Exiting the stone house, the view suddenly opened up.
The live stream camera pulled back, revealing the silent and vast mining site under the clear, cold moonlight.
It was actually a full panoramic shot.
The dozen or so viewers in the live stream couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.
[Jianmengtianxia: Such clear night skies only existed in my childhood. The streamer really is in ancient times, no doubt about it.]
[Handsome Driver Who Never Brakes: Indeed. Even though it’s a Black Mine, this kind of mountain scenery is truly rare.]
[King of Banter: Even without the streaming mission, it’d be fun if the streamer just ate and drank in ancient times, letting us experience the lives of ancient people.]
[Shuaidebumingxian: No way! I’m so anxious! Streamer, hurry up and chase after them! My rockets can’t go to waste!]
[Pacifier Adventurer: Exactly! We’re here for the thrill! I want to see how this group escapes, I want to see them fight!]
The Scrolling Subtitles were flooded with viewers eager to watch the excitement.
Lu Zhao didn’t respond either, hiding in the shadows and silently following. He saw the group of miners sneaking past the soldiers under the cover of night but didn’t approach, instead maintaining a close but discreet distance.
Halfway through their journey, two soldiers approached, swords at their waists, marching solemnly.
The group panicked: Weren’t they told there’d be no patrols at this spot tonight? If the soldiers came any closer, they’d be discovered.
As the miners trembled in fear, Shen Qi lowered his voice and said, “Turn back and take the other route to regroup. I’ll stay behind to distract them.”
The miners admired his courage but feared missing their only chance to escape. Without hesitation, they immediately turned and headed the other way.
Shen Qi gripped his short blade, waiting for the two patrolling soldiers to approach. With a swift motion, he slit their throats and dragged their bodies into the shadows. He then turned, cautiously scanning his surroundings. Instead of continuing to follow the other miners toward the west gate, he turned and headed in the opposite direction.
The dozen or so viewers in the live stream watched from afar, puzzled.
What was Shen Qi planning? Did he not want to escape anymore? Why was he turning back?
The viewers flooded the chat with speculation about his intentions. Lu Zhao’s eyes flickered slightly as he silently followed.
After trailing him for a while, Lu Zhao saw Shen Qi wipe the blood from his face, tear his clothes into disarray, and rush out of the shadows, collapsing in front of four officials who were feasting in a wooden shed.
The four soldiers were startled, still holding their chopsticks and wine cups, and hurriedly asked him, “What happened?”
He bowed his head, his blood-stained fingers gripping the edge of the table, and cried out in panic, “Th-those lowly commoners suddenly rebelled! They’re all escaping through the west gate!”
“What?” The four soldiers immediately set down their food and drink, not even bothering to check on their informant. They grabbed their swords from the table and rushed off to pursue the escapees.
Tonight was the scheduled shipment of weapons from the mine, so the guards inside were already sparse. The task of guarding the miners had been assigned to the six of them, and the four feasting here were already neglecting their duties. If the miners truly escaped and revealed the Liangzhou Governor’s secret weapon manufacturing, they would not survive the consequences.
Only after the soldiers had rushed off in a panic did Shen Qi slowly lift his head, his eyes cold and sinister.
The live stream viewers who had witnessed the entire scene were even more confused.
What was this Child of Destiny trying to do? He helped the miners escape, then turned around and betrayed them.
Did he not want to live, or was he trying to get everyone killed?
The dozen or so viewers in the live stream played guessing games, speculating for a long time before asking Lu Zhao for his opinion.
Lu Zhao had no opinion to offer and continued to follow Shen Qi.
After finishing his act, Shen Qi immediately stood up and moved swiftly, turning several corners before slipping into a wooden cabin. The cabin was lit by a dim oil lamp, and from afar, one could smell the aroma of food and the warmth of a hearth.
Clearly, this was the kitchen of the Black Mine.
The kitchen chef was in the outer area, cleaning up the accumulated slop, rotten vegetable leaves, and discarded kitchen utensils. Just as he finished and turned around, he bumped into Shen Qi, who had climbed in through the window. Before he could cry out, a dagger was pressed against his neck, and he was knocked unconscious in terror.
Shen Qi first removed his own soldier’s uniform, then proceeded to strip the chef of his greasy clothes and put them on himself. After donning the chef’s windproof hat, he bent down and dragged the plump chef, now only in his undergarments, into a dark corner of the kitchen.
