Reborn As a System

Five years of staying in that confined space passed, repeating the same old boring job day after day. That may sound like a great torture that was enough to drive an ordinary person crazy.

In fact…Shi Qing did not feel anything of the sort. Time passed faster than expected, and it was as if five years had passed just as quickly as he could finish a glass of water!

Perhaps it was because he did not receive any outside stimulation. Since he was deprived of a person’s five senses, the flow of time wasn’t even worth mentioning.

It was only after all the repairs were complete that he suddenly woke up. He actually did it!

He was extremely excited, and couldn’t wait to see Qin Mo!

However, he immediately fell into darkness. The body’s repairs were complete, and his soul gradually merged with Xia Nuo’s body. The light and free feeling he had from before disappeared without a trace, replaced with the exhaustion and heaviness of the body. Even though the feeling was bad, it gave him a firm sense of security and the feeling of being grounded. Compared to being an illusory being, he felt more ‘real’ as a human being.

Fusing with the body took longer than he imagined. His consciousness was there, but a body that had just been repaired had a slow acceptance rate. It couldn’t be rushed, so Shi Qing had to bear with it even if he was anxious; he couldn’t let everything come to nought in the end.

Even though there was no way to control the body, Shi Qing’s consciousness was finally able to come out. He couldn’t speak with Qin Mo, but he could still take a look at him.

As soon as he came out, he heard Yan Qi saying, “Master, please let Mr. Shi to rest in peace!”

Shi Qing’s soul trembled. Well damn, little student Qi. I didn’t treat you badly in the past, why’re you trying to bury me alive aaah!

In the next second, the broken thread in Shi Qing’s mind finally connected. Oh god! He actually forgot such a serious problem!

Five years! It’s been five years!

He had already stopped breathing for five years, so under normal circumstances, he should’ve been buried long ago! Who would keep a ‘corpse’ for five years?

He actually forgot such an important thing. If he really was buried, what would he do once he repaired his body? Wouldn’t he still have to die again?

Wait…from the looks of it, he wasn’t buried yet?

He quickly rushed upwards and saw the scene in front of him.

He looked straight into the eyes of the young man sitting straight in front of the window. He had a slender body, and an exquisite appearance that was worthy of praise. Yet, at that moment, his expression was cold like it had been covered with a layer of frost. His lips were pursed into a thin line, and those black eyes that were richer than any others were now filled with fury, burning like greek fire atop immortal ice.

“Scram! Get out of my sight!”

Yan Qi fell down to his knees and his head hung low. Fresh blood poured out of his injured arm, but it was like he couldn’t feel the pain and he remained, kneeling silently.

Qi Zimo huffed, “What? You really think I wouldn’t kill you?”

WIth his head low, Yan Qi spoke in a voice hoarse from the pain, “Yan Qi’s life has always belonged to master.”

Even though they were very submissive words, they angered Qi Zimo completely at that moment. He raised his hand and launched streaks of light that shot straight over, hitting him right on the other arm, as well as the knees he knelt on.

Yan Qi grunted in paint, but he still opened his mouth with difficulty, “Master, Mr. Shi has already departed!”

Qi Zimo looked down at him menacingly, and only darkness could be seen beneath his dense lashes, “Since you seek death so earnestly, I will fulfill your wish.”

As soon as he said that, he raised his hand and a violent whirlwind rushed towards Yan Qi, instantly hitting his entire body. The huge force actually threw him more than five meters and he broke through the door, then finally landed against the hard wall.

Yan Qi fainted. Qi Zimo gave him a cold glance before ordering, “Take him down!”

After seeing Qi Zimo’s wrath, none of the guards outside dared to resist. They rushed over with their heads lowered, and carefully moved Yan Qi downstairs. That was General Yan for you, if it had been anyone else, they would’ve been long dead.

Just after crawling out from that dark room, Shi Qing was completely dumbfounded to be met with such a shocking scene.

The door was closed, and only Qi Zimo and Shi Qing were left in the large space.

Shi Qing didn’t know how long it would take for him to wake up completely, so he could only wait, and watch.

After watching for the whole day, Shi Qing felt like he was going crazy. Just thinking about how Qi Zimo passed five years that way made his heart hurt insurmountably.

