He didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

Without asking William Clark and Olivia Smith, he walked straight toward the officer. He knew in his heart that William Clark and Olivia Smith definitely didn’t want him to join the army.

By the time William Clark and Olivia Smith tried to stop Henry Clark, it was already too late—they could only stand there anxiously.

“You’re too frail, your constitution is weak. You don’t meet the requirements. Step back.”

The officer just glanced at Henry Clark and rejected him outright.

Henry Clark had no choice but to step back, and William Clark and Olivia Smith breathed a sigh of relief.

In the end, twelve people met the requirements and were registered. Soon, they would leave with the officer.

An hour later, several carts of grain and seeds arrived, and everyone received their share.

Then, each household was given a wooden plaque with a house number written on it. Every house in the village had a corresponding number by the door. All they had to do was find the house with their number and move in.

William Clark received house number thirty-six.

They carried their grain and seeds and found house number thirty-six.

The house was on the edge of the village, not large, with mud walls and a thatched roof. There were three rooms, a small hall, and a tiny kitchen.

At the door were rusty hoes, carrying poles, winnowing baskets, and other farm tools. The original owner of the house, however, was long gone.

William Clark and Olivia Smith immediately started cleaning up. Henry Clark wanted to help, but the two elders stopped him, saying that Henry Clark hadn’t fully recovered from his illness and needed to rest.

By the time they finished cleaning, it was already evening. Olivia Smith took some brown rice and cooked a thick porridge.

The three of them sat around the wooden table, eating with great relish.

The brown rice was mixed with rice bran and tasted terrible. In the past, Henry Clark would have found it hard to swallow, but now he thought it was incredibly delicious.

After a bowl of brown rice porridge, his body felt warm all over.

In the eyes of the two elders, the confusion and despair about the future that had haunted them on the road as refugees was gone, replaced by hope and anticipation for the days ahead.

A house, land, grain, and seeds—this was hope.

“Yan’er, get some rest early. Tomorrow morning I’ll go hunting in the mountains and bring you back a wild rabbit to help you recover.”

Said William Clark.

At night, moonlight flooded the thatched cottage. Henry Clark lay on the wooden bed, his thoughts in turmoil, unable to sleep.

He kept thinking about the scenes of corpses strewn across the land during their flight, then about the terrifying power of that knight who killed a man with a single thrust, and then about the crazed village woman screaming herself hoarse during the day...

He didn’t know why, but he always felt a sense of unease in his heart, growing stronger like the darkness of midnight.

“This world is full of danger. I must have the power to protect myself. What exactly is that book in my mind? Why is there still no reaction?”

As a transmigrator, Henry Clark wasn’t without something special. On the first day he arrived, he discovered a book in his mind. As long as he focused, it would appear in his mind, but after many attempts, Henry Clark hadn’t found any special function.

After trying many times with no result, Henry Clark could only give up.

After a while of restless thinking, sleepiness finally crept in, and in a daze, Henry Clark drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the peaceful night of the small village. Henry Clark sat up abruptly in bed.

Chapter Two: Grain Robbery

The scream was especially chilling in the stillness of the night. Henry Clark couldn’t help but recall the words of that madwoman from earlier, and goosebumps rose on his skin.

At that moment, the scream rang out again. After several cries, it fell silent.

“It seems to be that madwoman’s voice. Is she having another episode?”

Henry Clark pondered.

He tightened his clothes, pushed open the door, and walked into the living room, where he saw William Clark and Olivia Smith were already there.

William Clark was relatively calm, but Olivia Smith seemed a bit nervous.

The three of them didn’t speak. They waited in the living room for a while, but the scream didn’t come again.

“It was probably just that madwoman acting up. It’s fine, Yan’er, go back to sleep. If anything happens, just call us.”

Said William Clark.

“Dad, Mom, you should get some rest too.”

William Clark responded, went into his room, closed the door, and lay down fully clothed.

This time, it was even harder to fall asleep. The madwoman’s words kept echoing in his ears, refusing to fade, until he was finally too exhausted and drifted off again.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, William Clark went hunting in Woniu Mountain early in the morning. Olivia Smith took a hoe to the fields to dig and prepare for planting potatoes, telling Henry Clark to stay home and rest.

Henry Clark ate a bowl of plain porridge, then wandered around the village, where he saw several old villagers chatting together.

“Uncles, do you know where the madwoman who lost her mind yesterday lives?”

Henry Clark stepped forward to ask.

“You’re looking for Aunt Niu? No need to go. I live right next door to her. Last night, Aunt Niu went mad and ran out of the village. Her family chased after her and none of them have come back yet.”

An old man said.

“The whole family ran out? Not a single one returned?”

“Not one!”

The old man replied.

“How strange!”

Henry Clark mused.

Normally, even if they went to chase after the madwoman, someone would have stayed behind to watch the house. How could the whole family have gone out and not returned all night?