Section 2: Twenty-three years later, a turn of the head, and everything begins anew

Endless darkness.

Is this what death feels like? Chu Yun's thoughts drifted, feeling as though he were wandering through the void.

There was no direction or light in the darkness; he drifted like a lonely soul through a vast wilderness.

Yet, gradually, he felt something strange. Why can I still feel my body? Could it be that I am not dead?

He tried to open his eyes.

Whoosh.

Light bloomed, and a simple, humble bedroom came into view.

A familiar sensation flooded his heart.

Isn't this the bedroom from my childhood? What kind of dream is this! Why does everything seem so real?

Chu Yun sat up from the bed, feeling the bedside and then his own body, his heart filled with suspicion and uncertainty.

He carefully stood up and paced the narrow room.

Something is wrong! My leg! He suddenly widened his eyes, staring blankly at his left leg. The leg that had been maimed in his memories, the one fitted with a prosthetic, was now whole, healthy, and sound.

What was going on?

Could it be that I have been reincarnated into another body?! His heart trembled, and he suddenly caught sight of a mirror hanging on the wall.

He hesitated, yet felt a sense of anticipation, and walked slowly toward the mirror. His emotions were a complex mix of confusion and terror at the unknown.

In the mirror was a familiar face.

Too familiar!

This was none other than himself as a youth!

Chu Yun felt extreme shock. What on earth was happening? Had he fallen into an illusion array?

He had clearly been a sick man, lying under a tree, on the verge of death. Yet, upon opening his eyes, he had gone from the Star Sea Dragon Palace back to his childhood bedroom.

It was truly inconceivable.

If this is an illusion array, then so be it. Chu Yun laughed at himself, opened the door, and strode out.

In his youth, he had been adopted by Shu Tianhao, the master of Shu Family Island. He lived within Shu Family City.

As he opened the door, the morning sun spilled into the courtyard, where flowers and plants were planted on either side. In the distance, servants passed through the corridors from time to time.

This illusion array is surprisingly realistic. Chu Yun stretched, took a deep breath of the fresh air, and couldn't help but sigh aloud.

"Chu Yun, you have some nerve. Why didn't you come to my room to pay your respects on time this morning?" A sharp, shrill female voice rang out as a lady approached.

She wore gorgeous clothes, her face caked in white and pink powder, desperately trying to hide the traces of time, though with little success. Her sharp chin was tilted slightly upward, revealing an arrogant nature.

Chu Yun stared blankly as she walked over, thinking: This illusion array is far too realistic.

"Insolent!" The lady's brows furrowed. She felt Chu Yun's gaze was a grave offense to her, and her expression immediately turned cold as she shrieked a reprimand.

"Chu Yun, you are becoming more and more ignorant. Not paying your respects is one thing, but to see this Lady and not even kneel to greet me?" She looked down at Chu Yun from her superior position, her eyes filled with hostility and disdain.

"Lady Shu..." Chu Yun's tone was cold. This scene triggered certain emotions buried deep within his heart.

The person before him was the wife of his foster father, originally surnamed Ning, given name Qishuang. After marrying Shu Tianhao, she took her husband's surname.

She had two sons and had always been incredibly harsh toward Chu Yun. At the slightest dissatisfaction, she would resort to beatings and scoldings. She had always harbored the intention of driving Chu Yun out of Shu Family City, but was held back by Shu Tianhao.

Today, Chu Yun had not paid his respects on time. She immediately seized this golden opportunity to "educate" her foster son.

Little did she know, upon arriving, she found that the usually timid and submissive Chu Yun seemed like a different person. The way he looked at her was filled with shock, scrutiny, and hatred.

Thump.

The anger in her heart flared up.

What kind of look is that? This little bastard, this little brat, how dare he look at me like that?!

Lady Shu felt her dignity had been severely offended. She was about to seize this handle and pursue the matter further.

However, she heard Chu Yun suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Lady Shu, you can stop now. You're just looking for an excuse to drive me out of Shu Family City, aren't you? You make things difficult for me at every turn because you're afraid that Foster Father favors me and that the inheritance of Shu Family Island will be snatched away by me?"

"You, you..." Lady Shu's expression changed in shock. She couldn't help but take a step back, her finger pointing at Chu Yun, trembling slightly. She was clearly stunned by Chu Yun's words.

Originally, she had only intended to use this pretext to knock Chu Yun down a peg and establish her own inviolable authority in his mind.

She had not expected Chu Yun to utter such shocking words, laying bare the conspiracy in her heart.

It was true; in her eyes, the foundation of Shu Family Island should belong to her sons, Shu Da and Shu Er. Yet, Shu Tianhao favored his foster son, treating Chu Yun just like his own flesh and blood. He had even publicly stated that the future successor of Shu Family Island would be chosen from the three of them.

Why should my family's property be inherited by a bastard?!

Lady Shu never wanted to see that happen. But her two sons were exceptionally dissolute, while Chu Yun had been clever, sensible, and obedient since childhood. Comparing the two, the superior and inferior were clear at a glance.

