No Way

Qin Muye woke up in pain. Though conscious, he lacked the strength even to lift his eyelids.

Every muscle was stiff as a board; his body felt as if it were falling apart, being forcibly infused with something.

Waves of scorching heat were being pumped frantically into his body.

Wasn't I sent to the ICU by a drunk designated driver?

Did I transmigrate?

Where the hell did this land me?

It isn't Bharat, is it?

Qin Muye panicked slightly, but fortunately, he regained his senses. The heat was pouring in from his back, and as soon as it entered his body, it surged through his limbs and bones, dispelling the sensation of impending death.

From the chaotic memories flooding in, he knew this substance was called True Essence.

He let out a sigh of relief; as long as it wasn't something else, he was fine.

In a daze, a voice rang out from behind him.

"Hold on!"

"Think of your parents!"

"Think of your future!"

The mature woman's voice was pleasant, though her tone was filled with anxiety.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but the feeling of death finally dissipated, and Qin Muye drifted into a deep sleep.

This sleep was restless and shallow. Amidst the mental fog, he managed to sort through the memories of this life.

In this life, he was also named Qin Muye. His father was the Marquis of Southern Suppression of the Great Gan, the Grand Marshal of Barbarian Expulsion, and the Protector-General of Southern Peace concurrently serving as a regional commander. He had guarded the border with over a hundred thousand elite troops for more than a decade, keeping the southern tribes and demons in absolute submission.

As for himself, he had remained in the capital in his father's stead. Although his situation was rather delicate, his life had been quite comfortable.

Before he lost consciousness, he had been composing poetry on a flower boat belonging to the Prime Minister's son.

So, how did I pass out?

And how did I end up in this state?

The way his body had stiffened earlier was strange, almost like rigor mortis; it was highly likely he had already died once.

Even with a new soul taking over, without the rescue from the woman just now, it would have been a certain death.

Qin Muye rubbed his head and struggled to prop himself up.

Looking around, he saw he was in a mountain cave. Outside, the rain pattered against the trees and leaves. Inside, a fire was burning brightly, warding off the mountain chill while roasting a fragrant chicken that made his mouth water.

He was lying on a bed of hay that smelled faintly of earth.

He was covered by a thick, warm black dress.

"You're awake?"

At the cave entrance, a woman holding wild fruits looked at him with pleasant surprise.

The woman was beautiful. She wore only a single layer of clothing, which, soaked by the rain, clung tightly to her skin in a translucent state, perfectly outlining her voluptuous and graceful figure.

Qin Muye felt a bit dizzy; he hadn't expected his savior to be so beautiful and kind-hearted.

However, this beautiful sight didn't last long. The woman quickly removed the outer garment, hung it on a wooden rack by the fire, and continued to tend to the roasted chicken in her undergarments.

Under the flickering firelight, her fair skin was so dazzling that Qin Muye could barely keep his eyes open.

What intense radiance of humanity!

He quickly shifted his gaze away and cupped his hands toward her: "Many thanks for saving my life, Miss!"

"Seeing injustice and drawing one's blade to help is only right."

The woman didn't seem to mind her scantily clad state at all. She placed the wild fruits beside the hay bed, then picked up the roasted chicken and sat down, smiling, "Eat quickly. After you finish, get some more sleep, and your body should be fully recovered!"

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her ample bosom nearly spilling out.

The roasted chicken smelled enticing, enough to whet anyone's appetite.

The roasted chicken was plump and beautiful, also enough to whet anyone's appetite.

Qin Muye, however, felt a shiver run down his spine. He instinctively scooted backward; something felt wrong about this chicken.

Seeing this, the smile on the woman's face vanished instantly. With a "clink," she drew a dagger from somewhere, her voice turning cold and sharp: "Eat!"

Qin Muye: "..."

This woman was clearly no saint.

He had been biased from the start, assuming she was his savior.

But to abduct the heir of the Marquis of Southern Suppression out of the capital required someone far from weak. Just how strong must she be to have snatched him away and saved him? How could such a powerhouse, for no reason, flaunt her charms to a piece of trash like him?

At this moment, the woman held the roasted chicken in one hand and the dagger in the other.

Qin Muye had never been threatened like this before. A surge of anger rose within him, and he spat out resentfully:

"I'll eat it, then!"

The roasted chicken was fragrant, carrying the rich scent of medicinal herbs.

It satisfied his hunger and cravings, but the hidden mystery within it left Qin Muye feeling deeply uneasy.

He possessed no ability to resist, so he could only eat while spitefully stealing a few extra glances at the woman.

Just as his gaze reached her head, his vision flickered, and a light screen appeared above her.

[Main Fate: Thread-Puppet]: Flesh as the puppet, resentment as the thread, controlled by others for the rest of one's life.

[Fate Grade]: Rank 4 (336/640)

[Annotation]: Bewitched by others, she sought to incite the Marquis of Southern Suppression to rebel and use the essence blood of his closest kin to curse him to death. However, she was betrayed by her accomplices, leading to the failure of the plan and the exposure of her whereabouts. She died with arrows piercing her heart, and her remaining kin were slaughtered to the last.

[Hint]: When Fate fluctuation exceeds 500, you can obtain the Fate Skill Thread-Crafter.

Is this a cheat?

He was stunned for a moment, but before he could ponder it, he heard the woman's displeased voice.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Huh?"

Qin Muye touched the corner of his mouth; sure enough, it was curled upward.

When a man stares at a beautiful woman without restraint, it is inevitable that something on his body might rise.

