Ark Simulator, Don't I Lack a Physical Body?

"... We're in trouble." Lava swallowed hard.

Outside the Scroll World, Xi was observing the chaos of Poshan Town through a water mirror. A slight smile played on her lips, and with a light tap of her finger, another group of Ink Fiend leaped from her brush tip onto the paper and fell into the world reflected in the water mirror.

"Isn't this going too far?" Su Rui asked.

His current appearance is that of a handsome young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old, with long black hair tied up with a red ribbon, dressed in white, and standing next to Xi, looking curiously at the water mirror. This is the incarnation that Xi specially designed for him in the painting, so that he can move around in Poshan Town.

"They're just little Ink Fiend," Xi said dismissively. "They're only interested in things made of ink; at most, they can scare people."

In the water mirror, Kroos and Lava had already rushed out of the inn, fighting and retreating on the street. Lava's fire spells were very effective against Ink Fiend, but there were simply too many of them; Kroos's arrows were completely ineffective, the arrows passing directly through Ink Fiend's body and embedding themselves in the wall.

"It's your turn," Xi said to Su Rui. "Remember your role."

Su Rui blinked. "A mysterious traveler who happened to be passing by, knows a little about the town's legends, and is willing to help two outsiders?"

"Mm." Xi nodded, then added, "Don't make it too obvious."

Su Rui gave an exaggerated bow. "Yes, Director!" After saying that, he leaped into the water mirror.

In the main street of Poshan Town, Kroos and Lava stood back to back, surrounded by a group of menacing Ink Fiend.

Volume 9, Chapter 536: The Year in My Heart

"We need to find a narrow place," Lava said, panting, "So they can't surround us."

"There's an alley over there!" Kroos pointed ahead, but just as they were about to break through, a burst of wild laughter came from the sky.

"Hahaha! My little darlings, have you found your prey?"

A fiery red figure descended from the sky and landed lightly on a rooftop by the street.

It was a woman dressed in a gorgeous red dress, her long hair dancing like flames, toying with a huge calligraphy brush in her hand. Most striking were the two curved horns on the top of her head—a feature exactly like Nian's.

"The Red-Clad Witch!" Kroos exclaimed.

The "Witch Nian" on the roof grinned, revealing sharp fangs. "It is I! I heard someone is investigating my 'misdeeds'?" She sighed dramatically, "It really breaks my heart~"

Lava raised his staff. "You're the one who stole the New Year's money—"

"Shh—" The witch pressed a calligraphy brush to her lips, gesturing for silence. "Those trivial matters are not worth mentioning. Today, I'm going to give Poshan Town a great gift!"

She wielded her brush, drawing a complex rune in the air. The moment the rune was completed, the Ink Fiend on the street suddenly doubled in size and their numbers increased significantly, surging towards the two operators like a tidal wave.

"Run!" Lava grabbed Kroos and rushed into the alley.

Just as they were about to be engulfed by the Ink Fiend, a white shadow flashed by. A handsome young man descended from the sky holding an oil-paper umbrella. As the umbrella spun, the Ink Fiend seemed to have encountered something terrifying and retreated in all directions.

"This way!" The boy— Su Rui —stretched his hand out to them, "Come with me!"

Without hesitation, Kroos grabbed his hand, with Lava following closely behind. The three of them rushed into a hidden alley, and after several twists and turns, they finally shook off Ink Fiend's pursuit.

"Th-thank you!" Kroos said breathlessly, "What were those things? And that woman in red—"

"Ink Fiend, the cleaner of the Painted World." Su Rui closed her oil-paper umbrella and gave an elegant bow. "As for that one... I'm sure you've already heard of her infamous reputation."

Lava cautiously sized up this sudden savior. "Who are you? Why are you helping us?"

"My name is Su Rui, and I am currently residing in Poshan Town," Su Rui replied with a smile, his obsidian-like eyes gleaming. "As for why I am helping you... how could I stand idly by while two outsiders have traveled a long way to rid this place of evil?"

