Xue Gaibao was Yue Qianchou's cousin, the only son of Yue Qianchou's mother's elder brother. The Xue Family had once been wealthy and powerful, and Yue Changgui had risen to prosperity by marrying a daughter of the Xue Family. A few years ago, the Xue Family offended the authorities and was crushed until their family was destroyed. Only the lone seedling Xue Gaibao remained, and he went to seek refuge with his aunt Xue Erniang—Yue Qianchou's mother. As for this nephew's arrival, firstly, he was close kin; secondly, the Yue Family owed the Xue Family gratitude. Thus, they treated Xue Gaibao as a son as well.
Half a month ago, Xue Gaibao invited his cousin Yue Qianchou on an outing, only for them to run into kidnappers. The former escaped, while the latter was taken. After Yue Qianchou was seized and brought to the bandits' mountain stronghold, he learned from a minor leader that this kidnapping had been a scheme jointly plotted by his cousin and the bandits. Locked inside the stronghold's horse pen, Yue Qianchou had refused to believe it at first. It was not until he accidentally witnessed his cousin arriving at the stronghold with his own eyes that he believed it.
He was lucky to have survived. On the very day his cousin came to the stronghold, the Big Yellow Dog he had raised actually followed his scent to find him. After biting through the ropes binding him, man and dog fled through the desolate mountains and wilderness. Fortunately, the Big Yellow Dog knew the way. After more than three days of escape, they finally reached the outskirts of Swallow City. Just when he was about to make it home, Young Master Yue, starving and exhausted, could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.
After Guo Jianjun died, no one knew why, but he possessed the unconscious Yue Qianchou. When he woke, he did not recognize that dog at all! In order to survive, he slaughtered it. That Big Yellow Dog had saved its master's life twice, yet it died with some resentment still in its heart.
Until the moment he collapsed, that Young Master could not understand why his cousin wanted to harm him. He could not understand, but that did not mean Guo Jianjun could not. Yue Qianchou was the Yue Family's only son. Once the only son died, the family fortune would naturally fall into this nephew's pocket.
A trace of gloom flashed across Xue Gaibao's face, but he quickly concealed it and gave Guo Jianjun a kindly smile. Oh, no, he should be called Yue Qianchou now.
That dogshit bastard. Looks like he still hasn't given up on killing me! If he gets me killed again, then all those years I spent as a big brother will have been for nothing. Ungrateful bastard—just wait and see how I deal with you, Yue Qianchou cursed inwardly.
The doctor came. After taking his pulse, he explained that his body was merely still a little weak and there was nothing seriously wrong with him. A few days of recuperation would set him right.
After all the fuss, only the maidservant who attended him remained in the room. Yue Qianchou said nothing. His mind was still somewhat chaotic, with two sets of thoughts constantly tumbling back and forth. He needed to sort them out properly.
After piecing things together for a while, Yue Qianchou finally understood the ancient attire filling his vision. By the standards of his previous life, this place was ancient times through and through. Yet aside from the language and writing, this ancient era did not belong to any dynasty he knew. He had no idea what godforsaken place he had transmigrated to. He only knew that it was called the Huaxia Empire. Judging from the meaning of the name as he understood it from his previous life, it was still acceptable.
In any case, the customs, way of life, and local character here were no different from ancient China in his previous life.
Yue Qianchou was delighted. He had read plenty of transmigration novels online in his previous life, and their protagonists all lived it up magnificently. Should he also try usurping the throne for fun? If that did not work, wielding power over the whole realm would not be a bad choice either. But after thinking it over, he gave up on the idea. Politics was too terrifying, too exhausting. He had been fortunate enough to get a taste of it in his previous life, failed to play the game well, and now look—he had died and ended up here.
From Yue Qianchou's memories, he discovered in astonishment that immortals truly existed in this world, and it was common knowledge to everyone. Yue Qianchou himself had even seen one.
There was one scene like this: one day, while out sightseeing, he wandered into a place of green mountains and clear waters and discovered a Peerless Beauty with a sword on her back washing her cascade of black hair by a mountain spring. When the Peerless Beauty noticed Yue Qianchou, she gave a cold snort. Her graceful figure rose, her white robes gleaming like snow. A longsword sprang out behind her back, and the beauty stepped onto it, transforming into a streak of light as she departed. That peerless face lingered in Yue Qianchou's mind for a long, long time.
