Chapter 259: Heart Of Hope
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The heavenly empress sighed, "It seems we can't help. Whether we can cooperate or not will be something that only fate will decide. But we can at the very least work together to help them understand through Zero One that there might be perhaps another option.”
“I’m glad you think that way, master, thank you…” I sighed in relief. “But about the crystals… I wonder if that’s really it? Maybe we could try sneaking underwater to retrieve some?”
“I-Is that even possible…” asked Wai Tian.
“It should be possible…” I said. “Fang Shuan here doesn’t even need to breathe, right?”
“That’s right! I could certainly go underwater and mine for everyone, as long as I am given proper directions!” Fang Shuan was immediately up for the task.
“I could also help… If only I wasn’t so weakened yet,” sighed the Heavenly Empress. “But for now, don’t worry. I wouldn’t want you to endanger your life yet, Fang Shuan. Remain here and train. You’ve strengthened your soul to an incredible new level, but your mind is still too driven by emotions; negative energy is piling up inside; you need to do a proper Soul and Mind cleansing.”
“Eh? I… I see… I suppose that might have been one of the reasons I acted so recklessly,” sighed Fang Shuan. “I understand; I would gladly take upon your teachings, great venerable.”
He was totally different with the heavenly empress than with the heavenly demon!
Well, I can’t blame him; the old crow-faced man was way too much of a meanie most of the time.
Although he had his lucid and nice moments, he was still completely nuts.
“For now, don’t think about the impossible things you can’t do yet, and think about what you can do right now to improve yourself,” she said. “For now, all of you must rest. You’re too tired… Zero One, can you sleep?”
“I can, certainly,” she nodded. “I can enter an energy-saving mode; it is like sleeping! …I think?”
“Well then, I will give you a room of your own then,” the heavenly empress said. “Now, now, everyone, to sleep. Take a bath beforehand, however. It is always important to have a warm bath to loosen your muscles from their tension and have a more relaxing rest.”
We did just as she said, as we moved to our respective rooms. Even Fang Shuan was giving one, even against his will as a guardian. I told him to relax and sleep; even with his body, his soul gets tired and needs to sleep.
After taking a warm bath, I went to the comfortable bed and fell immediately asleep after my three pets cuddled over me. I was very tired; too much happened today, and I honestly needed to have some good sleep.
However, as I slept, I couldn’t help but become tormented by a small mistake I committed.
Because of all the things I did with the Heavenly Demon, I had completely become distracted from the very purpose I went there.
To make the damn spatial portal!
I can’t believe from all things; I would forget to do this! Was I too distracted?! But I thought the Author gave me more memory?
I am so dumb…
Okay, I’ll try not to forget next time.
The portal is very important, so I can’t slack off on it.
Well, anyways, time to sleep.
.
.
.
Knock, knock!
The sound of someone knocking at my door woke me up, as I realized it was already day; the sun had already risen all the way up in the blue sky, illuminating my room partially through the small dungeon.
“W-Who is it?” I yawned.
“A-Anna, are you awake?” It was Zero One’s voice. “I’ve come to talk with you!”
“Hm, Zero One…” I slowly sat down over the bed. “What hour is it?”
“Hmm, probably roughly… twelve in the morning!” Zero One said.
“That’s too late! I was really tired if I ended oversleeping so much,” I sighed. “Wait, I’ll open the door. Don’t break it, okay?”
I quickly walked to open the door as the android girl greeted me with a smile.
“Anna!” She hugged me.
“Hm? What with the hug out of nowhere?” I wondered, feeling her cold body; her skin was very soft, even if synthetic. “Did something happen?”
“Yes! Something happened! When I slept, I was able to, I think, to dream!” she smiled. “I-it was so weird, but it fits… It was like an arrangement of memories and emotions, swirling and repeating themselves over and over. Strange scenarios, built by my own imagination and inner consciousness. I can’t believe I could have one! It was so fantastic; I am so happy!”
“E-Eh? Ah, I see… Good for you,” I nodded, petting her head.
She was an android, I guess; to even dream to begin with must be something shocking.
Did she think she couldn’t dream?
Well, I guess that’s fair. Machines are indeed much different than living beings in many ways.
But perhaps if she truly dreamed and she’s not lying, this might mean that she has imagination and an inner consciousness of her own.
Incredible.
“Well, well, calm down; it is fantastic, but there’s a lot we have to do today,” I said. “Also, I am fairly sure Master said you’ll also somehow cultivate something… I don’t even know how or what, but she did say that.”
