97: Hidden Quests for New Players

Xiao Si was riding on the Observation System's back, hands tightly choking his neck, saying through gritted teeth: "Damn Xiao Qi, who told you to interfere with my Host and trigger a hidden quest?"

Xiao Qi was choked until he couldn't breathe, answering with difficulty: "Si Si, wasn't I doing this for your own good? Your Host is too indecisive and slow in her actions."

"Half a year and she still hasn't taken down Mercury... I just slightly tempted her desires a little bit!"

Hearing this, Xiao Si's grip loosened slightly, but she still stared with wide eyes and said: "Heh! What do you know? This is called strategic sustainable development. First, lay a solid foundation in the Small Thousand Worlds, then advance to the Mid-Thousand Worlds."

After saying that, Xiao Si completely let go of his neck.

Xiao Qi rubbed his reddened neck, sat up, and said somewhat aggrievedly: "It's all because you're an Appearance-Oriented System. All the early-stage resources were spent on looks. Shang Wan Ning has a divine body but lacks the matching strength, no wonder she's so weak."

"Where? My Host is the best! You're slandering her..."

"Don't you know? From the observation deck, seeing your Host dawdling like that made my eyes turn red with anxiety, like a rabbit's."

Xiao Si rolled her eyes and retorted: "So what? My Host is an Empress; having a harem of three palaces and six courtyards won't be an issue in the future."

Xiao Qi curled his lip and said disdainfully: "Hey! My Host is better. Even 1v3, they aren't as weak as your Host!!!"

Hearing this, Xiao Si immediately grew furious, picking up a nearby stool to throw it at him.

Seeing this, Xiao Qi quickly jumped up to dodge, shouting as he ran: "Si Si, calm down! Don't be impulsive!"

"Hmph! My Host is devoted and excels in both offense and defense... unlike your Host, who is a complete playboy."

"Didn't you just mention three palaces and six courtyards?"

"Damn! Damn Xiao Qi, you bald parrot, you actually dare to talk back to This Old Lady. I'll beat you to death!"

"Ow, ow, ow... hit me gently!"

"If you keep hitting me, I'll curse you to never find a girlfriend and be a lonely system forever." Xiao Qi was scared out of his wits.

"Hmph! Then This Old Lady won't hit you, I'll hack you to death instead." As she spoke, Xiao Si conjured a "40-meter-long" blade from behind her back and swung it at Xiao Qi.

"Whoa, you... you're cheating!!!"

Just as Xiao Si was about to strike, she found that Xiao Qi had vanished into thin air, disappearing instantly.

"If you have the guts, don't teleport; let's have a 1v1!"

Xiao Qi closed the door to the lounge and patted his chest. "That tigress! I only interfered a little bit!"

"Coward, if you have the guts, don't close the door!" Xiao Si brandished the large blade, chasing after him angrily, and split the iron door with one strike.

Xiao Qi made a face as he ran, "Bleh, bleh, bleh, catch me if you can!"

And so, the two of them chased each other, playing a game of Tom and Jerry in the system space.

Suddenly, Xiao Qi wasn't paying attention and crashed into a wall, fainting immediately.

Seeing Xiao Qi collapse, Xiao Si stopped and walked over, giving him a light kick. "Hey, wake up, stop faking."

However, Xiao Qi didn't respond.

"Did he really faint?" Xiao Si muttered with a bit of worry.

She squatted down and carefully checked Xiao Qi's virtual form. She discovered that his data had been scrambled because he interfered with a hidden quest.

"What a blockhead!" Xiao Si muttered, slinging Xiao Qi over her shoulder like a sack of rice.

Then she threw the window open and tossed him back to the Nine Provinces Continent like a rag doll.

Opening the system private chat group @Xiao Qi:

【Oh my! Next time you want to help someone and motivate their Host's initiative...】

【Please use that charming virtual Older Sister Type face!】

【Then I won't hack you anymore, kisses ^3^!】

..."Ding, congratulations to Host No. 1 for completing the novice hidden quest — Yinjing Heavenly Palace Dream."

"Bzzzt... System garbled, system garbled... External system interference detected, enabling protection mode. Rewards halved, rewards halved..."

"Ding! Rewards are as follows: Remaining structures of the eight views of yin mountain, Host's cultivation increased to the early stage of the Sixth Rank, Prefecture City God X1, Empress's Guard of Honor X1000."

That familiar mechanical voice rang in Shang Wan Ning's ears like a great bell, and she suddenly felt a warm torrent surging through her body.

This torrent was like a gurgling stream, flowing through every one of her meridians.

Her divine sense also gradually recovered, but her eyes felt like they were weighed down by heavy lead, unable to open no matter what.

After an unknown amount of time, Shang Wan Ning finally perceived a glimmer of light. Her eyelids trembled slightly, and her vision slowly returned.

Ling Qi's eyes, wide as copper bells and burning like two fierce flames, made Shang Wan Ning instinctively raise her wrist to block the light.

"BOSS, you're awake."

Shang Wan Ning was a bit dazed, and it took a moment for her to realize she was in her bedroom. She rubbed her brow and asked softly, "Ling Qi, how long have I been asleep?"

Ling Qi glanced at the time and replied, "14 hours, 23 minutes, and 54 seconds." Then, she helped Shang Wan Ning sit up against the headboard. "No matter how I called you just now, BOSS, you wouldn't wake up."

Shang Wan Ning frowned, recalling the dream. "I seem to have had a strange dream, dreaming of the Yinjing Heavenly Palace, and then I somehow completed the quest."

Ling Qi looked up in surprise at Shang Wan Ning. "Could it be that BOSS is the first one to complete the quest?"

Shang Wan Ning's heart skipped a beat, and she asked in confusion, "How do you know?"

Ling Qi smiled slightly and explained, "I've been a Ghost Messenger for many years. I've had seven bosses in total during that time, but only BOSS has been able to persist to this stage."

Shang Wan Ning nodded thoughtfully in understanding.

Ling Qi continued, "Although Ghost Messengers maintain 100% loyalty to the BOSS because of the system, we still have our own emotions and experiences."

"Moreover, only BOSS treats us Ghost Messengers as her own people, treating us as equals."

Shang Wan Ning smiled with emotion, "I see..."

"What if I had been very excessive and exploited you from the start?" Shang Wan Ning suddenly felt a bit mischievous and wanted to tease Ling Qi.

She tightly hugged Ling Qi's waist, as if she wanted to pull her into her own flesh and blood.

"A Ghost Messenger will burn themselves out for the Underworld, but we also know how to slack off!" Ling Qi responded.

Her nose lightly brushed against the skin of Shang Wan Ning's neck, greedily sniffing the unique fragrance belonging to her beloved.

"Fortunately, I am a conscientious capitalist and didn't exploit you too harshly," Shang Wan Ning said with a smile, her eyes sparkling with a gentle light.

"BOSS! You are a loving God-candidate." Ling Qi winked mischievously, expertly making Shang Wan Ning happy.

She knew exactly how to make this tsundere Miss Shang feel pleased.