Chapter 1

It was August, and the midday sun was scorching.

The heat was suffocating.

Two servants of the Ye family were carrying a bucket of porridge to deliver the cooling mung bean ice porridge to the fifth branch of the family.

After passing through the back garden and a pond, they would reach the residence of the fifth branch of the Ye family.

The pond was not large, only ten feet in diameter and three feet deep, filled with lotus flowers that remained unstained by the mud.

Beside the pond stood a person.

"Xizi, who is that servant? Is he stupid? Why is he standing by the pond on such a hot day?"

The new servant, Xiaojiu, couldn't help but ask.

Beside the pond was a young boy, who was wandering around in the scorching heat, occasionally making strange movements, muttering to himself:

"Eleven, eleven, eleven..."

The old servant Xizi glanced at him and said, "He's a fool."

"Xiaojiu, remember, that boy isn't just a servant. He is the seventeenth young master of the third branch of the Ye family, but he was born with an unstable soul, making him naturally foolish.

As he grew older, he improved somewhat, but he still seems a bit dim-witted..."

Xiaojiu nodded and said, "The seventeenth young master of the Ye family's Jiang generation?"

"His father, the head of the third branch, Ye Ruoshui, is known for his lack of involvement. He has five wives and over a dozen children, and he probably doesn't speak to this son more than ten times a year.

His mother is biased, favoring the other young masters and neglecting him completely.

With no care from his father and no love from his mother, and being a fool, he doesn't need to cultivate. He just does whatever he wants every day..."

As Xizi spoke, Xiaojiu looked over.

The boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old, was slender, with fair skin and a delicate face.

But his eyes were extremely strange...

Though he seemed to be looking at the pond, it was as if he was seeing another world. Xiaojiu felt a chill run down his spine and goosebumps rise, and he dared not look anymore.

Suddenly, the boy dashed forward, running as if chasing something that had crawled out of the pond.

But there was nothing in front of him.

The boy lunged forward with all his might, as if pressing down on something. Xiaojiu vaguely felt something struggling there, but there was nothing.

He rubbed his eyes hard, confirming that there was nothing under the boy.

The inexplicable strangeness filled Xiaojiu with endless fear. What was truly terrifying was what he couldn't see or understand.

The boy suddenly fell to the ground, lying down without caring if it was clean or dirty, and burst into laughter.

Xiaojiu couldn't help but tremble. He looked at Xizi, who was smiling as if enjoying the show.

Xizi, sensing Xiaojiu's fear, said, "What are you afraid of? He's just a fool!"

"What's there to be afraid of with a fool?"

He spoke loudly, as if emphasizing something to himself.

Xiaojiu thought for a moment. Hearing Xizi's ridicule and seeing the boy's strange actions, the fear seemed to fade, and he began to laugh along with Xizi.

He couldn't help but say, "He's a fool! Why should I be afraid of him..."

Xizi replied slowly, "At first, I was afraid of him too, but once I realized he was a fool, I wasn't afraid anymore.

However, no one has come to this pond in the past two years except him.

Actually, thinking about it, it's quite pitiful. Born into the Ye family, a natural young master, he should have lived a life of luxury, but he's a fool, with no affection from his father or mother. It's just his fate!"

"Xizi, can we play a trick on him?" Xiaojiu couldn't help but ask.

Thinking of his earlier fear, Xiaojiu felt a mix of anger and embarrassment, wanting to get back at him.

Xizi shook his head firmly and said, "Xiaojiu, remember, don't play tricks on him, even though he's a fool.

This boy never admits he's a fool. He usually acts normal, just a bit dim-witted, but he gets angry if anyone calls him a fool and doesn't tolerate any bullying. He fights like a madman.

Two years ago, Ma Laoqi from the stables mocked him and was knocked unconscious for three days.

The third young master of the first branch and his friends mocked him and were chased and beaten by him. He beat a group of people, even breaking the third young master's head.

His father, though uninvolved, is extremely protective. No one can bully the third branch.

Also, since he's a fool, no one would believe him if he said anything. There's no responsibility, so no one dares to play tricks on him anymore."

Hearing this, Xiaojiu chuckled nervously and didn't dare look at the boy anymore.

The boy got up and laughed loudly three times, still muttering:

"Eleven, eleven, eleven..."

