Meeting Ying Li
Li Qi eagerly awaited his first big gift package from his golden finger. He had thought it would be something like a divine technique or a superpower, but to his surprise, it delivered a woman. This unexpected "gift" truly caught Li Qi off guard, so he hurriedly asked his golden finger who this woman was.
In fact, Li Qi had a vague suspicion that this woman might be the one who had already "disappeared."
At that moment, the system told Li Qi to enter another realm it had created-a pocket universe that resembled a fantasy world.
Li Qi then returned quietly from the karaoke room to his bedroom. He specifically kept Daisy Johnson from following him and gently shut the door after entering. In an instant, with a swish, the system transported him straight into the pocket space as though teleporting him.
Before him lay a beautiful, dreamlike garden, with villages nestled quietly throughout its carefully arranged landscape. A murmuring stream wound through it like a silver ribbon.
Willows swayed all around, their hanging branches dancing gently in the breeze, complementing the peach blossoms in full bloom to form a picturesque scene. Here, the boundaries between seasons seemed blurred. It was impossible to tell whether it was spring, when all things revived, or autumn, with its crisp, refreshing breezes. It was even difficult to determine whether this mysterious pocket space had four distinct seasons at all.
A multilevel farmhouse compound appeared before him. It consisted of three successive courtyards, its overall style simple and elegant, with a charm mellowed by the passage of time.
Petals and willow twigs drifted leisurely down into the courtyard, scattering over the ground. A gentle breeze carried wisps of delicate fragrance, lending the entire compound a tranquil elegance. This compound of three successive courtyards and gateways occupied a considerable area, yet rather than glittering opulence, it displayed a distinctive air of rustic simplicity and understated grace throughout.
The courtyard gate stood open. Guided by his golden finger system, Li Qi walked slowly inside with steady steps. The first courtyard was deserted, and the second was equally silent, but both had been swept spotless, their cleanliness and tidiness a pleasure to behold.
He continued all the way to the third courtyard, which was small but exquisitely arranged. Beside a little well, moss glowed faintly green, as though telling stories of bygone years. An antique-style pavilion stood nearby, furnished with a stone table and stools. Flowers and plants of all kinds grew around it, their red blossoms and green leaves intertwining and releasing refreshing scents that immediately soothed the mind, as though one had entered a secluded paradise.
Inside the doorway, a woman in a long white tai chi dress was looking his way. Surprise and puzzlement showed in her eyes. After all, she had lived here for nearly three or four months without ever seeing anyone appear.
She had also explored the surrounding area for a dozen or even several dozen li, yet still found no trace of anyone else. Leaving this tranquil, magnificent mountain forest seemed no easy task, as though she were restrained by an invisible force.
By now, she had lost her special abilities, and her magic had vanished completely. Although she missed her husband and children every moment, she could do nothing and could only choose to stay here for the time being.
Now that a strange man had suddenly appeared in the courtyard, she was naturally filled with confusion and surprise.
Indeed, this woman was Shang-Chi's mother, Ying Li-the beloved of Xu Wenwu, leader of the Ten Rings. At this moment, Ying Li's age and appearance remained as they had been when she suffered that "incident."
In the real world, Ying Li's "incident" had happened fourteen or fifteen years ago, yet her appearance had not changed in the slightest. This showed that the system's pocket space possessed the miraculous ability to slow the passage of time.
Seeing Ying Li before him, with her lovely features, long hair cascading like a waterfall, and simple yet captivating white dress, Li Qi could not help feeling secretly delighted. He keenly realized that he had finally found a crucial figure.
Ying Li stepped gracefully out of the house. Rather than asking why this uninvited guest had intruded without permission, she went straight to her question.
"Sir, since you were able to enter this place, you must have come from outside. Might you be able to take me out of here?" What Ying Li wanted had always been to leave this place and find her husband and children.
Li Qi naturally understood her anxiety, but he did not intend to take Ying Li out immediately. Instead, he smiled and looked gently at the beautiful woman before him as he spoke.
"Of course I can. But it was a long journey, and I would like to rest a little and enjoy a few cups of fine tea first. What do you think, miss?" Li Qi had other plans. He was in no hurry to leave, intending to use this opportunity to learn more from Ying Li before taking her out.
Ying Li paused briefly, then understood. He must have traveled a long way. It is only reasonable for him to rest a while. With a slightly apologetic smile, she said, "Sir, I was too hasty. Please come inside and rest a little. We can set off and leave this place tomorrow."
Li Qi readily nodded in agreement and followed Ying Li into the house. She immediately began boiling water to make tea, steeping leaves she had picked herself in the piping-hot water. Before long, a fresh tea fragrance filled the air. She brought over the brewed tea and gently set it before Li Qi.
Although Li Qi had drunk quite a bit of whiskey at the villa, his mind was clear, and there was not the slightest trace of alcohol on his breath as he spoke. He gently lifted the scalding teacup, blew on it slowly, and carefully took two sips. The distinctive, mellow flavor of fresh tea immediately spread through his mouth, and he could not help nodding repeatedly and thanking Ying Li.
Sitting opposite Li Qi, Ying Li lowered her head slightly at his praise, a shy smile appearing on her face. She felt somewhat excited at the moment, so she took less initiative in their conversation.
Li Qi naturally did not hold that against her. He took the initiative to find topics and chatted with Ying Li. After some conversation, he gained a general understanding of her circumstances here.
Ying Li herself did not know why she had suddenly appeared here. Over these days, she had wondered whether she might already be dead, yet had neither ascended to heaven nor fallen into hell.
Li Qi smiled and shook his head, rejecting Ying Li's notion, but did not explain where this place actually was. The two then fell briefly silent.
Outside, the sun gradually sank toward the west, its lingering glow staining the sky orange-red. There was a clear distinction between day and night here. At noon, a sunlike sphere emitted warm, comfortable light that shone over the land.
Night would fall in a little over an hour. Knowing it was getting late, Ying Li planned to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner for two, so they could eat their fill and rest well before setting out smoothly early the next morning.
Through their conversation, Li Qi realized that if he wanted to obtain crucial information from Ying Li, it would be difficult to earn her complete trust through ordinary means. He therefore decided to use the mental communication ability granted by his golden finger and attempt to communicate with her on a deeper level.
Ying Li was no ordinary mortal, but an Inhuman who had been steeped in special powers for many years within the mysterious space where she had lived. Even against an ability as unusual as the golden finger system's, Ying Li still resisted slightly for two seconds before gradually opening her heart and establishing a deep mental connection with Li Qi.
At that moment, Ying Li stood calmly opposite Li Qi, her eyes revealing her trust in him.
Li Qi slowly rose, his gaze fixed intently on Ying Li, and said solemnly, "Ying Li, I will certainly take you out of here, and I will help you find your family. But before that, I need your help."
Ying Li nodded gently and agreed to Li Qi's request. The two then prepared together for the plan ahead, quietly awaiting their departure the next day.