[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-711":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2347726,4587,"Chapter 711: The Apology of Zi Xiao Ge: Does the Young Master Understand Sentiment?","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-711",711,"\u003Cp>Wu Tong had already swiftly fetched clean clothes; you had just changed, yet your whole body was soaked through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large blue porcelain tub was already fully occupied by Madam Ruan, the water’s surface floating with a few green lotus leaves, seemingly plucked from nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You sighed helplessly and instructed Wu Tong to prepare another tub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t possibly brew tea in Madam Ruan’s bathwater—even though she protested that she cleaned it thoroughly every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking closer to the tub, you tapped its side lightly with your fingers: “You’ve never had much to do on ordinary days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should you need me, I’ll send them to find you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This sword intent will vanish on its own after three years—or when I die, it will be gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear cry echoed from the treetops as two Zhaoming Luans shook loose specks of golden radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Ruan tilted her head upward, her eyes gleaming with wonder—she had raised pig dragons and tamed iron-headed catfish, but had never encountered such divine birds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meaning was plain enough: she need not be confined to this small courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Madam Ruan rested her chin on the tub’s rim: “The pig dragon is dead, I can’t return to Yan Wang’s mansion—I have nowhere to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice grew quieter: “Can I stay here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory of last night’s agony from her own attempt to manipulate the sword pearl still burned fresh—the searing pain of meridians snapping—she dared not try again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t lived long enough; she didn’t want to die so soon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You waved your hand as if unconcerned: “If you want to stay, stay—but pay for your own meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Madam Ruan’s eyes lit up; she promptly spat out several lustrous pearls and pulled out a few grains of gold sand, arranging them in a row beside the tub: “Are these enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing you silent, she hurriedly added: “I—I can also raise water beasts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gestured with her arms: “I can raise ones bigger than pig dragons!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated a moment, as if making a great decision: “. I can raise two, or maybe… three…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unhealed wounds on her wrist were revealed with the motion—those grotesque scars clearly came from years of feeding beasts with her own blood and flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You gazed at her emaciated arms for a moment, then shook your head: “No need for that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You turned to Wu Tong, who had already come over to count the pearls: “Young Master, these are more than enough to feed her for a year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She reached out and patted Madam Ruan’s head: “Young Master, it’s just one more pair of chopsticks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You nodded and went to the back courtyard to wash up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Ruan stared blankly at your retreating back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The decisive, blood-soaked figure from yesterday’s Yānbō Lake slowly merged and then separated from the man before her—turns out you weren’t as fearsome as imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight filtered through the paulownia leaves, casting tiny specks of light upon the water’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afternoon sunlight slanted across the courtyard; you and Wu Tong had just finished lunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though you had entered the Snow Mountain realm of martial cultivation, your true qi still stemmed from your physical essence and blood, not yet reaching the Grain Grain Bigu state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those who reached the ninth martial realm—Xuandan—could condense their Xuandan and draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth as sustenance, fully transcending mortal dietary needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before you could set down your teacup, a soft knock came at the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You looked up to see a familiar figure—Gong Sun Niangzi, the courtesan of Zi Xiao Ge whose sword dance had stirred all Bianjing, stood outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had visited alone half a month ago; today, a middle-aged man in purple robes stood beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Sun Niangzi bowed gracefully, her wide sleeves sweeping like flowing clouds over the blue stone steps: “Lord Xie, this is the senior manager of Zi Xiao Ge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man in purple robes stepped forward three paces and bowed deeply: “Greetings, Lord Xie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he rose, his gaze was clear and direct: “Yesterday, Zi Xiao Ge was forced by circumstances to act disrespectfully; today, we come specifically to apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He withdrew a gilded wooden box from his sleeve; even before the lid opened, an unusual fragrance wafted out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior manager lifted the gilded box with both hands, his tone solemn: “Inside lies the Soul-Returning Incense—a treasure coveted by Primordial Spirit cultivators.