“All of this is far too coincidental—it’s simply too convenient to be real.”
Someone nodded in agreement.
“If this isn’t a coincidence, then those rumors simply cannot be trusted.”
“If that’s the case, then this Prince Ye is hiding his true capabilities far too deeply.”
Everyone present felt a jolt of alarm.
Suddenly, someone seemed to realize something crucial.
“In that case, we can’t possibly stay here a moment longer.”
“Let’s leave right now, or it will be too late.”
“Right, right, right!”
“Let’s get out of here!”
The group hurriedly grabbed their weapons and fled the premises, not even taking the time to pack their belongings.
Meanwhile, at the Prince’s Residence!
At this moment, Ying Qingye was lying—ah, no, lying face down on his bed, letting out groans of misery.
Although he hadn’t received the full thirty strikes, by the time Ying Zheng’s pardon arrived, he had already taken twenty blows. His backside was bruised and bleeding, practically torn to shreds.
“Goodness gracious, they really hit me like they meant to kill me!“
“This is killing me!“
Given the medical standards of the Qin dynasty, it would probably take at least ten days just to heal up. He had no choice but to lie flat at home and recover; his grand enterprise of trying to get himself killed would have to wait until he was fully healed.
“Oh, that’s right!“
“I have a system!“
“Can’t I just have it cough up some miraculous healing medicine?“
Only then did Ying Qingye remember the cheat code residing in his mind.
“System, show yourself!”
“What does the host require?“
“Give me some supreme healing medicine already! Where is your basic situational awareness?”
“What kind of system are you? You completely lack any sense of initiative.”
Ying Qingye complained irritably.
“You should have said so earlier!“
“Why didn’t you mention it sooner?“
[Ding!]
[The Beginner’s Gift Pack has been dispatched. Please check your inventory, Host.]
“Oh my word, you’re only giving me the Beginner’s Gift Pack right now, you useless system?!“
“Shouldn’t it be handed over the moment we bonded?“
“Why am I only getting it now?“
“Do you want it or not?“
“Open the Beginner’s Gift Pack!”
[Ding!]
[Beginner’s Gift Pack opened. Congratulations, Host, on acquiring: Rejuvenation Pill ×10, Seven-Star Longyuan Sword ×1, Desert Eagle ×10.]
Gazing at the items displayed on the system panel, Ying Qingye’s emotions were a tangled mess. He couldn’t quite decide whether to feel elated or depressed.
If he was happy—well, the beginner packs given to other time-travel protagonists were usually world-breaking, overpowered artifacts. Some folks even used water pumps to siphon out the primordial blood of Pangu. Yet here he was, being handed a bunch of junk.
If he felt sad—well, these were items that simply did not exist in this era, far surpassing current technology, granting him a degree of self-preservation.
But did he even want self-preservation?
Not at all! He would have preferred a mob of assassins to storm in right now and chop him into pieces. These items were completely useless to him. What on earth was he supposed to do with them?
“System, you’re a piece of work—what am I supposed to do with this junk?”
“To ensure the host’s safety!“
“This prince doesn’t need any of this stuff.”
“Take it back, take it back!”
Ying Qingye waved his hand impatiently.
“Items have already been distributed and cannot be returned or exchanged!“
Ying Qingye: “…”
Since they couldn’t be returned, he had no choice but to accept it.
Fishing out a Rejuvenation Pill, he popped it into his mouth. It melted instantly upon contact, transforming into a warm stream of energy that flowed down into his stomach.
Moments later, the excruciating throbbing in his backside vanished completely into thin air.
Ying Qingye pushed himself up, stretched, and moved around—every trace of pain was gone.
As expected of a divine, miraculous medicine!
Just then, the estate steward came by to deliver medicine for the young master. Walking in, he froze in absolute shock upon seeing Ying Qingye jumping around with boundless energy.
“My Lord… you… you’re already healed?”
Old Huang the steward stared at Ying Qingye in sheer disbelief.
“Yeah! I’m all better!”
Ying Qingye patted his backside and laughed.
“This… this is a miracle!”
“This is simply a medical miracle!”
Old Huang couldn’t believe his own eyes. Just a moment ago, the young master was practically at death’s door, yet now he was acting as though nothing had happened at all.
