In Order To Ascend, I Became A Modern Wage Slave - Chapter 04: The Cherished Immortal Lord (3)

Chapter 04: The Cherished Immortal Lord (3)

 

Xi Yu stood in front of the dazzling array of goods, feeling a bit unsure.

 

First, he didn’t know which items were edible and which weren’t. Second, even if they were edible, he had no idea how to eat them.

 

So, he simply followed the child and picked the same items.

 

“Are you a copycat?” The child, possibly due for some discipline, was clearly provoking him.

 

Annoyed, Xi Yu put the items back and moved to another shelf to choose something else.

 

The child looked at him, puzzled, then pulled the young man down so that he was bent over slightly. He whispered, “Is that big brother planning to eat shampoo?”

 

Xi Yu was currently holding a bottle of shampoo, studying it back and forth. It looked nice and seemed edible, but lavender? What was that? He put it back and replaced it with a lime-scented one.

 

He didn’t know what lime was, but he could identify the fruit in the picture and thought it might taste good.

 

“This big brother is amazing,” the young man softly said to the child. “Don’t provoke him too much.”

 

The child couldn’t figure out how someone who planned to eat shampoo could be considered amazing. Was it because he would blow impressive bubbles after eating it?

 

The young man chuckled, leaning closer to whisper, “He can save your mother.”

 

The child’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

 

After carefully selecting, Xi Yu finally shoved a bottle of shampoo and a bag of mothballs into the young man’s arms, bluntly saying, “I’ve made my choice. Go pay for it.”

 

The young man looked at the items in his arms, his mouth twitching. He hadn’t expected Xi Yu to actually plan on eating these two things, even thoughtfully pairing a liquid and a solid.

 

After a long silence, as Xi Yu grew visibly impatient, the young man raised his head and asked, “In your impression, are these two things supposed to be edible?”

 

“Aren’t they?” Xi Yu retorted confidently. “If they’re not edible, why did you bring me here?”

 

“…”

 

The child raised a hand to point at the refrigerator Xi Yu had just left, then at the shelf and counter nearby. “This, this, and this—these are edible. The rest aren’t.”

 

Once Xi Yu had picked out edible items and sat down, the child eagerly asked, “Big brother, will you save my mom?”

 

Xi Yu looked confused. “Your mom?”

 

When Luo Yang found Xi Yu, the latter was sitting at the long table by the convenience store’s glass window, munching on a giant roasted chicken leg with half a bottle of cola next to him.

 

Very… down-to-earth?

 

Sitting beside him were an adult and a child, chatting with him. They seemed to get along well, possibly friends. Luo Yang scrutinized the young man for a while and confirmed he had never seen him before.

 

The young man appeared gentle but had an air of mystique that was hard to discern. Sitting next to Xi Yu, the two looked exceptionally harmonious, as if they’d known each other far longer than Luo Yang had known Xi Yu.

 

Luo Yang stood outside observing for a while before finally stepping forward and knocking on the glass in front of Xi Yu.

 

Xi Yu noticed him at last, lifting his head with a frown, seemingly displeased by the interruption. But in the end, he stood up and went out.

 

Luo Yang rubbed his hands together. “It’s getting late.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Shall we head back?”

 

The child and young man watched Xi Yu leave but didn’t follow. They didn’t even budge from their seats.

 

The child lowered his head in disappointment. “Didn’t you say he could save my mom?”

 

Xi Yu had flatly rejected her plea.

 

“Don’t trust him,” the young man murmured, lowering his eyes.

 

The night was deep, and the darkness swallowed Xi Yu’s retreating figure.

 

—

 

“How old are you this year?”

 

“Twenty-five.”

 

“Is your gender male or female?”

 

“Male.”

 

“How much is one plus one?”

 

“Two.”

 

“What is cos(30°)?”

 

“…”

 

Luo Yang couldn’t hold back anymore. He stepped forward to interrupt the conversation between the doctor and Xi Yu, embarrassed. “My friend… only completed elementary school.”

