Chapter 708: 8. Lady Bojiang
“These are…”
Looking at the strange creatures emitting synthesized voices from above, just revealing a bit of their edges, Fisher couldn’t help but turn to Gouwen beside him. He was originally just curious about what these completely non-humanoid beings were, but Gouwen, with a dark expression, controlled the transparent boat to float upwards and said,
“These are all guests that I have to take care of for now.”
Mentioning “guests,” Gouwen seemed to grit his teeth.
Fisher thoughtfully patted his shoulder and solemnly said,
“Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t tell your wife about this.”
“Go to hell!”
Gouwen pushed Fisher’s hand away, looking displeased as he said,
“I didn’t let my guard down when Lord Bai pursued me, let alone these…!”
Before he finished speaking, a small, diamond-shaped crystal creature, about the size of Gouwen’s head, flung itself down. In mid-air, Fisher realized that this creature’s body had originally curled up to form the diamond shape; once it unfurled, it revealed three extending triangular transparent tentacles, looking particularly odd.
“Ah, Gouwen dear, you really shouldn’t run around with your poor health.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
The enormous tentacles also stretched down. Fisher turned his gaze and saw a row of structures resembling eyes arranged neatly like beans in a pod above, which startled Fisher into stepping back. Even Emhart hid behind Fisher’s head.
“Eh, new face. This scent, is it a consciousness from here?”
“…Hello?”
As Gouwen’s small boat landed on the island, Fisher could finally see the few outsiders at the edge.
Besides the small, diamond-shaped weird creature, the appearance of the creature with two gigantic tentacles was also difficult to describe, resembling a slug, entirely wrapped in some clothing that flickered with spots of fluorescence.
“Hello, consciousness. I am Yu Pin, nice to meet you.”
“Yu Pin?”
Fisher was taken aback for a moment and turned to look at Gouwen, whose expression was darkening.
The diamond-shaped creature that Gouwen had pushed aside also floated up and greeted Fisher with a synthesized voice,
“Hello, hello, consciousness. I am Luo Fei.”
The other odd-shaped outsiders with synthesized voices also gathered around, surrounding Fisher as if they were watching something rare, each introducing themselves,
“I am Ship Jieyu.”
“I am Long Xiuren, hello woof.”
Fisher narrowly avoided the tongue from a lizard-like creature that had emerged from its mouth, the tongue bending and glistening, as if it was greeting him, which made his expression increasingly forced.
“Excuse me. Hello, excuse me.”
These strange creatures were not high in rank, at most like ordinary extraordinary subhuman species, so Fisher easily squeezed out from among them with a gentle push and walked towards Gouwen, who was wiping a kind of crystalline powder off his face.
That powder seemed to have been left by the earlier diamond-shaped Luo Fei.
“What happened?”
Fisher whispered inquiringly, while Gouwen glared at his chest and angrily muttered,
“It’s all that guy’s fault!”
“That guy?”
Fisher was slightly taken aback and glanced down towards the direction in his arms, where the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans resided.
“Subhuman Girl Enthusiast?”
“Exactly!”
Gouwen waved his hand, ignoring the group of “chirping birds” behind him, and pulled Fisher towards the interior of the island. In fact, besides that chattering group, the entire island was not very lively, with few living creatures. Fisher also saw some remnants of strange machinery, seemingly parts of various spaceships.
Through Gouwen’s introduction, Fisher learned that this place was originally a hideout created by Gouwen in the Spirit Realm, built together with Mikhail and the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast. After it was completed, the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast often came to visit.
When this group of outsiders arrived, the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast had also helped accommodate them, as many external races could not even communicate; they relied on the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast to communicate awkwardly.
To give credit where it’s due, the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast worked quite efficiently. Soon, she had assigned names to these lost outsiders and prepared communication instruments, though her sense of humor was undeniably present.
“…So, those titles like ‘concubines’ were all named by the Subhuman Girl Enthusiast?”
“Hehe, that’s right! She used names based on the directions they might have come from. One day, out of nowhere, she said she wanted to help me set up a ‘harem,’ and I still couldn’t figure out what she meant. By the time I came back here, those guys already had their names and titles set.”
Emhart couldn’t help but laugh, while Gouwen shot him a sidelong glance, forcing him to hide further behind Fisher.
Fisher felt quite helpless. No wonder Gouwen had found an “explanation” for his past greed in the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans; he knew the main player, and it seemed nothing she did was surprising, and now the Handbook, inheriting her legacy, was in Fisher’s hands.
