Calamity Messenger

Chapter 370 - 303: Embarrassed (Fourth Update Requesting Monthly Votes)

"Pharmacist’s Wish," Yan Qing blinked, asking softly, "Has anyone ever told you that you’re adorable?"

Pharmacist’s Wish paused slightly, then continued indifferently, "The Helan Family’s Cyan Bamboo Brew has a unique flavor, slightly sharp in taste with a long aftertaste. It often takes only three cups for an ordinary person to get drunk for an entire day..."

Can she really ignore that? So, whenever something seems shy or awkward, just pretend it never happened, and in doing so, avoid all situations that are hard to handle. It’s like being a self-deceiving big girl. Yan Qing felt like teasing her a bit more, but seeing the pink on Pharmacist’s Wish’s neck growing deeper, he abandoned the tempting thought and quietly admired the side of the Pharmacist’s Wish not seen outside.

"Didn’t you put away the Bingzi Pepper Forest?" Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly asked.

"What?" Yan Qing didn’t realize for a moment.

"The knife handle is poking me."

The two exchanged a glance, and after several breaths, Pharmacist’s Wish finally responded, the ever-calm façade now showing a hint of flustered expression. Even though Yan Qing’s face was hidden by bandages, he was embarrassed, unsure how to react. Just as he was about to say something, Pharmacist’s Wish moved slightly.

But she didn’t move away from Yan Qing; instead, she shifted to a more comfortable position, allowing the knife handle to rest in a way that buffered it better.

Pharmacist’s Wish continued talking about the special brews produced in various secret realms, as if she had only done something trivial. But from her suddenly quickened speech, it was clear her heart was not calm.

However, Yan Qing no longer paid attention to Pharmacist’s Wish. He looked up at the ceiling, using all his willpower to suppress the surging Qi Blood. The usually strong-willed and proud Pharmacist’s Wish was so demure and patient during close interactions that Yan Qing felt his brain was about to explode thinking about it.

Pharmacist’s Wish spoke a little more before stopping, and the room seemed to be filled only with light breaths and heavy heartbeats. The wine aroma seemed to grow stronger, intoxicatingly so.

"I should be going," Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly said, "I have a scheduled secret realm strategy session this afternoon."

Yan Qing sighed in relief. If the situation continued, he feared something might go wrong. Though not entirely unwelcome, it wasn’t the right time... but he couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of loss.

He looked at the side of Pharmacist’s Wish’s face, suddenly feeling inspired, "The comic books from the Zhou Kingdom seem interesting; shall we make time to read together in the future?"

"Sure." Pharmacist’s Wish glanced at him, then turned her head, her ponytail brushing against Yan Qing’s face, "I read occasionally; adding you wouldn’t be a bother."

The two put on their boots and got out of bed. Yan Qing looked at Pharmacist’s Wish’s hands, "So, I’m heading back?"

"Go ahead." Pharmacist’s Wish waved.

Step by step, Yan Qing finally felt free from the feeling of being held back, stopped at the door, and felt something was missing. He thought for a moment, then turned around, only to see Pharmacist’s Wish walking over, as if they had a tacit understanding. The two locked eyes, exchanged no unnecessary words, and reached out to embrace.

"Don’t die," Pharmacist’s Wish whispered.

...

...

Back in his room, Yan Qing still felt dazed.

Who am I? What is my relationship with the two of them? What kind of relationship should I establish with them?

Until today, Yan Qing and they only had an ambiguous relationship, like a ’possible illusion.’ First, Yan Qing didn’t intend to burst this bubble before the team stabilized. Also, frankly, they were more than friends.

Yan Qing had not expected today’s proactive reporting would push the relationship to the brink. Though he felt rather pleased with himself, he was accompanied by inexplicable anxiety: What to do? I’m not a GALGAME god!

Moreover, having a couple in a four-man team was chaotic enough; adding a love triangle would be even more convoluted. But after calming down, Yan Qing wasn’t too worried. After all, both Pharmacist’s Wish and Shang Xinlei were sensible and smart—they knew the Thief’s House was far more important than temporary emotions.

Not to mention Pharmacist’s Wish, Shang Xinlei had always been about doing without speaking, rubbing hands till they’re warm but never breaking the final layer, showing she understood the current relationship was most fitting.

If something does happen, it would be much later. Future me will surely devise a perfect solution! Yan Qing had a good attitude about manageable troubles, just like how his summer homework was always for his last day of vacation.

Perhaps it was the brief nap he took, or the energy from Shang Xinlei and Pharmacist’s Wish, but now Yan Qing felt more alert than ever. He checked his Storage Ring one last time, confirmed Mouse Monk, Jiang Shi, and Rabbit Heroine were set up for automatic evolution, then stepped into the room’s Teleportation Array. With a flash, he reappeared in the jungle outside the Demon Gathering Land.

Embarking on his first closed-secret realm activity, Yan Qing couldn’t help feeling slightly anxious. The thought crossed his mind, "Maybe I should just go back, spend the day shopping with Shang Xinlei and the night reading with Pharmacist’s Wish." But thinking about the event’s reward, the Foundation Establishment Pill, Yan Qing knew some risks had to be taken. If there was danger inside, it would be blood Yan Qing had to shed.

He stepped into the fog, trekked through Lotus Creek, and after about a minute, Yan Qing finally cleared the fog and arrived at the grand and magnificent Demon Gathering Land.

"Growl."

The sky-patrolling Demon Dragon seemed to swallow, producing a growling sound that echoed throughout the entire space. Even from such a distance, Yan Qing could clearly hear the roaring from the Demon Dragon’s throat. Although he knew it was likely just a roller coaster, Yan Qing couldn’t help but feel intimidated, his hair standing on end!

