Annoyed
...
The sound of dripping water echoed behind her ears, as if she were sitting beneath some small, decorative waterfall.
When Yingshi woke up, she was still a little groggy.
Listening to the water so close at hand and feeling the icy droplets splashing onto her shoulders, she belatedly realized that this was reality.
Reality was that she had transmigrated into a book, had been in this novel's world for several days, and was currently exploring the Marrow Cleansing Spring's domain with her fellow transmigrator, Shuangjian. The scenes featuring her friends, family, and pets taking turns appearing had only been a dream...
Her brief melancholy and disappointment were scattered by the shock of the environmental shift. Yingshi hesitantly felt the jade-like, cool stone beneath her and hurriedly called out, "Shuangjian?"
"I am here."
His voice came from about a meter or two away. He no longer sounded weak, suggesting he had successfully made it through his flare-up period.
Yingshi hadn't expected to fall asleep right in the middle of talking. She had clearly planned to look after Shuangjian, yet she had drifted off into dreamland all on her own... How could she be so unreliable?
Feeling inevitably ashamed and embarrassed, she immediately apologized, "I'm so sorry. My body was so exhausted it wouldn't listen to me, and I ended up being of no help at all..."
"There is no need to apologize. I should be the one thanking you," Shuangjian chuckled softly, lightly brushing the topic aside.
CR
"This is the Marrow Cleansing Spring. The space within this domain is unpredictable. While we were resting, the spring's eye moved right beside us." There was no distinct emotion in his tone, much like a tour guide at a scenic spot. "You woke up at the perfect time. If you are ready, you can jump into the spring water beside you. However, the spiritual energy within the water is extremely overbearing. It will inevitably cause some discomfort once it enters your body."
"Have you already gone in?" Yingshi asked in surprise. "How do you feel now? Have you gotten stronger?"
"No, I haven't entered the water." Shuangjian paused for a moment before saying, "When the male lead's seal is loosened by the Marrow Cleansing Spring, the reaction will likely be intense. It might impact the entire space, and the domain could close outright... Therefore, I will go after you."
"True, you're so thoughtful," Yingshi agreed. "The book did mention that after the male lead entered the Marrow Cleansing Spring's domain, he completely shattered that altar of the Daoist Immortal Alliance. Who knows, when your seal loosens, the Cliff of Repentance might suffer a massive earthquake..."
She hesitated for a moment before tentatively inching toward the edge, reaching her hand out past the stone's boundary.
The flowing water brushed against her fingers, instantly bringing an endless chill.
"...How is it so freezing?"
Yingshi pulled her hand back in pain and quickly tucked it into her chest, rubbing it vigorously.
The temperature of the Marrow Cleansing Spring was absolutely abnormal. It felt like unsolidified ice, at least ten degrees below zero.
She originally thought that simply soaking in the Marrow Cleansing Spring would make her stronger. Even if it wasn't as comfortable and relaxing as a hot spring, she figured it would be similar to swimming in an unheated pool during autumn or winter. She never expected it to be this challenging.
Now, those two fingers were already throbbing with the painful and itchy sensation of frostbite. If that spread across her entire body... Yingshi's face grew increasingly pale.
Shuangjian took in her reaction. He stayed silent for a few seconds before choosing to ask, "Do you wish to give up this chance for marrow cleansing?"
"Of course not! We need to work hard to get stronger together, so that if we encounter another sudden situation like Mi Ruotian in the future, we can protect ourselves." Yingshi decisively refused, but her tone weakened immediately after saying that. She muttered gloomily, "But this spring water is truly terrifying. Just a few seconds of contact already gave my hand frostbite..."
"..."
"But what does this count for? In order to successfully reach the end of the novel, for the chance that completing the plot might let us transmigrate back home, all the sacrifices are worth it. If the male lead in the book can do it, we can do it too!" Yingshi muttered to herself. "But... could it be that only someone with a protagonist's halo can digest this kind of heaven-sent fortune?"
"..."
Listening to her debate with herself and watching her constantly shift postures, one moment pumped up with adrenaline, the next completely deflated, Shuangjian could not help but find it somewhat amusing.
But before he could intervene, Yingshi seemed to have made up her mind. Assuming the posture of a martyr going to her death, she pinched her nose, closed her eyes, and declared, "Shuangjian, I'll set an example for you... I, I'm jumping in!" With that, she lunged into the water.
Splash.
With a loud plunge, spring water sprayed everywhere.
Droplets of water splattered onto Shuangjian's face and body. He froze for a few seconds. Without wiping away the messy traces, he simply turned his head and quietly looked at Yingshi, who was shivering violently in the Marrow Cleansing Spring.
In her original world, she had probably never endured this kind of suffering.
He suddenly found the scene before him a bit glaring.
Was he envious? Envious of her smooth and peaceful life, where merely entering the water was enough to cause her unbearable pain?
Or... was he harboring a malicious mentality of dragging an innocent person down just to wantonly observe their embarrassment, enjoying her suffering, and this dark scrutiny was destined to bring discomfort?
No matter what it was, he did not like seeing this scene.
Shuangjian suddenly felt a bit annoyed.
Annoyed by these indistinguishable emotions that frequently surfaced in his heart.
Regardless of whether Yingshi could hear him, he said expressionlessly, "Open your spiritual meridians and release your spiritual energy outward. The clash between the two will make you feel much warmer."
...
At first, Yingshi trembled fearfully under the spring water, feeling like she might freeze to death before she ever got stronger.
