Mini World Game Console

Ren Suo quickly skipped the dialogue, and then a game prompt popped up:

"Current minor task: Please teach Maid Xiao Suo the local language as soon as possible to facilitate action. Teaching Maid Xiao Suo may also be accomplished in the process of resting."

Action options: "Conduct an investigation," "Rest well," "Teach Maid Xiao Suo."

So, it's about teaching her the language... Yes, indeed, it's about teaching her the language, Ren Suo thought.

He nodded slowly, a picture of righteousness. The Mini-World Game Console, just like me, is indeed a serious game console, he mused.

This type of minor task should appear one after another, and they all seemed to greatly aid in clearing the game.

For example, the previous minor task "Find a Place to Live" allowed Young Master Mu to get a good night's rest, maintaining his good mood.

Although Ren Suo didn't know what use there was in teaching Maid Xiao Suo the local language, Since it's a minor task, I might as well complete it, he thought.

And the task hint was very clear—"it may also be accomplished in the process of resting."

Ren Suo also wanted to see how resting could purify Young Master Mu's Resentment, so he chose "Rest well."

Maid Xiao Suo asked, "So, are we resting at home, or are we going out?"

"Rest at home," "Go out and have fun."

Ren Suo thought about it. Maybe resting at home will trigger a teaching scene, he mused, then clicked "Rest at home."

Maid Xiao Suo: "Hee, I'm not coming over anymore, Young Master is so naughty. Your mood is so good, if this continues, I might... (Blushes)"

Huh?

Hmm?

Seeing the game options return to "Rest at home," "Go out and have fun," Ren Suo blinked and once again chose "Rest at home."

Maid Xiao Suo: "…Alright then."

"'The energetic Young Master Mu and Maid Xiao Suo spent an invigorating and exhausting day.'"

"'Maid Xiao Suo has learned the 'Flame Dance Technique'!'"

"'Young Master Mu's mood changed from 'Quite Pleased' to 'Pleased'.'"

Huh?

Hmm?

Ren Suo pressed the game pause button; he needed a moment to process this.

What exactly happened?

Ren Suo was still a child; he didn't quite understand why after 'spending an invigorating and exhausting day,' Maid Xiao Suo would suddenly learn a new martial art...

This method of transmitting skills...is it really that...arousing!? Young Master Mu, you Demon Lord, don't tell me you're a Demon Lord from the Joyful Sect? And fine, you transmit your skills, but why does your mood worsen after that?

With a complicated expression, Ren Suo ultimately chose to reload the save.

If Maid Xiao Suo had learned something like 'Heavenly Demon Self-Destruct Technique,' 'Corpse Explosion Demon Technique,' 'Nine Revolutions Undying Body,' or 'Cold Flame Mixed Origin Overflowing Roar of the Heavenly Sovereign' that could allow her to fully assume the role of a meat shield or a suicide soldier, Ren Suo would have accepted it. But you learn 'Flame Dance Technique,' which looks far weaker than Young Master Mu's 'Fierce Sky of Demon Flames'. What use are you to me?

However, after reloading, Ren Suo thought about it and glanced at 'Xiao Suo's Secret Diary', only to find a new line of faintly emerging ink: "Will the young master teach me self-defense martial arts?"

After clicking, the faint ink changed to: "No, I can't learn Lethal Martial Arts. I need to learn martial arts that can play a greater role for the young master!"

Xiao Suo really is perceptive, knowing she needs to take a hit for the protagonist, Ren Suo thought with satisfaction, then reloaded and once again chose 'Rest at home'—

"'Maid Xiao Suo learned 'Divine Walking Technique'!'"

Ren Suo rubbed his temples slightly. Wait a minute, maybe this Divine Walking Technique is about flying over and self-destructing?

So, he checked the description of Divine Walking Technique:

"Divine Walking Technique: An extremely practical agility-based martial art that allows a Martial Artist to accumulate 'Divine Walking' with very little effort while moving. Each layer of 'Divine Walking' will increase the Martial Artist's Movement Speed up to its maximum. However, if movement is interrupted, all accumulated 'Divine Walking' will be lost."

