Chapter 27: Can’t Hold It In Anymore
Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Can’t Hold It In Anymore
"Water Elemental Slime (Faint Red/One Star)"
Two identical entries appeared in his line of sight.
By the stream, two spherical creatures the size of stray dogs were hopping toward Goddalir in the water.
They were a milky-white, semi-transparent color and had no facial features or limbs, looking like blobs of moving gelatin.
Goddalir was terrified. Standing in the water, she hugged her arms and kept backing away toward the bank where Wang Xi stood.
Although the girl was far more developed than Wang Xi had imagined, he didn’t have time to appreciate the view, because the two Slimes suddenly attacked.
PFFT! PFFT!
They contracted and expanded, shooting high-pressure, spindle-shaped streams of water from their bodies, which flew like sharp arrows toward the girl in the water.
Wang Xi dove into the water with a SPLASH and raised a hand to block for Goddalir.
The two Water Arrows struck Wang Xi’s forearm, where they were blocked by a layer of azure Sugar Coating, sending water splashing everywhere.
"Get on the shore!"
Wang Xi pulled back his hand and flicked it, the Sugar Coating and water droplets dissipating into a fine mist. He then pulled Goddalir out of the water in one motion.
SPLASH.
Startled and embarrassed, the girl understood the urgency of the situation. She didn’t say a word, simply scrambling obediently onto the bank.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!!
The sound of something cutting through the air followed.
Wang Xi whirled around, once again manifesting the Sugar Coating and raising his hand to protect his face.
All the Water Arrows were blocked, sending water splashing in every direction.
Bracing against the two Slimes’ attacks, Wang Xi charged across the stream and right up to them.
SHING!
He drew his sword and slashed.
The Longsword swung, but it felt like he had struck a pile of mud, making it extremely difficult to transfer the force of the blow. Fortunately, Wang Xi’s strength was considerable, and the strike still cleaved one Slime in two.
GURGLE!
The other Slime suddenly swelled. Its center caved in as its edges expanded, making it look just like a giant jellyfish as it descended upon Wang Xi—it seemed to be trying to envelop and suffocate him.
Wang Xi backstepped to dodge the engulfing attack and slashed several times with his Longsword. With a few muffled thuds, this Slime was also cut into several pieces.
SPLOOSH—
The Slimes dissolved into two puddles of milky-white ooze.
But Wang Xi’s brow furrowed slightly.
He hadn’t received a kill notification from Kaos.
The ooze on the ground suddenly began to squirm, slowly pulling itself together as if trying to regenerate.
Wang Xi recalled the fantasy stories he had read in his past life and guessed that this type of monster must have a core, like a heart, that had to be destroyed to kill it for good.
He focused his gaze and, sure enough, he saw a palm-sized, web-like substance within each of the two puddles.
The substance was almost colorless and transparent; if he hadn’t looked closely, he would have missed it completely.
With two quick thrusts, Wang Xi pierced them.
In an instant, the two puddles of ooze went completely still.
"Target eliminated!"
"Capture the abilities of the ’Water Elemental Slime’?"
’Yes.’
Wang Xi sheathed his sword, giving the silent command.
Two spheres of white light flew up from the ground and entered the space between his eyebrows.
"Card added to Independent Card Pool."
At that moment, the two puddles of ooze began to dilute, gradually turning into clear water that seeped into the soil, leaving only two small, shimmering objects behind.
Wang Xi’s eyebrow twitched. He bent down and picked them up.
They were two small, pearl-like, light-blue orbs.
"Slime Pearl: A pearl containing wondrous Energy. Clams tainted by Magic Power will gestate this type of crystal. Yearning for freedom, it escapes its cramped shell and gathers Water Elements to form a new body to explore the outside world."
So...
’A Slime’s true form is a magic-infused pearl?’
What kind of bizarre Fairy Tale was this?!
He was absolutely shell-shocked.
Wang Xi tossed them to Kaos, receiving 200 Energy in return.
"Energy: 600"
He didn’t rush to draw Cards. Instead, he waded back across the stream to the other side and called out for Goddalir.
Soon, a girl with soaking wet hair, having just finished dressing, ran out hurriedly from behind the bushes.
"Gai!"
Seeing Wang Xi, Goddalir rushed forward and threw herself into his arms.
"The Demons are dead. Are you all right?"
"I’m fine."
Goddalir shook her head, though she seemed a bit down. She bit her lip and said softly,
"You saved me again, Gai... Just like you said, I’m really too weak. Ever since we left Randall, I’ve just been holding you back."
"..."
Wang Xi wanted to offer a few words of comfort but chose to remain silent.
He could see from the "Retirement Preview" that Goddalir was no ordinary person. She possessed some kind of special trait or talent and would one day master Magic Power, becoming "Cinderella."
But if things continued like this, her feelings for him would only deepen, and Wang Xi had no desire to incur that kind of emotional debt.
"Gai, you..."
Seeing the young man’s silence, Goddalir’s expression turned sorrowful. She stared intently at him and asked,
"You think I’m a burden too, don’t you?"
Wang Xi hesitated, ultimately giving up on saying anything harsh. Instead, a miniature version of him in his mind quietly took out the *Shrimp Head Bible* and began flipping through it frantically, finally stopping on a certain page—
*Cluelessly Unromantic.*
"You’re not a burden. After all, you’ve helped me ask for directions, changed my bandages, brought me food..."
Wang Xi shook his head and said calmly,
"It’s been very helpful."
Goddalir once again felt that sense of distance. She opened her mouth, but in the end, only managed to murmur,
"Is... is that all?"
