Chapter 1: A House with Bare Walls

After viewing the memories of the original owner, Yu Duxiu secretly cursed him as useless. The original owner had never engaged in any labor, spending all day buried in books, while all the household chores were left to his younger sister. What Yu Duxiu despised the most was that the original owner even relied on his sister to forage for wild vegetables to sustain himself

After speaking, he retracted his head and no longer paid any attention to Yu Duxiu

Although the vegetables in the basket are the food supply for her and her brother, for this little girl, nothing is more important than her brother's recovery from his serious illness

While tasting the venison, Yu Shiniang carefully set down her chopsticks and said: "Brother, we cannot eat all the venison at once. Tomorrow, I will turn it into cured meat, so that if you crave it in the future, I can satisfy your appetite."

Chen Jiu stood outside the kitchen, watching the sunset gradually descend and the stars slowly rise in the sky. A rich aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, intoxicating to the senses

Holding the venison in her hand, Yu Duxiu nodded slightly: "It weighs about seven or eight jin, which is enough for a hearty meal. It will also provide some strength for the body, and with strength, one can make some preparations for survival"

Generating a sense of energy, taking on ten opponents is not a problem; however, murder is a crime. With technology so advanced, a mere cultivator who generates a sense of energy, no matter how powerful, cannot escape the tracking of satellite surveillance.

Rest assured, from now on, we siblings will definitely eat meat every day. Yu Duxiu thought to herself, then looked at Yu Shiniang: There is still venison in the pot, please bring it out.

As I was thinking, a dull sound of footsteps came from the door. A tall man, dressed in animal skins, walked into the courtyard, with a bow and arrows slung over his back: "Is anyone here?"

As he spoke, he placed the venison back into Yu Duxiu's bowl. Yu Duxiu could see clearly that her younger sister had played a little trick, yet in the end, she had consumed more meat than her sister.

These fabrics are all discarded garments from other households, which were picked up by my sister. She salvaged the relatively intact parts and transformed them into a new piece of clothing

The garment worn by Yu Shiniang is clearly one size too large. Yu Duxiu knows that this is intentionally done by her younger sister, as this piece of clothing will be worn for a long time. Once she grows taller in the future, the garment can be altered and still be worn.

As the movements were difficult to execute, Yu Duxiu could only feel the pain in her arms, forearms, and chest muscles.

In her previous life, Yu Duxiu was an ascetic seeking the Great Way during the era of the end of the Dharma. However, in that world where all laws had come to an end, it was unclear what turmoil had occurred in that realm. Suddenly, all paths of cultivation and the road to ascension were completely erased overnight. From that moment on, there were no longer any legends of immortals or deities in the world, and the notion of eternal life and immortality became merely a subject of jest.

In memory, Yu Duxiu's parents had long since perished in a plague several years ago. This terrifying epidemic swept through the entire dynasty, and this small village was no exception. Out of the several hundred villagers, only a few dozen survived, including the elderly, the young, and the able-bodied.

Yu Shiniang lowered her head, silently eating the wild vegetables: "If only Shiniang had the ability, then brother could eat meat every day."

Yu Shuniang shook her head: "Elder brother's body is weak, having just recovered from a serious illness. This venison can help strengthen his body. I am in excellent health and do not need this venison."

Casually covering the venison with straw, Yu Duxiu stood at the entrance of the courtyard, waiting for her sister to return

The plague arrived suddenly and inexplicably, almost like a violent storm, sweeping across the entire dynasty in an instant

Yu Duxiu put down the meat: "It was sent by the village."

Someone named Yu Duxiu pushed the door open and walked out

This is a thatched cottage, a very old-fashioned thatched cottage. Yu Duxiu is quite certain that such cottages have long since disappeared in the twenty-first century

Yu Duxiu's movements froze, and she was discovered by her

Little Tiger frowned upon hearing this and glanced at Yu Duxiu, saying: "A scholar is of no use at all, yet he still relies on his own sister to support him, what a useless fellow"

Yu Duxiu saw that his younger sister had only eaten deer meat once, and that was the only time. She had even served it to herself, taking all the deer meat for herself. Yu Duxiu felt a pang in his heart, and his eyes glimmered with unshed tears.

