Chapter 2: The Discarded Son of the Li Family

For over a decade, Li Lin has been very poor, so poor that he could barely support himself. However, heaven bestowed upon him a maid, the very one who is now bustling around him, Xiao Lan, which allowed him to feel a glimmer of warmth in this household

Zhou Yuan, who fused with the soul of Li Lin in later generations, according to the memories left to Li Lin, was originally a modern person from another dimension. During a mountaineering expedition, he accidentally fell off a cliff and landed in an abandoned mountain god temple, where he unexpectedly received the teachings of a mountain god. After his death, he bore the divine status, and his soul inexplicably traversed to this dimension. By coincidence, he encountered the vengeful spirit of Li Lin, who harbored strong feelings of resentment. For reasons unknown or perhaps due to an error, he merged with the soul of Li Lin from his previous life, saving Li Lin and inexplicably returning to over twenty years ago.

Li Lin was somewhat confused. After pondering for quite a while, he ultimately concluded that his rebirth had completely exhausted the fate and fortune of his previous life. In this case, would he be unable to accomplish anything in this lifetime? Would he be reduced to living a mundane existence, merely a parasitic commoner?

Thus, a mother of no status or identity gives birth to Li Lin, who consequently earns no respect from anyone in the clan. If it were not for the bloodline of the Li family within him, he might even have been directly abandoned in the wilderness to be fed to wild dogs

Logically speaking, in his previous life, he gradually rose from serving King Lu to eventually replacing him and becoming a dominant force in the world, almost achieving an imperial hegemony. There should be no reason for him to lack even a trace of his innate fortune! In fact, the fortune from his previous life should have been quite formidable; otherwise, how could he have accomplished such great undertakings?

Lan Er suddenly experienced a strange feeling, as if the young master before her had transformed into a different person after this serious illness. He was no longer the naive boy he had been before falling into the water. The young master's body seemed to be filled with an extraordinary strength, and his eyes no longer held the previous fear and melancholy; instead, they radiated an endless confidence. In short, the young master seemed to have completely changed, but she found it very appealing, for it was in his embrace that she felt a sense of security, a security she had never experienced before.

This week, Yuan left Li Lin a considerable amount of memories, but the vast majority of them are shrouded in chaos, making it difficult to discern. Particularly regarding matters of the divine path, only a few extremely simple divine techniques remain for Li Lin to study, while the rest remain in a state of confusion, elusive and always out of Li Lin's reach.

After coming to this realization, the slight feeling of frustration that had just arisen in Li Lin's heart immediately dissipated.

Thus, Li Lin's second brother felt a loss of face; surprisingly, over such a trivial matter, he developed a murderous intent towards him. A few afternoons ago, he pretended to invite Li Lin out for leisure, and after getting him drunk, he had a wicked servant push him into the icy river. Li Lin could not swim at all and nearly drowned, which led to his current reincarnation. In his previous life, he was fortunate enough to accidentally grab a branch that had fallen into the water, allowing him to climb back to shore. After getting him drunk, he had a wicked servant push him into the icy river. Li Lin could not swim at all and nearly drowned, which led to his current reincarnation. In his previous life, he was fortunate enough to accidentally grab a branch that had fallen into the water, allowing him to climb back to shore

As for Li Lin's mother, he has no impression of her at all, because after giving birth to him, she did not love him. She spent her days in tears, viewing him as an enemy. Perhaps it was due to Li Lin's strong will in his previous life that he managed to survive. Before he turned three, his mother finally hanged herself, completely leaving this world, leaving behind Li Lin to struggle to survive in the Li family until now

Xiao Lan's background is pitiful. When she was very young, her family suffered a disaster, resulting in her father's death from illness. Her mother, unable to support her, sold her to a broker, hoping to leave Xiao Lan with a chance at survival. Later, Xiao Lan was sold to the Li family. Over time, she even forgot where her home was and did not even know her surname.

Li Lin is now very clear about his situation. As the illegitimate son of the head of the Li family, he has never been valued by his family. If it were not for his father recognizing that he carries the bloodline of the Li family, he might not even have the right to survive within this family.

Li Lin shook his head and suddenly burst into laughter, saying to himself, "To hell with this nonsense about fate. What does it matter if I lack my destined energy now? I possess a divine soul with divine attributes within my body. In the future, I can always pursue the path of the divine. What difference does it make whether my physical body has destined energy or not?"

However, if a person's fortune is robust and varies in color, their future achievements are likely to differ as well. Individuals with stronger fortunes, particularly those whose colors manifest as red, yellow, or green, may achieve increasingly greater success in the future. Therefore, it can be said that fortune fundamentally determines the framework of a person's future achievements, which can also be referred to as their destiny.

