Chapter 10: Ordinary people

【Age 21: The Lao Daoist was soul-searchingly brought back to the academy by Tayue.

You and Xiao Hong had a great time playing, and only when the night deepened and you returned home did you realize the Lao Daoist had been waiting for you at the academy for a long time.

Under the night moon, the Lao Daoist was even harder to find. You stood in place, leaning on your cane, while Xiao Hong licked at your feet.

The Lao Daoist who had come looking for you stammered as he shouted, “Senior, senior, could you please show some kindness and return our bell to us? We are willing to pay any price.”

A bell? Your mind, hardened by countless experiences and stuffed full of information, couldn’t recall what bell this was.

Just as you were confused, Disciple Cong Xin suddenly appeared from nowhere and whispered in your ear, “Three years ago, the bell from the scam! The bell!”

You suddenly remembered, and this time your gaze toward the Lao Daoist was different. When you left three years ago, you had hurriedly taken the bell along with you.

It had no particular use when you returned, so you gave it to the disciples as a trinket, but they all disliked it, so it was locked away in the storeroom. It was still there now.

After all, it was the bell from the one who tried to scam you. You sighed a little—such a pity. This old man had stumbled all this way; it wouldn’t do to give him trouble.

“Give him the bell gathering dust in the storeroom,” you said calmly, not noticing the Lao Daoist’s face suddenly turn pale.

“This bell is useless to me, not as good as the teaching hall’s chime. But to you all, it might mean something. Be careful in the future; don’t let unfilial descendants get involved with it.”

The Lao Daoist’s face grew even paler, and his figure bent further.

Cong Xin moved quickly, wrapping the object in a piece of black cloth and handing it to the Lao Daoist, who bowed deeply and left unsteadily. The bright moonlight poured down, illuminating the path he took.

Squinting your eyes, you muttered, “Leaving so late? Let him stay the night.”

Cong Xin quickly tugged your sleeve to stop you. “Master, it’s fine. The path from the academy to town is open. I’ll escort him a bit later.”

Your morality decreased, ***value increased. One can’t help but cheer—your words carried such power, striking directly at people’s hearts!】

Wu You felt deeply moved when he saw the old man saddened by thoughts of unfilial descendants.

But when he saw the evaluation, he couldn’t hold back his frustration, his face fully exposed, “Impossible, absolutely impossible. I sincerely helped a lonely elder, and mercifully returned that scammer’s bell. How could my morality decrease? I am clearly a great good man!”

Wu Dashanren shouted, “I disagree! I want to appeal! This is targeting! I don’t accept this!”

Of course, the Simulator had no appeal option. Wu Dashanren gave up bitterly and resumed staring at the Simulator.

The simulation in the second slot seemed to have reached a turning point.

【Your fate is shifting -】

【Age 16: You slung the Wooden Sword on your back, held the precious sword from the Dao Kou Smithy in your hand, carried your bow, provisions, and silver coins, and stepped onto the journey under the morning light.】

***

The deep night in the Northern Province was bitterly cold. In the silent woods, a flickering flame was lit, tracing a sharp arc before dropping into a pile of firewood.

A young man dressed in coarse linen held his sword, prodding the fire to make it burn brighter. The winter nights in the Northern Province grew dark quickly, loneliness stretching everywhere.

The sky pressed heavily down; being alone here felt like an isolated fortress.

The sword’s scabbard was jet black. Wang Yu set down his sword and leaned against an old tree, folding his arms to sleep.

All around was deadly silent, save for the crackling fire.

In the darkness, a faint crimson glimmer passed by—a delicate embroidered shoe slipped down.

Several greedy eyes fixed on the pale face of the youth by the fire.

A group of sneaky figures drifted past, causing the flames to flicker.

Leading them was a female ghost with half her face covered in burns. Strands of grass tangled in her messy hair mingled with red, blue, and green ribbons woven into a chaotic bun.

Perhaps from the beginning, these were poor colors; now faded and dust-covered, the ribbons took on a weathered white.

The female ghost wore tattered cloth, patched here and there, and tied a similarly colored leather drum to her waist.

She squinted at the young man for a long moment, nodding with quiet admiration. Her gaze struck like thunder at the other ghosts trailing behind.

The ghosts accompanying her were bare-armed, their clothing filthy, hair unkempt, gaunt to the bones. Oddly, their bellies were swollen.

Their greedy eyes watched the youth’s calm profile, saliva dripping uncontrollably onto the ground.

The female ghost nodded with satisfaction and stepped aside. The ghosts surged forward, and the flames flickered again.

Clouds covered the moon, leaving the sky pitch black.

The female ghost, frustrated beyond reason, mimicked knife strikes with her hand, slashing at several ghosts. They clutched their heads, howling silently, revealing the sleeping youth beneath.

The ghosts pointed helplessly at the black sword beside the youth, then at themselves, waving their hands as if pleading.

The female ghost lost patience. After a wild series of gestures, she pointed at the youth and the ghosts, twitching her mouth and pinching a small gap between her thumb and forefinger.

The ghosts hesitated but nodded and closed in again.

The flames flickered lazily.

With serious faces, the ghosts gathered their courage, baring claws and fangs as they prepared to leap.

The youth rolled over.

The female ghost pursed her lips, veins bulging on her forehead. The ghosts trembled behind her, watching the youth cautiously. Seeing he was still sound asleep, they breathed a sigh of relief.

