The autumn night was cold and desolate in the dilapidated mountain village. The houses were drafty, and under the thin quilt, Bai Ziyue suddenly woke up.
He had transmigrated.
Even though three days had passed, he still found it hard to believe.
Over these three days, he had gained some understanding of this world and knew that this was unlike any world he had known.
According to the elders in the village, there were people, ghosts, demons, and immortals here...
Of course, he didn't believe it.
However, the cause of his predecessor's death made his heart shiver.
Encountered a ghost? How could that be possible?
Bai Ziyue sneered, certain that the memory absorption had somehow gone wrong.
He firmly nodded once again.
Kids always have wild imaginations. His predecessor was only ten years old. It was very normal to dream about what one frequently heard the old villagers gossip about during the day.
Whoosh~!
The wind grew stronger, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold, a cold tinged with a particularly eerie chill.
"So cold..."
Bai Ziyue shivered uncontrollably.
Suddenly, sensing something, he slowly turned his head.
The small room was sparsely furnished with only a tiny wooden table. The sole wooden window was half open.
Through the window, Bai Ziyue was startled.
A child of about seven or eight years old was crouching outside, his face deathly pale, staring at him with hollow eyes.
Suddenly, the child grinned and waved, as if beckoning him to come play...
Bai Ziyue's skin crawled.
"There... really is a ghost."
He was stunned, an indescribable feeling rushing over him, leaving his mind blank.
Ghost?
Was this a ghost?
Had he really encountered a ghost? What should he do?
He was panicked, unable to move a muscle.
Maybe seeing that Bai Ziyue had not responded for a while, the little ghost grew impatient and directly floated through the window into the room.
In an instant, the already cold room felt even more bone-chilling. In Bai Ziyue's eyes, the bright moonlight now seemed eerie and terrifying.
He tried to control his fear, but watching the little ghost float closer, that fear became uncontrollable, like an instinct.
Chatter... chatter...
His teeth were chattering. He wanted to scream to dispel this helpless feeling, but found himself immobilized, unable to do anything but watch the ghost draw nearer.
The ghost had a ghastly pale face, hollow eyes, lips like purple-black, parting to reveal brown teeth seemingly smeared with blood...
"How bold!"
Just then, a thunderous shout exploded from outside the door.
Immediately after, the door was thrown open, and a brawny man with rolled-up sleeves stepped in and punched out fiercely.
The strong surge of Qi and Blood radiated out.
"Ah..."
A sharp, shrill scream rang out as the little ghost's form was torn apart like a rag, dissipating into thin smoke.
The gloomy room seemed to brighten as if ice had melted, making the world appear clearer.
"Martial Arts?"
Bai Ziyue's pale face eased, his eyes brightening.
With one punch, he had killed the ghost. What else could this be but Martial Arts?
"Yue'er, are you alright? You scared me to death."
Soon after, a beautiful woman hurriedly rushed in from outside and hugged Bai Ziyue.
A tall, thin man followed her in, looking equally worried but remaining silent.
These two were Bai Ziyue's parents, Bai Yong and Hee Honghua.
"Dad, Mom, I'm fine."
Bai Ziyue felt warmth in his heart and replied, his eyes fixated on the brawny man, feeling a surge of excitement.
Martial Arts!
It could kill ghosts?!
This incident had a significant impact on him.
It made him realize that this world was indeed very different.
"Don't worry. It's just a little ghost. Actually, as long as you have enough courage, it can't do anything to you."
The brawny man saw Bai Ziyue looking at him and thought he was still scared. He smiled reassuringly.
"This is your Uncle Ming, a government official in Qinghe Town. He's quite impressive.
You silly kid, encountering such a big thing like a ghost and not telling us. If it weren't for Aunt Liu next door being knowledgeable and noticing something was off with your face and mentioning it to us, your Dad wouldn't have asked Uncle Ming to come. You could have been seriously harmed by that ghost..."
Hee Honghua nagged, hitting his back a few times in frustration, but quickly softened her blows for fear of actually hurting him.
"Thank you, Uncle Ming."
Bai Ziyue broke free from his mother's embrace and looked at the brawny man, curiously asking, "What you used just now, was it Martial Arts? Can it kill ghosts?"
Xu Ming looked at Bai Ziyue in surprise. For a kid who had just gone through such an ordeal, most would have cried in fear, or at least fallen silent. Few would thank him politely and remain calm enough to ask questions.
"It's just some moves, nothing that great.
As for killing ghosts—these little ghosts are actually very weak. People with strong Qi and Blood scare them away. I only gathered my Qi and Blood in my fist, so I could scatter it directly."
Xu Ming smiled, feeling somewhat proud.
Generally, strong Qi and Blood would keep little ghosts at bay, but being able to disperse one with a single punch was no ordinary feat.
"Can I learn martial arts too?"
Bai Ziyue asked eagerly.
Bai Yong's face changed slightly, but he didn't speak.
