Ark Simulator: Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Su Rui rubbed her hands together, her breath condensing in the air. "... You call this 'being awake'? I feel like my nose is going to freeze off."

Ash didn't speak, but simply took out three pairs of goggles from his backpack and handed them to the two. "Wear these, the glare from the snow will hurt your eyes."

The town was more bustling than I had imagined. Low wooden houses lined both sides of the street, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys. The tavern sign swayed in the wind, bearing the words "Fire of the North" in Ursus.

The Tank's eyes lit up. "This is it!" He strode towards the tavern, and as he pushed open the door, the warm air mixed with the aroma of vodka and roasted meat wafted out.

Ash and Su Rui followed them inside. The tavern wasn't crowded; a few Ursus hunters sat around the fireplace, talking in hushed tones. Tank had already eagerly taken his seat at the bar and ordered a round of drinks in fluent Ursus.

Su Rui whispered in Ash's ear, "Are you sure he just 'wanted to take a look'?"

Ash glanced at the Tank, who was chatting enthusiastically with the bartender, and shook his head slightly. "... Never mind, let him be."

They found a seat by the window. Ash took off her gloves, her metal fingers tapping lightly on the table. Su Rui reached out and took her hand in hers, her warm palm against Ash's cold one.

"Are you cold?" he asked in a low voice.

Ash shook his head, but did not pull his hand away.

The liquor was served quickly. The Tank downed a glass with a hearty gulp, sighing contentedly, "Genuine Ursus vodka! Much stronger than Rhodes Island's medical alcohol!"

Su Rui cautiously took a sip, immediately coughing from the spiciness. Ash expressionlessly finished his own drink, then took Su Rui's cup and downed it in one gulp.

The Tank laughed heartily, "Good! Ash has the spirit of the Ursus!"

Su Rui looked at her helplessly. "... You can drink that much?"

Ash's earlobes turned slightly red, but his expression remained calm. "It's a professional requirement."

After a few rounds of drinks, the Tank was already singing Ursus folk songs with his arms around the shoulders of several local hunters. Ash pulled Su Rui away quietly and returned to the inn they had booked.

The room wasn't big, but the fireplace was burning brightly, the firewood crackling. Ash took off his coat and sat by the window, watching the snow outside. The night in Ursus was quiet, with only the sound of the wind and the occasional bark of a dog.

Su Rui walked up behind her and gently wrapped her arms around her waist. "What are you thinking about?"

Ash was silent for a moment before speaking, "This place... is not what I imagined."

"More desolate than I imagined?"

"It's colder," Ash said. "Not the weather... it's the people."

Su Rui understood what she meant. Ursus was known for its harshness, but this small town was surprisingly humane. Hunters in the tavern would share their prey, the old lady at the inn insisted on giving them an extra blanket, and the children on the street, though wary, had no hostility in their eyes.

"Tank is right." Su Rui rested her chin on her shoulder. "There are some places... worth seeing."

Ash turned around and cupped his face in her hands. The alcohol made her movements bolder than usual, her fingertips tracing his outline. "Are you cold?"

Su Rui shook her head, grasped her wrist, and kissed her palm. "With you here, I'm not cold."

Ash stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed his collar and kissed him. The kiss was warm with vodka and more urgent than usual. Su Rui staggered, her back against the wall, but she smiled and accepted her advance.

The firelight cast their shadows on the wall, intertwining and swaying with the flickering flames. Outside the window, the snow fell silently in Ursus, covering all traces of their presence.

However, this was Ursus, and the second day of their trip inevitably encountered some trouble.

Ash's fingertips were already pressed against the latch of the tactical dagger.

Three Ursus border guards blocked their path, their heavy boots leaving deep grooves in the snow. The officer in the lead had a burly face, his murky eyes darting back and forth over Su Rui, his Adam's apple bobbing unnaturally.

"Outsider?" The hoarse voice had a nauseatingly sticky quality. "Show me your pass."

