System Bug

 A wave of indescribable dizziness surged over Qin Yi like a tide, leaving his vision blurred, as though shrouded in a thick fog. He staggered, struggling to steady himself, but felt as fragile as a leaf in the wind, ready to be swept away at any moment. Clenching his teeth, he forced a deep breath into his lungs and willed himself to stand firm.

In his ears, the thundering of his heartbeat resounded with an uncanny clarity—deep and forceful, like a war drum reverberating through his chest. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and the sight before him left him stunned. The scene was unfamiliar, yet a vague and unplaceable sense of familiarity lingered.

Before him stood a group of soldiers clad in ancient, unadorned armor, standing at rigid attention. Their expressions were complex—a mixture of reverence and bewilderment—yet their gazes were fixed unwaveringly on Qin Yi. After a moment, one burly soldier stepped forward. His face was solemn, his voice carrying a subtle tremor yet underscored with evident concern.

"General, are you… all right? Do you need a hand?" the soldier asked softly, his hand hesitating mid-air as if afraid to offend.

Qin Yi paused, his throat tightening. When he finally spoke, his voice was faint but rang with unyielding authority.

"I am Qin Yi."

The words had barely left his lips when the surrounding soldiers erupted into whispers. Their eyes were filled with astonishment and awe. One young soldier couldn't contain himself and shouted, "Are you truly the legendary Qin Yi, the general who defeated the Xiongnu with just a thousand men?"

Another soldier reacted swiftly, dashing off while shouting, "Notify His Majesty immediately! General Qin Yi has appeared before Xianyang Palace!"

Frowning, Qin Yi surveyed his surroundings. Beneath his feet was a broad square paved with blue stone, and around him rose imposing palace structures. His gaze lifted, coming to rest on the plaque above the grand hall before him. Three gilded characters gleamed in the sunlight: Xianyang Palace.

A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes, and his heart stirred. The architecture, the intricate details—everything before him felt like it had surfaced from the depths of his memory.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Moments later, a messenger clad in light armor rushed up, panting but announcing with unwavering clarity, "His Majesty commands General Qin Yi to enter the hall immediately!"

The soldiers around him burst into another round of animated murmurs.

"His Majesty himself has summoned General Qin Yi! This is an honor beyond compare!"

"General Qin Yi truly lives up to his name! Even the king holds him in such high esteem!"

Yet Qin Yi remained unaffected by the surrounding commotion. Raising a hand slightly to signal the soldiers to step aside, he strode forward, though his mind churned with questions. Why had he suddenly appeared in this place? Just moments ago, he had been discussing a peculiar scroll with two trusted subordinates, and in the blink of an eye, he was here. He tried to recall the events leading up to this moment, but his memories seemed veiled by a fog, indistinct and elusive.

The Xianyang Palace was not only grand in appearance but also ingeniously constructed.

Its design leveraged the principles of sound transmission, much like a modern opera house. Even without modern amplification devices, a soft whisper on the stage could be heard clearly in every corner.

As Qin Yi stood outside the grand hall, still some distance from the assembled ministers inside, he could distinctly hear their discussions as if they were right next to him. His name was mentioned repeatedly, and though terms like "summoning to the court," "waiting outside," and "grants of land and titles" were directly tied to him, his mind was elsewhere.

At that moment, a crisp mechanical tone abruptly rang out in his mind, like a stone dropped into still water, creating ripples in his consciousness.

"Ding… Greetings, Qin Yi."

The voice was robotic and emotionless, carrying an undeniable coldness.

"There was an error in the system, causing a misplacement in your player location. The issue has now been resolved," the voice continued, devoid of any inflection. "If you wish to resume the main storyline, please confirm."

Qin Yi froze, murmuring to himself, "Player…?"

The voice paused briefly before elaborating, "You are not alone in this world. There are other real players among you. They may be enemies or allies, hidden shadows or steadfast comrades."

Narrowing his eyes, Qin Yi's voice took on a sharp edge. "How can I identify them?"

"The storyline will guide you to uncover more clues," the system replied evasively before pressing on, "Please confirm—will you return to the main storyline?"

A glimmer of contemplation flickered in Qin Yi's eyes. Taking a deep breath, he answered firmly, "Yes, return to the main storyline."

In an instant, the world spun around him. A tremendous force seemed to pull him away, and his consciousness plunged into darkness. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his original location. His two loyal subordinates stood before him, their faces etched with concern.

"General, are you all right? Just now, your body radiated a golden glow—we feared…" One of them trailed off, hesitant.

Seated in his chair, Qin Yi regulated his breathing before replying evenly, "It's nothing. I just… had a sudden epiphany." He lowered his gaze, concealing the depth in his eyes.

By now, he understood: this world was far more intricate than it appeared. The other players might be lurking threats—or valuable pawns to exploit. The threads connecting them all would be the next puzzle he needed to unravel.

With a faint smile playing on his lips, Qin Yi murmured under his breath, his tone laced with intrigue, "The game… has only just begun."