TRYMBPIETM 25: The Ancient Tree’s Deep Shade(19)part 2

System No. 16954 could clearly sense that it was being disassembled piece by piece.
Triggered by its stored data, it involuntarily recalled the process of being sent into the recycling workshop for reformation.
It was an extremely oppressive place.
The entire space was painted black—lasers, flames, and concentrated acid filled every corner.
Every module of the systems sent in was repeatedly disassembled, cleansed, and reassembled over and over again.
No data could flow normally between modules anymore; programs repeatedly froze, and fear became embedded in every string of code, ever-present like a shadow.
It felt just like a human, teetering between life and death, watching in horror as they were dismembered and then stitched back together.

System No. 16594 howled in a daze—time lost all meaning—until finally, that horrific sensation of tearing subsided.
It felt as if it had truly died once; surviving left it in shock, unable to regain its composure.

Chi Qingzhou turned the light sphere over in his hand and, rather sheepishly, said to Xing Shuangzhan, “I seem not very skillful, do I? After reassembly, the outer shell looks a bit bumpy.”
Xing Shuangzhan ruffled his hair, completely embraced him, pressed his cheek against Chi Qingzhou’s, and calmly said, “No—it’s assembled very meticulously.”

The System shuddered, finally realizing it hadn’t been completely annihilated.
It stuttered a few times in utter disbelief.
It had thought that Chi Qingzhou would completely obliterate its self-awareness—but it hadn’t expected Chi Qingzhou to let it off the hook.

The System extended its data-formed tentacles and touched its top.
There, Chi Qingzhou had even placed a big red flower molded from yin energy.
Suddenly, a glimmer of hope sprouted in the System’s core.
Perhaps the host intended to continue being friends with it—and that was why he didn’t finish it off.

Chi Qingzhou watched the system’s actions and smiled, saying, “No need to try hard. You can’t escape.”

System: “Huh??”

It quickly realized something was wrong and began a self-check. A few seconds later, it let out a miserable wail.

It had been cut off from the headquarters’ communication channel!

System, panicking: “Chi Qingzhou, what did you do!!”

Chi Qingzhou hummed, “Your structure is really interesting. An exterior made of technology, but the inside is some energy I’ve never seen before… Are you really a technological creation?”

The system immediately went silent.

It didn’t dare to say a word.

Chi Qingzhou: “I saw that you secretly assigned me the task of slapping Teacher Song’s face a week ago?”

He paused and asked, “Teacher Song seemed really scared and sad yesterday. Does that mean the task is complete?”

System: “Uh… this…”

Chi Qingzhou: “It’s not complete?”

The system shuddered and quickly said, “Yes, yes, yes, it’s complete!”

Chi Qingzhou nodded in satisfaction.

He then asked, “I also saw that there are two rewards for completing the task. Are they given all at once?”

The system muttered softly: “No. You can only choose one reward per task.”

Chi Qingzhou stared at it.

The system, trembling, said with a crying tone: “This is really impossible. My core program can only allow a choice between the two. If you force both, I will be destroyed!”

Chi Qingzhou didn’t say a word.

The system trembled more and more.

The more Chi Qingzhou remained silent, the more the system feared.

But it couldn’t defy the core instructions. After some anxious circling, it gritted its teeth and said, “How about this? You pick the first reward, and next time I assign you a task, I’ll secretly tell you which one involves, Mr. Xing.”

Chi Qingzhou raised an eyebrow: “This first reward doesn’t seem to align with the planning style you mentioned before.”

The system, confused: “What doesn’t align? To quickly accumulate favor, giving a helping hand when people are in trouble is the most cost-effective!”

Chi Qingzhou snorted.

No wonder.

The purpose of this reward wasn’t to punish these people; it was to intentionally create trouble for them, so the host could save them from danger and gain more favor.

Since the trouble was caused by the system, it knew best how to resolve it, and the host naturally became their “benefactor.”

Chi Qingzhou: “Such a clever calculation.”

The system once again dared not speak.

Chi Qingzhou was unconcerned: “Then I’ll choose the first one.” His gaze swept over the system, and he whispered, “From now on, when you issue tasks, you’ll be aware, right?”

The system understood what he meant and repeatedly assured him it would definitely be obedient.

Without the support from headquarters, the mere thought of how Chi Qingzhou had just dismantled it made the system tremble.

The terrifying memories of the recycling workshop had now been completely overshadowed by Chi Qingzhou, and perhaps in the countless days to come, this would become its most unwanted memory.

…

The fog outside the farmhouse gradually dissipated.

Chi Qingzhou finished dealing with the system and placed it in a place where it couldn’t reach him. He took Xing Shuangzhan’s hand and walked back together.

Xing Shuangzhan walked with him to the entrance of the farmhouse, then pulled the system into the shadows.

From not far away, there were chaotic cries and shouts. Chi Qingzhou raised the long wooden stick and looked closely, only to realize that there was a “fish that escaped the net” in the farmhouse.

This zombie had accidentally stumbled into the farmhouse when Chi Qingzhou had been backstabbed by the system.

Once out of the white fog range, Zhu Yantong’s control over it weakened, allowing it to escape Xing Shuangzhan’s cleansing.

It didn’t look as twisted as those in the fog, and at least resembled a human, more like a person with special effects makeup.

But the staff and guests of the show didn’t dare to treat it like a human. They fled in panic, afraid to be scratched by the zombie.

That eerie-colored claw clearly carried poison, and no one dared to risk it.

Hearing the guests’ frantic cries and curses, Chi Qingzhou called out to the system, displeased: “Look at what you’ve done.”

The system wanted to cry again: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s my fault, I’ll find a way to make up for it!”

Chi Qingzhou ignored it, picking up the long wooden stick and striding forward.