“That’s because this prince has the heavens watching over me!”
“Come on, let’s head over to the Zuiyue Pavilion!”
Just as he was about to set off, Old Huang hurriedly stepped in to block his path.
“My Lord, you mustn’t go!”
“If His Majesty finds out, he’ll probably end up beating you again.”
Ying Qingye waved his hand dismissively, wearing a completely nonchalant expression.
“I’m not afraid!”
“I’ll just put on a disguise, and nobody will recognize me!”
With that, he began ransacking his wardrobe, turning everything upside down without finding a single useful item.
“Old Huang, go find me a bamboo rain hat and another set of commoner clothes.”
“My Lord… please reconsider!”
“Stop nagging, hurry up and go!”
Helpless, Old Huang had no choice but to comply!
“Host, how can you be so idle and do absolutely nothing?”
“Have you forgotten your mission?”
At that moment, the system’s voice echoed directly inside his mind.
“Mission?”
“What mission?”
System: “…”
Right on cue, the system panel popped open automatically, displaying the pending quest.
[Rise to fame and prestige, ascend to the imperial throne!]
[Failure will result in the elimination of the host!]
“Elimination?”
“Come and get me, then! Do your worst!”
“Come on! Let’s party! Anyway, we’ve got plenty of time!”
He even burst into a silly dance while speaking, his expression looking as cheeky and provoking as humanly possible. Anyone who saw him would instantly feel an urge to slap him across the face.
System: “…”
“Host, are you truly content with being looked down upon by everyone?”
“Do you not wish to become exceptional? To acquire more skills?”
“System, it’s not that I’m complaining, but people only live once—why should we ever care about what others think?”
“With so many people in this world, can you ever hope to please everyone?”
“Look at my imperial father—a virtuous monarch who lives and breathes for his country and people, yet he’s still cursed by future generations as a tyrant after two thousand years!”
“Walk your own path and let people talk all they want!”
“Aren’t you going to eliminate me?”
“Come on, do it!”
Ying Qingye spread his arms wide, welcoming the system’s judgment. He was determined never to become a puppet of the system. Why should he simply dance to whatever tune it played?
My fate is decided by me, not the heavens!
“Host, you’re really itching for death, aren’t you?”
“You think you’re tough, do you?”
[Ding!]
[The system rewards the host with: God-Level Martial Arts Mastery, God-Level Academic Mastery, God-Level Music Mastery, God-Level Painting Mastery…]
[Bonus reward: Jiuyou’s Female Emperor (Bodyguard), accompanied by the Nine Heavens Holy Virgins.]
“Host, let’s see how you try to die this time!”
Ying Qingye was completely dumbfounded!
He didn’t even want these things, yet the system was forcing them on him anyway?
Still… that Female Emperor, along with the Nine Heavens Holy Virgins—hehe…
Wait a minute!
I am a person of upright moral character; how could I possibly have such lewd thoughts?!
“System, I refuse to claim this!”
“I don’t want it—nope, I’m just not taking it, I’m just messing with you!”
[Ding!]
[The system is initiating the soul-infusion enlightenment mode.]
In a flash, Ying Qingye felt as though his entire head was about to explode.
Countless streams of information poured relentlessly into his consciousness. Was this what people called finally growing a brain?
“Ah!”
Accompanied by Ying Qingye’s roar of exertion, an ocean’s worth of vast knowledge flooded into his mind. At the same time, he could feel the physical strength and durability of his body surging dramatically.
He felt entirely revitalized and brimming with raw power.
“Shui Yunji pays respects to her Master!”
“We pay respects to our Master!”
At that moment, several enchanting voices rang out.
Ying Qingye raised his head to look, and he froze in sheer astonishment, his eyes widening to the size of copper coins.
Standing right before him was a breathtaking young woman, roughly one meter seventy in height, dressed in an exceptionally alluring and striking outfit.
Her features were stunningly gorgeous, possessing a tall, statuesque figure with an oval face, a red-cord forehead band, a high bun adorned with a full array of long, straight golden phoenix hairpins, and a delicate strand of hair draped gracefully down her back.
Barefoot, her gorgeous and regal attire highlighted her seductive yet majestic queen-like aura, while every single gesture she made radiated an air of cold, decisive ruthlessness.