"Warning, warning. There are still 17 months until the death of the character the host is playing."
Once again, the mechanical voice of the system sounded like a death knell, repeating itself many times a day.
There was only one reason for this: Zhao Chen'an was the worst - performing host the system had ever guided, having been reborn a hundred times.
Whether the system could achieve any results depended on whether Zhao Chen'an could change his fate and survive this hundredth time.
"Warning, warning. There are still 17 months until the death of the character the host is playing."
Zhao Chen'an irritably covered his ears with a pillow. "Ancestor, what time is it? You may not need sleep, but I do!"
The system fell silent for a while, then said obediently, "Host, for every second less you sleep, you may live one more minute. The outcome will be different. Get up and get to work."
Zhao Chen'an: "…"
He really had bad luck to be stuck with this useless system.
Under the system's relentless reminder of the impending doom, Zhao Chen'an was forced to get up. He was really afraid that if he didn't, the little thing would start counting down to the exact minute and second of his death.
It was just dawn. After dressing up, Zhao Chen'an crawled to the window and peeked out.
The disciples guarding him were all lying around in disarray, sound asleep.
Zhao Chen'an stroked his chin with one hand. After a while, he showed a mysterious smile.
This guy must be up to no good again.
Sure enough, Zhao Chen'an, with a mischievous plan in mind, secretly changed into a black night - suit. If one didn't look carefully, it would be hard to notice a black figure climbing onto the roof and slipping away at a fast pace.
But Zhao Chen'an wasn't the only one hiding in the darkness.
Someone witnessed the whole process of Zhao Chen'an's escape. Due to the thick darkness, it was difficult to make out this person's expression even with the dim dawn light.
All that could be heard was this person saying, "I knew he wouldn't stay quiet." Then this person also quietly left.
The disciples outside the confinement room were sleeping soundly, smacking their lips and snoring evenly.
"Host, where are you going?"
Zhao Chen'an pointed to a courtyard not far away and tilted his chin. "Qin Beixuan's courtyard. I bet he didn't save me out of kindness. He must be up to something."
The system agreed, "You're right. Your senior brother has always only had eyes for the junior - most disciple." After a pause, it added, "But host, what if you're caught by him? It's not a good idea to offend Qin Beixuan right at the start."
Zhao Chen'an looked at the air in front of him as if staring at a stupid thing, "Little thing, it's a pity you have a mouth..."
System: "…"
Tap, tap, tap -
Zhao Chen'an, hiding on the roof, just heard a series of footsteps not far away. It sounded like people were running, and definitely not just one person.
Zhao Chen'an squinted and looked over. He saw rows of disciples in the purple - star mountain's disciple uniforms, holding flaming talismans for light.
"These people..." They looked familiar.
Zhao Chen'an, who was a bit face - blind, took a long time to remember that they were the disciples who had been guarding him.
"Damn it! How did they wake up so soon!" In a panic, Zhao Chen'an flipped over and hid in Qin Beixuan's courtyard.
He hid behind a corner and listened to the commotion outside. The disciples seemed to have stopped and were talking to each other.
Disciple A: "Is he here?"
Disciple B: "No, senior brother. Should we report this to the master?"
Disciple A: "Report what? Do you want the master to scold us for our dereliction of duty? Hurry up and search over there..."
Hearing the voices gradually fade away, Zhao Chen'an let out a sigh of relief.
Ah, after a narrow escape, there should be...
"Zhao Chen'an, what are you doing here?"
A deep and pleasant male voice suddenly pierced into Zhao Chen'an's ears. He was all too familiar with this voice.
It was the man who remained straight as an arrow even after being flirted with by Zhao Chen'an for ninety - nine missions - Qin Beixuan.
This man was impervious to both hard and soft tactics and seemed to enjoy making things difficult for Zhao Chen'an.
Zhao Chen'an stared at the other man's extremely good - looking face and forced out a couple of dry laughs.
At this moment, he only felt that after his narrow escape, there was no good fortune left, only regret.
"Senior, senior brother. What a coincidence." Zhao Chen'an forced a smile, his eyes wandering. "You... get up really early."
Qin Beixuan frowned slightly and said seriously, "It's not a coincidence. What are you doing in my courtyard so early in the morning?"
