Chapter 97
Translator: Redolens
Editor: Cresscentmoon
Bai Yang’s mind blanked out for a long while before he finally reacted. The wheels in his brain turned as he processed the information he had just learned.
My uncle caused my older brother’s accident.
He was also the reason for the mishap that happened when I transmigrated.
This world is about to be destroyed.
Ji Yuan or the people in the real world all think I’m Zhou Ying.
Ji Yuan inserted a data pack to save me.
If I want to leave, I need to get the data pack.
The key to ascending or, in other words, leaving, is killing Xie Zetian.
Killing Xie Zetian….
Killing me???
Bai Yang’s mind immediately fell into chaos.
If I die, how can I leave?
If I leave, what about Ji Zixuan?
If this world is destroyed, wouldn’t that mean that everyone….
Bai Yang gulped.
At that moment, he heard Xiao Ling’s voice in his mind. “I’ve finally woken up. En. Sir, what’s going on? How come your face is so ugly?”
Bai Yang forced down his complicated emotions and asked, “Xiao Ling, you woke up?”
Xiao Ling said, puzzled, “En, you… what happened?”
Bai Yang said, “I ask you, Xiao Ling, can you remember what happened when you were fast asleep?”
“What happened? I don’t know, ah,” Xiao Ling said.
“Just now, the protagonist, Zhou Ying, ascended to the Mahayana Stage. It triggered a hidden quest. The countdown to the world’s destruction has started.”
Xiao Ling shrieked, “What? That happened?”
Bai Yang said, “Yes, you didn’t know?”
“I didn’t know!” Xiao Ling panicked. “The destruction of the world… does that mean we’re all going to die here? That can’t be. A countdown… how much time is left?”
“33 days.”
Xiao Ling said, alarmed, “33 days?! How can we complete the quest in such a short amount of time?”
From what Xiao Ling was saying, she seemed to really not know what was going on. Bai Yang continued to ask, “Right, if Zhou Ying does not ascend to the River Crossing Stage in 33 days, I’ll die.”
Xiao Ling wept. “Sir, if you die, I will also disappear! Xiao Ling doesn’t want to die wuwuwu….”
Bai Yang suddenly realized. Judging from Xiao Ling’s tone, if she wasn’t sure that it would happen, she wouldn’t have said it. It seemed that her life was still bound to his.
He was worried that Xiao Ling would side with the main system and continued to sound her out. “When you were asleep, they also said that five years had already pa.s.sed in the real world. But I remember you saying before that I’ve only been here a short time.”
Xiao Ling was silent.
“Xiao Ling?” Bai Yang sensed something from her silence and continued to say, “Since we’re now in the same boat, you have to tell me the truth.”
Xiao Ling let out a sigh and replied, “Sir, since I already talked, I won’t hide it anymore. It’s true, since you arrived in this world, several years have pa.s.sed on the outside.”
Bai Yang: “….”
Bai Yang was shocked.
Xiao Ling said, “Do you still remember what happened when you first entered this world?”
Bai Yang nodded.
“On that day, while we were in the process of entering this world, there was an error in the main system. Halfway through the process, we lingered in the dark transfer s.p.a.ce for a long time. Afterwards, I asked the main system and learned that there were people trying to invade it in order to intercept us. As a result, the main system put us in the transfer s.p.a.ce. At that time, you didn’t wake up and continued to be in a state of deep sleep.”
“So….” Bai Yang’s hands began to shake.
Xiao Ling said, “So if we were to calculate the actual time, we stayed in that transfer s.p.a.ce for five years and a month.”
Which means the apparent message from Ji Yuan was real. Five years had already pa.s.sed on the outside… no, rather five years had already pa.s.sed before even entering this world.
“And now? How much time has pa.s.sed now?” Bai Yang asked anxiously.
“Sir, I don’t know. Since entering this world from the transfer s.p.a.ce, time has pa.s.sed differently here than in the outside world.”
Bai Yang took a deep breath. “Does that mean more than five years have pa.s.sed in the outside world?”
Xiao Ling said, “Right, but, sir, don’t worry too much. If everything stays normal, the pa.s.sage of time in this world is much slower than in the real world. You probably only spent a few days here, a month at most.”
Bai Yang couldn’t help but ask, “At that time, why didn’t you tell me?”
Xiao Ling was silent for a moment before saying, “The main system wouldn’t let me tell you.”
“Then why can you tell me now?” Bai Yang didn’t believe her.
Xiao Ling said, “I don’t know how. Not long after entering this world, the main system seemed to be invaded by a virus from the outside world. It weakened its control over me. At that time, you asked me why you weren’t being punished for not acting in character and breaking plot points. Now, I can answer you. It’s because there was a virus in the main system that made it lose a lot of the control it had over you and I. Therefore, as long as you don’t do anything excessive, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
A virus?
Bai Yang suddenly had a thought. Could it be that the so-called virus was Ji Yuan’s team infiltrating the main system?
Bai Yang said, “Xiao Ling, answer me. Whose side are you on? The main system’s or mine?”
Xiao Ling answered automatically, “Of course I’m on your side, sir. I’m your service system. I am one with you.”
“Good, Xiao Ling, I believe you,” Bai Yang said. “Just now, I received some information telling me that entering this world was a trap. The goal of this so-called hidden quest, and the destruction of the world, was to kill me. What should I do now?”
Xiao Ling said, shocked, “Sir, I’ve never heard of this quest. Don’t worry, I’m going to ask the main system.”
As soon as she finished talking her voice faded away.
After a long while, she appeared again in his head and said, “Unexpectedly, there really is such a hidden quest! Just now, I applied to extend the time limit and was rejected by the main system. What do we do now sir? I don’t want to die. I also don’t want you to die wuwuwu….”
Xiao Ling started to weep.
Her anxiety didn’t seem fake. After arriving in this world, aside from hiding things, Xiao Ling had never really lied. Bai Yang also believed her.
Or one could say that he had to believe her.
Because she was his partner system, and because he had no way of escaping her sight.
Bai Yang took a deep breath and said, “Now, there’s only one way.”
Xiao Ling said, “What?”
“To complete my task and leave before the end of the world,” Bai Yang said.
“But how will you complete your task in 33 days?” Xiao Ling had no faith in him.
Bai Yang thought about it, gritted his teeth, and decided to share everything. “Xiao Ling, can I trust you?”
Xiao Ling said, “Of course you can, sir. I’m your system. Who would you trust if not me?”
Bai Yang took a deep breath and said, “Actually, you weren’t the one who told me all that. It was someone else.”
“Who?” Xiao Ling was shocked. “Could it be that aside from us, there are others that also entered this world?”
“Entered?” Bai Yang seized her meaning. “He only left a message. He didn’t necessarily enter this world.”
“No, people on the outside have no way to contact us. They especially wouldn’t be able to bring us a message. Not unless they entered using the ID of a partic.i.p.ant… that’s not right either. Sir’s task hasn’t been completed. The main system is closed. Outsiders can’t enter… is sir sure the message was left by someone else?”
Bai Yang: “I’m sure!”
Xiao Ling seemed like she didn’t understand what was going on. “I don’t know how he did it. The most likely way he could enter this world was by becoming a partic.i.p.ant.”
This time, Bai Yang was shocked. “You mean, other than me there are other partic.i.p.ants? That the person that sent me the message is also in this world?”
Xiao Ling thought about it and said, “In any case, the main system has already lost control over me. I’ll give it to you straight. Of course, there are other partic.i.p.ants in this world. Eight other people have been admitted before you. Normally, we only admit one. At most three partic.i.p.ants can be admitted at a time. These partic.i.p.ants have no memory of the real world. Only you are the exception. Only you have retained your memories of the outside world. I think it’s probably because we were intercepted halfway through and left for too long in the transfer s.p.a.ce.”
“If what sir says is true, the person who sent you that message must have used a partic.i.p.ant’s ID to enter. Moreover, it’s possible they lost their memories of the real world.”
Bai Yang was shocked. “Then does he know about the hidden quest? Does he have a system?”
Xiao Ling said, “I’d have to see what ID he used to enter. As far as I know, if he’s not a VIP customer, he doesn’t have a system.”
Bai Yang said, “I don’t know if he is a VIP.”
Xiao Ling thought about it. “According to everything sir has told me, I believe that person didn’t enter this world to really partic.i.p.ate. Therefore, it’s highly likely that they didn’t undergo the Main System’s VIP examination. He must have used a special way to enter, otherwise he’d have no way to bring a data pack in. Naturally, he doesn’t have a system. He probably lost his memories and considers himself a person from this world.”
Bai Yang: “….!”
Bai Yang said, “Then, does he know that the world is about to be destroyed? If he doesn’t know, doesn’t he have to die with everyone else?”
Xiao Ling said, “In theory, if he can also complete his task before the world is destroyed, he can also leave.”
Bai Yang was extremely anxious. “What’s his mission? If he doesn’t complete it, what happens then? If he dies, it’s because of me! Even though I don’t like him, he still took risks to save me. I must save him! I have to find him and get him out of here!”
Xiao Ling comforted him. “Sir, he was able to forcefully enter by using the ID of a partic.i.p.ant. He should have something else up his sleeve. He’s probably safer than you. That, or he never had a mission at all since he didn’t enter the normal way. Moreover, even if you wanted to help him, you’d have to know who he is. He has lost his memory. Even his appearance has changed. You can’t find him! Sir, right now we have to find a way to return to the real world.”
Bai Yang anxiously scratched his head, a fire burning in his heart.
Not only was having a 33 day time limit until the destruction of the world already troubling enough, he also had to think of a way to save the Demon King. Now he learned that Ji Yuan had also entered this world, and his life could be threatened.
Aaaaaaah! It’s driving me crazy!
However, what Xiao Ling said was reasonable. There were so many people. How could he find someone who had lost their memories?
He didn’t even have the time to look after himself, let alone to look for someone else.
His only hope was that Ji Yuan had something else up his sleeve that could save him.
Xiao Ling said, “Sir, who is that person? What message did he leave you?”
Now that things have reached this stage, he could only be honest with her.
Bai Yang told Xiao Ling Ji Yuan’s message. After hearing it, Xiao Ling was happy. “That’s good. We should hurry to get the data pack so we can quickly return to the real world!”
Bai Yang wasn’t happy at all.
Xiao Ling said, “Sir, are you still worried about Mr. Ji?”
Bai Yang nodded.
“I think… sir doesn’t need to worry.”
“Why?”
“If Mr. Ji’s goal in entering this world was to save you, then most likely the task he was given was for you to finish your task.”
Bai Yang immediately understood. “You mean, as long as I complete my task, his task is complete too?”
Xiao Ling said, “It’s probable. Sir said he left you the message on October 4, 2018. I’ll calculate it. If the time he entered this world is the time he left you that message, he entered this world one month before sir.”
Bai Yang was shocked. “He arrived earlier than me?”
Xiao Ling said, “Yes. Sir, you were in the transfer s.p.a.ce for five years and a month. I’m guessing that Mr. Ji first tried to intercept us but didn’t succeed. Instead, it caused chaos in the System. They didn’t dare meddle with the System again. Five years later, they found a way. They used a partic.i.p.ant’s ID to bring in the data pack and also left you a message. What triggered the data pack was the triggering of the main system’s hidden mission. At that time, the main system must have had an error that allowed the data pack to appear normally in this world. Mr. Ji arrived in this world and lost his memories, becoming someone from this world. At that moment, sir was still in the transfer s.p.a.ce. Soon after, the main system sent us to this world….”
Bai Yang: “….”
He’d also thought of everything Xiao Ling had just said. He’d started mentally calculating who could be Ji Yuan. However, there were too many people. He couldn’t guess.
Five years….
He didn’t even know what happened outside that left him asleep for five years before being sent to this world.
He didn’t know how worried his parents and brother were.
Anyway, why did Ji Yuan willingly risk his own life?
His brain was filled with so many questions.
Forget it. He wouldn’t think about it. As long as he was safe, things were fine.
Aside from Ji Yuan, he had something else he had to deal with.
“If we leave, what about the Demon King? What will Ji Zixuan do?” Bai Yang said. “I don’t want him to die. I want to save him.”
“Sir….” Xiao Ling said a bit sadly. “The Demon King is just a set of data. He isn’t a person. You can’t save him.”
“No! He is a person!” Bai Yang insisted. “I want to save him! Xiao Ling, don’t you also like him? We can’t abandon him and leave. Don’t tell me you have the heart to do that? Tell me, how can I save him?”
Xiao Ling was silent for a moment. “Sir….”
Bai Yang pressed even further. “Can you really abandon him?”
Xiao Ling was silent for a moment before saying, “I know one way to save him, but I don’t know if it counts.”
Bai Yang was ecstatic. “How?”
“The Almighty Demon King and I are both only sets of data. Once we leave this world, I will empty my database and install the Demon King instead. At that time, you both can leave and await to reach the real world. Then you can transfer the Almighty Demon King’s data to another system,” Xiao Ling said.
Bai Yang said, “Wonderful!”
While happy, he suddenly thought of a crucial point. “Clear your database?”
“That’s right,” Xiao Ling said.
“If you clear out your database… you…, will you be affected?”
Xiao Ling said, “Is sir worried about me?”
Bai Yang agreed.
Xiao Ling said, “Xiao Ling is happy.”
After a pause, she continued, “En … clearing my database won’t make me disappear. It will only erase my memory. Sir, at that time, I’ll forget everything, including you.”
“Xiao Ling….” Bai Yang didn’t know what to say.
Xiao Ling comforted him. “Sir, don’t be sad. I also like the Almighty Demon King. For his sake, I’m willing to lose my data. As long as sir remembers me, it’s fine. When we get back to the real world, sir can tell me everything, alright?
He didn’t know why, but after hearing Xiao Ling’s cute voice, Bai Yang’s nose started to feel sour. Choked with emotions, he said, “… alright.”
“It’s settled then.” Xiao Ling’s voice was full of energy. “Sir, we must hurry and complete the task and make Zhou Ying ascend before the world is destroyed. That way you can save both ours and the Almighty Demon King’s life.”
Bai Yang took a deep breath and said, “You’re right. I’ll go right now. I hope Ji Yuan returns safely too.”
Bai Yang relaxed, but his mood became extremely complicated.
Ji Yuan, oh, Ji Yuan. I never expected you to come save me.
A slender figure gradually appeared in Bai Yang’s mind. Even though a lot of time had pa.s.sed, his memory of that person was still as clear as ever.
Actually, Ji Yuan and Bai Yang met in high school, but because Bai Yang hated him, he never called him “ge ge”. He just called him “big brother’s friend”.
Why was this person so annoying? It’s actually a sad story to tell.
Ever since he was young, Bai Yang had been lazy and unambitious. His achievements were mediocre. He could draw, play piano and violin a little, but he never became proficient. Originally, no one thought it was a problem, except for Ji Yuan. He’d insist on showing off his skills in front of Bai Yang!
When Bai Yang painted a picture with great difficulty and happily showed it to his big brother, Ji Yuan, that guy immediately painted a picture with the skill of a great master and gave it to him. This was a great blow to Bai Yang’s pride.
On one of his birthdays, many distinguished guests had come. Bai Yang, wearing a white suit, went to play the piano. He wanted to show off his abilities to the crowd. In the end, Ji Yuan, that idiot, insisted on performing with him, making his performance offensive to the ear in comparison.
There was also the time where they were learning to ride a horse. He insisted on showing off his exquisite horsemanship in front of Bai Yang. Bai Yang got angry and tried to compete with him, which resulted in him falling and breaking his leg. It took him a month to recover!
There are too many instances to count. All this made Bai Yang really hate Ji Yuan.
Even more often, he would s.n.a.t.c.h the girl Bai Yang liked. Originally, Bai Yang was still considered a popular person. Then as soon as Ji Yuan arrived, he stole everyone’s attention. He also urged all the young masters of big families to find an appropriate match and told everyone not to be delusional.
Aaaaaah!
In 25 years, he never had a girlfriend!
It was all because of him!
Just thinking about it made him angry!
Such a person should be chased out and beaten half to death.
Unfortunately, his big brother really admired this person and wanted Bai Yang to seek guidance from him. Seek guidance, his a.s.s!
He had a promising future. I was a rich second-generation parasite. Couldn’t we just live in harmony? Why did you have to keep showing off?
As they got older, that guy became more and more difficult to get along with, and he talked less and less. He’d often stare at Bai Yang, who didn’t know what he was planning.
He was very calculating.
Bai Yang saw this and felt like a mouse that had spotted a cat. He was a bit scared.
Then there was his older brother who had more and more confidence in this person, to the point where he’d even share secrets with him. Many times, Bai Yang wanted to warn his brother; that guy is also doing business! He’s still a rival, big brother!
However, his older brother didn’t take him seriously at all. He just smiled.
There was nothing Bai Yang could do. He could only distance himself from that person as much as possible.
But he didn’t expect this kind of person to suddenly come save him.
Bai Yang’s mood was extremely complicated.