Chapter 114: The Peculiar Book (Seeking First Subscription!)

Qin Yu was the first to step into the room closest to her. As she pushed open the door, she saw rows of bookshelves laden with books; aside from that, there was only a wooden table and several wooden stools.

Qing Li passed behind Qin Yu to the table and ran her hand over it, discovering it was free of dust.

Qin Yu watched Qing Li examining the table, curled her lips, and then walked to one of the bookshelves, pulling out a book at random. The bold red and black title on the cover caught her eye. Qin Yu was puzzled—wasn’t this “The Red and the Black,” Stendhal’s masterpiece? How could it be here?

Qing Li noticed Qin Yu’s furrowed brow, walked over, took the book, glanced at it, then drew out a few more and looked them over. Only then did she say, “It seems these are all from my own collection! But I distinctly remember placing them in my spatial warehouse. How did they end up here, arranged so neatly?”

Qin Yu shrugged and shook her head, indicating she had no idea.

Qing Li gazed at the book in her hand, pondering for a moment with no result, then placed it back where it belonged.

Curious, Qin Yu asked, “Why do you keep so many books?”

Qing Li replied with a helpless sigh, “They were all from my bookshelves before. I read widely—almost everything. My shelves would be replaced with new books again and again. After the apocalypse came, I couldn’t bear to throw them away. Since I have the space, I put them all in my warehouse.”

Qin Yu nodded. “I see. You must be very well-read.”

Qing Li patted Qin Yu’s head, smiling. “Not as well-read as you, my dear Yu!”

“Don’t flatter me! Let’s look at the other rooms,” Qin Yu said, brushing off Qing Li’s hand.

The two of them went through several more rooms, but nothing remarkable turned up. All they found were more of Qing Li’s possessions from her spatial warehouse, inexplicably relocated here and neatly organized.

So they explored room after room until, at last, they entered a final one and made a significant discovery.

Qin Yu and Qing Li looked at the rather empty room, exchanging glances. By their reckoning, the room shouldn’t be so bare.

Inside, only a small table stood against the wall, and on it lay two old-looking books, their contents unknown.

Approaching, they saw the thick layer of dust on the two books. Meeting each other’s eyes, they sensed the same gravity—perhaps the greatest secret of this space lay within these two volumes.

Without a word, Qin Yu and Qing Li each picked up the book before them, dusted it off, and prepared to read.

Their movements were uncannily synchronized. As both opened to the first page, each book transformed—one into a beam of light, the other into a shadow—shooting straight into their foreheads and vanishing without a trace.

It must be said, their positions were perfectly aligned by sheer coincidence. Had they stood in the wrong place, the books would have revealed only blank pages. Even if they’d switched books afterward, some unknown force would have made them miss this rare opportunity.

But let’s not dwell on what might have been. For now, Qin Yu and Qing Li stared at their empty hands, then felt a strange swelling at their brows.

Qing Li watched Qin Yu rub her forehead, and asked with concern, “Yu’er, how do you feel? I saw a white light shoot into your forehead just now.”

Qin Yu shook her head. “I’m all right, just a bit of pressure in my head. What about you? I saw a dark light enter your forehead.”

Qing Li looked at Qin Yu’s pale face and said, “Are you sure you’re fine? Maybe you should rest for a while. I’m all right—just a sharp pain for a second, then it was over.”

Hearing this, Qin Yu suddenly realized the gap between herself and the person before her. Her head ached fiercely, yet Qing Li had only felt a fleeting pain! Was there no justice in the world? Qin Yu raged inwardly but outwardly only looked troubled.

Qing Li’s worry deepened. Ignoring Qin Yu’s protests, he scooped her up and carried her out of the room.

He brought her to the little pond within the space, set her down, and said, “Yu’er, why don’t you drink some of this water? It might help.”

Though Qin Yu didn’t know why, she obediently did as he suggested. She trusted that this person would never harm her.

So, she cupped some water and drank. The instant it slid down her throat, she felt an unprecedented coolness—not just physical, but as if it reached her soul. The water from this small pond tasted even better than the water she produced with her own water ability.

Unable to resist, Qin Yu drank several more mouthfuls, and the swelling in her head gradually faded.

Qing Li watched as color returned to her cheeks and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He crouched down, scooped up a handful of water for himself, and as he savored the extraordinary coolness, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, lost in some private reverie.

Qin Yu watched him enjoy the water, smiled, poked his chest, and demanded, “How did you know the pond water would have this effect? Tell me!”

Qing Li was taken aback, then caught her restless hand. “The book just now told me.”

“Huh? Why didn’t it tell me? And what else do you know?” Qin Yu pressed.

“I learned a lot—too much to tell you all at once. I’ll explain it to you gradually. As for why you weren’t told, could it be because you’re too weak?” Qing Li teased.

“Hmph! I am not weak!” Qin Yu retorted.

“All right, all right, not weak! Our Yu’er is the best!” Qing Li said.

Qin Yu rolled her eyes. But compared to him, she really did feel weak. A sudden thought struck her, and her eyes lit up. “Li, what are your abilities? What level are you?”

Qing Li looked at the wide-eyed Qin Yu and replied with a smile, “I have dual abilities, Spirit and Lightning. Lightning is at level six, Spirit is a bit lower, just barely level five.”

Qin Yu’s crestfallen expression made Qing Li laugh all the harder.

Meanwhile, Qin Yu was screaming inside: In a world where almost everyone is barely at level three, this guy is actually level six—and dual-typed at that! Is there any justice left? How is anyone supposed to live up to that? Thank goodness he’s my man, or else—

Still, this explained why he always called her weak. Compared to him, she really was so much weaker!

Seeing Qin Yu’s dejected look, Qing Li pulled her into his arms, comforting her. “Now, now! I believe you’ll soon surpass me!”

Qin Yu nodded, silent on the surface but inwardly stabbing little voodoo dolls—Serves you right for mocking me! Serves you right!