Chapter Thirty-One: Clinging to Power, Escaping Illiteracy

In the wilderness, such a scene unfolded: on the vast grasslands, a gentle woman in a flowing white dress sat atop the left shoulder of a massive, black metal mech. Her dress and long hair fluttered in the wind, and all who beheld them thought even the beauty and the beast could not compare to the striking contrast and harmony before their eyes.

"Is that the Emperor Yao?"
"Ah, is it really Emperor Yao?"
"Could that be Emperor Yao’s girlfriend?"
"She’s so beautiful."
"She’s veiled, and you already call her pretty? Hmph."
"It’s her grace—you just don’t understand. Superficial!"

The curious onlookers eagerly captured photos of the scene. Unaware of their discussions, Xuan Xuan asked, "What mission are we here to accomplish?"

Zhan Yu was momentarily taken aback, sensing Xuan Xuan’s question from outside the mech. Even through the thick armor, she communicated directly with her spiritual power—no wonder she claimed she could protect herself.

"You can just speak out loud; I can hear you," Xuan Xuan said.

Zhan Yu nodded. "We’re just here to take out a few Zerg creatures ahead. If you want to upgrade your inventory space further, I can take you deeper in to clear out a Zerg nest."

"How much can it be upgraded by doing that?"

"Eliminating a nest can increase your inventory to two hundred slots."

Ten times larger than it was now. She nodded, surprised. "That big?"

Her voice was bright and clear; even transmitted mentally, it was crisp and pleasant to the ear. Zhan Yu found himself wanting to hear her speak more. "Yes, that’s the current limit."

"That’s enough." Xuan Xuan thought to herself that aside from stealing her things and tearing her clothes, this person wasn’t all that bad. She said, "Thank you, Yao."

"You, what did you just call me?" Zhan Yu’s heart skipped a beat as he heard her use that name. His throat went a little dry, words catching in it.

Xuan Xuan covered her mouth. Had he only ever told her his name was Zhan Yu, not Yao? Had she given herself away?

But Zhan Yu only chuckled quietly, pleased by how she called him "Yao" and glad she seemed to know more of him. "May I call you Xuan Xuan?"

Patting her chest, Xuan Xuan recalled she had indeed told him her name. He probably wouldn’t suspect anything. Who would have thought the world so small, that they’d meet in real life so soon? And the difference between real life and StarNet was so great, surely he’d never realize. So she replied, "You may."

"Xuan Xuan." Zhan Yu’s lips curved into a handsome smile.

Xuan Xuan’s heart gave a sudden leap. Why did his low voice sound so odd when he said her name?

Fortunately, a nearby Zerg presence soon caught her attention, distracting her.

Before Xuan Xuan could get a clear look, Zhan Yu had already struck. She hadn’t even seen the creatures before they were annihilated. She patted the mech beneath her, dissatisfied. "I didn’t get to see anything."

"If you get too close, it could be dangerous," Zhan Yu replied seriously. The Zerg came in many forms, some with unpredictable abilities. Though he was strong, he had no intention of letting Xuan Xuan face unnecessary risk.

She nodded in understanding, though she was still curious and wished she could have gotten a closer look. She wondered if these Zerg could be considered a kind of magical beast. Next time, she’d come on her own to satisfy her curiosity.

Hunting monsters with Zhan Yu was really rather dull—she saw nothing; he simply wiped them out.

So, after casting a protective barrier over herself, Xuan Xuan turned to chatting with Zhan Yu in earnest. "Where can I go to study on StarNet?"

"Study?" Zhan Yu was surprised.

"Yes," Xuan Xuan nodded.

She had no desire to remain illiterate. She was an ambitious and diligent alchemist.

"All the Federation’s higher schools are on the Imperial Star. The best is the First Military Academy. There are some training courses on StarNet, but no actual schools," Zhan Yu answered after some thought.

Xuan Xuan gazed upward. She just wanted to learn to read—surely these higher schools weren’t the place for that.

Seeing her silent, Zhan Yu hesitated, then asked, "What do you want to study?"

"To learn to read," Xuan Xuan replied.

He thought he must have misheard, or that she was joking, so he asked again, "What do you want to learn?"

Xuan Xuan repeated earnestly, "To learn to read."

"To learn to read?" Zhan Yu thought he must have encountered a girl from another galaxy today.

Impatiently, Xuan Xuan clarified, "Just to learn to read."

It wasn’t Zhan Yu’s fault—after all, in the Federation, universal education had reached such heights that he’d never met anyone of her age who couldn’t read. From kindergarten on, education was free, and the government even provided subsidies.

Even the poorest families sent their children to school, as the subsidies were enough to support a child’s upbringing.

So Zhan Yu had never imagined anyone nearing adulthood would be illiterate. "You might not fit in with the students at your age, but if you’d like, I can teach you."

"Hmm?" Xuan Xuan wondered if this man would really have the time. "You’ll teach me? Do you have the time?"

Zhan Yu nodded. "We can agree on a time each day, a few hours. It won’t take long."

Should she shamelessly accept? She really didn’t want to be illiterate. Her top priorities now were to find someone powerful to rely on and escape illiteracy.

"No need to feel embarrassed," Zhan Yu said, as if comforting her. "It’s not a big deal."

"Is it really your own idea to help me?" Xuan Xuan asked.

He found her amusing—was she just shy? He nodded, "Yes."

"Then I’ll reluctantly agree," Xuan Xuan declared, magnanimously.

He chuckled, "I’ll contact you every evening. Give me your SmartBrain number."

Xuan Xuan hesitated. If she gave him her SmartBrain number, would he discover she was Moke Xuan Xuan? It was possible.

She found modern technology rather frightening—she couldn’t even keep a little secret anymore. If she gave him her number and he found out Moke Xuan Xuan’s identity, wouldn’t he connect the dots?

She quietly poked her AI assistant. "Kitty, can I contact someone anonymously from my SmartBrain?"

"Yes, advanced SmartBrains can communicate anonymously."

"But if someone contacts me, can they do so without knowing my real number?"

"No, they cannot."

Xuan Xuan nodded. In that case, she could contact him instead. "Give me your SmartBrain number and I’ll reach out to you."

Zhan Yu frowned—why was she unwilling to share her number? Nevertheless, he gave her his. "If you want to reach me through SmartBrain, it’s best after six in the evening; I’m usually working before then. But if there’s something urgent, contact me anytime."

Xuan Xuan nodded, memorizing his number. Now she could call for help whenever needed and solve her illiteracy problem sooner. After six was just after dinner—perfect.

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Why does Bean Sprout have so many clicks but so few recommendations? Do you all think the story isn’t well written? If you enjoy the novel, please remember to vote for it...

Level 3 and above get a recommendation vote every day.

P.S.: Let me recommend a book by Guoguo: "The Noblewoman of the Tea Garden" by Er’er.