Ace stepped into the system space, the unconscious girl cradled carefully in his arms.
Behind him, Blind Dog followed in silence, his presence light but unwavering.
"Welco to my world," Ace said, his voice calm yet firm.
Blind Dog didn't react, his focus solely on keeping pace. But soon, his steps faltered slightly.
"Mister, you're walking too fast," he finally murmured.
Ace blinked, glancing back. "Hmm? Oh, right. Blind Dog, hold onto my sleeve as we walk. Why strain yourself trying to track by scent?"
Blind Dog hesitated before reaching out, his fingers closing around Ace's sleeve. With that, they continued forward, their steps in sync.
Soon, they arrived at the house where Liu Hong was tending to her usual chores.
Outside, she stood beside a steaming pot, the scent of boiling herbs drifting through the air.
"Aunt Hong, what's the water for?" Ace asked, adjusting the girl in his arms.
Liu Hong turned, her gaze landing on the figure he carried.
Then, with a dramatic sigh, she clicked her tongue.
"Aiya, Xiao Zhi, you finally brought soone who isn't a child. I was starting to worry you were.... into children."
"Pft—!" Ace nearly choked on his own breath. His head snapped toward her, eyes wide in shock.
"Aunt Hong! How can you even think sothing like that?!"
Liu Hong only shrugged, unimpressed by his outrage. "What do you expect? Ever since I heard my daughter say she wants to marry her master, the thought has crept up more than once."
Ace opened his mouth to argue, but she wasn't finished.
"And then earlier today, Lily carried in another petite girl, claiming you sent her. Put yourself in my shoes, would you?"
She folded her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing. But as she took in the mature woman in Ace's arms, she exhaled, a flicker of relief passing over her face.
"Well, at least this one's matured," she muttered.
Ace groaned. "Aunt Hong, you've got it all wrong! I only brought her in because she's injured!"
Liu Hong arched a brow, arms crossed as she eyed Ace suspiciously. "Then why are you bringing in all these girls? Hm? Trying to start a harem?"
"Absolutely not!" Ace shot back, exasperation clear in his voice.
Unable to continue, he turned to Blind Dog and gestured toward Liu Hong. "Blind Dog, she's the one who will treat your sister. Introduce yourself."
Blind Dog didn't hesitate. Dropping to his knees, he kowtowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
"Aunt Hong, please… please save my sister." His voice trembled with desperation, raw and pleading.
Liu Hong's expression softened. She reached down, helping him up with a gentle pat on his shoulder.
"I will. I'll do my very best," she assured him.
Ace smirked slightly. "Yeah, she wasn't the village doctor for nothing."
With that, he carried the girl inside, stepping into the warm, quiet ho.
Inside, Ruby was tending to another unconscious girl—a small, frail figure whom she was carefully wiping clean.
The mont Ace stepped in, her head snapped up.
"Get out!" she barked.
Ace barely had ti to react before he found himself bolting back outside, the door slamming shut behind him.
Liu Hong crossed her arms and gave Ace a scrutinizing look. "Right, I told Ruby to clean up the girl you sent in earlier. You didn't… see anything you shouldn't have, right?"
Ace instinctively shook his head, recalling the sequence of events.
First The ground and then, him bolting out of the room.
There was no way he could have seen anything aningful even if he wanted to.
Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Now, follow ."
She led the way, and before long, they approached the stone village. Ace's gaze drifted toward one of the stone houses, and he couldn't help but grimace.
"…Aunt Hong, isn't this place kind of… risky? That roof looks like it could collapse on at any mont."
"For soone of your status, Xiao Zhi, you sure can be timid," Liu Hong teased as she continued forward, making her way toward two crystal humans standing nearby.
Ace sighed but followed after Liu Hong, his steps slow and cautious as he eyed the crumbling stone structures around them.
As they neared, one of the crystal humans turned, its gaze settling on Liu Hong before shifting toward Ace.
"This one greets the Lord," it intoned in a deep, calm voice, bowing slightly.
Ace waved a hand dismissively. "No need for that. How's everything holding up?"
"It remains stable… except for the dwindling population. The n have begun requesting female crystal humans."
Liu Hong gave a nod of approval before gesturing toward Blind Dog, who clung tightly to Ace's sleeve. "This boy's sister needs treatnt. Prepare a place for her."
Without hesitation, the crystal human turned to another and gave a simple nod. The second one imdiately strode off toward one of the sturdier-looking buildings.
Ace cast Liu Hong a wary glance. "You're sure this place is safe?"
Liu Hong smirked. "Xiao Zhi, you worry too much. Just trust ."
Ace exhaled, shaking his head. "Fine. But if sothing collapses on , I'm blaming you."
The crystal human then led Ace and the others to a familiar room.
Ace imdiately recognized it—it was the very room he had woken up in before.
Ace then followed Liu Hong into the room.
He gently laid the unconscious girl onto a straw-stuffed mattress, adjusting her position carefully before stepping back.
Liu Hong approached, her gaze sharp as she assessed the girl's condition. "She's weak, but nothing beyond saving. I'll handle it from here."
Ace gave a small nod. "Good. Just let know if you need anything—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a powerful force seized him. His vision blurred, and a familiar pulling sensation gripped his entire body.
"Tch!" Ace clenched his teeth, realizing what was happening.
In the blink of an eye, the warmth of the room vanished, replaced by the cold sting of reality. He was forcefully ejected from the system space.
Stumbling slightly, he steadied himself, his mind reeling. "Damn it… again?"
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