Surviving the Ancient Angst Novel [Transmigration] - Chapter 3

I don’t know how much time passed, but the boat finally stopped. I heard the rustle of the door curtain being lifted, followed by a pair of hands gripping my arms, half-pulling and half-pushing me outside.

The hull swayed slightly until my feet finally touched solid ground, and my heart settled with them.

We’re finally here. I let out a soft sigh of relief.

The knot at the back of my head was untied, and my eyes finally saw the light of day once more. It was already dark, and since there were no streetlights in ancient times, visibility was quite limited.

Several attendants held glass lanterns, barely illuminating the ground a few meters in front of them. The man in green led the way down a small path. We followed closely behind.

In the dead of night, the wind whistled and the shadows of trees loomed like ghosts; we didn’t see a single soul along the way. Combined with the long hours without food, I was so hungry my head was spinning and my footsteps were weak. I had to grit my teeth just to keep going.

After walking for about half an hour, we finally arrived at an open area that was brilliantly lit. Traditional buildings stood in orderly rows, with carved rafters and painted railings, covering a vast area that seemed to have no end. Glass lanterns of all sizes and colors were hung under the eaves and along the corridors as if they cost nothing, brightening the place as if it were day.

The man in green led us into a central hall and ordered food for us. The four of us were famished; we wolfed everything down like a whirlwind sweeping through clouds. Soon, the plates and bowls were empty we didn’t even spare the sauce.

The man in green stood patiently to the side until we finished before instructing an attendant to take us to our quarters. We were assigned to the same courtyard: Taoyu Court.

Only a single, tall pine tree grew in the courtyard, standing lonely like a withered old man bowing his sorrowful head.

“This will be your residence from now on. Get some rest early,” the attendant said, surveying us with an expressionless face before turning to leave.

Once he was gone, the two younger, beautiful children skipped excitedly into the house. I wasn’t sleepy yet, so I crossed my arms and walked over to the pine tree, leaning against its dry, cracked trunk to think.

The current situation was this: I only knew I had transmigrated into a tragedy novel. Beyond that, I was completely blind, I knew nothing and understood nothing. Mei Renteng’s little prequel only recorded events from twenty years ago; it was all in the past tense and focused mostly on him. It didn’t mention much about the Eastern Desolate Sect itself, so it wasn’t very useful.

On the way here, I had tried calling the System several times, but there was no response. I didn’t even know if it was still there.

“Brother Yinchen, aren’t you coming inside?”

I was jolted out of my thoughts by a sudden voice. I looked up to see Qiao Kaiheng. As expected it couldn’t have been anyone else.

It made sense; anyone arriving in a strange place would instinctively seek out someone of a similar age and situation to talk about life and dreams. If they hit it over, they might become best friends. It’s the same logic as new college students finding a “dorm buddy” to eat and attend classes with.

The dark-skinned youth had a simple, hearty smile on his face as he looked at me with a friendly expression. I withdrew my gaze and gave him a cold profile as a response.

Are you joking? In a tragedy novel, how many people who stick close to the protagonist end up with a good life? Besides, I’m an old “social animal” from the modern corporate world; what could I possibly talk about with an ancient farm boy? Should we discuss the bull market, stocks and funds, or video games? Could he even understand?

Being in a tragedy is stressful enough; why waste brain cells trying to figure out what an ancient brat wants to chat about?

NO.

Isn’t it better to peacefully be a “Background Prop” with zero presence? Maintaining a persona is unnecessary; it’s better to just be myself. In the modern world, I was as ordinary as one could be.

Seeing that I wasn’t responding, Qiao Kaiheng sensibly stopped talking and trudged into the house. I looked up again, watching his lonely silhouette with a complicated gaze.

Truthfully, even if I rushed up to him now and shouted: “The Eastern Desolate Sect is dangerous! You can’t stay here! Run!” he wouldn’t believe me. He’d probably just think I was crazy. (After all, my behavior when the man in green was picking recruits was already quite abnormal.)

Even if there were a one-in-a-million chance he believed me, it would be impossible for two people who don’t know martial arts to escape. I’d likely end up “buying the farm” prematurely.

So, sorry, tragic protagonist. Since I can’t change your fate, from now on… let’s each live by our own abilities. At least he was the protagonist; he wouldn’t die that easily.

