This book differs greatly from the original. You will see many invented characters in it, including people around the major characters.
This book will also feature many fantasy elements, including magic, dragons, other races, and gods.
The author has changed some of the background history in advance. You can curse me, but I will still write it this way.
My apologies to fans of the original books and the original show. This book is also very slow-paced and follows the harem route. Proceed with caution if that is not your thing.
Kingdom of the Vale, Gulltown.
Smelling a pungent, foul odor, Su Qin woke in a dilapidated stable.
Overhead was timber that was nearly moldy from the damp. Clearly, the stable's level of technology really was about the same as that of a slave society.
The problem, however, was that Westeros had already entered the age of feudal dynasties. As early as three hundred years ago, House Targaryen had gained the nominal recognition of the various houses of Westeros and successfully ascended the Iron Throne in King's Landing.
In Westeros, commoners had no surnames, only names they were called by. When they met nobles, they had to address them as "my lord" or "master."
Looking at the dung and fodder scattered across the ground, Su Qin sighed inwardly.
"To think I ended up a refugee fleeing famine!"
He got up, brushed the dry grass off his clothes, and put on his straw sandals.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Uncle Farn working with his youngest son, Luke. They were loading barrels onto a cart.
Su Qin immediately went over and helped the older man heave a redwood barrel with an iron outer casing onto the cart.
He also greeted them with a smile. "Uncle Farn, Luke, good morning!"
Farn dusted off his hands and smiled. "Oh, you little brat, you're finally up. I thought you'd had enough of the stable and run off today."
Su Qin gave an awkward smile. "You're the only one who would let me sleep in a stable for free, Uncle. Even if I left, I'd let you and Luke know."
Together with Luke, Su Qin strained to lift an empty barrel onto the cart. It was a meter tall, made of redwood, and very heavy.
Luke was a young fellow who looked a little less mature than Su Qin.
Luke wiped away his sweat and smiled. "Su Qin, I've got some good news for you. I heard His Lordship the Earl caught a rare Crystal Shark in Blackwater Bay. They say the amethyst on a Crystal Shark's dorsal fin glows at night. Noble lords love it, and it's worth a fortune!"
"The fleet also brought back plenty of fish this time. Father can make another tidy profit."
Hearing that, Farn smiled. "You little brat, isn't it all to save up rose gold for you? Work hard, and once you've married a wife, hurry up and give me a big, healthy grandson!"
Farn patted the ropes. They were tied tightly, so there was no fear of the barrels falling off.
Luke immediately fell silent at that. After teasing him a little, Su Qin promptly changed the subject.
He had never heard of amethyst and still knew very little about this world, so he asked, "Luke, tell me about it. What's amethyst?"
Before Luke could speak, the old man called loudly, "You brats, get on the cart! Do a good job and I'll make you mutton soup tonight!"
Hearing that, Su Qin and Luke immediately climbed onto the cart and sat at the back. There were upright sideboards on both sides, while the rear was open. With the meter-tall barrels tied down with ropes, there was no need to worry about them falling off!
The cart had four wheels, so sitting at the back would not tip it over! Though a four-wheeled cart was difficult to turn, it was relatively steady.
As soon as they passed through the gate, they entered Gulltown's main thoroughfare, though naturally they were in a relatively outlying area.
Uncle Farn's home was on North Avenue. There were many little alleys around the avenue, but of course nobody wanted to go into them. The conditions there really defied description!
Once they were outside, there were several other haulers like Uncle Farn. He drove his cart over to join them, and they began greeting one another.
Their conversation covered all sorts of things: whose son was due to marry, amusing stories about nobles, and just how expensive amethyst was. They chatted as they slowly drove toward the docks to the south.
Luke remained silent as usual. Although he had yet to tell Su Qin about amethyst, he never spoke when there were many people around.
Sitting on the cart, Su Qin watched the passersby in yellow robes on the main road and began to ponder. Just what kind of world is this? Why did I come here? Surely I wasn't transmigrated at random!
Su Qin had been here for about a month, from wandering Runestone at first to meeting Uncle Farn by chance.
