Chapter 2: You’re Not Dead?

Bzzzz…

The hazy text quickly began to reform.

[Name: Zhou Qing]

[Race: Human]

[Strength: Mortal]

[Age: 16]

[Talent: None]

[Simulation Attempts: 1]

…

At the same time, a flood of information poured into Zhou Qing’s mind.

So that’s how it works… I can spend a simulation attempt to run a simulation of the future. The simulation ends either when I choose to exit it or when I die within it.

After each simulation, I can inherit everything from my simulated self: cultivation, realm, memories, and skills.

If I decide not to take all of those, I can instead choose any one treasure I obtained during the simulation and bring it back with me.

And on top of that, based on my performance in the simulation, I’ll receive a talent after each run?

Zhou Qing held his breath.

Before transmigrating, he had played plenty of simulation games.

If this system really allowed him to simulate the future, then his potential was practically limitless.

“In that case, what am I waiting for? Let’s start the simulation.”

Steadying himself, Zhou Qing made his decision without much hesitation.

He began the simulation.

The shimmering text shifted once more.

[Year 1: At the age of sixteen, you devote yourself to studying the Qi Guidance Art day and night.]

[During your spare time, you seek out your father, Zhou Shizhong, and casually mention your concerns about the First Prince personally leading the campaign on the northern front.]

“This feeling…?”

Zhou Qing rubbed his chin.

Although the simulated future was presented entirely through text, he soon realized that, if he wanted to, he could influence the decisions made by his simulated self.

More accurately, whenever his simulated self found himself facing a difficult choice, Zhou Qing would be the one required to make the decision.

[After hearing your concerns, your father, Zhou Shizhong, looks visibly pleased and remarks, “My son is finally taking an interest in the affairs of the realm.”]

[He then explains why the First Prince chose to do this.]

[First, the First Prince is a Martial Grandmaster. On the battlefield, he can cut down hundreds of enemies on his own. Combined with his status as an imperial prince, if he personally leads the campaign in the north, the barbarian tribes can be driven back within a year at most.]

[The old Emperor may be advanced in age, but he’s still in reasonably good health. Living another eight to ten years shouldn’t be a problem.]

[Driving back the barbarian tribes would further strengthen the First Prince’s position and prestige, giving him a major advantage when the time comes to inherit the throne.]

[Moreover, none of the other princes are particularly capable.]

[The old Emperor has nine children in total: six princes and three princesses.]

[Aside from the First Prince, none of the remaining princes possess enough influence or support.]

[Even after hearing your father Zhou Shizhong’s explanation, you remain uneasy. Still, seeing the confidence in his expression, you know there’s little point in pressing the issue further.]

[As the youngest son of the Zhou family, your status is undeniably high. However, status is all it is. You have very little say in the family’s major decisions.]

[And even if you managed to convince Zhou Shizhong, what would it change? The First Prince has already made up his mind. By now, both the court and the public know he is preparing to personally lead the campaign in the north. If he suddenly backed out, it would deal a serious blow to his reputation.]

[All you can do is hope everything unfolds exactly as the First Prince expects and that the war on the northern frontier is settled quickly.]

[To prepare for the worst-case scenario, you secretly establish more than a dozen safehouses throughout the capital. Each one is stocked with ample food, water, silver, and forged identity documents.]

[You hope these safehouses will never be needed.]

[Six months later, accompanied by the send-off of countless officials, the First Prince departs for the northern battlefield.]

[Year 2: You are now seventeen years old. You begin to vaguely sense the mysterious “qi” permeating heaven and earth.]

[You then attempt to draw this qi into your body.]

[The most difficult part of cultivating the Qi Guidance Art is the very first step: sensing the existence of qi.]

[Once you can perceive qi, it means you possess spiritual roots and have the potential to become an immortal cultivator.]

Seeing this, Zhou Qing felt a surge of excitement.

His greatest fear had been that he lacked the qualifications to cultivate.

Now, it seemed fortune was on his side in this life.

I wonder what grade my spiritual roots are, Zhou Qing thought to himself.

According to the Qi Guidance Art, spiritual root aptitude came in different tiers.

At the bottom were Low-Grade Spiritual Roots, followed by Mid-Grade Spiritual Roots and High-Grade Spiritual Roots.

Rumor had it that even rarer and more extraordinary aptitudes existed above High-Grade Spiritual Roots, but those were far beyond the scope of anything recorded in the Qi Guidance Art.