"Training in martial arts? It's a very tough ordeal, not something the average person can endure."
Xu Ming glanced at Bai Ziyue, whose physique was weak, but he indeed had a certain spiritual quality rarely found in rural children, which was quite valuable.
"No matter how tough it is, it's better than feeling helpless when facing a little ghost like now."
Bai Ziyue's small face was full of seriousness.
"Martial arts should not be transmitted lightly. Even though I am a squad leader at Qinghe Town's dock under the Sunburst Gang, I dare not pass on martial arts privately.
However, I can recommend you to become an apprentice in one of the Sunburst Gang's industries in Qinghe Town, where you'll have the opportunity to learn martial arts."
After pausing, Xu Ming added, "Of course, this is not a small matter for you. You may discuss it first and then contact me."
Saying that, Xu Ming smiled and left directly.
It was already very late. He was originally from Cloud Leaf Village and had a residence here, so he naturally didn't plan to stay long.
...
"Yue'er, do you really want to learn martial arts?"
After a long silence, Bai Yong asked.
Hee Honghua felt reluctant, wanting to refuse, but recalling her son's encounter with the ghost, she could only sigh helplessly.
"I do!"
Bai Ziyue said firmly.
He had lived another life; who would want to die?
If he didn't understand what kind of world this was, it wouldn't be so bad. Now that he knew this place was full of demons and ghosts, strong people everywhere, he naturally felt uneasy.
A little ghost could take a human life, not to mention other entities?
Without skills, how could one survive?
The feeling of helplessness when encountering the little ghost, he no longer wanted to experience.
Because it would really mean death, and it was—very frightening.
...
"Has Yue'er slept?"
In another room, Bai Yong asked.
"Already asleep," Hee Honghua responded, unable to resist asking, "Yue'er wants to learn martial arts, what do you think? I heard the town isn't peaceful either. Many villagers who went to work there over the years haven't returned... And I heard that the Sunburst Gang isn't a safe place either.
Xu Ming's uncle's third son went in and was beaten to death by people there. In those people's eyes, human life is cheap."
"I naturally know.
But what's the solution? Two years ago, Lotus Village, just seven miles away from us, vanished completely.
Five years ago, the mountain village Headhunter Village, except for one fortunate person outside, all died.
Every few years, calamities strike. Who knows if they encountered mountain bandits or something else?
In the town, at least there's the government protecting us, and the Sunburst Gang is strong, somewhat safer.
Our Cloud Leaf Village has no strong person to guard us. What if we encounter a disaster?
That's just the way the world is, what can we do?
Yue'er in the town might be able to find a way out."
Bai Yong, usually quiet, understood well in his heart.
The strongest person in Cloud Leaf Village is Xu Ming, but because he's working in the Sunburst Gang, he seldom returns. If we really encounter mountain bandits or other disasters, the whole village of about a hundred people could be wiped out.
This time Bai Ziyue encountered the ghost, and he couldn't find anyone in the village who dared to take on the matter, so he hurriedly traveled dozens of miles to seek Xu Ming's help.
This was just a little ghost, reportedly the weakest of evil entities.
This time Bai Ziyue was stimulated to learn martial arts, and Xu Ming didn't refuse, agreeing to recommend him. Even though Bai Yong felt reluctant, he thought it might be a good thing.
After all, since the incident with Xu Ming's uncle's third son, he hadn't recommended anyone to the Sunburst Gang for several years.
...
On the other side, Bai Ziyue naturally didn't really fall asleep.
No matter how calm his mind was, suddenly encountering such a supernatural event, it was impossible to sleep soundly.
After dealing with his mother, he opened his eyes.
A wooden wall couldn't block the sound, so he heard every word of his parents' conversation.
"This world is indeed full of perils. A little ghost can take a life, and there are rampant bandits. The incidents with Lotus Village and Headhunter Village probably aren't that simple either.
Only by learning martial arts and strengthening myself can I protect myself and my family."
Bai Ziyue was not a real child; his thoughts were clear, understanding his situation well.
Over the past three days, he had long learned that his parents were just ordinary villagers. His father made a living by farming and occasionally working in the nearby Tian Family Castle, helping with tasks. His mother stayed at home to sew, making shoe soles and selling them in town for a few coins, living in poverty.
He had already thought about making changes and even devised several plans.
But now that he knew this world wasn't as simple as he had imagined, his plans naturally had to change.
"Fortunately, I am not entirely without support."
Bai Ziyue thought, and with a movement of his mind,
a transparent panel appeared before him.
Name: Bai Ziyue
Strength: 0.25 (+)
Speed: 0.32 (+)
Physique: 0.35 (+)
Martial Arts: None
Soul Energy: 15
Although unclear how this panel integrated into his body, what it was, or its special functions?
At least one thing was clear to him.
That having this attribute panel should be enough to give him an edge in this unpredictable world, even, allowing him to establish his believes and soar high.
........
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