Chapter 19-1: Don't Resist, Okay? / Chapter 20-2: Cherishing Flowers ...

Shuxuan hurried over to check on Xiangyi. Xiangyi forced a faint smile. "Sister Shuxuan, I'm fine. I just got bumped by the monster while playing with it."

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Chapter 19-1: Don't Resist, Okay?

Shuxuan's eyes filled with even more concern as she touched Xiangyi's back. Xiangyi had been completely unprepared and sucked in a sharp breath. Her body had improved, but flower people were incredibly powerful attackers. Xiangyi still couldn't take their blows without getting hurt.

"You need to be careful. Monsters may have gained intelligence, but they're still monsters. That will never change." Shuxuan warned her. Xiangyi looked at Shaoyao in the distance, apology in her eyes, but when she heard those words, the apology vanished and gave way to annoyance.

Flower people had originally been women whose excessive resentment kept them from reincarnating. Later, they attached themselves to flowers and took those flowers' names. Shaoyao was no different. But Xiangyi hadn't had time to think about Shaoyao's past, and she didn't know what she'd done to provoke the attack.

Put simply, she'd trusted herself too much and brought it on herself.

"Come on, let me help you up. If you're not okay, we'll still need to go to the hospital." Seeing that Xiangyi hadn't complained once, Shuxuan said no more. She helped Xiangyi to her feet, intending to check her over first.

"No matter what, I'd rather not go to the hospital. This is Ocean City, after all, and getting medical care is difficult." Xiangyi thought of a shop she'd passed on the way there, with a sign on the door saying, "No dogs or Chosen Ones allowed." Chosen Ones were so powerless in Ocean City that Xiangyi hated it.

"This..."

Shuxuan hesitated. The commotion had been so loud that she was genuinely worried Xiangyi might have internal injuries or some other problem.

"Think about it. I'm a Chosen One, after all. That impact was nothing to me." Xiangyi tried to keep bluffing. She didn't want to cause Shuxuan any more trouble.

When someone genuinely cared about her, Xiangyi couldn't bring herself to be cruel to them, even though she knew this was a fictional world.

"Then... let me take a look first." Shuxuan wrestled with herself, but finally decided to check. When she did, there wasn't a mark on Xiangyi's back—not even a scrape. The wall, on the other hand, had a slight crack in it.

Shuxuan sucked in a sharp breath, her expression turning serious at once. "Xiaoyi, you absolutely have to keep a low profile in Heaven City."

Xiangyi got dressed and looked at Shuxuan, puzzled.

"I don't know what you truly awakened. You may even have awakened more than one Chosen One ability. If the wrong people find out, you'll put yourself in danger."

Shuxuan's gaze sharpened as she noticed something unusual again. Xiangyi smiled wryly. She'd known there was a high chance of getting caught making things up to a clever woman. But she hadn't expected so many things to change in just one day.

"I don't know what you're going through, but I'll wait for you." Seeing Xiangyi's troubled expression, Shuxuan repeated that she was willing not to ask any questions.

Xiangyi nodded. Shuxuan added, "Promise me that if you feel even the slightest bit unwell, you'll tell me right away."

"Thank you... Sister Shuxuan. I'm really grateful."

Xiangyi took Shuxuan's hand. This beautiful, clever woman moved her deeply, and Xiangyi was grateful to her. At the same time, she realized that even though she hadn't described Shuxuan in much detail, the real Shuxuan was still a flesh-and-blood person.

"You're making me embarrassed."

At last, the moment between them grew so sentimental that they felt awkward and moved a little apart. They watched the news on TV.

Xiangyi hadn't noticed earlier, but now she saw a character for "Heaven" on the channel Shuxuan was watching. Shuxuan had clearly been keeping an eye on what was happening in Heaven City, already worried about Xiangyi.

Warmth filled Xiangyi, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. Then she spotted Shaoyao still standing nearby. She looked uneasy, tears welling in her eyes as she waited for Xiangyi to punish her.

