Get Lost Female Protagonist! I Choose the Villainess! - Chapter 112:

Chapter 112: Ruoxi, Are You Already Eighteen Years Old?

Throughout their time in the ancient ruins, the group had been struggling to find any usable resources. Now, they had finally stumbled upon something of value. Though everything appeared worn and partially ruined, much of it was still usable if properly collected and refined.

“How are we going to divide the martial techniques, combat skills, and weapons?” Pan Ya asked, glancing at the others.

The medicinal herbs and materials had already been refined into pills by Chu Mo for communal use. But the rest—combat scrolls, weapons, and treasures—still needed to be distributed.

“We’ll divide them based on the number of people,” Xia Yu suggested, “but Senior Brother Chu Mo has contributed the most. He should get more as a reward for his efforts.”

Everyone turned to look at Xia Yu and Chu Mo. There were only two members from the Sword Cloud Sect, but they had to admit that Chu Mo had been essential. He was not only their leader but also an alchemist—someone who could refine pills, solve survival problems, and increase their chances of staying alive.

Even if some felt uneasy about giving him more, no one dared object. Chu Mo had proven his worth.

“Then gather everything and divide it equally—just make sure to give Chu Mo an extra share,” Pan Ya said with a faint sneer.

Everyone complied and began collecting the remaining scraps from the treasure vault. All materials useful for pill refining were handed directly to Chu Mo. The rest were divided among the group by headcount, with Chu Mo receiving a larger portion.

Afterward, everyone rested inside the vault while Chu Mo began refining pills on the spot. Although alchemy was a delicate and exhausting process, Chu Mo, being a second-grade alchemist, could easily handle the low-grade pills required to restore stamina and energy.

While he worked, Pan Ya and the others sat nearby, examining their new martial techniques and weapons. Even though these were the leftovers that Ling Kong and Jiang Ruoxi had discarded, for this group, they were priceless. They eagerly flipped through the scrolls and tested the blades. To them, this was the first real harvest since they’d entered the ancient ruins.

They were delighted. If there were treasures here, there might be more elsewhere.

While the others were busy counting their gains, Chu Mo discreetly slipped a few extra pills into Xia Yu’s hand. Although they’d agreed to share everything equally, it was natural to keep a little extra for someone close.

Xia Yu didn’t hesitate. She quickly put the pills away and smiled at him with gratitude in her eyes. Without Chu Mo, she wouldn’t have gotten so many benefits. Had she not followed him, she might not have even survived. In a place like this, an alchemist could change everything.

She thought of Ling Kong and Jiang Ruoxi. Neither of them were alchemists. They had to rely entirely on their limited resources. Who knew what state they were in now? If anything had happened to Jiang Ruoxi, that would be the end for her. As for Ling Kong… Xia Yu still hoped he would survive—just so he could regret leaving her.

Let him see for himself what a terrible mistake it was.

The group continued to rest until Chu Mo finished refining the pills. Then he distributed them evenly.

“No one knows what might happen from here on,” Chu Mo told the group. “So use your resources wisely. Make them last.”

Everyone nodded. They had their own portions now, and once they ran out, no one could help them.

“If I’m right,” Pan Ya said, “this ancient site was once inhabited by humans. Then it was overrun by insect beasts and destroyed. After so many years, most of what’s left has decayed. This treasure vault survived because it was protected.”

“That means we should head to more places like this palace,” he continued. “Only areas with buildings might still have something useful.”

The others agreed. Places that were once inhabited might still hold preserved resources. And the larger the building, the more likely its contents had survived.

“Too bad we don’t have a map,” Chu Mo sighed. “It would’ve made things a lot easier.”

Without delay, the group set out again, continuing their search through the ruins—randomly exploring and hoping to strike lucky once more.

In another part of the ancient ruins—far from decay and corruption—was a place untouched by the insect tide. It was a hidden paradise of clean mountains, clear water, and untouched nature. This area had once been the water source for the ancient civilization. The spring beneath the lake flowed into an underground stream, providing pure water to the people who once lived here.

Because it was the highest point in the ruins and had no inhabitants in recent times, no insect beasts had ever invaded this land. It had remained pure and undisturbed.

In this paradise, by a clear spring, Jiang Ruoxi gently removed her robe and stepped into the water. Her bare jade feet touched the cool surface as she slowly submerged herself.

It had been over three months since they entered the ancient ruins. In all that time, she had not had a single proper bath.

Now, finally, she could relax.

Droplets of crystal-clear water clung to her soft, fair skin, while her long, silvery-white hair floated around her on the surface of the spring, glistening in the light.

