“Young Master, here, ah~~~”
A glistening, emerald-green grape was brought to his lips. Gu Wangchen’s pupils focused, staring blankly at the jade-like fingers painted with a delicate pink.
He instinctively opened his mouth. Only when the juicy flesh burst open inside did he come back to his senses.
Turning his head slightly, he felt a soft warmth cradling the back of his head.
What was going on?
He remembered he’d just been dozing off in his early morning philosophy class, lost in a dream of Zhuangzi and butterflies—so how, upon opening his eyes, had he really become a butterfly?
Following the slender hand at his lips, he shifted his gaze and blinked, finally seeing the woman’s appearance clearly.
It was an exquisitely beautiful face, bright and charming. Her black hair was loosely pinned up with a Pear Blossom Hairpin, a few strands hanging beside her slender neck.
Her almond eyes overflowed with gentle obedience, now gazing at him with a hint of affection.
She wore a moon-white embroidered gauze dress that traced her delicate figure, kneeling upright at his bedside, allowing him the luxury of resting his head on her lap.
Gu Wangchen glanced around the room. An Enamel Incense Burner was wafting Beast Incense through the air, sunlight spilling in through the window lattice, bathing the room in a hazy glow.
Seeing all this, he muttered, “Damn, where the hell have I landed? Is this even still in my own country?”
Oh, he understood now. He must have transmigrated into ancient times as a pampered good-for-nothing.
He’d read enough novels—he knew the drill. He was experienced.
At the same time, his own memories surged up, colliding and intertwining with those from before his transmigration.
Once he’d recalled everything, Gu Wangchen spoke: “Xiao Li?”
“Here, Young Master.” The maid, An Li, answered softly.
Gu Wangchen nodded lightly and sat up from An Li’s gentle lap, carefully combing through memories of his past and present lives.
Seeing her young master once again lost in thought as usual, An Li took the chance to slip a small, delicate notebook and a charcoal pencil from her sleeve.
She kept her gaze fixed on Gu Wangchen, quickly jotting notes on the paper:
[Third month, seventh day. Clear skies.]
[Young Master woke at the third quarter of the Chen hour. Status…normal.]
[Already fed him a cluster of fresh grapes; appetite is good.]
[…]
[All as usual. Qing Han-jie, please rest assured.]
Finishing, she swiftly tucked the notebook back up her sleeve, the movement smooth and practiced as if repeated hundreds of times.
After finishing his review of memories, Gu Wangchen turned and said calmly, “That’s enough rest for now, Xiao Li… no, An Li.”
Hearing him call her by her full name, An Li’s demeanor shifted. The gentle softness on her face vanished in an instant. She rose, kneeling on one knee before the soft couch, head bowed: “Master, what are your orders?”
She understood well—whenever her master called her by her full name, it meant their roles had shifted from young master and maid to master and subordinate.
As the maid saved and given new life by her master, she had been trained by Gu Wangchen himself into a Sixth Realm Cultivator.
And a Sixth Realm Cultivator was already a formidable figure, capable of founding their own sect and making a name in the martial world.
So, An Li had long since sworn to dedicate her all to her master.
Her body, her life, even… her soul.
Of course, as long as she did not violate his orders, she would protect her master in her own way.
Even if unacknowledged.
“Mm…”
Gu Wangchen didn’t answer immediately. He rose and walked to the window lattice of the Forgotten Dust Pavilion, gazing out at the distant carved eaves and jade towers, at the tranquil, secluded rock gardens and ponds, unable to help but sigh inwardly.
He must have awakened the memories of his past life.
He, Gu Wangchen, was precisely that mid-stage villain from his previous life’s legendary xianxia RPG, —the First Son of the Gu Family, the top clan of the Da Qian Dynasty.
Yes, the most classic kind of cultivation waste—a tyrannical scoundrel relying on his family background.
In the early story, his job was to shower the True Female Protagonist, Si Kongyue, with coins and experience points, then vanish midway through the story.
And at the very end, after the Empress Regnant ascended the throne and the Gu Family collapsed, he’d appear as an Easter egg in various side quests, only to be kicked to death by the female lead and her companions like a stray dog.
When playing the game in his previous life, he’d always noticed this villain sharing his exact name, feeling that his death was a little too hasty and comical.
Now, having fused both lifetimes’ memories, he realized that his villainy had all been an act!
Not only that, but under his own father’s tacit approval, he’d built up his own secret force and connections, always searching for a way to solve his inability to cultivate.
But in the game, nothing about “Gu Wangchen”—his true self—had ever been revealed. From beginning to end, he was just a real clownish good-for-nothing.
Thinking of this, Gu Wangchen shook his head with a light sigh. Truly, reality could never compare to a game. The iceberg principle was all too appropriate here.
Collecting himself, he checked his own status.
