Chapter 77
Song Qingshi returned to that strange space.
This time he was not the ignorant soul he once was. Many questions required answers here.
His primordial spirit had collapsed after being extracted, and his cultivation fell to the foundation-building level. The wound in his abdomen was critical, any minor movement could exacerbate it. Fortunately, Song Qingshi was his own best healer. He had prepared for all sorts of injuries. Calmly, he took out his tools, quickly cleaned the critical wound, and performed emergency sutures. He then tightly bandaged it and consumed all the remaining medicinal pills.
After methodically handling everything, he walked up to the sphere claiming to be the system. The system was on the verge of collapsing. Chaotic energies spilled out, red and golden lights flickered in alternation, and black mist seeped out, occasionally emitting weird sounds akin to a hard drive malfunctioning.
Was the system breaking down?
Song Qingshi forcefully tapped the sphere, hoping to restore it to normal.
After several taps, the system hesitated for a moment. The strange sounds slightly improved. It struggled to display the message: "Mission executor Song Qingshi, mission failed, score: negative one hundred, cumulative: negative one hundred and thirty-five thousand one hundred."
Song Qingshi was psychologically prepared for failure, but his mild OCD still found it unsettling. Couldn't they just give him a zero?
Suppressing his discomfort, he asked, "Where did I go wrong?"
The system stuttered in its reply, "Saved the wrong character, error, error, error, gravely erroneous…"
"Scientists must be brave enough to face mistakes and seek the correct answers," Song Qingshi said after a moment of silence, breaking into a smile. "Since you think I answered the question wrongly, let's look for the reason behind the mistake. Starting from the outcome, we'll trace it back step by step to the root of the error."
The system's malfunction worsened and it could no longer participate in the discussion.
Song Qingshi began to question and answer himself:
"In the Jin Feng Mountain Manor, there are only two beauties who left a strong impression on me. Since Yue Wuhuan is not the correct answer, then it must be Bai Zihao. To be honest, Bai Zihao's beauty is not my type, yet I found myself irresistibly drawn to him, experiencing a strong sensation. It's as if in an exam… my intuition is hinting at the answer?"
"Intuition stems from overlooked details. For instance, they praised Bai Zihao's pure Yin constitution and his single water elemental root during the feast. Phrases like 'abusive love' and 'forceful acquisition' appeared in the documents. Jin Feiren treasures Bai Zihao like a jewel, but dismisses Yue Wuhuan like worn-out shoes. Where would this 'abusive love' come from if there were no love between them? Also, how could someone like Yue Wuhuan, who has nothing, be the subject of 'forceful acquisition'?"
"I've always had a vague sense of what Yue Wuhuan was doing behind the scenes."
"However, I overlooked the contradictions and hypnotized myself into believing that Yue Wuhuan was a pure-hearted little angel, the main protagonist in my mission."
"I'd rather be blind than face the truth."
"The news of Jin Feiren becoming Dao companions with Bai Zihao emerged, and I could no longer deceive myself."
"I failed, I flunked the test, yet, I don't regret it at all…"
"From the beginning till now, whatever Yue Wuhuan wanted, I gave it to him. Whether it's precious elixirs or expensive mystical arts and treasures, whether it's pastries on the table or beautiful gemstones, whether it's my body or my emotions, whether it's my life or my freedom…"
"I willingly gave up my principles as a healer, gave up everything for him…"
"Is it simply because he's the subject of the mission, a patient?"
"What fool would do that!"
...
"I've treated other patients. Which of them received such preferential treatment? An Long has been begging me for Purple Flower Dew for how many years? When has he been able to act recklessly without facing consequences?"
"Who among those conducting medical research isn't a battle-hardened warrior, stumbling and rolling through mistakes? How could I be afraid of making mistakes, afraid of flunking? The term 'flunking' that I kept repeating is a lighter term I used because I didn't dare to use the word 'death' in relation to Yue Wuhuan."
"In conclusion," Song Qingshi said mockingly, "I am truly foolish and slow-witted. I've been in love and didn't even realize it. From our first encounter by the river, that phoenix flew into my heart, leading me to ignore everything and everyone else, wishing to save him alone…"
"One thousand three hundred fifty-one failures, a score of negative one hundred and thirty-five thousand one hundred points prove it. No matter how many tasks I do, I will always answer the question incorrectly and save the wrong person," Song Qingshi said defiantly, wiping away his tears.
