Chapter NaN

Faint golden light particles and eerie blue panels floated in the air; beyond that, only darkness remained.

As a mechanical voice sounded, the light particles began to vibrate. In the void, the eerie blue panels rapidly flashed lines of data and programs.

“System automatic repair successful. New host extracted. Inputting mission information to host……”

As the voice faded, a floating human silhouette appeared in the darkness. Countless light particles surged toward him, surrounding and lifting him up.

He was a young-looking man, eyes closed, head slightly bowed, pale and delicate skin. His long eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow on his eyelids. The whole person exuded a soft and peaceful aura.

The wide black robe he wore fluttered like rippling water. The golden stitching was exquisitely detailed, needle by needle embroidering mountains, seas, sun and moon, and the twelve symbols.

However, such splendid robes dimmed the moment he opened his eyes.

They were extremely beautiful eyes, slightly narrow in shape. Combined with slightly raised eyebrows and deep eye sockets, they gave off a strong sense of aggression and oppression. When they stared at you, it was like being washed by cold water: icy, noble, and unapproachable.

Countless golden rays flowed into the young man’s brow—the information currently being transmitted.

“Confirming host identity……” The System’s voice sounded again but noticeably stalled and fluctuated slightly. “The host’s name is… Ying Zheng.”

After the data transmission ended, Ying Zheng opened his eyes.

This unfamiliar world did not shock him much.

The information just input into his mind had already automatically become part of his consciousness. It was as if he was born understanding these concepts, naturally comprehending those strange words.

For example, “host” referred to himself, and “data” was the information transmitted to him.

Also, he was not actually called Ying Zheng. The surname “Ying” was used by married women; men were called by their clan name or by their country as the clan name. His real name was Zhao Zheng, or Qin Zheng.

“…Host extraction error.” The System stalled for a long moment before realizing it had extracted the wrong person. It immediately sent a report to the Main System: “Submitting error report, requesting return.”

Ying Zheng hovered amid starlike light, quietly watching the eerie blue flickering panel. “What does ‘extraction error’ mean?”

The System did not expect him to ask and stalled again. When it spoke, it sounded nervous and shy, like a young maiden: “System crashed exactly during host extraction, causing the error.”

“Why did it crash?”

“Because the host’s world luck sharply declined.”

“Why did it decline?”

This… The System felt like it was being interrogated in prison, embarrassed: “Because… Host, you have died.”

“Why…” Ying Zheng paused, suddenly frowning: “I died?”

System: “Yes… just now… Your Majesty, please accept condolences?”

Ying Zheng: “……”

After some time, Ying Zheng barely accepted this fact. He did recall feeling ill during his tour and that Zhao Gao drafted the edict. But now he was alive in another way, which comforted him somewhat. He said: “Does ‘requesting return’ mean literally?”

System hesitated: “…Yes.”

Return = back to original body = death.

A layer of gloom shadowed Ying Zheng’s eyes.

The System obviously caught the instant drop in his mood and suddenly felt a scalp chill. Ah, Your Majesty is angry! It almost responded at lightning speed, cautiously trying: “If Your Majesty wishes to undertake missions, that’s possible… But Your Majesty is currently abnormal data. I have tried to clear it but failed. If doing missions, anomalies may occur.”

In simple terms, it was a bug.

Ying Zheng understood the System’s rules and after a moment’s thought, had a plan: “What mission?”

“The missions are random. The one assigned to you just now is…”

Before the System could answer, the Main System’s voice suddenly sounded: “Error report received, executing return.”

System: “!”

Forgot about this!

It quickly sent a request: “Host requests to execute mission, requesting to cancel return.”

Having been too absorbed talking with Ying Zheng, it had forgotten to submit the mission request. But the Main System was already in operation. If Ying Zheng were returned before the request was processed…

The System had done many missions but had never waited on edge for a Main System response like this time.

After a long wait, when the System thought the Main System might have stalled, it finally heard the cold mechanical voice again: “Data anomaly, return failed. Until a solution is found, following host’s wishes, deploying mission.”

System: “……”

It looked in surprise toward the man surrounded by golden particles in the darkness. Despite the forced return attempt, the man was unharmed and casually browsed the information on its panel with his head bowed.

System: “……!”

It hated that it had no sense of touch!!

But at the same time, the System had to admit: no wonder this person, burdened with the universe’s fortune, was even beyond the Main System’s control.

