Chapter 2: Are You Human or Ghost?

However, once the pain gradually subsided, Li Guotao suddenly discovered that there were some memories in his mind that did not belong to him. To be precise, they should be the memories of the original owner of this body. The original owner of this body was named Li San, who was originally just a laborer carrying heavy loads at the Tianjin docks. After the outbreak of the July 7 Incident, when the Japanese attacked Tianjin, Li San took the opportunity to return to his hometown in Hebei. However, within a few months, Li San's hometown, Cang County, was also occupied by the Japanese. Although Li San lived in the countryside, and the Japanese only occupied the areas along the Jinpu Railway and some major towns, this did not have much impact on him. At this time, a large number of grassroots anti-Japanese organizations emerged across North China. Li San's hometown also had such an anti-Japanese organization called the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army. Despite its grand name, it was actually a militia organized by the local landlords and gentry from several nearby villages, totaling only three to four hundred people, but with only thirty to forty outdated rifles. With such strength, they were naturally no match for the Japanese. Moreover, these landlords organized this group merely under the banner of resisting Japan to protect their own homes! They naturally did not dare to provoke the Japanese actively, and the Japanese had just occupied North China, still unsteady on their feet, so they had no time to pay attention to these grassroots anti-Japanese groups that posed no real threat.

With a crisp sound of "crack!", the spine was brutally snapped, and Li Guotao casually tossed the little Japanese soldier into the corner. The two little Japanese soldiers did not even let out a sound before meeting their demise at the hands of Li Guotao

My father! Bai Wei seemed to suddenly remember something, jumped down from the kang, squeezed out from beside Li Guotao, and ran swiftly into the courtyard

Perhaps your father made a misdiagnosis!" Li Guotao said with an awkward smile. Li Guotao was well aware that the physician Bai had not made a mistake; that Li San was indeed dead, and the current owner of this body was Li Guotao

Ah! Miss Bai Wei, I sincerely apologize for yesterday's incident. It was my moment of foolishness that led to this..." As Li Guotao spoke, he bowed to Bai Wei, who was sitting on the kang.

Li Guotao then understood that Bai Wei was fundamentally afraid of him. "Miss Bai Wei, please do not misunderstand. I am not a ghost; I am a human, and I am not dead."

Li Guotao, without a word, rushed into the inner room, extended his hands, and directly twisted the neck of the standing little devil, pushing the corpse aside with a casual shove. Then, as swift as lightning, he extended his right hand, grasping the spine of another little devil like an eagle's claw.

Although Li Guotao was mentally prepared, he was still infuriated to the point of almost exploding when he saw the scene before him! In the inner room, there were two little devils; one was standing by the kang, while the other was lying on it. Beneath the body of the little devil was a woman, and the little devil was attempting to tear the woman's clothes. Despite the woman's desperate resistance, she was firmly pinned down by the standing little devil holding her legs, while another devil was pressing down on her body, rendering her completely unable to move

Li San was also frightened at that time, fleeing westward and running over a hundred miles in one breath. However, due to excessive fatigue, coupled with not having eaten for two days and being startled, he fainted by the roadside. It could be said that this young man was fortunate, as he happened to encounter a country doctor, Bai Langzhong, who was out treating patients. Bai Langzhong was a rural doctor, but his medical skills were quite high, and he was very famous in the surrounding area. Bai Langzhong brought Li San back to his home, prepared medicine for him, and assigned his daughter, Bai Wei, to take care of Li San. Li San was not seriously ill, and after two days of recuperation, he recovered. One day, Bai Langzhong went out on a house call, leaving only Li San and Bai Wei at home. Unexpectedly, upon seeing that Bai Wei was young and beautiful, Li San developed ill intentions. During their struggle, Bai Wei took advantage of his unpreparedness and kicked Li San in the stomach. Caught off guard, Li San fell to the ground and unfortunately hit his head against the corner of a cabinet, resulting in his immediate death. At that moment, Bai Wei was so frightened that she was stunned. Just then, Bai Langzhong returned, checked Li San's injuries, and found that they were severe and beyond saving. Fearing trouble, the father and daughter decided to secretly bury Li San in a small grove outside the village under the cover of darkness. It was at this moment that the soul of Li Guotao crossed over and attached itself to Li San's body, miraculously reviving him.

However, Li Guotao's words did not dispel the girl's fear; she merely huddled in the corner, her face pale as death, trembling all over like a sieve. Seeing this, Li Guotao pondered to himself, could it be that this girl is in such a state of shock that she has lost her sanity?

How does he know that I am dead!" Li Guotao muttered to himself, a look of confusion on his face. Unable to help himself, he reached up to scratch his head, inadvertently touching the large bump on the back of his head. Instantly, Li Guotao felt a wave of dizziness, and he gasped in pain.

"You are not dead? But my father clearly said that you were beyond saving," Bai Wei said, her eyes wide with surprise.

The girl on the kang saw that the little devil pressing down on her was gone, and hurriedly struggled to sit up from the bed. In a state of panic, she glanced around and, not finding the little devil, her eyes fell upon Li Guotao, who was standing there. The girl was momentarily stunned, then let out a terrified scream, instinctively shrinking into the corner of the wall.

Through this series of recovered memories, Li Guotao obtained several very important pieces of information. Firstly, the current time should be the 27th year of the Republic of China, which is March 3, 1938, in the lunar calendar. As for the Gregorian calendar date, Li Guotao did not find any relevant memories from Li San. The second point is that this is Xiaozhangzhuang, a small village located in Anguo County, Hebei. The village has only a few dozen households, totaling about two to three hundred people. This house belongs to the Bai doctor who lives at the eastern end of the village, and the girl on the kang is Bai Wei, the daughter of the Bai doctor. Now, Li Guotao finally understands why Bai Wei is so afraid of him.

"Young lady, do not be afraid, these two little devils have already been dealt with by me, I am not a bad person!" Li Guotao said with a smile to comfort her

In order to make a living, Li San also joined the so-called Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army. For several months, he managed to get by without any attacks from the Japanese, and they did not provoke the Japanese either, allowing both sides to coexist peacefully for a few months. However, after a few months, the Japanese had established their foothold, and with the front lines still engaged in battle, there was a significant need for supplies. Consequently, the occupied areas became a supply base for the Japanese. Recently, a small squad of Japanese soldiers went into the countryside to requisition grain and happened to encounter the Anti-Japanese National Salvation Army where Li San was stationed, leading to a fierce battle between the two sides. Ultimately, the Japanese succeeded in defeating the National Salvation Army at the cost of two minor injuries, killing and wounding over 100 people, while the others naturally scattered in disarray.

At that moment, the young woman suddenly raised her hand, trembling, and pointed at Li Guotao, saying, "You... you, weren't you dead?"

"You need not say anything more; I have already forgiven you, is that not enough? I only ask that you do not cling to me any longer in the future," Bai Wei said, repeatedly waving her hand with a look of terror on her face.