Huu...

Hu, hu...

An embrace...

A warm, cozy embrace...

She was out in space...

A supposedly cold and lonely place...

Yet, somehow, it brought nostalgia.

Why? It felt like a long-lost family, taking her into her embrace...

Not saying a thing, not telling a thing...

Yet, all the message needed to tell her, was shown...

Her care, her love...

While she was like, a good baby...

Accepting everything she showered onto her,

no complaint.

"Big sis Xue..."

In her sweet dream,

The coziness of being with big sis, continued...

Hours went by.

She was sleeping like a baby.

With the natural cover under the trees, it was a bit dark and comfy. The air was also fresh, full of moisture. Though it was cold, her body had already undergone a transformation back home, so it didn't bother her. Otherwise, how could she have slept inside the lake for some hours without any problem?

Yun Zhi was sleeping sideways, curling her body up. Her new pink shirt and black pair of trousers made her look like any other modern teenage girl.

Sleeping inside the homeless tent was so cozy. While the place was shabby, it didn't matter much once you shut your eyes. Clean and tidy, there was no bad smell.

The people there took a bath every other day, but they always cleaned themselves and did not neglect their waste management. They aired their tent and let sunlight hit its inside regularly. It might not look much, but it seemed old Li did a good job handling thirty-odd people.

It was already afternoon.

She had good shut eyes, and the homeless people had already gone on their way to earn some paltry earnings.

"Huuuu--- hm?"

She groggily opened her eyes.

It shouldn't even been that many hours since she slept, but she already felt refreshed.

"Hurm, big sis Xue..."

She said that name again. The effect of her help was significant. Her sleep was calm and effective. In addition, there was no nightmare. That nightmare seemed to vanish altogether. Instead, that cozy dream...

"Be healthy, be happy..."

Big sis Xue, the immortal she had met... The truly inspiring immortal she had met. Her wish kept repeating in her mind. For some reason, she seemed familiar to her now. Was it because she had cleansed her spirit world, or maybe cause she lifted the devil's curse, or maybe because she was so nice to her?

She couldn't seem to get over her.

Now that she had woken up, she wondered what she should do. Without a clear direction, even a refreshed mind would wander... Big sis Xue's wish was too general, so she pondered what option to make. Her mission was also too general. Should she carry it out immediately?

If it was her previous, cursed self, she would no doubt continue her beauty sleep.

But, because of her new big sis, she felt like it would be worth changing herself.

"What... should I do?"

[You have awakened]

"..."

For some reason, there was a nice blue and shiny panel in front of her eyes.

It was a panel similar to a game loading screen. There was also a voice generated by it... Somehow, that voice irked her, as if urging her to slap someone... why?

[What an interesting story, I wonder who your uncle was.]

"Geh!"

That jerk uncle immortal!

The first immortal she met, yet he was such a jerk that she wished she hadn't met him!

[What's up with that 'Geh'? It sounds like you don't like me dropping a call.]

"T-there's no way that's the case, boss..."

She put up a forced, awkward smile.

This damnable immortal was her direct boss. While she hated him, there was no way she could say that directly to her boss, right? Any corporate slave would understand, would sympathize.

This sick boss!

Not only did he confiscate my storage ring full of treasures, took my cultivation away...

He fricking yeet me into the planet, right into a lake!

Ah, also roasting me on the sun!

Like I'll ever forget!

Hmph, you'll see.

The next time I see big sis, you'll file a formal complaint!

"W-why are you calling, boss? It's my first day here, so I'm still unfamiliar with things..."

You can't mean to tell me to do my job seriously on my first day, right?

I'm an intern right now!

I don't know a thing!

[Boss? Nice, I like how that rings... Ah, right. I just want to inform you of some things. First, your 'big sis' might not drop by our star system for at least two or three years, so...]

"..."

So, you're stuck with me!

That's what you're saying, huh?

Grrr!

It was not surprising. She had over 10,000 star systems under her supervision. It was already odd she dropped by as soon as Immortal Yen filed his report about her. It seemed she passed through a long distance at extreme speed. For her to take Yun Zhi's assignment so seriously...

She was like a CEO of a multinational company with over 10,000 permanent workers and many more contract workers. And Yun Zhi didn't even qualify as a contract worker... She was maybe in a temporary contract... no, an intern!

The lowest in the company, everybody's little servant.

Hey, make us coffee, intern!

Right away, senior...

In this regard, Immortal Yen was confident.

The sector guardian had always paid extra attention to new messengers. However, she could not be bothered after the initiation, since she had too many issues to solve. The devils were quite active in the myriad world, and she had to be everywhere all the time.

'Lady Xue's too kind to lowly mortal, shhh...'

Immortal Yen did not despise mortals.

He just thought they did not worth that much attention. However, work still had to be done. That was why Lady Xue said he was not bad. He did his job exactly as it was needed. It's just that, his treatment of an intern like Yun Zhi... might not be so warm. That was why she warned him not to torture her with his antics.

[Second thing, I just got you a simple notification system. The system works with Artificial Intelligence. You just need to do the task assigned. That way, I don't have to call you every so often.]

"Is... is that so?"

Damn, this is good news!

Dealing with a machine should be better than this jerk uncle.

I love you, AI!

Still, she had to do tasks... She still hated work, but for big sis' sake...

"I guess I had to work then... but boss, can I have free time for a few days at least? I want to know how things work around here..."

[Don't worry about that. Each task won't constrict you too much. Besides, your 'big sis' did ask me to give you the simplest task first. I'll abide by my order.]