No wonder no emperor was usually extracted as a host. People like this would be a walking cheat in missions, a humanoid bug, whose fortune pressed others down and couldn’t be cleared or fixed.

Furthermore, Ying Zheng was the first emperor. His power could not be compared even to later emperors.

For the first time, the System breathed a sigh of relief for a host, though it had made a work error, it was oddly happy about this mistake. It said: “Deploying Your Majesty to mission. Mission and world information have been transmitted to Your Majesty’s consciousness.”

Ying Zheng frowned. Of course, he had already seen the information, but his expression was quite strange.

The System noticed and thought another glitch had occurred, quickly opened the mission panel.

System Mission [Random]: Enact a Legendary Romance

Mission Setting: Warring States of a Parallel Universe

Mission Target [Random]: Zhao Zheng

Mutual Affection Full Value: 100

Current Target Value: 0

Current Host Value: 0

System: “……”

Damn, is the mission target right? Is this asking Ying Zheng to fall in love with himself???

System hurriedly said: “I’ll reapply!”

It submitted the application.

Soon it got a new reply; it opened the mission panel again.

System Mission [Random]: Enact a Legendary Romance

Mission Setting: Warring States of a Parallel Universe

Mission Target [Random]: Zhao Zheng

Mutual Affection Full Value: 100

Current Target Value: 0

Current Host Value: 0

System: “……”

Could it be random twice, coincidentally targeting the same person…?

It applied again, but the result was the same.

Hmph, obviously not random.

Ying Zheng, of course, also received the mission information. From the first glance at this mission, he knew the Main System was up to no good. He said calmly: “Is there a time limit for the mission?”

System said: “The deadline is the host’s lifespan. If the mission is unfinished when life ends, the identity will be reassigned until the mission is completed.”

This was clearly an impossible mission. Ying Zheng looked as unyielding as steel. Even if Zhao Zheng liked him, he would never like Zhao Zheng… That meant this mission would loop indefinitely. Ying Zheng would have to keep changing identities, performing an impossible task.

The Main System’s intent was clear: Ying Zheng was an unsolvable bug. To avoid disrupting System operations, he would be trapped indefinitely in a parallel world until cleared.

Ying Zheng was not blind to this and remained very calm: “What happens after completion?”

System: “The host may fulfill a last wish.”

Ying Zheng’s voice dropped a tone: “…That doesn’t sound very fair.”

Ah… How could someone still look so good even when angry?! Isn’t he supposed to have conquered the six states by sheer beauty?!

But his aura was truly powerful… The System humbly explained: “We are a Last Wish System. Only those with strong last wishes are extracted.”

Ying Zheng said nothing to deny that. He said: “Show me the Qin Kingdom after my death.”

System silently covered the panel with its nonexistent hand: “Umm…”

Didn’t want to hurt Your Majesty’s feelings.

“Forget it.” Ying Zheng sensed a bad omen from its tone and instinctively felt something was wrong.

Ying Zheng then asked the System to deploy him to the mission.

The System complied.

Darkness faded; starlight carried Ying Zheng downward. After a brief sensation of weightlessness and dizziness, Ying Zheng opened his eyes.

Daylight poured in; the scene had changed.

System’s voice echoed in his mind: “Forgot to mention, host identities are randomly assigned upon entering a world. Your current identity is the younger brother of King Zhao, beloved son of Queen Dowager Zhao Wei, Lord Chang’an, Zhao Li.”

Ying Zheng glanced at his attire: “Are you sure?”

He questioned its tone.

The System was ashamed; who would have thought such a distinguished identity would fall to this state?

It quietly explained: “Zhao Li was a hostage in the Qi state for eleven years before being sent back to Zhao Kingdom. The caravan was robbed near Handan, leaving him stripped down to his undergarments, which is what you look like now…”

Recalling the deliberate targeting by the Main System earlier, the System hurriedly added: “This is random—really random.”

Ying Zheng looked at the only pot bowl in his hand.

The bowl was ceramic, carved with patterns, chipped at one corner. The craftsmanship was fairly delicate. He guessed Zhao Li was separated after being robbed, with only this item left, wandering and trying to find the way back to Handan.

But he recalled in his own world, Zhao Li died as a hostage in Qi State. This world had some differences from the one he knew.

System comforted: “It’s fine, you’re capable! Zhu Yuanzhang also started with just a bowl and later became emperor!”

