Flying Leap

In the previous several jumps, he had always been just a hair short of grabbing hold.

Now that he had rested, his energy was more abundant, but the possibility of failing again could not be ruled out.

He had not tried this method before because the slope was too steep. Climbing upward consumed enormous strength, and he feared his body would not be able to hold out.

Now that his energy was full, he had to try and see whether this body could endure it.

The method was simple: use the momentum of charging upward.

Charging up several steps from the bottom of the slope placed immense strain on both his stamina and body.

He chose a spot three steps below the top.

The more steps there were to the top, the greater the momentum, but his body and stamina definitely would not be able to bear it;

Too close, and the strain on his body and stamina would be less, but the momentum definitely would not be enough.

Three steps was the result of his calculations.

After climbing to that point, Lin Xiaotian stopped and rested briefly. Once his strength had recovered and he felt fully prepared, he rose and began taking deep breaths.

Then he straightened his body, gritted his teeth fiercely, and started charging forward.

Tremendous pressure struck in an instant. His legs felt as though massive waves were flooding into them, making it impossible to lift his feet.

He let out a furious roar and charged ahead.

Even his eyes had turned red.

Crack!

He stepped onto the final stair. The strength to climb upward was gone, but fortunately, his estimate had been correct. If there had been one more step, this force would have already dissipated.

He jogged another two steps along the top, stepped onto the very edge, then pushed off hard and leaped toward the gap.

Smack!

Both hands clamped heavily onto the space above the gap. He felt the refreshing air outside, free of fog, and the warmth of a ray of sunlight shining upon his hands.

Yet his entire body hung at the gap, and the downward tugging force made him feel that things were going badly.

He clenched his teeth and shouted:

"Get up there!"

Using the momentum of his charge, his body began swinging back and forth.

Whoosh—

His entire body actually scraped its way up through the gap.

He turned over and lay on the ground, basking in the sunlight. Never before had he felt such happiness as he did at this moment.

Every inch of his clothing was soaked through with sweat.

Thinking about how he had managed to get up, it truly had been a miracle.

If he had to do it again, this mortal body definitely would not be able to make it up.

Though he was exhausted and did not want to move a single inch, he still rolled several times farther outside.

He did not want one moment of carelessness to send him tumbling back down. It was better to stay farther away from the opening.

He rested like that for most of the day.

His breathing gradually calmed, and his sweat dried.

Lin Xiaotian sat up, looked around, then stood again.

A rumbling hunger rose from his stomach.

"Good thing I got out. If I were still inside, even if I had another method, I probably wouldn't have the strength to climb up."

After getting his bearings, he headed into the nearby woods. He needed to find something to fill his stomach.

Mountain forests generally had some wild fruits, enough to barely stave off hunger.

As for hunting wild game, he did not even need to think about it. It would already be fortunate if the wild beasts did not treat him as food.

The person who had abducted him was probably truly dead. He had no idea where that person had died.

Otherwise, the moment he climbed up, he surely would have been captured again.

He should return to his sister's home first. In this body's memories, his sister was merely an ordinary beautiful woman, not some remarkable figure.

Just as Lin Xiaotian took a step forward, he suddenly froze and muttered to himself:

"My sister, who took me in, is extraordinarily beautiful. In this man-eating world, how could she possibly remain untouched by it all?"

"Ah, don't overthink it. That man's words affected me. If she truly had designs on me, why would she have waited until now?"

As he spoke, determination appeared in his eyes. Step by step, he headed toward Long River Town.

That was where his sister lived.

Seven days later, the outlines of Long River Town's rows of houses appeared before his eyes.

Lin Xiaotian was so excited that he nearly lost his footing. He caught himself on the wooden stick in his hand, barely stopping himself from slipping down.

At this time, his clothes were tattered, and he looked like a little beggar. His complexion was poor, and he had grown noticeably thinner.

"That man carried me as he ran across branches and treetops, taking only two days, while I myself walked for seven."

His heart was filled with endless emotion.

In this outside world, a mere mortal like him truly had a hard time surviving.

Fortunately, these were not famine years. Otherwise, he likely would not even have been able to find fruit outside.