"Ah right, right... Big sis Xue did say that, and you will abide her order eh, hehe..."

Hurray for big sis!

Hallelujah!

[Heh, you're really funny. Your story is funny too. So, mind telling me who your uncle who took all your belongings and dropped you into the lake was?]

"Geh, t-that's just misunderstandings!"

He was actually eavesdropping?

What a nasty habit for an esteemed immortal...

Don't you have other healthy hobbies?!

[Haha, I'm actually big-hearted, so I won't trouble you little one for that. I'll give you your cultivation and storage ring, and your belongings too when you reach the required merit. So don't be petty about it...]

"Oh... A-alright boss... Y-you're the best,"

[You don't have to say things you don't mean. Ah, your system is just a simple notification system, so it can't give you advice, don't expect too much. You need to think for yourself, since you're our agent. Well, I'm out.]

"Ah, roger that, boss... take care,"

Did this uncle eat something odd?

She felt like he was not as bad as he was before.

However, the fact that he took her storage ring and cultivation was still true. Hmph, maybe he's still afraid of big sis? That must be the case!

After that, she wondered about the system.

It's just a simple notification system? Like telegram?

"Hey, system? You there?"

There was no response. She tried changing the way she called it, but still nothing. Somehow, it was a bit disappointing. Then again, perhaps it was a good thing. That meant she didn't have any task for now. So... for now, her most important task was...

To get enough sleep!

Sleep for peace, sleep for justice!

She snuggled into the old pillow and blanket, taking on her sleep with due diligence.

Hours passed.

It was near dusk, not the best time to sleep.

Since that was the case, she woke up by herself. However, she was still a bit sleepy, with drool on her. Going outside, she went to the tent's rainwater container. Covering her surroundings, she washed her face and important parts with a clean towel, taking away much of her dirt and filth from sweat.

Just as she was about to say hi to the others in the camp, she heard a commotion. It was a bit far, beyond the forest. Strangely though, it was not the voice of the homeless, but the voice of young men. Laughing loudly while provoking the elderly, Yun Zhi felt uncomfortable.

It seemed, she didn't need to find trouble.

Trouble had invited itself in...

Since she could very well see the same notification from before, in front of her...

[Mission 1: Submission]

OBJECTIVE:

Suppress at least 1000 thugs into submission

SUPPRESSED THUGS: 0/1000

REWARD: Qi Refinement Layer 1 + Others (Optional)

TIME LIMIT: 14 Days

"..."

It was her very first mission.

On this new planet, new life...

"One thousand? How troublesome,"

So she said.

Yet somehow, she had no hesitation as she walked out of the camp.

Somehow, still half asleep...

"You don't hear me? Just do some pig noise! Oink, oink! Then make a circle with your bare butt out... How easy can it be?"

"Yeah, do it. I'm recording and will upload it later. You'll be famous everywhere, uncle pig!"

"Ahh, the pig is too stupid, it can't understand you, big bro!"

A burst of massive laughter ensued, as if the statement was so hilarious. It was made by a group of five high schoolers, with loose shirts and thug-like behavior. And, crawling under their legs, was Fatty Qian. He seemed desperate, tears in his eyes. They had just taken his fishing rod, and had threatened to break it unless he fulfilled their request. At first, it was a simple request like laying on the ground with his stomach out and barking... Soon, it escalated. They wanted him to act like a pig as well.

Fatty Qian, who was naturally soft-hearted and not so bright, did fulfill their request first. But now, even he knew these thugs did not know when to stop. By his side were two other old uncles and two aunties, who only dared to berate the thugs.

"You youngsters, how shameless can you be?!"

"Don't you respect your elders? That rod was from his daughter!"

"Just give it back to him, he already did your three requests!"

"Yeah, you promised, didn't you?!"

"Ahh? Did I promise to give him after three requests? I said I might, might, might consider it! You elders are just too gullible,"

A bald young man, barely eighteen or so, laughed as he refuted them. As he did, the others laughed out loud as well. It seemed this bald guy was their leader. With small metal chains and ear piercings, he was the very image of a small-time thug.

"Now, pig... Oink, oink! Hey, a pig doesn't wear trousers, take them off! Else... hehe,"

As he continued to threaten fatty Qian to emulate a pig, Yun Zhi came out from the forest.

As she walked out, she still remembered who was it that handed her the clothing she had right now. That fatty cheek smiled as he put it on her hands. They were his precious treasure... one which money couldn't buy.

His naive-like run when he went to his tent and when he came out from it... She knew, though he was already over forty, the guy had kept his innocence with him. A fool, easily tricked and despised by others. People with a shred of intelligence wouldn't want to keep him close.

She too, thought she wouldn't want to be close with such a person.

That would be like, inviting disaster.

Someone whom others could trick easily, as a friend? Nope.

Even if they were kind-hearted, you're just compromising your own security.

No way!

Just exchange greetings for a bit, and be on our way.

That would be for the best!

"..."

"Hm? Where did this chick come from?"

"Whoa, bro! This chick's hot!"

"Looks like your charm magnet works, bro!"

"But bro... She looks a bit young though,"

"Who cares?! She's hot!"

The thugs exchanged thoughts as if she was already theirs.

If it was her previous cursed self, she would say, 'how troublesome'.

However... She said nothing.

For some reason, her inside was boiling.

With a dark circle under each eye, she looked at these five thugs...

As if, looking at a pig.

A filthy pig...

No...

A filthy, dead pig.