Chapter 216

"Wait, wait a minute? Why don't you take a look at this first...? I'm not some Red Spinel, my name is Xiao Huasheng! I'm a person, not a gemstone! Don't give me random names!"

Upon first encountering the local inhabitants, Xiao Huasheng immediately pointed to the halo above his head and began to speak.

Seeing this aura, who would think she's some kind of Gem People!

But then, upon hearing the name of the gemstone, her eyelids twitched immediately.

It's as if she's entered some kind of unsatisfying, filthy world.

Kongo looked at her gently, as if she were a child.

"Of course, you are not human, nor could you be human. Humans don't have halos, child." The monk smiled gently and then took her hand.

"Putting everything else aside for now, at least we can help you. Let me introduce you to everyone."

Xiao Huasheng touched Kongo's hand, only to realize that the other's hand had no warmth at all.

The other party... is a robot.

After a brief silence, Kongo led her slowly toward the place where the Gem People gathered on the island.

During this time, Xiao Huasheng explained to him, "Let me say this first: I am from another world, and my ultimate goal is to return to that world."

"Yes, I understand, but you are not human," Kongo repeated.

"Why are you so fixated on whether I'm human or not? I look like a human, I do things like a human, and I eat things that humans eat, so why can't I be human?" Xiao Huasheng asked a series of soul-searching questions.

"Because...this is very important, but since you've said so, I might have to change how I address you." Kongo said, then added cautiously, "Since you claim to be human, although I don't agree...let's still treat each other as equals. You can call me Kongo, and I will call you Xiao Huasheng."

"Uh... you're missing the point, aren't you?" Xiao Huasheng complained.

"Humans cannot survive here, nor can they live under a halo," Kongo said.

Indeed, this world is filled with toxic gases and oxygen has become extremely scarce, making it seem like an abnormal planet disguised as Earth.

From this perspective, any human arriving here would indeed die instantly, without any protection.

Xiao Huasheng had nowhere else to go, so he obediently shut up and followed Kongo.

Following Kongo's steady steps, Xiao Huasheng stepped into an area that was completely different from the desolate outside world.

Here she met 28 Gem People flocked to welcome Kongo and Xiao Huasheng.

They, or rather they, possess human forms, yet their entire bodies are composed of dazzling gemstones.

Her hair was like sparkling mineral crystals, her eyes like translucent gemstones, and every part of her body exuded an extraordinary beauty.

Sunlight shone on them, refracting into a dazzling rainbow-like halo.

"Teacher, the teacher is back!"

"Master Kongo has brought a new companion!"

"Her hair color... is so bright red, like a ruby! Wow!"

Almost instantly, the Gem People were originally scattered in various places flocked towards Kongo and Xiao Huasheng.

Their faces radiated pure curiosity and friendliness, as if welcoming a long-lost family member.

Their gazes were clear and direct, openly scrutinizing Xiao Huasheng, this new face, filled with anticipation for their new companion.

This unreserved welcome made Xiao Huasheng feel a little dazed and unreal, having just escaped from a brutal battle.

Kongo faced the gathered Gem People with a gentle smile and raised his hand to signal them to be quiet.

"This is our new companion, his name is Xiao Huasheng."

What kind of stone is "Xiao Huasheng"?

"Why..."

Rutile adjusted his glasses, his sharp and professional gaze sweeping over Xiao Huasheng before turning to Kongo.

She asked in her characteristic, research-oriented tone, with great seriousness.

"Teacher, welcome back. This new classmate... what is her firmness?"

As soon as the question was asked, the other Gem People around also perked up their ears.

Clearly, "hardness" is an extremely important attribute in the Gem People's society, directly related to an individual's strength, responsibilities, and survival ability.

All eyes were focused on Kongo, awaiting his answer, which would determine the initial impression of this "red-haired Gem People" in everyone's minds.

Kongo nodded slightly, about to speak and reveal his earlier conclusion that it was "close to Red Spinel, with a hardness of 8".

Xiao Huasheng, on the other hand, had mixed feelings. He felt helpless about the misunderstanding and subtly resentful about being labeled as having a "hardness of 8".

It's not that crispy.

"It's 8... Phew, then we shouldn't have to keep trying to figure it out." Rutile said with relief, undoubtedly feeling a little more relaxed as the doctor for the Gem People.

"Quack Doctor —I feel like you're subtly criticizing me," Phosphophyllite, with a hardness of only 3.5, complained.

In the past, she was the youngest Gem People, only 299 years old this year. Now, Xiao Huasheng's appearance has clearly taken away her title as the youngest.

"That way, she's your little sister now," Rutile said with a smile.

(The Gem People are genderless, have a predominantly female appearance, and are generally addressed as brothers; this has been slightly modified.)

"Whoa--I'll do my best to take care of her! I have a little sister now!" Phosphophyllite instantly became happy, looking at Xiao Huasheng with overflowing enthusiasm.

"Do you have any clothes?"

Xiao Huasheng then asked a question; her clothes had been swept away by the fierce battle just now.

Clothes are definitely in high demand right now.

"Clothes... of course I have them, but I'm quite curious where you got them from," Benitoite asked, as the person in front of him didn't look like a newly born Gem People at all.

"Because I am not from this world; I come from another world."

Xiao Huasheng did not choose to deceive the gems in front of him, and began to speak.

