Chapter 36: Strip, strip completely?

‘Why did things turn out this way?’

‘For the first time, I had hope to keep living.’

‘For the first time, I found someone I wanted to follow.’

‘Two blessings interwoven, bringing me double the hope and joy.’

‘I should have gained a blissful time as dreamy as a fairytale.’

‘But…’

‘Why did things turn out this way…?’

‘Unwilling.’

‘Not even a little willing to accept it.’

‘How could I possibly accept this!’

Bai Xue clutched her chest tightly, her heart aching like it was being torn apart.

Tears streamed down her face.

If she had known happiness would be so short-lived and hide such a cruel ending—

Then maybe it would’ve been better to die on the grasslands back then.

That way, she wouldn’t have to suffer like this.

That way, at least she wouldn’t have turned into this hideous monster.

That way…

“Master, please kill me.”

While her mind was still somewhat clear, Bai Xue made her decision.

She wanted to die by Ye Lian’s hand.

Since she couldn’t repay her kindness, then she would return her life to her.

That kind of thinking was clearly extreme—undeniably irrational.

But Bai Xue wasn’t in a normal state of mind right now.

Her consciousness was steadily being eroded.

Ye Lian just stared at her quietly for two seconds.

Then flicked her on the forehead with a loud thwack.

“Ouch!” A pitiful cry escaped.

“Master, why did you hit my head?”

“Stop talking about dying all the time. Haven’t you thought about saving me instead? And for the record, I’m not some kind of killer. You want me to kill you? Do you want me to lose sleep over it?”

Ye Lian said grumpily.

“But…” Bai Xue looked aggrieved, guilt twisting inside her.

‘Wasn’t it already too late to save her now?’

“Drink this. You’ll feel better soon.”

Ye Lian pulled out a small vial, about the size of a standard test tube, unscrewed the cap, and held it to Bai Xue’s lips.

The liquid inside was semi-transparent, slightly gray, and didn’t have any noticeable scent.

Bai Xue blinked in surprise and gave Ye Lian a small glance before parting her lips, letting the liquid flow into her mouth.

It was cold, faintly sweet, and carried an indescribable flavor.

Gulp.

The first mouthful slid down her throat.

She wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but her mind felt a little clearer.

The second mouthful followed.

Definitely not an illusion.

She felt as if a fog had lifted—like the sky clearing after a storm.

Her chaotic thoughts vanished completely.

Her feverish body slowly began returning to normal.

If there had been a mirror in front of her, Bai Xue would have seen her eyes turning back to black, the black mist around her body gradually dissipating.

“It’s going down…” But even without a mirror, she could feel herself returning to normal.

Because her [Pollution Level] was dropping rapidly.

“The effect’s even better than I expected.” Ye Lian nodded slightly.

The potion she had given Bai Xue was a beginner-level [Mental Recovery Elixir] rewarded by the system.

Ye Lian had never had a chance to test it herself due to her own sky-high pollution level.

She’d planned to wait until Bai Xue’s condition got a little worse before using it.

But the queen ant’s self-destruction had nearly maxed out Bai Xue’s pollution.

If the potion hadn’t worked, if Bai Xue had died… Ye Lian might have regretted it for the rest of her life.

The pollution level finally stabilized—stopping at 35 points.

“I… am I really safe now?” Bai Xue asked in disbelief.

“You’re safe,” Ye Lian replied with certainty.

“Master… sob sob sob!”

***

The next moment, Bai Xue threw herself into Ye Lian’s arms, breaking down completely and crying like a child.

If this game had some kind of affection system, Bai Xue’s favorability toward Ye Lian would’ve instantly maxed out.

It took a full ten minutes for her to calm down.

Throughout that time, Ye Lian gently patted her back.

“Master, I lost control a little just now.” Bai Xue let go, took a few steps back, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

This was the first time in her life that she had ever cried in front of someone else.

And not only did she cry—she had hugged the other person and cried her heart out.

‘Ahhh, so embarrassing… but it felt so good!’

It was the first time she had ever experienced such complicated emotions.

The emotional distance between the two of them seemed to shrink at an astonishing speed.

Earlier, when Bai Xue called Ye Lian “Master,” it was no different from how a maid in a theme café would address a customer.

It was just a title.

Now, though, it carried a deep, unforgettable meaning.

She made up her mind—she would follow Ye Lian from now on, no matter what, never leaving her side!

Just as Bai Xue was about to confess her loyalty, Ye Lian suddenly spoke first: “Hurry and take off your clothes!”

Her voice carried a hint of urgency.

“Huh?” Bai Xue froze.

Then her heart began to race.

‘Could it be that… she meant that kind of thing?’

‘Wasn’t this moving a little too fast!?’

But… if that’s what Master wanted, Bai Xue would never refuse!

She quickly made up her mind.

“If you don’t take them off, your contamination level will keep rising,” Ye Lian added.

Hearing that, Bai Xue went stiff, her face turning bright red.

‘So that’s what she meant!’

Her thoughts just now had clearly drifted way off—like, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Thankfully, Ye Lian didn’t know what she had been thinking.

Otherwise, she’d die of embarrassment!

‘Bai Xue, your mind is so impure!’

She scolded herself silently.

Then, obediently, she undressed until she was left in just her lingerie.

Compared to before, she wasn’t as shy anymore.

She was starting to get used to it.

Ye Lian glanced at her and checked her contamination value.

It was currently 36—slightly higher than before.

“These clothes need to be washed and disinfected before you can wear them again.”

“But there’s no water or detergent here…” Just imagining walking around in only underwear made Bai Xue want to cry.

She wasn’t some kind of exhibitionist—she wasn’t into that kind of thing at all!

“I don’t have many materials left, but I can at least make you a leather jacket to wear for now,” Ye Lian said gently.

“Thank you, Master!” Bai Xue said with delight.

Ah, what a considerate master!

I love her!

Ye Lian was as good as her word.

***

Five minutes later, she had crafted a leather jacket identical to her own.

Bai Xue draped it over her shoulders, her heart filled with warmth.

“Let’s leave this place first.” Ye Lian packed away the contaminated clothes and black stockings.

“Yes, Master~”

Bai Xue responded cheerfully, leaning in so close she was practically glued to Ye Lian.

Ye Lian noticed the subtle change in her behavior but didn’t think too much of it.

Her mind was currently focused on the [Mental Recovery Potion].

This thing—not just now, but in the future too—was going to be absolutely essential for players.

And she could make it!

‘That means… I basically hold the key to every player’s survival?’

Ye Lian immediately dismissed the thought as impossible.

If the game allowed players to become contaminated, there would definitely be ways to cleanse it.

One of the ingredients she used to craft potions could remove contamination.

But if taken raw, it had minor side effects.

So it wasn’t generally recommended for direct consumption.

‘Now that it’s been proven contamination has real effects…’

‘Does that mean… if I lower a player’s contamination level to zero in the game, their real-world body won’t be affected by dream invasions anymore?’

That was something Ye Lian couldn’t confirm—at least, not by herself.

‘And the reason?’

Her own contamination value was a staggering one million!

Dream invasions couldn’t affect her at all anymore.

She was safer than anyone else in the world.