Even though Xiangyi was human, she was also the Flower Master, someone Shaoyao should never have attacked. No matter what Xiangyi had done, flower people still had to obey her. Now that Shaoyao had hurt Xiangyi, Hua Nu had been scolding her for a long time.

Shaoyao had been indifferent at first, but the scolding had naturally made her feel guilty.

Shaoyao: Flower Master, I'm really sorry. I was just startled.

Xiangyi: I'm fine now. You can go.

Xiangyi's calm response—and the fact that she didn't tease Shaoyao as she usually did—only made Shaoyao more uneasy. She didn't dare go back and waited patiently by Xiangyi's side.

Another fifteen minutes passed. Xiangyi couldn't take it anymore, so she made an excuse to use the bathroom. But as soon as she entered, she pulled Shaoyao into the Flower God Ring along with her.

Inside the ring, the flower spirit Huangquan was still leisurely reading a book, while Hua Nu worked hard alongside a whole group of newly sprouted Little Grass. As soon as Shaoyao saw that Xiangyi had brought her into the Flower God Ring, her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees.

"Flower Master, if you're going to punish someone, punish me."

Xiangyi could only sigh. "I told you, it wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have startled you without warning you first."

"No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have..."

Shaoyao stubbornly kept insisting that she was to blame, but she kept glancing at Hua Nu. It was clear Hua Nu had used some method to teach her a lesson.

If Xiangyi didn't punish her, Shaoyao would stay like this forever. But if she did, Shaoyao was so petty she'd probably hold a grudge against her in the future.

After thinking it over, Xiangyi said, "Then come with me to that little room. You're not allowed to resist, no matter what I do. If you do that, I'll forgive you."

Even Hua Nu couldn't spy on them in that little room. Xiangyi only had to explain to Shaoyao inside that the matter was over, and Hua Nu would be powerless to interfere.

But those words clearly shocked Shaoyao. Her face fell, and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking terrified. It was as if she thought Xiangyi was about to do something unspeakable.

But then Shaoyao looked at Hua Nu and nodded firmly.

"Okay."

With that, she entered the room first. Xiangyi turned and smiled at Hua Nu. Hua Nu said, "Flower Master, if our flower people disobey, you must discipline them. Indulging them won't make things better. It'll only make things worse."

Hua Nu's words carried an ulterior meaning: she thought Xiangyi spoiled Shaoyao too much. First, Shaoyao had strutted around with Shuxuan's panties. Second, she'd stolen barbecue. Third, she'd attacked a human before Xiangyi gave the order.

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Chapter 20-2: Cherishing Flowers

That last offense was the most serious. If Xiangyi's body hadn't changed, Shaoyao's blow just now would probably have killed her.

"Thank you for the advice, Granny Hua." Xiangyi nodded slightly. She understood what Hua Nu meant. But Shaoyao was different from the other flower people. The stricter Xiangyi was with her, the more Shaoyao would lose her loyalty and make more mistakes.

So the only way to deal with Shaoyao was to be gentle.

"Granny Hua? Well, I suppose I am old enough to be one." Hua Nu, who had the face of a woman in her thirties, was taken aback. But in the end, she smiled. Her smile was bewitching, but there wasn't the slightest hint of amusement in her eyes.

Xiangyi hadn't created much background for Hua Nu. But at the sight of that smile, she felt a chill in her heart and instinctively sensed that Hua Nu was a little frightening. Regardless, she nodded slightly, then went inside and closed the door.

Shaoyao waited anxiously. When she saw Xiangyi, the apprehension on her face became even more obvious. She stared at Xiangyi, then pressed her lips together and began to take off her red robe.

Xiangyi didn't look at her at all. She inspected the room, then picked up the fire striker beside her and examined it before lighting an oil lamp.

In an instant, a ghostly blue light shone from the lamp and spread throughout the room, forming something like a protective barrier. Since she was writing a wrestling story, she needed a quiet place where no one could disturb them while they exercised. That was why she'd set up this small wooden room and its lamp, which blocked all sound and attacks.

Once the oil lamp was lit, not even a god could do a thing to the little room by attacking it.

