Chapter 6: Just Another Survivor from Tang Dynasty

This time, without Ju Yangrong’s guidance, Duan Wenxuan had to pay a substantial fee for bringing the Xia family into Liyang City.

Upon arrival, Duan Wenxuan immediately signed them to long-term labor contracts. The three Xia brothers would manage his teahouse, receiving two silver yuan and five catties of rice per month each—a significantly lower compensation than what Tang Tianlu earned.

Nevertheless, compared to others, the Xia brothers were already quite fortunate.

In Liyang City, wages had plummeted to their lowest point. Some landlords hiring short-term workers only provided aged, mixed rice with husks, barely enough for a day’s ration. Despite working tirelessly, these laborers often received no money at all. Yet despite such conditions, queues for employment stretched endlessly whenever jobs were available.

After signing the contracts, Duan Wenxuan advanced the Xia brothers three months’ worth of wages. He instructed them to rent a house for their family and left the rest to their discretion.

The next day…

Duan Wenxuan had no intention of deeply investing in this world, so his actions were swift yet somewhat hasty.

He gave Tang Tianlu some funds, instructing him to find a broker and secure a prime location for opening a teahouse. It was essential to have a legitimate source of income; otherwise, it could lead to complications later.

However, over these days, Duan Wenxuan had spent quite a sum of money. Many people likely assumed he was a young master who fled from famine-stricken regions, fortunate enough to arrive in Liyang City with his wealth intact despite his family’s original prosperity. With his current vulnerable position, it inevitably sparked interest among some.

Notably, even the number of beggars loitering near his residence increased significantly.

Duan Wenxuan, unbothered by such trivialities, decided for convenience’s sake to pay Ju Yangrong a visit. Ju Yangrong exuded a spirited ‘youthfulness’ and was genuinely amiable, warmly welcoming Duan Wenxuan. The two engaged in a lively conversation.

At the end, Duan Wenxuan handed Ju Yangrong a thick stack of plans detailing industrial initiatives. Upon reviewing them, Ju Yangrong exclaimed that Duan Wenxuan was truly a remarkable talent.

And indeed, how could he not be? These plans were based on actual historical developments during Hanming Country’s era. Each industry’s projected growth outlined in the documents had genuinely unfolded in Hanming’s past. Armed with this report, as long as Ju Yangrong’s luck wasn’t exceptionally bad, achieving immense wealth would pose no problem.

Ju Yangrong recognized both the feasibility and significance of these plans, deeply moved. He insisted on treating Duan Wenxuan like a brother, even calling out his own sister, clearly intending to foster a closer relationship between their families.

The conversation lasted late into the night before Duan Wenxuan finally left.

The next day, Ju Yangrong stepped forward and directly purchased a prime location from Ya Zi, then sent the land deed to Duan Wenxuan’s residence.

With Ju Yangrong’s involvement, Liyang City’s unsavory characters dared not target Duan Wenxuan, now seen as the ‘young master.’ However, Duan Wenxuan didn’t involve himself much with the teahouse affairs, delegating full authority to Gao Zhuoyu, Tang Tianlu, and the Three Xia Brothers for management.

Being villagers, the Three Xia Brothers lacked knowledge of the teahouse business, but Gao Zhuoyu was well-versed in it. She had previously run her own teahouse, handling all operations alongside her husband, making this task second nature to her.

Once matters in Liyang City were settled, Duan Wenxuan finally found time to return to the present world.

Calculating the days, he had been busy between both worlds for nine consecutive days. In another six days, a new world would open, which was his primary concern.

Upon entering the new world, he must stay there for at least twenty-four hours on his first visit. If he died within that world…the consequences were uncertain; Duan Wenxuan couldn’t predict them. It might be similar to a game, allowing him to respawn in a beginner’s village, but the more likely outcome could mean instant defeat.

However, it’s important to balance work with rest. Over these nine days, Duan Wenxuan had been incredibly busy, barely finding a moment’s respite. Even at night, his thoughts were consumed by strategizing future steps, leaving him mentally exhausted.

Regarding martial arts training, Duan Wenxuan was preparing for it, but progress was slow.

Tang Tianlu mentioned that starting martial arts training around ten years of age is ideal. Training too young could affect growth due to soft bones, while beginning later makes it harder to establish a foundation and increases the likelihood of needing corrective measures in the future.

As for Duan Wenxuan… he couldn’t be any older than he already is, and his physical fitness wasn’t particularly good either.

Having enjoyed a leisurely life for over twenty-five years, after leaving school, he never bothered with running or exercise since his body naturally stayed slim. Now, to take up martial arts, he first needed to improve his suboptimal physical condition.

For the time being, Duan Wenxuan let Tang Tianlu and others handle matters in Liyang City on their own. At home, he opened his laptop and began searching online for intriguing news updates.

