George Smith asked me many questions. When I told him about Master Foster's death, he suddenly gave a mysterious smile, stared at me, and muttered to himself, “As expected, a natural medium. Found it, finally found it.”

“Is there hope for me?” I asked him. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and this creepy guy probably wants me to do something for him. No problem—whether it’s eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, or even breaking the law—as long as he can keep me alive.

A dead camel isn’t worth as much as a living ant.

George Smith said in a low voice, “As long as you listen to me and do as I say, you’ll survive.”

To be honest, I didn’t really trust this guy. Master Foster’s prophecy isn’t like a brothel girl’s face—changing on a whim. Still, he was my pitiful last straw. Even if he couldn’t save me, I could at least make a final score before I died.

“No problem, I’ll do as you say. But I’m hungry now, I want to go to Drunken Wind Tavern!”

“There’s not much time. There’s a restaurant up ahead. After we eat, we’ll leave the city immediately.”

I was stunned. “We’re leaving Luoyang?”

George Smith said coldly, “Or do you want to sit here and wait to die?”

Damn it, I was hoping to scam some money and finally lose my virginity. But it’s fine, one step at a time—there’ll be other chances. I comforted myself: losing my virginity is precious, but life is even more valuable.

At the restaurant at the East Gate Street corner, I loosened my belt and stuffed myself: braised beef, crispy duck, egg flower chicken slices, sweet and sour ribs, stir-fried shrimp, three-delicacy carp soup—I ate until I was full to the throat. Before leaving, I wiped the oil from my mouth and grabbed a jar of Daughter Red wine.

That burp after a full meal—damn, it felt good!

Licking my fingers, I walked contentedly toward the carriage. At least I wouldn’t die hungry.

Dusk spread everywhere, and the splendid lanterns were just being lit. In the distant tall buildings, music and dancing floated, string music drifting softly.

With a full belly, my thoughts turned to lust, and my little brother got hard.

“Hurry up.” George Smith urged me impatiently.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of loss. I was about to leave Luoyang, the place I’d lived for sixteen years.

But honestly, it didn’t matter where I went.

“Wait a minute!” I shouted. “I need to go somewhere first!”

George Smith’s gaze was sharp as fangs. “I don’t have time to waste on you. Don’t play games with me.”

I shivered. “I... I have to go. Otherwise, I... I’d rather die.”

In that instant, George Smith seemed like a terrifying beast, his long hair standing on end. He stared at me for a long time, then finally agreed. I breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t that I was unafraid of death, but I knew in my heart that I was valuable—George Smith needed me.

With me leading the way, the carriage stopped outside the garden wall.

George Smith gave me a strange look. I stood under the big locust tree, dazed, then climbed to the top in one breath.

The garden was quiet, only the evening breeze swaying the swing back and forth.

In the grass, summer insects chirped softly.

In the boudoir behind the garden, the window curtains were tightly closed. Miss Walker, what are you doing now?

The brothers in the gang all laughed at me, saying a toad wants to eat swan meat. But they didn’t know, when I peeked at Miss Walker, my little brother never got hard.

Although Miss Walker was pretty, with fair skin and a full chest, I didn’t peek at her for those reasons. Nor was it because, three years ago, on a snowy evening, she gave me a piece of broken silver.

I liked peeking at her because she put the silver in my hand herself.

Her snow-white hand, my pitch-black hand.

She didn’t mind that I was dirty.

The night breeze was like a dream, golden locust blossoms like tiny bells, drifting with a faint fragrance.

That piece of silver—I didn’t keep it. I spent it long ago. Because I knew, you can keep silver, but you can’t keep other things.

A toad can never eat swan meat.

Miss Walker was like this splendid city of Luoyang—so far, so far from me.

All my life, I could only watch from behind the wall, secretly, secretly.

Watch her smile, watch her get married.

All my life, I could only be a rascal.

I don’t know why, but I felt a little sad.

The empty, silent garden.

Miss Walker’s laughter, like a dream.

Sixteen years in Luoyang, like a dream.

My youth, like a dream.

“Damn it!” I shouted, slapped my chest hard, slid down the tree, and strode toward the carriage.

Goodbye, Luoyang!

Goodbye, beggar-swindler-thief-robber gang!

Goodbye, deadbeat old man! Not like I have money to burn incense at your grave anyway!

In twenty years, I’ll be a real man again!

In the dazzling night, crowded with nobles, the sound of hooves echoed as the carriage left Luoyang.

Oh, right—at the base of the city wall, I took a powerful piss and scrawled with a brick: “William Carter was here.”

Chapter 003: Me and My Past Life (Part 1)

As soon as the carriage left Luoyang and hit the country road, it sped up, faster and faster, like it had gone mad. I’ve never ridden a horse, but I know—even a thousand-li horse couldn’t run this fast.

Too strange.

The carriage shook violently. George Smith’s face was cold and grim, silent, as if someone had raped his mother. What the hell is this bastard up to?