Otherworld Bone Dragon Operation Guide

Chapter 213 Qiluo's Triple Strike (Bonus Chapter 6)

Zijin sighed, "In that case, you can keep it." With that, she withdrew her hand and turned to leave.

Daphne was very surprised and could hardly believe her eyes as she watched her walk away.

"Your Highness, is Qingqiao Suspended River now a clean project?" Su Ming asked.

“Eh…yes.” Daphne hadn’t recovered from her surprise yet, and hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. “Ah, there’s no more ‘Suspended River’.” She added, “Now there’s only the pure Green Bridge Project.”

Without diverting water from the source of the Sanghe River, the water volume of Qingqiao Bridge is sufficient to enable its functions, and it has no essential impact on the overall design of the project.

“Then our transaction will continue,” Su Ming said. He gave the princess a routine farewell, then turned and chased after Zi Jin.

Daphne hadn't slept a wink last night and set off early this morning, leaving her somewhat dazed. She watched the two depart, shook her head, and decided to go back and think about these complex matters later.

The princess knelt down and carefully cleaned away the ice crystals that had formed on the tombstone.

After remaining silent for more than ten minutes, she slowly stood up, stepped back, bowed, and then turned and left.

****
"I'm freezing! That girl's finally gone," Zijin complained, breathing out white puffs of air and holding her hands.

Before the tomb, Zi Jin and Su Ming reappeared. Zi Jin waved her hand, blasting open the earthen seal of the tomb, then used levitation magic to drag out the coffin inside, pushed off the lid, and revealed a half-human corpse that had begun to turn to bones.

She took out various magic array materials from the bag she carried with her and began setting them up with Su Ming. About half an hour later, the complex magic array was finally completed.

Su Ming carefully arranged Newman's small body, then took out the Deep Soul Cocoon from his pocket and embedded it in the corpse's forehead.

Having gone through so much, Su Ming was finally able to perform the tasks that only morticians on Earth would do with a calm mind.

"You'd better get started, you haven't had breakfast yet," Su Ming said.

Zijin took a step back. "You come here."

"Me?" Su Ming looked confused. "My proficiency in magic is far inferior to yours!"

“In terms of understanding the Bone Mark, you are now more knowledgeable than me.” The scholar smiled slightly and gestured for her to proceed.

Su Ming thought for a moment, then suggested, "Let's do it together. This skeleton will be working for quite a while."

Zijin did not refuse. The two of them each took off one glove, and their fingers intertwined in the cold wind, holding hands together.

With their minds in sync, the rune array unfolds around the two of them, the light of the runes outlining solid patterns on the snow and rapidly expanding in number and size.

The simplified version of the bone mark gradually took shape. An aggregate composed of countless tiny runes slowly rose from the center of the magic circle, shimmering with a mysterious light in mid-air.

Zijin's mental state fluctuated slightly, which Su Ming quickly noticed.

【Sorry, did I remind you of bad memories?】 He immediately realized the reason—twenty-seven years ago on the Plains of Despair, Miss Bone Dragon was imprisoned by such a white bone mark.

Su Ming regretted his lack of consideration and asked Zi Jin to join him in casting the spell.

"It's alright." Violet gently shook her head. "I do have some unpleasant memories, but that's not a reason to avoid them."

Su Ming remained silent. Since his transmigration, he had learned a great deal from Zi Jin. Theories aside, when you truly see someone persevering, you are inspired.

Su Ming wasn't a diligent person, and many times he wanted to slack off. But he could always see Zi Jin getting up earlier than him, working diligently and attentively.

Why is this girl always so outstanding, it makes people feel a little hopeless?
****
The skeletal mark sank into the halfling's skeleton. The deep cocoon of souls suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and Newman's soul was fully activated.

On the magic circle beneath their feet, the runes began to collapse and shrink layer by layer, eventually imprinting themselves onto the skeleton. At the same time, a soul imprint belonging to Newman appeared in Su Ming's sea of ​​consciousness.

The magic circle dissipated in the cold wind, and a creaking sound came as the half-human skeleton slowly stood up from the coffin.

"Long time no see, little button," said Violet.

"Do I look alright?" Newman stretched his newly acquired skeletal body, the tiny skeleton even shorter than the unicorn's loli form. "Thank you so much, Teacher Belladonna. I look forward to your care from now on!"

Protected by the deep cocoon of souls, Newman could likely maintain his sanity for several more years. He requested that Violet and Su Ming continue their deal with Daffylin regarding the Green Bridge Project. In exchange, he would dedicate the rest of his life to serving them.