Ren Suo had no choice but to reluctantly reload. What the hell? Why would a maid like you even think about running faster than the protagonist? I don't want a maid like you!

However, Ren Suo also figured out what 'Rest at home' really entailed: when Young Master Mu was in a good mood, if he and Maid Xiao Suo rested at home, it would trigger 'an invigorating and exhausting rest.'

Although it was uncertain what exactly they had done, the result was that Young Master Mu's mood decreased by one level, and Maid Xiao Suo learned a new martial art.

Presumably, the intention was to develop Maid Xiao Suo into a combat power. However, Ren Suo had not yet completed two main quests, so every turn was crucial. Naturally, he didn't want to waste a turn on enhancing Maid Xiao Suo's ability to run away.

Moreover, the minor plot of teaching Maid Xiao Suo wasn't triggered at home. For the sake of utilizing every turn to the maximum, Ren Suo chose the option 'Go out and have fun.'

Then Young Master Mu took out a hastily drawn map and pondered, Where should we go for fun?

Unlike the map filled with investigation points, this Edo map was filled with tourist spots: temples, shrines, Red Tower Building, White Tower Building, parks, imperial gardens, Fish Markets...

There were quite a few places to go, and according to the game hints, these spots might trigger different plots depending on whether they were visited during the day or night.

Ren Suo tried clicking on one of the spots and found that a red line connected the point named 'Home' in the upper left corner of the map to the spot.

He casually chose a tourist spot. When it didn't trigger any plot, he immediately exited the game to check 'Xiao Suo's Secret Diary', where he indeed found a new line of emerging ink:

"Going out is so boring. I wonder if the young master has any plans?"

Ren Suo tapped on this line of ink, but it didn't change. However, a new option appeared underneath it: "What to do?"

This one costs 10 Merit Points... but a problem that can be solved by paying is never really a problem!

After he paid the Merit Points, the faint ink promptly transformed into bold ink: "I think I can give some suggestions to the young master."

Back in the game, when Young Master Mu took out the map, Ren Suo hovered the mouse over an arbitrary tourist spot, and a hint from Maid Xiao Suo popped up in the lower left corner: "I have never been here!"

You've never been, so what are you even saying! Ren Suo thought.

After hovering over several spots, when the mouse pointer was on 'temple', Maid Xiao Suo finally came up with a different hint:

"This seems to be the farthest from where we live."

Ren Suo blinked and decisively chose 'temple' as the destination.

Once again, there was the rolling carriage animation, but this time, Young Master Mu and Maid Xiao Suo appeared in it.

Young Master Mu: "There's plenty of time spent traveling by carriage. During this free time, Xiao Suo, how about I teach you the Yingzhou dialect?"

Maid Xiao Suo: "There are other people in the carriage, is that okay?"

Young Master Mu: "It's fine, pay attention and listen..."

"'Maid Xiao Suo learned 'Yingzhou Dialect - Elementary'!'"

Ren Suo felt there was something off with the character design here. Wasn't Maid Xiao Suo supposed to be a bit dull-witted? How could she casually learn a new language during the journey?

Although he triggered the language learning event, Ren Suo still reloaded the game.

This time, Ren Suo equipped Maid Xiao Suo with "Demon King's Descent," "A Thousand Miles in a Day," and "Seeker's Ornament." He then triggered the language learning event, but Maid Xiao Suo still only learned 'Yingzhou Dialect – Elementary'.

Even after increasing her Comprehension, why is the learning effect still the same?

Unable to figure it out, Ren Suo could only chalk it up to her possibly being genuinely slow-witted. Increasing her Comprehension was futile, he concluded. However, while equipping Maid Xiao Suo, he noticed that her Equipment Slot was like a mist.

This sort of Equipment Slot, which seemed like it could dissipate at any moment, gave Ren Suo an uneasy feeling of déjà vu.