Lin Xiaotian straightened his body and patted his face. He tried making a few subtle expressions, making himself look a little more cheerful.

Then he smoothed his hair.

Though he still looked like a beggar, his overall appearance was much more spirited than before.

"Big Sister has shown me kindness, after all. She took me in; otherwise, I would have starved to death long ago. I can't make her worry too much."

One tea's time later.

At a residence with a small courtyard near the edge of Long River Town.

A breathtakingly beautiful young woman, who did not look very old, prepared a bucket of hot water and even reached out to test its temperature.

"Xiaotian, you've suffered these past days. Big Sister thought you had been abducted by bad people and that I would never see you again!"

Lin Xiaotian watched his busy sister and felt somewhat moved.

That damned fellow had deliberately claimed that his sister had designs on him. He was plainly trying to drive a wedge between them.

Still, he kept a bit of caution in his heart.

"Big Sister, if you hadn't taken me in more than a month ago, I would have died long ago."

"Big Sister, I'm rather curious. Many refugees pass through every year, so why did you take in only me?"

His sister straightened up. Her figure was incomparably delicate and beautiful, enough to make anyone's mouth water.

"Before, it wasn't convenient for me to tell you. Now that you've returned safely, Big Sister will tell you."

"You resemble my younger brother who was separated from me many years ago... so..."

She did not finish the rest, only letting out soft sobs.

Then, as though she had come back to herself, his sister found an excuse to leave.

"Little Brother, bathe first. Big Sister will cook for you shortly."

His sister left and casually shut the door behind her.

The sounds of cooking soon rose outside. Before long, the fragrance of food drifted in.

Lin Xiaotian took a comfortable bath. After washing himself clean, he regained that carefree, handsome appearance.

After eating, he told his sister:

"Big Sister, I want to learn martial arts. After what happened last time, I feel that learning martial arts is truly necessary."

Song Wanyan nodded.

"Learning martial arts is good. Big Sister supports it. But entering the martial path is extremely difficult. In all of Long River Town, there are only so few people who can practice martial arts."

"Moreover, the silver needed to learn martial arts is also a huge expense."

"Still, if you insist, Big Sister will naturally support you."

"Big Sister, I'll think of a way regarding the silver. I want to first go to the martial hall and see what it's like."

"That's fine... You were frightened this time, so it would be good for you to go out and walk around."

Lin Xiaotian arrived in town.

There were several martial halls in the town. He chose one close to home: the Huang Family Martial Hall.

It was said that the hall master there was relatively kind and understanding toward the poor. If someone truly had good aptitude, a portion of the fees could be waived.

Since Lin Xiaotian had transmigrated and been reborn in this body, he naturally could not keep muddling through life and spending a woman's money.

Moreover, after seeing his sister again today, her beauty still exceeded his imagination.

How could nothing possibly happen? This is far too abnormal.

Not long after Lin Xiaotian left.

Song Wanyan cleaned everything up, then stared blankly in the direction of the town.

The sunlight began slanting westward, spilling across the earth and casting a faint golden afterglow.

It was already dusk.

Yet as Song Wanyan stood there in a daze, illuminated by the twilight, her icy-pure and dignified bearing seemed to darken and twist.

A bewitching smile rose onto her face.

In but an instant, the same person and the same beauty had become two utterly different kinds of beauty.

"Hehe... See? That boy truly is extraordinary. Though we haven't discovered exactly what makes him extraordinary, the little ones in this mortal world have noticed it."

"What are you waiting for? Are you planning to wait until these natives claim such extraordinary fortune for themselves?"

The voice was seductive, enough to make one's heart sway uncontrollably and wish to take this woman to bed.

At that moment, another voice suddenly rang out. It was his sister's original voice, upright and dignified, carrying a clear and ethereal quality.

"I won't let you succeed. He might be that..."

"Shut up!" Before she could finish, the seductive female voice cut her off.

"Hmph, hmph! Let's see how long you can suppress this body. Sooner or later, I'll assimilate you... Some things are beyond your control."

After these words, the two female voices vanished at the same time.

Then her body suddenly moved, drifting toward a nearby stone house.

She looked as though she were flying.