"Um..." Zhao Chen'an twitched the corner of his mouth, frantically searching his brain for words. Suddenly, he smiled wickedly and said playfully, "Of course I'm here to watch a beauty take a bath~"
A look of uneasiness flashed across Qin Beixuan's face, and his ears turned a bit red. He managed to say, "I don't take a bath in the morning."
Zhao Chen'an leaned in towards Qin Beixuan with great interest. Slightly standing on tiptoe, he blew a breath into his ear and said, "It's not too late for senior brother to take a bath now."
Qin Beixuan's breathing suddenly became heavy for a moment. He immediately pushed Zhao Chen'an away and managed to say, "Shameless."
Just then, the disciples who were looking for Zhao Chen'an passed by and happened to stop at the base of the wall.
Disciple B: "Senior brother, do you think he could be hiding in senior - most brother's courtyard?"
Disciple A: "Nonsense. Everyone knows he has a bad relationship with senior - most brother. If he hides in there, he'd be stupid."
However, the "stupid" Zhao Chen'an heard every word clearly, and so did Qin Beixuan.
Qin Beixuan's cheeks were still slightly red. Looking at Zhao Chen'an, he asked in a muffled voice, "They're looking for you?"
"Shh! Shh!" Zhao Chen'an looked panicked and immediately ran up to cover Qin Beixuan's mouth.
When Qin Beixuan's thin lips touched Zhao Chen'an's warm palm, he was stunned for a moment.
His palm was so soft...
Since his mouth was covered, Qin Beixuan could only mumble, "Don't you want to avoid being discovered?"
Zhao Chen'an glared at him. "Of course." Then he muttered in a low voice, "It's all your fault."
It was not clear whether Qin Beixuan heard it or not. Probably not, because if he had, he would have kicked Zhao Chen'an out long ago.
Qin Beixuan said seriously, "Do you want me to help you?"
Zhao Chen'an hooked his lips. His finger traced Qin Beixuan's chin as he teased, "Would senior brother be so kind as to help me? How? Which one should I take off first?"
Qin Beixuan: "…"
It turned out this guy was making dirty jokes.
Zhao Chen'an playfully pinched Qin Beixuan's face and said with a smile, "I'm not teasing you anymore. I should go back."
Qin Beixuan's face suddenly darkened. He touched the face that had just been teased, suppressing his anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao Chen'an!"
Unfortunately, his voice was just the right volume for the patrolling disciples outside the door to hear.
Disciple B: "Senior brother, did you just call the second senior brother?"
Disciple A: "Could he really be in there?! Let's go and check."
Zhao Chen'an immediately sprang into action. He flipped onto the wall and didn't forget to say to Qin Beixuan, "Pretty boy, keep your voice down. If they find out we're having an affair, it won't be good~" Then he disappeared in a flash.
Qin Beixuan watched the small black dot disappearing in the distance. His face was full of anger. Before he could utter the curse at Zhao Chen'an, his head started to throb.
Qin Beixuan had to reach up and massage his temples.
It was this strange feeling again.
Since yesterday, a red figure had been popping up inexplicably in his mind.
But his memory was like a veil of mist. He could only make out the figure's silhouette but not the face. The silhouette flashed by so quickly that he couldn't study it carefully.
At this time, the disciples who were looking for Zhao Chen'an had already entered Qin Beixuan's courtyard.
Disciple A: "Senior - most brother, we heard you call the second senior brother's name just now outside. Did you see him?"
For some reason, although he had seen Zhao Chen'an, Qin Beixuan blurted out, "No. It was just a black cat that ran in. I made a mistake. What are you looking for him for?"
Disciple A replied, "Senior brother, yesterday the master punished the second senior brother to a month of confinement and ordered us to guard him. But the second senior brother got up earlier than the rooster. When we woke up, he was long gone."
Disciple A complained sullenly.
Qin Beixuan waved his hand. He decided to teach Zhao Chen'an a good lesson to avenge the teasing just now. He said, "Maybe he never left. Your second senior brother always likes to sleep in corners. Go back and search again."
Disciple A immediately said happily, "Yes!"
It was only after he left that Disciple A realized something. How did the senior - most brother know that the second senior brother liked to sleep in corners? Weren't they always at odds...
Forget it. He must be overthinking. He'd better go back and search.
After they left, Qin Beixuan rubbed his forehead again, as if thinking about something.