Chapter 8

Soon, Old Gao and the others left with the mules, leaving Zhang Xiaohai alone following Gu Yang.

Gu Yang ignored him, found a clean rock, and sat down cross-legged, first topping up his money.

Immediately, the system balance became 105.

【Do you want to use the Life Simulator? One use costs 50 gold.】

"Yes."

【At the age of 22, you became an 8th Rank Warrior and left Liu Family Village with a caravan. On the way, you encountered a group of bandits. You dealt with them and learned that their hideout was in Wang Family Gully, so you changed your route to avoid it.】

【Two months later, you went to Tianshui City in Xiang Prefecture and claimed a reward from the government with the bandits' heads. You declined the county magistrate's offer to join his ranks and, with 800 taels as capital, opened a fur shop and started doing business.】

【At the age of 28, your business grew larger and larger, making you the richest person in Tianshui City. Your wealth made some people envious, and you faced various pressures. To protect yourself, you married the daughter of Dong Xuan, a famous 6th Rank expert in Tianshui City.】

【You did not dare to expand your business further, maintaining the status quo and focusing on martial arts.】

【At the age of 29, due to Zhang Xiaohai's loyalty and solid work, you took him as your disciple.】

【At the age of 30, you learned that Liu Family Village had been massacred. However, by then, you already had a wife and children, and the enemy was too powerful, so you did not dare to seek revenge.】

【At the age of 35, you mastered the three unnamed sword techniques from the half-book you obtained from the bandits, greatly increasing your strength.】

【At the age of 36, your business faced a crisis, and you had to step in to resolve it, showcasing your sword skills.】

【At the age of 37, just as you felt the opportunity to break through, you discovered that you were poisoned. The poison was administered by your father-in-law, who wanted to force you to reveal the origin of the three sword techniques.】

【After you handed over the half-book, he still crippled your tendons and meridians, turning you into a cripple. Your business was taken over by his disciple.】

【Your direct line in the business was purged, and a month later, Zhang Xiaohai disappeared.】

【Eight years later, you fell ill and lay on your deathbed, feeling depressed. On your deathbed, Zhang Xiaohai appeared before you with Dong Xuan's head, saying, "Master, I have avenged you," and then died from spitting blood.】

【You died at the age of 45.】

"..."

After reading the outcome of this simulated life, Gu Yang was at a loss for words.

It was one tragedy after another.

To be betrayed by your father-in-law, to have your martial arts skills crippled, and to die in such a miserable way.

And the reason his father-in-law did this was just for the three sword techniques.

In a previous simulated life, he had also been betrayed by the county magistrate who had once favored him.

In this world, it was really too difficult to live a good life.

To learn advanced martial arts, you had to serve others, and even then, you could be discarded at any moment.

In business, just as you started to achieve some success, others would covet it. Even after finding a suitable ally, your father-in-law could still betray you and take over your business because of a few sword techniques.

It was truly a path filled with thorns, and the slightest misstep could send you plummeting into the abyss.

However, this simulated life was not entirely without gains.

Gu Yang glanced at Zhang Xiaohai, who was standing not far away, somewhat timid, and felt a warmth in his heart. He had not expected this boy to be so loyal.

Moreover, his talent was also very good, far surpassing his own.

His father-in-law, Dong Xuan, was a 6th Rank expert, and 23 years later, Zhang Xiaohai could kill Dong Xuan, meaning he had at least reached the 6th Rank himself.

Gu Yang had gone through so many simulations, spanning over a hundred years, and still had not even touched the 7th Rank.

It was really... frustrating.

【The simulation has ended. You can retain one of the following.】

【1. The martial arts realm at the age of 37.】

【2. The martial arts experience at the age of 37.】

【3. The life wisdom at the age of 37.】

Gu Yang was somewhat conflicted when he saw these three options.

At the age of 37, he was at the peak of this simulated life, just one step away from the 7th Rank.

However, he had learned the three unnamed sword techniques, which were so valuable that they made a 6th Rank expert like Dong Xuan willing to use such despicable means against his own son-in-law. They were definitely not ordinary.

With these three sword techniques, defeating Shanfeng should not be difficult.

After some thought, he said, "I choose the first one."

The realm was the foundation.

As long as he could break through to the 7th Rank, a small fry like Shanfeng would not be a problem.

Immediately, the true qi in his body began to increase, more than doubling.

Gu Yang felt as if he was touching a barrier. His true qi had reached the limit of this realm and could not be increased any further.

He was just one step away from breaking through to the next realm.

However, this opportunity was not easy to come by. In this simulated life, it took him nearly ten years to find one.

If Dong Xuan had not suddenly poisoned him, he would have already broken through.

"With my current strength, defeating Shanfeng should not be a problem," Gu Yang thought.

The increase in true qi greatly enhanced his strength. Previously, he and Shanfeng were evenly matched, but now, the odds were at least 70-30 in his favor.

"Let's do it again."

To be safe, Gu Yang used his last chance.

【At the age of 22, you became an 8th Rank Warrior and left Liu Family Village with a caravan. On the way, you encountered a group of bandits. You dealt with them and learned that their hideout was in Wang Family Gully, so you changed your route to avoid it.】

【Two months later, you went to Tianshui City in Xiang Prefecture and claimed a reward from the government with the bandits' heads. Later, you were recognized for your outstanding strength by the Zheng family and decided to join them, receiving focused cultivation.】

【At the age of 25, you broke through to the 7th Rank.】

【At the age of 35, you failed to break through to the 6th Rank for a long time, leading to doubts from the Zheng family. You were gradually marginalized and later exiled to Tianshui City, becoming a steward.】

【At the age of 38, a Zheng family descendant passed through Tianshui City and caused a major incident by harassing Cao Yiyi, who was ranked 10th on the Red Beauty List. One of Cao Yiyi's attendants came to seek revenge, killing all the Zheng family members in Tianshui City. You managed to block one sword but were killed by the second, which pierced your throat. You died at the age of 38.】

Another way to die.

Why was it so difficult to live a peaceful life?

After reading this brief life, Gu Yang felt a deep sigh. Even joining a noble family was not an easy path.

In the end, it was because of the noble family's incompetent descendant, who dared to harass someone on the Red Beauty List. He brought disaster upon himself and also dragged Gu Yang into it.

【The simulation has ended. You can retain one of the following.】

【1. The martial arts realm at the age of 38.】

【2. The martial arts experience at the age of 38.】

【3. The life wisdom at the age of 30.】

Without any hesitation, Gu Yang said, "Choose the first one."