This was like a daily occurrence for him, Yang Chen's day started with him sweeping and cleaning the courtyards, cooking for the clan, washing their clothes and running any errands for them.
By the time he was done with his work, it would already be night. The children of his age would take the opportunity of his low position in the clan to beat him up and take their frustration out.
Even if any adult saw what was going on, they would simply ignore the whole thing and face the other way. His life in the clan was truly hell.
Today too, he got badly beaten by those bullies who left him half dead on the floor. Little did they know that Yang Chen whom they had beaten badly, had actually died from their beating and a new soul which had died on earth, replaced the others as Yang Chen.
As these memories poured into him, Yang Chen felt lost. It was only natural since memories from two different lifetimes were flashing in his mind at this moment. It was difficult for him to tell what was real and what was fake.
Yang Chen didn't know what was going on anymore. He was supposed to be playing a game, so what's with all these memories?
Did he get reincarnated just like those protagonists in those novels and animes? The Idea seemed farfetched but there was no other way of explaining things.
"This is real right?" Yang Chen murmured to himself. Everything looked so real was telling his conscience that whatever he was experiencing right now was a reality. Which meant that his life in the Zhang clan was real too.
Was it finally his turn too? Was he going to experience that grand adventure and go on a journey to explore the world too?
Truthfully, Yang Chen had no more attachment to his former life so if this new world was his reality, he had no qualms with it. Perhaps if his father was alive he would scold him for giving up, but he was tired of living that life.
Just like any other person he wanted to live a normal life too. He wanted a healthy body free of any diseases and to experience life. Not just stay cooped up in that hospital room 24x7.
Hence Yang Chen no longer bothered to think if it was real or not, his consciousness had already accepted this new reality and parted ways with the former. It may look like quick transition, but it was something that he had been thinking about for a couple of years now in that hospital.
"Un, it was better this way. At least now I will be able to live a normal life. Even if it wasn't possible to live a grand life like those protagonists, if I have this healthy body everything would turn out to be alright. Yes, this will be my new beginning..."
As Yang Chen lay silently on the floor of his cottage looking at the ceiling blankly and coming to terms with himself, he realised that something was wrong.
"No!!" Yang Chen tried to get up only to realise that his body was beaten far too badly with hideous bruises all over his skin. Forget about moving, even breathing brought a lot of pain for him.
It only dawned on him now that his second life may not be how he had thought it would be.
"A Slave?! You are joking right? Why a slave? What is with this twisted setting? Don't mess with me, this is not how I want my second life to start".
"Isn't it enough that you gave me a life full of misery in the first life but you have to continue that by giving me a second life too? Don't fuck with me? A slave who is beaten to death every day, how is it any better than my former life? AHHHHHHHH!!!" Yang Chen roared towards the sky until his throat became dry.
He wanted water but in his miserable condition, even twitching his fingers without feeling pain would be a luxury. HOW? WHY? Why would destiny play with him like that? WHY? what did he do to deserve something like this?
Tears trickled down his face and he found himself no longer being able to take it. Just end it already, he was tired of this injustice. Just as he was about to give into his despair, he saw something black in his line of vision.
Unbeknownst to him, at some unknown point a black portal slowly opened in front of him. The black portal was small around 20cm in diameter and out from it came a small black demon holding a trident.
It had tiny bat like wings, a long pointed tail, jagged teeth and two horns on its head. A demon!!! No matter who it was, looking at the thing they would arrive at the same conclusion.
"Hehehe.. congratulations player for activating the Greedvil System. I am your interface and aid, Amon. Because it looks like the host is in a critical situation.. would you like to open the starter pack immediately?" The demon named Amon spoke grinning at his misery.
Yang Chen was stunned silent, he opened and closed his eyes numerous times; however, the burning pain that he was feeling all around his body told him that he was not dreaming, there was really a demon albeit a very small one in front of him.
Going through an emotionally unstable state Yang Chen did not have the clarity of mind to argue or question what was happening.
He opened his mouth and said dryly "Open it".
"Kehehe… the host wants to open the starter pack" Amon repeated tapping the air with his trident. Immediately a black window opened up showing the various function and options.
Amon swiped the window, opened the inventory section and tapped on one of the three gift icons that were there.
"Alright let's see what you got" The starter box opened and three items popped up.
First was the experience points booster, second was the Tier [1] Healing potion and a third was a shady looking vial.
"Since it would be problematic for me if the host died, would you like to use the healing potion immediately?" Amon asked.
Yang Chen instinctively said yes. Before he lost consciousness he saw the healing potion break apart and its content spray on his body.
The next time he opened his eyes, the sun had already broken out and it was morning.