Ark Simulator, Aren't I Supposed to Have No Physical Form?

She heard the well-hidden sadness in Su Rui's voice. As someone who was also different from ordinary people, Xi could understand that... sense of isolation.

"So you just barge into other people's minds to vent your emotions?" Xi's tone was still cold, but the aggression had lessened. She sat down again, picked up her paintbrush, and began to fix the mistakes in the painting.

"Not entirely," Su Rui's voice brightened. "I sense that your consciousness is very special, like... a self-contained universe. And your paintings are really interesting! Besides, I can't actually decide where I appear."

Xi's wrist paused slightly, the pen tip leaving a subtle pause on the paper. Few people could truly appreciate her paintings.

Most people are either speechless with awe at the wonders of the Scroll World, or they are bombarded by tedious art critics who offer their usual platitudes when evaluating her work.

"You know about painting?" Xi asked deliberately in a disdainful tone, while continuing her restoration work.

"I don't understand," Su Rui readily admitted, "But I enjoy looking at them. I've seen all sorts of art forms when I was attached to different hosts before. Your paintings make me feel... well... both familiar and strange?"

Xi gave a soft "humph," but her hands moved more smoothly than usual. She began to add new details to the mountains—a small village hidden in the purple shadows of the mountains, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys.

"Wow! Did you just come up with that little village idea?" Su Rui exclaimed. "The shapes of those rooftops are so interesting!"

Xi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. "This is an architectural style from the border of Yan; of course you've never seen it before."

"I've never been to Yan, but I'm actually from some country similar to Yan? It's been so long, I can't quite remember."

Su Rui's voice was full of curiosity, "Your painting makes me feel like I'm really standing there."

Xi did not respond, but the light in the Scroll World subtly changed. The afterglow of the setting sun slanted across the newly added village, gilding every rooftop with gold.

The purple mountains in the distance revealed even richer layers as the light shifted.

"Speaking of which, why did you hide in the Painted World?" Su Rui suddenly asked, her voice filled with pure curiosity, without any judgment.

Xi's paintbrush slammed heavily on the paper. "I didn't 'hide.' This is my world, and I chose to create here."

"Oh~" Su Rui drew out the word, "So my guess was right, and my friend was right, you really are a homebody painter."

Volume 9, Chapter 529: The Mischievous Su Rui

"Someone said that about me? Who?" Xi narrowed her eyes. The sky in the Scroll World suddenly darkened a bit, and faint thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Oh, don't be angry," Su Rui quickly said. "I think it's fine this way. Myrtle always says I become a social terrorist once I get to know people, but I actually envy people who can enjoy being alone. I'm quite good at being alone myself."

Xi raised an eyebrow in surprise. She had thought that this suddenly intruding consciousness would be like some of her other older sisters and brothers, trying to persuade her with clichés such as "interact more with people" and "don't isolate yourself."

"Don't you feel... lonely?" Su Rui continued to ask, her voice softening as if afraid of disturbing something.

Xi stopped painting and looked up at the distant mountains she had created in the Scroll World. The question was too direct, so direct that she couldn't respond with her usual sarcasm.

"Loneliness is the soil for creation," she finally said, her tone less sharp. "And... I prefer the tranquility here to the noisy world outside."

"I understand!" Su Rui suddenly became excited, "Just like the relationship between me and my host! The best state is that feeling of being both intimate and maintaining our own independent space."

Although in the end it was the kind of intimacy that directly broke through the barriers, Su Rui felt that what she said was right.

Xi gently shook her head. "Not exactly the same. Your existence depends on others, while my Scroll World belongs entirely to myself."

"Hmm... that makes sense," Su Rui pondered, "But now you have me in your world, right? Besides, I can also have a physical form."

Xi then realized that, without realizing it, she had accepted Su Rui's existence and even begun to have this almost friendly interaction with Su Rui. This realization made her feel uncomfortable, as if someone had discovered some secret, and a slight blush rose to her cheeks.

"This is just a temporary accident," Xi said coldly. "Once your consciousness finds a new host, it will leave."

"Okay, I usually spend a lot of time with my host." Su Rui's voice suddenly sounded distant. "I can sense that this time won't be short."

"Before you leave," Xi suddenly said, adding a few final strokes to the painting—a semi-transparent humanoid figure standing on the small bridge at the village entrance, as if about to vanish into the sunset at any moment—"tell me, what was your farewell to Myrtle like?"

Xi was a little curious. The boy in her head seemed to be showing off, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which made her feel like she was being scratched by a kitten.

Su Rui's voice brightened. "It was a beautiful sunny afternoon..."

As Su Rui recounted her farewell story, Xi listened quietly, her paintbrush unconsciously adding details to the canvas in sync with the story's rhythm—sunlight, drifting dust, clasped hands.

These elements blend wonderfully with her original landscape style, creating an unprecedented visual effect.

"... Then I became a pure consciousness, until I perceived your Scroll World."

After Su Rui finished telling her story, she said, "Thank you for listening. I know you weren't welcoming me at first, although I'm not leaving now."

