The Passing River and the Unarrived Wind - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

No. 075 started explaining to me what the System in my head actually was.

She said:

“These things called Strategy Systems are really stowaways from another dimension. They trick underage girls like you into doing their bidding.

A lot of people weren’t willing at all, but the Strategy System brought them to another world.

If they want to go home, they have to do what the System says.

But the idea that clearing the strategy will let them go home is a lie.

The Strategy System doesn’t have the ability to send souls back to Earth.”

No. 075’s words left me feeling a little suffocated.

So everything I had worked so hard for all this time was just built on a lie.

She pulled a bottle out of her pocket.

“This is a Space-Time Bottle we developed. It can pull the System out of your head.”

A stab of pain shot through my fingertips.

Then, all of a sudden, I felt like something in my body was missing.

A glowing blue orb appeared inside the bottle in No. 075’s hand.

The mechanical voice in the orb carried a hint of panic.

“Who are you? How did you catch me? Li Qingyuan, hurry up and let me out!”

“If you don’t let me out right now, I’ll lock your spirit in the Little Black Room again!”

My body shuddered on instinct.

Being locked in the Little Black Room was not a pleasant experience.

It was pitch-black all around, with no sound and no light.

Just the darkness alone could drive someone insane.

The first time I was thrown into the Little Black Room was because I had disobeyed the System’s mission.

The System wanted me to kill the girl who had saved me.

Because, it said:

“She’ll definitely use her life-saving favor to threaten you later. You’re both women, so I know exactly what she’s thinking.”

I refused.

I endured ten whole days in the Little Black Room. After my spirit broke down, the System took control of my body and killed that kind mute girl.

Scalding blood soaked my hands.

With a sharp clatter, the dagger in my hand fell to the ground.

“Look at you. Such a woman’s softness. When you strike, you have to be fast. Next time, you’d better move quicker, or I’ll just take over your body and kill that cat you’re raising, stew it into soup, and make you drink it…”

The System’s triumphant voice still rang by my ear.

The mute girl in the pool of blood had already lost all strength, and the clothes she had made for me were scattered all over the floor.

Even as she was dying, she kept signing to me.

“It’s okay, Ah Yuan. I know Ah Yuan didn’t do it on purpose. It’s okay…”

…

The System’s taunting voice seemed to overlap in my ears.

But now it had no power left to control me.

All it could do was jump around helplessly inside the bottle.

I laughed, and laughing turned into a broken sob.

No. 075 patted my shoulder.

Then she said, “Li Qingyuan, congratulations. You’re free.”