When Roy learned that the historical figure Xiang Yu in this world was actually a robot, he lost most of his interest in Yu Ji.
Earlier, while modifying the Kuaiji model, Roy had also explored its core.
Since Kuaiji was merely based on the remnants of Taiyi Zhenren's creation of Nezha, and the First Emperor lacked Taiyi Zhenren's technical prowess, it had significant flaws.
Though it possessed self-awareness, it was more akin to a computer program, acting strictly according to its preset protocols. Its emotional settings were shallow, lacking the depth of human emotions. Moreover, being a robot, it had no capacity for desires like lust or love—even its sense of aesthetics differed from that of humans.
'If history had followed its original course, the Kuaiji model, disguised as Xiang Yu, might have taken a wife—but not out of any genuine desire. It wouldn't even have such a thought. It would likely have done so simply because it believed humans were supposed to have wives and concubines, mimicking human behavior.'
Roy chuckled to himself at the thought.
Besides, even in the real history Roy knew, the so-called Yu Ji was merely one of Xiang Yu's favored concubines. Her fame stemmed solely from Sima Qian mentioning her name in Records of the Grand Historian, and she happened to be present during Xiang Yu's tragic downfall.
With the power Roy now wielded, legendary beauties like Diaochan or Xi Shi were nothing more than ordinary mortals in his eyes—fleeting as passing clouds, hardly worth a second thought.
'Compared to these mortal beauties of later ages, I'm far more interested in someone like Su Daji.'
After all, the nine-tailed fox was tied to mythology. Given that this world's history had already introduced figures like Nezha and Taiyi Zhenren, and that the Shang-Zhou era had witnessed a great war among immortals—which Roy tentatively dubbed the "War of the Gods"—his current strength naturally drew him more toward the supernatural and the divine.
"Uncle, now that this matter is settled, let's return to Wu County. It's best to burn this place to the ground."
Roy patted the neck of his steed, Wuzhui, and spoke to Xiang Liang.
Since the First Emperor had "burned books and buried scholars," seeking to suppress the arts of immortals and gods and ensure the dominance of human order, Roy decided to lend a hand—incinerating everything in this underground palace, leaving not a single word behind.
"Agreed!"
Xiang Liang responded promptly. Soldiers quickly gathered torches and kindling. Roy had already disabled the defensive mechanisms here, and soon, thick smoke billowed as the contents of the chamber were reduced to ashes.
Hundreds of soldiers surrounded Roy and Xiang Liang as they made their way back to Wu County. Riding atop Wuzhui, Roy pondered quietly. If the key to this world's human order didn't lie with Xiang Yu, then where did it reside? Could it be tied to the mysteries of the Shang-Zhou era resurfacing?
'No matter. I'll take it one step at a time.'
Roy shook his head, dismissing further speculation.
...
"Don't let her escape!! That blood-sucking monster!!"
"This is Kuaiji Commandery—we can't let her reach Wu County! There are too many ordinary people there!"
"Monster, surrender now!"
"..."
Under the cover of darkness, deep in the mountains, angry shouts echoed through the ancient forest.
Torches and the glow of spells illuminated the wilderness. The chants of incantations and the whistling Daoist Arts occasionally pierced the air, stirring the mountains and seas with their power.
If one only listened to these people's words, they would think this was a scene of righteous humans hunting down a monster. But the "monster" fleeing for her life could only sneer at such notions.
"Humans truly fear the dark."
The shadowy figure darted through the night, her gaze lingering on the faces illuminated by torchlight behind her.
Greed, fear, eagerness, desire, rage, hatred—countless emotions flickered across those faces. The only thing missing was the noble righteousness of those who slay demons to save the world.
Ah, look at them. Humans—unchanged for thousands of years. These incomprehensible feelings, these baffling emotions—things she could never understand, even after millennia.
But now, she no longer wished to.
Monsters were not devoid of emotion. On the contrary, she too experienced joy, anger, sorrow, and delight. But her emotions were faint, tranquil—unlike the turbulent highs and lows of humans, their strange, overwhelming sentimentality. That was something she had never been able to empathize with.
