[The Regent's Manor · Rear Garden]
The space-time currents exploded open, and two figures tumbled out of the rift, crashing hard into a cluster of decorative rocks.
Yin Wuwang landed headfirst in a flower bed, mouth full of dirt. He choked and coughed, spitting out soil as he scrambled upright. Brushing dead leaves from his robes, he surveyed his surroundings.
Elegant pavilions. Winding streams. Artfully arranged stone gardens. Moonlight filtered through the branches of ancient osmanthus trees.
This was clearly the rear garden of some wealthy estate. The air carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus, and in the distance, servants' voices murmured in quiet conversation.
So this was the ancient world that old fossil mentioned.
He turned to look for Xie Qingyan—and found him already rising from behind a decorative boulder. His snow-white robes were smudged with mud, yet he still radiated that same cold, untouchable elegance. As if the one who had just tumbled into the mortal world wasn't him at all.
Ding!
"Saviors #9527 and #9528 have entered World #39284—Ancient Court Drama: 'Power Over the World.' Downloading character profiles. Please wait."
Little Deer Assistant #9527's voice echoed in Yin Wuwang's mind, choppy and interspersed with static.
"Bzzt... download progress: 10%... bzzt... 30%..."
Yin Wuwang rubbed his temples in irritation. This broken artifact spirit's voice was genuinely grating.
"Wait." He spoke suddenly, tone wary. "Don't download yet. This sovereign has questions."
The disaster in the ABO world was still fresh in his memory—thrown in without warning, rules completely unknown, nearly getting marked. He'd learned his lesson the hard way. This time, he would ask first.
"What's the mission? What are the rules? What happens if we break them?" The questions fired out in rapid succession. "And how do we clear this world?"
He paused, then added: "Also—my storage ring. Does it work here?"
"Storage rings function across worlds." Little Deer's voice crackled. "Items stored inside remain accessible. However, spiritual artifacts lose efficacy in low-spiritual-energy worlds. Spirit stones retain value as currency exchange but cannot power formations or cultivation."
So I can still access my things, but they're mostly useless here. Yin Wuwang grimaced. Except for bribing this broken system, apparently.
Xie Qingyan inclined his head slightly upon hearing this. He clearly shared the same concerns. After all, their last experience had been... educational.
Little Deer Assistant #9527 buzzed and crackled, seemingly processing these queries.
"Mission objective: Repair the collapsed storyline. Guide the plot toward a logical conclusion."
"Logical conclusion?" Yin Wuwang frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Original ending: The Regent and the Duke of the Realm perish together. Prince Huai successfully usurps the throne. The Prime Minister seizes absolute power. This ending contains logical collapse. World stability compromised."
"So our mission is to change this ending?" Xie Qingyan asked.
"Correct. Mission objective: Ensure the Regent and Duke of the Realm survive. Prevent Prince Huai's usurpation. Establish a logical power structure. Completion grants clearance."
Yin Wuwang and Xie Qingyan exchanged glances.
This mission didn't sound too difficult.
"What about rules?" Xie Qingyan continued. "What restrictions apply?"
"Core rule: No OOC—Out Of Character. Saviors must maintain their character personas. NPCs must not detect anomalies. Otherwise, world stability decreases. Severe violations may cause world collapse."
"Wait." Xie Qingyan's eyes narrowed. "Define 'violation levels.'"
"OOC violations are categorized into three tiers." Little Deer's voice crackled. "Tier One: Verbal slips—minor penalties such as lightning strikes. Tier Two: Behavioral contradictions—temporary ability seals. Tier Three: Complete character collapse—world destabilization."
"And what about changing the plot?" Xie Qingyan pressed. "Our mission is to repair this world. That inherently requires altering the original storyline."
"Correct. Plot modification in service of world repair does not trigger OOC penalties. The system evaluates intent and outcome. As long as the result increases world stability, the method is permitted."
So we can rewrite the story as long as we stabilize it. Yin Wuwang filed that away. Good to know.
"Character persona?" He scoffed aloud. "This sovereign doesn't even know what his persona is."
"Downloading character profiles. Download complete."
Little Deer Assistant's voice cleared slightly—still scratchy, but comprehensible now.
The signal finally stabilized? Yin Wuwang noted. Seems like this broken system can handle simple queries and data retrieval, but anything requiring complex calculations or predictions causes it to glitch out. Good to know.
"Savior #9527. Character name: Yin Lie. Identity: Duke of the Realm, First-Rank Military Commander. The Empress Dowager's younger brother. Commands thirty thousand elite troops. Persona: Loyal, brave, and simple-minded. Hot-tempered. Manipulated by the Prime Minister as a pawn. Original ending: Framed for treason by the Prime Minister. Entire household executed."
