Great Yan Dynasty, Qingzhou Prefecture Prison.
"Death row prisoners, do you want to live?"
In the dim light, a black-robed monk strode in. Two dazed-looking guards carried a wooden table behind him. It was covered with bowls of clear water.
"This is a Spirit Talisman. Kneel and bow before it. Those whose hearts are sincere can overcome disaster, and a benefactor will change their fate."
As he finished speaking, flames suddenly rose from the monk's left hand. He used them to light Yellow Talisman Paper, then quickly dipped it into each bowl of water.
"An immortal! A living immortal!"
Someone suddenly shouted from within the prison. The first man fell to his knees, and then the prisoners dropped down in a clatter, 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 carried in, a thought flashed through his mind.
"The black-robed demon monk, Yao Guangxiao?"
"Or is it 'Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise'?"
Three days later.
The cool winds came, the white dew fell, and autumn began.
A grim air hung over the execution ground. The time had come for the autumn executions.
Batch after batch of death row prisoners were dragged onto the platform, pissing and shitting themselves. Not one of them made a sound. The officials in the prefecture, finding it troublesome, had ordered their mouths stuffed shut.
According to Great Yan law, if the crowd called out "Spare him!" during a beheading, or if the prisoner cried out that he was innocent, the execution had to be stopped and the case investigated again.
The executioner, already numb to it all, took a mouthful of strong liquor and sprayed it over the blade. His arm rose and fell. Heads rolled.
Su Mu was led onto the execution platform.
He was not originally from this world. In his previous life, while working overtime, he had gone to make himself a cup of instant noodles when the office building caught fire. He could have escaped alive, but had died in the flames trying to save someone.
[Name: Su Mu (12 years old)]
[Lifespan: 35 years]
[Comprehension: 1 (Unremarkable)]
Su Mu looked at the status panel that only he could see, a helpless expression on his face.
He had only arrived in this world a few days ago. The status panel had been no use to him at all, and over the past few days, hunger had repeatedly left him unconscious.
"I must be the fastest-dead and most miserable transmigrator ever."
Just as his life flashed before his eyes, a shout rang out in the distance, rumbling like thunder.
"Spare him!"
A squad of armored soldiers galloped over on tall horses. Behind them, the curtain of a luxurious carriage lifted at one corner, revealing an exceptionally handsome young nobleman in white. His face was pale, and he coughed repeatedly with a sickly air.
Su Mu looked on in astonishment. The benefactor the black-robed monk had spoken of seemed to have really appeared.
The death row prisoners rescued alongside Su Mu were taken to a manor.
Several people who looked like physicians examined them, while others registered their names and details.
"My lord, this boy looks good."
"Fine. From today onward, you are Jia Thirteen."
So that was it.
The black-robed monk who had performed his tricks in the prison was probably in league with the sickly young nobleman who had come to the execution ground that day. First, he had used talk of talisman water changing their fates to work on the prisoners in the imperial prison, then he had rescued them at the execution ground.
Most people in ancient times believed in the gods. The rescued prisoners all seemed fairly young, and most likely their minds were not yet fully mature.
The talisman water's supposed efficacy, combined with the debt of having their lives saved, would be enough to thoroughly brainwash these boys. The prisoners would be grateful and believe it was all Heaven's will.
Were they training death soldiers, plotting rebellion?
It seemed this Great Yan Dynasty was not a peaceful place.
In the corner, Su Mu, who had lived two lives, silently watched it all. But being a death soldier was still better than having his head chopped off on the spot at the execution ground. Besides, rebellion was a concern for later.
As long as he was still alive, there was always a chance.
Soon, a physician came to Su Mu. After feeling him up and down, the physician shook his head.
"Terrible bones... Ding Thirteen."
The prisoners were examined one by one and divided into four groups: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding.
That night, everyone in the Ding group had their jaws pried open and was forced to swallow a black pill about the size of a thumb. Afterward, Su Mu and the others fell into a prolonged coma.
The patter of heavy rain woke Su Mu. When he came to, his whole body itched unbearably.
"Awake, boy? It's normal to itch on rainy days. If you don't get the antidote within three months, the itching will worsen and turn into a pain that bores into your heart. Before long, you'll become a puddle of pus, wishing you were dead..."
"Ding Thirteen, remember this: your life was saved by the Young Master, and from now on it belongs only to him. Now open your eyes wide and look at this token. The one who holds it will be your handler. He'll bring you the antidote regularly."
"Your new identity is a resident of Dongbian Village and an apprentice at a blacksmith shop in Qingshui Town."
