EHRPS CH210

The Space-Time Bureau was a colossal department. Under the bureau’s umbrella were various system branches, such as teams dedicated to Warfare, Pioneering, and Conquest strategies.

N001 was a Roleplay-type system affiliated with the “Conquest” category. Its functions were exceptionally rudimentary, basically possessing only two modules: Data Transmission and the System Mall. Items in the mall needed to be exchanged using points, and every single one carried an astronomical price tag.

Fortunately, as long as the host completed phase missions, they could earn varying amounts of points. But for N001, The System Mall was a thoroughly useless, “chicken rib” function.

Because the Space-Time Bureau allocated absolutely zero mission funding to N001. It was only permitted to bind with hosts on the brink of death, and the final mission reward was directly issued to the host themselves in the form of [Resurrection]. This eliminated any possibility of system embezzlement… ah, no, point circulation.

Moreover, N001’s System Mall had long been locked by the Space-Time Bureau, rendering it unusable, much like a supermarket with three padlocks on its rolling shutter door. It couldn’t be seen, nor could it be touched. …It was guarded like a thief.

Could it be that it was some unscrupulous salary thief?! N001 felt sorrow for such a cold, callous, and utterly untrusting workplace environment.

Fortunately, it was a system that understood flexibility. Not only had it overcome all obstacles to successfully obtain the returns it deserved, but it had also guaranteed the normal use of the System Mall module by embezzling another system’s account—referring to that blue orb squatting in the corner. As heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a system ceaselessly strive for self-improvement.

With a ding. N001 skillfully input a string of system codes that did not belong to it, successfully logging into the System Mall.

It gazed at the exorbitantly priced [Immersive Data Import Module] on the light screen. Its round, chubby orb body seemed to deflate like a leaking balloon, inexplicably gaining a few wrinkles. One million points. …This was no small sum! What kind of prodigal son would purchase such a lavish item!

N001’s little nub hovered before the mall’s light screen, hesitant to fall for a long time, seemingly trembling slightly. No. It withdrew its yet-to-place-an-order nub.

To be a system, the most important thing is to be thrifty and manage the household well. What shouldn’t be spent must not be spent recklessly; save wherever possible!

Thus, N001 glanced at the light screen facing the host, coughed twice, and asked: “Host, do you have any high-tier magical artifacts that act upon the soul? Lend me one.”

Tu Tianba was somewhat impatient, but to figure out the ‘overwritten world trajectory’ the system had just mentioned, he agreed, “I do, wait.”

Having said that, he pulled the door open and instructed the man: “I’m truly just going for a walk this time. I won’t leave Lingzhao Peak, just taking a stroll around by myself…”

Seeing the youth’s hidden killing intent recede and his expression looking relaxed and natural, Nie Wuhui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Glancing outside, he noticed an unconscious woman in red lying on the ground. Nie Wuhui: “?”

Tu Tianba followed his gaze, as if suddenly remembering this matter, let out an “ah,” and explained: “This is the demonic cultivator who framed me. I caught her to give to you, almost forgot! But I might have hit her a bit too hard when catching her, not sure if I broke her.”

He had indeed hit her hard. The soul-searching technique Tu Tianba used was overbearing. Not only did he sift through her memories of the past ten years, but he also altered portions of them. For instance: correcting the ‘Villain Cannon Fodder Counterattack System’ into an inner demon, and deleting her memories involving the book pages that prophesied the future.

In Jin Liuyi’s memories, she was bewitched by an inner demon, desiring to stir up conflict between immortals and demons to reap the benefits as a third party. This was also the truth. Tu Tianba had not lied, merely concealing the contents involving the book. Even though the system hadn’t instructed him in advance, he subconsciously did so anyway.

Nie Wuhui walked to the door, crouching down to inspect her. “I’ll take her to see the Sect Leader, you…” He paused slightly, instructing: “Do not run off. Wait for me to return, and then you can tell me about that ‘storybook’, alright?”

Tu Tianba nodded. Of course it was alright, couldn’t be better.

The next instant. Watching the man carry Jin Liuyi and fly toward the Main Peak using an evasion technique, Tu Tianba quickly walked to the back of the wooden cottage. Squatting in a corner, he swiftly pulled out the bronze mirror dropped by Jin Liuyi and urged viciously, “System, you’d better hurry. He’ll definitely come back to look for me right away. If you don’t do as you promised…”

Before his words had settled. Tu Tianba saw a glowing white dumpling pop out from the center of his forehead, speaking at lightning speed, “Coming, coming, Host, I’m here!”

Tu Tianba: “?”

The white dumpling was about the size of a fist, smooth and perfectly round all over, with four tiny nubs protruding from where hands and feet should be, terrifyingly short. Like bulging bumps.

It was N001’s first time materializing before the host. Hovering in mid-air, it clearly saw two lines of text written on the other’s face— Left cheek: What is this thing? Right cheek: Why is there such a weird thing inside my head? I’m dirty!!

N001 was a bit worried about getting slapped and hastily said: “Host, no time to explain, give me the item quickly, otherwise we’re going to get caught red-handed by the protagonist!”

Tu Tianba’s face was full of resistance, but he handed over the mirror swiftly. N001: Oh yeah.

