Chapter 85: Final Mission Reward
The Xie Residence remained unusually quiet.
The news of Chuntao’s sudden death had yet to spread beyond the Punishment Courtyard. Under Xie Rong’s orders, every servant who had witnessed the incident was forbidden from uttering a single word.
Rumors... Could wait but the truth came first.
Xie Rong stood alone inside the chamber where Chuntao had been confined.
The physician had already completed the examination and quietly stepped aside.
Mo Yan stood near the doorway, while Gui Lin had only just returned after questioning the guards stationed outside.
The room was silent.
Xie Rong’s gaze rested upon Chuntao’s body.
"Speak."
The physician immediately cupped his fists, "Replying to Young Master... This servant has completed the preliminary examination. There are no external wounds upon her body. No signs of struggle and no injuries consistent with a fight."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Judging from the symptoms... This servant believes she died from ingesting poison."
Xie Rong’s brows drew together slightly, "Poison?"
"Yes." The physician nodded, "The poison acted swiftly. It caused her internal organs to fail within a short period of time."
He glanced toward the dried blood at the corner of Chuntao’s lips, "The blood flowing from her mouth is also consistent with that conclusion."
The room fell silent once more.
Mo Yan frowned.
"If she truly poisoned herself... where did the poison come from?" Xie Rong’s words came out slowly, as if he asked himself more than asking someone else.
The physician slowly shook his head. "That... this servant cannot determine."
Xie Rong remained standing where he was. His eyes slowly swept across the chamber.
The wooden bed, the table, the teapot and the untouched bowl of rice.
Nothing appeared unusual but he could not shake the feeling that something had been overlooked.
"Gui Lin." He called for Gui Lin.
"This subordinate is here." Responding instantly, Gui Lin took a step forward.
"Search this room again. Every inch... Even if you must dismantle it."
Gui Lin immediately cupped his fists, "Yes, Young Master."
Xie Rong slowly swept his gaze across the chamber one last time.
The overturned stool, the untouched bowl of rice and the dried blood staining the stone floor. Every detail quietly imprinted itself into his memory.
After a long moment of silence, he finally turned around. "The investigation here is in your hands."
"This subordinate will not disappoint Young Master."
Without another word, Xie Rong stepped out of the chamber.
The heavy wooden door slowly closed behind him.
The Punishment Courtyard once again fell into silence, broken only by the sounds of guards moving according to Gui Lin’s orders.
Meanwhile, Xie Rong walked steadily along the stone pathway leading back to his own courtyard.
His expression remained calm. Yet his thoughts were anything but the image of Shen Taotao’s pale face repeatedly surfaced in his mind.
The way she had knelt beside Chuntao...
The way her fingers had refused to let go of Chuntao’s hand...
And the emptiness in her eyes after witnessing death for the first time.
’Gemi.’
The familiar mechanical voice immediately echoed within his consciousness.
[Host.]
Xie Rong continued walking without slowing his pace.
’Answer this...’
[Please state your question.]
His gaze remained fixed ahead.
’Shen Taotao is merely my assigned target. My objective is to complete the system’s missions.’
He paused for a brief moment, ’So... Why am I returning to the courtyard instead of remaining at the Punishment Courtyard?’
Several seconds passed.
[Scanning...]
[Host’s current priorities analyzed.]
[Highest priority: Target Shen Taotao.]
Xie Rong’s brows drew together slightly, ’Reason?’
[Relevant information unavailable.]
The mechanical voice remained as emotionless as ever.
[The Gemini System records behavioral data.]
[It does not interpret emotions beyond available information.]
Xie Rong fell silent.
After a while, he asked again, ’Then... Is it strange that I was worried when she cried?’
Gemi remained silent for several moments.
[Scanning Host’s behavioral records...]
[Comparison complete.]
[Before meeting Target Shen Taotao...]
[Host’s emotional fluctuations remained within normal parameters.]
[After meeting Target Shen Taotao...]
[Host’s emotional fluctuations have increased by 37%.]
Xie Rong’s footsteps slowed, ’Increased?’
[Host has shown concern toward Target Shen Taotao on multiple occasions.]
[Current data exceeds this system’s ability to determine the cause.]
Xie Rong lowered his gaze, ’Unable to determine?’
[Correct.]
His footsteps gradually slowed before finally coming to a stop. He stood there in silence, his thoughts tangled together.
After a long while, he let out a quiet sigh, "I can’t continue like this." His fingers slowly curled into a fist, "My purpose has never changed... It has always been the same."
He lowered his eyes, "I need to return."
Only then did Gemi respond.
[Return to the Host’s original world remains the Final Mission Reward.]
Xie Rong gave a faint nod, ’I was already too late once.’ His voice grew quieter, ’I don’t intend to be late again.’
He looked ahead, yet his thoughts had already drifted far beyond the walls of the Xie Residence, ’I have to save her.’
Silence lingered before Xie Rong suddenly frowned, ’So why... am I worrying about Shen Taotao?’
The question escaped almost unconsciously. Even he did not know the answer.
Gemi’s mechanical voice sounded once more.
[Host’s question cannot be answered.]
[Recommendation: Continue completing assigned missions.]
Xie Rong slowly closed his eyes, ’You’re right... My priority... should never have changed.’
With that, he resumed walking. Before long, he arrived at his courtyard.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, the wooden door suddenly swung open.
"Young Master!" Qing’er hurried out, her face filled with worry.
The instant she saw Xie Rong, she immediately bowed. "Young Master..."
Xie Rong’s brows drew together slightly. "What happened?"
Qing’er hesitated for a brief moment before answering, "Ever since Young Madam returned... she has locked herself inside the room."
Xie Rong’s expression remained unchanged, but his footsteps came to a stop.
Qing’er continued anxiously, "This servant knocked on the door several times, but Young Madam never responded."
She lowered her head, "It wasn’t until just now..."
Xie Rong’s eyes narrowed, "What?"
For the first time, a trace of urgency surfaced in his voice, "What happened?"
Even before Qing’er could finish speaking, Xie Rong had already strode past her toward the room.
Qing’er hurriedly followed behind.
"This servant believes..." She swallowed nervously, "Young Madam is vomiting."