"Hiss!"
The pain at the back of his head made Ye Liuyun, whose consciousness was gradually returning, inhale a sharp breath.
Did someone club me over the head?
Blinking groggily, he looked around—it seemed he was in a dilapidated temple, the ground overgrown with weeds and a gaping hole in the roof above.
Could it be those old enemies from before? Realizing this possibility, Ye Liuyun's face sank.
Ye Liuyun was a transmigrator—he'd arrived in this era a bit over half a month ago.
If that was all, he could've handled it, but when sorting through his memories, he discovered his body's original owner had the infamous reputation of being a street thug—a scoundrel who abused men and women alike, relying on his twin brother who worked for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
He'd made plenty of enemies in the process.
After learning these things, Ye Liuyun rarely stepped outside, doing his best to lower his presence while gathering information about the times.
Since his brother worked for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he'd assumed he'd landed in the Great Ming Dynasty.
But it turned out to be the Great Qian Dynasty—he'd never even heard of it.
This world had fourteen states, vast lands, and besides the Great Qian, there were other similar dynasties.
In the martial world, sects rose everywhere. Rumor was that powerful Martial Artists could command the Power of Heaven and Earth. Truth be told, hearing all this had set Ye Liuyun's blood racing.
Who didn't dream when young of roving the land with a sword, dispensing justice wherever they went?
He'd even planned to ask his cheap older brother for a martial arts manual. Even though memories said their relationship wasn't great, blood was blood—getting a manual shouldn't be impossible, right?
But just as he entertained the idea, that very night someone clubbed him and tied him up here.
"Am I really gonna be the first transmigrator to die this quickly?"
Hands and feet bound tight, he struggled in vain, bumping against the stone altar behind him.
"Creak!"
The soft, brittle sound made Ye Liuyun freeze and turn his head.
On the dusty stone altar, he saw a statue with indistinct features, one hand raised high—the elbow covered in cracks, as if it might snap off at any moment.
And the spot where it would fall... was precisely the spot where Ye Liuyun now lay.
This thing must weigh a good few dozen pounds—if it hit, he'd be crushed instantly.
Thinking this, Ye Liuyun prepared to worm away like a caterpillar.
But just then, the ruined temple's doors creaked open from outside—the person who'd tied him up was here. Ye Liuyun didn't care about anything else; he hadn't even gotten a clear look at the face before he shouted:
"My brother is a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If you kill me, you won't get away with it!"
At these words, the person actually paused in silence.
Hope?
Just as Ye Liuyun was getting a bit excited inside, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
"Was this how you ruined my reputation before?"
"!"
Realizing what was happening, Ye Liuyun looked up in disbelief.
The person strode closer—a face identical to his own came into view.
"Bro—brother!"
It was none other than this body's twin, Ye Liufeng.
How could it—how could it be this guy who tied him up?
"Wait, brother, there must be some misunderstanding! I've already changed, just give me a chance. I'm willing to leave here, leave the Imperial City, go somewhere far and never cause you trouble again."
This was no time for anything else—staying alive trumped everything.
Ye Liufeng wore plain clothes, looking down at his pleading brother with utter indifference in his eyes.
He drew the sword from his waist, aiming it directly at Ye Liuyun.
"Too late!"
Is he really going to kill me? This transmigration is way too brutal! As the cold blade pressed to his throat, Ye Liuyun felt his limbs turn icy.
"You—you promised Father you'd take care of me!"
The will to survive made Ye Liuyun recall some original memories.
When their father had died, he really had told Ye Liufeng to look after Ye Liuyun. And since their mother died young, the two grew up relying on each other—only their lives diverged: one became an official, the other a thug.
He thought these words might stir some brotherly feeling in Ye Liufeng.
But—
"That's why I let you live until now. Otherwise, that night I poisoned Father, I would've killed you too."
"!!!"
"You killed Father?"
The original body truly hadn't known that—he'd thought Father died from hard living and illness.
Ye Liuyun thought being a thug was bad enough—turns out there was something even worse.
"Anyone in my way—must die."
"Don't worry. I'll let you complain to our father in the Underworld."
The cold blade stayed pressed to Ye Liuyun's throat. As if recalling something amusing, Ye Liufeng suddenly leaned in and whispered in his ear.
With a thing like this—even killing his own younger brother was just a casual matter.
What now! What do I do! Move, move, use your smart brain! Ye Liuyun was already roaring in his heart.
"Sorry!"
Just as Ye Liufeng prepared to strike, Ye Liuyun suddenly looked up and blurted out.
"?"
Ye Liufeng was about to ask what he meant—
Ye Liuyun suddenly sprang into motion, smashing his back against the stone altar behind him, dodging the blade at his neck, and rolling aside.
Before Ye Liufeng could react, the unsteady arm of the statue above snapped off.
"Crash!"
Dozens of pounds of stone struck their mark.
Staring at the dust kicked up by the falling debris, Ye Liuyun gasped for breath.
"Sorry, but I want to live too."
Who wants to die, when they can live? Ye Liuyun wasn't lying—he really was willing to leave this dynasty far behind, but Ye Liufeng just wouldn't give him the chance.
He twisted around to grab the sword that'd dropped nearby, using it to cut the ropes binding him.
"Ye Liuyun!"
Ye Liufeng was a Martial Artist—even if third-class, his body far outstripped a normal person's. Getting hit like this wasn't fatal.
Instead, he tried to shove the stone off with bloodshot eyes glaring murderously at Ye Liuyun.
"You dare run? If I die, you won't last either."
"I know."
Ye Liuyun didn't choose to flee—he picked up the sword, walked over, looking at the struggling Ye Liufeng on the ground, and pronounced each word slowly.
"So today—the only one walking out of here alive will be Ye Liufeng."
Ye Liuyun was a street thug—nobody cared if he died. But if Ye Liufeng, a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, died, the city would be sealed and investigated by countless people the next day.
"Thank you—for teaching me to do whatever it takes to reach my goal."
He raised the sword high in both hands.
Meeting Ye Liufeng's eyes, blazing with fury, he brought it down fast.
"From now on, I am Ye Liufeng!"
,,,,,,
New book on the road! Hope you enjoy it!