The mutant woman he encountered earlier raised some concerns. No matter how well Hanming Country’s officials tried to conceal information, in this era of big data and the internet, complete secrecy was virtually impossible.

Authorities might swiftly censor content, but given the global population scale, there will always be details slipping through the cracks.

After diligent searching, Duan Wenxuan discovered a popular post from five days ago on a paranormal forum. The user mentioned that their grandmother was once a village shaman, but now few people believed in her practices, leading her to abandon her role long ago.

However, five days prior, when he returned to his hometown to visit his grandmother, he heard laughter resembling two children playing late at night. Disturbed by the noise, he went downstairs and saw his grandmother with a shocked expression, gesturing for him to remain silent. To his surprise, near the altar where his grandmother worshipped, there were two small red paper dolls about the size of a hand, engaged in playful antics.

In the past, whenever his grandmother encountered unfavorable situations while divining for others, she would create paper dolls as offerings, ultimately using them to ward off misfortunes on behalf of her clients. However, he always considered it mere superstition.

These two paper dolls were gilded, reportedly passed down from his grandmother’s mentor who taught her divination techniques. Normally, his grandmother meticulously cared for them.

Shocked yet intrigued, he secretly recorded a video.

At the time, this video went viral, even making headlines and generating hundreds of pages of replies on the paranormal forum.

Now, the final comment revealed that the original poster admitted it was just a prank, never expecting it to escalate so much. Due to promoting superstition, they faced seven days of administrative detention, and news outlets had since debunked the story.

Even now, this thread continued to receive replies, but most were mocking the original poster. Occasionally, there would be one or two comments mentioning “experiencing some strange occurrences here too,” but these responses got lost amidst the sea of posts, and those users never commented again.

Duan Wenxuan read through the entire thread, covering its origins and developments, but noticed that the originally uploaded video was no longer available. Nonetheless, he still took note of the incident for reference.

Following that, Duan Wenxuan found several more related pieces of information.

One person mentioned their domestic sow suddenly becoming highly aggressive, almost as if it had gained… intelligence somehow. His father narrowly escaped being fatally bitten by the sow.

In a critical moment, their black cat unexpectedly charged out and, incredibly, engaged in a fight with the sow. Eventually, the black cat managed to bite the sow to death, but the cat itself did not survive either. When they retrieved the black cat’s body, they discovered it had miraculously grown an extra tail.

Another account described how their Siberian Husky seemed capable of spitting small flames akin to a lighter. Shockingly, the Husky accidentally set itself on fire.

It smelled quite appetizing.

Tears involuntarily streamed down from his eyes and even from the corners of his mouth, unable to hold them back.

However, the biggest issue was that his house also caught fire. The firefighters arrived, and now he had no way to convincingly explain it—would they believe him if he claimed the Siberian husky spat out flames?

Amidst this mix of true and false information, Duan Wenxuan meticulously scrutinized each claim. He instinctively suspected there might be problems with those who swiftly debunked rumors, especially when done decisively and efficiently. Conversely, he felt that the unattended claims were likely false.

After hours spent researching news articles, Zong Cheng, whom Duan Wenxuan hadn’t seen for nearly ten days, called him.

At Zong Cheng’s residence.

Zong Cheng appeared somewhat weary. After sitting down, he brewed cups of coffee for both Duan Wenxuan and himself. “These past few days, you seem to have been quite busy. Whenever I returned, your house was usually empty?”

As neighbors, they often knew who was at home through their comings and goings. In the past, when Zong Cheng had business trips, he would give his keys to Duan Wenxuan, asking him to help water the plants he cared for.

“I went to a rather unique place.”

“Ah,” Zong Cheng acknowledged without probing further about the specific location.

If Duan Wenxuan could disclose it, he surely would have. If not mentioned, there must be a valid reason for keeping it confidential. Even among the best of friends, each holds some secrets within themselves.

“I’ve already selected the site for my shelter these past few days and am currently reinforcing the foundation and internal facilities. I plan to install two groundwater systems; once people truly take refuge inside, we cannot afford to lack water. Additionally, I will dig another hidden escape tunnel…”

In constructing his shelter, Zong Cheng approached it with utmost seriousness.

After discussing matters related to their shelter, Duan Wenxuan brought up some suspicious incidents he had noted earlier that day in front of Zong Cheng. “Take a look at these; I truly feel something is not right with this world.”

“Actually, during this period, I’ve been keeping an eye on news as well. A few days ago, while at work, I heard rumors that our city’s government is tendering bids for what seems like constructing air-raid shelters.

However, they’re being very tight-lipped about it, so there’s no further information available. Right now, all the prominent construction companies in the city have apparently been approached. I sense that this situation is quite unusual.”