“Huh! I wonder what could work?” Zero One said. “Everyone is eating in the dining room; you have to hurry! I ate my fill already; my belly is puffy; touch it!”
She grabbed my hand and forced me to touch her soft belly; it was indeed a bit puffy. But why was she so soft and realistic in terms of texture?!
“Aren’t you a bit chubby?” I wondered, tightly grabbing her belly roll.
“Heheh, hey!” she giggled, as she did the same to me. “Eek! So hard, there’s no belly?!”
“I am ripped after all that training, yeah.” I lifted my shirt a bit to reveal my stomach; there was only a hard as steel six-pack there.
“Amazing! I didn’t know that living beings could become as tough as machines!” she clapped.
“I don’t think we should be wasting our time on this, anyways. Let’s go eat,” I nodded. “I’m surprised Ying Shen didn’t come to bring me something, though, or Fang Shuan to wake me up? Perhaps the heavenly empress got them prisoners.”
“I heard her telling them that they shouldn’t pamper or spoil you, so they were forced to not come wake you up,” said Zero One. “But I came anyway!”
“I see… I guess it makes some sense,” I nodded. “Well, I don’t mind either way.”
After changing clothes, washing my face, and everything else, I greeted my master in this beautiful and warm morning.
“You’re finally awake, my sleepy disciple. Good morning,” she said. “Luckily for you, we started breakfast quite late today. But only for today; if you miss breakfast tomorrow, then that’s that, alright? You must build your own discipline without waiting for others to wake you up. You’re my disciple, not a princess.”
“I understand, sorry,” I sighed. “I was just very tired.”
“I can tell, for now, sit down and eat with your master,” she smiled. The servants quickly brought food as my friends greeted me.
“It is a beautiful morning today, Anna, don’t you think?” Wai Tian immediately sat to my left side. “Here, I’ve brought you some delicious soup dumplings. They have meat and veggie soup inside; take a bite; it's amazing.”
“Oh, thank you…” I yawned as I looked at the plate being filled with them.
“Lady Anna, please take these; they’re spring rolls I cooked myself… Once more, I am really sorry for not being able to go help you, but your master stopped me…” Ying Sheng apologized.
“No worries… Thank you,” I smiled as I started eating the snacks.
They were very tasty; the spring rolls had a lot of fried veggies inside, and the soup dumplings also had some meat and vegetables inside; each bite came with an explosion of soup inside; it was amazing how good it was.
“T-This is better than I imagined, wow…”
I continued eating, feeling more and more filled; all the exhaustion I still felt quickly disappeared. I drank a lot of tea too, some rice, and more soup.
“Phew… Thank you for the meal, master; it was delicious,” I sighed in relief.
“I’m glad you liked the food of my palace,” she smiled. “Rest for ten minutes and then meet me at the garden outside, all of you.”
She quickly stood up and walked away.
She was considerate enough to tell us to rest for ten minutes after eating; isn’t she way too nice?
“Hah, I wish I could eat something myself.” Fang Shuan sighed. “Oh well, seeing everyone enjoy the food is already good enough. I ate plenty of delicious things in my previous life anyway.”
“Previous life?” Wai Tian wondered. “Right, I never asked, what exactly are you, Fang Shuan?”
“Oh, well, it is a bit complicated, but…”
We explained to her what he was. Wai Tian was a bit surprised, if not slightly intimidated, to learn his origins. She waved her tail with a bit of concern but calmed down anyway.
“S-So he’s from another world like Anna, but he was a dungeon monster? What’s a dungeon?” she wondered.
Right, they had none of those things here, just a bunch of machines…
“Well…”
We spent those ten minutes talking a lot about various things, mostly explaining the various keywords of my world and everything else.
Once we were done and walked to the garden, Master was waiting for us while standing, glancing at her beautiful garden of colorful flowers.
“You’re back; was the food of your liking, my disciple?”
“Yes, it was good, master, thank you…” I nodded. “Now, will we begin? I was wondering though, how will Zero One learn anything? Do you think she could cultivate?”
“If she has a Mind and a Soul, then yes,” nodded the Heavenly Empress. “I have three major masteries in the field of Arts and Techniques in this world. The first one is Spiritual Art, the second are Meditation Techniques, and the third could be considered the pinnacle of my life, my own unique Martial Arts that combine everything I’ve learned with the power of the {Heart of Hope}, and I intend to inherit these legacies to all of you, or at least partially. However, only Anna shall learn the latter.”
{Heart of Hope}?
I bet it's totally different from the techniques of the old man, isn’t it?
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