 

“Oh.” That explained why he couldn’t answer the last question. After a series of examinations, the psychiatrist asked Luo Yang some questions about Xi Yu’s past and gave his judgment: “Basic social functions are intact, and he has self-awareness. He likely experienced a deviation, mistaking dreams for reality. A few days of rest should help; there’s nothing else wrong.”

 

The attending physician whispered, “He seems to have violent tendencies.”

 

“He just woke up from a trauma and reacted instinctively. It’s normal,” the psychiatrist replied nonchalantly. “Look, has he hit me yet?”

 

Xi Yu had been brought in by rescue workers just yesterday morning. By the following evening, he was already full of energy and ready to be discharged—a miracle in the medical world.

 

Others insisted he stay for a few more days of observation, but as soon as Xi Yu heard he could leave, he stood firm and refused to stay another minute.

 

Luo Yang, unable to persuade him, pretended to pack his things while casually chatting with him, hoping to change his mind without him realizing.

 

“I know you cultivators have strong bodies, but if you don’t recover properly from your injuries, won’t lingering ailments delay you in the future?” Luo Yang was relieved he’d read enough xianxia novels to fluently and seriously spout such absurd lines.

 

“Mm, which is why I need to leave quickly.” Xi Yu crossed his arms, leaning against the window and gazing into the distance.

 

Outside, the city lights sparkled like an otherworldly paradise—an easy place to lose oneself.

 

It was no wonder this so-called 21st century lacked spiritual energy; it seemed there was no need for gods here.

 

“Do you worship gods?”

 

“We do.”

 

“Oh?” That was unexpected. Luo Yang pressed on. “What kind of gods?”

 

“The Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother, sometimes the God of Love or the Exam God. Hmm… the one I trust most is the God of Wealth.”

 

There wasn’t much to pack—just a bag of medicine and some reports. Luo Yang dumped them out and tossed them back into the bag one by one, dragging out the process.

 

The silence stretched as Xi Yu struggled to reconcile Luo Yang’s words with his own knowledge.

 

But after who knows how long, everything had changed, and he eventually gave up.

 

After so much conversation, Luo Yang found himself wavering. He couldn’t help but ask, “What gods do you have over there?”

 

“Beishang Zunjun,” Xi Yu answered with an official title, watching Luo Yang as if expecting a response.

 

“Only that one?”

 

“I don’t remember the others.” Seeing Luo Yang’s puzzled expression, Xi Yu didn’t elaborate. He stood by the window a while longer, feeling restless, and finally asked, “How much longer?”

 

“Almost done.”

 

Under Xi Yu’s watchful gaze, Luo Yang moved like lightning, finishing in no time. He picked up the bag of medicine and gave up resisting, beckoning to Xi Yu. “Alright, let’s go.”

 

Following Luo Yang, Xi Yu stopped in front of a hospital room and looked inside curiously.

 

There seemed to be voices coming from within—indistinct and not quite human.

 

It appeared to be the room the young man and child had visited earlier.

 

“What’s wrong?” Luo Yang called back suspiciously.

 

Xi Yu withdrew his gaze and caught up, casually replying, “Nothing.”

 

It had nothing to do with him.

 

“Help me… please…”

 

“Help me… please…”

 

“God, please save me…”

 

The ethereal voice echoed from all directions. Xi Yu stopped again after taking just a few steps. Luo Yang turned once more, puzzled. “Did you forget something?”

 

“Did you hear anything?”

 

“Huh?” Goosebumps crawled up Luo Yang’s neck, spreading across his body.

 

Believing or not believing in ghosts was one thing; fearing them was another. Especially in a hospital at night—modern ghost stories began playing in Luo Yang’s mind.

 

His voice trembled as he asked, “Wha… what sound?”

 

“Someone asking me to save her,” Xi Yu said plainly.

 

“Does she know you can do magic?” Luo Yang’s worldview had been shattered repeatedly today. “Didn’t you just get here?”

 

Xi Yu thought of the ancient texts he had read. “A ghost’s resentment can be very powerful. Sometimes, it can accomplish extraordinary things.”

 

“Like what?” Luo Yang asked.

 

“Like bringing me here specifically to save her,” Xi Yu replied.