Saving System: Calm Down, My Fleeing Host!-Chapter 37: Uneasy and Anxious

Sensing Cheng Xiaoxiao’s thoughts, the system chuckled slyly, "Friendly reminder, I, being a conscious body of sorts, don’t have a specific form. Are you sure you can hit me, host?"

Cheng Xiaoxiao immediately cut off the mental connection with the system.

She had forgotten for a moment...

As long as she wanted, the system couldn’t sense her thoughts. Why let the system enjoy the show, only to have it flaunt in front of her?

It was simply unforgivable.

Better to focus on the journey.

"Xiaoxiao, do you want to take a break?" Mr. Cheng noticed his daughter’s forehead was sweating. Fortunately, the sun wasn’t too harsh today, and there were clouds obscuring it from time to time. Otherwise, she would be both sunburnt and exhausted.

"No need, Dad, I can keep walking," Cheng Xiaoxiao insisted.

She’s been too busy lately, leaving no time for exercise. She thought she should pick up yoga again when she got home.

Or, perhaps hire a martial master, so the kids at home could learn. In troubled times, having an armed force was essential. At that moment, Cheng Xiaoxiao felt a pang of regret for previously focusing solely on survival and sustenance.

It wasn’t entirely Cheng Xiaoxiao’s fault, though. She had been dealing with various matters ever since she arrived in Qingshan Village, where a lack of conflict meant the biggest issue had been her aunt’s affairs.

Without crises, there was a lack of vigilance.

Once away from the group’s strength, how could her family survive unarmed?

This matter, perhaps Tree-man could help. Cheng Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. She had previously thought of developing a bodyguard, but realized it was better to teach her own; those skills couldn’t be taken away.

She glanced toward the rocky hillside behind them, showing a shrewd expression.

Leng Qi’s heart skipped a beat.

What?

Did she notice me?

No way!

Impossible!

Leng Qi started questioning his own martial artist status.

How bizarre, his qinggong was so good, and his Concealed Body Technique was top-notch. Even that strongman with Martial Arts skills hadn’t noticed him, so how had she?

Was she looking at him just now?

A confused Leng Qi wanted to rush out and ask Cheng Xiaoxiao if she had indeed discovered him.

This... was impossible.

Could it be that kid is a master?

That didn’t seem right either! Observing for so many days, Cheng Xiaoxiao appeared to be a countryside girl with no martial skills.

Perhaps she knew some special Cultivation Technique?

Also unlikely, what opportunities or channels could a simple village girl have to obtain advanced techniques?

Leng Qi concluded he must be overthinking it. Since he couldn’t make sense of it, he decided to continue observing.

Cheng Xiaoxiao didn’t care what Leng Qi thought; she had deliberately startled Tree-man, hinting that she had noticed him.

Let’s see...

Upon reaching the main hall, they saw the glazed tile roof with multiple eaves, the grand vermilion doors wide open. Crossing the high threshold, the hall was majestic and tranquil, shrouded in incense smoke with burning fragrance.

A statue stood in the center, seated cross-legged, fingers holding a string of Buddha Beads, looking solemn and dignified. Cheng Xiaoxiao was taken aback, realizing she didn’t belong here; it wouldn’t be wise to linger, feeling inexplicably guilty.

At that moment, a young monk approached, palms together, "Amitabha."

Neither Cheng Xiaoxiao nor Mr. Cheng had ever visited a temple before.

Cheng Beiniu, however, had some knowledge; he returned the greeting, prompting Cheng Xiaoxiao to do the same.

The young monk then asked, "May I ask if the donors are here to offer incense or to have fortunes told?"

Cheng Beiniu quickly replied, "We’ve come to seek enlightenment from Master Liao Ming."

The young monk apologized, "The grandmaster departed two days ago and isn’t in the temple. You may visit during the temple fair, but the grandmaster’s whereabouts are uncertain and he’s usually hard to meet."

This left Cheng Beiniu and Cheng Yong unsure of what to do.

Cheng Xiaoxiao secretly sighed with relief. Thank goodness!

If he turned out to be some enlightened monk, she’d be doomed, being treated as some soul-stealing demon reincarnate?

Today she had taken a big risk coming over, intending to offer a couple of sticks of incense and leave.

Who knew Uncle Beiniu would immediately seek out a big shot?

Thankfully the master was wise, bringing Cheng Xiaoxiao some peace of mind.

"It’s alright, perhaps I just lack fate with the master," Cheng Xiaoxiao said with a tinge of disappointment.

Then she added, "Maybe offering some incense will suffice."

Mr. Cheng gently admonished, "Offering just incense isn’t enough, Xiaoxiao, don’t be disheartened; there must be a way."

Then he turned to the young monk, "Could you please tell us if there’s another master in the temple who can exorcise evil spirits? My daughter has been having nightmares every night, scared out of her wits. We suspect an evil spirit invasion."

The young monk took a moment to examine the young lady, noticing her face full of exhaustion and dark circles, seemingly tormented.

His skills were too shallow to ascertain much, so he replied, "For chanting and requiem services, our monks can help, but for exorcism, Master Liao Ming is the expert. However, his disciple, Master Jing Yuan, is still in the temple. Would you like me to ask on your behalf? Master Jing Yuan might... be capable of exorcism."

Could he be? Is this Jing Yuan only half-passing?

"Perhaps we should just forget it!" Cheng Xiaoxiao bowed her head, looking rather forlorn.

Inside, she was furiously complaining, hoping nothing powerful would turn up. Offering incense symbolically should conclude this visit without strange occurrences.

Cheng Beiniu also noticed the young monk’s hesitation, "How proficient is Master Jing Yuan at exorcism? Does he possess much of Master Liao Ming’s true teachings?"

"This..." The young monk was at a loss, unsure how to respond.

Cheng Yong said directly, "Then please, could you ask Master Jing Yuan for help?"

Being a disciple of Master Liao Ming, he must have some skills, enough to assess the situation first. Without even seeing the person, all hope would be lost, which is why Cheng Yong thought it best to at least meet him first. Just in case...

At this, Cheng Xiaoxiao was frustrated. Why were they so persistent?

"Dad..." Cheng Xiaoxiao said playfully, "It’s really okay; let’s just leave!"

For a nearly thirty-year-old career woman, acting coy was quite embarrassing.

Can’t you all just agree? Cheng Xiaoxiao pleaded.

Mr. Cheng comforted his daughter, "It’s fine, let’s at least try. What if it works out?"

Cheng Beiniu chimed in, "Yes, given Master Liao Ming’s reputation, his disciples wouldn’t be too bad either."

Cheng Xiaoxiao found herself at a loss for words to argue, hoping that a half-skilled person wouldn’t be too formidable.

She resigned and nodded, "Then please let the young monk run this errand."

The young monk nodded slightly, "Then please, donors, wait in the west hall."

Having said that, he gestured for another young monk to lead the way while he went to fetch Jing Yuan.

They bypassed the main hall, passed through a courtyard with ocher walls and gray-blue roofs; the courtyard of the west hall was vast, with a towering ancient tree in full green, the hall grandly solemn and unpretentious.

The young monk implied they should wait here, and then retreated.

Cheng Xiaoxiao felt particularly uneasy, seeking solace within the system to calm her nervousness, "77, what do you think of this Master Jing Yuan, is he powerful, can he detect anything?"

"77 doesn’t know either! This world is unfamiliar to it, with insufficient energy to scan distant areas."

"I’d rather Jing Yuan be half-skilled."

At that moment, Cheng Xiaoxiao remembered not only was she an outsider spirit, but the system was even...

She hurriedly asked, "77, you can’t be detected, right?"