The spiritual energy within the Marrow Cleansing Spring was indeed incredibly overbearing. Before entering her body to transform and elevate her, it insisted on giving her a severe beating.
She felt as if every inch of her skin was being pricked by needles. When she faintly heard a familiar voice giving instructions, her brain was too sluggish to process and obey; it was her body, driven by survival instincts, that actively executed the command, using her spiritual energy to crash against the surging spring water.
The chill gradually dissipated. As the discomfort eased, Yingshi's consciousness regained the upper hand. She began to feel an unprecedented clarity of sight and hearing, her entire body brimming with strength.
The warm spiritual energy flowing through her body had multiplied several times over. The meridians she had once observed internally had clearly undergone several reroutings, much like a small stream drawing in a mighty river for support; after the river waters receded, the stream evolved into a river of its own... Every wash caused her meridians to emit a lustrous glow, and Yingshi could even hear the faint sounds of her bones and muscles being remolded.
After a long time, she was washed back onto the shore by the spring water.
"..."
Yingshi lay there blankly for a long while before sitting up, dazedly touching her dry clothes and hair.
All of this... was simply too miraculous!
This was the greatest shock the fantasy world had brought her so far, because the change had truly happened, and it had taken effect on her own body!
Now she only felt incredibly light; with a slight push off the ground, she could leap ten meters away.
The surging spiritual energy within her was restless, seemingly eager to be released to do something...
Yingshi's heart was pounding. She clenched her fists, crouched down, and placed her hands back on the surface of the Marrow-Cleansing Spring, tentatively sending spiritual energy into it. Unfortunately, it was too meager; a small river could hardly shake a mighty ocean, but it was better than doing nothing.
"Shuangjian!" she called out hurriedly. "Get in the water quickly! While you do, I'll use my spiritual energy to help warm it up, so it won't be so freezing underwater..."
The young man, who had been watching in silence all along, suddenly stiffened.
"Don't just stand there, you really can become stronger!" Yingshi looked back at Shuangjian. Now she could also glimpse some outlines in the darkness.
Seeing that he remained motionless, she blinked. A sudden idea struck her. She pulled off her previously untied hairband, infused it with spiritual energy, and whipped it toward Shuangjian.
The soft strip of cloth accurately struck the young man's wrist, bringing with it a gentle force that pulled him closer to Yingshi.
Shuangjian was somewhat stunned. He forgot to resist for a moment, or perhaps he didn't even know if he should.
Meanwhile, the instigator was still exclaiming excitedly, "It's like one of those retractable tape measure toys..."
Shuangjian had no idea what a tape measure toy was. He only knew that he felt as if he had truly been punished by a disciplinary ruler—unnatural and uncomfortable.
By the time he reacted, he was already standing by Yingshi's side, and her hairband had slipped off his wrist.
He felt a faint sense of annoyance at his own daze and experienced a rare loss for words. After a long moment, he managed to say with difficulty, "...There is no need. The cold is still bearable for me. You should stop and stand further away."
With that said, without waiting for Yingshi's reaction, he turned around almost rudely, leaped into the water, and completely submerged himself in the depths of the frigid pool.
...
Time stretched out in the absolute darkness and silence.
Just as Yingshi's heartbeat was about to completely lose its rhythm due to the excessive stillness, a few loud cracks rang out. Countless waterspouts erupted from the bottom of the spring. The explosive noises made her quickly lock her gaze onto Shuangjian beneath the frigid pool, unable to hide the anxiety on her face.
Shuangjian had been underwater for far too long, several times longer than she had been.
Although Yingshi kept comforting herself with the thought that his body belonged to the male lead, so it was only natural that he was different from her, she couldn't help but feel terrified by the bizarre phenomenon unfolding before her.
The changes within the pool were just the beginning. Immediately after, the entire space seemed to shake. A deep, foundational tremor was rippling through everything, even making the soles of Yingshi's feet tingle.
"...Shuangjian, are you alright?"
She knew she wouldn't get an answer, but she was truly panicking. To keep her balance, she had no choice but to crouch down and support herself with her hands on the jade floor that was cracking inch by inch.
With another roaring boom, Yingshi began to tremble all over. She watched helplessly as the entire pool of spring water was swept backward and pulled upward in a matter of milliseconds by an unimaginable force, transforming into a massive waterspout connecting the dome and the eye of the spring!
It was no longer liquid; it looked more like a solid, surging pillar of ice!
And right in the very center of the ice pillar, a familiar figure could be seen.
—It was Shuangjian.
He was frozen inside the Marrow-Cleansing Spring.
In an instant, Yingshi's blood ran cold. Her mind went completely blank, unsure if this was the normal progression of events or a devastating end.
How could she even dare to consider the latter?!
Yingshi's breathing became so rapid that her hands and feet started to go numb, and her vision began to blur. Meanwhile, the frozen Shuangjian hung suspended in the air, while the rest of the waterspouts rioted wildly.
Those highly destructive pillars of water thrashed about madly. Under the impact of these forces, the originally indistinct boundaries of the domain began to peel off and collapse like a fragile eggshell—the entire space was disintegrating!
Yingshi was also continuously battered by these brutal forces. She was scared out of her wits, half her soul already frightened away. Through tear-blurred eyes, she only saw the person deep within the ice pillar open his eyes.
"..."
Their eyes met.
Yingshi's breath hitched for a second, and in that very moment, her heart suddenly and inexplicably settled down.
Summoning her courage and suppressing her trembling, Yingshi waved her hand in that direction.
In this gradually collapsing world, she tried her best to convey to her companion:
She was fine, and ready to welcome the moment of their escape from the domain.