Yin Wuwang's mouth twitched violently.
Loyal, brave, and simple-minded?
SIMPLE-MINDED?!
He, the supreme Demon Sovereign who had schemed his way to the top of the demonic hierarchy over three thousand years, was being asked to play a SIMPLETON?!
Manipulated as a pawn? Entire household executed?
What kind of pathetic loser role was this?! Even the cannon fodder in cultivation novels got better treatment!
His eye twitched uncontrollably. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could almost hear that crusty old fossil Elder Mo cackling with glee.
That old bastard definitely did this on purpose.
He was about to voice his complaints when Xie Qingyan's Little Deer Assistant #9528 chimed in:
"Savior #9528. Character name: Xie Lan. Identity: The Regent, First-Rank Official. Controls the imperial court. Persona: Ruthless and cunning. Deeply scheming. Merciless in his methods. Original ending: Silenced by Prince Huai. Dies a violent death."
Xie Qingyan's brow furrowed slightly. He was evidently not pleased with this "persona" either.
Ding!
Little Deer Assistant #9527 suddenly spoke up again:
"System recommendation: Since you two are mortal enemies in the original story, why not go with the flow? Kill each other and achieve quick clearance!"
Yin Wuwang's expression darkened. "Kill Fuguang? Is this broken system serious?"
Xie Qingyan's Little Deer Assistant #9528 added: "Supplementary recommendation: The Regent could poison the Duke's tea. This aligns with the original persona."
"Hold on!" Yin Wuwang's eyes widened as realization struck. "You just said our mission is to 'survive.' Now you're recommending we 'kill each other'?"
He stared in disbelief.
"Are you out of your goddamn mind?! The mission says we need to live, but your recommendation is mutual murder? Isn't that a complete contradiction?!"
Little Deer Assistant #9527 fell silent for a moment, then replied:
"Recommendations are based on original plot. In the original story, the Regent and Duke are mortal enemies. Mutual killing is the natural progression of the narrative."
"Bullshit!" Yin Wuwang was practically hopping with rage. "What kind of garbage recommendation is that?! This sovereign doesn't believe a single word!"
Xie Qingyan remained silent, studying the floating point of light with a thoughtful expression.
The artifact spirit's "mission" and "recommendations" were indeed contradictory. The mission required their survival, but the recommendations pushed them toward mutual destruction.
Something was off. But with so little information, he couldn't see through it yet.
"Ignore it for now." He spoke calmly. "This artifact spirit's recommendations cannot be trusted. We act according to our own judgment."
Yin Wuwang nodded vigorously. "Exactly! This broken thing is probably trying to get us killed!"
Just then, footsteps approached from the distance.
"Your Highness! Your Highness, why are you out here?"
An elderly man in butler's attire hurried toward them, several servants trailing behind. Upon seeing the mud stains on Xie Qingyan's robes, his face paled. He immediately ordered the servants to fetch water for washing and fresh robes for changing.
"Your Highness was reviewing memorials in the study this afternoon, was he not? Why has he come to the rear garden?"
Xie Qingyan's expression didn't waver. His voice emerged cool and detached: "Nothing of concern. This prince wished for some fresh air."
The words carried the natural authority of someone born to power. The butler fell silent at once, bowing as he retreated.
Yin Wuwang watched from behind the decorative rocks, brow furrowed.
From the looks of it, Xie Qingyan had already slipped into character.
He needed to return to the Duke's manor quickly, before the NPCs noticed anything amiss.
Ding!
"Friendly reminder: The Duke of the Realm's manor is located in the eastern district. Approximately two quarters of an hour by horse. Savior #9527 is advised to return promptly to avoid NPC detection of anomalies."
Yin Wuwang scaled the decorative rocks and, seizing a moment when the servants had dispersed, strode quickly to Xie Qingyan's side. He lowered his voice:
"This sovereign will return to the manor first. Tomorrow at court—how do we play this?"
"Openly hostile. Secretly coordinating." Xie Qingyan's response was immediate. "In the original story, the Regent and the Duke are mortal enemies. We must maintain that facade—but we cannot actually undermine each other."
"Understood." Yin Wuwang nodded. "One more thing—"
His voice dropped further, and something serious flickered in his eyes.
"No matter what garbage that broken artifact spirit recommends... this sovereign will never actually move against you."
Xie Qingyan looked at him.
A moment of silence.