Lu Zhao sneered coldly, her words unraveling the confusion of the dozen or so viewers in the live stream: [He plans to use the miners to create chaos while disguising himself as the chef to escape through the east gate.According to the original host’s memories, this chef would transport kitchen waste out on the first and fifteenth days of each month, while also purchasing half a month’s worth of ingredients for the Black Mine.
Tonight was the fifteenth, and with most of the guards dispatched to transport weapons, if chaos broke out at the west gate, the remaining guards at the east gate would rush to support, leaving no one to bother with this insignificant kitchen hand.
Shen Qi was truly playing a clever game—sacrificing all the miners’ lives to ensure his own escape.
A classic case of “let others die but not me,” the epitome of a self-serving personality.
At her words, the live stream exploded.
[Hanging a Pacifier to Conquer the World: Damn! That ruthless? Anchor, are you sure you want to support him in ascending the throne? The first thing this kind of person would do after securing power is surely to eliminate those closest to him!]
[Jianmengtianxia: Yeah, Anchor. Once he becomes emperor, seeing you will remind him of his miserable past. You won’t even know how you die.]
[Shuaidebumingxian: How about changing the live stream theme to “Killing the Donkey After It’s Done the Grinding.”]
The live stream was in an uproar, with everyone urging the anchor to reconsider.
The system grew anxious, fearing that Lu Zhao might back out again, and hurriedly defended Shen Qi: [Host, don’t listen to their provocations. Great achievements require overlooking minor details. Besides, these miners aren’t entirely innocent—don’t you remember how they tried to kill you and carry you out? Just now, when they fled, they didn’t even think to take you along. Shen Qi has been on the run with Consort Mei since he was six, hunted for ten years, so it’s natural for his personality to be a bit cold. After being captured and tortured in the mine for two months, it’s normal for him to be twisted. This makes it easier for you to save him, warm his heart, become his right-hand man, and even his unforgettable white moonlight. Once you support his ascension, you can smoothly become the Empress.]
The system rambled on earnestly, but Lu Zhao responded coolly: [Are you sure that after helping him to the throne, it won’t be a case of “killing the hare after hunting the hounds”?]
The system couldn’t guarantee that. It weakly replied: [Even being Empress for just one day counts as completing the mission. As long as the process is exciting enough, with audience tips and popularity, both the anchor and this system can safely return to our original dimensions.]
Lu Zhao chuckled twice: “Is that so?”
The system felt a chill in those two words and didn’t dare respond.
Just as it was on edge, Lu Zhao added: “Then does Shen Qi being emperor for one day count as completing the mission?”
System: …
Help!!!!
What does the host mean by this?
Does she plan to strike first after the Child of Destiny ascends the throne?
[Well, I suppose so. As long as Shen Qi has descendants and a new Child of Destiny is born in this realm, it should be fine.]
Lu Zhao raised an eyebrow: So it seems the Child of Destiny isn’t irreplaceable after all.
The system had a bad premonition. Before it could figure out why, Shen Qi had already tied up the cook, finished his preparations, and was pushing the slop cart out.
Lu Zhao wasn’t in a hurry either. She waited until the person had completely gone far away before leisurely climbing into the kitchen. She reached out to untie the ropes on the cook’s hands, looked around, picked up a gourd ladle from the stove, scooped up some cold water, and splashed it on the cook’s face.
The late autumn was chilly, and the mountain spring water was piercingly cold. The cook shivered and was jolted awake by the cold. Seeing Lu Zhao in front of him, he panicked again.
Ignoring his fear, Lu Zhao reminded him, “The thief who knocked you out disguised himself as you and pushed the slop cart toward the east gate. If he escapes, what will happen to you?”
The cook’s pupils contracted sharply: If the person escaped and the news of the Liangzhou Governor privately manufacturing weapons got out, he wouldn’t live either.
Trembling, he scrambled to his feet, not even bothering about the shoe he’d lost, and ran toward the east gate.
The system grew anxious. [Host! What are you doing? The Side Quest is to help the Child of Destiny escape the mine!]
Lu Zhao hummed: “I know. I am helping the Child of Destiny escape the mine. Otherwise, how can I become his savior?”
The system’s mechanical brain whirred for a moment, as if suddenly understanding. [Does the host plan to rescue him at a critical moment? But does the host have the ability to break through from the front gate?]
Lu Zhao: “Didn’t you bind with me because you believed I had that ability?”
