As the fire broke out, even the air breathed in had a pungent, burnt sll. Under imnse pain, he surmised that death was imminent for him. In fact, he did die. When he opened his eyes again, he realized he had beco a toddler in a certain country of another world. Beside him was an even younger toddler lying in bed.
His current identity was a prince of that country, and the child lying beside him was his younger brother to the sa mother. Previously, he was just a normal and ordinary college sophomore, born in a peaceful era, living in a happy family. However, he was now in the glamorous but dark royal family, standing right in the center of the whirlpool of all power fights.
In only a week, he gave up on useless weaknesses and luck. No longer was he a blissful student; for his younger brother and himself, he had to survive. His concubine mother had died of poisoning from the power struggles in the palace just as he awakened. The reason why he could start his life anew was probably because the original owner of the body had passed on as well, and he, instead, was able to live on by borrowing his body.
The mont he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw in this unfamiliar world was that child. Perhaps it was the laughable imprinting trope, perhaps he rely wanted to find a reason to live on, but he instinctively treated that child as his only redemption; his only reason in this unfamiliar world.
He used thirteen years to teach the young child how to survive in this glamorous cage, using various unscrupulous tactics and dirty sches to get rid of all competitors. At last, only the two of them were left in the enormous palace. When the debauched king had finally succumbed to death, the throne was, of course, inherited by the best candidate in his heart.
He never needed the throne or longed for power and wealth. The reason for bringing his younger brother, the person he treasured the most to the highest position, the throne, was simply because he assud that doing so was the only genuine way to protect him.
During over ten years ti, both of them were like young animals, relying on each other and cuddling up to each other for warmth. They never trusted anyone else, except for themselves or so he thought. He thought their minds were alike.
Therefore, when he was suddenly sent to the palace prison, he even thought it was a joke on his younger brothers part. When he was rcilessly whipped, he thought that child was probably duped by schers, but would eventually know what was actually in his older brothers mind. When the Bronze Toaster1 was used on him, he could only hypnotize himself, telling himself that his younger brother would understand, his younger brother would understand
In the end, with a face scratched ssily and a body full of severely decaying wounds, he was thrown into the boundless ocean like a dumped corpse. Only then did he realize he was wrong. Before losing his consciousness from the suffocation, as though being released, he mocked himself in his heart.
The soul that should have died long ago was given another chance in the unfamiliar world, but it gained nothing. Ultimately, it had only dyed its previously pure white hands with blood to create a paranoid, wilful and tyrannical king. Finally, everything was over The one that I wanted to protect ended up not even needing my protection at all. And I am finally going to return to where I should be.
However, fate decided to play yet another massive joke on him.
~~~~
Upon opening his eyes, he found out that he was still alive; still living in the other world with that battered body and deford face. Well, in truth, after being caged in darkness for countless years, he had already forgotten what he initially looked like. And slowly, he began to forget his previously peaceful life. Insecurity and fear will always occupy a larger part of a humans soul than happiness and stability. He was still living nonetheless, through an ugly shell, a soul riddled with countless wounds, in a half-human half-ghost state within this already unfamiliar world.
Following his suffocation, he was miraculously swept along the ocean currents, which carried him along to so extrely rural small town in another country. It wasnt known how many inconceivable routes he had passed by, but sohow, he was able to land on the river bank of a small town extrely far from the sea where only rivers passed through.
He was settled in an awfully cramped and shabby room. At a glance, it was filled with a worn out table and chairs, along with paint-peeling furniture, appearing rather dilapidated. The fading white thin door curtain was lifted open. Carrying a paint-peeling dicine box, an old man with a small moustache and waxy yellow complexion walked in.
Not even shocked that he had woken, the old man raised his eyelids and casually swept his eyes over at him. He adeptly pulled at his arm, disregarding his grueso wounds as he touched his wrist. Youre awake? the old man asked nonchalantly.
He kept silent for quite a while before asking, Mister, may I ask where is this?
Guang Tian County, the old man answered drily before opening his dicine box and applying dicine on him.