"Xizi, what is he counting with 'eleven, eleven, eleven'?"

Xizi looked at Xiaojiu with a half-smile and said, "Hehe, you'll see in a moment!"

As they spoke, Xiaojiu and Xizi walked away, and the boy got up and looked at the pond, still feeling some inexplicable anticipation.

A short while later, Xiaojiu returned alone.

He found an opportunity to separate from Xizi and came to find the boy, unwilling to be scared by this fool.

When he arrived, Xiaojiu looked around and saw no one else but the two of them.

With a fierce expression, Xiaojiu approached the boy from behind, who was still muttering, "Eleven, eleven, eleven..."

Xiaojiu whispered, "A fool, daring to scare me!"

"Why should you be a young master of the Ye family, while I'm just a servant for life? Why..."

"Who would know if I pushed you into the pond?"

"Anyway, you're a fool, no one would believe you!"

The boy suddenly looked at the pond, as if he saw something incredible.

Xiaojiu followed his gaze and was startled. Suddenly, the boy reached out, grabbed Xiaojiu's hair, and threw him into the pond with a splash.

Falling into the pond, covered in mud, Xiaojiu struggled desperately. Fortunately, the water wasn't deep, and he quickly made it to shore.

The boy looked at him and laughed, counting, "Twelve, twelve, twelve..."

On the side, Xizi and a group of servants appeared, all laughing.

"The new one is fun!"

"Everyone has to fall into the pond once to know the power of the fool."

"Twelve, twelve!"

"Ha ha ha, I'm dying of laughter!"

"Twelve, twelve!"

Xiaojiu was dumbfounded, only then realizing the dangers of the world.

The boy turned and left, still muttering, "Twelve, twelve..."

As he walked away, the boy sighed, "Twelve, twelve," and stopped counting.

He had to act foolish, or people would find his behavior strange and frightening. Only by acting silly and crazy would they not feel anything was off.

Today's harvest was good, getting one strand of pond spirit energy, plus two strands from the morning dew, making it three strands. Great!

However, the pond wouldn't produce more spirit energy today, so it was time to rest.

On the way, he made sure no one was around and sang a folk song that others couldn't understand.

"Facing the waves with pride, my blood burns for the red sun..."

He had been in this world for thirteen years. At first, his adult soul reincarnated into a baby's body, and the physical body couldn't handle it, making him dim-witted and unable to control his body. He didn't walk until he was three and didn't call his mother until he was six.

Finally, at eight, his soul and body were fully integrated, and he was no longer a fool. But he found this world to be very difficult!

His father didn't love him, and he didn't love anyone, meeting him only two or three times a year and speaking less than ten words.

His mother didn't love him either, possibly because he was too dim-witted as a child. Even after he improved, he was still weak and neglected. She only favored her younger brother and showed no concern or love for him.

With no affection from his father or mother, and no cultivation resources, he had to rely on himself!

His body was also weak, with a poor constitution. The family's inherited "Wood Leaf Condensation Technique" took him five years to catch up to what others achieved in one year.

But no one could bully him. He was a fool, and if they provoked him, he would break their heads!

"Bold as iron, bones like steel, a chest a thousand feet wide, eyes that see a thousand miles, I strive for strength..."

Singing the song from his past life, Ye Jiangchuan wasn't afraid if others heard it. This world also had this song, known as "General's Order," often sung during festivals, though with different lyrics.

"Be a good man, strive to be strong every day!"

He silently encouraged himself!

Fortunately, the heavens didn't abandon him. As a reincarnated soul, he had something special, a golden finger!

But awakening this golden finger was difficult!

"Brighter than the sun!"

After finishing the song from his past life, the boy looked into the distance, with no trace of foolishness, only unwavering determination!

He had to act foolish to explain his abnormal behavior and to have a chance to activate his golden finger.

No matter how difficult, he wasn't afraid, truly not afraid!

He firmly encouraged himself in his heart!

"Born with a purpose, wealth lost can be regained!"

"I, Ye Jiangchuan, have been given a second chance in this world. I must not waste it.

A good man, born into this world, must live a life of dignity!"

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New book uploaded, hoping everyone likes it. Please support with favorites and recommendations. I hope to live a life of dignity too!

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