Chapter 10 – Whispers Beneath the Crimson Sun
As the sun began to set over the quiet Youji Village, golden light filtered through the misty trees, painting the crooked paths in warm amber hues. Inside the small thatched hut, Bai Xia stirred from her long, deep slumber. Her lashes fluttered like the wings of a resting butterfly, and when she opened her eyes, they gleamed faintly under the sunset's glow.
She stretched her sore arms and realized she felt surprisingly refreshed. The fatigue of the previous day had completely vanished. When Bai Xia finally stood, she noticed that everyone had already left to do their various chores — her younger siblings had gone to school, and the house was silent except for the soft rustle of wind through the thin bamboo walls.
Bai Xia stepped outside, blinking at the bright light. Judging from the sun's position, it was already noon. They didn't own a clock in their small hut, so she decided to sneak into the main house to check the time. But just as she approached the main courtyard, she froze — voices drifted from around the corner.
Her cousins.
Hidden behind a wooden pillar, Bai Xia listened quietly as Bai Ai, Bai Dang, and Bai Xiangtin chatted near the well. Their voices were clear, filled with laughter and mockery.
> "Did you see Uncle Bai Sung's face last night?" Bai Ai sneered, her tone smug. "He got beaten up so badly by Father. Serves him right for trying to defend that useless daughter of his."
Bai Dang snickered, tossing a pebble across the ground.
> "Yeah! Uncle's always acting so righteous. I bet Aunt Chu Sun must have been crying her eyes out again. Maybe they'll finally learn their place in this family."
Bai Xiangtin leaned lazily against the wall, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
> "Tch, it was quite a show though. Grandma shouting, Uncle bleeding — it almost made dinner entertaining."
Bai Ai laughed again, covering her mouth dramatically.
> "Exactly! That Bai Xia always acts so proud just because she went to a better school. Hmph. Let's see how proud she looks now that her father got beaten by our dad!"
Bai Xia's eyes darkened like a rising storm. Her slender fingers clenched the edge of her skirt as a cold aura slowly gathered around her. The air felt heavier — colder. So… they dared to mock her family like this?
In that moment, Bai Xia's gaze turned sharp as frost.
> "He oppressed Father at work and humiliated him at home… now he dares to raise his hand against him?"
Her voice was a whisper carried by the wind — calm, yet chilling.
She exhaled deeply, forcing her fury down. "No," she murmured, straightening her back. "This ends soon."
Returning to her small hut, Bai Xia began to prepare. She found one of her best shirts — a soft pink T-shirt paired with a flowing knee-length skirt. She tied her long, dark hair into a high ponytail. Her mother always said she had inherited her vanity — but unlike before, Bai Xia's beauty now radiated confidence.
Even in poverty, she would not let herself appear pitiful. She brushed off the dust from her clothes and smiled faintly at her reflection in a small metal basin.
Then, grabbing her woven basket, Bai Xia stepped out once again — but this time, she took the main road deliberately. Let them see her. Let them whisper.
And they did.
Villagers along the way glanced at her, whispering behind their hands.
> "That's Bai Xia, right? Poor girl, her grandmother's always picking on her…"
"Mhm, she's the one who helps her mother with the farm work. Such a good child, but her cousins always frame her."
"I heard she even gave her scholarship money to support the family… tsk, what a shame."
Some cast her sympathetic gazes; others offered soft greetings. "Good afternoon, Xia'er," an old woman called kindly. Bai Xia bowed politely, her lips curving slightly. She didn't reply — her silence only added to the air of quiet mystery around her.
As the road grew narrower and wilder, Bai Xia entered the mountain path. The forest canopy shimmered, sunlight dancing on mossy stones. She walked deeper and deeper until she was surrounded by silence.
Her body moved effortlessly — no heavy breaths, no weakness. Strange… she thought. Normally she would've been panting halfway up, yet today she felt light as wind. Her stamina had indeed improved.
Once she was certain no one could see her, she closed her eyes and whispered,
> "Enter space."
The world around her rippled — colors bending and fading — until she found herself standing in the vast expanse of her inner realm.
