Chapter 1: Waking up in a beauty's embrace

  The sky is dark and gloomy, with thick, black clouds that are densely packed and swirling around. The birds are flapping their thin wings and chirping as they return to their nests. A strong gust of wind suddenly blows up, stirring up a cloud of dust.

  In the distance, a canvas awning was suddenly blown into the sky and disappeared in the wind. Before long, a series of muffled thunderclaps shook the earth. Bolts of lightning as thick as a child's arm flashed across the sky from time to time, tearing through the air with a loud crackling sound, ripping apart the void, and drifting towards the unknown distance.

  Dark clouds gathered rapidly above the town, and large raindrops fell from the sky. The heavy rain poured down on the ground, splashing mud everywhere, with a few strands of crimson blood floating amidst it.

  The weather was so bad, yet there were many people rushing through the rain, shouting and yelling, mixed with the sound of wind and rain, all in a mess. All because Wu Youcai, the son of the town's mayor, had beaten to death a migrant worker from the east, causing a huge stir in the small town.

  The Xiangxi Riverbank Goddess Temple is exactly where the murder took place.

  Half an hour ago, a 17-year-old boy named Donglai was beaten to death by Wu Youcai, the son of the village head. At that time, it was raining heavily and many people were taking shelter in the temple, plus the villagers who came to watch the commotion, making the already cramped Goddess Temple overcrowded.

  A young man leaned against the wall in the corner, his face covered with blood, and he had stopped breathing. The deceased came from the east, his parents died early, and he fled to Xiangxi Town many years ago. He grew up relying on the help of his fellow villagers and eating at different homes. Now, he makes a living by doing odd jobs for various families.

  Donglai was an orphan and a vagabond, with no fixed abode. The dilapidated temple of the River Goddess on the riverbank became his temporary shelter. Today, after finishing work at the Pavilion Master's house, for some unknown reason, Wu Youcai suddenly led a group of people to chase him down. In just a few words, Donglai was brutally beaten and died instantly.

  "The village head and the husband have arrived!"

  The crowd automatically made way for a path, and two people in their fifties came forward side by side.

  Wu Zhong, the head of Xiangxi Pavilion, was the father of Wu Youcai.

  Liang Yuan, a humble official from Xiangxi Town, was in charge of hearing lawsuits and collecting taxes.

  In addition, there is a third elder in charge of education, making three "high officials" in Xiangxi Town.

  "Damn it!" Wu Zhong rushed over with a slap. When he received the news, he was drinking in Liang Yuan's house. As soon as he heard that his son had killed someone, Wu Zhong was so frightened that his face turned pale. As the head of Xiangxi Township, he knew very well that the Qin law was severe and that killing someone would be punished by death! So, at the first moment, he pulled Liang Yuan along to come and investigate, hoping to make a big deal out of nothing, and try to downplay it as much as possible. After all, he was just the head of Xiangxi Township, and Dong was only an unemployed laborer.

  "What's going on?" Wu Zhong's tone was severe, and he had to maintain a certain demeanor in front of everyone. Wu Youcai, who was cowering at the side, trembled with fear, covering his face and retreating to the side.

  In his heart, he was seething with anger and hatred towards that woman. What kind of stupid idea was this? To deliberately pick a fight and frame someone, and what was the result? The person was dead! Donglai had looked so sturdy and strong before, how could one punch kill him?

  His heart was filled with both indignation and fear.

  When asked by his father, he could only answer honestly: "Today, Dong came to deliver the fabric to our home. My wife told him to take it directly to the backyard. Who knew that when this guy left, he actually stole my wife's jade pendant. Fortunately, I discovered it and brought people to chase him to the Temple of the Goddess. Later, a dispute occurred, who would have thought...

  “Brother Dong……” A desperate and sorrowful cry came, a drenched girl squeezed through the crowd and rushed in. Seeing the young man in the pool of blood by the wall, she immediately pounced on him. Her frail body couldn't help but tremble, her pale cheeks unclear whether it was tears or rainwater, dripping constantly. Her mouth slightly open, yet unable to utter a sound.

  "Yu Niang!" The middle-aged woman chased after them and saw this scene, first letting out a long sigh, and then tears fell unintentionally. Dong Lai and Yu Niang had grown up together since childhood, their feelings for each other were deep and obvious to all who saw them. Alas! Everyone present sighed with regret, pitying the young lovers who had been separated by fate, never to meet again.

  After a long time, the girl raised her trembling fingers at Youmo and said loudly: "Don't talk nonsense! Donglai Ge is an honest and kind person, everyone in the town knows that he would never commit theft." Although Donglai Ge has passed away, she will not allow anyone to tarnish his reputation, letting him die without closing his eyes.