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingertip brushed the cloud patterns on the box: “When a person dies, their body decays; burning this incense can lock the seven souls and six spirits for seven days without dispersal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing your expression shift slightly, he added: “There is another marvel—it allows the user to project their Primordial Spirit into the daylight for half a moment, granting a foretaste of the Yangshen realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You recalled Lu Hua’s words: in this world, fewer than five known artifacts could aid the Ziwei Hengjie in breaking through to Yangshen—and Soul-Returning Incense was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This item was hard to refuse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before you could respond, the senior manager placed another box—of sheep-fat jade—on the stone table: “This is the Nourishing Jade Pill, a gift for Miss Wu Tong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lid opened slightly, revealing a pill the size of a dragon’s eye; its fragrance instantly filled the courtyard: “Take it, and you may directly enter the Lesser Three Stages of the Primordial Spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped back three paces, posture respectful: “A small token from Zi Xiao Ge; we humbly ask Lord Xie to accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a “glug” echoed from the tub—Madam Ruan gasped and released a string of bubbles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recognized the Nourishing Jade Pill; years ago, Yan Wang had traded three luxury junks full of pearls for a single one to cure his favorite concubine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You thought for a moment, then gave a slight nod: “In that case, thank you, Pavilion Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, the senior manager’s tense shoulders relaxed visibly; he exhaled deeply: “Lord Xie understands justice and discerns right from wrong. Zi Xiao Ge welcomes you at any time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed again and stepped back two paces: “We won’t overstay our welcome. Farewell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Sun Niangzi bowed slightly to see them off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They came and went like wind; in moments, the courtyard fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Sun Niangzi stood where she was, her eyes filled with surprise—behind the three great Qingyin troupes of Bianjing stood figures with vast influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew better than anyone that this “senior manager” was in fact the second-most powerful figure in Zi Xiao Ge, overseeing six pavilions and three halls; every woman in the house trembled at his name—even he had to tread carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him to call himself merely a manager today, and to lower his stance so deliberately—this must be the Pavilion Master’s will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some major figures in Bianjing had quietly learned that the calm boy before them was the sword disciple of the Second Master of the Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned to face you, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That identity alone was enough to make any faction in Bianjing dare not underestimate you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had learned of it today precisely because this senior manager had asked her to help bridge the connection to Xie Guan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Sun Niangzi spoke softly: “Lord Xie, you truly conceal your depths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone carried a touch of coquettish reproach, unlike her usual demeanor: “As the closed-door disciple of the Second Master, such a status would never have been revealed had it not been for yesterday’s deadly confrontation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You replied: “Doesn’t that prove you have exceptional taste, Madam Gong Sun? You recognized me long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gong Sun Niangzi smiled, stepping gracefully to the stone table: “I’ve always admired the Second Master most—but as a woman with no talent for sword cultivation, I could never follow him. Seeing your bearing now, I can’t help but feel a touch of envy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came today solely to beg for one of your brushworks. Soon, I shall leave Bianjing.” Her words were earnest, yet carefree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You gazed at this woman—the foremost courtesan of Zi Xiao Ge, whose sword had stirred the entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After securing a top-ten ranking at the Qunfang Banquet, she had earned the right to buy her freedom, and had long since obtained it; only some circumstance had delayed her departure, otherwise she would have left long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianjing was a city of drunken revelry, where countless souls chased fame and fortune. Yet she—possessing fame, wealth, and status within reach—chose to walk away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a disposition truly qualified her as an extraordinary woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Gong Sun Niangzi left, you would likely never meet again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Life’s meetings and partings are fickle; parting is harder than meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You made no excuse; you picked up your brush and wrote. Ink spread across the rice paper, each stroke flowing like a dragon’s dance, radiating its own spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the ink dried, you personally escorted her to the courtyard gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Petals fluttered before the steps; suddenly, Gong Sun Niangzi turned back with a smile, her crimson lips parting: “If Lord Xie were to speak now and ask me to stay—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could very well spend the night here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I only wonder if the young master will understand this feeling?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1538,"2026-06-21T01:33:03.787Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","91c99f908ac111e5e2915b7c7367205353cf647db12f76ef074533c9cb852c4b","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-712","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-710",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]