All of this is due to Li Lin's mother. She is a woman from the Li family's longstanding feud. Over the years, the two families have been in constant conflict, ultimately leading to her family being ruined in this protracted struggle. Her mother was taken in by the Li family and became a lowly maid, suffering bullying from all members of the Li family, and was further subjected to the wanton humiliation by Li Lin's father. Had she not later become pregnant with Li Lin, she might have been discarded to be toyed with by others in the clan.

Young Master, do not get up! You have just awakened, and your body is still weak. Quickly lie down; Lan'er will go prepare some congee for you. You haven't eaten a single grain of rice for two or three days! Do not let yourself get cold again!" Xiao Lan hurriedly wiped away the tears on her small face with her sleeve, both crying and laughing as she struggled to stand up, wanting to help Li Lin lie down again.

Embracing Xiao Lan, Li Lin glanced around this room that was both unfamiliar and yet incredibly familiar, and once again a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth

Lan'er was embraced by Li Lin and felt a bit shy, so she struggled slightly for a moment. However, she soon realized that Li Lin seemed to have become very strong, and she could not break free at all. Thus, she had no choice but to obediently nestle in Li Lin's arms, leaning against his not-so-broad chest. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sense of security, as if the anxiety and fatigue of the past few days had instantly vanished in that embrace.

In fact, Li Lin possesses a remarkably strong physique and exceptional memory, making him particularly suited for martial arts. After being forced to leave home in his previous life, he sought out masters to learn various skills, quickly acquiring a comprehensive set of martial arts techniques. Coupled with his extensive reading, he became both scholarly and martial. He eventually served under King Lu, gaining the king's favor, and within just over a decade, he rose to become the foremost general under King Lu's command.

Originally, as Li Lin, he was not entitled to enjoy the privileges of having a maid assigned by the family. However, since he was still considered a member of the Li family, they were reluctant to let this matter become public and bring shame upon themselves. Therefore, when he was eight years old, they casually selected a young maid named Xiao Lan from the purchased slaves and handed her over to Li Lin, designating her as his maid.

Li Lin, in a moment of whimsy, hurriedly examined the top of his head. After taking a look, he was immediately disheartened; his head was surprisingly bare, even inferior to Xiao Lan, lacking even a trace of his innate energy. This was truly strange!

After listening to Li and Tushulin's words, Xiaolan finally couldn't help but break into a smile, rarely revealing a hint of shyness. She playfully pouted, saying: "Young master, you are teasing me again! I am just a little maid, how could I possibly grow into a great beauty! You must not tease me like this anymore!"

A person's innate energy determines their future achievements. From the memories left by Zhou Yuan, he came to understand that ordinary commoners possess only a trace or two of this innate energy. Consequently, such individuals can only lead a life of mediocrity, remaining as mere commoners.

Li Lin lifted the tattered blanket covering him, sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and reached out to grasp the small hands of the little girl who was crying and kneeling in front of the bed. In the gentlest voice he had ever used, he said: "It's alright, Xiao Lan! I am fine now!"

However, upon closer inspection, it is evident that Xiaolan's features are quite well-proportioned. From the space between her eyebrows and eyes, it can be seen that with proper care over a period of time, she is bound to become more beautiful.

It may be because, in Xiao Lan's view, the only person she can rely on in this world is Li Lin. Therefore, Xiao Lan has been very sensible since childhood, diligently taking care of Li Lin's daily life. Rather than saying that Xiao Lan is Li Lin's maid, it is more accurate to say that they share a mutual understanding of each other's suffering, resembling siblings who are like family.

Li Lin finally set his mind at ease and once again scrutinized the girl in front of him, Xiao Lan. At present, Xiao Lan could not be considered beautiful; her long-term malnutrition had rendered her extremely thin. Her skin was a dull yellow, and her hair lacked the glossy black sheen typical of ordinary girls, indicating her nutritional deficiencies. The wrist exposed outside her sleeves was so slender that it evoked pity, and the skin on the back of her hand revealed blue veins, further underscoring her severe lack of nutrition. Her skin was dull yellow, and her hair lacked the glossy black sheen typical of ordinary girls, indicating her nutritional deficiencies. The wrist exposed outside her sleeves was so slender that it evoked pity, and the skin on the back of her hand revealed blue veins, further underscoring her severe lack of nutrition

Thinking of this, Li Lin gently shook his head, unwilling to dwell on such matters. He lowered his gaze to glance at Lan'er, who was nestled in his embrace, and inadvertently noticed a faint wisp of white vapor seemingly hovering above her head. After a moment of surprise, he quickly realized what this wisp of white vapor was: the essence of her life.

