03 Swindled By a Black Cat
"Well, Nyaa?" Midnight prompted. His voice was light with expectation. "What do you think? Are you buying it, Nyaa?"
Bai Xiaotong's throat tightened as her gaze lingered on the screen. Though she had been deeply skeptical when the system withheld information about the world, especially with the ominous warnings, a part of her recognized that this could very well be a measure to protect the realm from external interference—perhaps a safeguard set by the Gods themselves.
With that thought, the unease that had originally gnawed at Bai Xiaotong faded away. If the overseers of these worlds were willing to go to such lengths to protect their realms, then the beasts that had emerged from the rift and attacked her world would stand no chance of breaching the defenses of this blue planet.
A sense of satisfaction washed over her as she arrived at this conclusion.
A rush of emotion washed over her, and for a fleeting moment, she had to blink away the tears that threatened to spill. Closing her eyes, she reflected on everything she had fought for. It was a gamble, yes, but she was confident she could win this one. The miniature world within the orb seemed to beckon to her, its pull undeniable.
"En. I'll take it."
With those words, she quickly tapped the purchase button. Thanks to her newly upgraded account, the system applied a 10% discount, automatically deducting 9 billion Cosmo from her balance, leaving her with one billion Cosmo remaining.
Seeing the successful exchange, the black cat's ears perked up at the sound of coins clanging in his head, "Nyaa~ Thank you for your patronage. If there's nothing else, we hope to see you again soon. Nyaa~."
'Nyaa, if there's nothing else, quickly scram! I've got more purr-fect things to do—like counting my earnings tonight!'
Oblivious to his inner thoughts, Immortal Bai smiled brightly and, in a burst of satisfaction, sent a red packet with a five-star rating before promptly leaving the store.
---
Back in the privacy of her dimly lit room, Bai Xiaotong sat on a wooden chair exhaustedly and took out the
A sob caught in her throat as memories of her grueling journey resurfaced. Years of hunting monsters in endless dungeons had left her sick to the core—sick of the constant battles, sick of the endless creatures that seemed to never stop appearing.
Since the cataclysm had torn the World of Murim apart, ripping open gates to otherworldly beasts, Bai Xiaotong had spent every moment collecting the stone nuclei of these creatures. It was the only thing that had kept her going.
At that moment, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude that she hadn't been born into the sheltered, cushioned life of a noble lady.
Bai Xiaotong had been an orphan, taken in by a childless couple whose love and guidance had shaped her. The wife, an alchemist, had taught her the secrets of arrays and pill-making, while the husband, a wandering warrior, had instilled in her the ways of survival and the harsh realities of life. Through sheer willpower, she had learned to endure, to survive in a world that offered little mercy, living like a vagabond but never giving in.
In a rare act of mercy, the gods had granted her a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She uncovered a mysterious mechanism that gave her access to the Cosmic Station, where she traded monster by-products for the supplies needed to survive. Through this, she obtained rare elixirs that shattered mortal limits, allowing her to live for nearly three centuries and still look youthful thanks to her alchemical expertise.
Bai Xiaotong had no family of her own. Her masters were long gone and she walked this path alone. Leaving this desolate place felt like a reprieve. She was simply too tired to keep fighting.
With a deep breath, Bai Xiaotong opened her sea of consciousness and carefully stored her house—along with the surrounding plot of land adorned with trees and greenery. She even tucked away the peaceful little stream where she would occasionally bathe.
As mindful as she can be, Bai Xiaotong thought that it would be unwise to steal a spiritual pool from the realm's other denizens, lest she be marked a criminal and get chased down by the authority.
"Not that I'm scared but it's too much of a hassle. I'm already tired of the mountain's scenery," she grimaced and pondered for a moment then began smiling dumbly.
"Hehe, should I go to the seaside and erect my mansion there? I miss the taste of the sea!" She giggled and started to salivate at the thought of grilling a big Kraken like the one she had once eaten in a seaside dungeon.
In the end, the greedy alchemist within her couldn't resist. Like a bargain-hunting maniac on a shopping spree, Bai Xiaotong shamelessly scooped up every last valuable in sight, leaving nothing behind—not even a single blade of grass. If there had been gold-plated squirrels, she probably would've taken those too!
After an hour Standing in the barren mountain clearing, Bai Xiaotong cradled the orb in her hand, her excitement barely contained as she began channeling her spiritual energy into it. But the moment the energy surged into the small blue marble, the glass orb surrounding it shattered in an instant.
A searing pain jolted through her stomach, and a crushing tightness clamped down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Thump. Thump, thump.
With a one, two thump-thump sound, her head started pulsating harshly. And then suddenly…
Pftt---
Bai Xiaotong threw up a mouthful of blood and stared blankly at the item.
"What... is happening?" she gasped as her vision started blurring. Blood surged to her throat, and she coughed violently, spitting crimson onto the floor.
Her mind spun in panic, the more she struggled, the more the discomfort consumed her. Shit! Did she get scammed? Was she dying?
"Am I going to die just like this?" Her vision was collapsing and turning blurry. The world around her spun out of control.
"Ugh---"
With one final, painful breath, Bai Xiao's body failed her, and she collapsed on the ground. But before she fell unconscious she thought of someone and a bitter cry escaped her lips.
"That fucking black cat swindled me. Damn it, if I see you again, I'm going to skin you alive and turn you into a meat bun filling!"
Bang!
Somewhere around the cosmos, Midnight who was grinning widely while counting his increased rate in commission suddenly flinched and purred alarmingly when he instinctively felt a shiver down his spine.
He tightly secured the bundle of his money and threw it hastily in his merchant panel then looked around cautiously.
Damn, who is it that's targeting his money behind his back?
"Come out! I'll fight you to death. Nyaa!"