Knock, knock.

I was interrupted from sleep due to a knocking on the door. Perhaps my body had yet to catch up with my brain. In my vision, a faceless black shadow hovered by the door.

Instantly all grogginess flew from my mind but not because of fear. It was because as the figure walked closer, the smell of food wafted to my nose.

He placed the tray down on the board — I mean bed, and I finally dragged my eyes away from the food to give him a look.

It was the first time I directly saw the MC’s face.

Humm... first impression was he was more average than I thought. He had a sickly pale skin tone and a very slim figure. His facial features were pleasant but couldn't be said to be handsome. Everything about him was plain except his height. He was pretty tall but I could not sure if the average height in this world was higher.

If one just looked at him and judged, who would have guessed he was blessed by this novel world.

He had the looks of a cannon fodder.

Han Bin had taken a seat by the bedside and also seemed to be scrutinizing the expression on my face. I didn't know what he read, but in guilt, I immediately tossed out the thought that he was so plain. I'd been told before that my face was an open book.

Turning back to the meal, it resembled some kind of green vegetable soup and a side dish.

I could swallow a cow right now; if someone assisted me I could even show them a rainbow.

I blinked at Han Bin several times but he didn’t get the cue. Helpless, I tried again to send him a mental message. Food! Food! Food! Like a baby bird squatting in a nest waiting for mother bird’s mealtime.

He coughed, “I’ve called Sister Tian Xin to come over to assist you.”

Speaking of the angel, it must be Sister Tian who was now stepping in through the door.

Tian Xin hurried over and when she saw me, she exclaimed, “Oh, poor girl! Look how badly hurt you are. Brother Han spent the time to cook this for you. He said it would cure you.”

Yes, it would. But you also have a cure that only you can offer. By picking up the spoon and feeding me, it’s the cure for hunger!

Belatedly, perhaps Han Bin finally read my mental message, he told Sister Tian, “She hasn’t eaten yet, please help her. I will go help Brother Luo.” He then left.

“Oh no!” she cried, “I’m so silly. Here... Ahhh. Good job... here we go again... Say ahhh!”

...

Sister Tian. Your Brother Han had not a dime right now, but you didn't have to try so hard to help him save food.

Despite Tian Xin’s attempt to ruin my appetite, this soup was amazing. Every spoonful had floating bits of transparent stuff in what I believed were shrooms. Crunch on ‘em and the juices would burst on your tongue.

Swallowing the liquid and it gently melted into a minty stream down the throat. Besides the assault on the taste glands, it was also healing the internal body damage. Somewhere around my stomach, a comfortable warmth began to radiate.

My icy cold limps which were numb moments earlier gradually regained the ability to feel.

The me who couldn’t speak a smooth sentence could now do a fifteen-minute monologue.

As soon as I recovered my strength, I took hold of the spoon from Tian Xin to stop the baby talk.

While I tilted the bowl to finish the last drop, I casually asked, “Yum! What vegetable soup is this? It tastes a little grassy...and a little meaty.”

Tian Xin had a quizzical expression, “I don’t know. I didn’t get to see how Brother Han had cooked it.”

I didn’t take that answer to heart but when Han Bin returned later, I casually asked him again to see if I could have some tomorrow.

At my words, MC there pulled out a hanky from his sleeve and joined me on the bed. He looked at me gently and his hand not so kindly grabbed my face.

He calmly used his hanky to gently wipe my mouth, while finally permitting me to know what I had consumed, “It’s a hundred-year herbal worm.”

BLEGH—

Han Bin swiftly closed my jaw and prevented a rainbow from forming.

I just ate worm and my barf...

This was too much shock. System shutdown...

----------------------------------------

The soft glow of the outside world seeped through the dull window screen and graced upon my body as if it was a healing ritual.

After a night of rest and thanks to the “thingy” I had the pleasure of eating, my body was no longer aching.

However, I laid on the bed instead of getting up. Not because I was some lazy gal, but because some analyzing was to be done ever since I'd became Miao.

First, Yela was in the Middle Continent instead of me. As the female MC, she had certain luck the world granted her. Most likely she would swiftly become the Holy Disciple, the position we both wanted. Even without the male MC, she would have miracle encounters.

Not to mention she was the most beautiful woman out of his harem; who knew or not whether in the future if they would meet and fall in love. Maybe they would have a trope where they fell in love without realizing they should be enemies because of me.

Second, from the many times Han Bin had pranked me, I must have done something to have irked him without my knowing. All my memories since the piggyback ride were intact... so maybe something else took place while I was heavily injured without actual consciousness. He even knew my ultimate weakness of worms...

