The homebody Yue Yang saw a figure flying across the sky. He craned his neck and shouted, "Honey, come out and see God!" The silhouette riding a flying sword seemed to wobble midair, almost falling. Yue Yang shouted again, "Bro, don't fly so fast—your zipper's open!"
The person above plummeted headfirst…
Yue Yang didn't even check how badly the guy had fallen. He ran straight over to pick up that golden, gleaming flying sword, yelling, "Master, flying swords are treasures. Tossing them around pollutes the environment—what if it hits a child? Even if it doesn't, it's bad for the flowers and grass. Your disciple will keep it for you! What's this? A small heaven-and-earth pouch? A wise and mighty immortal like you shouldn't have a shabby cloth bag hanging from your waist. I'll keep it for you!"
The old Taoist who fell from the sky nearly spat blood. In thousands of years, it was the first time he had met someone shameless enough to randomly acknowledge him as "Master."
"Master, I'm of marrying age but still single. Do you have a granddaughter? Whether she's an older beauty or a loli, I'm not picky!" Yue Yang grinned lewdly. Finally, the furious old Taoist flew up with a kick and planted it on Yue Yang's backside, roaring, "Scram, scram you—!"
And just like that, Yue Yang transmigrated…
"Ah, his eyes moved—he's awake, Third Brother's awake." Before Yue Yang opened his eyes, a silver-bell-clear child's voice rang beside his ear.
"Shuang'er, don't be rude to your brother…" A warm, gentle, motherly woman's voice scolded softly, doting even in reproach.
Yue Yang opened his eyes. The old Taoist was gone. In front of him was a lively, adorable little girl—about six or seven, fair and rosy, wearing a willow-green short jacket that showed her lotus-white arms. Her hair was tied into thin little braids with red thread, hanging down on both sides. On her slender wrist was a single silver ring, dangling three fingertip-sized bells.
The little girl, mischievous to the extreme, reached out a hand to pinch Yue Yang's nose.
As her lily-like fair hand extended, the bells chimed, mingling with her tinkling laughter.
Eh?
Yue Yang was stunned. Could this little girl be the old Taoist's precious granddaughter? A supreme loli! He was about to tease her when a pair of fair arms reached from behind, gently catching the naughty little girl and lightly tapping her chubby hand as punishment, then cuddling her indulgently. The little girl wasn't afraid at all—she found it fun, giggling nonstop, making faces at Yue Yang with great pride. Yue Yang looked up, focused, and when he saw the woman behind the girl, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Heavens, a top-tier beauty…
Sitting opposite Yue Yang was a young, beautiful matron in her early thirties.
She had clear brows and delicate features, her face fair as the moon, eyes like clear spring water. The corners of her lips held a gentle smile; serenity wrapped in softness.
Her jet-black hair was combed back and pinned high in a cloud-like bun, adorned with nothing but a plain purple-black wooden phoenix hairpin—simple yet elegant. Altogether, it made her face seem purer, spirit hidden within. Paired with her long sky-blue and white dress that brushed the floor, and the jade-white arms cuddling the little girl, the sight made Yue Yang feel myriad emotions.
If anyone could marry such a woman, what more could he ask?
Seeing Yue Yang awake, the beautiful matron gathered her smile, pain and self-reproach surfacing on her fair face. "Third, you mustn't be so reckless again. Who gave you the courage to jump into the river? Luckily we saved you in time—otherwise, how could I… how could I face my elder sister? She entrusted you to my care back then; Fourth Madam is your mother now. Third, all these years I've never had the heart to strike you even once. This time you erred—if I don't make you remember today's lesson, then I fail the trust your aunt placed in me. Next month, when your Fourth Uncle returns, you will go to him yourself and accept a beating!"
The little girl wrinkled her cute nose and mimicked, "Go get yourself a beating—pop pop pop—your butt will bloom like a flower!"
Huh?
Yue Yang broke into a cold sweat. Jump into the river? He hadn't been suicidal at all.
Where was this? Where had the old Taoist kicked him?
A strange thought flashed through his mind: Could there be someone who looked exactly like him, who fell into the river at the same time—this beautiful woman fished Yue Yang out, while the unlucky one fed the fish?
