"Later I realized that I was just a corner of a storybook, and everything I experienced was given to me by the person who wrote it."

"If I had always been a character unaware of pain, merely a figure in the storybook, perhaps I wouldn’t feel this unwillingness."

"But unexpectedly, I’ve developed my own thoughts, and the world of the story I inhabit is no longer just a simple storybook world. I can truly feel pain, maneuvering through their schemes yet unable to save myself, helpless. Those I believed sincerely cared for me turned out to be mere calculations in the end."

"I actually don’t really understand; it was them who hurt me, and in the end, it was them who claimed to love me. Can someone truly love another while willing to hurt her?"

"If you love me, why not set me free?"

"Time after time, I experience everything in the storybook. Even though I have thoughts, know to resist, do not love these people, and have even considered avoiding them. But in the end, I’m still controlled and can never escape destiny."

The one speaking is a young woman with a pale face and a full head of white hair, yet she appears to be only about twenty years old.

"Miss Qiann Yan, I want to know what it feels like to live freely, to live like a human." The young woman bows deeply to Qiann Yan, "Please help me."

"Alright."

[Host, this world is somewhat special this time, it’s a semi-virtual, semi-real world that hasn’t completely escaped the virtual realm. In this world, you need to deal not only with those who harmed the original host but also with the storyline’s control over the original host’s body.] System 666 reminds from aside.

[I’m just reminding; Host will surely be able to handle these with ease.] Finally, System 666 habitually offers a compliment.

[As I understand it, this semi-virtual, semi-real world is supported by the original host and several main characters. As long as one of them survives, this small world can continue to evolve.]

Qiann Yan: "That’s fine. Since they’re of no use, they can all die; I can support the world alone."

System 666: ... That’s not what he meant.

"Ancient world, bring my sword." Qiann Yan pulls out a giant sword stuck in the ground, dragging it as she prepares to jump into the small world. Just as she reaches the wellhead, she grabs System 666, "Get me a dagger, one that can cut through iron like mud."

System 666 doesn’t dare ask why she needs a dagger when she already has a giant sword and quickly controls its round body to bounce over to Qiann Yan’s warehouse to search.

This warehouse stores those scrapped systems, filled with things Qiann Yan finds barely usable. These items are usually given as rewards to meritorious officials.

...

In the pavilion, two handsome men sit facing each other. The man in white exudes warmth, and being glanced at by him feels like being bathed in a spring breeze. The man in black, on the other hand, has an aura that screams "do not approach," and his presence is quite intimidating.

The white-clad man remains composed and calm despite the oppressive aura.

The man in white is the current Crown Prince, Jing Yunzhou, ranked second; the man in black is Prince Ling, Jing Lingyu, ranked third.

The atmosphere between the two makes it clear they are at odds. Even the gentle white-clad man has a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Third brother, you’re going too far with this." Jing Yunzhou forcefully places the teacup on the stone table, causing the tea inside to splash uncontrollably.