Half-asleep and half-dreaming, Nie Kong was startled by the piercingly anxious female voice, and his consciousness instantly sharpened: Uncle? When did I get a niece? Moreover, I thought I was struck dead by lightning. How can she still be telling me not to die? Could it be...

At the moment the lightning struck the gaming helmet, Nie Kong felt his consciousness drift out of his body. Outside, the torrential rain poured down, punctuated by thunder and lightning, while he watched his own body twitching relentlessly. The brief, sharp pain almost suffocated him.

Once his body ceased all movement, Nie Kong floated higher and higher, enveloped by endless darkness and silence from all directions, causing his consciousness to constantly sink until it became completely blurred. Nie Kong had no idea how long that solitary process lasted, but he knew he was truly dead. Yet, judging by the current situation…

I’m not dead?

A thought flashed through his mind, and Nie Kong couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. As a doctor, he wasn't overly fearful of death, but being able to continue living was certainly something to rejoice about. In that instant, the sudden, intense excitement in his brain was like a key unlocking a shackle, and unfamiliar fragments of memory flooded forth like a turning carousel.

Nie Kong was stunned. From those memories, he discovered something utterly incredible. Although this body shared his exact name, its owner was a completely different person. This Nie Kong was only eighteen years old, a disciple of the Nie family in Jiyang City of the Dacheng Empire.

The Dacheng Empire, Jiyang City, the Nie family…

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been thrown over Nie Kong’s head. What in the world was happening? The excitement and thrill vanished, replaced by an indescribable shock and panic. His mind was a chaotic mess, familiar and foreign memories intermingling until he could no longer distinguish whether he was the Nie Kong, the TCM physician from the former Earth, or the young Nie Kong from Jiyang City in the Dacheng Empire…

…… —————————————————————————————————————————————— “…” “Uncle, Uncle, please wake up quickly. Didn’t you tell me yesterday that you had to hold on? How can you leave now…”

The sorrowful lament woke Nie Kong up.

Only then did Nie Kong fully realize that she was not his niece, but his sister-in-law, Hua Mei. This world had no airplanes, cars, computers, or televisions—none of the technological products of his past life. In contrast, it bore some resemblance to the ancient times he recalled. Here, a sister-in-law referred to her husband's younger brother as “Uncle.”

This Nie Kong’s mother had died early, and he had been sickly since childhood; his elder brother, Nie Qiong, was the same.

Hua Mei had married into the family three years ago, but Nie Qiong died of illness before the wedding rites were even fully completed. Not long after, their father, Nie Qingyang, also passed away. Hua Mei had taken care of him ever since, and he had been fiercely protective of her. He had managed to hold on until this very day, finally taking his last breath, which conveniently allowed Nie Kong to take over his body.

Nie Kong had witnessed and experienced death many times. After the initial disarray brought on by such an unbelievable, massive change, his state of mind gradually settled. Whatever bizarre event occurred when he was struck by lightning while playing a game, since he had been given a new life here in Jiyang City, he must live it well. Fortunately, his relatives in his former world were long deceased, leaving him unattached. At most, his patients and clients would feel a moment of regret upon hearing of his death, but they wouldn't grieve as deeply as this Hua Mei beside him.

Listening to Hua Mei’s mournful, hoarse voice nearby, Nie Kong suddenly felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

“Stop crying.”

Nie Kong tried to speak, but no sound emerged. His body was stiff and numb, almost impossible to move. He struggled to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as heavy as if they were weighed down by lead spheres.

To think I’m falling for the weakness of an eighteen-year invalid; this body is truly awful.

Nie Kong managed a wry smile. If he could move, he was confident his medical skills could bring the body back to health. But currently, being paralyzed and mute, like a vegetable, meant he lacked even the most basic conditions to treat himself. It was deeply frustrating; he needed to figure out a way. Nie Kong’s mind raced.

BANG!

