“Where did I come from?”

“Where am I going?”

……

……

One complex and profound question after another began to surface in his mind. Just as he was about to ponder the meaning of “to be or not to be,” Edward Thompson finally snapped back to reality.

Coming from the twenty-first century, having read countless novels and watched countless TV dramas, after calming down and thinking for a while, he already had a suspicion in his heart that even he could hardly believe.

However, before anything else, he needed to confirm it.

Lowering his head to look once more at his reflection in the water, seeing a face that was not the one he had seen for over twenty years, Edward Thompson couldn’t help but feel an indescribable sense of strangeness.

“Pah, pretty boy!”

Looking at the young man in the water with disdain, he spat fiercely into the water.

The old man behind Edward Thompson saw this scene, and his expression became even more terrified.

In all his decades of life, it was the first time the old man had seen someone laughing out loud while slapping himself, and then spitting at his own reflection in the water...

“This Li family kid, could he really have gone mad?”

Just as Edward Thompson was about to find someone to ask about the situation, he turned his head and saw an old man with white hair and beard standing on the path behind him, looking at him with a terrified expression.

Seeing this, Edward Thompson was overjoyed—finally, a living person!

He put on what he thought was a very friendly smile, slowly walked over to the old man, and asked, “Sir, may I ask what year it is now, and where is this place?”

As soon as Edward Thompson spoke, the old man’s expression changed again.

It’s over, it’s over. Looks like the Li family kid really has gone mad—he doesn’t even recognize himself, and what he’s saying is complete nonsense. The old man had no idea what he was talking about.

Seeing the look on the old man’s face, Edward Thompson thought he hadn’t heard clearly. After all, it was normal for the elderly to be hard of hearing. Just as he was about to speak again, he seemed to think of something. After a brief consideration, he asked once more, “May I ask, elder... what year and month is it now, and what is this place called?”

This time, the old man finally understood what Edward Thompson was saying.

He let out a long sigh, his face full of regret.

Who would have thought, such a bright child, and so handsome too, but he’s read himself into stupidity, to the point of forgetting even these things...

He had thought that if the boy did well in his studies, he might bring honor to his family in the future, and Li Family Village would share in the glory. He had even considered marrying his unmarried granddaughter to him. But now—alas, heavens, what sin is this!

Seeing two strong men carrying hoes walking over from a distance, the old man quickly waved at them and shouted loudly, “Dashuang, you two brothers come here quickly! This Li family kid seems to have lost his mind—don’t let him run around, hurry and catch him!”

Chapter 2: Ferocious Bandits!

Looking at the Li family kid staring at him with a blank expression, the old man took a few steps back, becoming even more wary.

He had seen this look on Widow Liu’s face before. Thinking of how, just a few days ago, Widow Liu at the east end of the village woke up not knowing who she was, sitting in her yard giggling all day, and whenever anyone approached, she would scream, scratch, and bite...

Later, officials came and said Widow Liu had lost her mind. They chained her up at home and warned the villagers to keep a close watch—if she got out and hurt someone, they would be held responsible.

Edward Thompson watched as the old man’s expression changed in an instant. He turned his head and saw two burly men jogging over.

After a brief moment of shock, Edward Thompson didn’t hesitate at all—he turned and ran!

No joke, he’d heard it clearly just now—the old man said he had some kind of “madness”... If he got caught, who knows, he might be treated as possessed by evil spirits, tied to a post and burned or something...

Having already died once, Edward Thompson cherished his life more than anyone. At this moment, he undoubtedly burst out with the fastest speed of his life.

Behind him, the old man and the two strong men stared in shock as Edward Thompson disappeared in a cloud of dust, their jaws nearly dropping.

No one expected that the Li family kid, who couldn’t even truss a chicken and usually had to rest after a few steps, could run so fast!

“Looks like you really can’t judge a madman by common sense...” The old man stroked his long beard and couldn’t help but sigh.

……

……

Afraid of being caught by those two men and burned as a lunatic, Edward Thompson sprinted all the way until the village was completely out of sight and there was no one chasing after him at the edge of his vision. Only then did he plop down on the ground.

He gasped for breath, feeling as if his whole body was about to collapse.

After running at full speed for so long, he had almost exhausted all his strength. If those two men caught up now, Edward Thompson wouldn’t even have the energy to stand up and run.

There was no need to confirm anything else—Edward Thompson was almost certain he had caught the wave of transmigration.

Although he didn’t know what era or place this was, it was still better than being burned to death under a bookshelf. At the very least, he was still alive.