These Gem People had no gender; at least, like Xiao Huasheng, they were all flat, which gave Xiao Huasheng a slight sense of finding his kind.

But clearly, these Gem People didn't take Xiao Huasheng's words seriously.

"You wouldn't happen to be Lunarians, would you?"

"... no."

"Could you tell us a story about another world?" Diamond asked expectantly.

"That's a long story. I can tell you if you'd like to hear it," Xiao Huasheng said with a gentle smile, without any malice.

Chapter 3: A World of Scarcity [1 update]

Phosphophyllite was filled with frustration.

"I thought I'd have a little sister, but it turns out I'm still the youngest."

In essence, Xiao Huasheng could indeed be the sister of these immortal Gem People, since no matter how long she lived, she could never outlive them.

But the mere fact that he was an extraterrestrial being dispelled the idea that Xiao Huasheng was too young for the gems.

At this point, Jade turned to Kongo for confirmation.

"Teacher, is she really from another world?"

"Yes, from now on you can just call her Xiao Huasheng. I'll treat her as an equal."

The black, Bort looked on from afar, its eyes also filled with curiosity.

Surrounded by enthusiastic Gem People, Xiao Huasheng slowly began to tell her very first little story.

Kongo listened silently from the side.

"I was born inside a statue..." Xiao Huasheng slowly recounted, telling her story.

However, she chose to ignore the most crucial part, simply telling a story.

But this story is quite fascinating for anyone to tell.

Even Kongo found it fascinating, but after hearing all of this, he still didn't believe Xiao Huasheng was human.

It's simply because her story is too close to a fairy tale; if it were a real human being... if it were a real human being...

Therefore, she should have a vengeful attitude towards many things, rather than simply laughing it off.

For the gems, time was never an issue, and the crowd remained gathered around her, listening to her story.

This nicely satisfied Xiao Huasheng's slight loneliness, and at least being surrounded by so many Gem People made him feel a little more at ease.

Before long, dusk fell, and the Gem People, who relied on sunlight for survival, knew it was time for them to sleep.

"Alright, that's enough for today, hehehe." Xiao Huasheng chuckled softly.

"But what happened to that Emperor? What did he become after changing bodies?" Benitoite asked hurriedly, his eyes wide.

"I want to hear Guilliman's story!"

"Wow... humans are so amazing!" Diamond couldn't help but exclaim.

Each gemstone, like a curious child, was brimming with excitement and spared no praise for Xiao Huasheng.

Their time was so long that it seemed exaggerated to anyone.

Even the youngest gemstone is three hundred years old.

Kongo also asked Xiao Huasheng a question, which was quite unusual for him.

"Is the Angela you're talking about a machine?" He hesitated for a moment, then finally asked, "How did a machine become human?"

"I don't know either, but she did eventually become human, the human she had always longed for..." Xiao Huasheng paused for a moment and continued, "Then, after becoming human, she killed everyone who had ever been close to her. The emptiness in her heart could never be filled, and in the end, she was killed by someone else."

The red-haired Angel's words were from a story that Angela had told her.

Angela had experienced different endings in her memory, and she remembered them all and told Xiao Huasheng about them.

"Humans are so wicked," Phosphophyllite said. "If I could, I wouldn't want to be human."

"Silly girl, I'm more curious about how you'll become human." Jade muttered, arms crossed, feeling rather helpless at Phosphophyllite's innocent and naive words.

"If I want to... um! If I want to, I can!"

Phosphophyllite spoke with boundless energy, as if with that energy, anything was possible.

"Don't push yourself too hard," Rutile chuckled, teasing Phosphophyllite in return.

Becoming human is still too advanced for the gems.

After hearing Xiao Huasheng's words, Kongo smiled strangely, and finally closed his eyes and smiled, saying, "Thank you."

Clearly, Xiao Huasheng had cleared up his doubts.

In a future where humanity has already gone extinct, being human is not a good thing.

"If there's anything you'd like to hear, I'll continue tomorrow. I'll try my best to finish, since Angela will be taking me back soon."

As Xiao Huasheng spoke, she truly believed that Angela would come and take her away.

Even though it won't take too long, she still trusts Angela completely.

During this time, playing with these pure-hearted Gem People is not necessarily a bad thing.

"It's time to sleep," Xiao Huasheng said again.

Looking at the children before her, she felt an immense sense of peace.

"Xiao Huasheng, aren't you going to sleep?" Phosphophyllite asked again, her eyes full of curiosity.

"I can sleep, but sleeping isn't necessary for me... um."

As Xiao Huasheng said this, she decided to go out that night to see if she could find anything to eat. "But there's nothing to eat on land. I'll go look for something to eat tonight."

"Eat... something?"

The word seemed to possess a strange magic, instantly stunning the Gem People were originally somewhat drowsy and preparing to return to "hibernate".

They all stopped in their tracks, their jewel-like eyes refocusing on Xiao Huasheng, filled with pure incomprehension and amazement.

"Eat something?" Bort repeated, looking puzzled.

"What do you mean?" Benitoite tilted his head, his blue hair swaying gently with the movement.

"Does it mean... putting something inside the body?" Diamond asked cautiously, recalling what she had read in a book before.

For the Gem People, who can survive solely on sunlight, have never experienced hunger, and do not need to obtain energy through the intake of external substances.