Thinking that, sweat beaded on his forehead.
This misunderstanding was huge!
As a transmigrator, he was terrified of revealing flaws. He didn't dare confess it was a misunderstanding, nor did he dare ask where he was.
If they discovered he wasn't their beloved "Third," they might flip faces and toss him back into the river—that would be the end.
The beautiful matron noticed Yue Yang's nervous face, the sweat on his brow, the flush of shame. Her heart brightened—she thought the boy had repented—and her voice softened. "Third, it's good that you know you were wrong. The young aren't afraid of making mistakes; only of not correcting them. I watched you grow and know you're not one to confuse gravity. It's just that the Snow family's withdrawal from the engagement panicked you into folly. Third, the Snow girl is fine, but her heart isn't with you. The broken engagement is for the best. If husband and wife can't share hardship and stand by each other, then better not to marry. Our Yue family is one of the four great houses—there are countless good ladies under heaven. Could we really not find a fine match?"
"…Yes…" Yue Yang decided to pretend to be that unlucky river-drowned guy for now, muddle through, and slip away when he had the chance.
"Third, I'm relieved you think so," the beautiful matron said. She had prepared to persuade him at length, but the boy seemed to have thought things through after a brush with death. She felt the ancestors must be watching over them.
After a few more words of comfort, she told Yue Yang to rest well.
She let go of the little girl and stood, ready to leave the room.
Yue Yang inwardly cried, Close call! He'd managed to fool them. Now he had to find a way to slip away—if the would-be-suicide fellow hadn't drowned and came back, everything would be exposed.
Holding the little girl's hand, the matron walked to the door, then turned back once more. "Third, give me a promise. Will you really not do anything foolish again? Your temperament is soft on the outside and stubborn within—gentle on the surface, unyielding in heart. I know this. Don't start brooding the moment I leave… You truly won't do anything foolish again, will you?"
"N-no, I won't!" Yue Yang shook his head like a rattle drum.
How could he possibly commit suicide? He still had to get revenge on that old Taoist!
Seeing the seriousness on his face, the matron felt more at ease. "Fourth Madam believes you. Third, you must never do foolish things again. Your parents are gone, and your Fourth Uncle has no children. I am of shallow virtue and thin fortune, Bing'er is unfortunate, and Shuang'er is still young. The incense of the two branches—your father's and your Fourth Uncle's—rests on you alone. Keep this in mind!"
Yue Yang sweated internally. Count on me? Not possible. He wasn't their "Third"—that guy had probably fed the fish. This incense business was going to be tough!
Of course, he didn't dare say that aloud, only nodding.
The little girl found the room boring and let go of the matron's hand, hopping out the door and racing off at once.
The matron called twice. Seeing the little one didn't listen, she decided to go after her. Before leaving, she turned again, still worried. "Third, don't lose heart. Your Fourth Uncle was dull of talent and only succeeded in contracting in the last month before he turned twenty. You still have three months. You've endured all these years—why give up before the end? There isn't a single descendant of the Yue family who fails to contract the Codex. Believe Fourth Madam—you won't be an exception… I think your father and mother sealed this Summoning Codex together back then. They didn't want you to succeed too early, to keep you from growing arrogant, and to temper your will. Otherwise, with your talent shown in childhood, how could you fail to contract it? Believe Fourth Madam: you have your father's and mother's bloodline—surely among the best. You will succeed. Don't be discouraged, and don't be rash…"
Contract the Codex?
What on earth was the Summoning Codex?
Maybe that unlucky guy had a great bloodline—but Yue Yang wasn't him. He was just an ordinary homebody.
If he had any outstanding trait, it was being especially good at video games—especially those adult games from a certain island nation.
Yue Yang didn't know what Codex to contract, but from the matron's words he could guess a bit. He figured the lookalike who'd jumped into the river had done it out of despair.
First, no parents; second, failing to contract some Codex; third, a broken engagement. His life felt tragic—so he jumped.
Even worse, he jumped—only for them to fish out Yue Yang, who looked just like him… He got carried back to this room, while that poor soul was probably touring the seabed for free.
What Yue Yang couldn't figure out was why he fell into the river.
Had the old Taoist kicked him into it? Why kick him? Was the old guy trying to make Yue Yang replace the unlucky fellow in a rebirth?