I'd been told before when I was dead drunk that I had no secrets. The same probably applied here, but hopefully, he didn’t get too much info out of me.

In the thousand chapters, he was not mentioned as a petty guy. Only true revenge would bring out his mercilessness. He was playing with me, but it didn't seem like detest. Otherwise, my grave would already be covered by tall grass.

Three, I did meet the male MC, and I want to get on his good side... but there were only some low-risk positions by his side.

The women that revolved around him with a platonic relationship were few but not like there was none.

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One was his master, but I would not be able to teach him anything except internet memes.

The other was his loyal servant, maybe... If I had to, think of it as being a butler.

One was his pet who evolved to be a human girl. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to cosplay with cat ears, I didn't have animal in my bloodline.

He also had a disciple who had a crush on him but it remained a crush.

Out of all these choices, the best one was being his master. In this traditional society, a master was like a second father or mother. Through the walks of fire or treads of water, the MC would be there for his masters.

Hm... his biggest cheat was his time palace and his past-life experience as a near top cultivator.

What I could offer... was protection until he grew stronger.

Of course, I didn't even know how to open an interspatial ring, but he didn't know that yet.

According to the ranks of this novel world, or in this small continent at least, the ranks were as follows:

1.) Martial Apprentice, Rank 1 - 10 (MC)

2.) Spiritual Practitioner, Rank 1 - 10

3.) Martial Master, Rank 1 - 10

4.) Spiritual Master, Rank 1 - 10 (me, Yela)

5.) Spiritual King, Stage 1 - 3

The novel never mentioned any higher rank than Spiritual King in this small continent.

And also, this “Miao” was a Rank 10 Spiritual Master when they met in the Middle Continent, the same rank as Yela.

That would be three years later, so I could safely assume I was now a beginner Spiritual Master? This was also Yela’s cultivation level when she met the MC.

In this small continent, it seemed like a Martial Master was already kickass enough in a normal clan. In a supposedly big clan like the one Lian married into, there was one Spiritual Master and they could already be the lord of an area.

With my cultivation, even though I couldn't do crap, but I should have a strong body. I could be a tanker?

My cultivation level was my only merit...

Speaking of the devil, I heard a sudden knock on the door.

I yelled, “Don’t be shy! Come on in!”

The owner of the knock seemed hesitant to come in after my yelling. I dragged my still recovering body and went to open the door. Han Bin’s figure blocked most of the light from reaching the room.

I looked up at Han Bin’s face in an attempt to gauge his mood of the day, and he in turn lowered his head to return the stare.

Regrettably, I tend to overestimate my abilities. Reading the mood was not in my skillset in the past, nor was it now in the present.

Silence made me nervous. When nervous, I tended to start awkward conversations, “Did you know the eye is the window to one’s soul?”

He quirked an eyebrow, “What kind of soul do you see in my eyes, then?”

I’m so moved. I was wrong about him. He was a really, really good guy.

“Ahem, your eyes told me you're very close to being a good person.” You would be one if I could be your master.

Han Bin was not convinced, “Didn’t I save you?”

“Yes, it makes you a little nicer, but you could be even nicer!”

“I carried you for a day.”

“Yes, that’s very nice too—”

“Was it nice?”

... I feel a trap. “Anyways, where’s breakfast?”

I walked around him and went out.

The row of resting quarters shared a courtyard. It was small but clean. There were also a few flower beds, but those only housed some sad wilting wild flowers.

In the middle was a stone table with served breakfast.

As fast as I was able, I went to the table and sat down. “Hurry up!”

Han Bin also joined me, and I quickly, and cleverly, asked him while pointing to what looked like tomato soup, “What soup is this?”

He replied, “It’s fire boar soup.”

Boar! Is something I could eat.

I went for the ladle to scoop myself some but Han Bin grabbed my hand. If I didn’t know him well from reading a thousand chapters, I’d imagine he was trying to cop a feel or something.

Despite the sexual innuendos in our previous conversations, I think half of it was my fault since my head was always in the gutter. The other half of fault must be his.

Having a harem was a discredit to the judging of his person, but the author liked to write a character which was "one who walked amongst the flowers without the petals sticking.”

As in, there were too many flowers and only one of him, but he didn't pick all flowers. Apparently.

Insert eye-rolling.

The next phrase, in my humble opinion, should be, “one who always walked amongst flowers cannot avoid petals’ attachment.”

The point was, his character was supposed to be charming but not perverted. Even though I didn’t feel it so far, his personality should be eight parts indifference, one part hardworking, and one part ambitious, while ironically charming in an unknowing way to the ladies. His signature personality was "a smile which was not a smile" (aka fake), and a rich playboy persona (but he was poor right now).