With no one else around Qi Zimo put his anger aside. When he looked back at Shi Qing, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

He held Shi Qing lightly, clenching his hands, and said as he stroked them, “They said you’ve left, but you’re clearly still in my arms, right?”

“You promised me you’d stay by my side forever, and you’d always be with me, you even said you’d marry me,” Saying that, his eyes suddenly lit up. As if he thought of something wonderful, the bright glimmer in his eyes was like the rising sun.

He straightened Shi Qing’s body and allowed him to lean onto the chair. Then, he got up, and kneeled on one knee before him. He completely ignored how the body was slumped over with its eyes tightly shut, and it was as if Shi Qing really was sitting there, looking at him with a smile.

Qi Zimo was very excited, and even a little nervous. He kept his eyes fixed on Shi Qing, and just as he was about to speak, he quickly got up as if he had just thought of something, and said with embarrassment, “Shi Qing, wait here for a while!”

He turned and walked outside, but in just a few steps, he turned back and smiled to Shi Qing, “You’ll be afraid if you’re alone here, right? I’ll bring you along!”

Then, he picked up the young man by the waist and headed towards the study with quick steps. When they arrived at the study, he did not put down Shi Qing. Instead, he carried him to the desk, and before opening the drawer, he covered Shi Qing’s tightly shut eyes with his hand, “Don’t peek.”

Then, he quickly took out something from the drawer.

He went out of the study, and was just thinking of returning to the bedroom, when he saw the sea of flowers outside through the window and changed his mind.

He carried Shi Qing to the yard. Under the bright sunlight, in the sea of pink flowers broken up only by a pure white bench, everything was like a fairytale.

Qi Zimo put Shi Qing down on the bench and took out the ring he had prepared. Once more, he knelt on the ground, and looked almost devoutly at the unconscious youth. There was no calm nor cold, only the tension and excitement of a young man.

“Shi Qing, let’s get married!”

Shi Qing floated in the sky, and when he saw this scene, it felt like his heart had been hollowed out.

Nobody would respond to him. A ‘dead person’ couldn’t promise anything.

Even so, Qi Zimo was not the least bit dissatisfied. He still kept smiling, and put the ring on Shi Qing’s left ring finger. He leaned close and whispered, “Are you shy? It’s fine, you’ve promised me long ago, I know.”

After that, he took Shi Qing’s face in his hands, and landed a soft kiss on his pallid lips, “Shi Qing, this is perfect, you’re by my side, and you’ll never be able to leave me, forever.”

For the rest of the day, Qi Zimo stayed with Shi Qing just like that.

When the sky darkened, he continued on just like all those countless nights before this. He wiped Shi Qing clean, dressed him, and carried him to bed, whispering sweet nothings by himself, and giving him a good night kiss before falling asleep sweetly.

Sadly, when he really fell asleep, he couldn’t stop startling awake.

During the day, it was as if he was immersed in a beautiful dream. However, when night fell, instead of the dreams he should have, all he saw were the truths he could never face.

For the first half of the night, Qi Zimo wouldn’t stop waking up. He would open his eyes abruptly almost every half hour, then hold that person tightly in his arms, and only continued sleeping after sensing his existence. During the next half, his eyes kept opening again. He was constantly affirming, constantly making sure. Even if Shi Qing was held tightly in his arms, he still had to be reassured before he could be at ease. (t/n: this paragraph is a bit awkward)

And this cycle continued until about one in the morning. That was when Qi Zimo could finally fall asleep.

Even though he slept, it was certainly not peaceful. His brows were knitted into a tight frown, and he used so much force with his hands that his knuckles grew white. Shi Qing watched this scene while floating above, and all sorts of feelings welled up in his heart.

His night was destined to be filled with nightmares. He didn’t know what the other dreamt of, but he could only see large beads of sweat flowing down his forehead, and his lips were trembling, followed by mumbling.

Throughout that time, he seemed to be able to discern something. It looked like he was chasing something, constantly shouting, hoping that someone could stay to accompany him, to be by his side.

Mother…dead. Qi Lu…dead. Even grandmother is gone…

Shi Qing…Shi Qing…Shi Qing!

Qi Zimo opened his eyes abruptly and held the person in his arms tight, but his eyes were empty as if he had lost his soul.