Ash's pupils contracted slightly. She noticed that the soldier on her right had quietly placed his hand on his holster, while the one on her left was licking his cracked lips incessantly.

The three men's seemingly loose positioning actually blocked all angles for counterattacks—a typical tactic of the Ursus border patrol.

Su Rui gently pressed her wrist, his warm palm soothingly stroking her tense muscles. As he stepped forward, the sound of his military boots crushing the thin ice suddenly reminded Ash the soft crackling of firewood in front of the fireplace last night.

"Of course, sir." As Su Rui took out his identification from his inner pocket, his sleeve slipped down, revealing a light-colored scar on the inside of his wrist. The officer's breathing became noticeably heavier, and his frostbitten fingers deliberately rubbed against the scar.

Ash's Tactical Visor flashed red. She precisely calculated the location of the three men's carotid arteries and how to make their blood splatter onto the snow in a perfect radial pattern within 0.28 seconds.

Just then, the falling snowflakes suddenly stopped in mid-air.

A soft clanging of metal rings came from the shadows, like someone loosening the belt of a sword. The three soldiers froze instantly, their cloudy eyes trembling violently as they turned to a spot three meters behind Su Rui —a spot that should have been an empty expanse of snow.

Ash's pupils contracted. She saw fine black crystals appear on the surface of the snow, spreading towards their feet like some kind of mycelial network. When the sixth snowflake hovered over the officer's nose, the pure black cloak finally emerged from the blind spot.

"His Majesty's guest." The Inner Guard ' voices were like rusty gears grinding against each other, a resonance from beneath their masks that seemed inhuman. "You dare touch him?"

The dull thud of the officer's knee hitting the snow startled the crows in the treetops. His two companions were already slumped on the ground, dark water seeping from their trousers. Ash noticed that the Inner Guard ' swords weren't even drawn—the mere reflection of the Double-Headed Eagle Badge on the hilt was enough to make these border dogs tremble like leaves.

"Let it go." Su Rui's voice remained gentle, but Ash keenly caught an unusual tremor in the end of his tone. "They're just..."

The Inner Guard suddenly knelt on one knee, the standard, almost rigid military salute causing the black crystals beneath the snow to crackle softly. As he presented the golden badge, warmed by his body heat, Ash noticed the faint outline of Originium crystals emerging from the knuckles of his black leather gloves.

"Your mark, Your Highness." The Inner Guard bowed, the mask striking the breastplate with a resonant, bell-like sound. "Shall we notify Saint Petersburg?"

Volume 10, Chapter 609 Hunter's Feast

Su Rui paused as he took the badge. Ash suddenly realized his posture had changed—his left foot was slightly forward, and his right hand was resting on a non-existent sword at his waist, Seal-Holding Rite through generations of Ursus nobles.

"No need." Su Rui ran his fingertips along the feathers of the double-headed eagle on the badge, and for a fleeting moment Ash seemed to see a glint of molten gold in his eyes. "Consider it... the Queen's winter surprise."

As the Inner Guard vanished into black mist, the still snowflakes finally resumed falling. The three soldiers and policemen remained kneeling, their snot and tears freezing into icicles on their beards. Su Rui snapped his fingers lightly, and they suddenly rose in unison like puppets, their eyes vacant as they walked toward the outpost.

"What did you do to them?" Ash pressed down on the still-hot dagger.

As Su Rui turned around, that unfamiliar aura of authority had vanished without a trace. He winked playfully, "Just let them dream of swimming naked in an icy lake." Seeing that Ash remained unmoved, he added, "Don't worry, they'll wake up once we leave the border."

Ash suddenly reached out and ripped open his scarf. Two inches below his Adam's apple, the dark gold Originium patterns were slowly fading. Those intricate patterns formed a miniature magic circle, with a variant of the double-headed eagle emblem at its center.

"Talulah's personal mark?" Ash ran his knuckles over the burning lines.

