving style of this rabbit was very similar to Lu Qing’an’s.

Not just similar—it was exactly the same.

The furry rabbit ears swayed in the breeze, as if coming alive, bouncing and hopping in Cheng Huan’s hand.

An unconscious smile tugged at the corner of Cheng Huan’s lips, a gentle tenderness surfacing in her eyes.

Mu Ge walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Cheng Huan, constantly observing her every move. Seeing her so enamored with the rabbit she’d woven, her eyes smiling, Mu Ge’s heart swelled with elation and delight.

“Do you like it?” Mu Ge asked.

Cheng Huan nodded. “I like it.”

“It’s very cute,” she said, looking at Mu Ge and asking casually, “Can you weave other animals?”

Mu Ge shook her head. “I only know how to weave rabbits.”

“Do you want other animals? Just say the word. I can learn.”

Cheng Huan gently shook the grass rabbit in her hand. “No, the rabbit is just fine.”

The two returned home with the lingering glow of the setting sun. Their dinner was simple—Mu Ge cooked two bowls of vegetable noodles. As Cheng Huan ate, she spoke, “Now that your right leg has fully recovered… a few days ago, didn’t you want to go to Bochuan? Shall we prepare to set off?”

Mu Ge paused. “Are you not comfortable staying here?”

“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable,” Cheng Huan said. “Last time, I heard you mention wanting to go to Bochuan for an important matter. Have you decided not to handle it now?”

Mu Ge pressed her lips together. “I must handle it.”

“Then let’s prepare to leave for Bochuan.”

Time was growing short. During her stay in Lingchang Village, Cheng Huan had been counting the days. Now, they had to reach Bochuan as quickly as possible for the Female Lead and Male Lead to meet, thus steering the main world storyline back on track.

Hearing Cheng Huan say “let’s,” Mu Ge’s eyes lit up with excitement. “You’ll come with me to Bochuan?”

Cheng Huan nodded. “Of course. Didn’t I promise to keep you alive?”

“I might as well have some fun in Bochuan too.”

A radiant smile bloomed on Mu Ge’s face. “Good. I’ll pack in the next couple of days.”

“And what about the Village Chief? Shitou and Lianti too—we should let them know, right?”

Cheng Huan thought for a moment. “I’ll go tell them when the time comes.”

“Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Mu Ge answered obediently.

Cheng Huan’s expression flickered slightly. She set down her bowl and chopsticks and stood up. “I’m going out for a bit. Go to bed early.”

“Where are you going?” Mu Ge also stood. “I’ll come with you.”

“No need,” Cheng Huan said. “I haven’t practiced my sword for a few days. I’ll go practice and be back shortly.”

Without suspicion, Mu Ge nodded. “Alright. Come back early. The weather has been turning colder lately. Be careful not to catch a chill if you sweat from sword practice.”

“Okay.”

Cheng Huan turned and left the room.

The night was deep. The elderly and young of Lingchang Village had long since gone home to rest, leaving only a few dim yellow lanterns hanging before doorways, swaying in the night breeze.

The candlelight was weak, illuminating only a small space.

The places untouched by light hid the most malicious desires.

The Golden Cicada Pavilion, fearful of Cheng Huan, didn’t dare strike at Mu Ge directly. They could only use Golden-Armored Bees in secret to track her movements.

There was a spot on Mu Ge’s body where a Golden-Armored Bee had stung her. Although the bees were non-venomous, they could track Mu Ge by her blood, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

The Golden Cicada Pavilion followed the bee to Lingchang Village. They dared not get too close. After all, the Azure Frost Recluse possessed extraordinary martial arts and profound Internal Energy. If they approached, she would surely detect them.

Now, the four assassins, masters of Qinggong that they had sent into the village, had discovered the Azure Frost Recluse and Mu Ge were heading to Bochuan. They wanted to relay this news back to the Pavilion for the Pavilion Master to decide.

The four assassins cautiously withdrew from Lingchang Village. Their footsteps and breathing were so light that not even the chickens in their coops noticed.

Confident in their success, they were about to leave swiftly when they spotted a white figure ahead.

Under the dark moon and high winds, a figure in all white.

The four assassins were so startled their eyes bulged, thinking they’d encountered a ghost.

But these men had blood on their hands and wouldn’t fear vengeful spirits. The four drew their long blades, exchanged glances, and charged head-on.