“Shi Qing…you’re angry at me, aren’t you?”

“Am I the one who turned you into this? Am I the one who did this to you?”

“I’m disgusting…aren’t I?”

No longer able to fall asleep, he held Shi Qing, held him tight, and buried his face between his neck like a lonely child, seeking comfort.

I killed you, I was the one who killed you, but I still can’t let go. Shi Qing, I’m a monster, a madman, but you’re all I have.

“Please wake up. I beg you, don’t leave me.”

In his hoarse voice, whispering so softly, he completely abandoned his dignity and pleaded.

It was like Shi Qing’s heart had been hit by a heavy hammer. He couldn’t imagine it; five years, almost two thousand nights, how did Qi Zimo bear through it? It had been just a single day and night, but he was already going mad. Yet, Qi Zimo had passed five whole years like this!

That heartrending pain made his nose wrinkle uncontrollably, and tears flowed straight down his eyes.

As a cold tear crossed his cheek, the cool touch took Shi Qing by surprise. In the next instant, he slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw was short, ink-black hair.

Yes. He had fully returned to Xia Nuo’s body.

That body that had not moved for ages was slightly stiff. He struggled to lift his arm, and lightly caressed that back in front of him that had grown wider. With a soft voice, and a voice so hoarse he could barely speak, he said, “Xiao Mo, I’m back.”

The body that was holding him suddenly stiffened, so stiff that it was almost as if he had turned to stone.

Shi Qing could feel a tugging at his heart, and his tears trickled like they were running free, endlessly flowing.

It could not be described as a nice-looking state, but he didn’t care. He held Qin Mo with all his strength, and said loudly, “I’m not dead! I’m alive! I said I wouldn’t die! I’m your system! I’ll never die!”

After roughly pulling away his body, Qi Zimo stared at him fixedly. The ecstasy in his eyes was like exploding fireworks, so bright that even the darkest hell could be illuminated!

Shi Qing had forgotten to move in that instant.

As if they were fixed in place, they looked into each other’s eyes for a long time.

Qi Zimo looked at the person in front of him, and depth finally appeared in his hollow eyes. Just like that, he watched him unblinkingly, fearing that it would all turn into a dream if he lost sight for even a moment.

Shi Qing looked at him with loving pity, and spoke out his promises without any scruple, “I’m here, I’m right here, I’ve always been here, I never left, and I’ll never leave!”

Those straightforward words were like the most beautiful musical movements in the world, and the hope of life was ignited in Qi Zimo’s defeated soul.

He finally reacted. The corners of his thin lips curled up, and that light smile bloomed slowly like a flower, the sight so beautiful that it was intoxicating.

He kept his eyes trained on Shi Qing, and then cupped his cheek within his palm. In a hoarse voice carrying with it unconcealable care, he said, “Shi Qing…”

“I’m here!”

“Shi Qing…”

“I’m here!”

“Shi Qing!”

“I’m right here!”

“Shi Qing, Shi Qing, Shi Qing…”he called out softly and incessantly, as if he was possessed.

Shi Qing did not feel the least bit impatient, and repeated it without end. It’s real, so that his doubtful heart could gradually calm down.

Qi Zimo came alive. He smiled, and finally blinked his eyes. A drop of crystal tear slid down his pale cheek, and landed right in the center of Shi Qing’s palm.

Then came a burst of heat. Both he and Qi Zimo’s tears were in Shi Qing’s palm, and those crystal clear droplets fused together, invoking a white glow.

Then, a dazzling crystal lay there.

Obtain the tears of life, mission completed.

After the brief reminder, Qi Zimo fell into a coma.

When he opened his eyes once more, a hint of confusion could be seen in his eyes. Then, after focusing, his deep eyes were like a dark whirlpool. He looked at Shi Qing, and lowered his head down to his lips, kissing him fiercely.

“You’ve worked hard, my Shi Qing.”

This chapter stabbed me pretty hard in the heart.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever holy or unholy holiday you celebrate). Mine was quite wonderful! I hope that, when I finish releasing PUP (hopefully soon!ish), I will be able to speed up releases here a bit. I love the current arc and I’m seriously looking forward to the next one as well.

Also, I signed up for kofi because why not, so if you wanna help me buy a new computer feel free. Or not. It’s up in the menu options.