The voice was low. The masked man in the carriage slowly put away an iron token carved with a wolf's head. In the next moment, Su Mu's jaw was pinched open and a pill forced into his mouth. Then, with a muffled groan, he was knocked unconscious.
Three months passed in a flash.
"Bear Play: With all four limbs on the ground, first toss yourself forward three times, then retreat twice. Stretch your waist long and turn your feet sideways to face the sky. Then return to crawling on all fours, going forward and back seven times each."
His body in this life was far too weak. Fortunately, Su Mu had retained his memories from his previous life. Back then, he had been overweight and taught himself the Five Animal Frolics using tutorials he found online.
Later, he had received pointers in the park from an old man with white hair and a youthful face. He had trained under the man for quite a while, so he was fairly familiar with the Five Animal Frolics.
Since arriving in the village, Su Mu practiced the Five Animal Frolics every morning and evening. Thanks to his experience in his previous life, it had not been difficult to pick up again.
After three months of practice, Su Mu could clearly feel that his body was much better than when he had first transmigrated. He was still thin and weak, but that was due to malnutrition.
There was no pay for working as an apprentice at the blacksmith shop. Being able to eat his fill was already good enough. As for meat, Su Mu had almost forgotten what it tasted like.
The last time he had eaten meat was in the prison, at his last meal before the execution.
Su Mu practiced the Five Animal Frolics, one move at a time: thirteen forms of Tiger Frolic, nine of Deer Frolic, nine of Bear Play, ten of Ape Play, and thirteen of Bird Play.
His body was frail, so he practiced slowly. When he finished the full set, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Then he took a deep breath.
After a few breaths, Su Mu's body suddenly trembled. He felt a hot current well up inside him as he breathed. It flowed through his limbs and meridians, passing through his whole body and leaving him with the same refreshing sensation as after a soak in a hot spring.
Unable to help himself, Su Mu let out a long, pleased sigh.
"Did the Five Animal Frolics just break through? But why was the reaction so intense this time?" When he had first reached the beginner level two months ago, he had experienced something similar. With a puzzled look, Su Mu quickly opened his status panel.
[Name: Su Mu (12 years old)]
[Lifespan: 37 years]
[Skill: Five Animal Frolics (Minor Achievement 1%)]
[Comprehension: 2 (Above Average)]
"Huh?... My lifespan actually increased by two years?"
Su Mu scanned the panel and quickly spotted the changes. A delighted expression spread across his face.
"Comprehension isn't fixed either!"
Su Mu's eyes lit up. In three months of practicing the Five Animal Frolics, he had gone from beginner to minor achievement. Not only had his lifespan increased by two years, but his comprehension had also risen to above average.
"Could it be that when I break through in a skill, my lifespan and comprehension increase too?"
He suddenly realized that his status panel was not useless at all. It had enormous potential—perhaps even limitless potential.
Su Mu immediately stretched his limbs. After the breakthrough, his body no longer felt so heavy. He moved more lightly, and his coordination had improved as well.
"My comprehension has improved too. What does the number 2 mean? Is it twice what it was before?"
Puzzled, Su Mu got into position and began practicing the Five Animal Frolics again.
Tiger Frolic strengthened the muscles and bones. Su Mu shaped both hands into tiger claws, fingers curled and hooked. He raised them from before his abdomen to his chest, then thrust them above his head, palms facing the sky.
Then came the Deer Frolic, the Bear Play, the Ape Play, and the Bird Play...
Tiger Frolic, Deer Frolic, Bear Play, Ape Play, and Bird Play—the full set of fifty-four forms. Su Mu could clearly feel the difference between before and after. He even noticed a number of faulty movements that he had not been able to spot before. All in all, the routine felt much easier and more natural than it had previously.
"Incredible. One practice session now seems to have about the same effect as two did before!"
Astonished by the doubled training efficiency, Su Mu realized just how astonishing his "talent" was. It was like a snowball rolling downhill: as long as he trained hard at the start and kept a low profile, he could give it enough time to grow.
It wouldn't take long before he made a stunning debut!
Every skill breakthrough would keep increasing his lifespan and comprehension. Step by step, he would surpass every sage of old. One day, he, Su Mu, would become an unprecedented prodigy in this world!
Just then, a light rain began to fall from the sky.
The rain pattered over him, instantly dousing the joy in the boy's heart.
Su Mu's expression shifted. His whole body gave a slight, uncontrollable spasm. It felt as if countless worms were crawling inside him, gnawing away.
"I'll think about the future later."
"I won't forget the debt of having my life saved, but one thing is one thing... My top priority is to find a chance to escape the death soldiers' ranks and get rid of the poison in my body."
"Fate must be in my own hands!"
Before you continue