This wave came quickly and left just as fast. In just a moment, the tide-like pain faded away, leaving a sense of great comfort.

Autumn had arrived, and the temperature was a bit chilly. This body was dressed in a simple Daoist robe.

The Daoist temple was tranquil. The body’s wide sleeves fluttered, and wearing wooden clogs, he tried walking a few steps in the dappled light. The crisp sound of the clogs echoed. After centuries of accumulation, most negative emotions had been overcome. At this moment, he felt only the joy of rebirth.

This was the body of a fifteen-year-old!

A little further away was a small pond. Stepping forward to look, he saw that this youth’s body was about 1.7 meters tall, with delicate features, and at this moment, there was a faint red mark between his brows.

Looking at the person in the water and listening to his heartbeat, he only came to his senses after a moment.

The past was like a dream. After the excitement just now, he couldn’t help but calm down and observe carefully. What came into view was a slightly dilapidated house. Judging by its style, it should be a side hall of the Dayan Temple.

Suddenly, he stared blankly at himself, then turned to look at the ancient-looking house. Only then did he finally realize—

This was no longer the original Earth.

He was dazed for a moment, then the youth smiled: “So you are Edward Clark.”

Just then, footsteps suddenly approached. His junior sister Alice Bennett came in carrying a bowl of soup. Seeing her senior brother standing at the door, his face pale but his mind clearly awake, she couldn’t help but tremble as she spoke: “Senior brother, you… you’re awake!”

Edward Clark turned to look at the girl, his eyes momentarily dazed, but he couldn’t help but say, “It’s fine, see? I’m awake now!”

Chapter Two: Turtle Shell

Dinner time. The bronze lamp emitted a soft glow.

According to the customs of this world, in the side hall, there was a five-foot-long dining table. Edward Clark and Alice Bennett sat on either side. Although John Harris was the most important person in the temple, he could not sit at the table at this time—this was the rule.

On the table were smoked meat, carp, green vegetables with tofu—three dishes and a soup. Though the ingredients were simple and there were no special seasonings, the food was still very delicious.

John Harris was said to have been a chef, and his life had been saved by Charles Bennett. Being a straightforward man, he had followed Charles Bennett ever since. Even though the temple had fallen on hard times, he refused to leave.

However, he had not abandoned his skills. Though there was little food in the temple, he still tried to make it as tasty as possible.

Alice Bennett sat upright, chewing slowly, occasionally coughing, but a faint blush appeared on her face, and a subtle joy filled her expression. Though dinner was quiet, there was a sense of warmth.

How many years had it been since he’d felt this way? The feeling of family dining together was truly wonderful. But at this moment, Edward Clark had no time for sentimentality. The needs of his newly reformed body brought great hunger and thirst, and he ate heartily.

“Senior brother, eat some more.” Alice Bennett smiled gently. She ate very little, putting down her chopsticks after half a bowl, watching her senior brother eat rice in big mouthfuls. This made her ten times happier than eating herself.

Edward Clark felt his junior sister’s gaze and was a little embarrassed. He had already had two bowls of rice, but thinking of his body’s needs, he served himself another.

After dinner, John Harris came to clear the dishes, looking a bit hesitant. Alice Bennett noticed and understood, saying, “Senior brother, you’ve just recovered. Why don’t you rest early?”

Edward Clark nodded and went out, pausing for a moment in the corridor outside the hall.

Sure enough, after a while, John Harris spoke: “Miss, Cunye… oh, even though the temple master has recovered, what about next month? I’m really worried—”

The side hall was silent, except for Alice Bennett’s continuous coughing.

Edward Clark’s heart tightened as he searched the memories of this body. In just a moment, he found the relevant part.

The local Marquis Wei had posted a notice in the city: the River God was lecherous and cruel, taking a new bride every ten years, who was sent to a small island in the river and never seen again by morning. It was a tragedy. However, according to the contract with the immortals, as long as someone protected the girl for one night, the crisis could be averted.

Marquis Wei held a grand banquet in the city, inviting heroes from all over the land to stop this event.

Anyone who could protect the girl would be rewarded: monks would receive temple lands, Daoists would be given mountain temples, and warriors would be granted land and titles.

The first time, heroes responded in droves, and those who came to accept the mission were countless. But now it was the third round, and the previous two had been wiped out, so this time there were few participants. Marquis Wei therefore issued a strict order: every Daoist temple and monastery in Ancheng County must send one person, or their property would be confiscated.

Other temples had many people and could find a way, but now Dayan Temple had only three people.

John Harris the old man, the junior sister was frail, so only Edward Clark remained.

Originally, Edward Clark was too young and didn’t understand the situation, nor did he think deeply. Now, as soon as Edward Clark recalled it, he felt a chill all over. At that moment, he heard Alice Bennett cough inside, then say, “...You mustn’t go!”

Her tone was very firm.

“But Marquis Wei has ordered it. If we don’t go, the temple will be confiscated…” John Harris said bitterly.

“Uncle Lu, I know what you’re worried about, but think about it.” Alice Bennett gave a slight, bitter smile. “Without senior brother, does our temple have any hope?”

John Harris said nothing, but did not object. After a moment, he heard Alice Bennett continue: “I know what you mean. The second young master of the Zhang family is interested in me. His family is an eighth-rank county magistrate. If I married into his family, I wouldn’t have to pay taxes or serve the government. But have you thought about it? With my health, I can still manage in the peace of the temple, but if I entered a big household, with all the intrigue and strife, how many years could I survive?”