Chapter 172 - System vs. System (XXII)

Chi Xiaochi is awakened by the light.

When he opened his eyes again, a bright moon leapt straight into his eyes.

And the moon is surprisingly low below the eaves.

…… This is the top of a high building, with a hollowed-out dome at the top and four empty walls, supported by four pillars, in a pattern similar to that of a mountain pavilion.

Chi Xiaochi gets up, walks to the pavilion and gets dizzy, immediately reaches out to hold onto the pillar. He was able to stabilise himself.

This spot is more than a thousand feet above the ground, but is as steep and straight as a cliff on all sides.

If Chi Xiaochi is not mistaken, this is called Ming Yue House, and it is where Jing Xufeng keeps the most wanted criminals.

He felt to his side and the sword in the stone was indeed taken away.

Chi Xiaochi : …… oh woo.

He returned to the centre of the pavilion and sat cross-legged in a dignified manner.

Duan Shujue’s spiritual power was not yet at the level of being able to walk on the wind, and he had no sword blade at his side to harness, so jumping down was basically like free-falling.

Chi Xiaochi feels like a salted fish waiting to be dried up as the wind whistles through the hall.

At that moment, his right hand moved.

Duan Shujue wrote: “The Master has disappeared.”

Chi Xiaochi closed his eyes and said, “Well, he’s gone too.”

Duan Shujue was silent, his mind racing with suspicions, but not sure whether to say anything.

Chi Xiaochi asked him, “You’ve been awake?”

Duan Shujue nods, and writes: “I’ve heard some talk, they say ……”

Chi Xiaochi’s eyes were still closed and his expression was calm: “You say that I have conspired with the viper to kill the master? Is the evidence the human evidence of the disciples and the physical evidence that there were once snake molts and scales in the fishing pool?”

Duan Shujue, not daring to conceal the matter, told them again about the Doushidan.

Although I couldn’t see his face, I could tell just by reading between the lines that he had a guilty conscience.

Chi Xiaochi didn’t mind this, and when he was told, he simply mumbled, “The situation was such that if you didn’t give him the Sailor Dan, you and he would both be dead. Besides, if there was any doubt in anyone’s mind, you and Ye Jiming touching a clothesline would be a disservice.”

Duan Shujue wrote, stroke by stroke, “It was my poor thinking. I should have thought to remove all traces of Brother Ye before I left the fishing pond.”

Chi Xiaochi said lightly, “It’s okay, I thought of it.”

Duan Shujue : “?”

Chi Xiaochi said, “Those snake molts and scales were something I left especially for Yan Jinhua.”

Duan Shujue : “……?”

Chi Xiaochi said, “Ah, you were probably tired from sword practice and sleeping when I did this, and didn’t see it.”

Duan Shujue is not Ji Zuoshan and Chi Xiaochi cannot talk to Duan Shujue all the time, so some information is inevitably miscommunicated.

In his previous life, Duan Shujue had only used his intelligence in his swordplay, but in his new life, his mind was much clearer and he had been deliberately accumulating experience.

He didn’t point it out, but only wrote gently, “…… Mr. Chi, thanks a lot for making you so bothered.”

Chi Xiaochi wanted to say, “Don’t mention it, but realising that 061 wasn’t here and there was no one to help him round off the joke, he naturally put on the same somewhat aloof fa?ade he had before he met 061: “Don’t mention it, you’re on my mission.”

Duan Shujue asks, “Then the Master disappears, too ……”

Chi Xiaochi shook his head.

Wen Yujing’s sudden disappearance in the Mo Xie formation was indeed unexpected for Chi Xiaochi.

He had already dug a hole for Yan Jinhua and had prepared a whole package to bury him alive and send him a shovel, just waiting for Yan Jinhua to dive into it.

He did fall for it, and happily took the scales and molts and went to Chi Yunzi’s to offer them as a treasure.

Chi Xiaochi had privately deduced that Yan Jinhua’s death would come if he was publicly denounced.

If the plan goes well, he can keep this bastard in this world for the rest of his life.

In these days, Yan Jinhua is basically in control of all the demons that he is jumping up and down to make.

But he could not have predicted that Yan Jinhua would have the ability to make Wen Yujing disappear.