’Any maid could do those things!’
She felt an inexplicable sense of grievance. It seemed there was no place for her in Gai’s heart.
The warmth and sweetness she thought she’d felt before might have just been her own wishful thinking.
"You’re done washing up, right? Wait here for me a moment."
Wang Xi glanced at the dazed girl, then went to the stream by himself.
He took off his Leather Armor, cotton clothes, and silk undergarments, then jumped naked into the cool water to calm himself down a bit.
In truth, it was hard not to be moved by a good girl like Goddalir, especially since she would one day possess impressive power.
Wang Xi had considered stringing her along. That way, in the future, he would not only have a beautiful companion but also the chance to capture her Extraordinary Ability... but if he did that, wouldn’t he just be reverting to the detestable person he was in his past life?
Let the mistakes of the past be a lesson for the future.
’May I learn from the great pine, and be wary of becoming a fleeting peach blossom!’
He plunged his head under the water, silently steeling his resolve.
...
...
By the campfire that night, only two figures were warming themselves by the fire.
Steward White and the guards had already gone to sleep. Wang Xi had volunteered for watch duty.
Goddalir sat on a nearby log, seeming to deliberately keep her distance from Wang Xi.
Her hair was now dry, and she stared blankly into the fire, her cheeks flushed red by the flames.
"You should get some sleep. I can handle the watch,"
Wang Xi said softly, glancing at Goddalir.
The girl raised her eyes blankly, then quickly lowered them again.
"Mm."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. She slowly stood up and lay down on a piece of cloth spread out by the fire, her back to Wang Xi, curled into a ball.
Wang Xi glanced at her before looking away.
In the tranquil night, only the faint, intermittent chirping of insects could be heard.
He scanned his surroundings, observing for a moment.
After confirming that everyone in the caravan was asleep, he finally recited in his mind:
’Draw.’
"100 Energy consumed (500 remaining)"
The two white spheres of light in his mind began to spin.
One of them flew out.
Wang Xi faintly heard a gurgling sound, as if the dead Slimes were crying out in lament.
"Sooo comfy, so nice... Cuddle..."
He was able to roughly decipher the strange intent.
Okay, so it wasn’t a lament after all.
With a flash of white light, a Card appeared in his hand.
"Spraying Water (Function Card)"
"Quality: White One Star (Not upgradeable)"
"An instinctual reaction of the Water Elemental Slime. They have no gender and cannot reproduce, but they instinctively approach their own kind and attempt to merge with them."
"Upon use, you will gain a portion of this instinct. Whenever you feel pleased, your body will spray water. This Card will disappear after use."
Holding the card, Wang Xi was once again left completely speechless.
’Spray water whenever I’m pleased?’
’So, if I’m on a train scrolling through my phone and see a funny video, I’ll just spray water everywhere in public? Or if I’m out with Chu Nai and I laugh, I’ll just spray water everywhere in public...’
’Spraying water at work...’
’Spraying water while walking down the street...’
’Spraying water everywhere...’
Who the hell would want such a useless ability?!
Get lost!!
Wang Xi took a deep breath and said silently,
’Draw again!’
"100 Energy consumed (400 remaining)"
Another gurgling sound echoed in his mind.
"Shoot... Eject..."
The last sphere of light flew out.
Wang Xi caught the Card with a grim look on his face, but his expression immediately froze in surprise.
"Water Arrow (Skill Card)"
"Quality: White One Star (Upgradeable)"
"The Water Elemental Slime’s hunting method. They can compress water within their bodies, imbue it with a trace amount of Magic Power, and then eject a spindle-shaped stream of water to pierce their prey."
"Upon use, you can condense and fire a high-pressure stream of water. Each use consumes a certain amount of Magic Power (if you do not possess Magic Power, it will consume double the stamina)."
Another spellcasting-type Active Skill Card!
It was very similar to "Blueberry-flavored Sugar Coating," as it also required Magic Power. Since Wang Xi didn’t have Magic Power, he would have to use more stamina instead.
’Excellent. Another combat tool in my arsenal.’
Wang Xi was quite satisfied with this pull from the Universal Cards and put it away carefully.
Then, he crushed the bizarre "Spraying Water" Universal Card, gaining 15 Experience Points, which he once again fed to his Body Refining Technique.
"Randall Body Refining Technique (Technique Card)"
"Quality: White One Star (Upgradeable)"
"Experience Points: 98/100"
He was just 2 Experience Points away from a Star Promotion!
Wang Xi was filled with anticipation.
He first checked the status of his other Cards:
"Elite Soldiers (Skill Card/Green One Star): 22/200"
"Blueberry-flavored Sugar Coating (Skill Card/White One Star): 13/100"
"Listen to Heartbeat (Skill Card/Green One Star): 2/200"
Both "Water Arrow" and "Chekhov’s Gun" were still at 0 Experience Points because he had never used them. Furthermore, as a Black Card, the latter required a whopping 1,000 Experience Points to upgrade!
As for his other Universal Cards, they were all non-upgradeable types, so they didn’t display Experience Points.
Wang Xi thought for a moment, then raised his left hand, conjuring a localized Sugar Coating to cover his palm. He held it for about ten seconds before dismissing it.
Then he did the same with his right hand.
Back and forth he went, left hand, right hand.
He only stopped the exercise when he started to get a little winded.
The data in his mind showed that he had gained 1 Experience point.
Wang Xi rested for a while before activating the Body Refining Technique again.
His facial muscles twitched as a sharp pain wracked his body, as if he were being beaten by an invisible force.
’I’ll aim to get the Star Promotion for this Technique Card in the next two days!’