  When he saw his father arrive, Wu Youcai's mind was slightly stunned, and the fear in his heart slowed down a bit. He began to calculate how to end this matter. At this time, he was pointed at by a small servant girl and questioned, suddenly feeling very embarrassed, and couldn't help but be slightly angry, "eloquently" saying: "Don't believe it? Look in his bosom, the jade pendant is still there, both human and material evidence are present, how can you deny it?"

  Everyone's eyes fell on Donglai's belly, a greenish tint still visible. Some people couldn't help but believe it a bit and secretly thought: Donglai looks honest, but it turns out he's also doing this kind of thing in secret, really didn't see that coming!

  Wu Youcai immediately puffed out his chest, the jade pendant was something he had personally put there during the fight just now. At this moment, looking at the expressions on everyone's faces, he felt even more confident in his heart, and a hint of complacency appeared on his face.

  "You're talking nonsense, Donglai won't do that." The girl choked back tears as she argued with Wu Youcai.

  "No, the jade pendant is in his arms, how can he deny it?"

  "That's enough!" Wu Youcai's retort was cut off mercilessly by Old Man.

  "Steal a jade pendant and you'll beat him to death?"

  Wu Zhong seemed to be blaming his son, but in fact he was making excuses. If it were true that Dong had stolen and his son had chased after him to retrieve the lost item, leading to a fight, then the blame would be much less. After speaking, he glanced at Liang Yuan, hoping he could help say a few words.

  Liang Yuande's face turned old and wise, how could he not understand? He coughed twice and said: "The thief broke the law, it's up to the authorities to punish him. Even if you had beaten him privately, it would have been wrong. Now that the person is already dead..."

  Following Wu Zhong's meaning, don't show attitude for now.

  Wu Zhong couldn't help but sigh: If it was just an injury, it would be easy to deal with now. Alas! But what if Donglai hadn't died? How great that would be!

  "Donglai Ge, you're awake?" The young girl was excited and shouted loudly, instantly causing a stir of surprise and commotion.

  Wu Zhongxian was shocked at first, and then a smile spread across his face.

  Dong Lai woke up and was reborn, but a heaven-shaking and earth-shattering change had taken place in between.

  At this moment, Donglai was no longer the simple and honest helper he used to be. His body now housed a soul from modern times.

  Yin Xu, a student at a military academy. After completing three months of training, he finally got a vacation. Unfortunately, he encountered a car accident on the highway and the car fell off a 100-meter cliff.

  He thought he was doomed to die, but unexpectedly, heaven gave him another chance to open his eyes. However, the world had completely changed. It wasn't in a broken car or on a hospital bed, but under an old roof, waking up in a beauty's arms. What was going on? Just as Yin Xue was questioning this, many memories that didn't belong to him flooded into his mind.

  Soon, Yin Xu realized that he had crossed over, his soul traversing time and space to be reborn in the body of an ancient youth.

  The young man's name was Donglai, seventeen years old, with no father or mother. Many years ago, he came to Xiangxi Town as a refugee and was taken in by kind-hearted villagers, growing up on the charity of many families. As a child, Donglai was quiet and taciturn, and nobody knew his real name, so he was named Donglai because he came from the east.

  Memories from the East told him that the current monarch was none other than Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of All Ages. The specific year was unclear. Yin Xu couldn't help but feel a little "amused" in his heart. By chance, he had somehow ended up in the Great Qin Dynasty, truly a case of heaven playing tricks on man!

  The place is called Xiangxi Town, under the jurisdiction of Fan County, which was the former land of Chu State, located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Yin Xu inferred from geographical knowledge that it was roughly in the area of Jiangxi Province in later generations, because Fan County City was only a few dozen miles west of Poyang Lake. Wang Bo wrote in "Tengwang Pavilion Preface": "Wild geese cry out in the cold, their voices cut off at the shore of Hengyang; fishing boats sing in the evening, their echoes resounding on the banks of Poyang." Poyang Lake is precisely the famous Poyang Lake of later generations.

  "Why is 'myself' lying here?"

  It turned out that Donglai had come to Tinglei's house to deliver cloth to Mrs. Ma, but unexpectedly stumbled upon Mrs. Ma and Wu Youcai being intimate with each other.

  The son and stepmother are having an affair, which is against human ethics and a great rebellion!

  At that time, Wu Youcai stepped forward and threatened Donglai, not allowing him to leak a single word, otherwise he would retaliate ruthlessly. The simple-minded country boy was immediately silenced like a cicada in winter, and quietly left. Who knew that as soon as he returned to the Goddess Temple where he was staying, Wu Youcai led people to chase after him, claiming that Donglai had stolen something. Before Donglai could even open his mouth to explain, Wu Youcai directly used force, punching and kicking him. In the chaos, Donglai fell down and died inexplicably.