Guang Tian County? Where is that? There was no such place with that na in his mory. Forced by his environnt, he had morized the nas of nearly every places in his country. He was sure that there was no such na in his mory.
This is Jun Yao country. Where are you from? the old man asked casually, as if trying to strike up a conversation, though he was still dexterous with his hands
The dicines effects made him feel the sharp twinge from his wounds, agonizing him. Jun Yao Country So he, indeed, was still there. The reply amused him. Exactly what kind of coincidence made him arrive from the northernmost part, Fang Jun Country, to the southernmost country of this world? Moreover, to travel there, one needed to pass quite a few continents.
Maybe fate hasnt toyed with enough? So it still wants continue lingering on feebly?
This is the governntal guest room. You need to rest for a month to fully recover, and can leave after that. although there wasnt a reply back, the old man didnt ask further. After finishing his sentence, He closed his dicine box with a thump, Ill be back tomorrow. In a clear-cut manner, the old man lifted the curtains and left.
He spent a long ti imrsed in his train of thoughts, only realizing what the old man had said after coming back to reality.
Governnt guest room? Such a worn out guest room? And it even belongs to the governnt?
He suspected the old man was spouting nonsense. It was not as if he had never visited a commoners house. Due to the need to know more about how civilians lived, he made incognito visits to a few remote towns in the past. The dcor of this so-called governnt guest room was definitely no better than the houses of the poor.
Maybe he thinks I looked too hideous, so he said that to humor . He mocked himself cynically in his heart.
Thus, he was able to understand why he only received vegetables for his als, and was able to accept the fact that he could only find little pieces of minced at among the vegetables sotis.
Even though the als were plain, that doctors dicine was indeed effective. After half a month, he felt he was able to take care of himself. After yet another half a month, as predicted by the doctor, he had fully recovered. Of course, the hideous and frightening scars on his face and body were impossible to heal.
He thought that it was miraculous too, since he had a clear idea about his own condition too; he was almost at the brink of death. Moreover, he was able to be swept along the ocean currents and arrive in a small town that even he had never even heard of in the southernmost country. In such a state, sohow, he was able to recover fully using rely a month. Even the best doctors in Fang Jun couldnt do that!
Finally, when that old man announced that he had already recovered, and that he could leave, he was at a loss. First, he couldnt believe how skillful the old man was in dicine. Second, he really had no idea where he could go. Although situated in such a huge world, there was not a single place he could return. Or should he say, the only place that he thought he belonged wouldnt accept him anymore.
What is it? the old man packed his items nimbly while casting casual glances at him, Nowhere to go to?
The question muted him.
After packing up, the old man studied him, before snobbily turning his nose up with a hmph, Theres no salary.
Hah? He was stupefied.
Even though your injuries are fully healed, your heel bone is damaged and cant be cured. You cannot do any heavy work, and it will stay this way from now on. the old man replied.
He was silent again. He knew that on the surface, the wounds on his body seed to be recovered, but in truth, his vital essence was horribly ruined. Even if he survived, the days from now on wouldnt be great. He wont be able to withstand heat during the sumr, or the cold during winter. A slight cold could get him bedridden, or even lead to his demise. After all, it was already a miracle for him to survive the three years of imprisonnt and abuse in an eternally lightless, dank water dungeon for three years.
You will only die if you leave anyway, the old man continued, Mo Shu-xiansheng2 had ntioned that the governnt office still requires helpers. You can stay if youre willing to. Food and residence will be provided, but theres no salary. You can leave if you wish to, or stay and work if youre not leaving. What do you think?
He dazed for quite a while before nodding, Alright.
From the words of the constable that brought him his als, he knew that the old man in front of him was the only doctor in the city, and Mo Shu-xiansheng is the countys towns official. Sohow no one ever addressed that Mo Shu as Magistrate-Daren3, but instead addressed him as Mo Shu-xiansheng.
Translator Notes:
1 A torturing thod created by Daji :sen.wikipedia/wiki/Creations_of_Daji#The_Bronze_Toaster.5B1.5D
2 Chinese equivalent of Mr.
3 Used to address soone of a higher ranking, sothing like Sir
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