That Year, I Had My Hands in My Pockets

"From now on, you are Dongfang Xuan. Inherit my will and live on."

The white-haired, white-robed young man spoke lifelessly, his eyes dull and devoid of vitality.

Only then did you realize that you had transmigrated, and into a fantasy world at that.

In your previous life, you had merely wanted to show off. When you saw a female classmate cornered in an alley, on the verge of losing her innocence, you had stood there with your hands in your pockets, not knowing what an opponent was.

In the end, you traded your life for that beautiful girl's chance to escape, while you were beaten to death in that dark alley.

Then you saw this scene. At first, you did not believe it, but now that even speaking took effort, you had no choice but to believe it →_→

Sigh~~~ Dongfang Xuan it was, then. As for inheriting someone's will, forget it.

"Little Xuan, you must remember this: if a person lives a lifetime without slaying a God, that just won't do!

"Hahaha! Your master once tried, but failed. I hope you can inherit my wish and become one of the Emperor Realm Experts of this continent."

"Your master is nearly finished, but do not worry. You are an existence I created with fate and Dao arts. You were born as a supreme being capable of looking down upon your peers. Your master will send you out of this desert now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the white-haired young man turned into strands of light, carrying you into the sky and flying toward the center of the continent.

At the same time, a burly blacksmith arrived in Sacred Soul Village, a remote village in a distant town within the Balak Kingdom, carrying a child with him.

Village Chief Old Jack could not bear to turn them away, so he allowed them to stay in the village. Fortunately, the burly man knew how to forge, so they were not freeloading.

And you were brought by the real Dongfang Xuan to the side of the person with the strongest fortune—baby Tang San.

That year, you descended from the heavens, every inch of you radiating mystery and eeriness.

Even that burly man could not help but sink into thought upon seeing you.

Fortunately, Old Jack ultimately took you home.

You spoke at one year old, began planning ahead at two, and started helping the villagers repair houses, plant crops, and till fields at three.

Not only had the villagers' favorability toward you exploded, they had even begun considering giving birth to a child bride for you in the future, tying you down as a live-in son-in-law!

Every morning, you were either raising the villagers' favorability or acting cute to amuse the adults. Only at night did you have time to learn about this world.

"Yep, that's right. This is actually Douluo Continent. Sigh~~~ What am I supposed to do now!

"Tang Hao must already have his eye on me. I wonder whether that's a blessing or a curse."

Dongfang Xuan sat in the middle of the village, looking down at it all as he spoke helplessly.

"Looks like I need to leave first. Only by improving my strength will I have the confidence to face those powerful people. Besides, the place I most want to join is there."

Dongfang Xuan made his decision.

When Dongfang Xuan was four years old, he packed up his belongings along with everything he had prepared over the past few years and left Sacred Soul Village early one morning.

When Village Chief Jack saw the letter you had left behind that day, he nearly dropped dead on the spot.

The villagers were also filled with complicated emotions as they searched nearby areas and Luoding City for any trace of you.

To avoid the undercurrents surging through the Tiandou Empire, your first destination was the Star Luo Empire.

But the travel expenses alone left you completely broke, without even a single coin remaining.

"I never expected crossing a border to cost this much. Still, it's a good thing I haven't wasted these past years."

The corners of Dongfang Xuan's lips rose slightly.

"Let me show you what modern business sense looks like."

Dongfang Xuan strode confidently toward Star Luo Imperial City.

"Boss, would you be interested in working with my family?

"I think your flatbread sells well. How about this? I'll give you my family's secret recipe, and you can make it according to the method written here. When we make money, we split it sixty-forty—you take sixty, I take forty. How does that sound?"

Four-year-old Dongfang Xuan, dressed in coarse hemp clothes, looked up and handed the flatbread shop owner a slip of paper as he spoke in a childish voice.

"This..."

The flatbread shop owner could not help hesitating when he saw Dongfang Xuan's confidence.