As a practitioner who firmly believes in the existence of deities in this world, Yu Duxiu would naturally not be too surprised by the concept of seizing a body and being reborn

Screaming, I ran like the wind towards the fallen backpack

At last, all the lingering souls in his mind vanished in an instant. Chen Jiu came to his senses and slammed the book down on the bed, exclaiming: "A scholar is of no use at all. How difficult it is to achieve success through studying! This bookish fool has read since childhood, yet has never attained the title of a successful student. Now, I am occupying a place that does not belong to me, and I am completely ignorant of the Confucian classics. The most pressing matter now is to fill my stomach; who still has the energy to delve into the Confucian classics"

Go wash your face

The man threw the meat in his hand to Yu Duxiu: "This is the meat of the sika deer I hunted on the mountain this morning, and everyone in the village, young and old, will have a share. This is your portion."

Yu Duxiu picked up the chopsticks and gently picked up the wild vegetables, feeling a sense of self-mockery: "In the past, I lived in luxury and comfort, but I never expected that I, Yu Duxiu, would also have such a day."

Walking slowly to the front of the rice jar outside the house, the large rice jar is now empty, with only some remaining wild vegetables, which have been dug up for an unknown number of days, looking wilted and drooping.

The entire arm appears to be nothing but bones covered with a layer of yellowed skin, and the clothing on the body is bleached to a pale white.

Chen Jiu lifted the bottom of the bowl and said, "Look, I have so much meat here, I can't finish it all."

"You used to never treat me this way; now my brother is better than before." Before Yu Duxiu could process this, Yu Shiniang's next words put her mind at ease

"Meat, brother, where did this meat come from?" Shiniang's eyes lit up upon seeing the meat

Yu Shuniang gazed at the vibrant venison, with its faint blood hue, a glimmer of desire flashing in her eyes. How long had it been since the siblings had tasted meat?

In a previous life, Yu Duxiu spent his entire life in a relentless pursuit of the path to immortality, yet it was merely the nascent sensation of qi in the dantian. The emergence of this qi sensation sounds impressive, but in a world rife with gunfire and chaos, no matter how high one's martial arts skills, one still fears a kitchen knife.

In a past life, Yu Duxiu once saw a saying: in times of famine, if someone gives you a whole bun, that is familial love. If they give you half, that is romantic love. If they only give you a bite, that is friendship

Pushing open the door and stepping out of the house, the bright sunlight shines upon me, creating an exceptionally pleasant feeling

Gently pinching the small face of Yu Shiniang, which was covered in dirt, it was evident that the day spent foraging for wild vegetables was certainly not an easy one

At this moment, the remnants of the original owner's soul are rapidly dissipating, likely stirred by a trace of longing for these books, which accompanied him for over ten years and represent the culmination of his efforts during that time

After standing for a while, Yu Duxiu felt her body trembling slightly, her internal energy and blood were weak, and she even showed signs of faintness.

Looking into Yu Duxiu's eyes, Yu Shiniang silently lowered her head. From those eyes, she saw determination, an unwavering will: "Let's share it equally, otherwise I won't eat either"

Yu Shiniang did not speak, merely lowering her head to eat the wild vegetables. Before long, Yu Shiniang's wild vegetables were nearly finished, while Yu Duxiu had yet to touch his.

One year, or perhaps two or three years, she could not remember clearly

My younger sister is ten years old this year, standing out like a unique flower among jade, with a sallow complexion and emaciated body, and her hair has turned an abnormal shade of yellow

The book appears quite ancient, clearly showing signs of age

The term "thatched cottage" in the 21st century represents antiquity, poverty, and hunger.

After speaking, Yu Duxiu stood up, gazing at the warm sunlight outside, and took a deep breath: "I am not capable of hunting, but I remember there is a stream not far away; I can still fish and catch soft-shelled turtles."

Yu Shuniang shook her head, her head bobbing like a rattle drum, and brought the meat back: "Brother, you need to study and take the imperial examination; this meat is still for you to eat."

It is important to know that a bad stomach can also be fatal

"Sister Yu, hurry up and get up," Yu Duxiu said as she pulled up her younger sister, Yu Shiniang.

In the memory of Yu Duxiu, this boy is the son of Uncle Li next door, undoubtedly the most active, chasing rabbits on the mountain, digging bird nests in the trees, there is nothing he would not do

Yu Duxiu had a fine layer of sweat on his forehead. According to the memories of the original owner of this body, he had a younger sister who had been his companion since childhood.