Kroos's cheeks flushed slightly—this young man was simply too handsome; every move he made was like that of an immortal stepping out of a painting. Lava, however, still squinted his eyes in disbelief. "How could you repel those monsters with just an umbrella?"

Su Rui mysteriously shook the oil-paper umbrella. "This umbrella was a gift from the storyteller, and it's painted with exorcism runes." He lowered his voice, "In fact, the strange occurrences throughout Poshan Town might all be related to that storyteller..."

"A storyteller?" Kroos and Lava asked in unison.

Just as Su Rui was about to continue guiding them, a commotion arose from the alleyway entrance. The Red-Clad Witch Nian stood on the edge of the rooftop, looking down at them. "Found you! My little Ink Fiend are starving!"

With a wave of her hand, dozens of Ink Fiend surged forth from every corner, blocking both ends of the alley. The witch jumped down, laughing, her brush tracing brilliant arcs in the air. "Let's play a game! If you can answer my questions, I'll spare this town!"

"What's the problem?" Lava gripped his staff, ready for battle at any moment.

The witch tilted her head, revealing a sly smile, "Why is it that the younger sister always holds a grudge more than the older sister?"

Kroos and Lava exchanged bewildered glances. Su Rui, meanwhile, barely suppressed a laugh—this was entirely Xi using the witch's words to question Nian.

Before they could answer, Witch Nian suddenly clapped her hands. "Time's up! It seems you don't know the answer either~ So..."

She suddenly swung her brush, and all the Ink Fiend rushed towards the three of them at the same time! At the critical moment, Su Rui opened her oil-paper umbrella, and a golden light flashed. The witch Nian and the Ink Fiend froze as if they had been put on pause.

"Hurry!" Su Rui pushed the two of them towards the other end of the alley. "This spell won't last long!"

The three of them ran frantically, finally shaking off their pursuers. In a secluded teahouse, Kroos finally couldn't help but ask, "That witch... she looks just like Miss Nian! And the question she asked..."

Su Rui poured tea for the two of them and said mysteriously, "There's a legend in Poshan Town. Long ago, two sister painters lived here. The elder sister was outgoing and loved excitement; the younger sister was quiet and reserved, devoted to art. One day, a prank by the elder sister hurt the younger sister's feelings..."

"And then the younger sister drew her older sister as the villain?" Lava pointed out astutely.

Su Rui smiled and said nothing, but gently turned the tea cup in his hand. Subtle ripples appeared on the tea water, forming a vague word "xi".

Kroos suddenly realized. "Wait! That storyteller... could he be...?"

Just then, the teahouse door was pushed open. The storyteller (Xi) walked in, fanning himself with a meaningful smile, "I heard you were looking for me?"

Outside the Scroll World, the real Xi is watching all this through the water mirror. She holds a paintbrush in her hand, its tip hovering above the water mirror, ready to add a new twist to this "drama" at any moment.

"Do you think they can guess the truth?" Xi asked.

Su Rui, residing in Xi's mind, manipulated her reflection in the water mirror to interact with the two operators. "Kroos seems to have noticed something, Lava is still suspicious. Should we add some more hints?"

After a moment's thought, Xi lightly touched the brush, and the scene in the water mirror instantly changed—the sky over Poshan Town suddenly darkened, a gigantic Ink Wraith King rose from the ground, and the witch Nian stood atop its head, laughing maniacally as she announced that she would "devour the entire town."

"Let's make the game even more exciting." Xi's eyes gleamed with mischief. "After all, my sister loves drama, doesn't she?"

Looking at Kroos and Lava fleeing in panic in the water mirror, and herself following closely behind, constantly providing clues, Su Rui couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the two operators—they were completely unaware that they were in the midst of a carefully orchestrated sisterly rivalry.

However, seeing Xi's unusually lively expression, Su Rui decided not to point it out. Let her enjoy this prank on Nian; after all, she'd been tricked by her sister so many times, it was only right to retaliate occasionally.

