"Mother nature is like a woman, unpredictable and scary."
In a well furnished room, Dugu Yun wrung out his dark cloak letting the water drip into a wooden bucket and complained.
Who could blame him? One minute it was still sunny and the next minute he seemed to hear the roar of dragons as the weather changed.
All he wanted to do was to escape that den of thieves and return home. How could he…an acclaimed member of the earth isekai reincarnation army be left in such an aggrieved state.
Yes, he Dugu Yun, the second young master of the Yun Family, disciple of Hidden Dragon Pavillon, former internet writer, keyboard warrior, cult leader, and a glorious member of the reincarnation army felt his life was miserable enough to write an autobiography.
Four years ago after hearing rumors of immortals from a quack expert he was tricked into a thief's den under the guise of learning immortal arts.
The passing charlatan with an unworldly demeanor told him that he had the posture of an immortal emperor and his talents were among "no one before and no one after" with the qualifications to inherit his mantle.
The foolish young man who had not yet fully awakened his past life memories immediately packed his bags and left home without explanation to follow this charlatan even to the extent of dropping out of school and giving up martial arts.
Remembering the time when he proudly told his father he had passed the entrance examination of a "hidden world sect", Dugu Yun had the urge to curl his toes and dig the ground three feet in embarrassment.
It was only until three years later at 15 when he completely awakened his past life memories due to an accident that he realized…
Motherfather…this was a damn pyramid scheme!
The so-called "methods of gods and immortals" were just using some magician tricks.
For example the "fireball talisman/spell" was just some white phosphorus powder sprinkled on paper, the "thunder tactics" were just a clever use of static electricity and magnets, and the fairy mist was just dry ice…
But the charlatan successfully fooled the ignorant young man with unrealistic ambitions into his "Hidden Dragon Temple" with his set of cheap tricks and maxed bluffing skills.
"Sigh."
"What should I do later? Tell the truth?"
Dugu Yun draped his wet clothes on the bedside desk and laid down on his bed worriedly.
He was under a dilemma. Recalling the past, he had promised his parents to take them to see the wider world when he was successful in martial arts. Now he was hesitant to burst that bubble. But lies would need to be covered up by bigger lies until he was one day exposed. It would be better to take the fall now.
Besides, wasn't it just a matter of losing face? After living for two lifetimes his skin had the thickness of a city wall.
It wasn't like he would lose his life or cause a great catastrophe by revealing the truth, right?
At most it was just the disappointment on his parents' faces. But to some that alone might be the worst thing in the world.
The maid had set off to inform his family of his return after leading him to his previous residence which was free of dust.
It was estimated that the family reunion should occur soon.
…
Midnight. The torrential downpour outside continued and the pitter patter of raindrops sounded from the window.
Soft candlelight lit up the room.
Dugu Yun sat cross legged on his bed with his eyes closed and brows furrowed.
'Insight'
With a move of his thoughts, he sensed his body and information surged, presenting a set of data in his mind.
[Name: Dugu Yun]
Condition: 100%
Vitality: 1.2
Qi and Blood: 0.9
Passive Talent: Insight
Active Talent: Unity, Bullet Time, (???)
Methods: Basic Body Tempering Techniques (progress: 100%), Hidden Dragon Temple Codex (progress: 1%)
Skills: Basic Sword Moves (Mastery: Perfect), Basic Footwork (Mastery: Perfect), Dugu Sword Style (Self Created)
Exquisite knowledge: Hidden Dragon bluffing skills, writing, common earth knowledge, common central plains knowledge
Dugu Yun nodded with approval. After reincarnation for 16 years he finally has some self protection power in this world. A year ago, during his four year stay at Hidden Dragon Pavillon, he had awakened his past life memories and finally understood that he was in a den of liars. So when the charlatan left to handle some matters and entrusted the temple to him, he silently packed his bags and went home. Now that he was reborn as a rich second generation in this life, why would be willing to run this thief's den and suffer? Honestly go back home and honestly inherit the family wealth. The past him simply did not understand the joys of a rich man.
But based off his understanding, this world was actually pretty dangerous. There were sinister demons in the far north and ferocious beasts rampoint in the south.
So before he embarked on the journey home he spent his time exploring the abilities dormant in his body that awakened along with his memories.
His talent.
[Insight]
The soul is affected by the power of time and can retrieve your traces and records in history and read the information to accurately understand your state.
Speaking of this talent we would have to talk about his past life.
In his past life, besides his identity as internet writer and cult leader, he was also a small scientist in the earth federation. In the year 2400 technology had developed to the level of interstellar travel.
During a space voyage there was some error in the calculations of the space jump due to the spatial disturbance of a black hole. As a result he was turned into noodles. The kind that came with its own tomato sauce. The movies were all lies. There wasn't anything inside a black hole except endless despair.
But by some miracle he was able to survive and be reborn into this world called the Central Plains in a small city of the Human Federation.
Although Dugu Yun wasn't exactly sure, he suspects that his talent "insight" was born from his soul being imprinted by the chaotic spacetime in the black hole thus contaminating his soul with time attributes giving him the ability insight.
So after retrieving his own information and reading his state, he built this simple unpretentious data panel in his mind.
After all, who told god not to give him a cheat after being reborn?
Isn't it reasonable for a reborn person to make his own cheat if he doesn't have one?
He doesn't feel secure enough in this world with demons roaming about.
It couldn't be said to be useless but it at least did give him a comprehensive understanding of himself.
And from the ability [Insight] he was able to derive two additional active talents: [Bullet Time] and [Unity] through unremitting practice.
It was these two abilities that gave him the confidence to safely return home himself.
After all, boys must learn to protect themselves when they go out by themselves at night. A younger tender and juicy kid was the favorite snack of demons and beasts.
Just when Dugu Yun was thinking, a gentle knock sounded at his door.
Without any reservations, a man and a woman burst into his room with an expression of joy on their faces.
His father…Ling Yun. And his mother Lily.
Dugu Yun was startled and looked up.
It was a middle aged man in his thirties. He had a rough beard, shrewd eyes, and black hair. Due to the pressure of leadership, slight wrinkles already started forming around his eyes. But this still did not dilute his enterprising spirit.
All in all, Dugu Yun felt that he was very ugly. Fortunately he had inherited his mother's beautiful appearance.
Right behind the father was his mother of this life.
Same black hair but with a gentle and mature temperant. Her skin was very tender and fat and she appeared very well nourished.
Both parents looked at their son with eager and expectant eyes.
"My good son, you're finally back…"
"You stinky man get out the way."
Before his father had the chance to finish his sentence, Lily pushed him away and went towards Dugu Yun with open arms.
A very strong but warm embrace wrapped Dugu Yun and Lily began to ruffle his hair crazily.
Who can explain her pain? Her favorite child…ahem erm…Her second child who she loves as equally as the first, disappeared away from home for 4 years. As a mother she felt very disqualified and heartbroken that she couldn't watch her child grow up with her own eyes.
All parents who sent off their kids for college would be able to understand her pain.
"Mom…I can't…I can't breathe."