  The typical villain first "tells the story", and Yǐn Xù has already understood the whole thing. Wú Yǒu Cái's move is quite vicious, regardless of whether it can be proven that Dōng Lái stole or not, the goal will still be achieved. At least for now, he has shut Dōng Lái's mouth first, and if in the future Dōng Lái reveals Wú Yǒu Cái's affair with Mǎ Shì, others will only say that he is maliciously slandering and fabricating rumors. Yǐn Xù gives a cold stare, clearly sensing the unease and fear on Wú Yǒu Cái's body.

  "Big Brother Dong!"

  Yin Xu tilted his head, and saw a pure girl, using her sleeve to wipe the blood from her face. The girl's eyebrows were raised in a smile, but tears streamed down her face, clearly overjoyed to the point of tears, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

  "Yu'niang, I'm fine!" Yin Xu knew that this girl's name was Li Yu'niang, the daughter of Li Bozi, the owner of Xiangxi Guest House. She had grown up with Donglai and could be said to have been childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree.

  Wu Youcai stood to one side, his heart feeling somewhat hairy. Just now he had personally gone to investigate and confirmed that Dong Qi was indeed dead. It was at that time that he put the jade pendant into his bosom. But how did he come back to life again? Dead and then revived?

  Not only him, but everyone present was shocked, however, most of the villagers felt that it's good to be alive after all. The woman with the surname Hong on the side also got excited and repeatedly said it was good. At this point, Wu family father and son also thought so, and they both secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  After a burst of chatter, Liang Yuan stepped forward and said: "Donglai's awakening is indeed a fortunate event. Since that's the case, there's no need to bring up Wu Youcai's murder again. As for Donglai's theft... what do you think, Wu Tingzhang?"

  Wu Zhongbao smiled wryly and thought to himself, "Is Liang Yuan passing the buck again?" Logically speaking, his son's safety was the top priority, and all the townspeople were present. It should have been a good thing to see. But if that was the case, wouldn't it be unjust to his son? After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and said, "Donglai, what really happened? Was there some kind of misunderstanding?"

  The bloodstains on his forehead had been wiped clean, and Donglai was helped to stand up by Yuniang, with a cold smile in his heart. Wu Zhong's question was just a way to save face. Given the situation today, it could only be left at that.

  Coughing, Yin Xue said: "Brother You indeed misunderstood, today I accompanied the madam to deliver cloth, the madam said that I often do things for the mansion with sincerity and diligence, so she rewarded me this jade pendant."

  It's his own business, Wu Youcai couldn't help but secretly sigh. This jade pendant was a new purchase of the Ma family, and they were very fond of it. In the chaos, he had accidentally picked it up to frame himself. But now? It seemed that he had lost out on both ends, and when he returned home, he would inevitably receive another scolding.

  It's still fortunate, if that silly kid had spoken bluntly, I'm afraid there would have been a big mess. Anyway, he admitted defeat this time. Wu Youcai gritted his teeth and said, "Most likely so, just the other day when Dong came to deliver grain, I heard Xiaoniang praising him, I must have misunderstood."

  Donglai smiled but not really smiling, thinking to himself: First, let's discuss the medical expenses and then we'll settle the account later. Wu Youcai couldn't help but feel suspicious in his heart - Donglai used to be honest and simple-minded, so why was he being so cunning today? That scoundrel actually swindled me out of a jade pendant; this Japanese noble will definitely find an opportunity to take revenge.

  Her eyes then fell on Yuniang, who was fifteen or sixteen years old. A pair of big watery eyes sparkled like dots of ink, and her skin was as white as jade, tender and delicate beyond compare. A few small freckles here and there did not detract from her beauty, but rather added to it - a case of "a white flower with a few spots being even more beautiful". Her long black hair was coiled up with a jade pin, hanging down naturally behind her back, elegant and gentle. After the rain, the pear blossoms were even more fragrant, and Yuniang's smile was especially charming.

  The wet clothes cling to her body, making her slender figure even more striking. It's really tempting! But then I think of the mare at home and shiver suddenly. Then I think of something else and my heart is on fire.

  Liang Yuan and Wu Zhong exchanged a glance, smiling: "Since that's the case, let's settle it like this! The jade pendant was given by Madam Ma as compensation for medical expenses. I hope you two can put aside your past grievances."

  Yin Xu didn't say anything on the surface, but in his heart, he had already made a plan. He was clear about gratitude and resentment, and repaying kindness and grievances was his principle. Today, being beaten until his head was bleeding, this grievance must be avenged. Looking at Wu Youcai's departing back, Yin Xu coldly smiled to himself: "You little brat, just wait, you'll get what's coming to you!"