Xi snorted softly, "I'm just curious what kind of farewell could excite you so much that you'd casually intrude into someone else's consciousness."

Su Rui laughed, and that laughter echoed in Xi's mind like a string of clear wind chimes, "I told you I didn't wander in, and Xi, you're such a terrible liar."

Xi didn't refute, but just looked at the semi-transparent figure on the screen. Sometime during the day, she added Myrtle's signature long pink hair to that figure.

"I have to go," Su Rui's voice grew weaker and weaker, "A new host is calling. Xi... your paintings are beautiful, you should share them with more people."

"Go away, you annoying consciousness," Xi said, but the initial hostility in her tone had vanished.

After Su Rui's presence completely disappeared from her consciousness, Xi sat alone in the Scroll World, looking at the painting that blended the styles of the two of them.

The purple hues of the distant mountains are more vibrant than ever before, the village bathed in sunlight exudes a wondrous warmth, and the translucent figures on the bridge seem poised to turn and smile at the viewer at any moment.

Xi sighed softly and reached out to touch the figure in the painting. A gentle breeze in the Scroll World ruffled her long hair, bringing an unprecedented freshness.

"Next time... knock before you come in," she whispered to the empty Scroll World, then picked up her paintbrush and began creating a brand new piece.

Xi's brush tip smoothly outlined the silhouette of a flying bird on the rice paper, watching with satisfaction as the ink lines stretched out on the paper.

Since the consciousness named Su Rui left, her Scroll World has returned to tranquility—only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the breeze and the babbling of a stream in the distance.

Perfect time alone, and then:

"Xi! I'm back!"

A cheerful sound exploded in Xi's mind like firecrackers. Her hand trembled, and an unwanted fork appeared on the bird's wing.

"You—" Xi's pupils contracted to a thin slit, and the calligraphy brush in her hand snapped in two with a "snap." "Why are you here again?"

"Uh, well..." Su Rui's voice carried a hint of embarrassment, "The situation has changed a bit. I won't be looking for another suitable host for the time being."

Xi slowly put down the broken brush, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," Su Rui's voice suddenly brightened, as if the awkwardness from before had never existed, "We might be spending a lot of time together! Are you happy?"

"Happy?" Xi's voice rose eight octaves, the sky in the Scroll World suddenly darkened, and the distant mountains began to distort. "You call this happy?"

"Wow! You can control the weather here? That's so cool!" Su Rui completely ignored Xi's anger, instead marveling at the changes in the Scroll World. "The way those clouds move is so unique, unlike anything formed naturally..."

Xi closed her eyes, formed hand seals, and tried to block out the intruder again. She concentrated all her energy, imagining a high wall separating her consciousness from the outside world, but these efforts were in vain.

"... So you control the physical laws of this world through your thoughts? You can regulate temperature, humidity, and light?"

Su Rui's voice continued incessantly, "This is much more convenient than the dorms on Rhodes Island. My previous hosts always complained that the rooms were too cold or too hot..."

Xi opened her eyes and found that the rain in the Scroll World was pouring down—a direct reflection of her emotional turmoil. The rain soaked her sleeves and the painting in front of her, the ink spreading in the water, and the bird turned into a blurry black shadow.

Volume 9, page 530, was it given to me?

"Why can't I block you?" Xi asked through gritted teeth, rain streaming down her cheeks, indistinguishable between rain and angry tears. And she can make it rain inside the house, damn it.

"Oh! I can explain that," Su Rui's voice was filled with the enthusiasm of an academic inquiry, "Because I'm currently in a state of ' Consciousness Drift,' needing a stable field of consciousness as an anchor. Your Scroll World happens to provide that stability, so..."

"Speak like a human being," Xi interrupted her coldly.

"Well... I'm temporarily stuck here with you," Su Rui's voice suddenly softened, "And I can't leave on my own."

Xi fell silent. The rain continued to pound against everything in the Scroll World, soaking her painting tools and unfinished works.

She stared at the ink stain that had once been a bird, feeling an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.

"How long?" she finally asked, her voice low.

"Uncertain... maybe days? Weeks? Maybe years?" Su Rui said cautiously, "Until I find a new host or regain my physical form..."

"A few weeks?!" Xi jumped up, knocking over the inkstone. The black ink mixed with rainwater, forming a murky puddle at her feet. "How many weeks are you going to stay in my consciousness?"

"I didn't want this either," Su Rui said, her voice tinged with grievance. "Do you think I enjoy being an unwelcome lodger? At Myrtle's, she always..."

"Don't mention your Myrtle!" Xi interrupted her sharply. "I'm not your host, nor your friend. This is my world, my safe haven, not a resort for just any consciousness to come and vacation in!"

The torrential rain in the Scroll World turned into hail, and large and small ice pellets pelted the roof of the pavilion, making unsettling thuds. Xi's breathing became rapid, her chest heaving violently, and her long hair fluttered slightly due to static electricity.

Su Rui was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was much softer. "Xi... I'm so sorry. If I had a choice, I would never have bothered you like this."

