24 Days of Scavenging

The envoys naturally brought gifts when they came to visit, and the steward, as usual, instructed people to take the gifts to the back room. The envoys also expressed their desire to see the Immortal Master's storehouse.

The little robot had no objections and took the people there.

Standing at the entrance of the rear building, the envoys were all excited, their eyes constantly peering inside. At this moment, they showed none of the demeanor and bearing expected of envoys of a nation, their gazes no different from those of the gossiping aunts and uncles at the village entrance.

It's no wonder they were so excited. They couldn't have just made up a story to get such a precise request to visit the back room, a place where miscellaneous items were stored. They must have found out about it beforehand. They heard that the Immortal Master's warehouse was a truly divine place, incredibly magical, and there were so many stories to tell!

Everyone's information came from the servants of the Naji residence. The servants discovered that the little robot had not given any orders to keep quiet or keep secret. Under such circumstances, how could the servants control their desire to show off?

When they went out to buy things, or took a break, or even just met with other servants, these servants couldn't help but tell them about their miraculous experiences at the immortal master's house.

The fact that the immortal master doesn't eat and sleep like a normal person is already perfectly normal in their eyes. What they talk about endlessly dozens of times without getting tired of it is the back room that the immortal master uses as a warehouse!

An unprecedented and magical way of opening doors, those amazing mechanical instruments, food in the time-stop zone stays piping hot no matter how long it's been stored, and never spoils, or in the time-accelerated zone, a seed placed inside will be ripe the next day!

Even the areas where items are normally stored are weightless and floating directly in mid-air!

The servants didn't know what zero gravity was, but they knew that the scene of these things floating in mid-air without falling to the ground was exactly what happened in the sky!

All of this left everyone in awe, their eyes wide with wonder.

The fiercest competition among the servants always came when it came to deciding what to put into the storeroom.

Of course, they dared not touch the things in the warehouse casually, but in their eyes, the entire warehouse was a paradise, and every breath here was the divine energy that only the immortal realm could possess!

Even if they dare not touch anything, just taking a stroll inside will allow them to inhale more divine energy, which will surely bring them divine blessings and make them healthier!

Servants who frequently entered the storeroom would stand tall and proud when talking to others.

Not only the servants, but also the envoys who had the opportunity to visit the rear warehouse were all thinking about taking a few more breaths of immortal energy.

The little robot opens the door itself.

Unlike a butler who needs an access card, he doesn't need to open the door. He can simply stand at the warehouse entrance, and the door will automatically light up and open to both sides.

The envoys who were waiting nearby immediately craned their necks.

"Please come in."

A small robot greets the guests.

What followed was a breathtaking journey that left the messengers in awe, wide-eyed and completely captivated.

When they came out of the warehouse, everyone felt as if their eyes were still inside and they didn't want to take them out.

Afterwards, they toured other parts of the residence, dined, and even as they were leaving, the envoys couldn't stop marveling at the warehouses.

After this visit, the little robot received more and more gifts and invitations.

Gifts from other countries arrived in droves, and invitations from the envoys came one after another. At first, the envoys gave various hints, but later they directly and openly asked the immortal master if he had any thoughts about settling in their country.

The conditions they proposed were increasingly extravagant.

In this atmosphere, the end of the year gradually approached.

As the year drew to a close, the work of the Ordnance Bureau had been suspended. The little robot was still transferred to the Imperial Hospital by the King.

However, the king knew about the little robot's unique hobby of collecting trash, so he didn't force him to stay in the royal hospital like the royal physician. He only asked him to check in the next day.

The little robot spent the rest of its time wandering around the capital, going wherever there was a lot of trash.

And you know what? The little robot picked up quite a bit of trash during that time.

Such days quickly passed, and two days were before the sacrificial ceremony.

The Ministry of Rites had sent people to coordinate with the small robot three days in advance. Although the ceremony was grand, the tasks that the small robot needed to perform were not complicated. At most, the clothing worn at the ceremony needed special attention, which made things a little more complicated. The only difference in the overall process was that it took longer.