A loud crash interrupted Nie Kong’s thoughts, seemingly the sound of the door being violently kicked open.

“What… what are you people trying to do?” Hua Mei’s voice followed, slightly trembling, clearly laced with panic.

“What are we trying to do? Hua Mei, have you forgotten what you promised our Third Young Master yesterday?” A sharp male voice chuckled, his tone disgustingly lewd.

Third Young Master?

Hearing those words, a face instantly popped into Nie Kong’s mind—that of a young man in his early twenties. The Nie family was a powerful lineage in Jiyang City. Nie Kong’s immediate family was merely a collateral branch. This Third Young Master, however, was a direct descendant, the third son of the current Nie family patriarch, Nie Fengxing.

A strange urgency gripped Nie Kong. Nie Fengxing was notoriously arrogant and overbearing, and from the memories, Nie Kong knew he had long lusted after Hua Mei’s beauty. It was only because the original owner of this body had fought tooth and nail to protect her, combined with Hua Mei’s staunch refusal, that Fengxing had failed until now. His intrusion now certainly boded no good.

Hua Mei stammered, “I… I didn’t forget…”

The sharp male voice said playfully, “Since you didn’t forget, come along with us now. Third Young Master is waiting for you over there.”

“No, I can’t leave now; I have to prepare the funeral rites for Uncle.”

“Funeral rites? The invalid Nie Kong is finally dead? Good, good riddance. A waste of life for a good-for-nothing like him, hahah.” A burst of malicious laughter echoed in the room. “What a pity, wasting a bottle of the Third Young Master’s ‘Spring Rejuvenation Dew’; otherwise…”

“Wu Tong, don’t speak like that.”

Hua Mei snapped angrily. “Go tell the Third Young Master that after I finish arranging my Uncle’s funeral, I… I will go see him myself.”

Wu Tong scoffed, “The Third Young Master can’t wait that long, Hua Mei. Just come with us. We’ll handle Nie Kong’s funeral for you.”

“You, you all get out! I’m not going with you now.”

“Not going? Ever since you begged the Third Young Master for that bottle of ‘Spring Rejuvenation Dew,’ you no longer have a choice. Take her away.”

“Ah, let go of me…”

“…”

Perhaps influenced by the residual memories of this body, hearing Hua Mei’s hoarse cries and fierce struggles nearby caused Nie Kong’s heart to twist in agony, and righteous indignation welled up inside him. From the conversation between Hua Mei and Wu Tong, he had roughly grasped the situation: when he was dying, Hua Mei must have run to Nie Fengxing to beg for the "Spring Rejuvenation Dew" to give him, and the price… was likely Hua Mei’s body.

Thud!

A heavy impact sounded, as if something had struck the wall.

“…Hold her down, hold her down! You two good-for-nothings, you can’t even hold onto one woman! If she smashes her head against the wall and dies, the Third Young Master won’t forgive you. Luckily, luckily, she only scraped her skin a bit.” Wu Tong breathed a sigh of relief, then clicked his tongue again. “Hua Mei, why put yourself through this misery? Since that invalid is dead, he no longer needs your care. You’ll have a good life following the Third Young Master; why struggle so desperately?”

“Don’t touch me, you beasts!”

“How dare you curse me… What’s wrong with me touching you? Heh, even if I get scolded by the Third Young Master, I’m touching you a few times. Tsk tsk, such a smooth, tender face. Nie Qiong was such a lucky dog to die right after getting married…”

“Beast!”

“…”

From the sounds alone, Nie Kong understood what was happening in the room. Hua Mei had nearly killed herself by hitting the wall and was now being molested by Wu Tong. Nie Kong was overcome by furious grief and indignation, feeling as if his entire body was about to explode. Just then, a warm current suddenly spread from his lower abdomen to every limb and bone. Nie Kong’s entire system suddenly felt connected, and he abruptly roared, throwing himself up to sit upright:

“Stop it!”