Chapter 2: So Hideous It Defies Description
His appearance, if described carefully, possessed a sharp and profound beauty, like an ancient deity carved in stone—stern and distant, cold and unapproachable.
She quickly regained her composure and, following her memory, headed toward the back mountain. Here, ancient trees towered endlessly, old vines intertwined, filling the air with the essence of a primeval forest.
Not far away, a small river flowed quietly, its waters clear to the bottom, teeming with fish and shrimp.
The fish and shrimp were much larger than those in the post-apocalyptic world, still pure and unpolluted.
Su Xiyue swallowed hard, feeling thirsty and very hungry.
Yet she did not rush forward.
Closing her eyes, she tried to connect with the surrounding plants.
In the post-apocalyptic era, her supernatural ability was wood-based, which she had cultivated to level seven.
She could not only stimulate plant growth, use vines to attack or bind objects, but also heal simple wounds and sense movements within a certain range.
In that chaotic world, she had relied heavily on this ability to scavenge supplies.
Unfortunately, she had been accidentally blown up by a formidable zombie.
Soon, a slender green vine appeared in her palm.
She was delighted; her ability remained, though for some reason, it had dropped to level one.
No matter—level one was level one. The spirit energy in this beast world was abundant; she would surely cultivate it back up in time.
Under her control, the vine in her palm shot out swiftly, wrapping around a nearby large tree, then quickly retracted.
Watching the lush green vine, her heart was filled with joy.
With her ability, she had a greater assurance of survival in this world.
Su Xiyue retracted the vine into her palm and crouched by the riverbank.
She scooped up some water to wash her face. The icy river water relieved some of her summer heat, but the sensation on her skin was unpleasant—her face felt pocked and particularly oily.
It disgusted her profoundly.
Using the water’s reflection, she scrutinized herself: her hair was a tangled mess, sticky and matted, littered with unknown dead leaves.
She wore a beast-skin skirt, filthy and torn, exuding a foul, repulsive odor that nearly made her vomit.
Her face was even worse—dark yellow, rough, greasy, covered in pimples and pustules, some oozing thick yellow pus. The sight was revolting.
Her eyes were small and murky, her nose flat and broad, her mouth wide with thick lips and protruding teeth.
Her figure was obese and bloated, as if all the flesh had been squeezed together, with no waistline.
Su Xiyue was appalled by her own ugliness and could not hold back a retch.
She vomited violently, nearly emptying her stomach bile.
“Oh my God, this is just too ugly,” she muttered, her spirit nearly broken.
Though never a great beauty, she had always been clear and pleasant-looking; when had she ever looked this hideous?
With this appearance, not only men but even she herself despised it.
No, first a thorough wash, then she would carefully fix up her face.
---
Su Xiyue was not overly vain but cared deeply about her personal image and would never allow herself to be so slovenly.
It was simply too nauseating.
She raised a hand to her face; it was greasy and repulsive, causing her to pull it back quickly.
Suppressing her disgust, she began washing her hair—dirty, foul-smelling, caked with mud and oil, tangled beyond belief.
Using her hands as a comb, she struggled for a long time to smooth it somewhat.
Yet no matter how she washed, it wouldn’t get clean. The river water at her feet turned dark, and her hair remained greasy.
If only she had shampoo.
At that moment, a sudden ‘ding’ sounded in her mind.
“Ding! Super Charm System activated.”
“Ding! Welcome, host, to the beast world. I am your system assistant, pleased to serve you.”
Su Xiyue was momentarily stunned. Super Charm System?
As a seasoned fan of novels in her past life, she naturally knew what a system was.
It was the essential golden finger for any transmigrator.
Had she just awakened her own golden finger?
Her heart leapt with joy.
But what was a charm system? Was it telling her to become a heartthrob?
“Um, system assistant, first tell me what exactly your function is,” she asked while washing her hair.
The system chuckled twice, then explained, “This system is designed to help the host enhance personal charm, court target individuals, and gain their favor. Each time a certain level of favor is gained, rewards are granted.”
“Court targets? Favor? Rewards?”
Su Xiyue pondered these keywords, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. “Can you be more specific? Who do I have to court? How do I gain favor? And what kind of rewards?”
She was most curious about the rewards.
“The targets to court are the original host’s five beast husbands: Ye Ling, Mo Lin, Qing Zhu, Bai Qi, and Xuan Ming. You must interact with them to raise their favor toward you. Favor has five levels: loathing, indifferent, liking, fondness, and deep love. Each level up grants substantial rewards, and reaching the deepest level earns the ultimate grand prize.”
The system explained softly, then continued, “Rewards come in many forms: beauty pills, weight-loss pills, various survival skills, daily necessities, health-enhancing elixirs, and all kinds of rare items. Of course, including the shampoo you just wished for.”
Su Xiyue raised an eyebrow. This system sounded intriguing.
However, the idea of courting those five men...
Just the thought of them gave her a headache—especially Ye Ling, who was so fierce. She had no desire to bring misfortune upon herself.
And then there was Chu Youyou, the female protagonist player...
“So, what are their current favor levels toward me? At what stage are they?”
She did not hastily agree but continued to inquire.
“Host, please see for yourself.”
---
At the system’s words, an electronic screen appeared before her.
Courtship Target Favor Panel.
Host: Su Xiyue.
Age: 16
Charm Value: 0
Appearance Value: 10 (Extremely Ugly)
Health: 60 (out of 100)
Weight: Severely Overweight, hindering movement.
Skills: Wood-based supernatural ability (Level 1)
Court Targets and Favor Levels:
Ye Ling: Loathing (-100)
Mo Lin: Loathing (-90)
Qing Zhu: Loathing (-90)
Bai Qi: Loathing (-85)
Xuan Ming: Loathing (-90)
Su Xiyue stared at the string of negative values, all around negative ninety or a hundred, and her mouth twitched sharply.
Though she knew the beast husbands disliked her, she hadn’t expected such deep loathing.
Her expression fell into deep gloom.
“Um, I can’t complete your task. You’d better find someone else.”
With her awakened supernatural ability from the post-apocalyptic world, she could survive well on her own here. Why press herself against cold shoulders?
Besides, it might be impossible to accomplish.
It was pure self-inflicted trouble.
The system grew anxious, “Host, please don’t reject so hastily. Though you have abilities, this world is perilous, with many powerful beasts and some supernatural forces. With the system’s help, you’ll live much better.”
Su Xiyue’s heart stirred. The system’s words were not without reason.
This world was dangerous, even more so than the post-apocalypse. With the system’s aid, life would indeed be more comfortable.
But the thought of courting five men who all hated her...
Especially Ye Ling at minus one hundred. Just imagining his cold, stern gaze made her tremble.
Even if she threw caution to the wind and became a sycophant, it would be a difficult task to complete.