Ark Simulator, Aren't I Without a Physical Form?

Lava frowned and looked at his companion. "This is different from what Nian said. Shouldn't we hand it over to Xi ourselves?"

"Miss Xi is unavailable to receive guests today," Su Rui's voice remained friendly but firm, "But she is very grateful that you brought her father's belongings. She would be very thankful if you would be willing to enter the Painted World for a brief conversation."

Kroos was already eager to try. "Sounds interesting! Let's go in and take a look, Lava!"

"Wait," Lava pulled back his impulsive companion, "Nian warned us that the Painted World is dangerous. Once you go in, you might not come out."

Upon hearing these words, Xi from the Painted World snorted coldly, "Finally, someone who understands."

Su Rui quickly reassured her, "Please don't worry, this is just a temporary meeting place. Xi promised to get you back safely in ten minutes, whatever the outcome. Besides... Nian should have told you."

Lava's expression softened slightly. She looked at the metal artifact in her hand—a keepsake from years past—then at the metal box held by Kroos, and finally sighed, "Alright. But only ten minutes, and we won't delve deeper into the Painted World."

"I completely understand," Su Rui said with relief. "Please come with me."

The two operators carefully stepped through the portal and found themselves standing in a quiet bamboo forest. The bamboo leaves rustled, a stream could be heard in the distance, and the air was filled with the scent of ink and a faint aroma of sandalwood.

A semi-transparent figure of a boy stood on the bamboo path, smiling as he greeted them—it was a form that Su Rui had temporarily conjured with the help of Xi's power.

"Welcome," Su Rui said with a slight bow, "Thank you for your trust."

Kroos looked around excitedly. "This place is amazing! Every bamboo leaf looks like it was painted!"

Lava remained vigilant and cut straight to the point. "These are the items we were asked to deliver last year." She gestured for Kroos to hand over the metal box.

Su Rui took the box and could feel its heavy weight—not only physically, but also emotionally.

He nodded solemnly. "Xi will cherish this gift. Did she say anything else that year?"

Lava hesitated for a moment, then said, "Nian said... she hopes her sister won't always be alone, immersed in her memories."

The bamboo forest suddenly trembled slightly, as if some enormous entity had been moved by those words. Knowing that Xi was listening, Su Rui quickly changed the subject. "Do you often cooperate with Nian on Rhodes Island?"

Kroos nodded happily. "Yes! Director Nian is currently preparing for a new movie and invited us to be technical consultants! Although she always revises the script until the last minute, making everyone scramble..."

And so, over the next few minutes, Su Rui had a friendly conversation with the two agents.

She learned about Nian's recent project in Rhodes Island and also about some Yan art exhibitions that Xi might be interested in. Throughout the process, she could feel Xi's consciousness observing from a distance, neither interfering nor interrupting.

As the ten minutes were drawing to a close, Su Rui politely said goodbye, "Thank you for coming and for the items you brought. Although Xi isn't good at expressing herself, she appreciates your understanding today."

Lava nodded, while Kroos waved enthusiastically. "I hope to have the opportunity to meet Miss Xi in person next time! Her paintings must be very beautiful!"

The portal opened again, and the two operators safely returned to the real world. As the portal closed, Su Rui's temporary form dissipated in the bamboo forest, and her consciousness returned to Xi's side.

Xi remained seated at her easel, the metal box now before her. Her fingers gently traced the exquisite relief on the box, her gaze complex and unreadable.

"They're gone?" Xi asked softly.

"They were safely returned," Su Rui confirmed. "The two operators were very polite. Kroos especially loved the bamboo forest you created, saying that every bamboo leaf looked like it was meticulously painted."

Xi's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. She opened the metal box, inside which were neatly arranged a stack of yellowed drawings and a leather-bound notebook.

"That meddlesome girl..." Xi said in a low voice, but her tone no longer had its usual sharpness.

Su Rui wisely remained silent, giving Xi her personal space.

The light in the Scroll World automatically softened, the distant mountains were draped in a veil of twilight, and everything quieted down, as if silently keeping them company.

