"Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty..."
A voice like a squawking duck rang in Xiao Mo's ears.
Xiao Mo slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a man dressed as a eunuch.
He took in the vast room.
In an instant, memories flooded Xiao Mo's mind.
In his past life, Xiao Mo had been an orphan. He'd worked his way through school to get into university, and after graduating, he got a job.
Just as his life was starting to improve, he was walking along a national highway when he got run over by a large truck.
Xiao Mo had transmigrated into the body of an Emperor, who was also named Xiao Mo.
But his predecessor's situation had been far from ideal.
Because the late Emperor had no heir, Xiao Mo had been adopted into the imperial line.
After the late Emperor passed away, he entrusted Xiao Mo to four ministers. However, Yan Shanao gradually seized all power for himself, forming a clique and ruling tyrannically. He even went so far as to execute Su Su, who was also a regent minister.
To make matters worse, the current Empress Dowager was Yan Shanao's older sister.
The two of them worked in concert—one on the inside, one on the outside.
Now, he, the Emperor, was nothing more than a figurehead.
"Your Majesty... it's time for your medicine." Wei Xun served Xiao Mo, holding a bowl of medicine.
Wei Xun was Xiao Mo's personal eunuch and had once served the late Emperor.
Although Wei Xun appeared to be completely subservient to Yan Shanao, Xiao Mo knew in his heart that he was still loyal to him.
After Xiao Mo drank the bitter medicine, a maid entered and announced, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister heard you have caught a chill and has come to pay his respects."
"Quick, let the Prime Minister in," Xiao Mo said hurriedly, about to get out of bed to greet him.
'Even though I can't stand Yan Shanao, I have to keep up the act.'
'By pretending to be harmless, I can lull him into a false sense of security.'
'Then, when the time is right, I'll find a chance to get rid of Yan Shanao.'
A moment later, a middle-aged man with a longsword at his hip strode in. He cupped his hands in a bow and declared loudly, "This servant greets Your Majesty."
Xiao Mo's eyes narrowed as he looked at Yan Shanao.
'Entering the palace while armed with a sword.'
'It's clear how little he thinks of me, the Emperor.'
"Prime Minister, there is no need for such formalities." Xiao Mo quickly went forward to help Yan Shanao up. "What brings you here, Prime Minister?"
"This servant heard Your Majesty caught a chill and came to check on your well-being."
As he spoke, Yan Shanao's gaze fell upon the palace maids in the room.
"Someone, take these palace maids away and execute them! If they can't even take care of Your Majesty, what use are they?"
"Mercy, Prime Minister!"
The palace maids, terrified, immediately dropped to their knees and begged for their lives.
Several eunuchs came in to drag the palace maids away.
Xiao Mo knew exactly why Yan Shanao was doing this—he was deliberately killing these palace maids as a show of force for him.
The reason was that not long ago, Wang Can, the Vice Imperial Censor of the Imperial Supervision Office, had secretly entered the palace to meet with his predecessor to discuss a plan to eliminate the "traitor."
But Yan Shanao had found out.
However, Wang Can was the second-in-command of the Imperial Supervision Office, and in Great Zhou, even the Emperor could not easily execute an Advisor.
So, Yan Shanao had trumped up some charges against Wang Can, demoted him, and exiled him from the capital.
By killing these maids, Yan Shanao was sending a clear message: 'Don't get any ideas, Your Majesty. I am in control of everything and everyone around you.'
"Prime Minister, the late Emperor always taught me to have a benevolent heart," Xiao Mo said slowly. "These palace maids have not committed a crime worthy of death. Just dismiss them from the palace."
Yan Shanao stared at Xiao Mo for a long moment before finally speaking. "Since Your Majesty has said so, then give them each ten strokes of the paddle and send them out of the palace."
Yan Shanao waved his hand, ordering the eunuchs to drag the palace maids out.
"Your Majesty must take good care of your health. This servant will personally select a few new palace maids to attend to you."
"I appreciate you going to the trouble, Prime Minister," Xiao Mo said with a simple and honest smile.
"Then, Your Majesty, please rest well. This servant will take his leave."
"Farewell, Prime Minister. Eunuch Wei, see the Prime Minister out."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After seeing Yan Shanao off, Xiao Mo lay back on his bed. He couldn't help but recall a famous line: 'My entire life has been like walking on thin ice. Will I truly be able to reach the other side?'
And just as Xiao Mo was lost in his thoughts, a book appeared in his mind.
Three words were written on the cover—Hundred Generations Book.
At Xiao Mo's mental command, the book's pages turned on their own, and words began to materialize from within—
[Hundred Generations Book. By using this book, the Host can create a character and experience different lives.
In each life, the Host will be given different missions. Completing these missions will yield certain rewards.
Use?]
Xiao Mo decisively chose, 'Use!'
[Please write the name of the character you wish to create.]
Xiao Mo thought for a moment. 'Since I'm just experiencing a life, I'll use my original name. It'll feel more immersive that way.'
[Avatar "Xiao Mo" has been created.]
The Hundred Generations Book released a powerful suction force, like a black hole.
In an instant, Xiao Mo's consciousness was pulled inside.
A moment later, as his consciousness returned, Xiao Mo found himself standing in front of a wooden cabin on a mountain.
The Hundred Generations Book appeared in his mind once more—
[The Host has established a new avatar, named Xiao Mo.
The flow of time within the Hundred Generations Book is one hundred times faster than in the outside world.
When the Host's consciousness leaves the Hundred Generations Book, time inside will pause.]
[Character Background: You are the son of Xiao Jing, Prince Jing of the Liang Kingdom. Your innate talent is average, but your father could not bear to see you remain mediocre.
When you were eight years old, your father knocked you unconscious and transplanted a young girl's innate Sword Bone into your body. They deceived you, claiming it was a Sword Bone you had awakened later in life.
From then on, you became a genius of the Sword Dao. At the young age of eighteen, you are already a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Cultivator.
However, you are a person of righteous character. When you learned that your Sword Bone came from a young girl—and that this girl was crippled after having her Sword Bone forcibly removed—you were dealt a massive blow.
You had a huge fight with your family and ran away from home. You joined the Longquan Sword Sect, becoming an Elder with no official duties, and have been relentlessly searching for the young girl's whereabouts ever since, wanting to do everything in your power to compensate her.]
[Mission Issued: The young girl you are searching for is named Jiang Qingyi. She will appear on Xuanwu Avenue in Black Wind City. (Her location will be continuously tracked for the Host until she is found.) Please bring her up the mountain and teach her your Sword Technique.
Mission Duration: Fifty years.
At the mission's conclusion, the higher Jiang Qingyi's Realm, the richer the Host's rewards will be.]
'Fifty years... Good thing time in the Hundred Generations Book is a hundred times faster than the outside world. Otherwise, I'd die of old age before I could finish this mission.'
Xiao Mo pulled his focus away from the Hundred Generations Book and found a pool of water to look at his reflection.
This avatar looked exactly like he had in his previous life.
'That's good. It makes it feel more immersive.'
Picking up the longsword from the table, Xiao Mo headed straight down the mountain.
...
"Selling steamed buns!"
"Freshly steamed buns here!"
On Xuanwu Street in Black Wind City, the owner of a steamed bun shop was hawking his wares with vigor.
A small, short-haired beggar—clad in tattered linen, thin, face covered in grime, their gender indiscernible—was stealthily approaching.
Seizing a moment when the owner wasn't looking, the little beggar wrapped several buns in a dirty cloth and bolted!
"You're stealing buns again!"
The owner reacted, grabbing a rolling pin and chasing after them.
"You! Get back here! I swear I'll break your legs this time!"