Comparatively, Gouwen might have found Fisher somewhat more likable.
“So, where are we going now?”
“Inside, to meet a very special outsider.”
“Oh?”
Fisher glanced back at the happily “various concubines,” while Gouwen kept his gaze ahead, quickly moving along the stone-paved path amid planted greenery on the island.
“Basically, the beings from the outside that crashed in from beyond the ultimate are all inconsequential unfortunate beings; away from their civilized technology, they seem insignificant. They can neither see the barrier nor the ultimate, which serves as the gap in the barrier. They stumbled in here by chance, and the various flying vehicles they used to enter are mostly damaged. At this point, they can only stay here to avoid spirit realm pollution, with limited things they can do.
“The only exception is that one individual; she is very ancient and powerful, having been in the spirit realm long before the emergence of spirit realm pollution. Her civilization has a tradition of following deities, and after entering this world, she became a devout follower as the Mother God in the spirit realm. It was through her that Asuka met the Mother God. She has walked every corner of the spirit realm and even has unique methods to overcome the spirit realm pollution. The place you mentioned, she might know about it.”
Upon hearing this, Fisher squinted his eyes in curiosity,
“I see.”
“However, precisely because she is very ancient and powerful, communication with her is very difficult.”
At this moment, he and Gouwen had already arrived at the center of the island, and soon, before him and Gouwen appeared a completely white, glowing slender giant tree.
Or rather, it should be called some sort of tree-like lifeform, because Fisher quickly noticed that the creature did not have roots deep underground.
Those sprawling white root-like tentacles were its feet, while the slender trunk-like structure was its body, but because it emitted light from head to toe, Fisher couldn’t distinguish its specific parts.
Seemingly hearing the movements behind, the glowing slender giant tree turned around, revealing a pair of slightly slanted, teardrop-shaped black eyes, a stark contrast to its body radiating pure white light.
Just seeing the presence of this being, Fisher felt his magical circuits brighten, and even the human body maintained by the chaotic being began to twist, slowly transforming back into tentacles of the Chaos Race.
This was a being at the demigod level, and Fisher even suspected that the fading of the chaotic power in him was influenced by some unknown law of hers.
In front of this being, even Gouwen felt a bit uncomfortable, yet he rubbed his brow and spoke,
“[Lady Bojiang], wake up.”
Is she still not awake?
Fisher was slightly taken aback, but after Gouwen’s call, the creature’s black “eyes” slowly opened, revealing rippling golden pupils. The numerous glowing branches entwined around her head, seemingly integrated with her body, extended, like a graceful woman stretching.
“Buzz buzz buzz.”
A shimmering vibrating sound arose, which seemed to be the original sound of this being, but soon, her voice transformed into a synthesized tone like those of the concubines, albeit with a hint of indifference.
But when she saw Fisher beside Gouwen, her rippling eyes quivered slightly, beginning to swirl like a vortex.
“Boom!”
As her eyes twirled, her tree-like body also eerily spiraled closer, circling around Fisher.
Fisher stood still, watching as the awe-inspiring being crept closer to him, her golden gaze seemed to scrutinize him but then quickly pulled back, leaving him somewhat puzzled.
Fisher turned to Gouwen but saw him wearing a nonchalant expression.
“Lady Bojiang has a peculiar temper, and she often doesn’t stay here, instead wandering around the spirit realm, knowing a lot about spirit realm affairs. She just returned not long ago, so she was sleeping earlier. Usually, after waking up, she flies away again. Can you describe the appearance of that refuge?”
“No, I entered the refuge directly, so I don’t know what its exterior looks like. However, I left behind a Fluid Sword there, and it should be visible from the outside.”
After explaining, Gouwen nodded and looked towards Lady Bojiang, asking,
“Lady Bojiang, I’d like to ask you for the location of an angel’s refuge that has the Ramastia Fluid Sword hanging outside.”
“…”
But the glowing, tree-like Lady Bojiang remained silent, the light emanating from her body flickering, unsure if she was still not fully awake.
“Lady Bojiang?”
When Gouwen spoke up again, Lady Bojiang seemed to come to her senses, lowering her slender head and speaking to Gouwen,
“I can. But…”
“I know, you want to play one of your twisted games, right?”