Just now, Violet was confiscating Daphne's scholar's badge, and it was Newman who secretly stopped her. Even though he was the other titled scholar who, according to Violet, participated in the deliberation to strip Daphne of her scholar's status.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Newman!" Su Ming greeted.

“Not bad,” Newman said, shaking his thin, bony arm, making a “crackling” sound. “It seems nice that I’m not afraid of the cold, but these joints should be oiled.”

"Has he always been this argumentative?" Su Ming asked.

You'll get used to it.

“You two.” Newman turned around, looking at Su Ming and Zi Jin. “Hmm… I’ll prepare the gifts later.”

"What gift?"

Su Ming and Zi Jin looked at each other in confusion, only to realize that their hands were still clasped together.

The two immediately let go.

“Huh, not yet?” Newman said.

“Remove the word ‘still’,” Zijin said.

****
The two men and the skeleton began cleaning up the scene, stuffing the frozen-to-death Dimitri back into the coffin and closing it again.

"Please warm my bed for me, it's my fault." Newman patted the coffin lid. "I'll come back in a few years."

The coffin was placed back into the tomb and buried.

After quickly restoring the burial mound, the two people and the skeleton turned and left. They had arrived early that morning on snowmobiles; the seats were more comfortable than the staff, and the snowmobile had heating.

“Your student is really something,” Violet said to Newman.

“Daffyline is truly talented,” Newman remarked with some emotion, “but she just didn’t take the right path.”

“No, I meant she’s a master cultivator,” Zijin said. “So, is what the Second Princess said true?”

“…It’s true.” Newman sighed. “Such a young and beautiful girl pursuing me, even stripping naked and crawling under the covers late at night, I simply couldn’t resist!”

"You're so lucky with the ladies!" Su Ming said with a hint of envy. "Wait a minute, didn't Princess Daphne say that nothing happened?" he asked doubtfully. "She spoke so earnestly, how could she be lying?"

Newman was silent for a moment, then sighed and replied, "Yes... but... it's no different than if it had never happened."

Su Ming was filled with questions.

"Don't say anymore, it was a huge blow to me," Newman said again. In the cold wind, the small body of the half-human skeleton old man looked particularly desolate.

"Alright then." Su Ming didn't press further.
“Actually, Daphne’s love-struck tendencies subsided after that day.” After a while, Newman continued, “Today, her behavior in front of you was somewhat of an act.”

“At least on the morning of the Winter Solstice, they came to mourn you with red flowers. This wasn’t an act, was it?” Violet said. “Daffy didn’t know we were coming. Who were they putting on an act for?”

"...So they're just reminiscing about me as if I were a forgotten love," Newman said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Indeed, the dead are always the best!"

"Poor princess, you've been fooled by this disrespectful old man," Violet concluded.

"Hey, I'm the victim here!"

The three chatted as they approached the snowmobile.

After all that fuss, the sun has finally risen completely. The morning sunlight shines brightly on the car.

“Daffyne was actually somewhat powerless to control her own destiny,” Newman couldn’t help but defend the princess, his small, bony fingers tapping lightly on the car door. “After all, she’s part of the royal family, and there are some things she can’t do—”

“Her lack of control over her situation represents the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent people,” Su Ming retorted. “We have no right to forgive her.”

“…Young friend, you’re even better at arguing than I am!” Newman said.

"I wouldn't dare accept that!" Su Ming shrugged.

Violet extended her hand to Newman. "Alright, at least I'm not the only titled scholar anymore." She grasped Newman's small, bony claw, her tone unusually gentle. "Welcome back, Newman!"

“I’m really looking forward to fighting side by side!” Newman replied earnestly, and then he was lifted into the air, his vision spinning.

When he came to his senses, he found himself thrown into the snowmobile's bed by Violet.

Su Ming and Zi Jin had already gotten into the driver's seat, started the car, and drove away.

****
When the three-person team plus the skeleton team returned, only Yunier from the three-person team plus the beast team that went on the night tour of Bubing City last night was up and preparing breakfast in the dining car.

This was the first time Su Ming had seen this noble lady cook, and he couldn't help but walk over to take a look out of curiosity.

Yunier was intently simmering a pot of braised pork, the rich aroma filling the carriage. The pork looked quite delicious, with its glossy red color and thick sauce.

In this other world, hearty breakfasts are common because physical labor is prevalent; otherwise, one wouldn't be able to sustain oneself through a busy morning. Su Ming has almost gotten used to it now.