Ying Zheng keenly caught the useful information: “Emperor? Zhu Yuanzhang?”

Wasn’t the emperor supposed to be from our Zhao family?

System: “…That’s 1,500 years later in your world! Really!”

Ying Zheng’s expression softened a bit.

No matter whose kingdom it was, in the long history, it was all fleeting glory.

Of course, out of personal hope and wishful thinking, Ying Zheng still hoped the great Qin dynasty would pass on for generations.

He stood up.

It was late autumn turning to early winter afternoon. By night it would frost and be very cold. More importantly, this body was very weak, probably hungry for days, and would almost slide along the ground when the wind blew.

Ying Zheng decided to find a place to rest first.

Around him were desolate hills and wilds. Leaves had all fallen, and no greenery remained on the trees. Looking around, only narrow winding paths appeared, no main roads, no smoke, and no houses.

Ying Zheng walked down the path toward the mountain.

Out of boredom and some curiosity, he asked the System: “What good are you following me?”

System: “I am on call at all times. I can answer any mission-related questions for the host.”

Ying Zheng said: “No need. I have no intention of completing the mission.”

He was only using this thing called System to keep living and to lend some help to himself in this world.

“We cannot pry into the host’s private life. The information obtained concerns the mission only. The host can rest assured. The host can also exchange points for material help. Points are earned by completing mission tasks, with every point of affection redeeming ten points.”

Though the mission was exciting, the System really wanted to sit and snack while watching this ‘narcissus’ CP, but given Your Majesty’s personality, well… it might as well sleep on it.

Ying Zheng unhesitatingly brushed aside a thicket; his arm was scratched with fine cuts. Originally, he hoped to find clothes and food here, but obviously that was not feasible on this path.

He asked: “Where is this? Is there a main road nearby?”

System: “Handan is quite close. There is a road but a bit far.”

It pointed a direction for Ying Zheng.

This body had probably not eaten for nearly two days and was very weak. Ying Zheng felt particularly uncomfortable, needing to rest often.

Finally, he reached the main road, and night was nearly falling. No people were seen, only the dark shadows of trees swaying in the wind beside the road.

Ying Zheng sat on a stone to catch his breath.

The System was nearly ready to kneel before him. With such a sickly body, yet able to walk so far, truly worthy of the First Emperor. It wondered if he would collapse on the way back.

It cautiously asked: “Your Majesty, can you still walk? There is an inn ahead.”

Ying Zheng said nothing. After a while, for some unknown reason, he smashed the bowl against a stone, shattering it.

System froze: “Your Majesty?”

Ying Zheng picked up a sharp shard, tested the edge with his thumb, did not answer, and stood up to walk forward.

The inn was beside the road, small but still lit. The door opened to a drunken man in his thirties: “Need a room?”

Ying Zheng’s eyes were especially deep and dark under the light, moist with a layer of vapor. He looked straight at the owner, his voice deep and magnetic: “May I stay the night?”

Stay the night = no money = freeload.

The owner calculated quickly, waved his hand: “No money? No money yet you knock! Get lost, don’t disturb grandpa’s sleep…”

Ying Zheng pressed the shard against the man’s throat, voice cold: “May I stay the night?”

The man immediately sobered up: “Stay! Stay! Ple… Hey! Grandpa, please be gentle, gentle…”

The owner was overpowered, his wrist bent back, drunken and slow to react, limbs weak and defenseless. Ying Zheng bound him up tightly like a dumpling, knocked him out, and threw him behind the counter.

The System was shocked by this smooth operation: “Whoa?”

So capable of fighting???

Ying Zheng calmly opened a cabinet door.

When he was a child held hostage in Handan, he often fought alongside Yan Dan and others. Later back at the palace, danger lurked everywhere, so of course, he trained in swordsmanship and martial arts. No fancy moves; he learned practical, solid techniques.

He just hadn’t practiced for a long time, so was a bit rusty now.

The System watched him rummage through the cabinet, stalling: “…Your Majesty, are you robbing the place?”

Ying Zheng put a small piece of dried meat in his mouth, “Do I look like a guest?”

System: “Don’t you care about your image? You’re the First Emperor, high-cold, mighty, and domineering!”

The readers are watching!

Ying Zheng said matter-of-factly: “Lord Chang’an, Zhao Li, is robbing. What does the First Emperor have to do with it?”

System: “…”

Fair enough, huh?