After a long while, Xi gently closed the box and looked up at the view outside the window—the world she had created, beautiful yet lonely.

"Next time..." Xi suddenly spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "... if a similar situation arises... we can handle it this way too."

Su Rui understood that this was the biggest concession Xi Neng could make—a willingness to accept limited contact with the outside world, even if it was through an agent. This small step forward was already a huge leap for the painter who had long secluded himself from the world.

"It would be my pleasure, landlord," Su Rui replied playfully, but her tone was full of sincerity.

Xi gave a soft hum, but no longer refuted the title. She picked up her paintbrush and began to sketch a new pattern on the paper—no longer the usual landscapes, flowers, and birds, but a quiet bamboo forest with three blurry figures standing on the path in the forest.

Su Rui watched quietly, knowing that the completion of this painting would mark a new beginning for Xi. The setting sun gently shone in the Scroll World, gilding everything with golden hope.

Volume 9, Chapter 534: Shall I Help?

Xi's finger stopped on a certain page of the open notebook, and her golden pupils suddenly contracted. Su Rui immediately sensed a sudden change in the air pressure in the Scroll World —the distant mountains twisted for a moment, and the clouds in the sky began to swirl as if stirred by an invisible hand.

"That... incomprehensible madwoman!" Xi squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, her pale fingers gripping the edge of the notebook so tightly that she almost crushed the pages.

"What's wrong?" Su Rui asked curiously, sensing that Xi's emotions were churning dangerously like the sea before a storm.

Xi didn't answer, but instead slammed the notebook heavily onto the drawing table. Through Xi's gaze, Su Rui saw the contents of that page—it should have been some kind of note, but someone had covered it up with exaggerated doodles.

A cute, chibi-style image of Xiaoxi is sleeping on the drawing table, with drool bubbles drawn on her lips. Next to her, in cursive script, is written, "My dear little sister, finally found an excuse to go out, huh? Remember to comb your hair! -- Your most beautiful and generous older sister, Nian."

Even more outrageous, a small arrow was drawn in the corner of this page pointing to the next page, with the caption "There's a surprise coming~".

Xi turned to the next page and found that the entire page had been transformed into a three-dimensional origami toy. Unfolding it revealed a paper doll holding a sign that read, "Surprise! I knew you'd keep reading!"

"How dare she... how dare she..." Xi's voice dropped dangerously, but Su Rui noticed her anger was focused on Nian. "This isn't a gift at all, just another excuse for her prank!"

To be fair, Nian's painting skills seemed quite good; however, given that Nian was an excellent craftsman, his drawing ability must indeed be quite good.

The Scroll World began to tremble violently, and the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the painting table clattered. Su Rui suddenly understood why Xi had changed her mind—Nian had deliberately provoked her, and the aloof painter had indeed taken the bait.

"So..." Su Rui asked tentatively, a hint of excitement in her voice, "How do you plan to respond?"

Xi raised her head, her eyes flashing with a light Su Rui had never seen before—a strange gleam mixed with anger and mischief. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips, "Since my dear sister has specially sent a messenger, we should naturally 'entertain' them properly."

Su Rui immediately became interested. "You're going to include Kroos and Lava in the Painted World?"

"It's not a simple containment," Xi's fingers traced through the air, leaving a trail of pale gold runes. "I'm going to give them a... unique adventure. Then I'll send them back with a detailed description."

Su Rui was so excited he almost jumped out of Xi's mind—if he had a physical form.

This was the first time he had seen Xi show such a childlike side, no longer the aloof and escapist painter, but like an ordinary younger sister who had been angered by her older sister and decided to take revenge.

"Can I help?" Su Rui asked eagerly.

Xi raised an eyebrow. "You seem quite excited?"

"Of course!" Su Rui said honestly, "This is the first time I've ever seen you deliberately prank someone. And the target is Nian! That older sister who always loves to tease you!"

Xi gave a soft hum, but her expression softened somewhat. "... Do as you please. But don't interfere with my plans."

