Chapter Two: What Do Past Life Grievances Have to Do with Me?

Wu Yue was having his bandages changed. To call it changing medicine was perhaps an overstatement—it merely involved removing the cloth from his eyes and replacing it with a fresh, medicated strip. This would be the last time. In about three hours, he would see the light again. After nearly a week of blindness, Wu Yue found himself quietly excited.

"Blind Yue, Blind Yue!" Hearing this voice, Wu Yue curled his lip, too weary to respond. The speaker was Gu Muli, the third name Wu Yue had learned since arriving in this world. The reason for remembering it was simple: his blindness seemed to have something to do with this person. Moreover, Gu Muli showed up far too often. And, naturally, his visits were never amiable.

Gu Muli was a youth of sixteen or seventeen, dressed in coarse linen with a beast-hide cloak thrown over his shoulders. Perhaps due to his unattractive features, even his smiling face looked menacing.

"Blind Yue, my father and the elders are inviting you to a banquet tonight. I was sent to inform you."

"I understand," Wu Yue nodded, waving his hand dismissively. "You may go now."

This casual gesture immediately ignited Gu Muli’s temper, especially as he looked around—Wu Yue living in the finest house in the village, eating the best food, clad in good clothes…

"Anything else? If not, you may leave," Wu Yue said, frowning, not sure if this was deliberate provocation.

"Yue Ziqing! Do you still think you’re the young master of the Yue family? You’re nothing but a stray dog now! A dog that relies on our Stone Stele Village for shelter! You’d better be clever, or else…" Gu Muli’s voice was cold.

Wu Yue remained silent, so Gu Muli grinned, then stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Let me tell you—a devil weed’s poison blinds the eyes so you’ll never see the True God. I lied to you on purpose. But if you cross me again, I won’t mind sending you to meet the True God myself. Ha!" He burst into wild laughter. "Don’t forget, tonight my father will host a banquet for you—a proper apology!" He bit out the word ‘apology’ with emphasis, clearly relishing it. Two years ago, the arrogant young master of the Yue family—just look at him now, forced to bow to me.

As Gu Muli’s laughter faded into the distance, Wu Yue let out a sigh of relief. "What a foul breath," he muttered. Then he sighed again. It seemed Stone Stele Village was ready to let the serfs overturn the old order.

Suddenly, there were hurried footsteps—familiar, somehow.

"Oh, right, Young Master Yue. I forgot to give you something else." Wu Yue recognized Gu Muli’s voice, and before he could reply, a sudden gust of wind struck. Wu Yue’s instincts flared, vital energy surging as he dodged aside, but not quickly enough—pain bloomed in his abdomen, and he fell backward.

Gu Muli laughed maniacally, pressing his foot on Wu Yue. "Yue Ziqing! Aren’t you supposed to be a Meridian-Passed cultivator? Hit me, you brute! Oh, and by the way, the Monkey’s dead—died today, just now! Not that you’d remember who he was. The higher you stand, the more you forget, right? But I remember—very clearly… You ruined me, didn’t you? Well, today I’ll ruin you!" He kicked hard.

Wu Yue crashed against the wall. The vital energy he’d just gathered scattered with the impact. Then Gu Muli, as if possessed, beat and kicked him, cursing all the while. Wu Yue did his best to shield his head, protecting his eyes above all. Pain wracked his body. After what felt like an eternity, perhaps fearing he’d gone too far, Gu Muli spat on him, kicked him a few more times, and left.

Wu Yue lay on the floor, catching his breath before slowly rising. The blows had been heavy, but his clothes offered some protection, and his former cultivation meant his meridians were well-tempered. Most of the injuries were superficial.

It seemed the former owner of this body had made enemies of many—a true scoundrel, no doubt. But what did this have to do with him? Wu Yue’s expression remained indifferent, but the veins bulging on his hands betrayed his inner turmoil. Had it not been for the trials of his previous life, he doubted he could maintain such composure now. Indeed, every sip and bite is preordained by fate, Wu Yue mused.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Three knocks at the door.

It really was lively today.

Whenever Yue Jiu entered, he’d always call out "Young Master" from afar before opening the door. As for Gu Muli, he usually barged in without warning.

"Please tell your guest I’m unwell and not receiving visitors," Wu Yue called.

The door creaked open. Even before the person entered, a waft of fresh fragrance reached him—his sense of smell had sharpened since losing his sight. Forcibly entering was generally a bad habit, but if the intruder was a young woman—possibly a beautiful one—such a habit became forgivable.

An ugly woman likely wouldn’t have the courage to break into a man’s room.

"Young Master Yue," came a gentle sigh. Wu Yue sensed someone drawing near, a cool sensation on his face—the scent of herbs. The pain on his face suddenly eased. He let the young woman—no, girl—apply medicine to his wounds.

As she worked, she pleaded in a soft voice, "Today, the Monkey—who grew up with my brother—died. My brother is truly heartbroken. Ever since you crippled Monkey’s cultivation two years ago, he’s been obsessed, training every day, hoping to recover…"

Her voice was like a breeze. Wu Yue sat at the edge of the bed, the girl standing before him. When she bent to treat a wound on his neck, she nearly lay atop him. Though he couldn’t see, the softness was unmistakable.

"Please, don’t tell the chieftain about this. I beg you…" she continued, carefully applying the ointment, seemingly unaware that her chest pressed against his face.

It was indeed a pleasant sensation. Still, Wu Yue shifted back a little. Suddenly, a cool sting on his neck made him jerk sideways, colliding with the girl. She cried out, stumbling forward—falling against him.

Softness filled his arms as he toppled to the floor, the girl landing on top of him.

So cool!

So soft!

The feeling was delightful, but before Wu Yue could savor it, the girl scrambled up and anxiously asked, "Young Master Qing, are you all right?"

Wu Yue chuckled. "I’m fine. Quite soft, actually."

She relaxed, then colored slightly, pressed the medicine into his hand, and fled, calling from afar, "You’ll have to apply the rest yourself!"

Wu Yue called after her, "I am blind, you know! Don’t worry, I won’t say a word." Of course he wouldn’t. Not that it would matter anyway.

He had always preferred to settle his own scores. He was not one to forget debts, nor was he one to forgive them easily. Should past grudges be relinquished in this life? Surely, even Yue Ziqing would not wish that.

The girl, after her hasty exit, paused just outside. All traces of panic vanished from her face.

She had believed, after hearing that wastrel’s words, that the notorious lecher had changed. But it seemed he was as incorrigible as ever. How could the treasure her family had safeguarded for centuries possibly be entrusted to a man like that?

Disgusted, she stripped off her thin outer cloak. A burst of vital energy, and the beast hide disintegrated. Now only a white robe remained. In the bitter northern winter wind, her robe billowed as she walked away, expressionless—a winter sprite: beautiful and cold.

As for Wu Yue, he sat on the bed, toying with a fire jade pendant—the very talisman that kept him warm through winter’s chill. His face was just as blank. He didn’t know the girl’s true purpose, but he could guess it was not merely to apologize.

Did they really take him for a fool? All he could do now was wait and see.

Beep! Data synchronization successful… Scanning current world…