“Can you find out more?”

Zong Cheng shook his head, “Not yet, but my credentials are sufficient. When the time comes, there will be a dedicated bidding meeting, and I should be attending. I’ll do my best to gather information; at least we need to understand what exactly is happening in this world.”

Asymmetry of information fuels the greatest panic.

People are inherently self-interested; those genuinely noble are few and far between.

To put it bluntly, in the event of a major catastrophe, could Hanming Country’s government save all its citizens? Definitely not. With such a vast population, those who know the truth would undoubtedly have a greater chance of survival.

“What are your plans now?” Zong Cheng asked Duan Wenxuan.

“I want to investigate any unusual occurrences and proactively explore them. Over these next few days, please keep an eye out as well. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t take such actions without ensuring some level of safety.”

Zong Cheng glanced at Duan Wenxuan and ultimately nodded.

He suspected that Duan Wenxuan’s confidence must be linked to the places he frequently disappeared to during this period.

Two days later.

Zong Cheng sent Duan Wenxuan a bundled package of information.

“Something strange seems to have occurred in the neighborhood where one of Yan’er’s colleagues lives. Her colleague mentioned it started about one or two months ago.

Every night when her colleague is sleeping, she hears whispers near her ear. It’s like someone speaking softly, sharing gossip about others. Some of these ‘others’ are people her colleague knows, while others are unfamiliar. Interestingly, sometimes she doesn’t remember these incidents upon waking up, but other times she does.”

Initially, these dreams were infrequent and not particularly bothersome. However, it worsened over time. Now, whenever she’s at home and closes her eyes, it feels as though numerous voices incessantly chatter near her ear, growing louder and more irritating, leaving her agitated.

She consulted a psychologist who diagnosed it as tinnitus, likely caused by excessive stress. Medication has provided some relief, but despite this, her colleague no longer wishes to stay at home and has already moved out.”

This situation didn’t sound overly alarming or dangerous.

After listening to Zong Cheng’s message, Duan Wenxuan reviewed the various documents he had sent about the neighborhood, including photos of his girlfriend Cao Yan’s colleague’s house from different angles.

Having examined all the information, Duan Wenxuan promptly returned to Liyang City and summoned Tang Tianlu.

“Landlord.”

“Master Tang, I need your assistance with something. Regardless of what it entails, please do not ask questions or discuss it with anyone else. I cannot guarantee your safety, but I swear that if you should lose your life, Gao Zhuoyu will continue working at the teahouse, and your family will receive their monthly five silver yuan without fail.”

Tang Tianlu glanced at Duan Wenxuan and then produced a notebook. “This contains key points of the Tang Clan’s martial techniques, with my annotations on the side. If I die, Landlord, you can practice using this guide. However, it would be best to consult another martial master for supervision; otherwise, there’s a risk of injury.

I, Tang Tianlu, have been stubborn before, causing harm to my family. Yet, I understand the importance of distinguishing between gratitude and grievances. Regardless of your character, Landlord, your kindness towards our Tang Clan has been immense. Whether or not I repay with my life, your favor will be remembered by me forever. If you trust me, please give your instructions freely. By the ancestors of the Tang Clan, I swear never to reveal any of your secrets.”

Duan Wenxuan was somewhat moved. Despite everything, Tang Tianlu still held onto some ‘jianghu righteousness.’

With a wave of his hand, Duan Wenxuan conjured an invisible door before Tang Tianlu. Seeing that Tang Tianlu couldn’t perceive it, he grabbed Tang Tianlu’s arm and stepped through together.

In Hanming Country, Tang Tianlu stood dazed, his eyes vacant, in Duan Wenxuan’s bedroom.

Moments later.

Duan Wenxuan lay listlessly on the bed, while Tang Tianlu’s gaze regained its vitality.

Duan Wenxuan moved his new body, feeling somewhat peculiar. On one hand, he sensed this body was already aged and frail, showing signs of wear from the passage of time.

On the other hand, he detected a latent powerful force within it. Despite its old age, Duan Wenxuan surprisingly found the body remarkably ‘nimble’.

For instance, simple movements like splits or maintaining a straight line stance were effortlessly executed by this physique. He even had a strange sensation that he could control every muscle with precision, particularly sensing the potential to leave distinct palm imprints directly on wooden surfaces.

The only regret was the advanced age of this body.

Now, he was Tang Tianlu.

Duan Wenxuan walked over to the mirror, changed into the prepared black linen training attire, and then saluted himself, saying, “I am Old Man Tang Tianlu, a descendant of the Tang lineage.”

After practicing several times, ensuring a natural response to the name Tang Tianlu, Duan Wenxuan avoided the surveillance cameras and descended the stairs.