This Life of Mine Is Like Walking on Thin Ice

"Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty."

A hoarse voice sounded in Xiao Mo's ears.

Xiao Mo slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a person dressed as a eunuch.

He looked around the spacious room.

In an instant, memories flooded Xiao Mo's mind.

In his previous life, Xiao Mo was an orphan. He worked his way through school, got into university, and started working after graduation.

Just as his life was getting better day by day, Xiao Mo was hit by a large truck while walking on the national highway.

Xiao Mo had transmigrated into the body of an emperor who also happened to be named "Xiao Mo."

However, the previous emperor's situation wasn't great.

Because the late emperor had no heirs, Xiao Mo was adopted.

After the late emperor passed away, he entrusted Xiao Mo to four ministers. However, Yan Shan'ao gradually seized power, formed factions, and even unlawfully executed Su Su, another regent minister.

Furthermore, the current Empress Dowager was Yan Shan'ao's sister.

These two worked together, one from the inside and one from the outside.

Now, he, the emperor, was merely a figurehead.

"Your Majesty. It's time to take your medicine." Wei Xun, holding a bowl of medicine, attended to Xiao Mo.

Wei Xun was Xiao Mo's personal eunuch, who had also served the late emperor.

Although Wei Xun outwardly obeyed Yan Shan'ao's every command, Xiao Mo knew in his heart that he was still loyal to him.

After Xiao Mo drank the bitter medicine, a maid entered and reported, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister heard that Your Majesty has caught a cold and has come to visit."

"Quickly, let the Prime Minister in," Xiao Mo said hastily, preparing to get out of bed to greet him.

Although Xiao Mo was very dissatisfied with Yan Shan'ao, he still had to put on a show.

Moreover, by appearing harmless, he could lull the other party into a false sense of security.

Then, he would find an opportunity to get rid of Yan Shan'ao.

A moment later.

A middle-aged man with a long sword strode in, bowed, and said loudly, "This subject pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Looking at Yan Shan'ao's appearance, Xiao Mo narrowed his eyes.

He was wearing a sword to enter the palace.

This showed how little he respected the emperor.

"Prime Minister, there is no need for formalities," Xiao Mo quickly stepped forward, helping Yan Shan'ao up. "Prime Minister, why have you come?"

"This subject heard Your Majesty had caught a cold and came to inquire about Your Majesty's health."

As he spoke, Yan Shan'ao looked at the palace maids in the room.

"Guards, drag these palace maids out and execute them. What use are they if they can't even take care of His Majesty?"

"Prime Minister, spare our lives."

The palace maids, terrified, immediately knelt and begged for mercy.

Some eunuchs entered, intending to drag the palace maids away.

Xiao Mo knew that Yan Shan'ao was deliberately killing these maids to make a point.

The reason was that not long ago, Wang Can, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, had secretly entered the palace to discuss eliminating the "traitor" with the previous emperor.

Yan Shan'ao had found out.

However, Wang Can was the second-in-command of the Censorate, and the imperial censors of the Great Zhou could not be easily killed, not even by the emperor.

So, Yan Shan'ao found a pretext to demote Wang Can and send him away from the capital.

By killing these maids, Yan Shan'ao wanted to convey, "Your Majesty, do not have any other thoughts. Everything around you is under my control."

"Prime Minister, the late emperor always taught me to have a benevolent heart. These palace maids do not deserve death. Let them be sent out of the palace." Xiao Mo spoke slowly.

Yan Shan'ao gazed at Xiao Mo for a moment before speaking, "Since Your Majesty says so, then let them each be given ten planks and sent out of the palace."

Yan Shan'ao waved his hand, signaling the eunuchs to drag the palace maids out.

"Your Majesty should take good care of your health. This subject will personally select a few palace maids to attend to Your Majesty."

"Thank you for your concern, Prime Minister." Xiao Mo put on a simple and honest smile.

"Then, Your Majesty should rest well. This subject will take his leave now."

"Farewell, Prime Minister. Eunuch Wei, please see the Prime Minister out."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After sending Yan Shan'ao away, Xiao Mo lay back on the bed, recalling a sentence—"My life has been like walking on thin ice, can I truly reach the other shore?"

While Xiao Mo was sighing, a book appeared in his mind.

The cover read three words: Book of a Hundred Lives.

At Xiao Mo's mental command, the scroll opened on its own, and words emerged from it—

[Book of a Hundred Lives: Using this book, the host can create a character and experience different lives.

In each life, the host will receive different tasks. Completing tasks will yield certain rewards.

Use now?]

Xiao Mo decisively chose "Use!"

[Please enter the name of the character you wish to create.]

Xiao Mo thought for a moment. Since he was going to experience a life, he might as well use his original name for a greater sense of immersion.

[Clone "Xiao Mo" has been created.]

The Book of a Hundred Lives released a powerful suction force, like a black hole.

Xiao Mo's consciousness was instantly pulled in.

A short while later, as his consciousness returned, Xiao Mo found himself standing in front of a wooden house on a mountain.

The Book of a Hundred Lives reappeared in Xiao Mo's mind—

[The host has created a new clone named Xiao Mo.

The time flow within the Book of a Hundred Lives is one hundred times faster than the outside world.

When the host's consciousness leaves the Book of a Hundred Lives, time within it will pause.]

[Character Background: You are the son of Prince Jing, Xiao Jing, of the Liang Kingdom. Your talent is mediocre, but your father could not bear to see you ordinary.

When you were eight years old, your father knocked you unconscious and transplanted a little girl's Innate Sword Bone into your body. They lied to you, saying you had awakened the sword bone later in life.

You instantly became a genius in the sword path. At only eighteen years old, you are already a Sword Cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm.

However, you are upright. When you learned that your sword bone came from a little girl, and that she had become crippled after her sword bone was forcibly removed, you were greatly devastated.

You had a huge argument with your family, left home, and joined the Dragon Spring Sword Sect. You became a nominal elder there, while also tirelessly searching for the little girl, wanting to compensate her with everything you have.]

[Mission Issued: The little girl you are looking for is named Jiang Qingyi. She will appear on Xuanwu Street in Black Wind City. (Before you find her, the system will continuously track Jiang Qingyi's location for you.) Please bring her to the mountain and teach her sword techniques.

The mission duration is fifty years.

Upon mission completion, the higher Jiang Qingyi's realm, the more generous the rewards you will receive.]

"Fifty years... Fortunately, time in the Book of a Hundred Lives flows a hundred times faster than the outside world. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to complete this mission even if I lived to death."

Xiao Mo withdrew his attention from the Book of a Hundred Lives and found a pool of water to look at himself.

This clone looked exactly like he did in his previous life.

This was good; it gave him a greater sense of immersion.

Picking up the long sword on the table, Xiao Mo headed straight down the mountain.

"Buns for sale!"

"Freshly baked buns!"

On Xuanwu Street in Black Wind City, the owner of a bun stall was shouting energetically.

A small beggar, dressed in tattered hemp clothes, thin and small, with a face full of dirt and short hair that made their gender indistinguishable, was stealthily approaching.

Taking advantage of the stall owner's inattention, the little beggar wrapped a few buns in a dirty cloth and ran!

"You again, stealing buns!"

The owner reacted, grabbed a rolling pin, and chased after them.

"Stop right there! I'll break your legs this time!"