Prisoner and Death Warrior

Great Yan Dynasty, Qingzhou Prefecture dungeon.

"You condemned prisoners, do you wish to live?"

In the dim light, a monk in a black robe strode in. Behind him, two jailers with vacant expressions carried a wooden table, on which were placed bowls filled with clear water.

"This is a Spirit Talisman. Kneel and pay homage first. Those with sincere hearts can overcome calamity, and a noble person will change your fate."

As he finished speaking, flames suddenly rose from the monk's left hand. He used the fire to light yellow paper and quickly passed it over each bowl of clear water.

"A divine being, a living god!"

Someone in the prison suddenly shouted. After the first person knelt on the ground, the condemned prisoners in the jail clattered to their knees, all bowing and kowtowing to the black-robed monk.

Su Mu was the only one in the prison who did not kneel.

He did not believe in gods or ghosts. Looking at the bowls of talisman water being brought over, a thought flashed through his mind.

Is that the demon monk Yao Guangxiao in black?

Or is it "The Heavens are Dead, Yellow Heavens Shall Stand"?

Three days later.

A cool breeze arrived, white dew descended, marking the beginning of autumn.

The execution ground exuded a chilling aura. It was time for the autumn executions.

Batch after batch of condemned prisoners, their bowels and bladders emptied, were escorted onto the execution platform. Yet, the condemned prisoners made no sound. The officials of the prefecture, finding it troublesome, had ordered their mouths to be gagged.

According to Great Yan law, if during an execution the public called out "Spare the man!" or the prisoner cried out his innocence, the execution must be halted and the case reinvestigated.

The executioner on the platform, already numb, downed a mouthful of strong liquor and spat it onto the blade. With a swift movement, heads rolled.

Su Mu was escorted onto the execution platform.

He was not actually from this world. In his previous life, he had died in a fire that broke out in his office building while he was going to get some instant noodles. He could have escaped, but he died in the flames while trying to save others.

[Name: Su Mu (12 years old)]
[Lifespan: 35 years]
[Comprehension: 1 (Mediocre)]

Su Mu looked at the attribute panel before his eyes, visible only to him, a hint of helplessness on his face.

He had only been in this world for a few days, and the attribute panel was completely useless. He had been intermittently unconscious from hunger during these past few days.

I might be a contender for the fastest death, the most aggrieved transmigrator.

As his life flashed before his eyes, a shout came from afar, like rumbling thunder.

"Spare the man!"

A troop of armored warriors on horseback galloped forward. The curtain of a luxurious carriage behind them was pulled back slightly, revealing an exceptionally handsome young nobleman in white. His face was pale, and he let out a series of sickly coughs.

Su Mu looked surprised. The noble person mentioned by the black-robed monk who was playing tricks seemed to have truly appeared.

The condemned prisoners who were saved along with Su Mu were taken to a manor.

Inside the manor, several people who looked like physicians were examining them, and there were dedicated personnel responsible for registration.

"My lord, this kid is good."

"Good. From today onwards, you are Jia Thirteen."

So that's how it is.

The black-robed monk who was playing tricks in the prison that day was likely in cahoots with the sickly young nobleman who came to the execution ground. First, they offered talisman water in the prison to change fate, and then they saved people at the execution ground.

Most ancient people believed in gods. These rescued condemned prisoners did not look old, and their minds were likely not yet mature.

In this way, the talisman water would seem effective, and coupled with the life-saving grace, it would be enough to completely brainwash these youths, making all the condemned prisoners feel grateful and believe that all of this was arranged by heaven.

Are they cultivating death warriors, plotting a rebellion?

It seems the Great Yan Dynasty is not a peaceful era.

Su Mu, who had lived two lives, watched all this silently from the corner. But being a death warrior was better than being beheaded on the spot and dying at the execution ground. Besides, rebellion was a matter for the future.

As long as he was alive, everything was still possible.

Soon, a physician came before Su Mu. The physician felt around Su Mu for a moment before shaking his head.

"What poor roots... Ding Shisan."

The condemned prisoners were tested for their roots one by one and divided into four batches: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding.

That night, everyone in the Ding batch had their jaws held and was forced to swallow a thumb-sized black pill. Afterward, Su Mu and everyone else fell into a long slumber.

The sound of heavy rain woke Su Mu. When he woke up, Su Mu felt an unbearable itch all over his body.

"The kid is awake. It's normal to feel itchy on a rainy day. If you don't get the antidote within three months, this itch will worsen and turn into a piercing pain. Soon, you will turn into a pool of pus, wishing you were dead..."

"Ding Shisan, you must remember that your life was saved by the Young Master, and from now on, it belongs only to the Young Master. Now, open your eyes wide and look clearly at this token. The holder of this token will be your future supervisor, and they will be the one to deliver the antidote to you regularly."