Starting tomorrow morning, someone will come to pick up the little robot and take it to the Immortal Master Tower for bathing and incense burning, in preparation for the sacrificial ceremony.

When the sacrificial ceremony begins, the little robot, the immortal master, will depart directly from the tower and head to the sacrificial site.

He would not return to the Naji residence from the tower until the end of the third day of the sacrificial ceremony.

The clothes for the immortal masters needed for the sacrificial ceremony were made by a specialist two months in advance, and the specialist would come to discuss the size and details of the JSG with the little robot from time to time.

Today was the last day for the Immortal Master's robes to be modified. The Ministry of Rites had sent someone early to arrange a time, so the little robot didn't go out to collect trash, but waited at the house.

He genuinely didn't care at all about these rituals, costumes, or even towers, and always felt that as a trash can, he didn't need to wear such elaborate clothes.

However, the King of Qing Kingdom saw this early on and took the initiative to suggest that as long as the little robot cooperated to complete this ritual, he would not have to stay in the Armory all day after the year-end holiday, and could set up a garbage recycling department according to the Immortal Master's requirements.

This new department's waste recycling isn't just about processing metals; it takes responsibility for any waste that the little robots deem recyclable.

It was precisely because of the carrot of the new department that the little robot cooperated quite well with the ritual.

"Alright, there's nothing that needs altering or adjusting the clothes. The Immortal Master's physique is in excellent condition, exactly as measured before." The tailor carefully put away the Immortal Master's robes and clapped his hands in satisfaction.

The Ministry of Rites, who was waiting nearby, immediately checked the procedures with the little robot: "The Immortal Master will have a team come to pick you up tomorrow morning. After arriving at the tower, you will bathe and change clothes, and then have breakfast. After that, you cannot leave the tower until the auspicious time of the sacrifice begins. Is that alright?"

The little robot nodded.

He was prepared to not be able to pick up trash for the next few days.

For the future waste recycling department.

After finalizing the procedures, the Ministry of Rites quickly left.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, there was a knock on the door of the auspicious house.

The procession that came to welcome the immortal master has already arrived at the entrance.

The little robot had nothing to pack, so it went straight into the carriage and let the procession lead it to its destination.

The people who got up early on the road also knew that these two days were the important event of the Immortal Master's sacrifice. When they saw the Immortal Master's procession passing by, they all stopped and bowed their heads to pray for blessings.

The Immortal Master Tower is not in a remote location; it is situated within a royal garden near the palace.

Calling it a tower is indeed very apt; besides its height, there's only one living room at the very top, while the entire lower half is a spiral staircase.

The Ministry of Rites said that the long staircase symbolized a "ladder to heaven".

The little robot's carriage stopped at the foot of the tower.

"Immortal Master, I'll leave the rest of the journey to you alone."

The Ministry of Rites escorted the person to the foot of the tower, thus completing the first day's task.

The little robot wasn't afraid of climbing stairs. It nodded and slowly made its way to the top floor.

Several eunuchs were already waiting there. Upon seeing the little robot arrive, they respectfully stepped forward, led the way, and helped it change clothes, light incense, and bathe.

The entire process clearly shows that it has been trained many times.

The eunuchs did not leave until the changing and meal were finished.

No one spoke throughout the entire process.

The little robot didn't notice anything wrong. Knowing that it had nothing to do but stay in the room from now on, it wasn't in a hurry. It found an empty room and slowly took out the trash it had collected a few days ago from the recycling bin and began to process it.

Clean what needs cleaning, disassemble what needs disassembly, and repair what needs repairing.

With no humans watching, he could even ignore his physical needs without any attempt to conceal them, which made him feel more at ease.

Lunch was still quietly delivered by the eunuchs, and after the little robot finished eating, the empty bowls were quietly taken away.

Later in the afternoon, the little robot heard the noise outside the tower suddenly increase for a while, but it soon subsided.

He wasn't particularly curious and continued to quietly dispose of the trash.

The little robot had no idea that the commotion that afternoon was actually related to him.

In the evening, the eunuchs came to deliver the meal as before.

