Chapter 120 Punishment

Chapter 120: Punishment

When Xiao Yan woke up, he still had no idea what day it was.

In the void, there was no sense of time, and he didn't know how much time had passed in Liu Qingci's world.

Only the main system's orb emitted a faint glow before him.

"The reset procedure is complete."

Xiao Yan pressed his aching head. "So... are you going to eliminate me now?"

The main system was silent.

Xiao K popped out from behind it, exclaiming happily, "Host! It's done, but there's a small problem~"

The main system said quietly, "Xiao K, does this make you happy?"

Xiao K immediately stopped bouncing around and replied submissively, "Not at all!"

Xiao Yan had already guessed the moment he woke up.

If the procedure hadn't gone wrong, he probably wouldn't have woken up at all.

Since he was given a chance to wake up, it meant the main system still needed him.

"Right now, that world is in a state of chaos. According to system detection, we've detected that the bottom protagonist, Liu Qingci, has been gradually awakening self-awareness."

When Xiao Yan heard Liu Qingci's name, his heart tightened painfully.

"Awakened..."

The main system's orb flickered as if it was gathering its thoughts.

"In simple terms, when you first entered that world, Liu Qingci had already begun to deviate from the original story's setup. He was no longer a simple paper character; he had developed independent consciousness and emotions."

Xiao K couldn't help but speak, its voice filled with unconcealed joy: "So after the reset, Liu Qingci won't be affected at all!"

The main system said, "But because of that, the world can't function properly. So we've decided... to abandon one of the protagonists."

"Abandon one protagonist? You're giving up on the protagonists' romance?" Xiao Yan asked.

The main system sounded weary: "For now, we have to go with the second-best option."

Since the two protagonists can never have a romantic storyline now.

"So which protagonist do you plan to abandon?"

The main system said majestically: "Xiao Yan, you started this whole mess. I've decided not to eliminate you because we need you to fix this."

Xiao Yan listened quietly.

The main system went on: "I'm sending you and Xiao K back to that world to end the misguided connection between the protagonists. You and Xiao K get to decide which protagonist disappears."

"But there is still a punishment, even though you won't be killed."

Xiao Yan asked, "What punishment?"

The main system said: "Once this is over, you'll be stuck in that world forever."

Xiao Yan: "..."

Xiao Yan: "............"

Xiao Yan: "??!!"

The main system said: "But if you fail this mission, you, Liu Qingci, and that whole world will disappear."

The corner of Xiao Yan's mouth twitched.

He stayed quiet for a long time.

Until Xiao K's little orb couldn't help floating in front of him and bobbing.

"Host? Why are you so quiet? You okay?"

Xiao Yan finally spoke, his tone strange.

"So the punishment is that I'll stay with him forever?"

"Yes, isn't that amazing?" Xiao K chuckled and added, "Host, don't forget, if you fail, you, Liu Qingci, and that world will all be gone!"

"I know." Xiao Yan asked, "What exactly do I need to do for this mission?"

The main system's voice remained flat.

"Your job is to bring this world back into balance. That could mean getting rid of Xiao Jing, Liu Qingci, or..."

The main system paused.

"...letting this world fully detach from the original story and become a self-sustaining new world."

Xiao K jumped out excitedly: "Host, host, I've been fully upgraded this time too~ I've got way more functions now! No time to waste, let's head over now!"

Xiao Yan quickly absorbed the current situation and asked a serious question:

"How do we get there?"

Wasn't Prince Yu from that world already dead?

Xiao K had already bounced around him a few times: "We'll just go like this. Host, don't worry, leave it all to me! I'm the upgraded Xiao K now (￣▽￣)~*"

---

In the dead of night.

After Xiao Jing was done, he still felt nothing—in fact, even more restless.

He kicked everyone out of the hall, leaving himself alone, staring sullenly into the darkness.

His mind was filled with what Liu Qingci had said earlier that day.

"Because of you, I met Xiao Yan."

"I should actually thank you for that."

Hmph... just a few days ago he was angry at him for the same thing.

And now he's thanking him?

How ridiculous.

Xiao Yan really is a persistent ghost.

Alive, he was a hindrance; dead, he still holds Liu Qingci's heart.

Xiao Jing closed his eyes, remembering the words Liu Qingci had spoken—words he simply couldn't grasp.

When he opened his eyes again, he suddenly stood up.

Outside the window, the night was deep.

Summon someone.

The old eunuch hurried in.

“Prepare the carriage,” Xiao Jing said. “I’m going to the Prince Yu Mansion.”

The old eunuch hesitated: “Your Highness, it’s so late...”

Xiao Jing gave him a look, his voice cold— “I said, to the Prince Yu Mansion.”

A chill went down the old eunuch’s spine. He didn't dare ask any more and hurried out to make the preparations.

Xiao Jing didn't even know why he was going.

But his heart was restless, filled with a stifling anger.

That anger was stuffed inside his chest—heavy, stifling, burning him up until he felt terrible all over.

He urgently needed to go to Yu Mansion, to that good-for-nothing's old residence, to blow off some steam.

In the dead of night, the gates of the mansion were unguarded.

Xiao Jing gestured, and the guards beside him kicked the door open.

“Alright, that's enough. I'll go in alone.” He waved them all away.

The mansion felt dead and still.

Because the master of the mansion was no more; only a handful of old servants remained to look after the empty mansion.

The moonlight was pale, spilling across the weeds in the courtyard.

Xiao Jing picked his way over shattered tiles, his feet crunching on something—he had no idea what.

The night wind whistled through the broken lattices, making a mournful wailing sound, as if someone were sobbing.

Xiao Jing walked slowly.

The mansion had seemed fine during the day, but in the deep of the night, it felt like a haunted mansion abandoned for decades.

A stray cat crouched on the wall, its green eyes glowing at him.

“Get lost,” Xiao Jing muttered under his breath.

With a loud 'meow,' the cat darted away.

Xiao Jing continued deeper inside. The door to Lanyue Pavilion was ajar.

He stood in front of it, suddenly afraid to push it open.

But then again, what did he have to fear?

Did he really believe what Liu Qingci said—that Xiao Yan could turn into a vengeful spirit and come back for him?

Xiao Jing thought that was ridiculous.

Hadn't he come here in the dead of night to prove he was fearless?

He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and pushed the door open.

Moonlight filtered through the broken lattices, casting pale, grid-like patterns on the floor.

The room was dark and silent.

His gaze slowly swept across the space.

A dusty desk, empty bookshelves.

And then... Xiao Yan's face.

The moonlight sliced a pale gash through the darkness.

At the far end of that beam, a face was lit.

The moonlight drained that face of all color, leaving it deathly pale.

But it was unmistakable—crystal clear.

Xiao Yan stood in the pale moonlight, dressed in a dark robe, his tall frame and disheveled black hair.

He looked exactly like a vengeful spirit come to take a soul.