Brother, it must be the deities of the past who have heard my prayers, allowing your illness to improve. Quickly, brother, let us kneel together to express our gratitude. Yu Shiniang looked at Yu Duxiu with bright eyes, filled with joy.

"Hmm, what is it?" Yu Duxiu said softly

Yu Duxiu walked into the kitchen and took out the piece of venison from the thatch: "Let’s put this meat in to cook as well"

Uncertain how much time had passed, Yu Duxiu slowly opened her eyes. Her complexion was pale and waxy, her lips dry. As a practitioner, the concept of seizing a body and being reborn was not beyond comprehension.

Slowly struggling to stand up, Yu Duxiu moved her body a bit. The original owner of this body was also named Yu Duxiu, a scholar of the dynasty, only twelve years old. It is said that the ancestors of the Yu family were important figures in the dynasty, but for some unknown reason, they were later demoted back to their hometown. Presumably, it was simply a matter of having chosen the wrong side in a power struggle.

"You have changed" said Yu Shuniang, her eyes sparkling like stars, as she gazed at him without moving.

Having just recovered from a serious illness, I dare not wander about carelessly. Upon entering the house and looking at the bare walls, my mood is far from cheerful.

In the room, there are two beds, where Yu Duxiu sleeps with her younger sister. The most prominent feature in this bedroom is the bookshelf that is as tall as a person.

Yu Duxiu lifted the venison and brought it back into the house. Outside, flies were buzzing around, and they must not be allowed to take notice. It is evident that the medical system in this world is not very reliable. If one were to suffer from food poisoning, who would be there to provide treatment?

Yu Duxiu surveyed the courtyard; there was not a trace of wild grass in sight, and it appeared quite tidy, undoubtedly the result of her younger sister's efforts

Yu Duxiu smiled, not stopping, watching her younger sister who was bouncing around like a joyful sparrow, a trace of amusement rising in her heart

The girl saw the jade orchid leaning against the door and was about to rush over, but unexpectedly, the basket behind her was too large, making it quite inconvenient to run, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.

There are no seasonings, no various complex cooking methods, just a simple stew of wild vegetables and meat. Yet in Yu Duxiu's heart, it is by no means inferior to that of a top chef. This is not merely a bowl of simple venison, but a bond of affection between siblings

It turns out to be Xiao Huzai. The weather is so nice today, why didn't you go up the mountain to look for bird nests

With a sigh of relief, Yu Duxiu said: "You are my sister, my only family in this world. We rely on each other for survival. If I do not cherish you, who else should I cherish?"

For over ten years, the siblings relied on each other, a bond too profound to be shared with outsiders. During her brother's illness, she experienced loneliness and uncertainty. He was her only family, and she could not fathom how she would carry on if he were never to awaken again.

As the sun gradually set in the west, accompanied by the twilight of dusk, a slender figure, burdened with a basket that was disproportionate to its size, cast a long shadow in the evening light. This scene was firmly etched in Yu Duxiu's heart, never to be forgotten.

In this era, both boys and girls are required to style their hair into hanging tresses

Hmm. Yu Shuniang responded with a sound, and then suddenly exclaimed, "My wild vegetables"

Taking advantage of the night, the two siblings sat at the table in the courtyard, in front of them was a bowl of steaming wild vegetable soup, the aroma of meat wafting through the air, intoxicating their senses

Yu Duxiu felt a pang in her heart: "It is my brother's fault. In the past, he only knew how to bury himself in books; otherwise, our lives would not have turned out this way."

Yu Duxiu sat in silence, quietly picking up the chopsticks. The venison was brought to his lips, yet he found it impossible to swallow. This ordinary piece of venison seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.

Through the crack of the door, Yu Duxiu was rendered speechless, only to see Shiniang fishing out venison from the pot, dipping her fingers in it, then bringing them to her mouth to lick, her face filled with ecstasy

Yu Duxiu sat back in front of the bed, gazing at the ancient books, all of which were classics of Confucianism, yet they failed to capture Yu Duxiu's interest

Therefore, the ability to generate a sense of qi is merely a sign of being somewhat more physically robust than the average person, at most leading to a state of immunity to ailments. However, if one were to engage in any activities that violate the law under the guise of chivalry, there would be no escape from firearms and rockets.