However, if you think of it in a different way, it makes sense.

If, if, he’s not wrong in his thinking ……

Wen Yujing , is a cat with a blue pupil and pure white body.

Boss, it’s a black panther, with blue pupils and pure black.

Both are felines with echoing body colours and similar habits.

Chi Xiaochi vaguely remembers that in the last world Gu Xinzhi said that he had seen a man in Ding Qiuyun’s tent.

061 also admitted that the person was himself.

If he can take form in all worlds, then the person he met earlier and thought was arranged by Lord GOD ……

Gan Yu and Gan Tang in the world of horror, Bu Lu in the world of mechs who claims to find himself everywhere, Dong Feihong in the world of skating ……

Dong Feihong and Gan Tang, on the other hand, have the same skills as Lou’s brother.

He remembered that Mr Six had said that he had been formatted more than two years before he met himself, just when he had mistaken Lou for a resurrection and had been “tricked”.

It was not that he hadn’t thought about it, but he didn’t dare to think too deeply about it, lest he give himself hope and end up with a basket full of water.

The clues accumulate into a tangled mess.

Now, it was as if he had found the thread of a tangled mess, and with a single pull, the whole game was broken.

Chi Xiaochi wondered if she would really have such luck.

Does he deserve such good fortune.

Duan Shujue waited for a long time for Chi Xiaochi to respond, so he quietly harnessed his internal qi chakra to warm his body.

He wrote on the ground, “Mr. Chi, are you cold, your body keeps shivering.”

Chi Xiaochi let out a breath: “I’m okay. Nothing is wrong. …… Those snake scales and snake shed are specially prepared by me.”

Duan Shujue was a little confused by his clueless words, “Mr. Chi, I know, you just said that.”

Chi Xiaochi propped up his forehead with one hand: “…… Wait a little longer while I make a few adjustments.”

Duan Shujue then stopped talking and waited quietly.

Only after clearing his mind of distractions did Chi Xiaochi start to think again.

Wen Yujing’s unexplained disappearance has disrupted his original plans, so to speak.

It is not certain whether his disappearance was a deliberate manipulation by Yan Jinhua or whether it was for another reason.

…… But in another dimension, it is not another opportunity.

Chi Xiaochi asked, “What else has happened since I passed out? What else do you know?”

Duan Shujue writes: “The disciples are still searching for Master in the Hollow Mountain, and it is said that Master Uncle has also gone there. If we cannot be searched, I am afraid that we will be put on public trial in a few days.”

The fact that Wen Yujing was with Duan Shujue before he disappeared can be testified to by all the disciples who went to Hollow Mountain to surrender the snake.

Before Duan Shujue fell into a coma, he was seen in close contact with a demon, holding Wen Yujing’s bloodstained white robe.

When Ren Tingfeng returned, Chi Yunzi only had to compare the scales he had been given by Yan Jinhua, and it was easy to tell that this was the same snake.

In this way, Duan Shujue, unable to say where Wen Yujing had gone, had to take on the pot of gold.

And Ye Jiming may not be sitting still on this matter either.

Now that the situation on the mountain is uncertain, there is a high probability that he will be out spying, and if the outcome of the public trial is known, there is no guarantee that he will not go up to the mountain and rob the prisoners.

Duan Shujue shared the same concern: “Mr Chi, let’s try to escape.”

Chi Xiaochi : “You don’t want your reputation?”

Duan Shujue : “I was afraid that Brother Ye would get anxious and come up the mountain to look for it.”

Chi Xiaochi: “He is not a brainless man. If he rushes up to the mountain to rob you before everything is settled, he is ruining your reputation by not fighting himself. Even if he were to rob a prisoner, it would certainly be after the outcome.”

Being an outlaw couple with Ye Jiming might have made little difference to Duan Shujue, or even better.

He died in Jing Xufeng’s last life, and his feelings for Jing Xufeng may not be as deep as they could have been, and a shark, living in a crowd, always in an awkward position, is inevitably subject to criticism.

But this makes a big difference to Chi Xiaochi.

Duan Shujue may not want it, but Chi Xiaochi must give it.

To give Duan Shujue more options for his future, he had to get through this difficult time.

