My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

"Duke."

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, gazed at Qin Beifeng, the bright, chrysanthemum-like smile he had just shown in front of Cheng Guang had vanished into thin air.

All that remained were coldness and indifference.

"Beifeng, you have disappointed me profoundly."

Qin Beifeng's expression was complicated, he clenched his teeth slightly, and just as he was about to say something, Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, gestured dismissively with his hand.

Indicating he did not wish to listen.

"There are some things my grandson needs you to do, just cooperate well, and if it weren't for my grandson speaking on your behalf, I would have wanted to kill you with a single slap right now."

"Whether you can survive afterward will depend on your performance."

"If you are still obsessed with the incidents of Great Chu from years ago, even if my grandson pleads for you, I will not spare you."

After Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, finished speaking, he looked at Qin Yanqiu standing beside Qin Beifeng.

And he sighed again.

Looking at Qin Beifeng, he felt a tight knot in his heart at the thought of so many years of careful grooming.

Qin Beifeng had become nearly indistinguishable from his own son.

Who could have imagined that Qin Beifeng would betray him, betray North City, betray the Northern Expedition Army at such a time?

Having heard the words of Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, Qin Beifeng was overwhelmed with shame. He had betrayed them, but his betrayal had not succeeded; instead, he had been saved by the Princely Heir's intercession.

Towards the Duke, he naturally held tremendous resentment. In his view, the fall of Great Chu had been the Duke's doing, as were the deaths of the Emperor and Empress of Great Chu.

But after so many years by the Duke's side, having spent so much time with him, Qin Beifeng could feel the charismatic integrity of Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan.

Though he had emerged from a sea of corpses and blood, he was not one to slaughter indiscriminately.

In addition, as Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, had said, he was but a pawn of the World Royal Family.

But in the grand game of world affairs, was not he too a pawn?

Betwixt pawns, where could one speak of right or wrong?

At that moment, Qin Beifeng's mood was even more despondent than he had anticipated.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, did not say much more at the time. He extended a hand, his fingertips shimmering with divine glossiness, and touched Qin Beifeng's forehead.

Qin Beifeng realized something, and his eyes widened slightly.

"Duke, you..."

Qin Beifeng attempted to struggle, but Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, did not afford him the opportunity. A bit of his aura surged out like a great mountain pressing down upon Qin Beifeng.

Qin Beifeng's body sank slightly, as though even the bluestone beneath his feet might crack.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan's finger slowly touched Qin Beifeng's forehead.

Streams of Divine Power Marks and laws flooded into his mind.

Moments later, Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, gradually withdrew his aura and pulled out a sesame-sized, transparent figure from Qin Beifeng's forehead.

He then took out a pitch-black stone that resembled a chunk of iron and pressed Qin Beifeng's Primordial Spirit into it.

Instantly, Qin Beifeng let out a scream of agony, shivering uncontrollably, his limbs twitched, and his eyes rolled back.

Qin Yanqiu, observing Qin Beifeng in such a state, showed a touch of worry on her otherwise serene face, yet she could sense that Duke Zhen Guo had no intention of killing Qin Beifeng.

Otherwise.

Qin Beifeng would have already been dead by now.

Therefore, Qin Yanqiu simply stayed put and did not make any unnecessary moves.

After Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, had extracted a portion of Qin Beifeng's Primordial Spirit and pressed it into the black stone, its surface began to melt, gradually shaping into a human figure.

The palm-sized figurine's face slowly became clear, visibly morphing into the likeness of Qin Beifeng.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, approvingly nodded at the pitch-black stone in his hand, seeming satisfied, and tossed the black stone to Cheng Guang.

"Grandson, although facing Qin Beifeng won't cause you harm, it is still better to be cautious. This Fate Stone of mine is a Different Treasure of the earth class, capable of linking the life of a person to this Fate Stone."

"If the Fate Stone shatters, Qin Beifeng dies."

"If Qin Beifeng dies, the Fate Stone shatters."
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"No matter what you plan to have Qin Beifeng do, you can use this to control him."

Cheng Guang took the Fate Stone into his hand, feeling its cool touch, and at the same time, as he held the Fate Stone, it seemed he could sense Qin Beifeng's location as well as Qin Beifeng's thoughts.

Every move Qin Beifeng made, even the slightest intention, could not escape his eyes.