"Flower Master, how do you know how to use this lamp?" Seeing Xiangyi's movements, Shaoyao jumped. She even forgot to cover herself.

"Hua Nu taught me."

Shaoyao pressed her lips together. Displeasure flickered in her eyes; clearly, she wasn't happy with Hua Nu's scolding. Xiangyi smiled and beckoned her over.

Shaoyao came over but didn't sit down. Like a true servant, she stood behind Xiangyi.

"Do you hate Hua Nu?"

Shaoyao immediately answered, "No," but her expression and tone had already told Xiangyi the truth.

"They say every flower person was once unfortunate. Their resentment became so great that they couldn't reincarnate, and they became flower people instead. Shaoyao, you have your own sorrows, and Hua Nu has her own hardships. If you don't like each other, just keep your distance."

Xiangyi was reciting the information she'd written down again. Honestly, she didn't know how she'd come up with the flower people and the Flower God Ring. It was as though everything had simply appeared in her mind. Much of the time in this world, Xiangyi found herself doubting things anew.

What if she hadn't created this world, and it had really existed all along, with her merely opening its door by some chance? What if the names and detailed information she'd written hadn't been invented in her mind, but were things she'd written down because they were real?

If the information she'd written was all true, then Shaoyao was a flower person who needed to be indulged rather than restrained. As Xiangyi said this, Shaoyao's eyes brightened slightly, as though she'd begun to see Xiangyi differently.

"The Flower Master is right." As she spoke, she naturally leaned closer and continued, "Then does that mean I'm forgiven?"

Xiangyi smiled. "Of course not."

Shaoyao's smile crumpled. She flopped onto the floor, arms and legs spread, looking as if she'd given up on life.

Xiangyi watched with interest, then said, "I'm really not interested in you that way. Since you hurt me, I'll punish you by making you give me a massage until I'm satisfied."

As soon as Shaoyao heard she wouldn't have to sleep with Xiangyi, she bounced right up and eagerly began to massage her. A faint floral scent drifted through the air, making Xiangyi feel more comfortable.

Shaoyao gave her a very thorough massage this time, even smiling a little as she did it. Xiangyi found that strange and asked, "Shaoyao, what are you smiling about?"

Shaoyao said, "Flower Master, you're completely different from my previous masters."

Xiangyi laughed. "Of course I'm different. Otherwise, how could I have become your master?"

Shaoyao shook her head. "No. At first, I hated you too. You were always kissing me, just like my previous master. He was always lusting after my body."

Shaoyao seemed to sink into a bad memory, her eyes darkening. This was the first time Xiangyi had heard her tell a story, so she curiously asked, "Oh? What happened to him?"

As Shaoyao recalled the past, a smile curled her lips.

"I pretended to obey him, then killed him."

Xiangyi wasn't surprised. Flower people were sinners by nature. But according to the background she'd created, Shaoyao should have killed more than one person.

"Oh, so did you meet anyone else after that and end up killing more and more people?"

Shaoyao shook her head. "No. I ran away after killing my master. I kept running until I went to an old friend for help, and she betrayed me. When I saw the people from Assassin Tower surrounding me, I fought desperately and killed my friend first. See these clothes? They're dyed with blood." Shaoyao smiled as she said it, but Xiangyi felt a chill run down her back.

Writing a novel was one thing, but if this was real, it was terrifying. It also made Xiangyi even more certain she needed to grow stronger, lest Shaoyao one day slice her up like a head of cabbage.

"Flower Master, do you think I did the right thing? Hey, Flower Master, why are you getting up?" After she finished speaking, Shaoyao looked confused. But when she looked down, she saw Xiangyi had already gotten to her feet.

Xiangyi felt awkward about being caught, but still said, "I'm a little hot. I'll take off a piece of clothing."

Shaoyao nodded, then laughed at Xiangyi's tense, stiff reaction.

"Flower Master, are you scared?"

