Ch 101: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Elder Yu froze for a moment. The old man silently looked at Mu Xing, and his eyes gradually reddened.

Mu Xing couldn’t bear to see an elder looking like that and said with a half-laugh, half-sigh:
“What’s this? Didn’t you just say it was supposed to be a happy thing?”

He patted Elder Yu’s shoulder to comfort him.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be that fast. I’ll cooperate with you to research more about my era.”

Elder Yu sniffled and turned his head away.
“It is a good thing… just, I can’t quite bear to part with you.”

At first, when he met the young master, he only treated him as a research tool… a “tool spirit.”

But Mu Xing had a complete consciousness—alive, kind, a little spoiled yet clever and mischievous. Anyone who spent time with him couldn’t help but like him.

The thought that this beautiful, well-behaved youth would soon vanish left Elder Yu feeling miserable.

To this day, he had never asked Mu Xing what his obsession was, because he remembered Mu Xing once saying: it must have been something extremely bitter and painful at the moment of death. Elder Yu couldn’t bring himself to rip open that scar again.

He wiped his eyes and shifted the subject, pretending to be lighthearted.
“Ah, lately I’ve been studying ancient folk customs. Say, should I burn you some paper money or houses? Would you even receive them?”

Mu Xing: “…”

Exasperated, he said:
“What nonsense. Useless.”

---

After Mu Xing gave his confirmation, the authorities moved swiftly.

That very night, every homepage on the StarNet displayed the same banner ad—black background, golden characters, strokes like iron hooks and silver paintings in ancient calligraphy:

A Major Breakthrough in Archaeology — A Face-to-Face Dialogue with a Prince of Qi from Two Thousand Years Ago!

A StarNet account was every citizen’s ID, necessary for learning, living, and socializing.

So when this banner went up, nearly the entire interstellar population saw it.

Everyone’s first reaction: Holy crap, who has the pull to buy out every homepage slot across the entire StarNet?

That had to cost at least several trillion.

Then they saw the symbol in the corner: ah, it was from the national government. No wonder.

Then they read the title again—

Huh?

Huhhh???

Was it really what it sounded like?

Curiosity exploded, and they all clicked.

The first thing they saw was a picture.

A dark-haired youth in traditional robes, skin pale as snow, features dazzling, posture tall and elegant as bamboo. Translated on Hololo novels. His brows carried a gentle smile, and he radiated a classical aura, as if he had stepped out of the past itself.

Below was a short introduction explaining his identity as Prince Yu.

As for how Mu Xing had been found and why he had awakened, an official story had been fabricated: his burial goods had included a rare treasure from the Western Regions that bound his soul, allowing him to awaken two thousand years later.

That sounded more believable than the truth—that even Mu Xing didn’t know why he’d inexplicably become the spirit of the mansion.

Netizens, after reading, were left full of question marks.

But that didn’t stop their enthusiasm.

【??? So this youth in the picture is really Prince Yu of the ancient Qi dynasty?】
【Fake, right? Even our tech isn’t at that level. How could some ancient relic actually preserve a soul?】
【But this is an official announcement! And on every homepage! With that kind of weight, no way it’s fake. I believe it’s a world-shaking discovery.】
【The livestream is tonight at eight? Damn it, I still have to work overtime.】
【Am I the only one who thinks this young master is too good-looking? Just the aura of nobility alone! Even if it’s fake, I’m tuning in for that face.】
【Wait, I swear I’ve seen him before. He doesn’t seem… human.】
【???】
【Hey, don’t run off—explain!】
【+1, don’t leave us hanging!】
【All I can say is, I once watched a niche livestream site—the kind that’s restricted, where ordinary people can’t get in. You see unusual beings there, you know? I saw this very youth. And then the stream ended, the site got shut down, and my account vanished. That’s all I can say. If I lose my StarNet account too, I’m dead.】
【?? What site was that, a porn site?】
【Kiddo upstairs, go finish your homework.】

“…”

Whatever people argued online, the effect was clear: everyone was talking about it. That night, most people’s entertainment plans shifted to waiting at home for the eight-o’clock broadcast.

---

That night, at 8 p.m.

Host Qu Shao sat in the studio.

She was a seasoned professional, having handled all kinds of major events, but this was her first time interviewing a spirit. She couldn’t help being a little nervous.

She’d only been given a single thin page of notes: a few lines introducing Prince Yu, plus some photos of Mu Xing.

In other words, she barely knew more than the audience.

The cameras went live, and countless viewers flooded into the official national livestream.