In the water mirror, Su Rui Ruizheng "accidentally" discovers an ancient book recording the legend of the sisters, while the roar of the Ink Wraith King has already echoed throughout the entire Poshan Town...

However, it's actually just an oversized, handsome Ink Fiend.

Volume 9, Chapter 537: Don't get too hung up on the dialogue.

Su Rui felt like she was a piece of rice paper torn in two—one half of her consciousness remained in Xi's mind to chat with her, while the other half controlled the beautiful boy's avatar to move around in the Painted World.

This state of "multitasking" left him flustered and disorganized, much like a puppeteer making his stage debut.

"The body you're controlling is moving incoherently," Xi's voice rang in Su Rui's main consciousness, tinged with a hint of mockery.

"It's easy for you to talk when you're not the one suffering," Su Rui retorted irritably.

Painted World, on the streets of Poshan Town.

Su Rui stumbled, almost tripping over his own clothes. Kroos quickly steadied him. "Young Master Su Rui, are you alright?"

"N-nothing!" Su Rui forced a smile at Kroos, "It's just that the stone path is a bit uneven..."

Meanwhile, outside the Scroll World.

"Focus," Xi leaned against the easel, lightly tapping the water mirror with her fingertips, "You were laughing like a cat that had just stolen some cream."

"This is much harder than I imagined..." Su Rui's main consciousness whimpered in Xi's mind, "Controlling the body requires focus, speaking requires concentration, and you also have to deal with unexpected situations..."

Xi snorted softly, adjusting the water mirror's perspective. "He asked for it."

"Because it's fun!" both parts of Su Rui's consciousness answered simultaneously, resulting in her ink-made body crashing into a roadside stall once again.

Kroos looked at him worriedly. "You've been acting strangely since just now..."

"He needs a bowl of refreshing soup!" a clear voice suddenly interrupted. Everyone turned around and saw a petite wandering monk standing on the street corner.

She wore a wide conical hat, held a tin staff, and the Buddhist beads around her neck jingled crisply with her movements. Most striking were her intelligent eyes—she Saga, a remarkable woman from the Eastern Kingdom who called herself "this humble monk."

Lava immediately became alert. "Another character from a painting?"

Saga laughed Saga, his voice like a clear bell. "This humble monk is merely a wandering monk. Seeing the spiritual energy of this world flowing like ink, I have come here to beg for alms!"

She suddenly leaned closer to the handsome young man, Su Rui, so close she could count his eyelashes. "But this young benefactor... has a slightly 'wet' smell about him~"

Outside the Scroll World, Xi narrowed her eyes. "This nun is no ordinary person. She shouldn't be able to sense these things."

Su Rui tensed up. "How did she get in? I didn't draw this character!"

"She was a guest I threw into the painting before," Xi sneered. "She was also a troublemaker, so I ignored her."

Within the Painted World, Su Rui composed herself, forcing a calm demeanor, and attempted to change the subject. "Master, you jest. I am but a humble scholar..."

Saga blinked. "Scholar? Or 'painter'?" She emphasized the word "painter".

Kroos tilted her head curiously. "What kind of Zen riddle are you two talking about?"

Lava then grasped the key point. "What did the monk mean when he said 'the spiritual energy in this world is abnormal'?"

Saga patted the gourd at his waist. "That's right, Poshan Town is beautiful, but it's as contrived as a theatrical stage—the eaves are too neat, the passersby are too typical, even the sparrows there sound like they've been rehearsed."

She looked meaningfully at the handsome young man Su Rui, and said, "He's like a living painting."

A cold sweat broke out on Su Rui's back. Outside the Scroll World, Su Rui's consciousness raced anxiously in Xi's mind. "She's going to expose us! Xi, think of something!"

Xi, however, remained calm and composed, and drew on the water mirror with her brush. "Since the audience is demanding more scenes..."