When they saw the true face of the white figure, their expressions became even more colorful than before. A single thought echoed in all their minds: Damn it, we would’ve preferred to meet a ghost!

Cheng Huan didn’t even draw her sword. She dispatched the four assassins in a few swift moves.

These killers, whose hands were stained with the blood of countless innocents, weren’t worth a gentle strike. One by one, she snapped their necks.

In the darkness of night, the unclosed eyes of the assassins stared blankly, filled with terror.

Little Hedgehog marveled at Cheng Huan’s technique. The neck-snapping motions were crisp and graceful, highly aesthetic, almost artistic.

[Host is so amazing!] Little Hedgehog praised. [Is this a skill Host learned in another Mission World?]

Every Tasker and Assistant System learned skills and knowledge in Mission Worlds. This was a reward from the Heavenly Dao to the Taskers and Assistant Systems, allowing them to enrich their abilities for use in future Mission Worlds, perhaps even to save their lives.

Cheng Huan flexed her wrist. It had been so long since she’d snapped necks that she’d gotten a bit rusty.

“I didn’t learn it in a Mission World. I learned it by observing the Tasker who was once ranked first on the Points Leaderboard during her missions.”

Taskers could spend Points to observe other Taskers’ every move during missions. With a mindset of learning and improvement, Taskers with low Points would learn practical skills and techniques from the high-ranking Taskers’ mission executions.

[First on the Points Leaderboard?] Little Hedgehog asked. [Was it Zhai Yi?]

“Not Zhai Yi,” Cheng Huan said. “I don’t know if you know her. Her name was Yan Hui.”

[Yan Hui!] Little Hedgehog’s eyes widened, its tone excited. [The First Sovereign Lord! When the Main System trained us, the first thing they explained was the First Lord God and the First Sovereign Lord.]

“I learned this neck-snapping skill by observing Yan Hui’s past mission worlds. I found it quite interesting—decisive, effortless, simple, and fast.”

Cheng Huan had practiced this technique step by step. She had even specifically chosen a Zombie World to practice it.

She’d snapped the necks of several hundred zombies a day back then, nearly giving herself tendonitis in her wrists.

Little Hedgehog: [The First Sovereign Lord was amazing, of course. And Host, having learned the First Sovereign Lord’s skill, is also amazing.]

Cheng Huan smiled.

Having dealt with these Golden Cicada Pavilion assassins who had been secretly monitoring them, Cheng Huan extracted a “body disposal” potion from a previous mission world. She sprinkled it on the corpses, and the four bodies began to dissolve. In the pitch-black night, a sizzling sound lingered, terrifying and eerie.

Cheng Huan put the empty bottle away and felt the grass rabbit in her bosom. She took it out and, while walking, examined it by the moonlight.

Cheng Huan felt as if she was overlooking something, yet her consciousness told her to ignore it, to pay it no mind.

The current Cheng Huan was just a Tasker seeking retirement. The people and events in the Retirement Experience World had nothing to do with her—she was merely a passerby.

The Retirement Experience time was critical. Cheng Huan had to use the time-flow standard of the Three Thousand Worlds, spending one month to select a Retirement World. Otherwise, her Retirement Eligibility would be void. So Cheng Huan couldn’t afford any delays.

Cheng Huan watched the grass rabbit in her palm slowly vanish. When the hour of Zi arrived, everything would disappear.

Staring at her now empty palm, a feeling welled up within her—the same feeling she’d had when her Lop-Eared Rabbit had died.

Her chest felt tight, as if pressed by a stone. Even her eyelids twitched slightly.

Cheng Huan tilted her head back to look at the sky full of stars. She raised her hand and gently rubbed her eyes, letting out a breath. “Forget it.”

Whether it was the Persona Card’s influence or something else, some things were meant to be lost and would eventually leave. There was no need to cling to them, no need to care, and no need to be emotional.

Cheng Huan returned to the village. Afraid of waking Mu Ge, she carefully entered the house and closed the door.

Just as she was about to take off her outer clothes and go to bed, a voice came from the bed.

“You’re back?”

Cheng Huan paused, looked back, and asked, “You’re still awake?”

Mu Ge sat up. Her silhouette under the moonlight appeared frail. “Waiting for you.”

“What for?” Cheng Huan didn’t understand. “When I practice sword, I lose track of time. Sometimes I practice for a whole day and night. It’s normal.”

