Inside the swaying carriage, Lin Ye rubbed his aching head, quickly scanning his surroundings. The lavish compartment lined with brocade silk, the long swords and short blades hanging on both sides, and the crude dirt road visible through the carriage windows—all made it clear that Lin Ye was now in another world. But at this moment, only one thought occupied his mind: Who the hell tried to kill me?
Lin Ye's origins in his previous life were not humble. He was the illegitimate son of the Lin family, a wealthy Chinese clan in Southeast Asia. In his past life, Lin Ye had seen things clearly. As the youngest illegitimate son—his eldest brother already over forty, controlling half the family business, while his other brothers each held their own shares of power—what did Lin Ye have to compete with them? It wasn't that he lacked ambition; he simply had no opportunity. So for over twenty years, Lin Ye had remained uncontentious and unambitious, content to live as a worthless wastrel, indulging in food, drink, and pleasure.
Recently, Lin Ye had become obsessed with a newly released game called Great Jianghu. It incorporated countless wuxia world settings, with magnificent scenes, characters, and storylines. Most importantly, it was incredibly realistic—like a virtual world in itself. Lin Ye was immediately captivated. Later, Great Jianghu underwent a technical revolution.After releasing the third edition storyline trailer, they launched holographic gaming helmets. Using his wealth, Lin Ye secured one of the first batch of experience helmets. But the moment he put it on—the entire helmet exploded!
Lin Ye knew clearly this had nothing to do with the game company. The helmet had passed safety inspections; it shouldn't have exploded, let alone electrocuted anyone.The only thing he couldn't understand was why someone would want him dead when he had been so harmless, so utterly useless. Perhaps his decision to never compete or contend had been a mistake from the very beginning? Just then, countless memories flooded into Lin Ye's mind. He let out a pained groan, his eyes flashing with a hint of violent crimson, only settling after a long moment.
Rubbing his head, he had inherited all this body's memories, even certain aspects of its personality. Was he now Lin Ye, or Chu Xiu—the illegitimate son of the Chu family in Tongzhou Prefecture?
In this life, his name was Chu Xiu, the illegitimate son of the Chu family in Tongzhou Prefecture, Wei Commandery, Yan Kingdom. Of the four Chu sons, he ranked second. But his birth mother had been a mere concubine who died in childbirth delivering him, leaving him thoroughly neglected within the family. The former Chu Xiu had been timid and reckless. He had prematurely sided with the eldest brother, Chu Kai, in the family head succession struggle, provoking the equally qualified third brother. Framed by his schemes, Chu Xiu was punished by being sent to manage the Chu family's mining district in Southern Mountain, Wei Commandery. The Chu family was a major clan in Tongzhou Prefecture; even a manager position held some family authority. But the Southern Mountain mines were no desirable post. The miners were all criminals and vicious thugs purchased by the Chu family from the authorities at rock-bottom prices. One misstep could incite a riot.
Several previous Chu family managers at Southern Mountain had died in such uprisings. That Chu Xiu had lasted a year without incident could only be attributed to luck. Originally, Chu Xiu was to remain at Southern Mountain for three years. But recently, the Chu family had decided to select a family heir. Even as a disgraced illegitimate son, he qualified to participate, so Chu Xiu was being recalled early.
Chu Xiu picked up a short blade hanging in the compartment and drew it. A light hum sounded as the blade reflected a face in its twenties—handsome, yet carrying a hint of sinister gloom. His appearance in this life wasn't bad, yet for some reason, Chu Xiu felt his face looked familiar. Suddenly realizing something, the short blade clattered to the floor. He thought he knew who he was now.
Before Chu Xiu's transmigration, Great Jianghu had already released two storyline editions. The third edition hadn't begun—only a storyline introduction had been released. The most crucial element in that third edition was its final antagonist boss: "Demon Lord" Chu Xiu! 'Demon Lord' Chu Xiu, born into the Chu family of Tongzhou Prefecture, Wei Commandery, Yan Kingdom. After family upheavals and countless hardships, his personality transformed drastically, ultimately walking the demonic path. At the introduction's conclusion, 'Demon Lord' Chu Xiu reestablished the Kunlun Demon Cult, which had been glorious a thousand years ago, leading his Four Great Demon Venerables to dominate the jianghu with demonic flames reaching the heavens. No wonder Chu Xiu had found his face familiar. He hadn't paid attention before, but now connecting his origins and age he was precise
Understanding this truth, Chu Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
His future destined him to be a great figure shaking the jianghu, but need he guess the ending? Weren't all final bosses in games designed to be defeated?