Su Rui grasped her wrist, pressing his lips to her cold, metallic knuckles. "It's a contract." His breath carried the scent of mead. "Back when I helped her quell the internal strife, Her Majesty the Empress insisted on putting a 'safety net' on me."

The cry of a snow owl came from afar. Ash suddenly grabbed his scarf and pulled him to his side, their breaths mingling in the cold wind to form white mist.

"Back to the hotel." As she loosened her scarf, she lightly pressed her finger against the mark on Su Rui's Adam's apple. "I want to hear the whole story."

Su Rui smiled and put the badge back into his System Space, a flash of dark golden light disappearing between his fingers. "Yes, sir."

After briefly explaining his relationship with Talulah, Ash looked at Su Rui with a strange expression.

"You don't have connections with everyone in Terra, do you?"

"How could that be..." Su Rui hesitated for a moment, "At least not now."

"Shall we go see the empress now?"

"..."

Ash and Su Rui did not immediately set off for Saint Petersburg.

"I've heard the set meals here are famous." Su Rui stood at the entrance of the hotel restaurant, her eyes sparkling as if she had discovered some incredible treasure. "Vodka, black bread, sausages, Borscht, and a mountain of meat—supposedly a specialty from the Ursus border, enough for four people."

Ash glanced at the menu hanging on the wall, which read "Hunter's Feast" in rough Ursus language, with an exaggerated cross drawn next to it, seemingly to emphasize the extravagance of the meal.

"Are you sure?" Ash asked calmly. "There are only two of us."

Su Rui had already pulled her hand and was leading her inside. "If you can't finish it, you can take it home."

Ash sighed and let him pull him to a seat by the window. The restaurant was warm and cozy, the wooden tables and chairs exuding a faint scent of pine, and the crackling firewood in the fireplace dispelling the chill of the Ursus border.

The waitress was a burly Ursus woman with arms thicker than Ash's thighs. She came over carrying two heavy wooden trays and slammed them onto the table.

"Would you two like to try the ' Hunter's Feast '?" Her voice was deep and strong, with the straightforwardness characteristic of people from the borderlands. "Just so you know, the portions are huge, and there will be a waste fee if you can't finish it."

Su Rui nodded with a smile, "No problem."

Ash, expressionless, added, "... Two more cups of hot tea, please."

The waiter grinned, looking like a wicked bartender. "No vodka?"

"Yes," Su Rui replied immediately, "But serve the tea first, we can have the wine later."

Ash glanced at him, Su Rui immediately blinked innocently. "... For cutting through the richness."

The food arrived shortly afterward.

Ash stared at the mountain of food in front of him and remained silent for three seconds.

The rye bread was as thick as a brick, its crust crispy and browned, yet soft and warm inside. The sausages were astonishingly large, their surfaces slightly charred, the fat still sizzling. The Borscht was so thick it was almost black, with large chunks of beef, potatoes, and carrots floating in it, its aroma so intense it made your throat tighten. It was served on the side with a dish of sour cream, pickles, and chopped onions, and—most extravagantly—a whole bottle of chilled Ursus vodka.

Su Rui couldn't wait any longer. She cut off a piece of sausage, blew on it with a fork, and held it to Ash's lips. "Want to try some?"

Ash stared at him for two seconds before finally opening her mouth and taking a bite. The sausage juices burst in her mouth, the rich flavor of black pepper and garlic making her raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Is it delicious?" Su Rui asked smugly.

Ash didn't answer, but simply picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of Borscht, and handed it to him. "Don't just focus on me."

Su Rui smiled and leaned closer, drinking from her hand. The soup was rich and slightly sour, the beef was tender and soft, and with the sour cream, the flavor was so complex that you couldn't help but want another bite.

The two shared the food, taking turns eating, occasionally clinking glasses for a sip of hot tea or a small mouthful of vodka to ward off the cold. Ash actually had a large appetite, but faced with such a generous portion from Ursus, she gradually slowed down.