"A scholar is of no use at all, a scholar is of no use at all, how lamentable and sorrowful this is" Yu Duxiu held the books in his hands, gently caressing them, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes

Yu Shuniang secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva; the temptation of a piece of meat was somewhat irresistible for her

The little girl knelt on the ground with tears streaming down her face, bowing her head to the surroundings: "Thank you to all the deities for allowing my brother to awaken."

After speaking, the young man placed the meat in Yu Duxiu's hand and turned to leave

"Brother." Just as Yu Duxiu was lost in thought, a soft call awakened his mind.

The thatched cottage sways precariously in the wind, but fortunately, the weather today is clear and the breeze is gentle; otherwise, encountering heavy rain would surely be a torment, as this thatched cottage offers no protection against water

Yushun raised her head in surprise: "Brother"

Just slowly raising the arm, this arm is too frail, it is practically just skin and bones, even African refugees are stronger than this

Yu Duxiu smiled wryly and touched his nose upon hearing this, well, at this moment, he found himself at a loss for words

As she watched the sun gradually set in the west, Yu Duxiu could not help but recall the figure of that frail person in her mind

Looking at the lively little girl, Yu Duxiu smiled and said, "With such a lovely and understanding younger sister, my days in the future will surely not be too dull"

The tattered mat, the worn quilt, the dilapidated window, the crumbling wall" Yu Duxiu murmured to herself, opening her eyes. Everything here is old and worn, even the clothes on her body are tattered.

The surviving elder in the village said that it was the great adept engaging in a battle of magic. Yu Duxiu looked up at the starry sky and said, "Is this the power of the cultivators? Lives are as insignificant as grass, and all beings are like ants."

Yu Duxiu looked at the tiger and said: "Eat it."

Saying this, he placed the meat back into his sister's bowl

A fit of coughing came from outside the door, and Yu Shiniang finally awoke from her reverie, carefully packing the wild vegetables and bringing them out.

Brother, your illness has recovered

Yu Duxiu felt a pang of sadness; it was merely a piece of meat. In her era, the populace hardly consumed meat and began to place importance on vegetarianism. Little did she expect that the most ordinary piece of meat from that time would represent her sister's longing.

What is a bond stronger than gold? In a materialistic metropolis, Yu Duxiu has not witnessed it. Countless disputes arise over inheritance and support issues for parents, leading to conflicts between fathers and sons, and enmity among siblings, which are too numerous to count

However, Yu Shiniang's skills are quite lacking; having never systematically studied women's needlework, the entire garment appears rather unsightly. It can only serve to cover the body, but it is far from being beautiful.

In the next moment, the girl decisively threw the basket to the ground and leaped into Yu Duxiu's arms, overwhelmed with joy and tears.

This time, Yu Shiniang did not refuse; she was eating very carefully, savoring the taste of the meat.

Picking up the chopsticks, Yu Duxiu placed the venison into Yu Shiniang's bowl

Although the figure is small and slender, it is remarkably tenacious and resolute. What is most unforgettable is those eyes, which reveal a glimmer of hope. That flicker of flame can pierce through the endless void, representing a yearning and a wish for a brighter future

"Yu Duxiu, you are well again" A head stretched out from the fence next door, with a constantly swaying tuft of hair visible on it

The residence of the Yu family is divided into two levels: the outer level is used for cooking and heating, while the adjacent area is designated for sleeping

The metallic scent of blood spread from the young man's hands, while the flies in the courtyard buzzed incessantly

However, having clothes to wear makes Shiniang very happy

Where is this? Yu Duxiu wanted to sit up, but unexpectedly, a loud bang echoed in her head, and the immense pain caused her brain to instantly go into shock, plunging her into a self-protection system.

Yu Duxiu walked over, and the two siblings, carrying a basket of vegetables, moved slowly back home. Finally entering the courtyard, Yu Shiniang said: "I will go and make wild vegetable soup for my brother"

Yu Duxiu could discern a hint of disdain in the man's eyes, clearly indicating that Yu Duxiu's demeanor was quite displeasing to him

Yu Duxiu merely looked at Yu Shiniang and uttered a single word: "Eat"

Looking at her pale and thin younger sister, Yu Duxiu casually picked up some venison from her bowl and placed it into her sister's bowl, saying, "You should eat more so that you can grow taller in the future"

Looking at the frail figure, Yu Duxiu felt a pang in his nose; he thought the clothes he wore were tattered enough, but he did not expect that his little sister's attire was even more deplorable. He wondered where she had found the scraps of fabric, piecing them together to sew this beggar's outfit.