"Master!"
"Hurry, leave!"
"Master, I'm here to save you!"
"Get lost! Remember to bring your mistress back home..."
"Roar!"
...
"Ah!"
Zhou Chen awoke with a start, gasping for breath, heart pounding.
He dreamt of secretly knocking on Qin Keqing, Widow Qin's door in the middle of the night, only for the door to open and a fierce, white-striped tiger to leap out.
The tiger had an old man in its bloody maw, dripping with fresh blood.
The old man struggled painfully, shouting at him to run.
He screamed for his master, heartbroken.
"What utter nonsense!"
Recalling the dream's scenes, Zhou Chen shook his head and couldn't help but complain:
"Indeed, dreams have no reason!"
He's an orphan, where would he get a master?
Plenty of teachers though, even some from Japan and Korea.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Chen's pupils contracted as he suddenly realized he was in an unfamiliar room—a worn-out wooden house, wooden stool, wooden table, oil lamp...
"Where is this?"
The thought arose, and suddenly a chaotic flood of memories surged into his mind like a massive torrent, causing dizziness and splitting headache, only recovering after a long while.
Turns out he transmigrated.
More accurately, he reincarnated and only now awakened past life memories.
This is an Extraordinary World where demons run rampant and immortals stand aloof.
Since childhood, he and Old Man Cao depended on each other, making a living by hunting.
Old Man Cao was a remarkable archer, often bringing back game, leading quite a comfortable life.
However, Old Man Cao, over fifty yet young at heart, had his eyes set on the village girl Qin Hongyu from Elder Qin's family.
Qin Hongyu, the same age as him, was eighteen, with a graceful figure and beautiful looks, envied by many men.
Elder Qin, too, demanded a high price, asking for ten taels of silver right off the bat.
Enthralled, Old Man Cao gritted his teeth, using all his savings to barely scrape enough together, but their previously comfortable life suddenly became strained.
Three days ago, Old Man Cao, aiming to improve their life after marriage and have more time to enjoy with the bride, took Zhou Chen deep into the mountains for hunting.
The result was, going too deep, they encountered a fierce, white-striped tiger.
The tiger bit Old Man Cao in one gulp, devouring him.
Zhou Chen luckily escaped with his life, returning to erect a memorial for Old Man Cao.
He was so heartbroken and underfed, he fainted.
Upon waking, he regained past life memories.
Grumble!
His stomach kept protesting loudly, Zhou Chen rubbed his growling belly and got up to find food.
Searching around the house, he found only two hard, dry corn buns and a jar of pickled wild vegetables, enough to make a mouse weep.
"Damn!"
Zhou Chen couldn't help cursing; Old Man Cao had used up all his savings to marry, and after the funeral, the leftover grains were all exhausted as people exploited the funeral arrangements.
He realized the villagers weren't friendly towards him because he and Old Man Cao weren't locals but outsiders.
"Damn it!"
Zhou Chen cursed, heated up the corn buns, and choked them down with pickles to barely fill his stomach.
"System?"
"Panel?"
"Old Grandpa?"
Zhou Chen pondered for a while, somewhat disappointed; who said transmigrators all have some cheat?
He seemed not to have one.
Maybe the time wasn't right.
He'd seen many cases, some only gained a cheat after becoming immortal, others after dying, some after marrying a wife...
"Forget it, better go hunting to fill my belly first!"
Rubbing his stomach, seeing it was still early as the sun just rose, Zhou Chen skillfully strapped on a basket, fastened a machete at his waist, and picked up his bow, arrows, and trident, heading to the mountain's back.
With memories from both lives merged, he was familiar here, except for the deep mountains where Old Man Cao was killed, where he dared not venture.
"Today was supposed to be the master's and mistress's grand wedding day, pity the master couldn't enjoy it!"
Zhou Chen shook his head and sighed.
Though past life memories dominated, he remained grateful to Old Man Cao; after all, he wasn't the kind of transmigrator who hijacks bodies.
"Master, rest in peace, I will soon bring mistress back home and take good care of her!"
Zhou Chen's gaze was deep, his eyes resolute.
He knew it was absolutely impossible to make Elder Qin, that greedy, stingy drunkard, return the ten taels of silver.
At least he couldn't do it now.
Moreover, Elder Qin probably couldn't come up with ten taels of silver either.