[Name: Gu Wangchen]
[Identity: Gu Family’s First Son, Founder of Cang Ying Lou]
[Realm: First Realm (Qi Nourishment Stage)]
[Techniques: Hao Miao Tai Xuan Jing Heavenly Grade, Superior, Tian Di Jiao Gan Jing Heavenly Grade, Intermediate]
[Special: ???]
[Heavenly Mandate Value: -99]
[Note: Heavenly Mandate Value is too low. Unable to cultivate (Current cultivation efficiency: 0%)]
Seeing this, Gu Wangchen’s heart sank.
So it was as he’d expected—his inability to cultivate wasn’t due to some crippled body, but because his Heavenly Mandate Value was too low. It was a requirement of the plot, a rule set by the world.
“Damn it…”
Gu Wangchen cursed inwardly, furrowing his brow in silence.
No wonder he could never find the reason for his inability to cultivate—it was the malice of fate itself.
But since he had awakened his past memories and this status panel, it meant… Heaven hadn’t abandoned him.
As long as he could find a way to raise his Heavenly Mandate Value, he could set foot on the path of cultivation again, and change his fate as a roadkill nobody.
Moreover, if a low Heavenly Mandate Value prevented cultivation, then raising it—could it actually help him cultivate?
It should.
[Note: To reverse your destined fate and alter the world’s trajectory is the only way to increase your Heavenly Mandate Value.]
Oh?
Reading the panel’s prompt, Gu Wangchen smiled.
Just as he thought—since the panel showed a Heavenly Mandate Value, there had to be a way to raise it. And that way…
Was to change the original story!
It seemed that passively withdrawing and hiding away in some remote mountain, far from Sheng An City, was not an option. He would have to use his knowledge of the plot to reverse his destiny, and thus, his inevitable doom.
Thinking of this, he sat back on the cloud couch and asked, “An Li, how is the scenery at Ba Bridge, outside the east gate of Sheng An City, today?”
An Li hesitated a moment, puzzled by his question, but answered honestly: “Reporting to Master, today the clouds are bright and the air clear, the river is sparkling. Upon Ba Bridge… it is perfect for fishing.”
She remembered then that her master seemed to enjoy angling.
“Good. Send someone to prepare the horses. At noon today… Ba Bridge, Guan Lan, fishing.”
Riding in the Zi Lacquer Flow-patterned Nanmu Carriage, Gu Wangchen lounged on the soft couch. Accepting a steaming cup of Yunding Xueya from An Li, he sipped and smacked his lips.
“An Li, in a while, send a few people to block off Ba Bridge completely. Don’t let anyone cross. No disturbances allowed.”
An Li nodded. “Yes, Master.”
Setting down his teacup, Gu Wangchen lifted the pearl curtain and, feeling the sun’s warmth on his face, narrowed his eyes and began to plan.
Besides his inability to cultivate, the other decisive factor leading to his tragic fate in the original plot was the major turning point: “the Empress Regnant’s ascension and the Gu Family’s fall.”
As the First Family, with his father serving as Imperial Chancellor and wielding absolute power, the Gu Family should have been “too big to fail.” By rights, there was no way a newly crowned emperor could uproot them completely.
But in the story, that was exactly what the Empress Regnant—now Crown Princess Li Zhaoning—accomplished in the late stages.
“Crown Princess Li Zhaoning, True Female Protagonist Si Kongyue,” Gu Wangchen tapped his finger on the armrest, muttering, “What a perfect duo.”
As the destined female lead, Si Kongyue could tip the scales of victory to whomever she aided.
Don’t ask why—the answer is always protagonist’s aura.
Obviously, given her character, helping the rightful Crown Princess to deal with the regent empress dowager and the decaying noble clans was Si Kongyue’s inevitable choice.
And all of this would begin with today’s Ba Bridge.
“Today is the seventh of the third month. If I remember right… Si Kongyue will arrive at Ba Bridge around noon, coincidentally meeting and saving a messenger, using that opportunity to connect with Crown Princess Li Zhaoning.”
“In other words, as long as I intercept her and seize that messenger first, not only can I sever the connection between the two, but I’ll have a bargaining chip against Li Zhaoning.”
Thinking this, he glanced at the quietly seated An Li, leaned down, and whispered, “An Li, personally select a few of Cang Ying Lou’s best to secretly keep watch near Ba Bridge.”
“If you spot a messenger being hunted, save him immediately. Ensure both his safety and the secret letter on him, and bring him to a guest room in the Forgotten Dust Pavilion.”
“At the same time, do it all in secret. Let no one notice. Use fireworks as a signal—understood?”
“Yes, Master.”
With everything arranged, Gu Wangchen lifted his teacup again, savoring the fragrant tea.
Time was tight—this was all he could prepare. The rest would depend on how he played it out.
Collecting his thoughts, he stretched, and as the carriage rolled through the towering walls of Sheng An City, his gaze fell on the grand bridge drawing nearer and nearer. He couldn’t help but smile:
“Today… Ba Bridge is closed.”