Chapter 314: Chapter 314
Wu You’ai had once come over, carefully trying to discuss completely unrelated topics with Jing Shu. It was then Jing Shu realized he was worried she had gone deaf. He didn’t dare to shout, fearful of affecting Jing Shu’s mood, and had even sought help from his mentor, Chu Zhuohua. He was already prepared to try his mentor’s method if Jing Shu didn’t respond to their ’code’.
Wu You’ai, thumping his chest, said, "You scared me to death! At lunch, you seemed like you’d lost your soul. I mentioned ’airport’ a few times, and you had no reaction..."
Remembering this, Jing Shu couldn’t help but laugh silently. Fortunately, the ringing in her ears had lessened by then. If Wu You’ai asked her now, he might really treat her as if she were deaf.
Jing Shu made this bold decision, a form of ’self-torment,’ to excessively use her Illusion Technique through continuous training. Practicing the Magic Cube amidst headaches and the roaring in her head was a decision made after deep consideration.
Influenced deeply by online novels, doesn’t every ability or martial art require constant practice to become stronger?
The Illusion Technique attached to her Magic Cube Space was too weak, only capable of influencing one person at a time with suggestive guidance. Therefore, Jing Shu hoped to strengthen it as a crucial survival asset for the apocalypse. If she were ever surrounded by an army, like the rebellious Lelouch, but could only control one person, she would surely be overwhelmed.
Jing Shu planned to assess her Illusion Technique’s capability every seven days, daily recording its duration and the pain experienced. If, after a month of experiments, she could still only influence one person and her head still roared as before, she would give up, fearing that such self-torment might burn out her brain.
Moreover, Jing Shu had tried numerous methods to accelerate her Magic Cube practice and advance her space, but all had failed. Sometimes, even while practicing with the Magic Cube, she could do other things. This suggested that, like the previous advancement of the Magic Cube, specific opportunities and conditions were required.
This time, however, by incidentally helping Qiao Lian give birth, Jing Shu believed she had triggered the correct advancement method. It could be considered good karma; after all, if she hadn’t helped Qiao Lian, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to use her Illusion Technique on two people simultaneously for who knows how long.
From Jing Shu’s experience, every time the Magic Cube Space leveled up, the derived ability required a price. The abilities of each order were interconnected, link by link, though they seemed unrelated. Jing Shu, however, always felt their ultimate purpose was to be combined. Her task was to unseal them layer by layer, then manifest the abilities of each successive order. Therefore, the upgrade conditions were very likely related to the abilities of the Magic Cube’s current order.
Take practicing the Illusion Technique, for example. The price was the roaring in her ears, constantly stimulating her brain and eardrums. Jing Shu sometimes wondered if the Magic Cube Space was ’expanding memory and incorporating brainwaves’ within her mind to enhance the Illusion Technique. Otherwise, why did she always faint whenever the Magic Cube Space upgraded, and why did her head hurt so intensely?
With a goal and plan in place, Jing Shu became busy, specifically choosing morning and evening to experiment. She couldn’t actually make herself deaf just to practice with the Magic Cube, right? After all, she truly couldn’t hear any external sounds during the roaring episodes.
Once everyone had finally recovered from the incident, Uncle had processed all the pork, and elder aunt arranged a farewell banquet, as Jing Shu was also returning to Wu City.
The banquet wasn’t lavish, but it was the best elder aunt’s family could offer. There were fewer vegetables and more meat, as seasonings were limited at their house. The seasoning for the Dongpo pork elbow was even borrowed from Jing Shu’s RV. As for the marinade, elder aunt was in luck: Jing Shu had marinated meat a few days prior and gave it all to her. The vegetable dishes consisted of a plate of greens and a plate of stir-fried Black Fungus with eggs, which Jing Shu had provided.
After the extinction of the red earthworms, vegetables still couldn’t be grown. The climate was too cold, unless one used greenhouses with grow lights, which also required significant cost. Ordinary families could only manage to grow some garlic sprouts. This was the case at elder aunt’s house, where a few greens grown in flowerpots in their bedroom were meticulously cared for. When finally served, they were small and frail.
Uncle raised his cup of wine first and said, "Qiao Lian had a narrow escape giving birth. Jinglai named the baby Wei Shu’en. We chose this name, Shu’en, to show our gratitude to Jing Shu because she has shown great kindness to this child. Jing Shu, I truly thank you. Everyone knows how much you’ve helped our family, so I won’t elaborate. This cup is for you."
As he spoke, he tilted his head back and took a sip, making a satisfied smacking sound with his lips.
"Uncle, I should be the one toasting you. At the time, I was only focused on ensuring the mother and child were safe. There was really no need to use the name for that reason," Jing Shu hurriedly stood up and reciprocated with a cup of tea, though she was actually quite pleased.
"It was necessary. Youai told me you even had a cold and fever that day. I was so busy here that I couldn’t look after you. That’s why we specifically arranged this banquet early today. I also want to thank you for the chicken, fish, and eggs you brought, and the milk powder your parents provided. With all these, little Shu’en can grow up healthy," said elder aunt, holding the baby whose features had already become more defined in just a few days. "It’s amazing how quickly she’s changing."
Qiao Lian, her head wrapped in a towel, her complexion restored, smiled and said, "I also want to thank Grandma Jing for the little clothes and bedding, Grandpa Jing for the gold lock jewelry, Third Aunt for the diapers, and the kind lady I don’t know for the handkerchief. This must be what they mean by ’surviving a great disaster brings future blessings.’ To have so many wonderful things in the apocalypse is truly a blessing spanning three lifetimes for her."
Qiao Lian was articulate. It was said that she sent her own mother home on the very day she gave birth. Perhaps that life-and-death moment made her realize who she could truly depend on in this life.Honestly, Jing Shu still believed in love. Back then, Qiao Lian was dark-skinned and chubby, yet Wei Zheng had prioritized her life in such a critical situation. Elder aunt and Grandma Jing had also respected the couple’s decision. All of this was truly remarkable. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⁂𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⁂𝓷𝓮𝓽
Second Aunt watched enviously. She thought about hurrying to find a daughter-in-law for her son, so that one day Jing Shu would bring many gifts for her too. Clinging to Jing Shu in the apocalypse really spared them from worry about food and drink. She must have been kicked in the head by a donkey before the apocalypse to have offended them.
The meal was enjoyed by all, except Jing Shu, who didn’t quite eat her fill...
Although Grandma Jing was reluctant to see her go and elder aunt wished her own mother could stay longer, time did not allow. Jing Shu had to hurry back to prepare for the third year. Wu You’ai’s work was also becoming overwhelming; he was busy working on his mobile phone in the space capsule every day. A new batch of Grandma Jing’s silkworms had hatched, and they would die in the cold weather if not properly cared for. Even Mr. Jing had to resume his rounds repairing villas and attend to a host of tasks Jing Shu had assigned him.
Everyone was very busy, so after eating, it was time to leave. Before departing, they took the items elder aunt had long prepared for the family. Country folk were just that generous; they always made sure visitors left with some local specialties. The prepared blood cakes and pig brains were excellent for Mao Xue Wang or hot pot. The braised pork tongue, heart, and ears could be sliced and served cold, making a perfect side dish for any meal.