Then a slight nod. "...Mm."
Just one syllable.
Yin Wuwang's heart skipped a beat.
Fuguang agreed! He said "mm"!
He fought to suppress the smile threatening to spread across his face. Turning, he strode toward the manor's exit, his steps so light he might as well have been walking on clouds.
Xie Qingyan watched his retreating figure, brow furrowing slightly.
That demon's expression just now... why did it look almost... pleased?
Yin Wuwang truly is a strange one.
He shook his head, dismissing the thought.
Irrelevant. Whatever Yin Wuwang's motivations, they were stuck in this world together now. Allies of circumstance, if nothing else.
He withdrew his gaze and turned toward the study. Court convened at the hour of the rabbit tomorrow. He needed to familiarize himself with the Regent's administrative duties first—couldn't afford to slip up.
The Regent, according to the character profile, was "ruthless and cunning." A master of court intrigue. A man who had clawed his way to power through schemes and manipulation.
Xie Qingyan allowed himself a small, cold smile.
Ruthless and cunning? He had survived three thousand years in the cultivation world. He had navigated the treacherous politics of the immortal sects, balanced the interests of a dozen competing factions, and maintained his position as Sword Sovereign against challengers who would have gladly stabbed him in the back.
A mortal court? Child's play.
As for the artifact spirit's contradictions... he would investigate those in time.
[That Night · Across the Capital]
Night deepened over the capital. In the Regent's manor, Xie Qingyan sat in his study reviewing memorials by candlelight, familiarizing himself with the political landscape he now commanded.
Meanwhile, in the Duke of the Realm's manor on the eastern side of the city, Yin Wuwang sat before a desk piled high with military documents, utterly overwhelmed.
"What the hell is all this?"
He stared at the dispatch orders and troop movements, head spinning. Maps covered in red arrows. Supply requisitions filled with numbers. Patrol schedules dense with unfamiliar names.
"This sovereign is a Demon Sovereign! Not some damned general!"
In the demon realm, he had commanded armies of thousands. But demonic warfare was simple—point at the enemy, unleash hell, let the strong devour the weak. This... this was paperwork. Logistics. Supply chains. Rotation schedules.
Mortals and their obsession with bureaucracy.
He picked up one document at random. "Requesting approval for three hundred catties of grain for the northern barracks..." He threw it down in disgust. "What is this nonsense? Just hunt some spirit beasts!"
...Right. No spirit beasts in this world. No cultivation. No demonic energy.
Just thirty thousand mortal soldiers who apparently needed to be fed, clothed, and paid. With actual money. On a regular schedule.
He slumped back in his chair, staring at the ceiling.
How did mortal generals not die of boredom?
In the demon realm, if he wanted something done, he simply ordered it. Subordinates who questioned him got incinerated. Subordinates who failed him got eaten—sometimes by him personally, sometimes by whatever happened to be hungry nearby. It was efficient. It was direct. It made sense.
This... this was madness. Layers upon layers of bureaucracy, each document requiring three stamps and five signatures, each decision filtered through committees and advisors and ministers who all had opinions about things they knew nothing about.
No wonder mortal empires collapse so often. They drown themselves in paperwork before their enemies even arrive.
Little Deer Assistant #9527 offered helpfully: "Reminder: The Duke of the Realm commands thirty thousand elite troops. If anyone inquires about military affairs tomorrow, Savior #9527 is advised to prepare answers in advance to avoid exposure."
"Another recommendation?" Yin Wuwang sneered. "This sovereign doesn't trust a single word from you."
Little Deer Assistant fell silent, buzzing forlornly as if deeply aggrieved.
Yin Wuwang rubbed his brow. His gaze drifted to the window, where moonlight spilled across the courtyard like silver silk.
Somewhere across the city, in the Regent's manor, Fuguang was probably handling similar documents. The thought brought an unexpected smile to his lips.
At least they were in this together.
And tomorrow... tomorrow he would see Fuguang again. At court.
The smile lingered on his face as he pulled the stack of documents toward him with renewed determination.
Fine. He would learn these mortal military affairs. He would play his role. He would be the best damn "simple-minded, hot-tempered Duke" this world had ever seen.
He picked up the first document again, squinting at the cramped calligraphy.
"Requesting approval for three hundred catties of grain..."
This was going to be a long night.
Outside the window, the moon climbed higher. Somewhere in the distance, a night watchman called the hour.
Tomorrow's court session was destined to be anything but peaceful.
[End of Chapter 4]
Next Chapter: In Which We Discover That "Mortal Enemies" Requires Actual Acting