"Because he is the mistake I'm willingly making!"
...
The system's malfunction worsened, emitting more and more black smoke, and making strange creaking noises.
When Song Qingshi initially realized that Yue Wuhuan wasn't the main romantic focus, he prepared himself to face the System's punishment. However, upon discovering the scroll that revealed cosmic truths, he started to question the integrity of the mission.
The System claims this is a romantic BL novel?
Given what's been happening at the Jin Feng Manor, is this actually an inappropriate, trashy tale not suitable for children?
Yet, every construct in this world is based on reality. He has conducted extensive medical research in the Valley of the Medicine King, and every study, every detail, stands up to scientific scrutiny.
He doesn't believe that a romance novel fixated on sexual thrills would construct such a comprehensive world. Nor does he think two people occupied solely with sexual escapades could influence the course of this world.
In fact, after Jin Feiruo and Bai Zihao became Daoist companions, nothing happened…
Are readers' complaints that easily dismissed?
Using his logical scientific mindset, Song Qingshi finds increasing discrepancies. Why is Yue Wuhuan, a being as magnificent as a phoenix, targeted by cosmic laws? His myriad memories of dying reveal that cosmic laws place far greater importance on Yue Wuhuan than on any main character or mission, even forsaking missions to drag him into the abyss.
Clearly, he is an important character. How could he be reduced to cannon fodder or a minor role, subjected to humiliation or brutal death?
"I have doubts," Song Qingshi began to scrutinize this suspicious orb called the System, seeking to unveil its structure to pinpoint its malfunction. "I suspect you're lying. This world is real, and you're not a book-traversing system. You merely glimpsed the cosmic pattern, predicted part of the future, then fabricated this so-called story to manipulate souls for your unspoken agenda."
Yet, there are still many things he doesn't understand…
Why did the System kindly help him repair his body killed by An Long and return his scattered soul fragments from another world? Why did his soul fragment into two different task-doers? Why doesn't the System provide more mission information, like the name of the main romantic focus? Why does the System make errors…
Fueled by insatiable curiosity, Song Qingshi attempted to use Spirit Flame and Mysterious Flame to break open the orb, but his violent methods failed. He then had an epiphany and treated the System as if it were a patient, sending his consciousness into the orb to see if there was anything living within.
What he saw was beyond belief.
Beneath the orb's shiny exterior was not a mechanical structure as he'd imagined, but rather squirming dark-red flesh, pulsating as if breathing—filthy and nauseating, like some malevolent entity dwelling in sewers.
Countless streams of golden light, representing virtuous deeds, converged within, forming golden chains that tightly bound these disturbing entities, creating an impenetrable seal that hindered all actions and blocked all information.
The gold and red forces were in constant conflict.
Is this... the reason for the System's malfunction?
As Song Qingshi observed the chains formed by the golden light of virtuous deeds, he felt a sense of familiarity. He reached out and extended his consciousness. The golden chain, as if recognizing its master, affectionately moved closer and re-integrated, injecting a torrent of information into his mind like an explosion.
Tears of pain began to fall.
Song Qingshi couldn't help but laugh at himself, realizing how foolish he had been.
So it turns out, all of this was his own doing…
...
Each time a mission failed, the System would wipe his memory clean.
Thirteen hundred and forty-nine times, repeated failures and repeated erasures.
He had long since forgotten who he was, why he was given these missions, and his connection to the Phoenix.
But each time he saw the Phoenix, he couldn't help but rescue him…
The System, a tool wielded by the Cosmic Order, continuously increased the mission's difficulty upon discovering his motives. Seizing the opportunity when his memory was blank, the System misled and interfered, even attempting to execute him outright, turning his efforts to save the Phoenix into an insurmountable task.
The condition of the Phoenix was deteriorating…
Intelligent, sensitive, vulnerable…
Anyone approaching the Phoenix with ulterior motives would never gain his trust.