But there seemed to be another, real Equipment Slot beneath Maid Xiao Suo's, which he guessed must be Young Master Mu's. Since Maid Xiao Suo was replacing Young Master Mu due to the game's setting, covering it up like a 'mist' wasn't exactly unreasonable...

It's like a banner that had 'XXX is awesome' already printed on it, but he later realized it must be changed, and there was no time to make a new banner, so a sticker had to be slapped on to turn it into 'XX is awesome'—Young Master Mu is the original banner, while Xiao Suo is the sticker, Ren Suo mused.

Returning to the game, after triggering the language learning event, the two arrived at the bustling temple for a visit.

The background of the temple was a bit blurry. Ren Suo could only see a large, eight-pillared gate. A big red lantern with 'Thunder Gate' written on it hung in the middle, and there seemed to be statues on both sides. In the distance beyond the gate, what looked like a bustling commercial street was visible.

Maid Xiao Suo piped up again. Unlike when she appeared bare-faced at home, this time she was wearing a hood, a veil, and a collar around her neck, her features well concealed. "There are sooooo many people!"

Young Master Mu: "Do you know the way?"

Maid Xiao Suo: "No."

Young Master Mu: "Then hold my hand and don't get lost."

"'Young Master Mu's mood is slightly affected.'"

The game prompt didn't specify whether the influence was positive or negative, so Ren Suo could only guess. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad, he thought. Why is this protagonist always only 'slightly affected'?

Maid Xiao Suo: "Young Master, there's a little cat over here, come quickly... It's lying down and showing its belly. It's afraid of you, hehe."

Young Master Mu: "How could it be afraid of me? It must be afraid of you."

Maid Xiao Suo: "I'm very popular with cats."

Young Master Mu: "So am I!"

"'Young Master Mu's mood is slightly affected.'"

After some inconsequential dialogue, the game background shifted to a small pavilion full of plaques, and Maid Xiao Suo said, "You can draw fortunes here to check our luck, Young Master. Why don't we see how lucky we are? Maybe with luck on our side, our journey will go smoothly."

Young Master Mu nodded. "Alright, then I'll give it a try."

"'Young Master Mu shook the fortune-drawing container and pulled out a wooden stick with a number on it. According to number seventy-seven, he retrieved the corresponding fortune, which turned out to be: Great Misfortune.'"

At this moment, conversations of passersby suddenly appeared on the screen: "Haha, I got great luck!"

"I got it too!"

"Don't be so happy. To attract more people, this temple has a lot of 'great luck' and 'good luck' fortunes. Only a few are 'misfortune' or 'great misfortune'. If you drew 'great luck', your luck is just average."

"What about 'great misfortune' then?"

"That means you're really unlucky."

Maid Xiao Suo quickly said, "Young Master, if you draw a fortune you're not happy with, you can fold it up and tie it to a tree to turn bad luck into good."

Young Master Mu: "Oh."

The game popped up a prompt: "'Young Master Mu's mood is severely affected, changing from 'Quite Pleased' to 'Depressed'.'"

Ren Suo was dumbfounded. You get Depressed just because your luck in drawing lots is bad? I don't even have any items or abilities to increase luck! Even if the Disaster Messenger came, the most she could do is draw out all the 'great misfortune' lots!

Ren Suo opened "Xiao Suo's Secret Diary," and sure enough, new floating ink appeared: "'If Young Master draws an unlucky lot, will his mood worsen?'"

This time, no Merit Points were needed to unlock it. As soon as Ren Suo tapped it, Maid Xiao Suo knew what to do.

After loading the save, when they returned to the place for drawing lots, Maid Xiao Suo quickly said, "Let's go, let's go, there's nothing interesting to see here."

Young Master Mu: "There's a place here to draw lots and see fortunes; let's try our luck. Perhaps with luck on our side, our journey will proceed smoothly."

Maid Xiao Suo: "I never believe in this talk about luck. Let's go, let's go, my good Young Master. Let's go ahead and eat some candy apples."