Thinking of that, sweat shot from Yue Yang's forehead.
That joke had gone too far…
"Third, you rest well. Fourth Madam's thinking is this: even if you can't contract the Codex, you're still my Third. I'll treat you like my own son. Even if I exhaust my family assets, I'll find a way for you to make something of yourself. Your Fourth Uncle doesn't talk much, but he feels the same. Third, rest easy. Maybe you'll suddenly figure it out someday and contract it in a flash." The matron urged him to rest and turned to leave.
Her words moved Yue Yang.
Though her care wasn't for him, she was truly good to that unlucky fellow. He thought that guy was a fool for jumping into the river!
Such a good stepmother—how many exist in this world?
He didn't cherish it and jumped over a silly fiancée. Serves him right to drown! Yue Yang felt aggrieved—he didn't even have someone to care about him.
He watched the matron leave, sighing inwardly. If only he really were their Third—such a good Fourth Madam. Pity he wasn't.
Lying back on the bed, his gaze swept the desk—and froze on a massive metal book.
It seemed cast of bronze, old in color, heavy and thick, two or three times larger than a normal book, covered with mysterious patterns.
At a glance, Yue Yang felt a strange pull, as though something silent was calling him. It felt like having just installed a long-awaited game—his hand itched to click it.
Unconsciously, Yue Yang reached out to touch the strange metal book. The moment his fingers brushed it, the book flared with dazzling golden light.
The entire room flooded with gold, bathed in a golden glow.
In that brilliance, Yue Yang raised his other hand to shield his eyes—he could barely keep them open.
In an instant, countless knowledge surged into his mind, forced in without reason. Before he could react, his head was stuffed full, and still more streamed from the glowing bronze tome.
He felt like he suddenly understood countless things, yet couldn't grasp the center—unsure what he truly comprehended.
He was caught in a paradox of seeming to understand and not, seeming to realize and not.
Within his body, something seemed awakened by the change.
A mysterious energy sleeping inside stirred like a living thing, its call a heavenly music that made his very soul tremble.
Though his ears heard nothing, in his heart Yue Yang clearly "heard" it—mysterious energy calling to him from within. He couldn't understand its meaning, only feel that the call was matchless—more captivating than any heavenly song, more alluring. That call was so beautiful it made one's soul quiver, like hearing a mother's voice holding you when sick in childhood—words couldn't describe it… At the same time, in the mind's world, Yue Yang saw a shining flying sword spinning on its own, its mystery beyond words.
The flying sword seemed held by a jade-like hand of a fairy of the Ninth Heaven, who sang lightly and danced, roaming freely through the void.
What was happening?
As Yue Yang's heart shook, the golden light in the room slowly faded, returning to a single gleaming point between his finger and the bronze tome.
The mysterious energy's call subsided; the shining flying sword vanished. Yue Yang withdrew from the inner vision, returning to reality—and was shocked to find his finger glowing.
Startled, he pulled his hand back—the light disappeared.
The bronze book that had seemed heavy beyond measure rose into the air as if alive, floating in front of him. It no longer felt like a weighty metal book, but more like an extension of his body—part of his blood and flesh, as if it were his arm.
At the door stood the beautiful matron, tears streaming.
She leaned against the doorframe, her hand bracing her trembling body. She looked soft and weak, nearly collapsing.
Even as she saw all this, her face remained one of incredulous joy. Tears gushed like a spring, flowing down, splashing her clothes.
"Third—you—you successfully contracted the Summoning Codex? Is this real? Fourth Madam isn't dreaming, is she? Ancestors above, this is truly your blessing! Sister, did you see it in heaven? I have said all along—Third isn't trash, he isn't! Thank you, ancestors of the Yue clan, for not abandoning our Third…" The matron fell to her knees, unable to restrain her excitement, kowtowing heavily to thank the forebears.
Her clean forehead became red from the knocks, stained with the floor's dust.
But she didn't feel pain; she kept kowtowing joyfully.
Yue Yang leapt up to help her to her feet. Although he was an impostor, he was moved by her.
At the door, the little girl had somehow returned. Holding a big red pinwheel, she tilted her head. "Mom, why are you crying?"