A few sharp cracking sounds rang out.

The ghosts clutched their heads and howled again. The female ghost had lost all patience, grabbing one ghost and pulling it close to the youth.

The embroidered shoe floated in midair as the flames flickered nervously again.

The female ghost glared fiercely at the huddled ghosts, pointing first at her eyes, then at them, signaling them to learn well.

She turned to attack.

At that moment, Wang Yu’s eyes opened. His pupils were pitch black, deep and mysterious in the firelight.

Man and ghost stared at each other.

The female ghost’s expression flickered repeatedly, nervously swallowing.

The fire roared.

Wang Yu used his sword like tongs to poke the firewood, making the flames burn higher.

“You all—who are you?” the youth looked up at the line of silent ghosts.

The female ghost scratched her head, her ribbon dangling at her neck and causing some itch.

Her eyes rolled, then she smiled and said, “Young hero, I’m Suiniang, from a nearby village. We got lost on the way here. The ones beside me are all kinfolk.”

“And you, young hero? Are you here visiting relatives? Are you a cultivator?” she probed.

“Looking for family,” the youth paused. “Just an ordinary person.”

His gaze fixed steadily on the ghosts beside Suiniang.

Suiniang relaxed slightly and followed his gaze. The ghosts’ mouths betrayed them, saliva dripping long and thick, starving and covetous.

She grit her teeth, raised her hand, and snapped, “Uncle Eight! Uncle Nine! Uncle Fourteen! Uncle Twenty-Seven!”

The uncles quickly snapped out of it, their skeletal hands hurriedly wiping drool from their mouths with apologetic smiles. Their speech was stammering, their movements timid, as if unused to seeing strangers.

Suiniang awkwardly said, “These days, food’s scarce, so everyone’s been…”

Wang Yu nodded in understanding, his face cold. He took out some dry food from his waist and handed it over.

Suiniang was stunned, wanting to refuse but the eager eyes of the uncles on both sides made her accept it.

The flames twisted. Suiniang’s face softened in the warm light.

“Young hero, your family is from around here? I know the neighboring villages well—maybe I know them.”

“Maybe.”

“Is it Li Family Village at Dao Kou? Lin Family Fort? Or Zheng Family Wharf by the lake? What’s the surname of the person you’re looking for? By the way, what’s your name, young hero?”

“Wang.”

“I’m Wang Yu.”

“Wang, huh? There are no families named Wang around here. Are you sure you’re in the right place? Tomorrow morning I’ll take you out of this area and you can try elsewhere.”

“We really don’t have any Wangs here!” Suiniang laughed. “But, come to think of it, you don’t talk much. Not used to chatting with people?”

Wang Yu shook his head. “I’m a stutterer.”

Suiniang blinked.

“You’re straightforward. What do you do? You look vigorous, obviously strong in martial arts. How many family members? Are you betrothed? Got kids? Got arranged marriages? I’ll tell you, these kids are hard to raise…”

Suiniang spoke fast like a ghost’s chatter. Wang Yu couldn’t get a word in, so he just shook his head occasionally to respond.

The flames burned lazily. The remaining ghosts carefully tore at the dry food, chewing and swallowing with difficulty.

The night wind brushed by, crossing branches swayed, heavy shadows cast on the ground, on the youth’s straight back and pale face, on Suiniang’s fluttering ribbons, creating a grotesque outline.

“This world is hard… living is hard, and ghosts also…” Suiniang’s voice faltered, then suddenly said, “Young hero, have you heard the legends around here? They say there’s a Meng Gui Night Roam.”

Suiniang’s eyes darkened, heavy with oppression in the dim light. Her pupils, pitch black, slowly rolled, the scars burning on her face especially terrifying.

Wang Yu silently lifted his eyes, his hand resting on the bow beside him.

“Young hero, look at us—”

“Whoosh.”

An arrow shot like a falcon diving, instantly shattering the frozen air, leaving a ripple of displaced wind.

Suiniang’s throat caught, her ribbons swayed, and cold sweat soaked her back in an instant.

“Oh, dear!”

The youth’s expression tightened, releasing the bowstring. Wang Yu stood and drew his precious sword, the cold blade reflecting a dark gleam, casting a long, towering shadow over the forest floor.

He touched the ground lightly on his toes, moving swiftly like a fierce beast, icy killing intent pressing down.

Suiniang scrambled to grab the drum at her waist. The ghosts scattered in panic.

The youth charged into the woods, a sickening sound of muscle tearing echoed suddenly. Some monstrous creature wailed in agony.

The ghosts huddled trembling in one spot, all staring dumbfounded at the overwhelming scene on the ground.

After a moment, the tall youth emerged from the forest, shaking off black blood from his sword and sheathing it.

Wang Yu’s expression was calm as he wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb. It looked less like he had killed a monster in moments and more like he had slaughtered a chicken.

The ghosts nervously wriggled backward. Wang Yu explained, “Bandits. Killed them.”

Suiniang was held back behind the ghosts, her face pale, clutching her drum tightly. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Who exactly are you?”

“Me?”

Wang Yu was momentarily confused, seemingly not understanding why she asked.

He lowered his gaze, his face deep and quiet in the firelight, and said softly, “Just… an ordinary person.”

The ghosts all widened their eyes.

Thinking—You’re lying to ghosts!