【Wow, it’s actually Qu Shao hosting. This really is a major event.】

【Hasn’t Sister Qu Shao only been appearing at the biggest events these past few years?】

【Where is he? Where’s Prince Yu?】

Qu Shao could also see the live comments in real time. She smiled and greeted everyone:
“Good evening, everyone, I’m Qu Shao. Tonight we’ll be witnessing a very special interview together.”

“As for where Prince Yu is, I haven’t seen him either. I’m just as curious as you.”

As she spoke, she suddenly glanced to her right and said in surprise:
“He’s here.”

The audience instantly erupted with excitement.

【Aaaaah he’s here!】
【I see him, the young master is so good-looking!】
【His complexion doesn’t look very good… is he sick?】
【Nonsense, didn’t they say he’s a spirit? Of course his complexion isn’t the same as ours.】
【Is that the Qi royal attire he’s wearing? Gorgeous.】

Viewers could freely switch livestream perspectives. Most switched to Qu Shao’s view after she reacted, and they saw Mu Xing for the first time.

Qu Shao knew a little more than the viewers—she’d been officially told: this youth was truly a prince of Qi from two thousand years ago, miraculously awakened in this era, a living artifact.

Faced with such a being—and given how frail and pitifully beautiful he looked—her tone softened:
“You are Prince Yu, correct? I’m tonight’s host, Qu Shao. Many viewers are very curious about you. Could you greet everyone?”

Mu Xing could tell this poised, elegant host was still a little nervous.

He smiled toward the audience.
“Hello, everyone. I used to be called Prince Yu, but now I’m called Mu Xing.”

As he spoke, he extended his hand toward Qu Shao.

Qu Shao was puzzled.

Mu Xing explained:
“Why don’t you shake my hand, sister? It’ll also prove my identity to everyone.”

Under the studio lights, his fair skin was almost translucent, like the finest mutton-fat jade.

Tentatively, Qu Shao reached out and clasped—

Only to feel nothing at all.

Her hand passed right through his, overlapping in empty air.

Unless a spirit manifested its form, the living couldn’t touch it.

【Aaaaah I shook hands with Prince Yu!】
【He actually called her ‘sister’! Too sweet!】
【Sharing Qu Shao’s vision makes the young master look even prettier up close.】
【We can’t hold him… ugh, thinking that someone this beautiful already died two thousand years ago breaks my heart.】
【So it is really a ghost! Damn, our government is amazing! Worth ditching my unreasonable boss tonight—worth it!】

Unlike the audience, Qu Shao felt the sensation directly.

Her hand brushed something like a mist—intangible, yet cool, faintly damp, not unpleasant.

Mu Xing’s friendly demeanor put her at ease. She joked:
“That ‘sister’—I don’t deserve it. You must be countless generations of our ancestor.”

Mu Xing winked playfully.
“I’m only in my teens.”

The viewers, remembering from the introduction that he’d died young before ever reaching adulthood, felt a pang of regret.

Qu Shao, ever the professional, moved smoothly from small talk to the heart of the program.

“Tonight’s interview was handed to me at the last minute. I didn’t even get a script. The higher-ups just told me to chat casually with you. Could you tell us about your life back then?”

She added with a smile:
“Honestly, even if you said nothing, I think the audience would still be satisfied. After all, a treasure like you only appears once in two thousand years.”

【Hahaha, so true. My parents didn’t even nag me about studying tonight. Our whole family’s watching together.】
【Our school canceled evening classes—we’re all tuning in. A living artifact beats any history lesson.】

Mu Xing tilted his head thoughtfully.
“Elder Yu said the same thing. That if I just talked a bit about food, clothing, daily life, it would all count as textbook material.”

He pointed to himself, half teasing, half proud:
“So I’ll end up in the textbooks too? Make sure you get flattering shots of me.”

【Help! Too cute!】
【Who’d have thought I’d fall for a man from over two thousand years ago!】
【Take photos, quick! A million of them! Only pick the best ones for our treasure!】

Mu Xing chatted a little about popular customs and amusements in the capital back then, before his expression turned solemn.

Until now, he’d always worn a gentle smile, clearly the pampered young master of a noble house. But when he grew serious, sitting upright, the innate grace of one raised in royalty instantly revealed itself.

Many viewers watching instinctively straightened their backs.

【Why am I suddenly sitting straighter without realizing it?】
【The young master’s smile is devastatingly cute, but when he’s serious—so commanding!】
【I suddenly can’t eat my chicken feet anymore—wiping my hands to sit properly.】
【He barely moved, but why do I feel more nervous than when facing my school principal?】
【So this is the aura of ancient royalty… dignified and untouchable.】

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