William Thompson held his mother's hand and softly said, "When I grow up, I will make sure you never have to suffer again."

"Foolish child, I know you went to work at the restaurant to help out at home, but it's really not necessary. You'll be taking the county exam the year after next. If you truly want to be filial, then study hard."

After saying this, The Thompson Family smiled, patted her son's hand, and got up to leave.

Watching his mother's thin, frail back, William Thompson couldn't help but feel a sting in his nose as tears welled up in his eyes.

Just then, there was a gentle knock at the door. William Thompson quickly wiped away his tears and saw that it was Elder Sister bringing in a meal.

"Today Elder Sister made your favorite scrambled eggs. Eat it while it's hot!" She placed the bowl in front of her brother and handed him a bamboo spoon.

"Xiaoye, since it's hard for you, let Elder Sister feed you!"

"No need! I can eat by myself."

Emily Thompson sat beside him, watching her brother eat slowly. Suddenly, she let out a soft sigh.

"Jie! Why are you sighing?"

"Elder Sister actually knows the real reason you went to the restaurant, Xiaoye. It's impossible."

William Thompson was startled. He saw Elder Sister take a paper packet from her bosom, and his face flushed red.

"This fell from you last night when Father was beating you. Father didn't notice, so Sister kept it for you. This is a lock of her hair, isn't it? Did she give it to you?"

"No, her younger brother was playing with it and I traded ten essays for it. Jie! Give it back to me."

Emily Thompson shook her head and said sternly:

"She's three years older than you and already engaged, not to mention even if she was willing, you know Father would never agree. Her family runs a restaurant, and Father has always looked down on her father. Last year, her family invited the county magistrate and Father to dinner, but Father didn't go. Forget it, let Sister burn this for you! Otherwise, it will affect your studies. Mother almost had to sell the ancestral ring to pay for your treatment. Luckily, you recovered on your own. Now our whole family's hopes rest on you. If you don't study hard, you'll let down Parents's years of raising you!"

William Thompson said nothing, only silently watched as Elder Sister used scissors to cut the lock of hair into several pieces and threw it into the brazier.

A few days later, William Thompson's cane injuries gradually healed, and he returned to the academy to continue his studies. William Thompson was not clever, even a bit slow. In his Father's words, he was a late bloomer, someone who would achieve greatness late in life. All of this was due to a serious illness ten years ago. In Xiangyang, a famous physiognomist had predicted when William Thompson was six that this child was extraordinary and would have a noble future.

For the past ten years, William Thompson had lived in a daze. Occasionally, fragments of memories would flash through his mind, making him feel he shouldn't be living in the Song dynasty. When he was twelve, he suddenly remembered his computer, and the vast expanse of white morning fog.

"Food and sex, these are human nature. Benevolence is internal, not external; righteousness is external, not internal."

William Thompson sighed and put down his book. He thought again of Miss Carter. When he first met her, he actually thought Grace had come to the Song dynasty too. The two looked so alike, especially their eyes. Perhaps Miss Carter was Grace from a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, Miss Carter was already promised to someone else, and in three months she would be married. As for Grace? Ten years had passed; she must have married long ago, and her child should be in school by now!

William Thompson felt a deep ache in his heart. He walked to the window and stared blankly outside. Late Song—he had returned to the tragic end of the Song dynasty. It was only early February, and the spring chill still lingered. William Thompson's clothes were thin, making him look even smaller and frailer. He stood by the window, lost in sorrow. Who would have thought that in the heart of this fourteen-year-old boy, there was the weight of a thousand years?

Suddenly, a shout rang out outside, and the street became chaotic. The sound of running footsteps was everywhere. The main gate was slammed open with a bang, and the academy's gatekeeper, Uncle Harris, rushed in. As soon as he saw William Thompson, he shouted, "Run for your life! The Jin soldiers have entered the city!" Without another word to William Thompson, he dashed into his own room, grabbed a bundle, and fled.

William Thompson ran out onto the street and saw people everywhere fleeing in terror, cries and shouts filling the air in chaos. Smoke was already rising from a fire at the north gate, and he even caught a glimpse of Jin cavalry charging past. The academy was about a thousand steps from home. When William Thompson frantically ran back, the Jin cavalry had already looted the area around the south gate. At the entrance to the alley, a dozen corpses lay scattered. William Thompson recognized one as his neighbor Aunt Walker. As he approached, he suddenly saw that Aunt Walker's head had been chopped off, hanging from her body by just a bit of skin. William Thompson was so terrified he nearly lost his soul, immediately doubling over and vomiting violently. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he dashed madly toward home.

"Father! Mother! Mother! Elder Sister!"

William Thompson cried out desperately, but the house was already empty. Every room was in disarray. As William Thompson ran back to the inner room, he faintly heard what sounded like Father's voice shouting outside.

"Father!"

William Thompson spun around and rushed out the door, only to see Father running toward him, with more than a dozen Jin soldiers in pursuit.

"Xiaoye, run! Run!"

At that moment, an officer on horseback caught up and struck Henry Thompson down with a single blow from behind. William Thompson's eyes turned blood-red as he screamed and charged at the officer, but before he could get close, a sharp pain exploded in his head, and everything went black.