After standing in the cool night breeze for an hour, I estimated they were all asleep before heading inside.

The room featured a communal platform bed (Tatami style). Qiao Kaiheng was curled up on the outer edge, with the two children snuggled close to him in a familiar, intimate posture. They were sleeping soundly. It seemed the three of them were getting along quite well.

I rubbed my chin and crept onto the bed, finding a corner as far away from them as possible to lie down. The treatment at the Eastern Desolate Sect was actually quite good; the quilt was thick and felt warm against my body. I pulled a corner of the bedding to my nose and sniffed it was clean and smelled of sunlight. They must have aired it out in advance knowing new residents were coming.

I slept without dreams.

The next morning, a sharp, bizarre cry echoed through the quiet courtyard, sounding like the desperate, final struggle of a dying bird. Then came a chorus of cries, echoing from both near and far.

I jolted awake and sat up. With my hair disheveled, I looked over to see Qiao Kaiheng also sitting on the bed with a face full of confusion. He hesitantly got up, put on his shoes, and walked toward the door. The two children rubbed their sleepy eyes and followed closely behind him.

The sound continued.

I nimbly put on my shoes and walked out, standing behind Qiao Kaiheng.

Standing in the courtyard was the attendant from yesterday. Perched on his shoulder was an unknown bird, pitch black all over with a long beak and terrifying, blood-red eyes. The sound was coming from its throat.

When it saw us come out, the bird suddenly took flight. Soon after, other black birds flew into the sky from neighboring courtyards. In no time, the clear blue sky was covered by a dark “cloud” of birds. Their mournful, tragic cries intertwined into a raspy, eerie melody, sounding like the chanting of ghosts. The chanting faded as they flew into the distance.

The attendant finally spoke. “Those are the Immortal Birds.”

Qiao Kaiheng said in shock, “Immortal Birds… so that was just now… the Blessing of the Immortal Bird?”

“Child One,” who had been nervous, brightened up. “So Immortal Birds really exist in this world!”

“Child Two” was even more delighted. “I heard that those blessed by the Immortal Bird will live a long life!”

The attendant nodded. “Follow me.”

Though his face remained an expressionless mask, I clearly saw a flash of mockery in his eyes as he turned. My heart sank. I knew the plot was starting.

Just then, the System, which had been silent for so long, finally popped up. A selection panel that only I could see unfolded before my eyes:

【Yinchen, please select your next Task Mode: 】

1. Contest for the Realm
2. Take a Bold Risk
3. Leisure and Retirement

I had a gut feeling this choice was important, so I didn’t rush. ‘What’s the difference between these three modes?’

【The first offers the most abundant rewards, the second is next, and the third is the least,】 the System enticed. 【The more abundant the reward, the higher the survival rate~】

Even though I had prepared myself, hearing this from the System made my eyelid twitch. ‘What do you mean? I could die in this world?’

【Yes. If you die in this world, your physical body in the other world will also be erased. So, Yinchen, if you want to go back alive, I recommend the first mode. If you obtain the ultimate reward, the “Chaos Pearl,” I will have enough energy to open a space-time rift and send you home.】

‘The second and third modes don’t have the Chaos Pearl?’

The System sighed. 【They do, but it takes a long time. The second mode has a hard requirement: you must stay for fifty years. The third mode’s hard requirement: you must stay for ninety years.】 It didn’t forget to tempt me further: 【The first mode has no hard requirement. Finish the task early, get the reward, and go home early~】

I didn’t even blink as I chose the third one Leisure and Retirement.

‘Living an extra ninety years sounds pretty good.’

The System was stunned. 【You!】 It was its first time handling such a “Zen-like” (lazy) host.

I sneered. ‘These three modes are basically “Protagonist,” “Supporting Character,” and “Passerby A.” If you put me in a power fantasy, I’d choose the first one, or at least the second. But this is a tragedy novel. Choosing the first or second mode is just a death wish.’

【…Is it possible you could become the Number One in the world, so no one can stop you?】

‘A hero can’t fight four hands at once,’ I countered.

【…You could make many friends.】

‘I have social anxiety.’

【…】 The System was speechless. Since the choice was made, it had to accept it.

Following the attendant out of the courtyard, we saw lines of people emerging from other courtyards. Some were dressed in rags and were as malnourished as we were; others were wealthy young masters in fine silks; and there were also clean-looking youths in simpler clothing.