Su Rui, however, ate with relish, his cheeks slightly flushed from the hot soup and alcohol. He broke off a piece of Borscht bread, dipped it in the borscht, and sighed contentedly, "Indeed, this is the kind of thing we should eat in this kind of weather."

Ash looked at the food that was still mostly left on the table and started thinking about how to pack it up.

"Don't worry," Su Rui said with a smile, pointing to her System Space, as if she had read her thoughts. "I can store what I can't finish and have it as a midnight snack."

Ash gave a soft hum and did not object.

The restaurant door was suddenly pushed open, and a gust of cold wind blew in, carrying snowflakes. Several hunters wrapped in thick furs walked in, shouting for "Hunter's Feast" and vodka. They glanced at the food on Ash and Su Rui's table, and one of them, a bearded man, whistled.

"Out-of-towners? First time eating this?" He grinned. "You guys are amazing if you can finish half of it!"

Su Rui smiled and raised her half-full glass of vodka, "Want to make a bet?"

Ash kicked him under the table.

The bearded man laughed heartily and, without any ceremony, came over with his bottle to clink glasses. "You've got guts! This one's on me!"

Ash watched as Su Rui and the other hunters quickly became engrossed in conversation, and shook her head helplessly. But as she looked down, a slight smile crept onto her lips.

Volume 10, Chapter 610: Drinking is bad

The vodka bottle was more than half empty, and Su Rui's cheeks were flushed with intoxication. His amber eyes gleamed in the dim restaurant lights. He swayed as he stood up, one foot on the chair, raised his glass, and shouted in accented Ursus:

"Cheers to the snow of Ursus!"

The hunters burst into laughter and raised their glasses in response. Someone grabbed an accordion and began playing a cheerful folk song, the rough vocals instantly filling the entire restaurant. As if ignited by the music, Su Rui grabbed Ash's wrist and forcefully pulled her up from her seat.

"Dance!" he laughed wildly, his eyes filled with intoxication and excitement.

Ash frowned. "I don't know how."

"It's okay!" Su Rui had already put his arm around her waist and spun her around. "Just follow me!"

His dance steps were completely haphazard; he even nearly tripped over his own boots, but his enthusiasm infected everyone. The hunters clapped their hands on the table to keep the beat, and the proprietress couldn't resist joining in, wrapping her strong arms around the shyest young hunter and spinning him around.

Ash was led by Su Rui, staggering along with his rhythm. She was always calm and composed, but at this moment, in this unfamiliar border tavern, amidst the drunken Ursus folk songs and rough laughter, she couldn't help but slightly curl the corners of her lips.

Su Rui noticed and smiled even more broadly. He leaned close to her ear, his breath carrying the spiciness of vodka and the sweetness of honey:

"Ash, you smiled."

Ash immediately straightened his face. "You've misunderstood."

Su Rui didn't believe him. He chuckled and cupped her face in his hands, his forehead pressed against hers, mumbling through his drunken eyes:

"You smiled... and it looked so beautiful..."

Before Ash could refute, Su Rui suddenly lost her balance and fell into her arms.

"Ugh... my head is spinning..."

Ash sighed, put one arm around his waist, and held his shoulder with the other to prevent him from slipping to the ground. Su Rui was so drunk that he could barely stand, leaning limply against her, humming the tune he had just sang incoherently.

Seeing this, the hunters laughed and made a fuss:

"Hey! Young Master is dying!"

"She's passed out after just a few drinks? Ursus beer is no joke!"

Ash ignored their teasing, bent down, put one hand under Su Rui's knees and the other hand on his back, and with a little effort, lifted him up in his arms.

Su Rui, still half asleep, wrapped her arms around her neck, rested her head on her shoulder, and mumbled softly:

"Ash... you're so warm..."

Ash didn't speak, but simply carried him and strode towards the stairs. Behind her, the hunters' laughter and the accordion music continued, but in her world, only the drunken man in her arms remained.

Back in the room, Ash gently placed Su Rui on the bed and took off his boots and coat. Su Rui, half-asleep, grasped her wrist and mumbled: