Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing almost laughed out of anger.

This 007 is sometimes human, sometimes not. He hasn't even said two words yet, he's still trapped in a nightmare and can't get out, and this guy is already trying to get away and run away.

007 seemed to realize that it was being somewhat inhumane, and the little ball of light swayed awkwardly, its light effect appearing somewhat dim and guilty.

[Host, please don't be angry. It's really urgent on my end... Besides, according to the system's data analysis, you'll forget about nightmares once you wake up, and they won't cause any mental damage, so...]

"So you're just going to ignore it because it won't cause any psychological harm?"

Zhou Wenqing's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable chill.

"Host, it's not that I don't care... it's just that I really can't manage it." It cautiously floated closer, its voice carrying a hint of ingratiation.

Nightmares are essentially a manifestation of your own consciousness. No matter how high the system's privileges are, it can't make your dreams for you. Besides...

It suddenly felt like crying, the little ball of light looking aggrieved, bearing the "little part" that had been thrown away and hadn't even had time to be put back in place.

[I was with you in your dreams too, host. Look how badly you smashed me in your nightmares. It must have taken a lot of energy, boohoo~]

"cough!"

Speaking of this, Zhou Wenqing felt somewhat guilty.

No matter what, it's a bit unreasonable that he was having a nightmare and beat up the system with a baseball bat.

But soon, he became self-righteous.

Why is 007 so unreliable?

After they were bound together, they never came back to check on him, the host who stayed behind. Especially after this dangerous situation, if it weren't for his frail body and the recurrence of his heart disease, he wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state.

And the Qin soldiers who accompanied him...

Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes, leaned wearily against the cold well wall, and remained silent without uttering a word.

【Host……】

【Host? 】

007 sensed something was wrong and called out a few times, but there was no response. Then it adjusted itself to look like a flickering ball of light, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, in an attempt to attract Zhou Wenqing's attention.

The light effect wasn't dazzling, but in this thick darkness, the fireflies stubbornly sticking out their lights had a somewhat comical, defiant quality.

It must be said that Zhou Wenqing was still somewhat drawn out of his own thoughts.

He clicked his tongue lightly, somewhat annoyed, and said, "Wasn't the situation over there very urgent? Why didn't you take the opportunity to escape?"

"This isn't...host...your emotional fluctuation...what are you thinking?" 007 hesitated before replying, "Is there anything I can do? Anything 007 can do, I'll definitely help."

It has just detected strong emotional fluctuations, teetering on the edge of a mental health safety threshold.

Zhou Wenqing rubbed his temples, trying to calm his turbulent mind.

As expected of a nightmare, just a moment ago, he seemed to be facing the bloody scene before he fainted again—

Boulder crashed down, arrows whistled through the air, metal clashed, soldiers fought and roared, and the muffled groans of the dying mingled together, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and the scene was devastated.

Those loyal Qin soldiers, not one of them retreated. Even covered in blood and with their armor shattered, they still used all their strength to stand in front of him. Even in their last moments, they roared with all their might:

"Protect Zhou Neishi—!"

His voice was filled with grief, his words pierced the heart, and they still resonate in his ears, causing a dull ache to rise in his soul.

Zhou Wenqing took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. His eyes slowly regained their clarity, and his voice became somewhat indifferent:

"Alright, you can go now. Since it's an extremely urgent situation over there, I can't keep you any longer. The host over there is more important."

[That's not how it is, Host!] 007's body trembled with anxiety. [All hosts are equally important to me, but the situation over there is too urgent, I...]

He paused, the light flashed violently, and 007, as if having made a do-or-die decision, finally gritted his teeth and spoke:

[Host, it's all my fault. I...I...You just woke up, right? I have a way to help you!]

[I can transfer a highly effective medicine for treating heart disease from a host in another dimension. After you take it, you will not only immediately break free from the nightmare, but also completely cure your heart disease and regain a healthy body!]

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wenqing lowered his eyes, concealing the glint of shrewdness in them.

Sure enough, there are loopholes in this system.

He had deliberately relaxed his mind, letting those bloody scenes pass before his eyes frame by frame, allowing the system to capture the surging sorrow and helplessness completely.

This scene was a nightmare he had reliveed countless times at the bottom of the well.

Born in peaceful times, Zhou Wenqing had never faced such a horrific scene. The bloodiest thing he had ever seen was chicken blood splattered from a vendor's knife in the market.

But now, what's splattered on his face is human blood, warm and sticky, flowing down his brow bone, and no matter how much he wipes it off, he can't get it clean.

He may never be able to remember all the names of those soldiers, but the blood and mud splattered when they fell are still etched in his memory, indelible and unforgettable.

He may never be able to let go of this heavy blood debt, which is why he is always trapped in this nightmare, as if he is being strangled by an invisible rope. The more he struggles, the tighter it becomes.

but--

He absolutely refused to allow himself to sink into this situation!

He can feel pain, guilt, sleepless nights, and be unable to let go, but he cannot fall.

So many lives were sacrificed for his chance at survival; if he were to collapse, it would be the greatest betrayal of those souls.

Having chewed on it countless times, he has learned enough vigilance and restraint.

He will carry the hopes of these people on his shoulders and continue on his journey, so... even if he lets his thoughts wander for a moment, he will never lose his composure or collapse.

However, 007's behavior was far too obvious.

A carefree host can be placed anywhere; only the squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?

Look, the candy is out now.

"You can also transmit things from other hosts?" Zhou Wenqing asked tentatively.

[Actually, it's not allowed. This is a violation of regulations, extremely dangerous, and strictly prohibited by the main system.] 007's listless reply.

"Hmm?" Zhou Wenqing's voice trailed off with a dangerous lisp.

【but!】

However, I can temporarily disable the main system and use the channels I create to travel between different hosts to deliver the items.

Zhou Wenqing nodded knowingly and asked, "What price will we have to pay? Energy?"

007 swayed up and down, as if nodding.

[If I'm discovered, I'll be punished by the main system, but that's alright, I'm 007! I have plenty of merit to protect me, I'm not afraid of punishment.]

[In addition, it will consume a huge amount of energy reserves, and... even if the item is transported here, the repulsion will still be very strong. In order for the special medicine to work properly, I will transfer the repulsion to myself. The spatial passage leading to the host may be closed to me for a long time, or even... forever.]

It paused, and the light effect flickered a few times, as if it were cheering itself on.

[However, host, you are the most capable host I have ever seen. Even if... 007 isn't here, you should... be fine, right?]

"Is that how it is?" Zhou Wenqing pondered for a moment before speaking, "Then what about the basic AI system? Will it disappear along with you?"

【Waaaaah~ Host, you don't care about me at all, you don't like me~】 007's light effect suddenly brightened for a moment, then dimmed again, her voice carrying a hint of accusation and grievance.

I'm such a bad system, waaaaah~ It won't disappear, but my heart is gone, it hurts so much, waaaah~

The ball of light twisted and turned in front of him, flickering on and off. It was clearly crying, but it cried without any decorum, and the light effects flashed erratically, like a lamp with a faulty connection.

Zhou Wenqing felt a rare sense of guilt.

He reached out and gently tapped the little ball of light's "head" with his fingertip. The touch was soft, like poking a warm cotton candy.

"I'm sorry, 007, I'm so sorry." His voice was very soft, almost like he was coaxing a child. "I'm so sorry, don't cry, 007. I've always been grateful to you and I like you a lot. You're a very good system, at least... quite professional. I'm really going to miss you."

[Really, host?] 007's light effect suddenly brightened for a moment, and the grievance in his voice had not yet dissipated, but was now tinged with an undisguised joy.

Do you still need the special medicine? Actually, it won't be long before you...

"want!"

Zhou Wenqing answered with a single, resolute word.

The ball of light flickered angrily in front of him a few times, then turned around and twisted and turned for a long time before turning back and saying in a dejected tone.

[Alright then, host, let's prepare to begin...]

"Wait, 007!" Zhou Wenqing interrupted it again, tentatively asking, "While you're getting the special medicine from your other dimensional hosts, could you also bring me some seeds, like sweet potatoes, potatoes, hybrid rice, corn, and the like?"

He had already entrusted Du He and Chen Kang to keep an eye out for these things when they went on business, but the hope of finding them was still slim. After all, some of them were far away across the ocean, and to this day, there was still no news of them.

He could afford to wait for shipbuilding, setting sail, and conducting research, but the people of the world could not afford to wait—every extra year of delay meant countless lives lost to starvation.

[No, host. I can only offer one thing for every one other to counteract the repulsion of one thing. I can't bring any of those seeds you mentioned together.]

"I see." Zhou Wenqing sighed with some regret, but not unexpected.

Upon hearing the word "rejection," he already had some guesses in his mind.

"Since that's the case..."

"Then I won't take the special medicine for treating heart disease."

Zhou Wenqing raised his head, his gaze falling on the ball of light, calm yet resolute.

"Could you replace it with a sweet potato seed tuber?"

------

The broken persimmon delayed my approval, no problem, I can update both!

Surprisingly, the nightmare plot point was actually a subtle foreshadowing element (Ｔ▽Ｔ).