Wasn't That Exciting Enough?

The Song Mansion was huge.

"Kunlun Mountain, Daoist arts..."

Lu Chuan wondered to himself, Could there really be cultivators in this world?

In his previous life, Lu Chuan had heard about cultivation for a long time. He'd often read about it in novels on his phone, but had never had the chance to see it for himself.

Could people cultivate immortality in this world?

A flicker of anticipation stirred in Lu Chuan's heart, but his face remained impassive.

Leaving his questions aside, Lu Liang led him out of a small courtyard, gave a servant boy some money to buy a box of fine meats and wine, then carried it himself. Taking Lu Chuan along, he headed to a courtyard on the eastern side. Just then, a servant came out.

"Is Elder Mr. Jiang in the courtyard?" Lu Liang asked.

"He's in the main hall," the servant replied.

Lu Liang waved him away, and the servant left respectfully. Then he led Lu Chuan, who was looking around curiously, into the courtyard.

In this household, apart from the master's family, the steward held the greatest authority.

But this trip out had truly opened Lu Chuan's eyes.

For the past half month, he'd stayed in his little courtyard and hadn't gone anywhere, at most taking a walk around the yard in front of his room.

This was his first time seeing the master's residence. As he'd suspected, it was vast and luxurious.

As they walked, he saw pavilions and towers, a small bridge over flowing water, and ancient trees soaring skyward. This was the home of a truly wealthy family, with riches piled mountain-high.

The father and son entered the main hall from the courtyard. On the left side stood a table, behind which sat a gaunt old man in a gray robe, holding a bamboo slip.

It was the same thin old man who, half a month ago, had made Lu Chuan wary after he woke with his spiritual aperture opened. Lu Chuan had thought the man knew demonic arts.

As soon as they entered the hall, Lu Liang knelt before the old man. Then he barked at Lu Chuan, who was still looking him over, "Why aren't you kneeling?"

Lu Chuan obediently did as he was told. Honestly, if the old man hadn't awakened him, who knew whether he'd ever have had the chance to "wake up" in this life?

"Steward Lu, you... what are you two doing?"

Seeing father and son kneel before him, Jiang Ziya looked startled and started to rise.

"Elder Mr. Jiang, you opened my son's spiritual aperture and gave him the gift of intelligence. To him, that was no less than being given a new life. You are the great benefactor of us both."

Lu Liang held up the food box with both hands and said sincerely, "My son has now fully recovered. So today I've prepared a modest meal and brought him here to thank you for your great kindness to us, Elder Mr. Jiang. Xiao Chuan, bow your head."

"Yes!"

Lu Chuan obediently kowtowed. Truthfully, without this old gentleman, his life would probably have been over. He had to bow.

"No, no..."

At once, Jiang Ziya stood and hurried over to help them up, supporting Lu Liang with one hand and Lu Chuan with the other. Lu Chuan had already kowtowed twice, but Jiang Ziya stopped him from doing so again.

"I've been friends with your master for many years. We're as close as brothers. Since you're the Song family's steward, I naturally wouldn't refuse to help you when I can."

Jiang Ziya smiled as he helped the two up. He was very kind, and turned to Lu Chuan with a smile. "You're Lu Chuan, right? How are you feeling now?"

Lu Chuan thought for a moment. "Very good."

"Haha, it seems you really have recovered."

Jiang Ziya laughed and patted Lu Chuan on the shoulder.

"Ziya, my worthy younger brother, what's got you laughing so happily? Why not tell me, so I can enjoy a laugh too?"

Just then, a voice came from the courtyard. Soon, a portly old man in fine clothes entered the hall.

Jiang Ziya went to meet him, smiling. "Elder brother, look—the boy has recovered. Isn't that worth celebrating?"

"Your worthy younger brother, Ziya?"

At that form of address, Lu Chuan froze. It sounded familiar somehow. He murmured, "Ziya, Ziya... Jiang... right, Jiang Ziya!"

As soon as he put the surname and given name together, Lu Chuan's whole body shuddered.

"No way... what are the odds?"

Lu Chuan lowered his head, hiding the change in his expression.

Jiang Ziya—how could he not know that name?

He'd studied him in history class. The man had lived in the distant Shang-Zhou era, and was a master of military strategy. He had helped King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, overthrow the Shang Dynasty and establish the Zhou Dynasty.

Historically, he was an outstanding strategist, military leader, and politician whose influence had endured for generations.

But what had truly made him famous, and known to everyone, wasn't the history books. It was the Investiture of the Gods, a fantasy novel about gods and demons.

That book also told of the struggle between the Shang and Zhou dynasties, but the people caught up in it weren't just mortals. There were gods and demons, as well as extraordinary beings from the Five Lakes and Four Seas and the Three Mountains and Five Peaks...

In the end, gods, humans, demons, immortals, and monsters together brought about a world-shaking battle between immortals and demons, all for—

the Investiture War.

At the thought, Lu Chuan felt his scalp tingle.

He sneaked a glance at Jiang Ziya. Was this Jiang Taigong from real history, or from a world of gods and demons?

If this was real history, then honestly, he was in for a rough time.

This era was so ancient that many things could no longer be verified. But without question, in every aspect—from food and daily life to medicine and sanitation—this world lagged far behind later generations.

There was a joke he'd once seen: in ancient times, you could catch a cold and die.

It used to sound funny. Here, it was a reality.

But if this was the Shang-Zhou era from the Investiture of the Gods, then...

Now that was thrilling!

The kind of thrilling that made your scalp tingle—more thrilling than bungee jumping or skydiving.

Just imagine those hideous monsters and demons, so terrifying-looking they could scare you to death on sight, who liked to eat human hearts, drink human blood, and gnaw on human bones.

And once the war between Shang and Zhou began, you could be grabbed and sent to the battlefield at any moment, only to die there. With all those possible ways to meet your end, tell me, wasn't that exciting enough?

Lu Chuan glanced again at Jiang Ziya's back and swallowed nervously.

This Jiang Taigong seemed to know magic, and he'd come down from Kunlun Mountain...

All these signs made it clear: this wasn't the Shang-Zhou era of real history. He'd arrived in the Shang-Zhou era from the Investiture of the Gods.

Could it really be because he'd watched a few mythology films?

"Child, if you want to look at me, do it openly. Why sneak glances at me?" Jiang Ziya noticed and smiled.

"Mr. Jiang, I think you're amazing. You were even able to open my spiritual aperture..."

Lu Chuan said admiringly.

Jiang Ziya and Song Yiren burst out laughing.

A benefactor!

Watching Jiang Ziya laugh, Lu Chuan never would have guessed that right after being reincarnated, he'd run into Jiang Ziya, a great benefactor.

Perhaps the chance to live a little better in this world—to avoid becoming monster food or being dragged into the army as cannon fodder—was right in front of him now.

Jiang Ziya was a disciple of the Kunlun Yuxu, a student of the Primordial Heavenly Lord, and the future holder of the List of Conferred Gods, who would preside over the investiture of the gods. In the end, he would also represent the Exposition Sect and the Western Zhou, and they would win the great tribulation.

Following him would be a good choice. He had to seize this opportunity.

"Worthy younger brother, you should still think about what I said earlier."

After laughing, Song Yiren urged Jiang Ziya, "Since you failed to complete the Immortal Path and came down from the mountain, you should take a wife and have a son or daughter to carry on the Jiang family line. That way, your family's incense won't go out. What do you say?"

"Elder brother, why are you bringing this up again..."

Jiang Ziya looked helpless and waved his hands repeatedly. "Please don't mention this again, elder brother. I won't marry, so I can only refuse your kind offer."