Finally, Song Qingshi assessed his mistakes and took a desperate gamble. Forsaking all reason, he employed the Butterfly Effect, using irregular actions to influence a deterministic System. Within the tightly woven web of the System, he tore a hole of uncontrollability, causing deviations to steer fate into unforeseeable directions.
The System couldn't obliterate his soul because he was protected by a vast array of golden light symbolizing his virtuous deeds.
These virtuous deeds, rooted in cause and effect, were inherently pure and good—beyond the reach of even the Cosmic Order.
Song Qingshi chose the realm where the Phoenix's power was at its peak, sowing seeds that would later become clues. He then severed a portion of his soul and heart, dispatching it to a simpler world for trials. Meanwhile, he placed the remaining part of his soul and body in the realm of cultivation, focused on becoming a flawless vessel.
After preparations were complete, the vast reservoir of his virtuous golden light acted upon his instructions. It infiltrated the System, causing malfunctions, smoothly turning his soul fragment into a new agent to carry out the straightforward mission of saving the main romantic interest. Then it blocked all further mission information, transforming him into an uninformed novice.
No mission prompts, no System guidance, no interference, and not a hint of distraction…
He would exchange his undivided affection to earn the Phoenix's complete trust.
When the System realized the anomaly, it resisted fiercely and even used An Long to kill him. Fortunately, An Long had refrained from destroying his body. The golden light of virtuous deeds automatically healed his wounds and introduced a naive soul back into the body.
He believed that on the stage of Langgan Terrace, no matter who the main romantic interest was, he would choose Yue Wuhuan and wholeheartedly strive to save him.
The Butterfly Effect—where anything could happen. Perhaps it might lead to a tranquil sea, or perhaps it could stir up a colossal tidal wave.
True destiny shouldn't be manipulated or controlled by an unjust cosmic order.
Through the delicate flap of a butterfly's wings, Yue Wuhuan's fate finally experienced subtle alterations. He ventured into places he would have never considered, obtained the Blood King Vine he would have never acquired, and regained a portion of his lost powers—unprecedented blessings that had never occurred before.
Song Qingshi was uncertain if he had succeeded...
But this was the closest he had come to success.
...
An Long possessed innate combat prowess, making him an important chess piece in the grand scheme of the Cosmic Order. To preserve this piece, the System exerted a surge of overbearing power, breaking through the blockade of the golden light of virtuous deeds, thus contradicting the natural laws to save a life. As a result, it grew increasingly weak, accumulating more and more glitches.
He must seize this opportunity to return to that world, locate Yue Wuhuan again, and complete the final step in the rescue mission.
Song Qingshi tried to manipulate the golden light of his virtuous deeds, once again infiltrating the System to actively select a new task.
The malevolent entities within the System detected his maneuver. Countless black tendrils quickly snaked out from the gaps between the golden chains. Untouchable, indestructible, and inescapable, they enveloped Song Qingshi's body and emitted a terrifying hum: "Initiating penalty for mission failure: erasing all memories of task agent Song Qingshi."
The black tendrils invaded his spiritual consciousness, frantically deleting his memories.
Song Qingshi felt the fading image of Yue Wuhuan, his features growing increasingly indistinct...
Despite his desperate efforts to control the golden light, he couldn't ward off the invasion of the black tendrils. Gritting his teeth, he gave up on directly confronting them, focusing instead on severing their source.
Neither side could gain an advantage, but his mental recollections became increasingly chaotic. Just as he was on the brink of failure, the System malfunctioned severely yet again.
"Task agent 081 failed, task agent Zhao Ye is missing. Task agent Zhao Ye is missing."
"Task agent 081 failed, task agent Zhao Ye is missing. Task agent Zhao Ye is missing."
"Task agent 081…"
Song Qingshi didn't know who Zhao Ye was, but he noticed the System's control had weakened substantially. In the instant before his memories were completely obliterated, he channeled the boundless golden light of virtuous deeds into the loathsome entities, using the world's most brilliant force to tear apart the encroaching darkness, annihilating both.
The System exploded…
The space exploded…
Song Qingshi was cast into darkness.
Vital memories were lost, and important people vanished...
A multitude of tasks unfolded before his eyes, each leading to a different world.
Instinctively, he reached out and tightly grasped the one leading to hope…