"Of course not. I wouldn't do anything bad to you, and I know you wouldn't actually want to kill me. Otherwise, I'd probably have a few broken ribs by now." Xiangyi tried to laugh it off, but Shaoyao seemed to remember something. She reached out and continued helping Xiangyi remove her remaining clothes.

"What are you doing?" Xiangyi nearly screamed. She felt like her life was in grave danger. But Shaoyao only asked, puzzled, "Flower Master, you know so much about us flower people. Don't you know why I'm called Shaoyao?"

As she spoke, she lifted the last piece of clothing from Xiangyi's back and gave her a light kiss. A chill seeped through Xiangyi's body. Then she felt every pore on her skin open, and she nearly cried out.

System prompt: SR flower person Shaoyao's profile has been updated.

New special skill: Can instantly heal internal and external injuries, but must do so through the lips.

Xiangyi looked incredulous. She'd never imagined she'd discover Shaoyao's hidden skill like this.

Shaoyao looked a little embarrassed and said softly, "Flower Master, this is my apology. But you have to understand, that kiss meant nothing. Don't get the wrong idea and think I have feelings for you."

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Chapter 21-1: What Can't Be Solved with a Kiss?

Xiangyi nodded. She touched her back and found that it really didn't hurt anymore, as if that power had healed her whole body. She'd thought Shaoyao was rather ordinary compared to the other flower people, but this hidden skill made her a remarkably powerful first flower person.

Though it overlapped somewhat with Hua Nu's healing technique, it had a lower threshold and was suitable for frequent use.

Besides, who knew if Hua Nu had some strange healing fetish? Whenever Xiangyi thought of the strange look Hua Nu sometimes gave her, she felt goosebumps rise on her skin.

"Flower Master, are you all right? That was my first time using this ability." Seeing Xiangyi's discomfort, Shaoyao thought her skill hadn't healed Xiangyi and had instead made her condition worse.

"No, I just think it's incredible. It makes me realize I underestimated you before." Xiangyi hurried to answer. Shaoyao pretended to be unhappy, but her face grew even redder.

Xiangyi had always been the one to kiss her. This was the first time Shaoyao had taken the initiative, and it meant something entirely different to her. If circumstances hadn't forced her hand, Shaoyao was sure she never would have let this shameless human take advantage of her.

"Then... can you forgive me now?" The more Shaoyao thought about it, the more restless she became. She tried to step back to give Xiangyi some space, but the farther she moved, the more suddenly she felt her strength fading.

In an instant, it was as if all her strength had been drained. She fell backward. Shaoyao shut her eyes in despair, but soon felt an arm around her waist holding her up. When she opened her eyes again, Xiangyi was holding her tightly—though Xiangyi had landed flat on her bottom and looked thoroughly awkward.

People said those who didn't value flower people treated them as beautiful playthings, wanting only to make them bloom night after night. But perhaps because Xiangyi was a woman, she seemed different from the flower people Shaoyao had known. Xiangyi gazed at her and asked anxiously, "Are you all right...? Why did you suddenly lose your strength?"

Only then did Shaoyao react. She smiled wryly. "Maybe I haven't fully recovered yet. This ability uses up a lot of my Spiritual Power."

Xiangyi understood. She reached out to touch Shaoyao and felt that her spiritual energy had diminished considerably. It was clear that healing Xiangyi had come at a cost. The ability was useful, but it obviously had its limits.

"If I'd known this would use up your Spiritual Power, I wouldn't have let you heal me, no matter what." The more Xiangyi thought about it, the more distressed she became. The amount of Spiritual Power she absorbed from nature each day was limited, and Shaoyao had just wasted a thousand points in one go.

That thousand was what Xiangyi could earn only after meditating for ten days. It was the result of all her hard work.

"Sorry... but you don't need to feel bad for me." Shaoyao's heart wavered slightly, and she felt a little warmth.

Unfortunately, Xiangyi looked even more like she might cry. "Who said I feel bad for you? I feel bad for my Spiritual Power. This place barely has any Spiritual Energy to begin with, and you wasted it. Wouldn't it have been better to let me rest in the Flower God Ring for a few days?"