The little robot clearly saw that the eunuch who was walking at the back did not leave with the other eunuchs after putting down his bowl and chopsticks. Instead, he turned a corner and hid in a corner.

After a closer scan, the little robot easily discovered that the eunuch was not an eunuch at all, but rather the Third Prince Liu Yun dressed up as an eunuch.

What new and exciting games will humans play next?

The little robot blinked but didn't say anything to expose it.

Liu Yun emerged from the corner some time after the other eunuchs who were delivering food had left.

"Immortal Master! You can't stay here any longer!"

Liu Yun's heart was filled with anger and anxiety, but even more so with grief and sorrow for his father.

The little robot, though being pulled along by Liu Yun, showed no intention of following the humans.

The little robot remained motionless in place: "The people from the Ministry of Rites said I cannot leave here; this is part of the sacrificial ceremony."

The little robot was worried that if the ritual was disrupted, his new garbage recycling department would not be able to be established.

Upon hearing the little robot's words, Liu Yun blurted out, "If you stay here any longer, you'll die!"

The little robot looked at Liu Yun without saying a word.

After saying this, Liu Yun deflated like a punctured balloon and immediately collapsed.

Seeing that the immortal master wouldn't follow him unless he explained himself clearly, Liu Yun simply sat cross-legged.

His tone was extremely bitter: "Sacrifice... Immortal Master, do you know what the ultimate purpose of this sacrifice is?"

"Father, he... he wants immortality! He wants to use you, Immortal Master, as a sacrifice! He's trying to obtain your power!"

"He didn't want a glaring god lurking around, constantly threatening his kingdom; he wanted to be that god himself!"

"Immortal Master, tell me, how did my father... become so terrifying!"

"You saved my life, you saved the people of Qing Kingdom, and you even made divine weapons and armor for Qing Kingdom without any reward, and even taught the Qing Kingdom craftsmen the manufacturing methods. You also shared them with the imperial physicians without reservation. Those magical instruments and those life-saving prescriptions, which one of them is something that an ordinary person might not be able to obtain even in a lifetime!"

"You are so selfless, how could Father... Father have the heart to be so cruel!"

The third prince recalled everything he had overheard and seen that morning, and felt that all the worship he had ever held for his father had collapsed in that instant.

He had always believed that his father was the best king—kind-hearted, benevolent, and a wise ruler. If anyone could end this chaotic period of warring states, the third prince thought, that person would undoubtedly be his father!

The appearance of the immortal master later confirmed this fact for the Third Young Master.

After all, if his father wasn't a king recognized by Heaven, why would Heaven send down a deity to help him?

But now... one is immortal, just one immortal!

“Immortal Master, I came here secretly to deliver this message to you. You should leave quickly, or you might not be able to leave again,” the Third Young Master said. “When I came out, I saw my father dispatching soldiers out of the palace, heading in the direction of your home.”

"After you leave the tower, do not go back. The people in the mansion were all sent to you by your father. Now it seems their loyalty is not guaranteed. Your magical warehouse may also be lost. Those soldiers will most likely go to take over your warehouse."

"However, based on what I heard before, Father and the others probably won't make a move now, for fear that you'll notice something's wrong before the auspicious time for the sacrifice. They'll probably choose to make their move after you're on the altar tomorrow at noon, so you'll still have time to deal with it."

"In addition, there are envoys from other countries conspiring with my father. I don't know exactly which countries they are, and I didn't dare to get too close for fear of being discovered. Immortal Master, if you decide to choose other countries to assist you in the future, please be very careful."

The Third Young Master had already given up all hope and was no longer afraid that the immortals would go to other countries and help them prosper.

At this moment, he was completely disillusioned with his father.

"Let's go. The eunuchs will be coming to collect the dishes in a little while. Change into my clothes, cover your hair, and go out with them."

As he spoke, Liu Yun was about to take off his eunuch's robes.

He was held down by the little robot.

After listening to the human's long-winded rambling, the little robot finally understood the current situation.

In other words, because he had previously refused to agree to make an elixir of immortality for that human ruler, that human had wicked intentions and tried to obtain the divine abilities from him in order to achieve immortality.

