With nightfall approaching, Zhang Xin could barely see what lay ahead. His vision had significantly deteriorated upon entering the forest, leaving him with barely three meters of visibility. The ground was wet, and the mud hampered his movement, but he did not stop. He proceeded cautiously, occasionally raising his head to scan the area for any signs of bandit guards who might have been left behind.
After several minutes of slow sneaking, he finally reached the edge of the forest. The woods were small and deserted, granting him a sense of temporary safety, though he was still far from feeling secure. The cold wind and constant rain made his progress more challenging, each step increasing his exhaustion. Yet, he didn't regret his caution; his past life had taught him that rushing without thought could bring dire consequences.
As darkness deepened, the forest became an endless black mass. He found a large tree at the forest's edge, crouching beside it to gather his thoughts. Just over ten meters away, he saw the flickering light of a fire piercing through the darkness.
The light came from a small shelter built from wooden planks. It barely shielded from the wind but offered some protection from the rain. In his body's memory, this shelter had not been there before; perhaps the bandits had constructed it after attacking the village. The shelter was exposed on the forest side, allowing Zhang Xin to faintly see a figure moving inside.
Feeling the chill cut into his bones, he closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the village's terrain. With quiet precision, he moved toward the shelter, using the shadows and blind spots to remain unseen.
When he was within five meters, he could clearly see the firelight.
As night fully enveloped the scene, Zhang Xin crept toward the small shelter, where two people were warming themselves beside the blazing fire. Beside them, pieces of roasted meat dripped fat onto the flames, sending tiny sparks up with each droplet. The sight stirred a deep hunger within him, causing him to lick his lips unconsciously. The half-dry biscuit he had found earlier was no longer enough, and his stomach pressed on him with a gnawing ache.
But he forced his attention away from the scent of roasted meat, scanning the shelter intently. The piercing cold and relentless rain weighed heavily on him. His small body wouldn't endure long in these conditions without shelter. If he didn't act quickly, the cold could be fatal. Time was his lifeline.
Zhang Xin scanned the surroundings, using the firelight to assess his environment. His mind raced, strategizing ways to survive. The shelter was encircled by a wooden fence about two meters high, visibly worn. Large gaps in the fence likely resulted from the bandits' earlier attack on the village.
Realizing that the darkness and flickering firelight kept him hidden from the guards' eyes, he saw his chance to sneak in. Using the noise of the wind and rain to mask his movements, he crawled slowly toward the worn-down fence, searching for an opening through which he could slip inside undetected.
Nearby, the broken-down shelter peeked through the fence. He could hear the muffled conversation between the two men inside, carried to his ears with each gust of wind:
"Hey, this meat is tender and delicious." "Of course, it's the fragrant cut. The south is still calm, no chaos there yet, so we can enjoy it in peace." "All thanks to the boss's bold plan, leading us past the blockade and across the river. Otherwise, we'd have starved to death like those miserable folk." Soft laughter followed by sinister words echoed through the air: "The shrine's a cozy place—no wind, no rain, and we've got the women to amuse ourselves with…"
Rage simmered within Zhang Xin's heart as he heard their cruel words, yet he didn't let his emotions control him. He continued his mission, intensely focused on finding an opening in the fence. With skill, he located a suitable gap and slipped through silently.
Memories raced through his mind as he touched his left hand, reflecting on his home in the far corner of the village. Pausing, he saw a faint, fiery glow from a room in the corner, barely visible through the fierce wind and heavy rain.
Zhang Xin made his way to a hidden storage area, where boxes and burlap sacks were carefully stacked in a dark corner of his home. This storage area was a safe haven, carved underground to protect it from thieves and harsh weather. Here, his family's most prized possession was stored: barley rice seeds, preserved carefully after harvest and thoroughly dried, ensuring his village's survival during the harsh winter months or as the next season's crop.
Slowly, he opened the box, feeling the significance of each grain. The seeds were stored in tightly woven bags, protected from moisture and pests.
After collecting some rainwater in an old bucket, he cautiously lit a small fire in the stove. Sparks danced in the darkness, and as the fire illuminated the space, he felt the warmth seep into his tired bones. He sat by the fire, giving in to the exhaustion overwhelming his body. His heart filled with gratitude for the small comforts that might seem mundane in a harsher world. Zhang Xin slowly removed his wet clothes, trying to regain some energy.