After the idea of escaping from prison was dispelled, Duan Shujue asked for advice, “So, does Mr. Ji have an idea?”

Chi Xiaochi simply said, “Wait.”

Duan Shujue : “Until the public trial is over?”

Chi Xiaochi : “No, wait for Wen Yujing to come back.”

Duan Shujue : “But the master is nowhere to be found ……”

Chi Xiaochi : “He’ll be back.”

Chi Xiaochi is so sure of himself because he remembers what 061 once said to him.

”I trust you. Even without me, you can take care of him.”

This means that he may have anticipated this outcome.

But he seems to be letting it go and even contributing to this outcome, including taking Yan Jinhua to Tokyu Mountain, using his spiritual powers frequently in front of Yan Jinhua, and even beating Yan Jinhua violently the other day ……

Since he trusted himself to handle everything, it was only right that he should return the same trust to him.

Having said that, 061 would not really leave him alone.

Because he was that good at worrying.

Chi Xiaochi lies down with his clothes closed, his mind strangely quiet.

He certainly didn’t bet it all on 061.

Even if 061 was not Wen Yujing, and even if he did not return, he would still be able to use the trap he had set up to defend himself, and even if he could not clear his name, he could drag Yan Jinhua down with him and muddy the waters.

Only, he harboured a secret longing in his heart.

He had wanted to be neighbours with Lou for life and Lou had promised him that.

He had also naively thought that Lou had really come back to life and would meet him in that restaurant.

…… If it’s really you, please don’t miss your appointment this time.

……

061, wearing a shock collar, was sent to a prison cell.

He obediently entered the cage and calmly exchanged words with the two investigators who had followed him: “Your staff, using their seer powers, broke the rules, stole the original master’s ki values, used them for their own purposes, killed the original master, and then withdrew, leaving behind only a crumbling world, completely deviating from your original purpose of continuously collecting the world’s ki values and keeping the system running. I believe that a system with a long-term operational plan should not tolerate such a bad practice.”

”Okay, okay. These have been argued very well in your reporting materials.” The male investigator said gently, “However, you will need to wait here for a moment.”

”Your request is that the two systems do not exist in the same dimension at the same time.” 061 Equally gentle and unassuming, “Reclaim your systems as soon as possible and I will be able to return.”

The female investigator sounded much better than before, “This is a big matter that could lead to the termination of our contract with the host, and we need to consider and investigate it properly.”

061 Bingham said politely, “Then please hurry up, will you. I don’t want to stay here too long.”

Male investigator: “All we can say is that we try. It’s part of our job to ensure that our employees are not stigmatised.”

”Within a day.”

”I’m afraid that’s a bit ……” said the female investigator, “Depending on your charges, we’ll need to look into earlier records, and if Host 199 is only a first-time offender, we’ll only administer a warning. The process will take about a day or so. By the time the report is written and approved by your superiors, it will take as little as two days or as much as a work week.”

”Tired.” 061 wasn’t going to force the issue either, “May I ask what the ratio is between the time here and the time flow in the mission world?”

The male investigator thought for a moment, “One to two or so.”

In other words, one day here is two days outside.

He did some mental calculations and bent respectfully to the two investigators in the cell: “Thank you. Please be as quick as you can. By the way, before you two leave, could you pour me a glass of water?”

The two investigators looked at each other.

…… How does it seem like this is his home turf?

After the water had been poured, the two investigators left and 061 found a random place in the cell to sit.

Since he had revealed himself, the two investigators were much nicer, his leg irons had been removed but the electronic handcuffs were still in place and the electric shock collar around his neck had not been removed.

He splashed half a glass of water on the floor, made a makeshift mirror and examined it intently against the surface.

The collar is specifically made to target the system, the voltage is not small, it can be manipulated from a distance, and it is designed in one piece so that unless there is a controller to unlock it, forcing it to be removed will result in an extremely strong electric shock that can cause fainting, but never death.

061 Leaning against the wall, he examined the few items he had with him one by one.

A note reminding me to go to 023 to download a film for Chi Xiaochi, a handkerchief, a peace knot and nothing else.

He put his things away and looked around to see another system in the next cage.

He is wearing the same overalls as the systems here, but with the same collar as himself, hanging his head, holding a deck of homemade cards and playing gold hook fishing with himself.

