Later generations all said that the Song Dynasty had no true men.

　　Thus, it was called the Weak Song.

　　The Weak Song could not defend itself, barely holding on to a corner.

　　So the land of China was lost.

　　Ethan Sullivan very much wanted to be a true man, but first he had to carry his four-year-old sister on his back and struggle to survive in Bianliang City...

Volume One: The Siblings in Bianliang City

Chapter 0001: Mang Mountain Is Covered with Graves

　　The weather was a bit cold.

　　The skinny Ethan Sullivan was trudging along with difficulty.

　　On his back was a little girl just as thin and frail.

　　As a successful middle-aged man, he had thought life was pretty good, but everything changed the moment he woke up...

　　Half a month ago, he had transmigrated into the body of a missing official's son...

　　It was the third year of Jiayou in the Northern Song Dynasty, and though it was the first month of the lunar year, Ethan Sullivan was migrating with his little sister on his back.

　　"Brother, where's the cart?"

　　The Grace on his back woke up, then rubbed her eyes with her little fists.

　　"The cart fell into the river."

　　That morning, because they had run out of money for the cart, the merchant caravan, using the excuse that they were changing routes, kicked the siblings out.

　　"Brother, where's home?"

　　Grace lay on his back and suddenly started to cry.

　　"I want Daddy..."

　　Ethan Sullivan looked up at the sky in speechless frustration.

　　After finally soothing his sister, Ethan Sullivan saw that it was getting late and hurried on their way.

　　By the time a small town appeared ahead, Ethan Sullivan was nearly exhausted.

　　The town was just a single street, but under the setting sun, it looked lively and full of life.

　　The only tavern in town was packed, and Ethan Sullivan led his sister inside.

　　A group of diners glanced at the siblings, then went back to their meals.

　　The aroma of meat and wine wafted over. Grace licked her dry lips and touched her little belly, but stubbornly refused to say she was hungry.

　　They needed to earn money!

　　A waiter came over, glanced at the siblings with some disdain, and asked, "What would you like to eat, guests?"

　　Ethan Sullivan put on a dignified face, and said as if dining at the grand Fan Tower in the capital, "Two steamed buns, and... water, boiled."

　　The waiter's look of disdain was barely concealed, but he still dutifully went to prepare their order.

　　Ethan Sullivan went to a table, first went to the kitchen to get warm water to wash Grace's hands and face, then cleaned himself.

　　Four-year-old Grace naturally let her brother take care of her. The siblings looked somewhat out of place here.

　　Two steamed buns—really just plain mantou—and two bowls of boiled water: that was their dinner.

　　Ethan Sullivan tore the bun apart and let Grace eat by herself.

　　There were quite a few diners nearby. One of them, a fat man whose cheeks wobbled when he spoke, said, "Traveling at such a young age—aren't you afraid of being robbed by bandits?"

　　There was a hint of malice in his words.

　　Ethan Sullivan looked up and smiled at the fat man, "Sir, you have a sharp eye... oh!"

　　His expression suddenly turned grim, then he sighed and shook his head, as if he'd seen something tragic.

　　He lowered his head and ate his bun slowly, as if he were enjoying the most luxurious meal in the capital.

　　The fat man, curious, asked, "Are you sick?"

　　This man spoke with venom. Ethan Sullivan glanced at him again and sighed, "I've studied medicine on Mang Mountain for many years—I can judge life and death at a glance."

　　The fat man's eyes narrowed, and he chuckled, "Young men these days dare to lie, huh! There are bandits ahead on the road, you know."

　　Aren't you the bandit?

　　Ethan Sullivan smiled back, "You don't believe me?"

　　The fat man shook his head, "Of course not."

　　The tavern's diners watched their banter, while only Grace focused on her bun.

　　She wasn't worried her brother would suffer, because on the road before, she'd already seen plenty of unlucky fools.

　　Ethan Sullivan took a sip of hot water, then furrowed his brow, trying his best to imitate those old doctors who hung around the telephone poles.

　　"Do your eyes sometimes blur?"

　　The fat man nodded absentmindedly.

　　"Do you often feel dizzy, and forget things a lot..."

　　The fat man's eye twitched, then he nodded again.

　　Ethan Sullivan put on a look of compassion and sighed, "Do you often have headaches, feel tightness in your chest, and lack strength?"

　　The fat man's body trembled, even the corners of his mouth quivering.

　　He stammered, "Young sir, what illness is this?"

　　The diners nearby were all surprised.

　　Did this young man really get it right?

　　Ethan Sullivan sighed again and said, "Your illness... is second only to Lord Cai Huan! Do you know who Cai Huan is?"

　　The fat man shook his head in confusion.

　　"How terrible ignorance is!"

　　Ethan Sullivan explained the story of Bian Que visiting Lord Cai Huan, then lowered his head to wipe the crumbs from Grace's face.

　　Seeing him lower his head to eat, the fat man began to recall all his symptoms, trembling all the while.

　　The table shook from his quivering, and the bowls and plates clattered.

　　"Eat slowly."

　　Ethan Sullivan patted his sister's head, smiling kindly.

　　Having suddenly arrived in this world, his only family was Grace. Without her, his heart would be cold as ice.

　　"Young sir, save me!"

　　The fat man actually collapsed to the ground, utterly panicked.