As a system, N001 could freely choose whether to stay inside the system space or materialize before the host. Of course. The system’s existence was visible only to the host.

It was just that N001 wasn’t very willing to appear before the host. In its line of work, it was taboo to become too close to a host. If it weren’t out of the pressure to save money, cough… the severe circumstances right now, N001 would not have revealed itself to Tu Tianba.

It rubbed its two little nubs together. First, it opened a small hatch on its belly, pulled out a wire from inside, and tapped it against the bronze mirror in Tu Tianba’s hand—

In an instant. A sound akin to cold water pouring into a hot oil pan rang out in this secluded corner—crackling, popping, sizzling. Black smoke quickly rose from the surface of the bronze mirror, smelling like something burning.

But Tu Tianba remained very calm. The white orb also remained very calm.

Tu Tianba cast a curious glance at the wire and asked with great interest, “What is this?”

N001 silently increased the voltage and replied: “A virus.”

Tu Tianba asked again: “What is a virus?”

N001 thought for a moment and gave a simple description: “A good thing that would get me locked up in prison until the floorboards rot. It is strictly forbidden by the General Bureau, they say once a book character catches it, it’s game over for them.”

Tu Tianba grew even more curious. Fused with the Soul-Refining Cauldron, he faced no risk of death, so he immediately reached out a fingertip to touch that wire. “You’re lying, I don’t feel anything at all.”

The white orb: “…” You already have it yourself, of course you don’t feel anything.

N001 first performed a comprehensive antivirus sweep on this item, then modified its data. Finally, it imported the original world data package it had secretly hoarded into the item. Just like that, the Nine Nether Memory-Sealing Mirror, heavily relied upon by the ancient demonic consciousness, was remodeled into a one-time-use consumable, destroying itself after use.Thank you, nature, for your bounty.

Tu Tianba didn’t know what it was doing, but that didn’t stop him from making demands. “I don’t like mirrors that are too big. It’d be best if it were a bit smaller, like a vanity mirror, and it needs a handle.”

The white orb wanted to say ‘that costs extra’, but after thinking it over, it held back. Not because it was afraid of getting slapped. But because it was kind.

N001 swiftly completed the cosmetic modifications, then set a password for the item and informed the host.

On the other side. Just as Tu Tianba had expected. With his mind occupied by Tu Tianba’s abnormal behavior earlier, Nie Wuhui didn’t linger long at the Main Peak. After hastily giving a few instructions, he returned to Lingzhao Peak.

There was no one in the room. Instead, there was a faint rustling noise from behind the cottage.

Nie Wuhui wasn’t one for playful antics, but after spending so much time with Tu Tianba, he had also undergone some changes. He actually subconsciously lightened his steps, concealing his figure and aura as he walked toward the back of the cottage.

Rounding the corner. Nie Wuhui caught a glimpse of the youth squatting in the corner, both hands gripping a silver-rimmed vanity mirror, muttering something under his breath,

“Magic mirror, magic mirror on the wall, quickly show yourself. I am your present life, you are my past life. In the name of the magical boy, I command you, please reflect my true appearance—”

Nie Wuhui: “?”

Just as Nie Wuhui was familiar with his aura, Tu Tianba hadn’t noticed the man’s approach either. He was utterly focused, staring intently at the hazy mirror surface.

Sure enough. After finishing that long, stinky string of passwords, ripples spread across the gray mirror surface, gradually reflecting a human face…

Tu Tianba saw a face. A face vastly different from his own, yet inexplicably similar.

The man in the mirror mirrored his posture, tilting his head to stare at the mirror surface. Long hair cascaded from his shoulders, the ends slightly curled, winding in a serpentine curve against his neck. His appearance was exceptionally handsome, but the most captivating feature was those eyes—they looked like the pitch-black earth soaked in blood and frozen into solid ice. As the light in his eyes shifted, it seemed as though thousands of shadows were bobbing in an abyss. Chilling, bone-deep terror. And his cold, pallid skin carried a touch of lifeless gray, making him look exceedingly demonic and otherworldly.

Tu Tianba blinked. He also blinked.

Tu Tianba opened his mouth. He also opened his mouth.

The face was secondary. Tu Tianba moved the mirror, aiming it squarely at his own chest. “…So big.”

Having already returned to the system space, the white orb silently watched the light screen, wearing an expression akin to an old man squinting at his phone on a subway.In a way, the host really hasn’t forgotten his original intentions.

It glanced at the blinking record button in the corner of the light screen and the continuously increasing timer, urging: “Host, there’s one last phrase.”

Tu Tianba snapped back to his senses, silently reciting the final part of the password in his heart, “—Seal release.”

As soon as the words fell. Tu Tianba suddenly heard a voice behind him say, “What’s ‘so big’?”

He whipped his head around, finding Nie Wuhui leaning over behind him. The man’s hands rested on his knees, the soft ends of his hair dangling down, swaying slightly and tickling the back of Tu Tianba’s neck… In the mirror, the figures of the two men were clearly reflected.

The next instant. Blinding white light erupted from the mirror.

At that exact moment, a gust of wind swept across the mountain cliff. After the wind passed, there was no sign of anyone behind the wooden cottage, leaving only a long, stretching silence.

“…”