Mu Ge hugged her knees. “I was worried about you.”

“Worried about what?” Cheng Huan was puzzled. “You know my martial arts skill better than anyone.”

“I do,” Mu Ge said, watching Cheng Huan approach. “But I still worry you might get hurt.”

“Especially when you smell of blood. Did Golden Cicada Pavilion assassins catch up?”

Cheng Huan hadn’t gotten blood on herself when she killed them. She hadn’t expected Mu Ge to notice.

She nodded. “Just a few small fry. They discovered our trail and wanted to report back. I killed them. Don’t worry.”

Mu Ge lifted her eyes. “You discovered their trail? Why didn’t you take me with you?”

“Were you afraid I’d be a burden?” She grasped Cheng Huan’s hand resting on her leg. “I know some martial arts. Though not as good as you, I could still help.”

“No need. Even if the Pavilion Master of the Golden Cicada Pavilion himself came, he wouldn’t be my match.” Cheng Huan felt Mu Ge’s concern, no longer the feigned deep emotion and forced worry from before, but entirely genuine.

She patted Mu Ge’s head. “Alright, don’t be afraid. With me here, you won’t die.”

“It’s late. Tomorrow, after I tell the Village Chief, we’ll have to set off. Go to sleep early.”

Cheng Huan lay down on her side and closed her eyes to sleep.

Mu Ge pursed her lips. She shifted closer to Cheng Huan and whispered, “Cheng Huan, I’m a little scared.”

Cheng Huan stared at the shortened distance between them. Because the village didn’t have many guest rooms and they were both women, it was normal for Cheng Huan and Mu Ge to stay together.

The bed in the room was large. Even if they both lay flat, there would still be space for a burly man in between.

Except for the first night when thunder roared and lightning flashed, and Mu Ge, frightened of thunder, was allowed to hold Cheng Huan as she slept, the two had since slept on opposite sides, not interfering with each other.

Now, sensing Mu Ge’s closeness and hearing her say she was scared, Cheng Huan glanced out the window and asked, puzzled, “There’s no thunderstorm tonight. What are you afraid of?”

“I don’t know,” Mu Ge looked at Cheng Huan. “There’s always a sense of anxiety and fear in my heart.”

“Anxious about what? Afraid of what?”

Mu Ge was despondent for a moment. “Perhaps afraid of being all alone, with no one to accompany me.”

Hearing this, Cheng Huan understood. She patted Mu Ge’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Someone will be there for you. You won’t be all alone.”

The Male Lead is waiting for you in Bochuan.

Mu Ge heard this and her eyes sparkled like stars under the moonlight. “Really?”

Cheng Huan looked into those eyes, reminiscent of starlight, and a trace of guilt she herself didn’t understand flickered in her heart.

She lay flat, closed her eyes, feigning drowsiness, and said casually, “Mm. Go to sleep early. Don’t let your mind wander.”

Receiving Cheng Huan’s affirmation, Mu Ge smiled contentedly. “Then, can I sleep next to you tonight?”

“What for?” Cheng Huan frowned slightly. “Do you think you’re that clueless kid, Shitou? Needing to sleep next to your parents?”

Mu Ge: “If you let me, I could be a clueless kid too.”

She tugged at Cheng Huan’s sleeve, gently swaying it, her voice soft and coaxing. “Sister Cheng, I want to sleep next to you. Please?”

Cheng Huan raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting. She pulled her sleeve back and turned to lie on her side facing the edge of the bed. “Suit yourself.”

Mu Ge beamed, snuggling close. “Thank you, Sister Cheng.”

Cheng Huan lowered her eyes in warning. “Hands?!”

Mu Ge escalated, wrapping her arms tightly around the slender waist, her tone pitiful. “Sister Cheng, I’m scared.”

Cheng Huan pressed her tongue to her cheek in exasperation. “You’re scared of what, a ghost?”

“Then just pretend I’m scared of ghosts. On a dark and windy night like this, all sorts of little ghosts love to come out and cause trouble,” Mu Ge clung tightly. “Sister Cheng must protect this little kid well.”

Cheng Huan sighed, at a loss with Mu Ge. She could only let her be, allowing her mischief.

Mu Ge heard Cheng Huan’s helpless sigh and laughed triumphantly, happily hugging Cheng Huan as she fell asleep.