Chapter 1

On a chilly autumn night, in a dilapidated mountain village, the wind whistled through the gaps in the house, and Bai Ziyue, lying under a thin blanket, suddenly jolted awake.

He had been transported.

Even after three days, he still found it hard to believe.

Over these three days, he had gained some understanding of this world, realizing it was not any world he knew.

According to the village elders, there were people, ghosts, demons, and immortals here...

Of course, he didn't believe it.

However, the cause of his predecessor's death made him feel uneasy.

Encountered a ghost? How could that be possible?

Bai Ziyue sneered, thinking it must be due to the disordered absorption of memories.

He nodded again, more firmly.

Children often have wild imaginations. His predecessor was only ten years old, and after hearing too many tales from the village elders, it was very normal to have nightmares.

Whoosh!

The wind grew stronger, bringing a bone-chilling cold, but this cold was particularly sinister.

"It's so cold..."

Bai Ziyue shivered.

Suddenly, he sensed something and slowly turned his head.

In the small room, there was only a small wooden table, no decorations, and a wooden window that was half-open.

Through the window, Bai Ziyue was startled.

A child, about seven or eight years old, with a pale face, was crouched outside the window, staring at him with hollow eyes.

Suddenly, the child grinned and waved, as if saying, "Come play with me..."

Bai Ziyue's skin crawled.

"R-Really a ghost."

He was stunned, a feeling he couldn't describe overwhelming him, leaving his mind blank.

A ghost?

Is this a ghost?

Really encountered a ghost? What should I do?

He panicked, not daring to move.

Perhaps seeing that Bai Ziyue didn't respond, the ghost grew impatient and entered through the window.

In an instant, the already cold room became even more bone-chilling. In Bai Ziyue's eyes, the bright moonlight seemed sinister and terrifying.

He tried to suppress his fear, but watching the ghost float through the wall and approach him, that fear was instinctive and uncontrollable.

Clack, clack, clack...

His teeth chattered, wanting to shout to dispel the helplessness, but he found himself unable to move, only able to watch the ghost approach.

The ghost had a pale face, hollow eyes, and purple-black lips, grinning with brown teeth that seemed to be stained with blood...

"Courageous!"

At that moment, a thunderous roar echoed from outside the door.

The door burst open, and a muscular man with rolled-up sleeves strode in, delivering a powerful punch.

A strong aura of qi and blood rippled out.

"Ah..."

A sharp, piercing scream rang out, and the ghost's form, like a rag doll, was torn apart and dissipated like smoke.

The room, which had been sinister, seemed to brighten as if the ice and snow had melted.

"Martial arts?"

Bai Ziyue's pale face relaxed, his eyes brightening.

One punch to kill a ghost—what else could it be but martial arts?

"Yue'er, are you okay? You scared me to death."

Soon, a beautiful woman rushed in and hugged Bai Ziyue tightly.

Behind her, a tall, thin man looked tense but said nothing.

These two were Bai Ziyue's parents, Bai Yong and He Honghua.

"Father, Mother, I'm fine."

Bai Ziyue felt warmth in his heart, responding, but his eyes were fixed on the muscular man, his heart burning with excitement.

Martial arts!

Can it kill ghosts?!

This incident had a significant impact on him, making him realize that this world was truly different.

"Don't worry, it's just a small ghost. As long as you have courage, it can't do much to you."

The man saw Bai Ziyue staring at him and thought he was still scared, so he smiled reassuringly.

"This is Uncle Ming. He works in Qinghe Town, and he's quite remarkable.

You, you little rascal, to encounter a ghost and not tell us. If it weren't for Aunt Liu next door, who noticed your pale face and mentioned it, your father wouldn't have brought Uncle Ming back. You could have been harmed by that ghost..."

He Honghua scolded, feeling angry but also worried, so she patted him on the back a few times, but then softened her strength, afraid of hurting him.

"Thank you, Uncle Ming."

Bai Ziyue broke free from his mother's embrace and looked at the muscular man, asking curiously, "Was that martial arts you used? Can it kill ghosts?"

Xu Ming looked at Bai Ziyue in surprise. A child of ten, after such an ordeal, would usually be crying in fear or be silent. It was rare to see someone like Bai Ziyue, who could politely thank him and calmly ask questions.

"It's just some techniques, not really martial arts.

As for killing ghosts—these small ghosts are actually very weak. People with strong qi and blood can keep them away. I just concentrated my qi and blood in my fist, and it was enough to disperse it."

Xu Ming smiled, feeling somewhat proud.

Generally, people with strong qi and blood can keep small ghosts away, but to disperse one with a single punch is not something just anyone can do.