She was breathtaking—graceful and serene.

In the midst of a world filled with filth and chaos, this moment of quiet peace was precious.

Not far from the spring, Ling Kong sat cross-legged on a tree branch. His body was enveloped in a black aura that slowly pulsed around him, growing thicker and denser.

Finally, it surged outward.

BOOM!

A blast of spiritual energy exploded from his body. The tree branches shook, and the air rippled with power as black energy spread out like waves from a blooming lotus.

At that moment, Ling Kong suddenly opened his eyes.

He had broken through—5th stage Spirit Martial Realm.

After nearly three months of focused cultivation, coupled with the endless supply of medicinal pills they had obtained, Ling Kong’s strength had advanced rapidly, from the 1st stage to the 5th stage of the Spirit Martial Realm. The progress had been swift, yet still balanced.

It could have been even faster. After all, they had more than enough herbs and pills to force rapid breakthroughs. But Ling Kong understood the danger of relying too much on external aids. Pills were supportive tools—not shortcuts. Using them excessively would be no different from forcing a seedling to grow by pulling on it. Growth that wasn’t earned through one’s own foundation was unstable and hollow.

Ling Kong believed in steady cultivation. With more than half a year still remaining inside the ancient ruins, he was confident that he could reach the Mystic Spirit Realm before they left.

After his breakthrough, Ling Kong waved his hand and brought out several scrolls. During the past few months, he and Jiang Ruoxi had been constantly practicing various martial techniques and battle skills. Many of the higher-level skills, however, required a minimum strength threshold to use effectively.

Now that he had reached the 5th stage of the Spirit Martial Realm, he could begin practicing the next tier of combat arts. He believed that in battle, one should never be limited by lack of preparation. The more skills one mastered, the more versatile and deadly one could be in real combat.

After studying several scrolls, Ling Kong stood up and gathered his spiritual energy.

With a sharp inhale, his aura surged.

Then—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

He launched into a flurry of movement. Each punch and palm strike blasted through the air, causing fierce winds and thunderous echoes to ripple out in every direction. Fist shadows and palm imprints lit up the forest in every direction, powerful and precise.

He wasn’t just mastering individual techniques—he was now capable of combining them in real time, blending multiple skills into a seamless flow. In actual combat, this would give him a terrifying advantage.

After several rounds of high-speed trial and execution, Ling Kong withdrew his aura and exhaled slowly. His eyes, however, shifted toward the clear spring not far from him.

There, in the crystalline water, was Jiang Ruoxi.

Her fair skin glistened with drops of spring water. Her long white hair floated like silk upon the surface, and her slender form rested like a blooming lotus. In this ruin filled with death and decay, she was a rare moment of peace and purity.

The corners of Ling Kong’s mouth curved up slightly.

Then he suddenly called out, “Ruoxi!”

She turned around, glancing at him from the spring.

The distance between them was still far enough that he couldn’t see her clearly through the water, and because of that, Jiang Ruoxi wasn’t too shy. As long as it was Ling Kong, she didn’t mind.

“Are you eighteen yet?” Ling Kong asked with a grin.

“Huh?” Jiang Ruoxi’s face immediately flushed. She quickly shook her head. “N-No, I’m not eighteen yet.”

Why was he asking something like that all of a sudden? What was he planning?

“Really?” Ling Kong smirked. “But we’ve already been here for quite a while, haven’t we?”

“What do you mean ‘a while’? It’s only been a little over three months!” Jiang Ruoxi responded quickly.

They had found a timekeeping device in the ancient treasury earlier, so they had a clear sense of how long had passed.

It had been just over three months since they entered the ruins, but her birthday hadn’t arrived yet. She was still a few months away from turning eighteen.

“I mean, three months isn’t that short,” Ling Kong said playfully. “You’re almost eighteen.”

“I—I’m younger than you by a few months!” she said quickly. “If you’re not eighteen yet, then of course I’m not!”

Something about the way he was speaking made her nervous. What was he getting at?

“It’s fine. You don’t have to be eighteen, do you?” Ling Kong’s grin turned mischievous.

Suddenly, he began to take off his outer robe and, without hesitation, leapt into the spring.

“What are you doing!?” Jiang Ruoxi cried out in panic, immediately retreating through the water.

“It’s boring in this ruin,” Ling Kong said with a chuckle, moving toward her. “Let’s have a little fun, shall we?”

“N-No! You can’t do this! You— You can’t!” Jiang Ruoxi stammered, her cheeks flushed red as she continued backing away…