Chu Yun continued to sneer, "I have always been respectful to you, yet at the slightest mistake, you seize upon it and blow it out of proportion. Today, I was only a little late for my greetings, and you rushed over here to make things difficult for me. Hmph! If I were given another chance, I would definitely defeat your two precious sons completely. I would make you watch as I rightfully inherit the foundation of Shu Family Island. By then, Foster Father will be proud of me! As for you..."

Lady Shu couldn't help but retreat another step, cowed by the cold, oppressive aura radiating from Chu Yun.

Chu Yun's outburst had shocked her deeply. She had originally thought Chu Yun was ignorant and naive, like a little rabbit, easy to bully.

But today, right before her eyes, the little rabbit had transformed into a young tiger. Though not yet fully grown, its fangs were already showing a sharp, piercing light! A formidable presence was brewing!

"Good, very good. To think you would defy your elder in public! You unfilial wretch, you rebellious son!" Lady Shu shrieked in a fit of rage.

"Hold your tongue! I only acknowledge my foster father; when did I ever acknowledge you as my foster mother? My previous greetings were merely out of respect for him. As for how you have treated me, who in the entire Shu Family City is unaware of the truth? You have repeatedly tried to drive me away—do you even deserve to be called my elder?" Chu Yun was venting; this stifled emotion had been buried deep within his memories for over twenty years.

Heaven have mercy, he had truly never intended to usurp the foundation of Shu Family Island back then.

Yet, in his previous life, his foster father had been unexpectedly attacked by pirates and, on his deathbed, had bequeathed Shu Family Island to him. After he took power, out of consideration for the fact that she was his foster father's widow, he had let go of all past grievances and treated Lady Shu, Shu Da, and Shu Er with the utmost kindness.

And yet, it was this very Lady Shu who had colluded with her maiden family's influence, acting as an inside agent to force him out!

Fine. Since you want to force me away, then I shall refuse to leave. You treat me this way—would you have me repay evil with kindness?

You have never shown me a shred of mercy; why should I still be expected to show you any loyalty or affection?

"You ungrateful wolf cub, you have the heart of a wolf! The heart of a wolf!" Lady Shu screamed, her face twisted and her feet stomping in fury. "Get out, get out! Someone come here! Throw this little beast out of my house!"

The surrounding servants stood hesitant, rooted to the spot, unable to decide.

On one side was the foster son favored by the City Lord; on the other was the City Lord's wife. This...

"You don't need to drive me out; I will leave on my own. But sooner or later, I will return here with my head held high." Chu Yun felt a great sense of relief; he suddenly felt that this illusion was good, truly good.

Many things that had never been said could now be spoken. Many things that had never been done could now be done.

Even if it were an illusion, so what?

His life had been a mere thirty years, like a dream, a bubble, a shadow. Was it not just a dream anyway?

Ignoring Lady Shu, who was trembling with a face ashen and blue, Chu Yun strode forward, walking with a steady gait as he took the initiative to leave the estate.

"What did Young Master Chu Yun say to make Lady Shu's face look so terrible?"

"Lady Shu took advantage of the Island Master being away to force Young Master Chu Yun out again; she is truly vicious."

"Strange, Young Master Chu Yun seems different today. He exploded, leaving Lady Shu in such a state of fury—it's truly satisfying to watch!"

The servants whispered among themselves. Lady Shu was notoriously sharp-tongued and petty; seeing her thwarted brought them a sense of joy.

In his previous life, being forced out of the City Lord's mansion by Lady Shu was not a one-time occurrence. But every time, before long, his foster father, Shu Tianhao, would find him and bring him back.

The servants had grown accustomed to it, while Lady Shu had remained tireless in her nitpicking. Only Chu Yun truly understood the bitterness and humiliation of it all.

Walking through the bustling Shu Family City, Chu Yun's heart calmed down. Embracing the feeling of revisiting a place from his past, he wandered aimlessly through the city.

But gradually, the ease on his face faded, replaced by gravity and shock.

He discovered that he could not only feel joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, but he could also feel hunger! When he slammed his fist against the city wall, he felt the sting of pain.

Moreover, his thoughts were clear and calm, not at all like someone lost in an illusion array. Every interaction with the people in the city yielded distinct, realistic reactions.

A bold hypothesis began to surface in his mind.

Could it be that I have truly been reborn?

Make bold assumptions, verify with caution. Chu Yun had his own method for handling matters.

"Generally speaking, this type of illusion array is constructed by extracting a person's memories. Naturally, there must be places in Shu Family City that I have never visited..."

A moment later, a young man stood frozen in the middle of Shu Family City, looking dazed.

Suddenly, he raised his arms in a cheer, shouted aloud, and wept with joy!

"Heaven has eyes! I have truly been reborn! Twenty-three years ago, everything is starting over. Calm down, calm down. According to my memory, the coming-of-age ceremony is next. During the ceremony, we must select a beast egg, and among them is that beast egg. This is the turning point of my life! Seize it, I must seize it!"