So this hand on mine, was not perversion. It was an act he naturally did to push forward a harem. There was always an explanation to make this act natural.

As expected, he said, “Your spiritual root is ice. You shouldn’t be eating a fire boar.” Then he lifted the lid from one of the bowls on the table and revealed a familiar green.

Han Bin kindly set the bowl in front of me while coaxing me to eat, “This hundred-year herbal worm is a rare healing ingredient. You have seen its effects on your injury. Drink up while it’s warm.”

Han Bin... why were you not being charming to me? Was I not good enough for your harem? Did you hate me??

I was so petrified I couldn't move or speak. My legs felt weak.

Han Bin acted as if he didn’t see my fear, “It seems your hands are still weak, let me help you.”

Before I could even react or scream, he had already fed me a spoonful.

I was ready to cry but realized the soup tasted different from yesterday. It hit me that this guy duped me again.

He fake-smiled and fed me another spoonful, while adding eerily, “I added some sour grass to cover the taste of the herbal worm. That’s another nice thing I did, right?”

His credibility was lacking now that I’d gained back some sanity. The soup was healing my body but instead of a cool minty stream down the throat, it was now a sour taste that made my body tingly warm.

As I had begun to feel like I repossessed my own body again, I took the smarter road and didn’t ask about what I was gulping down.

My golden rule in this world as of today, at least in regards to mealtime, was "don't ask, don't tell."

Han Bin lost interest once he realized I was not afraid anymore and turned back to his meal.

After I had finished, I asked the question that was nagging at me for a while, “A hundred-year herbal worm sounds really expensive.” You’re so poor, how’d you get it?

He narrowed his eyes but quickly resumed his usual calm demeanor without answering my questions and started to clean up the dishes.

Never mind if he didn't want to say. I yawned and stretched, then noticed the dried blood on my arms.

I looked around but nothing that looked like a bathroom around here. I turned to Han Bin and asked, “Can I wash up anywhere?”

He paused and said, “Follow me.” Then flashed away.

I scanned the area but still couldn't figure out which direction he went.

After a moment he finally noticed I didn’t catch up and jumped back here. Before he said anything I quickly explained, “I don’t know any martial arts.”

A look of incredulity overcame his face and he blurted, “...You’re a Spiritual Master.”

I'm sorry I’m so useless! I awkwardly said, “I don’t have memories of the past.” Mental punch on having to use this bloody of an excuse. Amnesia!

Han Bin started analyzing my face again to determine the truth. He didn’t even spend a second before sighing heavily.

“Ah!” My world was immediately turned upside down as picked me up and threw me over his shoulders. My treatment had been downgraded.

I whacked his back, “...I am a Spiritual. Master.”

“And then?” He continued on his flashing.

“Can’t you show me some due respect?”

“Trust me. I am already showing you respect.”

Someday... I’ll teach you respect. I swear.

The lining of trees quickly reappeared and disappeared from my peripheral vision. He was traveling deep into the mountains and it took a good ten minutes before we reached a hot spring.

He put me down and said, “Be quick.” And went away like the wind.

“You think I’m you?” I grumbled. Ahem, stop this train.

A few sparse trees provided meager privacy but when I looked up at the open ceiling I could not feel much security. I used to think I was open-minded, now I found I was actually a conservative.

I reluctantly took off what’s left of my tattered robe and jumped into the hot spring.

What was this? My hands brushed upon a metallic necklace dangling from my neck. Perhaps another treasure?

As I was washing off the blood and grit from this body, I realized I had never taken a good look at this “Miao’s” face. In this novel, she’s Yela’s biggest rival with looks second to Yela.

I quickly stopped all movements and waited for the water ripples to flatten. Slowly a face formed on the water surface...

Goddamn, I want to sleep with myself.

The words the author used to describe this character were reflected back to me. Perfect fair skin, small refined face, and most importantly, eyes like a dream that never dies.

The old “Miao” might have had heavy aggression which made her face looked more like a seductress and probably sexier as the author intended, but my air was totally different.

The appearance score probably dropped down to half after I took over.

I was just a silly college kid who studied hard and played hard. Our personality was as far as the North and South Pole.

By the way, I just developed another regret! I didn’t get to see Yela’s face! If Miao’s physical appearance was already so mouth-watering, what about Yela who was donned as the number one beauty?!

Yela was supposed to be an ice-cool beauty with eyes so pure that no one would want to taint her. Yet at the same time, when she stared at you, her expression would draw you in as if you were the only person in her world.

My heart hurts. What have I missed?!