This kitchen, filled with all the winter essentials, was his current refuge. The stock of wood, straw, and sharp knives provided him with temporary security. The hidden location shielded his fire, making him feel somewhat at ease.
He glanced at his reflection in a nearby puddle, revealing a child of seven or eight. His hair was messy, and his face was ordinary, the kind that could go unnoticed in a crowd. Thin and malnourished, his appearance lacked any hint of charm or allure.
Pondering his situation, he thought, "Could it really be that I'm living this scenario? In the novels I've read, time travel often accompanied wealth, nobility, or exceptional skills. Even if reborn as a poor person, they always had good looks or a reputation to help them survive."
Touching his face with a deep thought, he recalled what his father had once said in his memory. He had no standout qualities that made him special; it was likely that his appearance would remain unremarkable with time. He was fully aware that he didn't belong among the more handsome or stronger people, amplifying his sense of worry.
Feeling the biting cold seep into his bones, Zhang Xin felt dizzy and weary. He knew that without the warmth of the fire, he wouldn't make it through the night. With each passing moment, he became more aware of the challenges facing him.
Gulp ~ The warmth of the soup slid down his throat, easing the cold gripping his body. Each mouthful brought a sense of comfort and warmth, making his heart sigh with relief. After a satisfying meal, he felt a bit calmer.
"Finally, it's good to be alive," Zhang Xin murmured as the fire crackled in the stove, seemingly concluding this small moment of peace.
Zhang Xin stood up and paced around the small kitchen, resisting the drowsiness and fatigue creeping into his body. In those moments, his mind was occupied with how to survive the coming days. "I heard the bandits at the village entrance say they had just fled from the north... How can I use this information to survive?" Zhang Xin's thoughts began crowding his mind, each one intensifying the headache that came with them.
Though his predecessor was only eight years old, he had grown up in a poor family and matured quickly, having helped his family from a young age. He knew a little about the surrounding area, though that knowledge was limited under the current circumstances.
Changjia village, surrounded by barren hills and mountains, lay dozens of miles from the nearest county seat—a remote region far from major roads. Such places made a perfect haven for bandits arriving in the area.
Zhang Xin sighed, feeling the heavy weight of his thoughts. "The village is big enough; I can hide here for a few days with my family's stored food, but eventually, they'll find me."
The problem was that the bandits had not yet settled in the area, but once they became familiar with the place, finding a safe hiding spot would be difficult. This added to his sense of helplessness.
Shaking his head, Zhang Xin tried to fight off frustration. "The best option I have is to leave the village before dawn and make a dash for the county town to report the bandits. But there are three deadly problems here."
First, he didn't know when the fierce wind and torrential rain raging outside would stop. The sky was thick with clouds, with no sign of the weather improving.
Second, the surrounding terrain was rugged, and the mountain road became even more treacherous after the rain. His frail body couldn't endure a long journey in these conditions.
Third, his predecessor had only heard of the county seat's location but had never been there. The details he knew about the town were limited, making it difficult to determine the correct path.
Sitting on the ground next to the fire, Zhang Xin tried to organize his thoughts amidst the embers rising from the stove. "How can I overcome these obstacles? Maybe I need to find an alternative route or a way to stay safely in the village until things become clearer."
Hope for survival and the pain of uncertainty tugged at him. With every passing moment, his chances dwindled. Every option seemed a dead end, and each thought that surfaced only deepened his despair.
The struggle between hope for survival and the pain of his situation weighed heavily on him. With each passing moment, his chances seemed to diminish further and further. Every option felt like a dead end, and each thought that surfaced only discouraged him more.
Zhang Xin's brows furrowed deeply as he agonized over the predicament he found himself in. "Will I die again?"
The cold wind and ceaseless rain outside grew fiercer, causing water to seep through the cracks in the door, feeding the flames in the fire and making Zhang Xin instinctively shrink from the chill.
In this harsh weather, staying outside for long was nearly impossible even for adults, let alone for a boy in his condition. Zhang Xin remembered how this time of year had always been the hardest for his predecessor, and it would likely only get colder as time went on. Under such conditions, his options were few.
Zhang Xin knew he couldn't remain in this weakened state and would have to seek out a greater chance for survival. He was fully aware that this wouldn't be easy.
As he thought this, bright, clear words appeared before his eyes:
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