Originally, Cheng Guang had been worried that Qin Beifeng, the back-stabber, might betray him again, but now, instead, he felt secure.

Cheng Guang vaguely suspected that Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan's sudden visit was to present him with a treasure.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, smiled at Cheng Guang and leisurely took a seat at an ancient table nearby, "If Qin Beifeng can wholeheartedly follow your orders, that would be excellent. This Different Treasure of mine is no match for your Devil Transformation Armor."

Cheng Guang smiled, "This is already quite remarkable."

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward Qin Yanqiu, "Your father will be fine. It is just a fragmentation of the Primordial Spirit, he will recover after a night's rest."

Qin Yanqiu nodded slightly, her gaze settled on Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan's face, hesitated a moment, then asked in a clear voice:

"Duke, given my father's condition, can I still marry the Princely Heir?"

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, was stunned for a moment, not expecting Qin Yanqiu to ask so directly. He thought she wouldn't care about her own marriage.

After a moment, Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, couldn't help but laugh in spite of himself.

After all, Qin Yanqiu was still a girl, and no matter how bold she was, it was impossible for her to be completely indifferent about her own marriage.

He had spent too much time in the military, surrounded by men, and he was uncertain about Qin Yanqiu's thoughts.

The Duke asked with a smile, "What are your thoughts?"

Qin Yanqiu pursed her red lips, gathered her silver-white hair, and her stunning beauty barely changed with a touch of aloofness.

"I'll listen to the Duke."

"But after all, I've been married before, and I do wish to marry the Princely Heir."

"Now that my father has become like this, if I marry the Princely Heir, perhaps he might look upon my face favorably in the future and treat my father kindly."

Qin Yanqiu wasn't much for scheming; she spoke her mind as it was.

The Duke chuckled and nodded.

"Then let it be so."

"The status of the Princely Heir's wife might not do, but becoming a side consort is certainly no issue."

"Isn't that right, grandson?"

As he said this, his gaze fell upon Cheng Guang's face.

Cheng Guang felt a bit awkward, "That's the way it should be, that's the way it should be."

Cheng Guang urged Duke Zhen Guo Cheng Shiyuan to have some food.

Perhaps because Cheng Guang was to depart for the Capital city from North City the next day, that night, Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, talked with Cheng Guang about many things.

Cheng Guang was also happy to keep the Duke company, as a way to chat and relieve the old man's boredom. It wasn't boring at all.

He listened to the Duke's stories from over the years.

He watched as the Duke, in his storytelling moments, displayed a spirited demeanor.

Listening to him telling stories of how he used to defeat a Devil Emperor with each punch and stomp out a Demon Emperor with each kick, fighting for three days and nights without as much as blinking.

Cheng Guang couldn't help but want to ask.

Three days and nights of fighting, don't your eyes get dry?

Cheng Guang hesitated for a moment, fearing a beating, so he didn't ask.

......

The night deepened.

The starry sky was immaculate, and the silvery moonlight mingled with the snowflakes falling on North City, draping the ground.

Cheng Guang lay in his bedroom, finding it hard to feel sleepy.

He was still pondering whom the 'remnant of Great Chu' mentioned in the system tasks could be.

Could it be the illegitimate child of the former Emperor of Great Chu?

Or could it be that among the royals and nobles of the former Great Chu, this so-called 'remnant of Great Chu' was actually a descendent of a scion with the bloodline of the Great Chu royal family?

Cheng Guang clicked his tongue, feeling that this possibility existed.

After all, every World Royal Family and their extended clans were vast.

Although not everyone could claim a strong royal lineage, many still had it to varying degrees.

After musing for a while, Cheng Guang decided not to dwell on it further, as he would surely find out the identity of the remnant of Great Chu when they met.

Coming back to the point, he didn't know when the news of the remnant of Great Chu within the Great Yan Dynasty would be revealed.

As Cheng Guang was contemplating, sleepiness took over.

Just as he was about to drift into deep sleep, he suddenly felt a cool sensation entering his embrace.

It was the distinct touch of the Silvermoon Battle Armor.

Cold.

Hard.

And somewhat annoying.

"I mean, can't you take it off?"

"Who sleeps in armor anyway?"

Cheng Guang was helpless.

He looked down.

Inside the bedcovers, there was that impeccably beautiful and cool face.

......