Surprised by Su Qin's Eastern face, Uncle Farn had taken him in. Su Qin then followed him to Gulltown and did odd jobs. At least he could stay alive.
Coming back to himself, Su Qin looked at the streets on either side. Most of the vendors sold handicrafts or food and drink. Those selling handicrafts only had to spread a cloth on the ground to have a shop, while those selling food and drink used far more equipment.
Of course, some also sold fabric and clothing. The fabrics appeared to be mainly yellow and gray, and mostly linen. Those selling woolen cloth were all large shops.
This small town was the administrative center of Gull Territory, and Gull Manor was where the lord resided! Gulltown was not actually large, with only three thousand people at the very most. Most of the residents were here; the other three small towns had populations of fewer than a thousand each.
The cart slowly headed south.
Gulltown was near Crab Bay and had a temperate maritime climate, with temperatures suitable for habitation all year round. According to records, even the longest-lasting winter had never reached Blackwater Bay.
Su Qin's memories slowly returned to Blue Star, and he came to understand what homesickness felt like.
While Su Qin and Luke sat in silence, a tremendous sound suddenly came from ahead. It sounded like warhorses neighing, and Su Qin immediately snapped out of his thoughts!
Su Qin glanced at Luke. "Luke, something seems to have happened!" Luke immediately picked up a fishing spear from the cart, and Su Qin took one as well.
As soon as they got off the cart, they saw fighting in the distance. A mass of people with black cloth wrapped around their heads, wearing leather armor and carrying axes and shields, kept pouring out of the alleys.
Suddenly, the attackers scattered to either side, and a squad of soldiers in iron armor broke out of the crowd, their armor covered in blood. In the alleys around them and on the second floors of the houses, people were secretly watching the battle.
This sort of thing generally did not involve commoners, but the fighting was about to reach Su Qin and the others' cart.
Seeing the battle coming their way, Su Qin and Luke immediately pulled Uncle Farn off the main road as soon as they got off the cart, intending to take shelter in an alley.
The moment they reached the alley, Uncle Farn suddenly came to his senses.
"I didn't bring my horse!" he shouted.
The older man, who stood about 1.8 meters tall, immediately turned around. The moment he did, he saw several iron-armored soldiers cutting the reins of the horses harnessed to the carts of the haulers accompanying him, then helping several knights wearing helmets with silver plumes, along with one gold plume, mount the horses.
Seeing their targets about to escape, the black-cloth soldiers immediately gave chase! A voice rang out from somewhere. "The targets are escaping! Failure to complete the mission means a level-three punishment! Complete the mission and everyone gets a level-two reward! Reserves, attack!"
Su Qin glanced over. The voice had come from a second-floor window in one of the buildings lining the street. He saw masses of soldiers continuously battling the iron-armored soldiers.
Seeing his horse gradually being surrounded by another squad of black-cloth soldiers farther back, Uncle Farn tried to run over! That horse was his lifeblood! It mattered even more than his manhood!
Su Qin and Luke held him back with all their strength, dragging him deeper into the alley. "Father, we can buy another horse if it's gone. If you're gone, everything is gone!"
"Uncle, as long as the green hills remain, there'll always be firewood. Listen to me. At worst, the three of us can haul cargo at the docks day and night. We'll get you another good horse!"
But they still could not hold him back. Someone who had spent years doing physical labor was immensely strong!
Suddenly, Farn felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. Turning to look, he saw Luke holding the wooden shaft of the fishing spear in midair, staring blankly at Farn's head.
Farn felt something trickling down the back of his head. He wiped it with his right index finger and licked it. It tasted of blood.
Then he slowly collapsed. Su Qin stared at Luke in shock!
What a filial son!
Luke tilted his head and gave a wry smile. "Father wasn't thinking straight. I helped treat him..." Su Qin said nothing and immediately lifted Farn's feet.
Seeing that, Luke immediately set the fishing spear against the wall and grabbed Farn around the waist. With Su Qin carrying Farn's feet and Luke carrying his torso, the three slowly made their way deeper into the alley.