061 Across the railing, greeted politely, “Hello.”

The system next door looked up with interest.

061 Ask, “Playing cards?”

The system’s eyes lit up abruptly, “You would?”

061 : “It’s okay.”

The system then gleefully sat over with its cards in hand, “Open open open!”

061 Played “Hoe Dae” with him, losing two games and winning one.

The other person, obviously a master at this, smiled and said, “You’re not bad. I’m so good at cards that my colleagues don’t play with me for fear of losing.”

061 said, “You played better.”

The other person took the compliment with glee and asked, “Let’s play it another way. You pick this time.”

061 Picked Chameleon, won two games and lost one.

This back-and-forth battle has added to the system’s interest.

He laughed, “Come again and again.”

061 Say, “Yeah.”

Six innings had passed and the two men had inadvertently been brought considerably closer together.

As the system shuffled, it made small talk with him, “I heard you talking to the investigator, you’re an alien system, huh?”

061 Answer truthfully, “Yes.”

The other guy smacked his lips, “That’s bad. You’re probably going to be locked up here for a long time then. Our second boss hates foreign systems, and your report will be put back unless it’s an urgent Wen case.”

061 As if resigned to his fate, he said in a warm voice, “Deal the cards. …… What did you come in for?”

The other party was defiant: “Mass gambling, repeatedly.”

061 : “Is that so?”

When the other side meets a good poker buddy, his self-absorbed air is swept away and he simply talks the talk: “We’re pretty tight on the system over here. I suspect that old boy 277 is the one who got me.”

061 Nodding at the cards in his hand, “You have a grudge, huh?”

”He just can’t stand to see me.” The other man was indignant, “Once I was confined, he took all the clients I brought.”

061 “Hmm?” Gave a cry of empathy and said, “That was too much. I’ve been reported before.”

The other party instantly drew 061 to his feet: “Really?”

”Yes, by the host.”

The other person smiled wickedly, “It’s a relationship problem, isn’t it?”

”What makes you think that?”

”Love breeds hate, isn’t that what they do in TV shows?” The other party spoke eloquently, “Last time 277 ran into one, so scared that he fled back into the system space and dared not go back, and was afraid that the other party would get desperate and report him. I laughed at him during the handover, but I didn’t expect him to be so vindictive that he dared to report me.”

061 : “Handover? Is it a duty handover?”

The other side waved his hand, “No, it’s the crossover point that leads to the various worlds and goes to the host’s side.”

061 Put down a card, “Well, is that the place I was escorted in?”

The other person said, “Yeah. We’re just that one handover point.”

061 Throws down the cards in his hand, “Win.”

My opponent took one look at the cards and let out a wow, “You’re deliberately talking to interfere with my thoughts, that’s so bad.”

061 A shallow smile, “Good, then no more.”

Unfortunately, the other side is a mouthful, and after less than a moment of silence, they start bleeping again.

”Gee, you played really well. I should have been sad if you’d gone back earlier.”

061 said, “That depends on your boss.”

The other party laughed: “Our boss is extremely lazy, he comes back to the office depending on his mood. He’s probably out on a trip right now.”

061 : “Is that so? Our boss will always be in the office.”

Counterpart: “That’s very dedicated.”

”So who handled my report.”

”All reports from our side are security systems, that is, our second boss takes care of them directly. In a case like yours, it should be a certain threat and harm to the host, and our boss explained that if it’s not a special situation, it’s not necessary to bother with the alien system.”

”A security system? We have one there, but the secret level seems to be too low, and it was breached some time ago.”

”Our second boss who runs the security system is pretty good at it.” The other party winked, “He’s very good at poker, but he’s too busy at work to play with me. He knows mahjong, pai gow, everything. Hey, by the way, do you know mahjong.”

061 Without batting an eye, “No. Just watched someone else fight.”

The other person said graciously, “It’s okay, I’ll teach you.”

061 : “No mahjong tiles here?”

The other person pointed to his head: “It’s okay, I’ll create a room and add your ID. we’ll play as a pair.”

061 looked a little hesitant: “Is that okay? I don’t have internet access right now.”

”Oh yo.” The other person slapped his head, “I forgot to forget, let me tell you the networking code.”