The Painted World suddenly changed color, with dark clouds looming overhead. From afar came the witch Nian's signature laughter. "Hehehe~ I've found you!"

"It's the Red Witch!" Kroos exclaimed.

Saga looked up at the sky and tapped the ground lightly with his staff. "Wonderful. We were just talking about the play, and the lead actor has already taken the stage."

Lava made a quick decision. "Let's split up. Kroos and Su Rui Master Suri will chase after the witch, while I'll go with this monk to find the storyteller."

"Excellent, excellent." Saga smiled, clasped his hands together, and whispered to the handsome young Su Rui, "Please give my regards to the 'brush-holder' on my behalf, and tell her... her ink painting skills have become increasingly refined."

Su Rui's pupils dilated slightly. Outside the Scroll World, Su Rui's main consciousness gasped. "She knows everything!"

"Calm down," Xi said coldly. "Proceed according to plan. You stay close to Kroos; I'll handle these troublesome monks and nuns."

The team then split into two groups. Kroos and Su Rui chased after the witch's laughter, while Lava and Saga went to the teahouse to find the storyteller.

Outside the Scroll World, Xi split the water mirror in two, simultaneously monitoring two lines.

"Left Mirror, follow Kroos; Right Mirror, keep an eye on the monks and nuns," she instructed. "Su Rui, keep your main consciousness with Kroos."

"Understood!" Su Rui's main consciousness responded, then hesitated, "But Saga about Saga..."

Xi smiled slightly, "I'll play with her myself."

The Painted World, towards the teahouse.

Saga skipped ahead, the jade pendants on his staff jingling. Lava followed behind, his brow furrowed. "The abbot seems quite familiar with this place?"

"No, no~" Saga turned and walked backwards, "It's just that I've traveled to so many places that I can tell which are 'man-made traces'." She suddenly pointed to the sky with her staff, "Look at those clouds, they change shape every quarter hour, without the slightest difference—where else can you find such a perfectly orderly natural phenomenon?"

Lava looked in that direction and indeed saw the clouds slowly but rhythmically changing shape. "So this really is..."

"Painted World? A life within a play?" Saga blinked. "Call me whatever you like. But that storyteller... he must be a key figure in this world?"

Meanwhile, on the way to track down the witch.

Su Rui was trying to keep up with Kroos while receiving messages from Xi.

"Turn left! She's headed for the winery!" Su Rui saw the witch's trail through Xi's water mirror and provided information to Kroos.

"Over here!" Su Rui grabbed Kroos. "I heard a noise coming from the direction of the winery!"

Kroos looked at him in surprise. "Your ears are amazing! I didn't hear anything..."

Her words were interrupted by the sound of breaking earthenware jars. The witch Nian was sitting on the roof of the winery, throwing wine jars down one by one. "Catch!" she laughed as she tossed a wine jar at the two of them.

Su Rui instinctively tried to dodge, but then heard Xi's command, "Catch it! And then..."

He abruptly changed his movement, deliberately slipping the instant he caught the wine jar, falling backward. The jar flew out of his hand, tracing a graceful arc through the air—

It struck precisely at one of the Ink Fiend that was hiding in the shadows and observing.

"Agh!" Ink Fiend screamed and turned into an ink stain. The witch's smile froze on her face, "Hey! That's my little darling!"

Outside the Scroll World, Xi nodded with satisfaction. "Very good, now say it as I taught you..."

Su Rui scrambled to her feet, hands on her hips, looking up at Nian high above, and declared righteously, "Witch Nian! You have allowed Ink Fiend to wreak havoc on the people, today we will surely..."

"Stop!" Xi suddenly frowned in front of the water mirror. "You've misremembered your lines! It's 'poisoning the people,' not 'causing chaos'!"

Su Rui's main consciousness said aggrievedly, "The two words mean almost the same thing..."

"Far from it!" Xi exclaimed angrily, slamming her pen against the water mirror. "'Poisoning' is much more elegant! Try again!"