Picking up the blade from the floor, Chu Xiu flicked it lightly, a gloomy look in his eyes as he murmured: "Fated to lose? Heh. In my past life, I didn't compete or contend, yet died horribly. Since heaven has given me another chance, this life I will actively compete, actively contend. Better I kill others than be killed by them!"
Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted. A charming, delicate servant girl seemed to have heard the commotion inside and poked her head in. She looked at Chu Xiu in surprise: "Young Master, did something happen?"
Looking at this servant girl—superior in both looks and grace—Chu Xiu's lips curved into a gloomy smile.
This servant girl was named Yue'er, sent by the third brother Chu Sheng's mother, his second mother. Ridiculously, the former Chu Xiu had actually believed this girl was assigned by the family, treating her with considerable affection.
Yet during his time at Southern Mountain mines, Yue'er not only threw her weight around using his name, ruining his reputation among Chu family servants, but also secretly encouraged him to provoke and torture those criminal thugs, trying to incite a riot—clearly intending to get him killed. Looking at Yue'er, Chu Xiu suddenly grinned: "Nothing. The blade just fell on the floor."For some reason, seeing Chu Xiu's smile made Yue'er feel a chill, a sense of creeping dread. But she didn't think much of it. She smiled at Chu Xiu: "Young Master, the official road has been difficult due to recent rains. Why don't we take the small path through Yuanbao Town? It's shorter."
Chu Xiu's face held a faint, ambiguous smile: "Take the Yuanbao Town path? But I've heard those small paths run through the barren mountains and old forests of Shangmang Mountain. It's easy to encounter bandits."
Yue'er said: "Just rumors. Many merchant caravans traveling to and from Tongzhou Prefecture take the small paths. Besides, this servant wants to return home for a bath sooner. I barely bathed this whole year at Southern Mountain mines—I'm practically stinking."
Normally, when Yue'er acted spoiled like this, Chu Xiu would comfort her and grant her requests. But now, Chu Xiu merely looked at her, a chilling smile playing at his lips, making Yue'er flustered.
Just then, Chu Xiu suddenly reached out and pinched Yue'er's cheek, squeezing until she nearly cried out in pain before releasing her. He said flatly: "Fine. Then let's go to Yuanbao Town."
Rubbing her face, Yue'er suddenly felt this Chu Xiu was unfamiliar, like a completely different person. But remembering the message and promises from the Second Madam a few days ago, she immediately cast aside these doubts. Seeing Yue'er's sweet, cloying smile as she tried to lean closer, Chu Xiu said indifferently: "Go instruct the servants to change course to Yuanbao Town. We'll rest there for a night before continuing." Watching Yue'er's departing figure, Chu Xiu's face showed utter contempt. A foolish woman with no real methods.
But this life's body had apparently been even more foolish, manipulated by such a woman. Who knew what kind of stimulus later transformed him into that Demon Lord with flames reaching the heavens. That Yue'er insisted on the Yuanbao Town path—Chu Xiu was certain something was amiss. Yet he still agreed, because within Yuanbao Town lay a great opportunity! Reborn into this life, Chu Xiu quickly understood what his true advantage was. It wasn't his future identity as Demon Lord, but his familiarity with the first two editions' storylines!
Though Chu Xiu would later become the Kunlun Demon Cult Leader whose demonic might shook the jianghu, that was only the storyline introduction. The detailed experiences of his future were certainly not in that introduction.
As a loyal player of Great Jianghu, Chu Xiu knew the first two editions' storylines like the back of his hand. Even events he hadn't personally experienced, he had researched through forums to complete his knowledge.
Calculating by timeline, Chu Xiu should currently be in the early stages of the first edition storyline, with over twenty years remaining before the third edition began. It could be said that Chu Xiu's true advantage was knowing all the major and minor history of this world for the next twenty years! And right now, in Yuanbao Town, if Chu Xiu remembered correctly, a great opportunity awaited him.