"Can I learn martial arts?"

Bai Ziyue quickly asked.

Bai Yong's expression changed, but he didn't speak.

"Learning martial arts is a very arduous task, not something just anyone can endure."

Xu Ming glanced at Bai Ziyue. Although his body was weak, he had a spirit that was rare in a rural child.

"Even if it's hard, it's better than being helpless against a ghost."

Bai Ziyue's face was serious.

"Martial arts should not be taught lightly. Although I am the head of the Qinghe Town dock for the Liyang Gang, I cannot teach martial arts without permission.

However, I can recommend you to become an apprentice in one of the Liyang Gang's businesses in Qinghe Town, where you might have the opportunity to learn martial arts."

Pausing, Xu Ming continued, "Of course, this is a significant decision for you. You can discuss it with your parents and then contact me."

With that, Xu Ming smiled and left.

It was already late, and since he was from Yunye Village and had a place to stay, he didn't want to linger.

...

"Yue'er, do you really want to learn martial arts?"

After a long silence, Bai Yong asked.

He Honghua was reluctant, wanting to refuse, but remembering her son's encounter with the ghost, she could only sigh.

"Yes!"

Bai Ziyue said firmly.

Reborn in this world, who wants to die?

If he didn't understand the nature of this world, it would be one thing, but now that he knew it was filled with demons and powerful beings, he felt uneasy.

A small ghost could take a life, let alone other entities.

Without skills, how could he survive?

He never wanted to feel that helplessness again.

Because it could mean death, and it was terrifying.

...

"Is Yue'er asleep?"

In another room, Bai Yong asked.

"He's already asleep." He Honghua replied, then couldn't help but ask, "Yue'er wants to learn martial arts. What do you think? I've heard that even the town isn't safe. Many villagers who went to work there never returned... And I've heard that the Liyang Gang isn't a safe place either.

Uncle Ming's third son joined and was beaten to death there. In their eyes, human life is cheap."

"I know that.

But what can we do? Two years ago, Lianhua Village, just seven miles away, disappeared entirely.

Five years ago, the hunters in the mountains, except for one who was lucky to be outside, all died.

Disasters strike every few years. Who knows if it's bandits or something else?

In the town, at least there's the government and the Liyang Gang, which makes it safer.

In Yunye Village, without strong people to protect us, what would happen if disaster strikes?

This is the world we live in. What can we do?

Yue'er might have a better chance in the town."

Bai Yong, usually quiet, understood the situation clearly.

The strongest person in Yunye Village was Xu Ming, but because he worked for the Liyang Gang, he rarely returned. If bandits or other disasters struck, the entire village of a hundred people could be wiped out.

When Bai Ziyue encountered the ghost, he couldn't find anyone in the village who dared to help, so he had to travel dozens of miles to seek Xu Ming's help.

This was just a small ghost, the weakest of the evil beings.

When Bai Ziyue decided to learn martial arts, Xu Ming didn't refuse and agreed to recommend him, though he was somewhat reluctant, he also thought it might be a good thing.

After the incident with Uncle Ming's third son, he hadn't recommended anyone to join the Liyang Gang for years.

...

On the other side, Bai Ziyue was not really asleep.

Despite his calm demeanor, encountering such a supernatural event made it impossible for him to sleep peacefully.

After reassuring his mother, he opened his eyes.

The wooden wall couldn't block the sound, so he heard his parents' conversation clearly.

"This world is indeed full of dangers. A small ghost can take a life, and bandits roam the mountains. The incidents in Lianhua Village and Hunter Village are not simple.

Only by learning martial arts and becoming strong can I protect myself and my family."

Bai Ziyue was not a real child; he had a clear mind and understood his situation.

Over the past three days, he had learned that his parents were ordinary villagers. His father farmed and occasionally worked for the nearby Tianjia Fort, while his mother sewed and made shoes to sell in town, living in poverty.

He had thought about changing things and even made some plans.

But now, understanding that this world was not as simple as he imagined, he needed to adjust his plans.

"At least, I'm not completely alone."

Bai Ziyue thought, and a transparent panel appeared in his mind.

Name: Bai Ziyue

Strength: 0.25 (+)

Speed: 0.32 (+)

Constitution: 0.35 (+)

Martial Arts: None

Soul Energy: 15

Although he didn't understand how this panel was integrated into his body, what it was, or its special functions, he knew one thing clearly.

With this attribute panel, he should have more advantages in this unpredictable world, enough to survive and even rise to prominence.

...

New book launch, hoping for more support from new and old readers!