The system was stumped: That really wasn’t the case. Originally, it intended to bind with the candidate most suitable according to the main system’s calculations. Who knew that at the critical moment, the host’s soul entered a time wormhole and automatically bound instead.
While the system fell silent, the dozen or so people in the live stream were also discussing.
[Jianmengtianxia: Hahahaha, the streamer’s learning ability is super strong! Already mastering backstabbing so quickly?]
[Driver No Brakes: I feel like the streamer wasn’t a good person to begin with? Do you all remember that square-faced burly man? It couldn’t have been a coincidence that he fell to his death, right?]
[Trash Talk King: Now that you mention it, I think so too. What did the streamer do before? Feels like her skills are really good—flipping through skylights, scaling walls so smoothly, and her speed in hiding and tracking is unusually fast.]
[Sucking a Pacifier to Conquer the World: I just checked the profile intro; the streamer’s identity is a hunter.]
[Trash Talk King: How could she just be a hunter? The streamer definitely has a hidden identity.]
[Shuaidebumingxian: Whatever her identity is, it’s killing me! Streamer, hurry up and follow to watch the show! My rockets can’t be wasted!]
Lu Zhao: [Don’t worry, your rockets won’t be wasted.]
She quickly left the kitchen, took a shortcut, and arrived at the east gate ahead of the cook.
By now, Shen Qi had already pushed the slop cart to the east gate. As expected, the guards were lax tonight, but the soldiers still dutifully stopped the cart for inspection.
The distance was a bit far, and the viewers in the live stream were growing frantic, urging her to get closer.
Lu Zhao: Indeed, the love for watching drama is human nature.
She moved closer and even proactively adjusted the camera settings. The live stream screen instantly became high-definition. Now, the viewers could see the situation at the east gate and everyone’s facial reactions from every angle without any blind spots.
Under the lens, Shen Qi kept his head lowered, the thick brim of his hat obscuring most of his face.
Two soldiers stepped forward and thoroughly inspected the refuse cart from top to bottom. They glanced at him again, feeling his build seemed somewhat off. Just as they were about to reach out to remove his hat, a loud bang echoed from the west.
The guards at the gate all jumped in surprise. The soldier who had intended to remove Shen Qi’s hat withdrew his hand and impatiently waved him away, “Hurry up, get going! Don’t block the way!” He then took a few steps forward and shouted, “Quick, go check what’s happening at the west gate!”
Over a dozen soldiers gripped their swords and rushed toward the west gate. Shen Qi lowered his head and pushed the refuse cart outward.
The east gate creaked open, revealing a vast expanse of sky beyond the crack—dawn was within sight.
His palms gripping the cart handles were drenched in sweat.
The viewers in the live stream were even more tense.
[Shuaidebumingxian: Damn, this Child of Destiny has pretty solid nerves. His temples are sweating from tension in this cold weather, yet he hasn’t given anything away.]
[Zuipao Tianwang: After all, he’s the man who crushed someone’s head without batting an eye. A man’s status isn’t secure without ruthlessness!]
[Hange Naizui Chuang Tianxia: I just want to see if he can stay this calm when the chef shows up.]
[Jianmengtianxia: Speaking of which, where’s that chef? Why is he so slow? Any later and the Child of Destiny will escape on his own. Host, are you about to miscalculate?]
Lu Zhao: [What’s the rush? He’s right here.]
As she shifted her gaze, the live stream camera turned toward the rear.
Everyone saw the plump chef, clad only in his undergarments, panting heavily as he ran toward the east gate. One of his feet was bare, and while running, he pointed at Shen Qi, who was about to step out of the east gate, and yelled, “Quick, stop him! He’s an imposter!”
The dozen or so soldiers who had been heading to reinforce the west gate simultaneously turned back, drew their swords, and charged toward the east gate.
“Close the gates—don’t let that lowlife escape!”
The soldiers at the east gate reacted swiftly, dropping the gate bolt. The half-opened gate began to slowly shut before his eyes.
Shen Qi’s pupils contracted sharply: The force of his blow had been enough to knock the man unconscious for the entire night, and he’d tied his hands and feet and gagged him. How could this be…?
His plan had been foolproof. Where had it gone wrong?
With the situation critical, he had no time to ponder further. Abandoning the cart, he darted outward in a flash.
The live stream viewers, never ones to shy away from chaos, collectively urged, [Host, hurry up and intervene! Kick him out the gate, then tell him, “I’m here to save you, darling!”]
Author’s note: