After Breaking Free From The System's Control - Chapter 9

Jin Tang had no idea how long the System kept cursing him.

That shrill, malicious voice continued needling his mind without pause.

At first, he could still make out the dull, repetitive words—

“Monster.”

“Trash.”

“You deserve a miserable death.”

But later, they blurred into a roaring torrent of static-laced noise.

Jin Tang did not know whether the System stopped first, or whether his already exhausted body gave out and slipped into a self-protective sleep before that happened.

His consciousness drifted up and down before finally being swallowed completely by a mild, enveloping darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, the familiar golden dragon embroidery on the imperial yellow bed curtains came into view.

This time, however, the light filtering in from outside was no longer the dim glow of candles.

It was bright daylight, warm enough to feel.

The sun was already high in the sky.

Jin Tang lay still for a moment without moving.

First, he carefully assessed the condition of his body.

To his surprise, the deep weakness and emptiness that had reached into his very bones the day before seemed to have faded considerably.

His limbs still ached with the weariness left by illness, but it was no longer the kind of complete helplessness that left him unable to control his own body.

He tried moving his fingers.

Then his wrist.

Then his arm.

He could feel strength slowly returning.

Bracing himself against the bed, Jin Tang carefully sat up.

The process went more smoothly than expected. Aside from a brief spell of dizziness at the beginning, he felt no further discomfort.

He tentatively placed his feet on the golden floor tiles, stood steady, and then slowly took several steps.

He did not need support.

His steps could hardly be called firm, but he truly could walk freely on his own.

The discovery sent a faint ripple through the still waters of his heart.

To be free of the weakness that had made even sitting up dependent upon others seemed to lighten his soul as well.

“Your Majesty, are you awake?”

Wang Zhong’s voice sounded outside the doors, likely because he had heard movement within.

“Come in,” Jin Tang answered.

His voice remained somewhat low and hoarse, but there was clearly more breath behind it than the day before.

Wang Zhong pushed open the doors.

When he saw Jin Tang already standing on his own, he froze in shock.

Then genuine joy burst across his deeply wrinkled face, crinkling the corners of his eyes until they resembled chrysanthemum petals.

“Oh! Your Majesty! You—you can walk by yourself! Heaven has blessed us! Heaven truly has blessed us!”

He repeated the words over and over, nearly weeping with joy.

He hurried forward and hovered a hand near Jin Tang for support, even though Jin Tang did not appear to need it.

“I feel much better,” Jin Tang said.

Seeing Wang Zhong’s sincere happiness warmed his heart, and his tone softened slightly.

“Have breakfast served. I am a little hungry.”

“Yes, yes, of course!”

Wang Zhong responded eagerly.

“Is there anything in particular Your Majesty would like to eat?”

Jin Tang walked to the window and pushed open the carved wooden shutters.

Bright spring sunlight instantly spilled over him, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming crabapple blossoms from the courtyard and the fresh scent of grass and trees.

Warmth surrounded him.

Jin Tang drew in a deep breath, savoring the ease spreading through his chest.

His appetite seemed to have awakened along with the improvement in his body.

He even felt inclined to choose the dishes himself.

“For breakfast today, I would like almond cream porridge, tender egg-blossom cakes, and lettuce preserved with golden orange.”

Jin Tang gave the order to Wang Zhong, who stood nearby with a smile he could not hide.

At those words, Wang Zhong became even more overjoyed.

He hurriedly agreed and personally trotted off toward the Imperial Kitchen to deliver the request.

Breakfast was served soon afterward.

Fine bowls and plates covered nearly half the table, steaming and fragrant.

The almond cream porridge was served in a porcelain bowl, smooth and lustrous as fine jelly. The mellow fragrance of almonds rose gently on the richness of the rice, like a patch of warm white spreading through morning mist.

The tender egg-blossom cakes resembled freshly opened flowers. The golden, glossy egg mixture had set into delicate petals, while the edges had been seared into pale golden, featherlike lines. A few trembling drops of amber syrup rested on top.

The lettuce preserved with golden orange was arranged in a crystal dish. Jade-green strips of lettuce gleamed beneath the amber sheen of the orange infusion, while fine strands of orange peel curled around them like jeweled garlands.

The first bite released a sweet-and-sour ripple between the teeth, ending with a clean, bright aftertaste reminiscent of orange blossoms.

Placed side by side, the three dishes resembled ivory white, warm gold, and vivid green brought to life by the morning sun.

Jin Tang picked up his silver chopsticks and ate slowly.

He truly ate quite a lot.

Only when his stomach began to feel faintly and pleasantly full did he finally set his chopsticks down.

Compared with how much he ate when healthy—or with the appetite of an ordinary adult man—it was not much.

But for Jin Tang, who had suffered from prolonged illness and poor appetite, eating as little as a cat, it was already rare progress.

Watching from the side, Wang Zhong’s eyes became moist again.

This time, however, he was smiling as he murmured repeatedly,

“Good, good. Being able to eat is a blessing. The more Your Majesty eats, the faster your health will recover.”

After breakfast, Jin Tang seemed to gain a little more strength.