As Xiao Lan was overwhelmed with joy and tears, she suddenly felt Li Lin sit up. In a flurry, she raised her head, only to see a young master's face that seemed to be radiating brilliance. This face was both very familiar and strangely unfamiliar; she had never seen her young master exude such vitality, leaving her both astonished and delighted.

Li Lin no longer wasted his efforts; over the past two days, he quietly studied the limited information and began to refine his frail body using one of the simplest forms of strength techniques.

However, in the past, Li Lin did not pay much attention to Xiao Lan. He could not even take care of himself and had no energy to look after Xiao Lan. He had rarely taken a proper look at her. Today, in a good mood, he finally thought to take a closer look at this little maid who had cared for him for many years. Reflecting on his previous life, he realized that he owed this little girl far too much.

Although he bears the title of the Third Young Master, his status within the family is far inferior to that of many of his peers, and even less than that of many household servants.

No one loves him, no one values him, and not even anyone cares whether he is alive; he seems to have become a forgotten person in the Li family.

Li Lin gently embraced Lan Er, holding her frail body in his arms. His mind was free of any distractions; he simply held her close, no longer speaking. He softly rubbed his smooth chin against Lan Er's slightly dull hair, which appeared somewhat yellowed due to a lack of nourishment, savoring this moment of warmth.

It was merely a trivial matter, yet the second brother wished to put Li Lin to death. This was also one of the reasons why Li Lin ran away from home in his previous life. However, in his previous life, Li Lin did not die; yet in this life, he turned misfortune into fortune, not only escaping death but also gaining a significant opportunity.

"It's all right! It's all right! Lan'er is not afraid! Young master, I am fine now! These past few days have indeed been hard on you! From now on, I will take care of everything, and you will no longer have to worry or be afraid! Be good! Don't cry! Smile! Lan'er looks the best when she smiles! From now on, you must never cry; I want you to smile every day, so you can grow up to be a beautiful person." Li Lin gently comforted Xiao Lan.

He is very clear about what happened during this incident of falling into the water. The reason is quite simple: a few days ago, the teacher at the private school tested the Li family’s children. Li Lin's second brother, due to his idleness and neglect of his studies during this period, was unable to answer the questions posed by the teacher and was publicly punished by having his hand struck. In contrast, Li Lin, who had always been an auditor, answered fluently when questioned, earning the teacher's praise

This servant was stout, with a face full of excess flesh and a fierce expression. Upon seeing that Li Lin had actually managed to rise with the book, a hint of disappointment immediately appeared on his face, followed by a look of disdain.

In the Li family, the children are required to begin their education at the age of five by entering the family school. However, Li Lin did not receive this privilege. It was not until he was eight years old that he knelt down and pleaded with his father, crying for half a day, before finally obtaining the opportunity to audit classes at the family private school.

Since Li Lin has the chance to live again this time, he secretly resolved to repay this little girl in front of him throughout this life, and he would no longer allow her to suffer alongside him.

Xiao Lan was startled by this wicked servant and quickly broke free from Li Lin's embrace, her small face turning pale with fear. Li Lin raised his eyes and a glimmer of cold light flashed in his gaze

Li Lin felt a slight joy; he could actually see a person's life energy with the naked eye? After observing again, he finally confirmed that this was not an illusion, but rather that he truly possessed the ability to perceive the life energy of others.

Li Lin considers himself very intelligent; whether in academics or martial arts, he believes he is no less capable than any of his peers in the clan. However, due to his background, he does not receive the treatment he deserves

Although nominally he is the third son of the Li family, in reality, he does not receive the monthly allowance that his other brothers do. He only receives a meager monthly allowance of around ten to twenty wen, which is even less than the monthly rewards given to some household servants.

At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open violently from the outside, and a rush of cold air immediately filled the already chilly room. A servant dressed in black stepped into Li Lin's room, just in time to see Li Lin and Lan Er embracing each other.

Li Lin held Xiao Lan's hand, releasing one hand to gently wipe away the tears on Xiao Lan's face. He took a drop of it and lightly placed it on his tongue, a faint salty taste blossoming in his mouth, piercing once again the softest part of his heart.

Then Xiaolan wanted to free her small hands from Li Lin's grasp, bringing her hands together in prayer. However, Li Lin refused to let go, so she could only murmur, "Heaven has eyes! Finally, the young master has been returned to Xiaolan! Doctor Li's medicine is indeed effective! The young master must go and properly thank Doctor Li later!" As she spoke, tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes, and she started to choke up.