Lady Bojiang nodded, and Gouwen sighed, rolled up his sleeves, and said to Fisher,
“She found a relic made by Michael in the spirit realm called ‘Truth or Dare.’ That relic randomly generates two types of drawing games for the reader, and she’s become addicted to playing it. It’s like a failed toy made by Michael; the questions and games are silly, but she enjoys it immensely. I’m almost used to it.”
Just as Gouwen was about to step forward, Lady Bojiang shook her head and tilted her head towards Fisher,
“No, I want to play with him. I’m tired of playing with you.”
“?”
Fisher raised an eyebrow, and Gouwen stepped back slightly, looking at Fisher and casually said,
“Don’t worry, Michael is an angel, so making these things is not very meaningful. And in any case, as long as she answers truthfully, she will provide us with answers. Lady Bojiang is very kind.”
Fisher nodded, and upon reflection, although Lady Bojiang was very old and often roamed the spirit realm, she had been living in Gouwen’s hideout for quite some time, and if their relationship were truly poor, it wouldn’t be like this.
Just consider it a small quirk of Gouwen’s friend?
Fisher thought this and stepped forward, only to see that Lady Bojiang’s tentacles swayed slightly as she produced a mirror-like object from her bosom, which seemed to be the toy made by Michael that Gouwen had mentioned.
Gouwen glanced at the mirror but suddenly noticed that it did not emit the starting glow it normally did. Just as he was slightly puzzled, Lady Bojiang’s head visibly opened slightly, and from her abyss-like mouth, countless red threads hung down.
Those were the contents of the draw, capturing the game content that could not be answered after a truth, while the truth would be questioned by Michael’s mirror.
Originally, it should be like this, but in Gouwen’s eyes, if the mirror hadn’t activated, how was it supposed to ask?
While Gouwen was perplexed, from the outside of the island, a Hart Bird, as if receiving a message, hurriedly flew over, crossing through the island’s shield and entering.
In the dim moonlight, which could not penetrate the red mist, the Hart Bird gradually transformed into a black-haired, mature, stunningly beautiful woman, resembling a sister.
She breathed lightly, her eyes shimmering like fine wine, holding a trace of excitement because she had just received a message regarding Fisher’s location from Lady Bojiang.
Standing among the trees, she looked towards the faint light emitted by Lady Bojiang. Just as she was about to approach, she elegantly adjusted her floating posture like a lady, fixing her expression and the creases of her magically conjured clothing.
Just as she was about to step forward, she unknowingly heard Lady Bojiang’s thought transmission,
“Wait a moment.”
Wait a moment?
Wait for what?
Renee was slightly taken aback but felt that Lady Bojiang’s law had somehow enveloped her and this area, leaving no trace.
And ahead, after dropping down countless threads, Lady Bojiang looked at Fisher and softly spoke,
“You must answer me three questions or undertake three dares in return; I will not only tell you the location of the refuge you seek but also disclose the locations and internal structures of all refuges, including methods to overcome the impacts of spirit realm pollution.”
“Three?”
Gouwen was slightly taken aback; usually, he only answered one question.
Fisher was also slightly surprised but nodded and said,
“Alright.”
Lady Bojiang nodded with satisfaction and then asked,
“For the first question, whose woman was your first time?”
“…”
What?
Did he hear that wrong?
Just hearing the first question, Fisher instantly felt the pressure piling on him.
Fisher subtly glanced back at Gouwen, but saw him with his mouth slightly open, the exact meaning of his expression unclear.
However, under the cover of Lady Bojiang’s law, Fisher did not notice that behind Lady Bojiang, a fragrance-laden woman had unknowingly leaned against the shadows, similarly listening in curiosity.
“…What do you mean by first time?”
“First kiss and first night.”
“This should count as two questions, right?”
“Alright, first kiss’s first time, first night’s first time, who do they belong to?”
“…”
Fisher was already starting to struggle with whether to choose a dare, while behind him, Emhart unexpectedly looked at Lady Bojiang as if he had seen a kindred spirit.
But after thinking it through, Fisher felt he had no need to lie to Gouwen.
He already knew of Raphael and the others’ existence. If you make Fisher say he and they merely had a spiritual romance and didn’t do anything else, do you think Gouwen would believe that?
“The first kiss was with Elizabeth, while the other was with Raphael. But you probably don’t know them, so how can I be sure that I’m telling the truth?”
“…I just need you to state the answer.”
Lady Bojiang nodded, while Gouwen’s gaze also turned towards Fisher.
“The next question, among the women you know, who is the one you love the most?”