Rather than returning to bed, he strolled into the courtyard.

The sunlight was perfect.

Golden light covered the stone path and fell across the flourishing crabapple tree.

Jin Tang’s gaze settled upon the newly built swing beneath it.

Nestled beneath the flowering branches, it looked exceptionally peaceful.

He walked over slowly, brushed several fallen petals from the cushion, and sat down.

The swing moved slightly with a faint creak.

Jin Tang leaned back against one of the ropes and closed his eyes.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between flowers and leaves, casting alternating patches of light and shadow across his eyelids.

The breeze, warm and fragrant with blossoms, gently brushed his cheeks and hair and stirred the folds of his robes.

The moment was peaceful and pleasant.

Yet the tranquility did not last long.

Without warning, a cold and familiar voice sounded deep within Jin Tang’s mind, deliberately dragging out its words in an irritatingly sarcastic tone.

【Tch. You certainly know how to enjoy yourself. Feeling the breeze, basking in the sun, sitting on a swing… You seem to be living quite comfortably.】

The System had appeared again.

Jin Tang did not even lift his eyelids.

He sneered inwardly.

Aside from issuing missions and imposing punishments, this System seemed capable of little more than making noise inside his head.

The System continued in a voice filled with undisguised mockery.

【Looking at how eagerly you indulge in comfort, how do you still have the nerve to act all noble and claim you refuse to sink to my level? Is being a tyrant really such a hardship for you? You seem perfectly at ease enjoying all the privileges of an emperor. Acting shameless while pretending to be virtuous—that describes you perfectly, does it not?】

Listening to the System’s insults, which were so impoverished that they cycled endlessly through the same few expressions, Jin Tang almost found it amusing.

It seemed this advanced piece of technology possessed absolutely no talent for the art of verbal abuse.

Its vocabulary was pitifully limited.

Had Jin Tang still been physically weak and mentally exhausted, he might have chosen to ignore it and endure in silence.

But today was different.

He had recovered some of his energy, and the resentment suppressed within his chest for so long needed an outlet.

He had no intention of indulging this thing.

Jin Tang kept his eyes closed, his expression unchanged.

Yet in his mind, he answered the System’s provocation in an extremely calm, almost lazy tone.

【Oh, you are starting to yap again? Looks like you finally charged your battery—or did you only just crawl out of some recycling dump? The moment you return, you rush to remind me you exist. Are you afraid I will forget about this disgusting patch of dog-skin plaster I cannot peel off?】

Without giving the System time to react, Jin Tang continued with open mockery.

【You say I am indulging myself? I am sitting in my own courtyard and getting some sunlight. Which one of your circuit boards does that offend? As for you, something without even a physical body, what can you do besides rage uselessly inside my head?】

【Even your insults are embarrassingly repetitive. You keep cycling through the same few lines. I am starting to feel anxious on your behalf. Do you share your database with the village idiot? Is all your output copied and pasted, while all your logic depends on twisting words and throwing tantrums?】

【And you say I act shameless while pretending to be virtuous? Where did you dig up that phrase? Do you even know how to use it? I am the Emperor of Great Zhao. I am supported by the people, so naturally I must protect the realm and its citizens. The principle I uphold is the most basic line a human being should not cross. I refuse to sink to your level and harm innocent people. What exactly is wrong with that?】

【You, on the other hand, are a System that forces others to commit evil. What right do you have to speak about virtue? Are you erecting a memorial archway to your own hypocrisy?】

Every word Jin Tang spoke was clear.

Every sentence carried thorns.

Yet he delivered them with perfect calm, making the contrast even more devastatingly sarcastic.

The System had clearly never expected Jin Tang to suddenly retaliate so sharply.

Its meager store of insults immediately failed it.

All it could do was raise its volume in furious embarrassment, attempting to overwhelm him through sheer noise and speed.

【You! How dare you! Jin Tang! You dare insult this System! What do you think you are? A deformed monster! An inferior carbon-based life-form! Useless! Garbage!】

The System’s voice became painfully shrill with rage.

Its barren vocabulary repeated itself over and over, bombarding Jin Tang’s mind in a dense stream.

Yet it had completely lost its original power to intimidate.

Instead, it only sounded desperate and humiliated.

Jin Tang listened at his leisure.

He even gave the swing a light push, enjoying the breeze against his face.

When the System’s barrage finally eased slightly, he slowly added another blow.

【Already out of words? It seems your language module really does need an upgrade. Or perhaps you should just format the whole thing and reinstall it. Aside from “monster,” “trash,” and “garbage,” can you come up with anything original? I am tired of hearing them.】

【Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. Under the laws of us inferior carbon-based life-forms, persistent noise harassment is also illegal. You may not qualify as a person, but could you at least show a little basic consideration? You are very loud. Do you understand?】

【You!】

The System was choked speechless by Jin Tang’s retort, nearly short-circuiting.

That cold presence fluctuated violently inside his mind.

【Just you wait, Jin Tang! One day, I will make you kneel and beg me!】

Tch.

Make him kneel and beg?

It really needed to hurry up and uninstall Tomato and Red Fruit already.