As Xi's fingers danced, a corner of the Scroll World gradually unfolded, revealing a small town scene that Su Rui had never seen before—cobblestone streets meandered through quaint buildings, red lanterns hung from shops along the street, and the lively sounds of a market could be heard in the distance.

At the entrance to the town stands a stone tablet with the three large characters "Poshan Town" engraved on it.

"Wow!" Su Rui exclaimed, "When did you create this?"

"A long time ago," Xi replied, a hint of pride in her voice, "A world built entirely in the style of an ancient town in the Yan. Every resident has their own personality and storyline."

"You're going to leave Kroos and Lava here?" Su Rui asked curiously. "What will they encounter?"

Xi's lips curled into a mysterious smile, "Come with me."

Her figure shifted in the light, the wide painter's robe transformed into a simple gray gown, her long hair was tied into a simple bun, and she held a folding fan and a gavel in her hand—the very image of a street storyteller.

"What are you going to do...?" Su Rui looked at Xi's transformation in surprise.

"In this story," Xi—now a storyteller—said in a completely different, hoarse voice, "I am a traveling storyteller who specializes in telling the legend of the ' Nian Beast Demoness who wreaks havoc on the human world.'"

Su Rui couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Xi, I had no idea you had such a talent for acting!"

Xi (the storyteller) shook his fan, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "My sister likes drama? Then I'll give her a good show. Those two agents will 'bump into' me at the busiest teahouse, and then... they'll be unexpectedly drawn into an adventure."

Su Rui was growing increasingly fond of the plan. "And then? What will happen?"

"Then," Xi lowered her voice, "They'll hear that a red-clad female demon has recently come to Poshan Town, specializing in stealing children's New Year's money. The town's elders will ask for their help, and after a series of... interesting encounters, they'll discover that the so-called female demon is just a mischievous older sister, and in the end, the sisters reconcile, and everyone is happy."

She seems to have picked up some bad habits from Su Rui; she's even started planning the plot.

Su Rui was silent for a moment, then suddenly realized. "Wait... this sounds like..."

"A metaphorical story about me and Nian?" Xi chuckled. "Exactly. Let them take this absurd experience back to Nian, and she'll naturally understand what I mean."

"This is brilliant!" Su Rui exclaimed excitedly. "It gets revenge on Nian without actually harming Kroos and Lava. Xi, you're a genius!"

Xi (the storyteller) coughed, feigning seriousness. "Remember your role. You are a wandering spirit I took in by chance, responsible for creating 'supernatural phenomena' at crucial moments to advance the plot. I will give you a temporary form, but it will be very blurry."

"Yes, Master!" Su Rui replied playfully, already imagining what kind of "paranormal phenomena" she could create.

Xi waved her hand, and the scene outside the Scroll World appeared before them— Kroos and Lava were hesitating in front of the wooden house whether to knock on the door again. Lava seemed to want to leave, while the curious Kroos was still studying the patterns on the door.

"The timing is perfect," Xi said softly. With a flick of her finger, a golden light flashed, and the two operators in the real world instantly disappeared, being transported to the entrance of Poshan Town. As for Kroos and the others, they were transported into the Painted World without even feeling anything.

Volume 9, Chapter 535: Appearance

Painted World, Poshan Town.

Kroos blinked. One second she was studying the carvings on the wooden door, and the next she was standing on an unfamiliar street in an old town. The cobblestone road stretched into the distance, flanked by antique wooden buildings, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and tea.

"Lava!" she exclaimed, shaking her companion's arm in delight. "We've really entered the Painted World!"

Lava glanced around warily, staff already in his hand. "I knew it wouldn't be that simple... Nian didn't tell us this would happen."

Just then, a clear Bell rang out. The two turned to look and saw a man dressed as a storyteller emerge from the street corner, with a semi-transparent boy floating beside him—it was the "wandering soul assistant" image that Su Rui had designed for himself.

"Oh dear, you two look unfamiliar!" the storyteller (Xi) greeted them, deliberately using an exaggerated tone. "Have you gotten lost?"

Lava shielded Kroos behind him. "Who are you? Where is this?"