He simply raised the corners of his mouth higher, his expression turning somewhat mysterious.

Regardless of whether he had a countermeasure, he would act mysterious first!

Sure enough.

This smile made the woman increasingly irritable, and she repeated the question: "What are you smiling at?"

Qin Muye: "..."

How the hell would I know what I'm smiling at?

He remained silent, maintaining his mysterious smile while his brain raced frantically.

When this woman saved him earlier, she had been extremely anxious, clearly not wanting him to die. Yet, the original owner had died—soul scattered, no less—and the subtitle mentioned that accomplices caused the mission to fail. So, did his own accomplices kill him?

The woman's patience wore thin. She pressed a dagger against his throat, her tone turning dangerous: "Tell me! What are you smiling at?"

Qin Muye took a deep breath and said calmly: "The smile is, of course, an expression of gratitude. Although your companion nearly sent me to my death, you truly saved me, and no one can deny that.

Since you saved me, it is a great favor.

Whatever you want, just say it, and I, Qin, will certainly cooperate fully."

The woman's gaze flickered. She hadn't expected him to figure so much out in such a short time; not only was he not panicked, but he was even attempting to sow discord.

The chill in her eyes faded slightly: "What if I want your life?"

Qin Muye smiled: "I have just died once; this life was already yours to begin with. If you want it, how could I have any reason to refuse? However, I have a question, and I hope you can enlighten me!"

"Speak!"

"Kidnapping someone from the capital is not a task one person can accomplish; your companions must be quite capable. I don't know why you saved me, but your companions must know. Yet, since that is the case, why did they..."

"Are you trying to sow discord?"

The woman interrupted him: "Sow discord, and then trick me into letting you go?"

Qin Muye hadn't expected her to react so quickly, but he wasn't embarrassed: "You could call it sowing discord, or perhaps a reasonable guess. Now, there are people who want to harm me and people who want to harm you. If I can win a bit of leverage for you and carve out a path of survival for myself, why not?"

"Do you think you have a chance of living?"

"How would I know if I don't try?"

"Fair point!"

The woman suddenly changed the subject: "You keep saying you want to thank me, yet you haven't asked for my name after all this time. Where is the sincerity in that?"

Qin Muye offered an apologetic smile: "That was indeed impolite. May I ask for your name?"

A mocking smile appeared on the woman's lips: "Bai Yuji! Bai, as in the Bai of the Nanzhao royal family!"

Qin Muye: "..."

His heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

Eight years ago, the Marquis of Southern Suppression, Qin Kaijiang, acting on the orders of Emperor Gan, wiped out the rebellious Nanzhao and slaughtered the Bai-surnamed Nanzhao royal family.

Damn it, a blood feud!

What is there left to sow discord about!

His brain raced at high speed: "So you wanted to kill me and frame the imperial court, forcing my father to lead his troops in rebellion?"

"You aren't entirely stupid!"

"My father has many sons. If one heir dies, he can just replace him with another. You don't actually think he's foolish enough to..."

"If it were any other son who died, he might not rebel, but if it were you, he definitely would!"

"Why?"

"Years ago, Qin Kaijiang slaughtered my royal family, but he was also left critically wounded. Only the marrow of a close kin could save him, yet his sons were all too young and physically frail. Only you had the heart to gorge yourself on food and medicine, gaining dozens of pounds to forcefully bolster your physique just to extract your marrow and save your father.

Although your talent plummeted and you became indistinguishable from the masses thereafter, you were named the heir because of it, and the hundred-thousand-strong Yi-Expelling Army came to revere you as their Young General. As long as it is confirmed that the imperial court killed you, it is only a matter of time before Qin Kaijiang rebels. If he does not rebel, he will have no way to stabilize the morale of the army!

Am I not correct, Young General?"

"..."

Qin Muye felt a dull ache in his crotch; this woman had done such a detailed background check!

Although his predecessor had a somewhat twisted personality, he had truly acted like a man in this instance, to the point where everyone in the Yi-Expelling Army respected him.

So... must I die today?

Bai Yuji was somewhat agitated: "I admire your act of filial piety, but the hatred of a clan exterminated is irreconcilable, therefore..."

"Therefore you have the intent to kill me, and I can understand..."

"Therefore I want to have a child with you!"

"Huh?"

Qin Muye was stunned. This sudden sharp turn left him completely bewildered.

Bai Yuji laughed with a hint of madness: "Refining the fetus in my womb to nurture a Gu, I can kill three generations of direct blood relatives. Once Qin Kaijiang throws the Gan Kingdom into chaos, I will kill him, and then commit suicide before your grave to atone for my sins."

Qin Muye couldn't hold it together: "You crazy woman..."

Bai Yuji removed her undergarments and cupped Qin Muye's face in her hands, ensuring his gaze was fixed upon her.

Whether due to the excitement of seeing the dawn of revenge or the shame of exposing her body to another, her frame was somewhat rigid.

Her voice trembled as she asked: "Am I beautiful?"

Qin Muye felt a wave of heat rising in his lower abdomen.

That roasted chicken from earlier.

It could turn a man into a roasted duck!

His body and mind grew restless: "I like to speak the truth. Setting aside our blood feud, you are exactly my type."

Bai Yuji was slightly pleased, but after fumbling for a moment, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger: "Then why is your body not..."

Qin Muye gave a crooked smirk: "Extracting my marrow damaged my vitality. Didn't expect that, did you? I'm completely impotent!"

Bai Yuji: "???"