But taking Qin Hongyu back home was possible.
This world is dangerous; death is a common occurrence.
According to common practice, since Old Man Cao had died, Zhou Chen, as his only relative, could demand Elder Qin return the money or marry Qin Hongyu to him.
This kind of thing is not uncommon.
Next door, Wang Daniu also drowned in the river after encountering misfortune while fishing before his wedding, and then Wang Erniu stepped in, marrying the bride instead.
Zhou Chen wasn't acting out of lust but because this matter concerned his very foundation.
If he couldn't get the money back or marry Qin Hongyu, others would think he was weak and easy to bully.
If he couldn't even protect his rightful interests, wouldn't he be bullied to death in the future?
Better to land one punch and avoid a hundred others!
He had to use this matter to show everyone that although Old Man Cao was dead, Zhou Chen was not to be messed with.
Before his death, Old Man Cao had also instructed him to bring back Qin Hongyu for this very reason.
About half an hour later.
Zhou Chen arrived at the back mountain, his senses alert. Even though he'd been here countless times, and the outskirts weren't particularly dangerous, caution was still necessary.
Oftentimes, poisonous insects and snakes were more dangerous than large beasts.
Dahe Village was backed by the Changling Mountain Range and fronted by the Qing River. It was a place abundant in resources, though most villagers made their living by fishing.
There weren't many hunters in the village, with Old Man Cao being the most famous among them.
Rustling!
The grass shook, and a gray shadow flashed by.
"A wild rabbit!"
Zhou Chen had been hunting with Old Man Cao since he was a child. With sharp eyes and quick reflexes, he swiftly circumvented the nearby grass to spot the fleeing gray rabbit.
He drew his bow and nocked an arrow in one fluid motion. The arrow shot out at the moment the rabbit sprang up, piercing through its hind leg just as it reached its peak!
"Not bad luck!"
Zhou Chen was delighted. Although the shot was off, it still hit.
He rushed forward, picked up the struggling rabbit from the ground, tied its hind legs with rope, and placed it in the basket on his back, then continued hunting.
However, it seemed his luck had run out, and he encountered few prey, even missing the only pheasant he saw.
"Forget it, time to head back!"
Zhou Chen descended the mountain with the rabbit on his back.
He hadn't ventured deep into the mountains and quickly returned to the village.
Zhou Chen didn't go home; instead, he headed straight to Elder Qin's house.
Elder Qin was a man in his forties, currently lying on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, enjoying his little drink.
Old Man Cao was dead, and Zhou Chen was just a brat—how couldn't he have him under his thumb?
After the current tension subsided, he'd find another good family for Qin Hongyu and sell her again; maybe he'd get ten taels of silver again!
What a delight!
Knock knock knock!
Just then, the knocking on the door startled Elder Qin out of his dream.
He looked up to see Zhou Chen, his face darkened, and after a long pause, he slowly rose to open the door, saying coolly:
"Little Chen, what is it?"
"Uncle Qin, you know my master had an accident three days ago and can't marry Sister Hongyu. My family is also struggling, so I came to ask Uncle Qin to return my master's betrothal gift for emergency relief."
Zhou Chen stated frankly.
"Little Chen, Uncle Qin knows your family is in difficulty, but Uncle Qin's family is also struggling. Where would I find extra silver now?"
Elder Qin looked troubled and replied dismissively, "Don't worry, once Uncle Qin has money, I'll send it to you first thing!"
Zhou Chen sneered—wait for him to have money? He was afraid it wouldn't happen in this lifetime!
"Since Uncle Qin is so hard up, let's follow the established custom and marry Sister Hongyu to me!"
"Little Chen, I have to criticize you a bit here. Your master just died, and you're already thinking of taking a wife. Aren't you ashamed before your master?"
"This was my master's dying wish."
Zhou Chen's eyes turned cold. Holding back his fury, he said heavily, "If it's not done, that's what would truly betray my master!"
"If that's the case, go back first, and I'll find a good day to discuss the marriage with you!"
"Discuss, my ass!"
Grabbing Elder Qin's collar, Zhou Chen's knife flashed, already poised at Elder Qin's neck:
"Cut the crap—either give me the money today or the person!"
"Or I'll show you what the wrath of an ordinary man can do—blood spilled within five steps!"
…