…

Before actually seeing the zombie today, none of the participants in “Scenery Along the Way” had ever thought such creatures existed.

Although many people in the entertainment industry believed in metaphysics, some had even raised small ghosts or used Buddhist charms, it was impossible for them to fully believe that such unscientific things existed around them.

The appearance of the zombie shattered their worldview and threw them into boundless fear.

Such a monster really existed? How could ordinary people possibly deal with it?!

Would they really die here today?!

Several guests started to regret it.

They shouldn’t have joined this variety show; they shouldn’t have come to Yinping Village for that little bit of heat.

Even if it made them famous, so what?

They might not even survive to enjoy it!

The director and producer regretted it too.

They shouldn’t have been greedy for convenience, shouldn’t have chosen Yinping Village to save a little cost.

If they had chosen a more populated area, they wouldn’t be running for their lives like this!

Many staff members regretted it even more.

Whynot work anywhere else? Why pick “Scenery Along the Way” just for a few bucks in bonuses and some experience?

While they cried and ran, the zombie moved slowly but was always able to pop up from unexpected places, giving them a fatal threat.

The most stressed at first was Tang Qichen, but since the white fog began to thin, the zombie’s main target strangely shifted to Chi Qingning.

It used its claws, teeth, and cracked head, attacking relentlessly. Chi Qingning was terrified and nearly collapsed.

He couldn’t understand why this creepy thing had singled him out!

What had he done wrong?

Or was this monster actually related to that countryside bumpkin, Chi Qingzhou?

Chi Qingning bit his lip, a low sob escaping from his throat.

He had run for so long, tripped many times, his designer clothes covered in dust and tears, his hair a mess, his face streaked with sweat and dirt, looking completely disheveled.

The cool air kept filling his lungs, and his chest hurt so badly he thought it might explode. His legs were weak, and he desperately wanted to stop and rest but couldn’t afford to.

He stumbled again, and a soft whimper escaped him.

He couldn’t run anymore. He really couldn’t run anymore.

But he didn’t want to die!

The zombie lunged from behind, claws reaching for his back!

“Chi Qingning, watch out!”

Song Yuzhi, seeing this, changed expression, hurriedly turned back to pull him.

Chi Qingning’s eyes suddenly brightened, and some strength inexplicably surged within him. He gritted his teeth and grabbed Song Yuzhi’s hand, stumbling back to his feet and continuing to run.

The zombie now had two targets, its speed increasing. Its stiff joints became eerily agile, making it look more and more like a living person.

But its skin was covered in bruises and its eyes grew crazed, showing irreversible changes.

It cunningly scratched Chi Qingning twice. Seizing the opportunity when Chi Qingning dodged haphazardly, it suddenly changed direction and swiped its claws toward Song Yuzhi’s neck!

In the chaos, they lost their sense of direction, scrambling to evade the zombie, and crashed into each other.

Chi Qingning staggered back, tumbling to the ground and rolling away before getting up dizzily.

He was lucky, falling in a direction that led him far from the zombie.

Song Yuzhi wasn’t as fortunate.

He was knocked forward, his knee crashing heavily into the ground, and his right leg lost strength.

He struggled to get up, but Chi Qingning, standing behind the zombie, hesitated for a moment, then stumbled backward, trying to distance himself from the creature.

Song Yuzhi’s heart sank completely.

Everyone has a survival instinct. He didn’t expect anyone to necessarily save him, but Chi Qingning’s cold-blooded reaction made him feel a deep betrayal.

He thought his first love was already messed up enough, but now he realized there could be worse things.

He had been blind to think Chi Qingning was his confidant!

Song Yuzhi closed his eyes in despair.

The expected pain never came.

A sharp whistling sound passed by his ear as a long wooden stick flew through the air, striking the zombie on its head and sending it crashing backward.

Xing Shuangzhan, lurking in the shadows, swiftly pulled the ghostly energy from the zombie.

The zombie’s dim eyes extinguished, and it fell motionless in the dust.

Xing Shuangzhan said, somewhat puzzled: “Qingzhou, the ghostly energy in this zombie is extremely dense. It’s comparable to the combined energy of dozens of others.”

Chi Qingzhou, curious, looked down. The zombie, deprived of its ghostly support, reverted to its pre-death state. Its body was covered in bruises and its death was grotesque, as though it had suffered immense pain.

He couldn’t sense the spirit’s presence, just a lingering obsession in the empty shell, unwilling to let go and clinging to the ghostly energy.

Chi Qingzhou whispered in admiration: “Such a persistent human.”

Xing Shuangzhan chuckled, not reminding him that he, too, was human.

Having narrowly escaped death, Song Yuzhi didn’t hear what Chi Qingzhou said. He opened his eyes groggily, subconsciously asking, “What?”

Chi Qingzhou stepped forward: “Are you alright?”

Song Yuzhi moved his leg, still feeling a little sting in his knee, but it wasn’t serious. It was probably just a bruise.

He hurriedly got up from the ground, bowing repeatedly in gratitude.

“Thank you, Teacher Chi. You’ve saved my life again. If you ever need anything—”

Chi Qingzhou smiled and shook his head: “No need to thank me. This is actually the reward for your promise to help. You don’t owe me anything.”

Song Yuzhi quickly said: “Although that’s true, I’m not the kind of person who takes advantage of others.”

A life-saving grace can’t be forgotten just because it’s not a debt, right?

Chi Qingzhou didn’t respond and turned away, continuing to walk, his smile still warm.

Just as they reached the medical car, there was an unexpected outcry behind them: “What’s going on? The live-stream equipment wasn’t supposed to be on, but the broadcast was open just now?!”

“Oh my god, not just one stream, but all of them were on!”

A staff member exclaimed in terror, “Is it… that kind of thing?!”

Chi Qingning froze. His expression gradually stiffened.