What was licking my face? Wasn't I dead? Guo Jianjun did not believe in things like the underworld; his first thought was that he had not died. He desperately forced open his heavy eyelids. Brilliant sunlight filtered through the branches overhead, dazzlingly bright.
I really wasn't dead! That was his first thought upon opening his eyes. A huge red tongue swayed back and forth before him. His eyes shifted, and a dog's head was right in front of him—a Big Yellow Dog.
Seeing that he had awakened, the dog began jumping about with unusual excitement.
Guo Jianjun froze slightly, then immediately felt how weak his body was. He struggled to prop himself up with his hands, but before he could sit fully upright, his arm gave way and he crashed back down. Fuck! This is hunger. Guo Jianjun had undergone wilderness survival training in the army and was familiar with this feeling. But for his body to be this weak, he was not far from death. Panic seized him at once. He had barely survived the government's hands, only to end up starving to death.
Damn it! How long did I sleep? How did I get this hungry? Guo Jianjun knew perfectly well that his present condition meant his body's vital signs were in grave danger. A bowl of sugar water would have been ideal; it could quickly restore some of his strength. But that was clearly impossible under the circumstances.
What was he supposed to do? He could not just sit here and wait to die! He needed food. He surveyed his surroundings, nearly racking his brains apart, but could think of no solution. Seeing that he had gone still again, the Big Yellow Dog came over, panting.
I've got it—dog blood is a powerful tonic! Just the thing to restore my strength. With a target in mind, Guo Jianjun prepared to act. Staying alive mattered more than anything. His hand groped around the ground until it found a stone, which he gripped tightly.
Judging by the dog's manner, it seemed very familiar with him, though Guo Jianjun did not know it. What came to mind was that to beat a dog, one struck its nose—one hit, one sure kill. He had experience with that. His hand slowly slipped around the dog's neck. The Big Yellow Dog was completely unsuspecting, seemingly even happy, its tail wagging merrily.
"Awoo... Awoo..." The Big Yellow Dog suddenly let out a miserable howl. Guo Jianjun unleashed all the strength he had gathered for so long through the stone in his hand, smashing it into the dog's nose beneath his arm. Drained of all strength, he collapsed. After breaking free, the Big Yellow Dog thrashed about for quite some time before slowly lying still, its breath gone. Its eyes stared fixedly at the man before it, as though it could not believe it.
After resting for a while, Guo Jianjun desperately crawled over and clamped his teeth around the dog's neck, biting wildly. He did not care how unbearable the dog hair in his mouth was. After gnawing open its neck with all his might, a fishy, rank, faintly salty liquid flowed into his mouth, and he gulped it down into his belly.
He let out a satisfied burp and sighed in relief. Rolling over, Guo Jianjun rested his head against the Big Yellow Dog's corpse. Not long after the dog blood entered his stomach, a wave of scorching heat began spreading through his limbs and bones. He knew it was working. Lying there, Guo Jianjun pondered what exactly had happened as he quietly waited for his strength to return.
The scene of his execution was still vivid before his eyes. It seemed he had been struck by lightning, yet fate had been kind—he had clearly not been killed by it. But how had he ended up here? There was no reason for the executioners to simply let him go. The day before sentencing, personnel from a certain state agency had told him in no uncertain terms that he was dead this time; otherwise, there would be no way to answer to international public opinion.
After thinking it over, one possibility seemed worth suspecting. Perhaps some brother from the underworld had stormed the execution ground. That took guts, that took nerve. Damn it, if you're saving someone, save him to the end. Why dump me here? What kind of trick is this? I nearly starved to death. Still, he owed them a tremendous debt of gratitude. No matter. Surviving was what mattered. He still had several hundred million in Swiss Bank deposits; he could repay this favor someday. Hah! This place is not somewhere I can remain for long. First, find somewhere safe to hide.
He clenched his fists. Though his strength had not fully returned, he should have enough to walk. He swayed as he rose to his feet. Where the hell is this? Guo Jianjun looked around and immediately went blank. Directly ahead of the woods, neither too near nor too far, stood an ancient city wall. He could vaguely see people entering and leaving through the city gate. Strangely, some were even riding horses in and out. He could not help muttering, "Are they filming a movie? Did I somehow end up at Hengdian World Studios? Which brother from the underworld did this? He actually had the means to bring me this far? I wonder if it's safe here."
Carrying a string of doubts, the weak Guo Jianjun slowly headed out of the woods. He had not gone far when he stopped to lean against a tree and rest. Rustling sounds came from behind him. Turning around, he saw an old woodcutter emerge from the woods with a load of firewood on his shoulder. Guo Jianjun could not help laughing. That makeup is pretty convincing. So they really are filming a movie.
The old woodcutter paid no attention to the man ahead and continued on with his firewood. As he passed Guo Jianjun, he raised his head for a glance. He had just gone by when he abruptly stopped, the pole on his shoulder slipping to the ground. Turning around, he looked at Guo Jianjun in delighted surprise.
Damn! This old fellow seems to recognize me. Did they issue a nationwide wanted notice? Guo Jianjun was greatly alarmed. Then, in the blink of an eye, evil sprang from the edge of his courage. Looks like I'll have to kill him to silence him. Otherwise, with my current strength, it'll be hard to escape.
But the old woodcutter called out to Guo Jianjun with a face full of delight, "Young Master Yue! Why are you here? Where have you been all this time? Master Yue has been sending people everywhere to look for you!"
Heh heh! Pretending to mistake me for someone else! This dead old man really has ill intentions. He actually dares pull this on me, taking me for some rookie fresh out of the gate? Then don't blame me for showing no mercy! Guo Jianjun watched the woodcutter approach with a cold sneer, his fist slowly tightening.
The old woodcutter called enthusiastically, "Young Master Yue! Come back with me quickly! Master Yue is worried sick!"
This old fellow is really putting on a convincing act. No wonder he's an actor. He even dares call me Young Master Yue! As Guo Jianjun watched him draw near, killing intent had just arisen when his mind suddenly boomed. The words "Young Master Yue" circled through his head, and he fainted to the ground.
While unconscious, everything concerning Young Master Yue, past and present, kept appearing in his mind as though a movie were playing. By the time Guo Jianjun opened his eyes again, he was already lying on a soft bed. Before him stood a girl with maidservant braids, looking at him. She was so familiar that Guo Jianjun could call out her name at once.
The instant the girl saw Guo Jianjun awake, she cried out in delight, "Master! Madam! Young Master is awake!" As she shouted, she ran outside.
Damn it! That voice is familiar too. Guo Jianjun wanted to cry. He was no fool. Combining what had happened before and after, along with the extra memories in his head, he recalled something utterly absurd—something he had seen countless times in webnovels... Guo Jianjun really had died. He had transmigrated. If he was not mistaken, his name was now Yue Qianchou. This should be the residence of Yue Changgui, the wealthiest merchant in Swallow City.
"Chou'er!" Before she even arrived, a woman's voice came from outside the door. A burst of hurried footsteps followed.
That was his mother's voice. Guo Jianjun knew who it was from the sound alone. The image of a kindly woman appeared in his mind, perfectly matching the noblewoman who had walked to the bedside. Beside her, a plump middle-aged man watched him with concern.
That was his old man. The last trace of doubt in Guo Jianjun's mind vanished, and he was left completely speechless. His blank gaze swept over the crowd surrounding the bed before settling on one young man among them. If Guo Jianjun had not mistaken him, this man was his cousin. Recalling a scene from the memories in his mind, Guo Jianjun narrowed his eyes slightly, and a flash of cold light passed through them.
Before you continue