After all, anyone could tell from his appearance that this child had only just been weaned. How could he possibly understand business?

The shop owner took the paper and casually glanced at it.

"Oh my! Hehe. Little boss, please forgive my earlier discourtesy. I accept the partnership you proposed."

The shop owner spoke excitedly as he kissed the paper again and again.

"I have one more condition. The sixty percent profit isn't all for you. You need to set aside ten percent to take in unemployed commoners and have them work for you."

Dongfang Xuan spoke with a serious expression.

"Understood! Little boss, this is what they call expanding the market, right? I agree."

The shop owner agreed readily.

After that, you visited several more small shops in various trades and reached partnerships with all of them.

Within a year, you had made a fortune. Not only that, legends of a genius youth began spreading throughout Star Luo Imperial City.

Because you kept an extremely low profile whenever you went out, no one knew your name. They could only draw several portraits based on their impressions of you.

These matters eventually reached both the Star Luo Dai Family and the Zhu Family.

"Still no sign of him? That little genius is an exceedingly rare talent!"

Dai Tianwei asked.

"No. He acts discreetly and properly. The people all think highly of him, yet no one truly understands this child. They only know that he has a shop in the city.

"But that is probably false as well."

Consort Zhu stood behind Dai Tianwei, kneading his shoulders as she spoke.

"Sigh~~~ Forget it. By the way, don't take Zhuqing's matter too much to heart. They never had much chance of winning to begin with, and Mubai has already run away."

Dai Tianwei said.

"Mm."

Consort Zhu said nothing more and simply continued kneading his shoulders.

Meanwhile, within the Star Luo Zhu Family.

"Little Xuan, Little Xuan, where are you hiding?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked as she searched around the large room.

"Hehe, take a guess~(￣▽￣~)~"

Dongfang Xuan answered in an especially childish tone.

"Hehe! Found you, you little brat. You always hide in my wardrobe. Don't you know boys aren't supposed to touch a girl's wardrobe whenever they want?"

Zhu Zhuqing raised her delicate hand and rubbed Dongfang Xuan's head irritably.

"You're different. All the clothes in your wardrobe look the same anyway. Alright, Zhuqing, I came to see you today because there's something important I need to tell you."

Dongfang Xuan said seriously.

"Then say it, Little Xuan! Hurry up and get out of my wardrobe, or I won't talk to you anymore."

Zhu Zhuqing said as she grabbed your hand and pulled hard.

She pulled too hard, and you fell directly onto Zhu Zhuqing. Fortunately, there was a soft bed beneath you, so neither of you was hurt.

"Zhuqing, I think it's time for me to leave.

"I've been very happy to know you this past year. Once I have the strength in the future, I'll definitely help you overturn these rules that make you unhappy."

Dongfang Xuan spoke with a resolute gaze.

"Mm. I believe you, but can you tell me where I can find you in the future?

"If you don't, I won't let you leave."

Zhu Zhuqing turned her face away shyly, speaking in a soft, sweet voice from beneath you.

Only then did Dongfang Xuan notice and hurriedly got up.

"Spirit Hall."

Dongfang Xuan said.

Over the past year, Dongfang Xuan had been quietly doing business, but he accidentally encountered a member of the Zhu Family disguised as a small merchant and was subsequently brought back to the Zhu Family.

At the time, you were terrified out of your mind and could only work hard every day to raise the favorability of everyone in the household.

You even pampered the Zhu Family's dog like an emperor.

You persisted for half a year and successfully got everyone in the Zhu Family to keep your secret, ensuring they did not hand you over to the Star Luo Dai Family.

Even Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun, who had initially treated you coldly, had become people you could talk to about anything.

You promised them that once you had strength in the future, you would overthrow the shackles binding them and let them feel the warmth of family once more.

Both girls were deeply moved, and you had even maxed out their favorability. Naturally, there was no need to remain any longer. After all, even if you wanted to leave now, they would not stop you.