"People of Dongbian Village... You're an apprentice blacksmith in Qingshui Town. This is your new identity."

The masked man in the carriage slowly retracted the black iron token carved with a wolf's head. The next second, Su Mu's jaw was gripped, and a pill was forced into his mouth. He then grunted and was knocked unconscious.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

"Tiger Play: Four limbs on the ground, three steps forward, two steps back, stretch the waist, turn the body upwards, then return to walking, seven steps forward and seven steps back."

The body in this life was truly too weak. Fortunately, Su Mu retained the memories of his previous life. In his past life, he was obese, and he learned the Five Animal Frolics from online tutorials.

Later, he received guidance from a white-haired, rosy-cheeked old man in the park and practiced with him for a considerable period. He could now be considered quite familiar with the Five Animal Frolics.

After arriving in the village, Su Mu practiced the Five Animal Frolics every morning and evening. With his experience from his previous life, it wasn't difficult to pick up in this one.

After three months of practice, Su Mu could clearly feel that his body was much better than when he first transmigrated. Although he was still thin, it was due to malnutrition.

There was no pay for being a blacksmith's apprentice. Being able to eat his fill was already good enough. As for eating meat, Su Mu had almost forgotten what it tasted like.

The last time he ate meat was the final meal before his execution in the imperial prison.

Su Mu practiced the Five Animal Frolics, move by move: 13 forms of Tiger Play, 9 forms of Deer Play, 9 forms of Bear Play, 10 forms of Ape Play, and 13 forms of Bird Play.

This body was very frail, so Su Mu practiced very slowly. After completing a full set of the Five Animal Frolics, Su Mu wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He took deep breaths.

With a few breaths, Su Mu's body suddenly trembled. He felt a surge of hot, warm energy generate within him with each breath. This warm current circulated through his limbs and meridians, flowing throughout his body and giving him a feeling of comfort, as if he had just soaked in a hot spring.

Su Mu couldn't help but let out a pleasant sigh.

"Did the Five Animal Frolics break through? But why is the reaction so huge this time?" He had experienced something similar two months ago when he first started the Five Animal Frolics. With a hint of doubt, Su Mu quickly opened his status panel.

[Name: Su Mu (12 years old)]
[Lifespan: 37 years]
[Skill: Five Animal Frolics (Minor Accomplishment 1%)]
[Aptitude: 2 (Average Talent)]

"Huh? ...My lifespan actually increased by two years?"

Su Mu scanned the information on the panel and quickly noticed the change, a look of joy immediately appearing on his face.

"Aptitude isn't set in stone either!"

Su Mu's eyes lit up. He had practiced the Five Animal Frolics for three months, improving from beginner to Minor Accomplishment. Not only had his lifespan increased by two years, but his aptitude had also jumped to Average Talent.

"Could it be that when the skills I've mastered break through, my lifespan and aptitude points will also increase!"

He suddenly realized that his status panel wasn't useless; it actually had great potential, even boundless potential.

Su Mu immediately stretched his limbs and found that after this breakthrough, his body no longer felt so heavy. It had become lighter and more agile, and his coordination had also improved significantly.

"My aptitude has also increased. What does this number '2' mean? Does it mean twice as much as before?"

Still puzzled, Su Mu assumed a stance and began practicing the Five Animal Frolics again.

Tiger Play strengthens the muscles and bones. Su Mu's palms turned into tiger claws, his ten fingers bent and spread like hooks. He brought them from his abdomen to his chest, then suddenly raised them above his head with his palms facing the sky.

Then came the Deer Play that moves through the forest, the Bear Play that shakes trees, the Ape Play that gazes at the moon, and the Bird Play that startles the phoenix...

Tiger Play, Deer Play, Bear Play, Ape Play, Bird Play – after completing the 54 forms in one go, Su Mu could clearly feel the difference. He even discovered some incorrect movements that he hadn't noticed before. In short, performing the set was much easier and more natural than before.

"Incredible. Now, one practice session is roughly equivalent to two previous sessions!"

Facing a doubled cultivation efficiency, Su Mu was astonished. He realized the amazing nature of his "talent." It was like a snowball effect. As long as he practiced diligently in the early stages and lay low, given enough time, the snowball would grow.

It wouldn't take long before he would astonish everyone!

By breaking through his skills, he could continuously increase his lifespan and aptitude. He would gradually surpass all the ancient sages, and one day, Su Mu would become an unprecedented peerless prodigy in this world!

Just then, a light rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.

The pattering raindrops fell on his body, instantly extinguishing the joy in the young man's heart.

Su Mu's expression changed slightly. His body twitched uncontrollably, and he felt as if worms were crawling and gnawing inside him.

"I'll think about the future later."

"I won't forget the life-saving grace, Su Mu. But one thing at a time... The most urgent matter is to find an opportunity to escape my identity as an assassin and deal with the poison in my body."

"Fate must be in my own hands!"