They looked like new recruits; their eyes filled with curiosity as they looked around while walking. I observed the wealthy young masters these people likely hadn’t been sold here like us. And those clean, pampered youths didn’t look like they were raised in poverty either; their conditions might not have matched the young masters, but they weren’t bad.

Remembering the reputation of the Eastern Desolate Sect, I realized these people might have come here voluntarily.

The large group moved forward slowly. The youths were chatting and laughing, making the pace quite leisurely. The attendants didn’t rush them; they focused on leading the way. The atmosphere was so light and pleasant that it gave me the illusion we were all here for a vacation.

The smile on Qiao Kaiheng’s face never faded. He even snapped a branch from a tree and tucked it into his belt, gripping one end like a sword. With his straight back, long legs, and spirited expression, he looked every bit the handsome young swordsman!

I followed behind him with my head down and shoulders slumped. My naturally tall frame was hunched until I looked a full head shorter than him.

After walking for nearly four hours, we finally reached our destination: a large circular clearing with a dozen tables and ten mountain cave entrances lined up side-by-side. From the outside, the caves were pitch black, leading who-knows-where.

“Everyone, let us eat first.” The man waiting in the clearing was a middle-aged man with long hair tied back. His features were quite ordinary, but he had a very gentle, soothing aura.

I glanced at his waist Orange Jade. Good heavens, he was one rank higher than the man in green and Mei Renteng from yesterday. This man, who didn’t look like much, definitely wasn’t as simple as he appeared.

The middle-aged man clapped his hands, and the White Jade attendants behind him filed out, bringing out dishes that were kept warm in food boxes. Having walked for so long, everyone was famished. Led by the young masters, everyone gathered around the tables to enjoy the feast.

I looked at the dishes: Pufferfish Soup with Silvergrass, Vinegar-Glazed Fish, Dongpo Pork, Longjing Shrimp, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Cold Sophora Noodles, Steamed Crab, Crab Roe Buns, and Lotus Pastries. These were high-end dishes that poor families could never afford. Should I say “As expected of the Eastern Desolate Sect”? To go to such expense just for a simple welcome.

Wait… this isn’t a “last meal before the execution,” is it?

I frowned, eating the food without much appetite. Sharing our table was a small group of wealthy young masters four of them. The leader was a chubby, fair-skinned boy named Bai Mo. The others were Li Yajin (who had buckteeth), Nangong Hu (who was tall and thin like a bamboo pole), and Gao Mang (who was tall and sturdy).

To enter the Eastern Desolate Sect, you had to have either money, looks, martial arts, or status. You had to have at least one. These four were quite amiable and didn’t look down on us for our tattered clothes. Bai Mo even took the initiative to chat with us.

After a bit of mutual introduction, I learned they were wealthy young masters from Jiangnan whose families ran businesses in silk, cosmetics, wine, and inns. They were childhood friends who had come together to fulfill their “Jianghu dreams.”

Fulfill a dream.

I nearly choked on my rice. Bai Mo hurriedly handed me a cup of tea. “This brother doesn’t seem to talk much?”

I took the tea and was about to speak when Qiao Kaiheng cut in, explaining for me: “He’s always like this. Please don’t take offense.”

I thought, this won’t do! Not talking much? That would give me the “Lone Wolf” buff—an “Extras” shouldn’t be special! An extra should blend into the crowd!

I quickly rasped a laugh. “No, it’s just that I’ve caught a cold these past few days, and my throat is a bit uncomfortable.”

Bai Mo looked understanding and told me to take care of myself, even offering to lend me clothes since he had many unworn sets.

Gao Mang added, “Your clothes won’t fit him. Borrow mine; he’s about the same size as me.”

I smiled and clasped my hands. “Thank you, Brother Gao.”

Qiao Kaiheng’s eyes dimmed as he watched the smile on my face; he looked a bit uncomfortable. He was likely wondering why I was only cold to him but acted normal with everyone else.

Of course, I couldn’t explain the reason to him. I just lowered my head and focused on eating, avoiding his gaze. Fortunately, Bai Mo was great at keeping the conversation going and soon had Qiao Kaiheng laughing again. The atmosphere at the table became harmonious once more.