Chapter 10

Translation was progressing extremely slowly.

Because he lacked any knowledge of Guren Script grammar, Lin Sheng could only piece things together word by word, much like using a search engine to translate.

Local slang and other expressions were especially difficult, giving him an even bigger headache.

After entering the dream for the second time and copying down the contents of the book, Lin Sheng was able to enter the manor every night.

Each time he went there, he wrote down a sentence or two and translated them into Celine Language, the language he used in everyday life.

This went on for four days straight.

Gradually, with the help of the experience he had gained from his studies in his previous life, the translation work became smoother.

Guren Script wasn't some especially obscure language. There were plenty of grammar books about it available for download online.

After checking numerous sources, Lin Sheng downloaded quite a few materials to help with the translation.

Before long, he had gradually finished translating the text on the first page of the book.

"What's really holding me back is my memory."

Lin Sheng sat silently in a corner of the sofa, recalling what he had translated the day before.

It was Sunday, and relatives had come over to visit.

It was his second uncle and his son, Lin Zhenyu.

Lin Zhenyu was nineteen, a year older than him. He looked scholarly, wore square-framed glasses, and sat beside his father without saying a word, his head bowed as he studied a foreign-language vocabulary book.

As he drank his tea, his second uncle, Lin Tao, frowned and discussed with his father what to do about Grandpa.

In his opinion, Grandpa was getting on in years, and this latest incident meant they should get his will settled too. They needed to figure out how to divide the family assets and get everyone's opinions.

There was also the more practical issue of buying Grandpa's burial plot as soon as possible. Who would pay for it? If everyone chipped in, how should the cost be divided?

After all, some of them were in such poor circumstances that they couldn't afford to contribute much.

Grandpa was still alive, yet instead of worrying about his health, his second uncle was fretting over how to divide the inheritance and who would cover the expenses.

His father, Lin Zhounian, looked a little unhappy. He sat quietly, saying very little and mostly just listening.

Lin Sheng had never been fond of his second uncle's family.

His cousins Lin Zhenyu, Lin Xiaoxiao, and the others got along well. Their family was much better off than his, and the places they hung out were either bars or KTVs.

Every now and then, he also heard that they'd gone on self-funded hiking trips together, treating them as a way to challenge themselves.

Their social circle and the things they did were a cut above Lin Sheng's.

Lin Sheng usually just played at arcades or internet cafes with his other siblings. Those were the places he went most often.

So even though they were cousins of the same generation and close in age, they had nothing to talk about when they sat together.

The way Lin Zhenyu occasionally glanced over at him made it seem as if he didn't exist.

The guy was a good student, one of the top performers in his class. Lin Sheng had heard that in the latest weekly exam for seniors, Lin Zhenyu had ranked tenth in the entire school.

And Lin Zhenyu went to Huaisha No. 1 High School, one of the best key high schools in the area. It was in a completely different league from the ordinary Huian High School Lin Sheng attended.

Fortunately, Lin Zhenyu acted as if he didn't exist, and Lin Sheng was more than happy to ignore him in return.

His mind was completely absorbed in the book from his dream.

The contents he had translated earlier still flashed before his eyes.

"From long ago, I, Ravel, Empire Level 2 Swordsman, had wanted to leave behind a memoir of my legacy.

"I once fought on the Shaan battlefield, defeating seven elite enemy soldiers in a row. Though I never mastered the supernatural, I deserved my Level 2 rating.

"Now I am old, back in my homeland. In this hour of despair, I want to leave behind the last trace that I ever existed...

"Even now, I can almost see the explosions as flames devoured the outpost, shells flying across the sky, cold weapons flashing as they clashed, and the occasional clang of armor between my comrades and me.

"Some fell, while others got back up. The tower shields at the front kept taking deafening blows, and smoke rose skyward in pillars of stone. I am not afraid to die, but I don't want to die without purpose."

There was nothing after that.

That was all Lin Sheng had translated. Using the dictionary he had bought and some grammar resources he had found online, he had pieced the sentences together and worked out what they meant.

"This is a book left behind by someone who definitely fought on a battlefield," he concluded.

After spending all his time and energy studying for days, Lin Sheng had already learned some basic Guren Script vocabulary.

He had practically thrown himself into translating it day and night.

Whenever he had free time, he frantically memorized Guren Script vocabulary and grammar.

He swore he had never been this crazy about anything, or this passionately devoted to studying. The books in his dream were like deadly poppies, their fragrance and allure impossible to resist.

He was desperate to find out what a Level 2 Swordsman meant, and whether he could really learn how to practice swordsmanship from that manual.

"Judging by the diagrams I saw earlier, it might really contain instructions for practicing swordsmanship," Lin Sheng thought.

"Lin Sheng? Lin Sheng?"

Suddenly, a voice dragged him out of his thoughts.

Lin Sheng came back to himself and saw Lin Zhenyu looking at him with a frown. It seemed he had called him several times.

"What is it?" he hurriedly replied.

"What study materials do you need? I have some spares you can take and photocopy," Lin Zhenyu said calmly.

Lin Sheng paused and glanced at his father.

It was obvious Lin Zhenyu wouldn't have offered this on his own. It must have been his father, Lin Zhounian, who had asked.

With the college entrance exams coming up, Lin Zhounian was anxious. Seeing that his son's grades were mediocre, he probably wanted to get some advice from Lin Zhenyu.

But Lin Sheng wasn't interested at all.

With the memories of his previous life, he was far more mature than an ordinary student. His grades were mediocre simply because he didn't want to study.

He had no interest in the ordinary exam-oriented education here, nor did he believe in it. He thought it was a complete waste of time.

The only reason he managed to stay around the middle of the class was out of consideration for his parents' expectations. He'd put in a little effort.

In truth, he had no intention of spending too much of his time and energy competing with other kids for points.

He'd had enough of that kind of life in his previous life.

"Study materials? No need. I already have plenty. Thanks, Zhenyu," Lin Sheng replied.

"Alright," Lin Zhenyu said, sounding relieved. "By the way, Xiao Xiao's birthday is next week. We're planning to go out together. Want to come?"

"I'll pass. I'm too busy right now." Lin Sheng had no time to deal with the guy. His mind was entirely on his dream.

"Actually, you should get out and meet people from a wider circle. You're in your final year of high school now, so you should have a plan of your own. You should have a clear idea of what you want your future to look like, what direction you want to take, and what path you want to follow."

Lin Zhenyu spoke in a casual tone, though there was a hint of superiority in it.

"Don't spend all your time playing video games and reading random books. Once you're out in the world, you'll have to take responsibility for your own future."

His words made his father beam with pride, while Lin Zhounian looked a little helpless.