In the winter of the fourth year of Qingli, Linjiang City welcomed its first snowfall; from midnight until dawn, the entire city lay hidden beneath a blanket of white.
In a small courtyard deep within Qingping Lane, a gust of cold wind blew open the window, awakening Gu Zhan from his dazed slumber.
He stared at the unfamiliar face reflected in the copper mirror, with those extra memories flooding his mind, and he finally accepted the truth of his transmigration.
This was a strange, ancient world,
not one belonging to any dynasty he remembered. It was a nation called Xia, a world where martial arts existed; moreover, martial arts were the mainstream here.
To the extent that, with the Great Xia Dynasty teetering on the brink of extinction, martial arts masters could now disregard the law, some even trampling it outright.
And Gu Zhan's predecessor was nothing but a casualty of this era.
His earlier life was decent, surpassing that of many of the era's poor.
His father was a Small Banner Officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a modest status—not wealthy, but respectable.
Yet, due to turbulent times,
the court's authority waned ever more, martial world gangs rampaged unchecked, and some martial masters acted wholly outside the law, following only their own will.
On one patrol to maintain order, Gu Zhan's father got into a conflict with a drunk, disorderly martial world master—and was slain by that master's sword. Before countless witnesses, the killer strode off unhurried, never brought to justice even to this day.
Because the Embroidered Uniform Guard had a hereditary system,
Gu Zhan took his father's place and became a Small Banner.
But Gu Zhan lacked the talent for martial arts; though he'd trained some basic fist techniques, he was nothing more than an able-bodied commoner. His official rank in the Embroidered Uniform Guard earned him no respect, and he was often ostracized.
Just the other day, after being publicly defied by several subordinates yet again, he was furious but helpless. Off duty, he sought solace in a tavern, but there he clashed with a group of local ruffians. Dressed in plain clothes, his identity unknown to them, he was beaten severely.
Luckily, a passing Embroidered Uniform Guard rescued him—otherwise, he might have been killed right then and there.
Even so, though spared,
he suffered serious injuries and was confined to home to recover.
Last night, as usual, he took his medicine and lay down to rest; but soon after, a sharp pain seized his heart, and before he could cry out for help, he died outright.
And then,
Gu Zhan transmigrated into this body.
...
Recalling the predecessor's death,
Gu Zhan found it highly suspicious. Though he never practiced martial arts, the body had always been healthy, free of illness, and the recent injuries were gradually healing. There was no reason for a sudden death.
He carefully sifted through the memories in his mind and finally focused on the medicine he drank before bed last night.
He strained to recall it,
and noticed something off about the maid who delivered the medicine. Normally, she moved slow and steady, never hurried or impatient, but last night, she was incessantly urging him to drink.
The predecessor trusted her, so paid little mind at the time,
but now, looking back, Gu Zhan could basically conclude—there was something wrong with that maid!
"Creak…"
At that moment, the room's door pushed open,
a charming woman stepped inside. Seeing Gu Zhan, she suddenly shuddered, a flash of panic in her eyes, blatantly startled, hastily saying, "Y-young master, you're up!"
Gu Zhan looked at her, narrowing his eyes slightly.
With her reaction and his suspicions combined, he could basically deduce that the predecessor's death was caused by this woman.
The only thing Gu Zhan couldn't figure out was,
why she would harm him.
This woman's name was Peony, originally a beggar, begging on the streets, targeted by a few ruffians wanting to sell her to a brothel.
Gu Zhan happened to pass by and intervened.
Seeing Peony's plight, Gu Zhan took her home as a maid, naming her Peony.
Since Gu Zhan's mother died early, and Father Gu was busy with official duties, Gu Zhan grew up lonely. So after Peony arrived at the Gu Family, though called a maid, in truth she was more like a companion.
The Gu Family never truly treated Peony as a maid; as she grew up, Father Gu even thought of having Gu Zhan take Peony as a concubine, always treating Peony as a future daughter-in-law.
The predecessor, too, growing up with Peony, regarded her as family.
That's why Gu Zhan really couldn't understand,
what reason Peony might have to harm him!
...
Peony saw the chill in Gu Zhan's eyes; already feeling guilty, she grew afraid, forcing a smile: "Young master, w-why are you looking at me like that?"
Gu Zhan slowly rose, flexing his body a bit,
possibly a benefit of transmigration—his predecessor's injuries seemed fully healed, his body perfectly normal.
Ignoring Peony, he took the Horizontal Saber from the wall, drew it in one motion, and pressed the blade to Peony's neck, coldly: "Why did you harm me?"
Peony trembled, fear flickering in her eyes, but she still tried to deny it: "Y-young master, what are you saying? How could I ever harm you? You…"
"Pa!"
Gu Zhan swung the Horizontal Saber lightly, slapping Peony's pretty face with the flat side, knocking her to the floor.
As Peony stared in shock, Gu Zhan rested the blade on her shoulder again, voice icy: "Last chance: Why did you harm me? Who's behind it? If you don't talk, I'll kill you right now. You're just a maid; killing you only means I pay a few taels of silver at the Government Office!"
Peony showed fear, but after a moment, as if letting go, sneered: "No one made me do it. As for why I harmed you—ha, Gu Zhan, did you think I ought to be grateful, serve you like a beast all my life, be your maid forever? Do you even deserve it?"
Gu Zhan was startled.
Peony continued: "Why? Why must I be your maid? Don't you think you overvalue yourself? If you ask around Qingping Lane, everyone greets me respectfully as Miss Peony, all see me as a lady. Wherever I go, I'm received as a young mistress,
but you—what am I to you? A maid. Why should I serve you forever? Do you deserve it? What right do you have for me to wait on you? You saved me, but was it truly out of kindness? You just want favors to be returned, don't you? Hypocrite. Disgusting!"
"Just for this? You poisoned me?" Gu Zhan asked in shock, "Did it ever occur to you, why everyone outside treats you so respectfully?"
"Of course, because I have the bearing of a lady. Because I'm beautiful!" Peony replied coldly.
"No," Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes. "It's only because you're my maid!"
Peony froze, about to retort: "You—"
"What a clueless fool, death at your door and still won't confess who's behind you!"
Gu Zhan slashed Peony's throat in one swift motion,
Blood sprayed instantly,
Peony's eyes widened, slumping to the floor, body convulsing, blood pooling and spreading across the boards.
But at that instant,
Gu Zhan was stunned,
for as Peony died,
a mechanical synthesized voice suddenly echoed in his mind:
[Experience Points +1]