Passing through the mouth of a specter emitting waves of chilling energy, Yan Qing arrived at the ’Tongue-Entwining Tree.’ He reached out to touch one of its tongues, which immediately curled up around his wrist, its texture disgusting, like a dry tongue with no moisture.

With a thought, a phantom projection appeared on the tongue bracelet, revealing a blank space with an icon beside it. In the icon, a skeletal hand burst from the ground, representing the [Resurrection] mutation he had chosen!

It really worked!

Just like the reminder said, all characters under the same account can only choose one mutation to activate the Flesh Cage Bracelet. On the flip side, as long as Ye Si activates a mutation, the new bracelet Yan Qing just obtained will skip the ’activation’ step and directly unlock all functions!

He became the only normal messenger in the history of the Demon Gathering Land who could truly utilize its mechanisms (excluding Ye Si)! Even without a side account, he can summon Flesh Puppets!

However, Yan Qing did not immediately slay monsters to collect puppet cards. After identifying the direction, Yan Qing moved along the path Ye Si had walked.

He wants to find the tower roulette to try his luck. If he can draw the same reward as Ye Si and get teleported to the Fourth-Turn Puppet Warehouse, this adventure in the Demon Gathering Land would be equivalent to clearing the level directly!

...

...

In Taibai Mountain Military Town, Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly appeared in a discreet cloakroom. Now, whenever she travels between Thief’s House, she primarily chooses such hidden spots, not only to evade others’ prying eyes but also to prevent Wuqiu and Shidong from seeing her, which she considers a responsible approach for everyone.

She walked out of the cloakroom, grabbed the jug on the table, and poured the contents down her throat in gulps, finishing the entire jug within a few breaths. She exhaled the wine aroma, took several deep breaths, and clenched her fist, pacing the room back and forth, seeming like she was trying to dispel the alcohol, yet her face flushed deeper, her lower lip tightly bitten, looking like a boiling kettle about to explode.

Finally unable to suppress herself, Pharmacist’s Wish stomped forcefully, channeling the energy of the Third-Turn Messenger’s Qi Blood, instantly cracking the tiles.

Suddenly, the sound of porcelain shattering rang out. Pharmacist’s Wish turned her head to find Shidong, frightened against the pillar, holding a jug that had just fallen to the ground. She stammered, "Wuqiu, Wuqiu asked me to deliver the Drunken Immortal Brew newly shipped from Chang’an..."

Realizing she had scared her, Pharmacist’s Wish quickly approached and said, "It’s okay, I was just emotional...it’s not your fault."

"Alright." Shidong bowed her head, agreeing, and squatted down to clean up the fragments on the ground.

Seeing the silent Shidong, Pharmacist’s Wish sighed inwardly. She hesitated briefly, then squatted down to pick up the pieces. Normally, Shidong would surely refuse Pharmacist’s Wish’s help, but now she remained silent, expressing no opinion on what Pharmacist’s Wish did.

After tidying up the jug fragments, Shidong looked at Pharmacist’s Wish, hesitated to speak, but finally couldn’t help asking, "Miss, did you meet that person?"

"Hmm? I didn’t..." Pharmacist’s Wish instinctively wanted to refute something, but upon seeing the hint of hope in Shidong’s desolate eyes, she hesitated, pursed her lips, and nodded, "Yes."

"Did he make you angry?" Shidong glanced at the cracked floor tiles, which were thick marble tiles transported from the Secret Realm.

"Yes."

"But Miss doesn’t seem unhappy?" Shidong noticed the lingering blush on Pharmacist’s Wish’s neck.

"Yes."

"What happened?" Shidong perked up, speaking with slight excitement, "Did you guys hold hands? Surely you held hands, right! Did you do anything else? Tell me, tell me!"

Pharmacist’s Wish gritted her teeth and lowered her voice to tell Shidong what had just happened. At first, Shidong couldn’t contain her aunt-like smile, but gradually she became shocked, staring at Pharmacist’s Wish with disbelief.

She held her breath for a long while before blurting out, "Miss, your progress is so fast, almost like the forbidden books I’ve been reading. I didn’t expect you to be so impulsive..."

"I didn’t!" Pharmacist’s Wish immediately shook her head, "I originally just planned to chat with him for a while, didn’t intend to do anything else, it’s just he...he..."

"Then why didn’t you hit him, Miss?" Shidong asked curiously.

"Why would I hit him?" Pharmacist’s Wish seemed puzzled.

"Didn’t you say you weren’t willing?"

"I don’t know." Pharmacist’s Wish pondered for a moment, "Although my first reaction was to run away, actually...it wasn’t uncomfortable, just a bit scary, like entering the Secret Realm for the first time. Shidong, you understand that feeling, right? The unknown, anticipation, fear, I don’t quite know how to explain it."

Shidong was flabbergasted, How could I possibly understand? The closest experience I have to what you described is being interrogated by the True Man of Locking Dragon.

She grasped the key question: "If he treats you like that again next time, will you let him?"

Pharmacist’s Wish stared at her dazedly, as if her mind had short-circuited from the question. After a brief silence, she lay on the table, burying her head in her arms.

"Miss?"

"Miss, what’s wrong? Can you answer?"

"Miss, I’m not questioning you, don’t hide from me."

Pharmacist’s Wish lifted her head, "You mustn’t tell Wuqiu."

"Alright, I won’t tell her. It’s our secret," Shidong said, "But talk to me about it, when he touched you was it... Ah, Miss, I won’t ask, really won’t ask!"