Xi did not respond, but stared at the bamboo forest swaying in the hail in the distance.

A certain emotion she didn't want to admit spread through her heart—perhaps a longing for companionship after being lonely for too long, or perhaps a resonance with someone who also existed in an unconventional form. In any case, it made her even more irritable.

"We could try... to coexist peacefully?" Su Rui tentatively suggested. "I promise it won't be too noisy, and... I can be your model! Or help you mix paints!"

"I don't need models, and I don't need assistants," Xi said coldly, but the intensity of the hail began to decrease.

"Then... can I stay quiet while you draw?" Su Rui continued, "Or only speak when you allow it?"

Xi gave a soft "humph" and waved her hand to dispel the bad weather in the Scroll World.

Sunlight streamed down again, illuminating the damp pavilion and her painting supplies. Looking at her ruined artwork, she suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion.

"Quiet," she finally said, picking up a new paintbrush. "I'm going to start painting again. If you have to stay in my mind, at least keep quiet."

"Yes, ma'am!" Su Rui readily agreed, then immediately lowered her voice, "Uh... I mean, okay, I'll be quiet."

Xi shook her head and spread out another sheet of Xuan paper. The moment the brush tip touched the paper, she felt something strange—as if something was gently trembling at the edge of her consciousness.

That was Su Rui's presence; though now as quiet as a promise, it was still impossible to ignore.

Strangely, the feeling of being watched wasn't as uncomfortable as she had imagined. Xi's brushstrokes were bolder and her lines smoother than usual, as if she subconsciously knew that someone was appreciating her work.

As she finished the last stroke of her new work, Su Rui's voice cautiously rang out. "Can I speak now? This painting... is so beautiful."

Xi wanted to scold Su Rui for breaking the agreement, but looking at the bird on the screen that was about to take flight—more vivid and lifelike than the one she had destroyed before—she simply hummed in agreement.

"You've drawn even better than before," Su Rui said sincerely. "Is it because there's an audience?"

"No." Xi denied it subconsciously, but deep down, she knew that Su Rui might be right.

Having created art alone in the Scroll World for many years, she had forgotten what it felt like to be watched and appreciated.

"You know," Su Rui continued, her voice tinged with reminiscence, "I vaguely remember a pianist who always said she played better during performances than when she practiced alone. She said music needs to be listened to, just as a painting needs to be viewed..."

Xi gently put down her brush, not interrupting Su Rui. The warm sunlight shone on her shoulders, and everything in the Scroll World sparkled, as if it had been washed clean and renewed by the rain.

Maybe... just maybe... having a conscious roommate isn't entirely a bad thing.

"You can talk," Xi suddenly said, "But don't be too loud. And... don't disturb me when I'm drawing the crucial parts."

Su Rui's delighted voice echoed in Xi's mind, "Really? That's amazing! I promise I'll be the perfect roommate! You know, I used to..."

"Quiet," Xi interrupted Su Rui, but her tone was no longer as cold as before.

She picked up her paintbrush and began a new creation.

This time, a subtle change appeared in the Scroll World —the distant mountains were greener, the streams were clearer, and even the fragrance of flowers in the air was richer.

Xi didn't admit it, but she knew it was the effect of Su Rui's presence.

As promised, Su Rui remained quiet most of the time, only sharing her interesting anecdotes from the past during her evening rest.

Sometimes it's about the hosts he's inhabited, sometimes it's about the strange places he's traveled to.

A few days passed, and Xi was surprised to find herself becoming familiar with and adapting to this strange "cohabitation" life. She would even occasionally ask Su Rui for her opinion while painting—of course, her tone was always impatient.

"Do you think this bridge should be drawn as an arch or a straight line?" Xi asked one afternoon, staring at the unfinished painting.

"Arched ones are more interesting!" Su Rui replied immediately. "I've seen similar bridges in Victoria, with vendors selling all sorts of strange and unusual things under the arches..."

Xi snorted, but still drew an arched bridge. After finishing, she had to admit that this composition was indeed more charming than a straight bridge.

A few days later, Xi carved out a small corner in the Scroll World —a sunny meadow with a tree in full bloom in the center.

"This is... for me?" Su Rui asked in surprise, her voice filled with unbelievable joy.

"I just feel that your incessant chatter needs its own space," Xi said, feigning indifference, though the tips of her ears were slightly red, "So as not to disturb my creative process."

From then on, whenever Xi needed to fully concentrate on painting, Su Rui would "go" to her little world.

That's what they say, but that's only how it appears to Xi. Su Rui doesn't actually have a physical form; it's just that Xi can make it seem like she can interact with Su Rui directly.

Sometimes, Xi would "inadvertently" add new elements to her paintings—a semi-transparent figure sitting under a tree, or a few wisps of light dust, as described by Su Rui, drifting across the canvas.

The terrible aesthetics of Volume 9, Year 531

One night, as Xi was preparing to fall asleep, Su Rui's voice softly rang out. "Xi... thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Xi asked, her back to the moonlight.