This sacrifice was not, as the king claimed, to show respect to the immortal master to the people of Qing Kingdom and to convey Qing Kingdom's blessings to the heavens. Rather, he intended to use himself, a garbage can, as a sacrifice in a "human sacrifice."

Not only that, humans also coveted his recycling bins and wanted to seize them by force.

The human soldiers have now surrounded Naji's house.

The human in front of him, named Liu Yun, had come to rescue him after receiving the news, because of the debt of gratitude he owed.

The little robot nodded, indicating that it fully understood.

However, he has no intention of leaving.

“The king promised me that I would like to ask him myself,” the little robot said.

According to procedure, the king will personally appear at the sacrificial ceremony tomorrow. Whether it is the original sacrificial ceremony or the later "human sacrifice" in the desire to obtain divine abilities, the king will definitely have to show up in person.

The little robot decided to ask the king in person whether his promise of a new garbage recycling department was just a lie to the garbage cans, or if it would actually be set up.

As for the need to use other people as sacrifices...

Unfortunately, he's just a machine. No matter how much he looks like a human, he's not a human.

"You can go now. Thank you for coming to inform me of this." The little robot nodded to Liu Yun.

"Immortal Master!!"

Liu Yun never expected that the immortal master would refuse to leave!

He had considered that if he told the Immortal Master about the matter, the latter would use divine means to retaliate against the Qing Kingdom in a fit of anger. He had also considered that the Immortal Master should simply return to heaven. He never expected that the Immortal Master would actually stay even though he knew that this sacrifice was meant to kill him.

No matter what he said, the little robot had no intention of leaving.

Liu Yun could only leave the tower alone.

He was spotted by patrolling soldiers not far from the tower. Fortunately, given Liu Yun's status as the Third Young Master, and the fact that the Immortal Master was still in the tower as before, the soldiers did not report it to their superiors. Instead, they sent someone to transport Liu Yun back to the Young Master's Palace.

That evening, the little robot diligently processed the trash in the recycling bin, just as it had during the day.

only……

He was stunned for a moment.

"What...what happened?"

The little robot found itself unable to concentrate as well as it did during the day when looking at the piles of garbage. A constant tightness in its chest, and the words Liu Yun had spoken to it in the database kept uncontrollably popping up, seeking validation.

"Is this what human emotions...sadness is?"

The little robot was startled.

I'm just a trash can, not a human being. Although I'm equipped with a highly realistic human simulation system, and even if I'm disemboweled, I still look like a human, but what keeps me running is all programs and data. How could I possibly have "human emotions"?

"Perhaps staying in this spacetime for too long has caused a virus to develop," the little robot muttered to itself. "Start the antivirus program!"

Besides, he really can't stay here any longer. It just so happens that the humans in these worlds don't seem to like him very much. He should ask the king tomorrow and then leave.

The little robot collected all the trash and lay down on the bed prepared in the tower.

Silently let the antivirus program give you a very thorough and comprehensive clean.

.

The next day was the actual day of the sacrifice, and early in the morning, a procession was already prepared to welcome them at the foot of the tower.

The little robot, just like yesterday, burned incense, bathed, and ate breakfast, unhurried and unperturbed, as if it had no idea what the true nature of today's ritual was.

The subsequent process was as the Ministry of Rites had described: the little robot sat upright in an open-air palanquin, and the procession slowly circled the capital. People lined both sides of the road to watch, some kowtowing, some kneeling in worship.

Some of the bolder ones even threw a few flowers at the little robot on the sedan chair.

The little robot picked up everything it could reach and put it into the recycling bin.

Everything seemed perfectly normal.

However, the outer perimeter of the team was surrounded by layers of soldiers standing guard, while foreign envoys exchanged glances in the corners. There was even Zheng Jinqi, the general of Zheng, whose face was half-covered, but the little robot could easily recognize him. The latter was squeezed into the crowd of people and was staring at the little robot with a hateful gaze.

All of this made the little robot realize that what Liu Yun said yesterday was not a lie.

Humans had ulterior motives behind this sacrifice.