"How is that possible? Don't just make things up. Do you have any proof?" Chen Li flatly denied Kaguya Houraisan's guess.
"You still need proof? As if I don't know what a little brat like you is thinking about all day. Relax, it's normal for a teenage boy to have such fantasies. You are indeed quite handsome. But honestly, your manliness can't compare to 'Manly Red' (Fujiwara no Mokou)," Kaguya said with a wave of her hand.
Kaguya had been in this world for two years. While she scoffed at the people online who shipped her with Fujiwara no Mokou, it didn't stop her from playing along with the meme.
"..." - Chen Li
On that point, Chen Li had to agree. Fujiwara no Mokou's manliness was truly on a level few could match.
"Alright, it's about done. Want some?" Kaguya asked, referring to the giblet soup.
Chen Li shook his head frantically.
"Then what about this... Miss Jingliu? Would you like to try some? As a fellow immortal, eating this might just boost your regenerative abilities," Kaguya said, looking at Jingliu with keen interest.
Having been in this world for two years, Kaguya had dabbled in all the popular games online and naturally recognized this fellow traveler from another world, which made her particularly interested.
Jingliu also shook her head, declining the offer.
There were vast differences even among the long-lived.
This kind of... "heart-and-soul-baring" behavior that Kaguya displayed upon a first meeting was something not even the Abominations of Abundance would dare to attempt.
"It seems you two aren't fortunate enough to enjoy it. I'm telling you, the giblet soup I make is delicious."
Seemingly disappointed by their refusal, Kaguya casually poured the entire pot of soup out.
"Huh? Aren't you going to eat?"
"Wasn't it obvious you two couldn't handle it? What do you think? Am I not considerate? Are you moved? If you're moved, next time you find a valuable item in the game, remember to toss it to me," Kaguya said.
"Then what about your lunch... Oh, right, I have some compressed biscuits here. We can boil them." Chen Li offered, raising his hand.
"No need. The single portion of food I have is enough for you two to share. I can just starve. I'll revive even if I die of hunger, anyway," Kaguya said, waving her hand magnanimously.
"..." Jingliu once again fell silent, faced with Kaguya's casual disregard for her own life.
"Then what was the point of cooking that pot of giblet soup?"
"To level up, of course. See, main profession: [Immortal], already Lv31. Sub-profession [Shut-in] is also over Lv20," Kaguya said enthusiastically, showing her personal panel to Chen Li.
"You've only been in this world for two years, how did you level up so fast?" Chen Li was somewhat surprised by her leveling speed.
"For the main profession, [Immortal], all I have to do is keep dying and reviving. Anyone with hands can do it, right? As for the sub-profession, [Shut-in], I just have to stay at home. Have you ever seen me go out? This world of yours is really interesting. I like it. Especially the professions and Traits." Kaguya said.
It was because of her profession Traits that Kaguya, as an [Immortal], had gained the [Boundless Vigor] Trait, allowing her to remain full of energy right up until the moment of death. She no longer had to worry about the discomfort of sleep deprivation interrupting her gaming before she keeled over.
And as a [Shut-in], she had also acquired the [Home Turf Security] and [Inner World] Traits.
The former was how Kaguya had discovered Chen Li sneaking up to her door.
The latter was the reason she had moved the Bamboo Forest of the Lost into her home—as big as your heart is, so is your house. At the same time, she could sacrifice certain things to manifest a past home environment.
Kaguya had chosen to sacrifice her lifespan.
Even if lifespan was a locked stat on the panel, for Kaguya, it was simply "infinite."
"Since we're on the topic of worlds, let's talk about you. How did you get here?" Chen Li's expression turned serious as he and Jingliu began to share the proper fresh bamboo shoot soup.
"Eh? Didn't my very first message to you explain the situation? I was framed by a villain! Are you telling me you came to see me for the first time for such a boring reason? How disappointing. I thought it was because my voice was so beautiful that you imagined I was a peerless beauty, and after holding back for two years, you finally couldn't resist meeting me in person," Kaguya said, her face unable to hide her disappointment.
"Framed by a villain? Who?"
Chen Li paid no mind to the drama queen's antics.
"Yakumo Yukari, who else could it be? Thanks to her, I haven't seen Eirin in two years. That bastard had better not show her face in front of me for the rest of her life, or I'll tear her apart and make her into giblet soup!" At the mention of this name, Kaguya dropped the act, her face filled with annoyance.
"Is traveling between worlds that simple?" Chen Li was shocked.
It was simple to a degree that made him deeply uneasy.
Chen Li knew a little about the Yakumo Yukari that Kaguya mentioned. She was a powerful youkai who could manipulate boundaries, known as the Sage of Youkai.
It was said that her power could not only theoretically create new things but also theoretically negate old ones, and that her ability was related to "origin."
Using this ability, Yakumo Yukari could teleport anywhere through gaps in space, move parts of her body to other locations, and even travel into paintings, dreams, and stories.
Perhaps that was how Kaguya was able to cross worlds.
"I can probably guess what you're thinking—you're worried that if world travel is so simple, it will lead to chaos, right? If that's your concern, you can rest assured..."
"No, I'm actually more worried that I'll cause trouble in another world, and the enemy will track me back to my home world to get revenge," Chen Li said with grave concern.
He wasn't afraid of righteous heroes seeking revenge, but he was terrified of villains doing so.
It seemed that from now on, he would have to completely annihilate all villains!
He must eliminate any possibility of being tracked for revenge!
Sensing Chen Li's overly "peaceful" thoughts, a card floated out from the Omni-Archive within The Guide to Forging Curios, trembling with excitement.
It was the [Codex Card] for the Longbow of Peace.
Kill, kill, kill! Kill them all!
As long as they're all dead, there will be no future troubles!
The Codex Card for the Longbow of Peace shone brightly, making the weapon depicted within it look like some kind of holy artifact.
"Uh, I don't know what you're thinking, but don't get the wrong idea. World travel isn't simple. Yakumo Yukari couldn't do it on her own. The fact that I was able to come to this world was an accident," Kaguya quickly explained, a chill running down her spine after that card appeared.
Although she didn't know what was happening, seeing the murderous aura gradually emanating from Chen Li, Kaguya felt that she had inadvertently done something terrible.
But she wasn't about to take the blame for it.
"An accident? What kind of accident?"
"I remember that before I was sent here, an incident occurred in Gensokyo. It was called the 'Miracle Incident'."
"..." At the word "Miracle," Chen Li was instantly alert.