---
"status"
Status Screen Appeared
> Host: Bai Xia
Height: 5'5
Stamina: 10
Strength: 2
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 10
Beauty: 13
Skills: Business Tycoon, Frost Eyes, Reaper Tears
Knowledge: Master of All Tongues (MAT)
EXP Points: 30
Mission Points: 35
Space Size: 2000 acres
Money Bag: ¥10,000
---
Missions
> – Sell item from the space
Reward: EXP +10, Mission Points +5
---
Notifications
> Congratulations on completing mission "Collect Daily Reward."
Reward: EXP +10, Mission Points +5
---
"System," Bai Xia called.
> "Yes, Host."
"I'd like to claim my daily rewards."
> "Request acknowledged. Rewards claimed."
A soft ding resonated. She checked again — her balance had increased.
---
Updated Status
> Money Bag: ¥20,000
---
A smile curved her lips. "Good."
She walked toward the rows of flourishing ginseng, each glowing faintly with golden light. "System, help me pick one."
Before she even finished speaking, one ginseng rose from the soil, floating gently into her basket. Where it had been removed, another sprouted instantly — vibrant and alive. Bai Xia took two ginseng roots, their scent sweet and sharp. Then she moved to the cucumber field and picked ten large, glossy cucumbers.
Satisfied, she exited her space and found herself back in the mountains. The basket weighed heavily against her arm. She tried to lift it, but it barely budged.
"System, I'd like to increase my strength."
> "For how many points, Host?"
"For ten."
A pulse of pain swept through her muscles — brief, sharp — then quickly faded. She exhaled slowly. "Ah… much better." The basket no longer felt heavy.
Carefully, she carried it down the mountain, slipping quietly into the village. In her small wooden room, she hid the ginseng within her clothes and filled the basket with cucumbers.
Then she left once more, heading toward the next village.
---
The sun was dipping low when Bai Xia arrived. She walked for nearly an hour before stopping in front of a spacious courtyard with a motorbike parked near the gate — a rare sight in these parts. Someone rich lives here, she thought.
Knocking gently, she waited. Soon, a woman opened the gate — likely a maid.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw Bai Xia. She hadn't expected such a delicate beauty to come from a poor village like Youji. For a second, she just stared — until Bai Xia smiled faintly.
> "Good afternoon, elder sister," Bai Xia said softly. "I came to sell some fresh cucumbers. One yen for two — they're freshly picked from the mountain stream."
The woman blinked, hesitant. "One yen for two cucumbers? That's… quite expensive."
Bai Xia lifted one of the cucumbers from her basket. It gleamed under the light — large, smooth, and vividly green. A drop of water trickled down its side, fresh and crisp.
> "They're not ordinary ones," she said gently. "Taste one, and you'll know."
The maid bit her lip. The cucumbers did look enticing, especially compared to the small, dull ones at the market. After a brief pause, she nodded.
> "Alright, I'll buy them — but four yen for all of them. Consider it a fair deal."
Bai Xia smiled gracefully. "Deal."
The woman handed her the money and added warmly,
> "If you ever bring more, come to this house again. My Madam will surely buy them."
Bai Xia bowed lightly. "Thank you."
As she walked away, clutching the four yen, her steps grew lighter. The sky was burning gold as she skipped down the dirt road, humming softly.
By the time she reached home, it was already nearing six in the evening. Her mother, Chu Sun, was sweeping the courtyard floor, her movements slow and weary. Seeing her daughter's bright face, she felt a wave of relief. The shadows of yesterday's pain seemed to have faded from Bai Xia's eyes.
"Mom!" Bai Xia ran over, grabbing her mother's hand. "Come, I have something to show you."
Chu Sun chuckled softly, brushing the dust off her hands. "What could you possibly have to show me, silly girl?"
Bai Xia led her into their small wooden room and had her sit on the bed. Then, she reached beneath her clothes and carefully brought out the two ginseng roots. The moment Chu Sun saw them, her playful expression turned to pure shock.
Her breath caught. She hurried to the door, peeked outside, then quickly closed it again.
Sitting back beside her daughter, she touched the ginseng gently. It was real.
> "Xia'er… where did you get these?" she whispered, trembling.
"I got them from the mountains," Bai Xia said, lowering her voice. "And I also gathered some wild vegetables. I sold them for four yen. Yesterday, I sold flowers for twenty-five, but Grandma took two… so I have twenty-three left. Plus today's four — that's…"
Before she could finish, Chu Sun gasped.
> "Twenty-seven yen…! Bai Xia, do you know what this means?"