After hearing his uncle's words, Shen Yue sat in silence.
Outwardly, he remained calm, but inside, a storm raged. His mind was in turmoil. Though the man they spoke of wasn't his real father by blood, the merging of his predecessor's memories had brought with them all the emotions, grief, and bonds of the past. Those feelings now belonged to him as much as they did the original Shen Yue. That man… had raised him, protected him, and died for him.
Uncle Peng Lei noticed the change in the boy's expression but said nothing more. He simply stood there, eyes steady, silently offering his presence.
After a long while, Shen Yue finally let out a slow, heavy sigh.
His uncle gently asked, "Are you okay?"
Shen Yue nodded faintly. "I'm fine."
But Peng Lei wasn't deceived. How could he be? He had fought in battles, seen boys become men far too early, and watched lives change overnight.
At the age of fourteen, when children should be surrounded by warmth and laughter, Shen Yue had already tasted blood and loss. This was the cruel fate of people like them—born without power, with no protection, and at the mercy of stronger forces.
After a moment, Shen Yue gathered his thoughts and looked up. "Uncle… what really happened to my father?"
Peng Lei's gaze grew heavier.
"There's no solid proof," he said after a pause, "but your father's death… we believe it was caused by someone above him. A superior. It was too clean, too sudden. But it's only a suspicion for now."
"I'll investigate," he added, his voice sharp with determination. "I owe your father that much."
Then, as if forcing himself to switch moods, he chuckled softly and patted Shen Yue's head. "You stubborn brat. Don't worry too much right now. Even if you knew the truth, what could you do?"
His tone softened.
"If you really want to make your father smile from the heavens, live. Grow strong. Stay safe, and walk your path carefully. That's what he'd want."
He turned serious again, eyes dark and reflective.
"In this world, only the strong decide their fates. The weak… we can only watch."
Those words sank into Shen Yue's heart like a blade.
After that, the two spoke a while longer—about smaller things, daily routines, even the current state of the sects.
Then Shen Yue made a request. "Uncle, could you arrange some books for me? I want to understand this world—about the sects, the powers that rule, the factions."
Peng Lei raised an eyebrow but nodded. "That's good. I'll have someone send some books to your room. Use your recovery time wisely—you've got one month."
After another exchange of parting words, Peng Lei stood up and left.
As soon as the door closed, Shen Yue shifted in bed and took a deep breath. Slowly, carefully, he began arranging his thoughts. What happened today had sparked something in him—not just pain, but clarity.
He needed a plan. A path.
Evening fell.
A soft knock echoed through the quiet room.
"Enter," Shen Yue called.
A young servant stepped inside, holding a stack of thick books in both arms. He moved silently and respectfully, placing them down in the corner without a word. Shen Yue watched him, already guessing these were the books sent by his uncle.
Once the servant left, he stood up and walked over.
The sight of the books stirred a strange excitement in him.
He reached for the top volume, *Cultivation History*, and flipped it open. The script was slightly foreign, but his predecessor's memories made it readable. He started slowly, adjusting to the rhythm and phrasing. But soon, his reading speed increased as he fell into the flow of the words.
Hours passed like this.
By the time the sky outside had turned black and moonlight crept in, he had reached the final page.
As he placed the book down, another servant quietly entered with his food. Without a word, the tray was placed on the table, and she left as silently as she'd come.
Hunger hit him all at once.
He sat down and tore into the food like a starved wolf, devouring every bite without hesitation. It had been a long day—emotionally and mentally draining.
Once full, he leaned back with a deep sigh of relief.
Then a thought struck him.
He mentally whispered, *System.*
And immediately, the familiar golden panel shimmered into existence before his eyes.
---
**[System Interface]**
**Name**: Shen Yue
**Age**: 14
**Physique**: High-Level Iron-Copper Molting Physique
**Bloodline**: Mid-Level Flame Scorpion Bloodline
**Cultivation**: Uninitiated
**Skills**:
- Literacy and Knowledge (Entry) (10%)
**Spiritual Root**: Low-Level Fire Spiritual Root (Mixed) (0%)
**Talent**: Extraction
- Mid-Level Sword Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Archery Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Spear Talent (0%)
- Mid-Level Comprehension (0%)
**Unique Traits**:
- Clones: 0 (Locked)
**Stats**:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 8
- Wisdom: 2.1
- Spirit: 0.9
His eyes narrowed.
There was a new skill—**Literacy and Knowledge**—and his wisdom stat had increased by 0.1.
He mentally asked the system how he had gained this new skill. But just as before, there was no reply.
Shen Yue wasn't surprised. The system rarely responded unless something truly dangerous or unpredictable occurred. Still, he was curious.
He focused on the skill, selecting it with a thought.
Instantly, knowledge flowed into his mind.
The skill would enhance his reading speed, understanding, and memory—essentially improving his learning ability with books and scrolls.
Shen Yue couldn't help but smile. In his previous life, if he had something like this, passing exams would've been a joke.
But here… it had far more value.
He could take the Scholar Exams. He could earn titles, gather influence, and stand shoulder to shoulder with nobles—not just through strength, but knowledge.
He recalled how skills were ranked in this world:
- Entry Level
- Beginner
- Master
- Small Success
- Great Success
- Perfection
Entry meant one had just begun learning the skill. Perfection was when mastery rivaled the creator of the skill itself.
Shen Yue's heart stirred with anticipation.
He turned to the next book and began reading again.
Hour after hour passed. Moonlight faded. Darkness turned to soft dawn.
Around 5 a.m., he finally blinked and rubbed his eyes. He had read nearly four books throughout the night, completely immersed.
Before eating or sleeping, he checked the system once more.
To his quiet satisfaction, there were new changes.