Once, she had wanted to reach out to humans. Once, she had wanted to understand them. Once, she had even wished to live among them.
But those were merely thoughts of the past, now turned to fleeting smoke—what was once a desire to reach out became distance, what was once a yearning to understand became indifference, what was once a wish to live together became silent departure.
Do not worry, do not fear. She does not despise humanity as a living being. What she despises is merely the 'civilization' that humanity has developed over the long passage of time.
Under the influence of civilization, humans are no longer pure.
She has witnessed humans in their primitive state, drinking blood and eating raw flesh, and she has also seen the "mystical bird of destiny descend to give birth to Shang."
Yet across this vast history, terrifying, resentful, and bizarre longings have all twisted into dreadful desires. We share the same form, so why do you hate me so? Why do you despise me so? Why do you condemn me so? Why do you—desire to possess me?
Ah, is it simply because I cannot die? Is it because of this cursed, immortal life?
Gazing at the distorted faces of humans—twisted with greed and longing—amid the flickering flames, the 'youkai' suddenly felt a pang of sorrow, an urge to laugh.
Once, she had lived among humans. In those days, humanity still struggled for the survival of their kind, laboring tirelessly, fearless, using their frail bodies to battle enormous beasts, and with their budding intellect, crafting weapons of stone.
Then, humanity finally secured a place to dwell upon this earth. Finally, amidst the hardships of survival, they could ponder the greater meaning of life. Finally, they could face the inevitabilities of birth, aging, sickness, and death.
And then, resentment arose—because she did not die, because she did not share their fear of death. Humans began to shun her, to blame her, to heap all manner of sins upon her.
Then, greed took root—they sought to possess her, to devour her, to claim her immortal life for themselves.
The rulers of past and present were no different.
As she fled, the 'youkai' unwittingly recalled the era between the fall of Shang and the rise of Zhou. That had truly been the best of times.
Back then, the earth was home to many immortals like her. To ordinary people, immortals were a common sight—revered, admired, worshipped. This had brought her joy.
Not because she could communicate with humans or gain their recognition, but because in such an environment, she could happily live alone in the depths of uninhabited mountains, drinking morning dew and feasting on evening clouds, living the true life of a celestial being.
...
Because there were so many like her, humans no longer pursued her, no longer cared about her, allowing her to enjoy a rare peace.
But in the blink of an eye, the Zhou replaced the Shang, and those immortals of old vanished without a trace. Once again, she became something special—once again, she became an object of fear, of loathing, of greed.
"The First Emperor..."
The name slipped softly from her moist, crimson lips, carrying with it an indescribable complexity.
It was precisely the First Emperor's desperate pursuit of immortality that had revived the ranks of the fangshi, the mystic adepts, and shattered her quiet, reclusive life—plunging her once more into this maddening chase.
Ahhh, I can't hold back anymore, I really can't!!
She disliked battle, disliked slaughter, disliked scenes of blood and gore, but that didn't mean she was cowardly or weak.
On the contrary, she was someone who followed the cruel natural law of the strong preying on the weak to an extreme degree.
It had already been four hours, yet these annoying and greedy creatures were still chasing after her.
Although her current physical condition wasn't quite right, if it was just these mortals who had barely scratched the surface of immortal techniques, even if there were more, they wouldn't be enough for her to kill.
The fury in her heart finally made the 'monster' stop in her tracks.
Above in the sky, the dark clouds parted, revealing the bright moon hanging over the White Jade Capital.
Under that radiant moonlight, the true appearance of the 'monster' was finally revealed.
Instantly, even those who had been chasing her, greedy for her immortal life, were stunned by her celestial beauty.
This was no monster at all—she was clearly an immortal maiden who had descended from the heavens to the mortal realm!
Yet on that peerlessly beautiful face that could topple kingdoms, there was now only fury...
"Since it's come to this, you can all die here!!"
She parted her crimson lips, revealing a pair of adorable yet sharp fangs. What accompanied her celestial voice and jade-like beauty was a towering wave of blood!!