Young Master Mu: "I refuse!"

"'Young Master Mu shook the lot-drawing cylinder, pouring out a wooden lot with a number inscribed on it. Based on number forty-three, he found the corresponding lot, which read: Unlucky.'"

A game prompt popped up: "'Young Master Mu's mood has been severely affected, changing from 'Quite Pleased' to 'Indifferent'.'"

Ren Suo twitched the corner of his mouth; it seemed the lot-drawing plot was unavoidable.

He reloaded this scenario again and discovered that this time the number drawn was ninety-six. Although it was another 'great misfortune', at least it proved Young Master Mu drew a different lot each time.

In other words, this plot event with Young Master Mu was not necessarily destined to be 'Great Misfortune' or 'Unlucky'—because Maid Xiao Suo would say different things each time, leading to Young Master Mu drawing a different lot.

As long as I reload enough times, I'm certain to trigger a plot where Young Master Mu draws 'Great Luck'! Ren Suo thought.

To ensure Young Master Mu could achieve a 'One Shot Entrancing' success, Ren Suo embarked on the tedious journey of reloading saves.

Soon it was lunchtime, and Ren Suo sighed. He had to put the game down for now and head to the cafeteria to fill his stomach—his Cloning had performed a major clean-up last night, and the ability still hadn't cooled down yet.

A dejected Ren Suo was walking downstairs when Black Bell suddenly dashed over, circling his feet and meowing.

Ren Suo squatted down to look at it and nodded nonchalantly. "Yes, yes, I'm that hairless, ugly, and sad human... What, you're so kind as to allow me to pet you?"

Ren Suo stroked Black Bell's back fur; the warm touch was very comforting, and his mood indeed improved a lot. Black Bell meowed again, and Ren Suo nodded. "Yes, yes, thank you, Lord Black Bell. Now I'm only ugly..."

After all, this was the Black Cat that helped Ren Suo guard his door and often threw little stones to remind him of visitors. Even if it was impudent, Ren Suo still treated it quite well—the main reason being it was a cat, and Ren Suo was the only human with "Evolution of the Cat," giving him a sense of 'kinship.'

If Zhao Huo were so arrogant, Ren Suo would still pet him, but he would arrange for a Cloning to find a time, fully armed, to pin him to the ground in broad daylight.

"Hmm? Your friend is injured... Alright, take me to them."

「Meanwhile...」

Qiao Muyi, who had slept until noon, listlessly went to the bathroom to wash up and comb her hair. Then, she entered the living room to turn on the TV box, planning to pass her rare day off by watching movies.

She looked around the living room and then softly said, "Little Suo."

An orange cat hurriedly popped out of a small room, jumped onto the sofa, and snuggled in her arms, lying down and exposing its belly, meowing obediently.

Qiao Muyi, content, stroked the cat's fuzzy belly and felt its weight, commenting, "You seem to have gained weight. If this keeps up, I might not be able to afford you."

The orange cat immediately stood up and gently kneaded with its paws, meowing to curry favor.

Qiao Muyi stroked the cat's head. "Then I'll cut down on your cat food until you slim down before I restore the original amount. You, ah, need to exercise more at home. Don't be as lazy as a certain someone."

The orange cat obediently hugged Qiao Muyi, not daring to move a muscle.

So Qiao Muyi settled into petting the cat while watching a movie and sensing the changes in her Qi Cyclone.

The 'Flame Dance' Mark has also materialized... With the Mark, I'll have a much easier time strengthening this Spell, and its power will be greater too.

Of course, I could also imbue the Mark onto someone else. Although the process is quite cumbersome, taking several hours to complete and extremely depleting my Physical Strength and Spiritual Energy... but as long as the Mark is successfully given, the other person will immediately learn this Spell.

But each Spell can only materialize one Mark. Without the Mark, the power of that Spell would be reduced by at least a third.

Each Mark is an important trump card of mine. How could I possibly give it away to someone else? she thought.