[After a full night of effort, you try to draw qi into your body. The results are modest, but rather than becoming discouraged, you feel even more motivated.]

[The next day, while wandering around the estate, you notice your father, Zhou Shizhong, leaving with an unusually serious expression. Your eldest brother, Zhou Wen, and second brother, Zhou Wu, also look grim.]

[You approach them and ask what happened.]

[“His Majesty suddenly collapsed. All of the Imperial Physicians have been summoned to the palace.”]

[Your second brother, Zhou Wu, lowers his voice as he speaks.]

[This matter is considered top secret within the palace. Only because Zhou Shizhong serves as Commander of the Imperial Guards did he hear rumors ahead of time. As the second young master of the Zhou family, Zhou Wu often accompanies his father and was therefore privy to the news as well.]

[Upon learning that the old Emperor has suddenly collapsed, a sense of unease grips you. You have a feeling something major is about to happen.]

[That night, you instruct Dachun to remain outside your room and keep watch at all times.]

[The first half of the night passes without incident. Just as you begin to think everything might blow over, you faintly hear the sound of violent clashes in the distance.]

[Moments later come the sounds of battle.]

[Then a deep voice rings out through the night.]

[“Zhou Shizhong has colluded with the enemy and committed treason! Leave no one in the Zhou household alive!”]

A jolt shoots through you, and you spring out of bed.

The very disaster you had feared had finally arrived.

[“Dachun!”]

[You throw open the door, intending to have Dachun escort you out of the Zhou estate.]

[To your surprise, he is nowhere to be found. The sounds of fighting have likely drawn his attention away.]

[Without hesitation, you rush from your room and head for the estate’s rear gate.]

[Whether the Zhou family can withstand the attack or not, preserving your own life is your top priority.]

[You have barely gone far when dozens of towering figures clad in armor arrive.]

[At their head stands a commanding man with piercing eyes. He spots you instantly.]

[“Capture him!”]

[The armored soldiers immediately charge toward you.]

[Despair fills your heart. With your small, sixteen-year-old body, there is no chance of escaping once they surround you.]

[Still, you notice that they do not seem intent on killing you. Otherwise, the order would have been “kill him,” not “capture him.”]

[Just as the armored soldiers are about to catch up to you…]

[“Young Master!”]

[A furious roar echoes across the courtyard.]

[It is Dachun.]

[Dachun’s massive frame, as solid as a mountain, plants itself between you and your pursuers.]

[“Young Master, go! I’ll hold them off!”]

[With a thunderous charge, Dachun rushes straight at the dozens of armored soldiers.]

[In an instant, blades flash and steel clashes.]

[“Run!”]

[You don’t hesitate for even a second. This opportunity has been bought with Dachun’s life.]

[The armored soldiers are armed with swords and spears, while Dachun doesn’t even have a proper weapon. Charging them head-on is practically a death sentence.]

Dachun…

Outside the simulation, Zhou Qing couldn’t help but feel moved.

He had always known Dachun’s loyalty was beyond question.

But seeing him willingly risk his life to buy even a slim chance of escape still struck a chord with him.

[Before long, you slip out of the Zhou estate through a hidden rear gate.]

[The passage is extremely well concealed. Even most of the household servants have no knowledge of its existence.]

[After leaving the estate, you don’t wander aimlessly. Instead, you follow a route you memorized long ago and make your way to one of the safehouses you prepared in advance.]

[More than a year earlier, you had established over a dozen such safehouses throughout the capital.]

[You never expected to actually need them.]

[Standing in the modest courtyard, you take a deep breath and steady yourself. This safehouse is tucked away in a remote corner of the capital, yet even here you can still hear the sounds of fighting in the distance.]

[Worry weighs heavily on your mind. You may have escaped, but what about everyone else in the Zhou family?]

[Unfortunately, you’re struggling just to survive yourself. There is nothing you can do for anyone else.]

[Several hours pass.]

[Suddenly, a dark figure vaults into the courtyard.]

[“Not good!”]

[Alarmed, you immediately leap to your feet. Have the enemy tracked you here by following your trail?]

[But a moment later, you realize the newcomer is dressed in tattered, bloodstained clothing.]

[It’s Dachun.]

[“Dachun!”]

[Your eyes widen in disbelief as the words blurt out of your mouth.]

[“You’re alive?!”]