The storyteller shook his fan and smiled mysteriously, "My surname is Mo, and I'm a traveling storyteller. This is Poshan Town, one of the most bustling towns in Yan." He pointed to Su Rui floating beside him, "This is my assistant, Little Su, a harmless wandering spirit."

Su Rui complied with a bow, then deliberately spun around in mid-air. "Nice to meet you!"

Kroos was completely captivated. "Do such creatures really exist? Are you truly a ghost? How did you die? Can you walk through walls?"

"Kroos!" Lava interrupted his companion's barrage of questions with exasperation, "We need to find a way to get out of here."

A sly glint flashed in the storyteller's (Xi's) eyes. "Leave? Why leave? There's a temple fair in town tonight, and I, Mo, will also be performing my new story—<The Red-Clad Witch's Havoc in Poshan Town>, guaranteed to be absolutely spectacular!"

"The Red-Clad Witch?" Kroos's ears perked up. "That sounds exciting!"

Lava frowned. "We don't have time to listen to any storytelling performances..."

Just then, a rapid gong sounded, interrupting them. A minor official in his robes rushed over in a panic. "It's terrible! The witch has struck again! All the New Year's money from Master Zhang's family has disappeared, leaving only a single red paper!"

The townspeople immediately stirred, whispering amongst themselves. The storyteller (Xi) sighed, "It's her again... This is the seventh time this month."

Kroos's curiosity was completely piqued. "Who is it? What's going on?"

The storyteller (Xi) lowered his voice mysteriously. "It's said to be a red-clad female demon named 'Nian,' who steals children's New Year's money. Some say she's a madwoman abandoned by her family, others say she's the incarnation of the ancient Nian Beast..."

"Year?!" Kroos and Lava exclaimed in unison.

The storyteller (Xi) pretended not to notice their reaction and continued, "The town mayor is currently gathering capable individuals to deal with her. Seeing that you two gentlemen possess extraordinary bearing, why not give it a try? The reward is generous!"

Su Rui was struggling to suppress her laughter—Xi's performance was brilliant, perfectly capturing the essence of a street storyteller. And her deliberate portrayal of Nian as the villain was the perfect revenge.

The mornings in Poshan Town should be peaceful.

Kroos rubbed her eyes and sat up on the wooden bed in the inn. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Last night's events are still vivid in my mind—the mysterious storyteller, the bizarre legend of the red-clad witch, and the inexplicable "investigation mission" they were given.

"Lava, wake up!" She shook her still-sleeping companion. "We need to find that Master Zhang and ask him about the details of the stolen New Year's money."

Lava muttered as he rolled over, "This is clearly a prank... We should figure out how to get out of this Painted World..."

A piercing scream suddenly tore through the morning mist.

"What's going on?" Kroos rushed to the window and flung it open. Chaos reigned in the street; townspeople scattered and fled, and behind them—

"What is that?!" Lava instantly snapped out of his daze, grabbed his staff, and rushed to the window.

A group of pitch-black creatures were rampaging through the street.

They resemble small animals, but their entire bodies are made of flowing ink, leaving mottled ink marks wherever they go.

Most strangely, they are chasing and devouring other creatures made of ink—the fish on shop signs, the flower and bird paintings on the walls, and even the door gods are being torn off and swallowed whole.

"Ink Fiend! It's Ink Fiend!" a townsman shouted as he ran. "Quick, hide!"

Kroos's eyes widened. "They're eating... the painting?"

Lava began preparing a spell. "There's someone else."

Just then, a Ink Fiend spotted them by the window.

It raised its head—if the two white dots on the ink blot could be called eyes—made a "gurgling" sound, and then leaped up and flew straight for the window!

Lava reacted swiftly; with a wave of his staff, a wall of fire instantly formed in front of the window. Ink Fiend crashed into the wall of fire, making a "hiss" sound, and vanished in a puff of steam.

"It worked!" Kroos cheered, but her smile quickly froze—dozens of Ink Fiend on the street stopped chasing each other and all "looked" at the window where they were.