I was awake not even a moment later. Really, the transitions between life and death were too smooth. Wait—
'The End of All things offered me a boon for a reason I'm not going to like, didn't they?'
When certain aches started to make themselves known, I realized that the issue would and should be left to future me. My nethers were on fire, and the ache in them thrummed along with each beat of my heart. I groaned miserably, already dreading what I'd find.
I blinked my eyes open, rubbing the sleep from them as the view above me came back bleary. I continued to blink the sleep from my eyes and slowly sat up so I could get a view of the rooms I was in.
The bed was low, practically on the ground. The mattress beneath me felt like it was made of clouds, and the fabric of the red robes I wore were silky soft. They rippled like water in my hands when I ran them over it. The bed was surrounded by a canopy of dark wood and draped with blood red lace curtains. The air smelled slightly of sandalwood and something green that I couldn't place. I shuffled pitifully to the side, and drew the curtains away so I could get a look of the place.
Before I could make out anything more than sparse but opulent furnishings and an intimidatingly large room, the sound of a set of double doors opening startled me.
"Forgive this lowly one the intrusion, young master, but I've brought the Royal Physician's assistant to look you over." Came a timid voice.
Royal Physician's assistant?! What the—
No, nope. I would not be freaking out. It was hardly the time. I would not, could not, let myself spiral right now. I took a deep calming breath, then I cleared my throat and said hoarsely. "You may enter."
"This one greets Wang-gongzi." The man said as soon as he came into my line of vision.
Young master Wang? Was that my name? I nodded for the lack of better word.
He was quite short, about 5'5 or so and incredibly pale. The sky blue robes he wore made his skin even fairer, and brought attention to healthy blush on his spotless cheeks and his black phoenix eyes. His lips were pinched thin and there was a slight wrinkle on the sides of his eyes, but his expression was inscrutable beyond that. Even so, I could tell something was bothering him. Though whether it was being here or something else I could only guess.
The lady, who I could only assume was the one who opened the door, busied herself with removing the rest of the drapes, before coming over to fluff the pillows and help me sit upright when she saw how I was struggling.
Damn, but it hurt something fierce.
The assistant physician knelt beside me and held out his palm, "Can the young master place his wrist in this one's palm, please?" He asked.
I did so, and watched curiously as he placed the pads of his middle and index finger on my pulse. He immediately frowned. "Young master is in pain?"
I cleared my throat. "Yes."
"Can the young master recall what activities they partook in yesterday?"
I don't know what activities he–I partook in yesterday, good sir. Before I could come up with a lame excuse for not remembering, the world around me froze. Like time came to a stand still.
A blue screen suddenly appeared in front of me, and stayed there despite my frantic blinking. Then–
[Loading...
Downloading exe. data in process...
Checking all servers...
Processing 23%...
35%
67%
92%
100%
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
Welcome User23c6 Da da da! (◍•ᴗ•◍) This system—]
"Nope, no. I do not want a system."
[—is part of the transmigration experience prompted by the 'We Don't Know What To Do With Your Soul' program. This system hopes to provide User23c6 with a memorable experience (≧▽≦)]
I sighed in aggravation. Systems did not have a good rep sometimes. There were two Chinese novels that came to the forefront of my mind and neither one of them had anything good to say about Systems. Sometimes they were good, one novel even had the MC fall in love with the thing, but I wasn't going to let that get my hopes up.
I'd read enough transmigration webnovels to realize that they could be a hindrance than a tool.
[User23c6 is now successfully logged into the program and cannot log out (・∀・). It is now time for User23c6 to begin his journey within this fantasy style xianxia world. Does User23c6 have any questions before we begin?]
"Please, call me Host. And yes, I do. Who am I currently wearing?" I said, gesturing the body.
[( ꈍᴗꈍ) Host is currently wearing an individual under the alias Wang Yi Chen.
Would Host like to see his stats?]
Alias? Does that mean that's not my- his real name?
"Um, yes please." I said, distractedly.
[Profile: ****** ***
(Alias– Wang Li Chen)
ATT: 100/1000
LF: 100/100
HLTH: 22/100
GC: 0.12/100
B-POINTS: 500
...]
"The ATT are my attack points, right?"
[Yes! Host's sunlight charged invulnerability boosts his attack points.]
"Then why isn't it full? I'm invulnerable, right? And I have super strength to go with it."
[Host will soon realize he is nothing special (≧▽≦)]
"Ouch..?"
[Host need not worry about that now. System is in the process of downloading this bodies previous memories into the Host's servers. Please stand by for memory assimilation]
I sighed, and settled into my pillow comfortably. The physician's assistant was still holding my wrist and staring at me blankly.
[*Ding* *Ding* *Ding* Host has successfully assimilated ***** *** memories.]
I closed my eyes and gave Yi Chen's memories a once over. It was very easy to bring them up, they had a shine and vividness to them my old memories didn't. It is for that reason alone that I was able to tell a lot was missing.
Holding back nausea from some of the content, I said. "System, I only have two months worth of memories."
[System is aware. Host may not see it now, but Host will know all that Wang Yi Chen knew, though only that which has nothing to do with the plot. This System is currently operating under a lower processing unit. If Host wishes for this System to be of better use, there is an upgrade available.]
"Plot? What do you mean plot? I'm not in a shitty webnovel, right? And how do I get this upgrade?"
[(◡ ω ◡) Host is part of a world that is loosely based on something written by someone. But Host need not concern himself with that. Host needs 5000 B-Points for an upgrade.]
"We are revisiting the webnovel shit later. Right now I only have 500 B-Points, how do I get more?"
[Host will complete missions.]
"What kind of missions?"
[This System cannot say (个_个). Host must upgrade system to latest version for additional information.]
"So, I'm stuck in the Emperor's Palace for some reason and I'm... he's... we're cutsleeves?"
[Host is his concubine. Now.]
"We have a lot to discuss." 'shitty system', "But first, I need to get rid of the physician and consider my options."
[System understands.]
Then time started moving again. The physician's assistant was patiently waiting for my answer.
I pretended to be sheepish, before I said. "This one snuck out to the training hall to watch sword fights."
It was an excuse Wang Yi Chen had used before, much to physician Gu's ire, which was why the old man had sent his assistant.
"Ah." He said, neutral. "Very well. I will leave bruise salve and pain tonics with your servants and have them adjust your meals until you feel better. The young master should take better care of himself. Concubines are not allowed out of the inner court unless given express permission by the Emperor Himself."
I gave him a short and stiff smile as I inclined my head. "Many thanks to physician Gu's assistant."
He sighed, stood up and then bowed lowly before leaving as quickly as he came.
"This servant will bring the young master a light breakfast shortly."
And then I was alone.
"So, Liang Li died of some sort of a deviation." I thought out loud. What I assumed was my dentian hurt afterall and the meridians around the area were definitely inflamed. Then I bit into my nails. "What the hell is a cultivator doing in the Emperor's Household?"