Chapter 9: The Damn Mainframe Actually Acted Human for Once

Yun Qimu wore a look of utter despair as she dug out a few bottles of nutrient solution from her pink suitcase. She chugged three bottles in a row before she could finally calm down and accept the harsh reality—she was flat broke.

Annoyed, she was about to get up when she noticed the hem of her skirt brushing against a patch of dried blood. Her eyes lit up with a sudden idea. “Mainframe, according to your theory about spiritual energy, pearls lose their energy after being harvested for a long time. But this corpse here hasn’t been dead for long—it’s still warm! The spiritual energy in it shouldn’t have dissipated yet, right? Can you exchange it for spirit coins?”

[...]

The mainframe froze for three seconds at her utterly heartless suggestion. But after scanning the corpse, it immediately changed its tune!

It answered primly, [The host is correct. According to the theory of spiritual energy, this corpse is indeed more valuable than the pearl on your sleeve. I can offer you fifteen spirit coins for it.]

Yun Qimu’s eyes lit up, but she quickly forced her face into a serious expression and started bargaining. “Mainframe, that’s not right. How can a fresh, still-warm corpse be worth only fifteen spirit coins? It should be at least twenty! Otherwise, what’s the point of him dying?”

[...Sixteen coins. That’s already a loss for me, dear.]

“No way. Final offer—eighteen coins.”

[Dear, you’re making things hard for me, Fat Tiger. Seventeen coins. That’s my limit.]

“Seventeen coins, plus one energy coin. That’s my absolute lowest. Otherwise, I’ll just bury him. He died all alone—if not even his bones are left, that’s just too tragic. As someone with a strong sense of humanitarianism...”

[Fine. Seventeen spirit coins and one energy coin. Deal.]

All traces of pity vanished from Yun Qimu’s face. Her eyes sparkled, and her tone did a complete 180 as she continued confidently, “As someone with a strong sense of humanitarianism, I think it’s wonderful that he can still be of use after death, contributing to the construction of our beautiful global village. Although he committed many sins in life, it’s never too late to make amends after death. I’m sure this brother would be honored to know his body could be exchanged for seventeen spirit coins and one energy coin. Mainframe, please go ahead and process the exchange.”

[...Alright.]

The mainframe was stunned by her shamelessness for a few seconds, then silently collected the skinny man’s corpse.

[Ding—corpse exchange complete. Seventeen spirit coins and one energy coin have been deposited into your game account. Please check your balance.]

From the ground, several thin, transparent tendrils like wispy hairs emerged, wrapping around the corpse. The earth split open with a long crack, pulling the body down. Then the ground closed up again, looking exactly as it had before—even the dried bloodstains remained untouched.

It was a testament to the mainframe’s incredible abilities.

Meanwhile, Yun Qimu was delightedly checking her newly increased balance, her eyes shining. She felt as if she’d just discovered a brand new path to wealth.

Then her gaze shifted to the armless maid, who was still unconscious from blood loss. Yun Qimu’s thoughts began to stir.

“Dai Mu, you’re spacing out again! Come check if we have enough wood.”

Yun Xiaoyu came back, huffing and puffing, dragging a charred black log behind him. He tossed it down and called out to Yun Qimu.

As the little man of the house, he was always tolerant of the girls at home. Seeing Yun Qimu spacing out as usual, he didn’t get mad. He just wiped the sweat from his brow and called out to her as he always did.

Yun Dad, carrying a huge bundle of planks on his shoulder like some kind of super-strongman, looked up at her and grinned foolishly.

“Oh, coming, coming!” Yun Qimu regretfully tore her greedy gaze away from the maid, grabbed a handful of nutrient solution, and strode over.

“Kiddo, Dad, take a break and have some nutrient solution. Leave the rest to me.”

“Who are you calling kiddo?” Yun Xiaoyu’s sweaty little body froze. He blushed and squirmed awkwardly, his eyes darting away from her face.

“I’m talking to you! You’re only six—you’re definitely still a kid.” Yun Qimu smiled at him, pulling out a pink bottle of nutrient solution and handing it over. “I just had three bottles. The strawberry one is the best—try it.”

Yun Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up, but he quickly looked away and said stubbornly, “No, I’m a little man now. With one of us silly and one sick, I’m the man of the house. I don’t want any sweet strawberry flavor—give me the green cucumber one. Real men drink that.”

“Sick” Qimu: ...

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

How could this kid be so adorable?

Unable to resist, she ruffled his hair. “No need to save it. Once we finish the nutrient solution, I’ll take you to eat some real meat.”

Yun Xiaoyu shot her a look that said, “Keep dreaming!”

Yun Qimu didn’t bother explaining. She shoved the strawberry bottle into his hand, then gave him a green cucumber one too. She turned to Yun Dad, asking him to put down the planks on his shoulder, and urged her “two little friends” to go rest.

She opened her game interface and tapped into the village chief’s exchange shop, instantly redeeming a “Sturdy Little Wooden House.”

[Ding dong—Sturdy Little Wooden House successfully exchanged. Please step back ten meters and wait three minutes. Countdown: 180, 179, 178...]

Yun Qimu raised an eyebrow and stepped back three meters as instructed, her bright eyes fixed curiously on the pile of wood, eager to see how the game would construct a house in real life.

But the mainframe didn’t give her a chance to “learn the trick.” As soon as she’d stepped back the full ten meters, a thick white mist surged up, completely obscuring the area.

Then came a cacophony of banging and hammering, like someone playing table tennis and pounding in nails.

Three minutes later, the mist dissipated—right on time—and a not-so-spacious, charred, and hole-ridden wooden hut appeared before them.

Yun Xiaoyu’s jaw dropped. He stared, wide-eyed, nearly dropping his bottle of nutrient solution.

Yun Qimu’s temple twitched. Her expression was ugly.

She stared at the hut in disbelief. “Sturdy Little Wooden House”? This was just those planks and logs from before, slapped together. She could’ve done that herself!

“Mainframe, I think this little wooden house is a real eyesore for the global village. With this thing here, it’s dragging down the whole game’s reputation.”"