The rice steamer next to him was steaming. Su Ming opened it and saw several trays of brightly colored steamed buns inside, emitting an enticing aroma.

"Not bad!" Su Ming exclaimed sincerely. Since boarding the ship, the task of cooking had been taken care of by Hanster and Qiluo, those two foodies, so this was the first time he had witnessed Yunier's culinary skills.

Hanster was the second to get up. As he walked into the dining car, Eunice brought out the steamed pastries and placed them on the table with a thud.

Hanster's expression froze when he saw Eunice's actions.

"What's wrong?" Su Ming reached out to grab the steamed bun in confusion, but his expression changed the moment he picked it up—the steamed bun was surprisingly heavy!

Hanster poked the steamed bun with his spoon, but the dough didn't budge. He sighed helplessly, "It really is a stale dough bun. I wonder what she used to dye it."

"...Wasn't it made with mixed grain flour?"

Hanster picked up a shiny green bun and sniffed it. "Hard to say!"

Kira, the last to get up, skipped and hopped in. Seeing the colorful steamed buns on the table, she wagged her tail happily, "Hanster, you've made breakfast!"

Before Su Ming and Hanster could stop her, Qi Luo used her hooves to lift the entire drawer and dumped all the steamed buns into her mouth.

After taking a few big bites, Qiluo's body suddenly stiffened. She clutched her throat in pain, making a "woo-woo" struggling sound.

Su Ming was utterly impressed by the unicorn's bravery in eating dough balls with unknown additives.

Qiluo struggled and finally spat out the pastry stuck in her throat, avoiding becoming the first unicorn in history to choke to death on a steamed bun.

Hansster helped the unicorn up, feeding her water and easing her breathing.

“Yunier is, after all, a noble lady, and doesn’t know anything about grains,” he told Su Ming. “What’s most frightening is that the things she makes always look incredibly deceptive!”

"So that's why you've always prevented her from cooking?" Su Ming finally understood the reason.

“I heard about her ‘glorious deeds’ on my first day on the island,” Hanster said in a low voice. “Ouer once helped the cook at the mine, which resulted in the entire Brown Gold Island shutting down for three days.”

"..."

Su Ming and Hanster returned to the dining table and found another pot of braised pork. The thick, dark sauce piled high with chunks of meat, the caramel-colored gravy coating the striped texture of the meat, giving it an enticing sheen.

The two looked at each other, but didn't dare to pick up their chopsticks.

Su Ming picked up the basin and went to Qi Luo, who was lying on the ground looking upset. "Um, I cooked some meat. Would you like to try a piece?"

"You're still the best." Qi Luo sobbed as she looked up and stood up, following the aroma. She snatched the bowl from Su Ming's hand and poured the entire bowl of braised pork into her mouth.

The next moment, a piercing wail echoed throughout the entire carriage.

****
Su Ming chopped some vegetables and meat slices, and cooked a big pot of noodles, so that everyone could finally have breakfast.

Qi Luo's courage was admirable. She rinsed her mouth for a long time before struggling to return. She glared resentfully at Su Ming, her eyes bloodshot, and picked up the bowl full of noodles to show off.

True foodies are resilient and fearless in the face of setbacks.

"Um, Qiluo," Su Ming said awkwardly, "eating ginger in winter is good for your health."

According to Su Ming and Hanster's assumption, Yunier's dish was nothing more than a culinary disaster caused by the wrong seasoning, but they never expected that it was actually a large bowl of ginger.

Eunil explained that she thought it was boiled potatoes because the outside of the pile was brown and the inside was yellow when cut open.

This reason is irrefutable!

In a sense, Yunier's ability to make ginger look like braised pork demonstrates her astonishingly unorthodox culinary talent.

"Hmph!" Qi Luo ate her normal food and didn't bother to argue with Su Ming. She finished a bowl of noodles and then ran to the stove.

"I only cooked one pot—" Su Ming hurriedly shouted.

In a fit of vengeance, Qiluo picked up the pot and shoved the rest of the noodles into her mouth. Then, for the third time this morning, she froze and began to vomit violently!
Yunier ran over in surprise, "Oh, this is what I cooked for the Frostmane Giant Wolf!"

"Liar!" Qi Luo could no longer hold back her tears. "How could a Frostmane Giant Wolf eat something so disgusting!"

“They’re constipated,” Yunier explained earnestly. “I bought some herbs in Bubing last night. Because they tasted so bad, I cooked them with some noodles.”

"You are all bad people! Bad people!" Qi Luo wailed.

(End of this chapter)