Now, lying in bed, Yue Qianchou kept reliving that scene. He had to admit that that girl was absolutely stunning. In his previous life, he had seen all the beauties under heaven, including quite a few blondes, but not a single one could compare to that immortal sister.
Yet she was visible but beyond reach! To behold such beauty and not taste her fragrant loveliness was no way for a true man to live. Yue Qianchou thought until his heart felt as though it had been carved by knives, then cried mournfully, "Damn it!"
The maidservant Qingcao in the room heard her young master cry out and hurried over to ask, "Young Master! Are you thirsty? This servant will pour you some water."
Yue Qianchou rolled his eyes. This maidservant's comprehension was far too poor—she had heard "damn it" as "I'm thirsty." Then he understood. This era did not yet have that phrase. With no other choice, when Qingcao brought him a cup of water and wrapped her slender arm around him, he still took a sip. A faint, maidenly fragrance drifted into his nostrils. He glanced at Qingcao and thought, There is one good thing about this place. Things that were nearly extinct in my previous life are plentiful here—truly plentiful!
Suddenly, another problem occurred to him. Did that peerless beauty already belong to someone? With beauty like that, there were surely countless people coveting her! It was over, completely over. Their statuses were so far apart—he had no hope at all! Sooner or later, she would fall into someone else's hands. How could that do?
Zhao Wuchou, who had just been lying in bed looking half dead, was suddenly frantic inside and sprang upright. Qingcao was startled and hurriedly came over to support him, asking, "Young Master! What are you doing?" How could she know that her young master had already made up his mind to cultivate immortality in this life?
"Alas!" Yue Qianchou let out a long sigh and lay back down. His heart went cold as he thought, Where am I supposed to cultivate immortality? I do not have the slightest clue. By the time I truly become an immortal, the good cabbage will already have been rooted up by pigs. Can cabbage thrown into a pigsty still be expected to wait for everyone to compete over it? To see who can root it up first?
Just as his heart and liver were being torn apart, Xue Gaibao entered carrying a small bowl. Qingcao hurriedly took it from him. The moment Yue Qianchou saw that fellow, he became alert. Xue Gaibao sat by the bed, took his hand, shook his head, and smiled bitterly. "Cousin, it is all your cousin's fault. If I had not invited you out that day, we would not have run into kidnappers, and you would not have suffered so much. Thank heavens you returned safely. Otherwise, your cousin would have felt guilty for the rest of his life and would never again have had the face to see Uncle and Aunt."
Motherfucker, you bastard. A cat crying over a mouse—fake mercy. You think I'm really that little idiot Yue Qianchou? After cursing inwardly, Yue Qianchou forced a smile onto his face. "This cannot be blamed on Cousin. Do not take it to heart, Cousin. What is past is past. Let us just say I had bad luck." Though he said that aloud, he added inwardly, You were unlucky to run into me. Once my body recovers, I'll slaughter you immediately. Keeping you around me would be like thinking my life is too long.
"If Cousin can think that way, then there is nothing more for me to say." As he spoke, he wiped away two tears from the corners of his eyes, took the small bowl from Qingcao's hand, and said, "I personally cooked this chicken soup. Let it be an apology to calm Cousin's fright. Come, Qingcao, help Cousin sit up. I will feed him myself."
Just as Qingcao agreed, Yue Qianchou hurriedly stopped her. With a solemn expression, he said, "Cousin! We said the matter is over. What do you mean by this? A gentleman keeps far from the kitchen. If you personally cook something for me to eat, are you trying to make me spend the rest of my life unable to find peace of mind? How could I possibly drink this chicken soup?"
"This..." Xue Gaibao had just begun to explain when Yue Qianchou hurriedly said, "Cousin, say no more. I absolutely will not drink this chicken soup. Qingcao, see Cousin out." Having said that, he turned over with his back to the two of them, putting on an angry appearance.
Xue Gaibao froze. He had not expected his cousin, who had always obeyed his every word, to be so firm today. Unease rose in his heart. Had Yue Qianchou discovered what he had done? But on second thought, that seemed impossible. He had handled the matter flawlessly; there should have been no way for it to be discovered. His expression eased slightly as he said awkwardly, "Since that is the case, Cousin, I will leave first. Rest well."
After he left, Yue Qianchou turned back over and looked at the small bowl on the table. You think I would dare eat something you brought me? That would be courting death. Who knows whether you poisoned it? No, I need to get rid of him as soon as possible. Living every day on tenterhooks is no way to live.
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