“Cultivators can pray for clear skies or rain, borrow the wind to spread fog...”

“To reach the highest levels of cultivation, one can even move stars and shift constellations, manipulate the very fabric of creation...”

“Those demons and spirits with profound cultivation are also extremely formidable—even cultivators are no match for them...”

……

Demons and spirits that can hook souls sound rather frightening, but as someone who grew up immersed in Chinese mythology, James Thompson not only felt no fear toward these demons, ghosts, and immortals, but actually found them exciting.

“This is your home.”

Michael Bolton pointed to a residence by the street. James Thompson took out a key from his waist and opened the gate to the house.

This residence was the ancestral home of the Li family, located in a bustling part of the county town. Although it wasn’t large, with only one courtyard, it was more than enough for James Thompson to live alone.

Michael Bolton and David Thompson stood in the courtyard. James Thompson said, “Wait a moment, I’ll go get the money.”

Following his memory, he retrieved a box from under the bed in the bedroom, but inside the box, aside from the house and land deeds, it was completely empty.

After searching the room thoroughly, James Thompson couldn’t find even a single copper coin—not even the rice jar had anything left.

He walked out to the courtyard and apologized to the two, “Sorry, I forgot where I put the money. How about I pay you back after I get my monthly salary in a couple of days?”

It would only be a couple of days until payday. Michael Bolton nodded and said, “Alright, then we’ll go patrol the streets first...”

James Thompson tried to keep them, “Why not stay for a meal before you go...”

David Thompson looked up at the sun, which was already leaning west, and said, “That’s fine, it’s just about time for a meal...”

As the two walked toward the inner room, James Thompson smiled and said, “It seems there’s no rice at home. How about you lend me a bit more money...”

The two suddenly stopped in their tracks.

Michael Bolton turned around, cupped his hands to James Thompson, and said, “I just remembered, my wife is waiting for me to eat at home...”

David Thompson followed up, “I also have something important to do, farewell...”

“Farewell!”

……

Michael Bolton and David Thompson left without looking back. James Thompson put away the twenty copper coins, stood in the courtyard, gazing at the sun about to set in the west, his expression dazed, his eyes unfocused...

In such a short time, he had experienced a series of incredible events, including death itself. He needed enough time to adjust his mindset and face the new life that awaited him...

While James Thompson was lost about his future, outside Yangqiu County, deep in the mountains, in a secluded valley rarely visited by people—

A few foxes were frolicking in the grass by the stream, making cheerful “ying ying” sounds.

“You fell into a hunter’s trap, and a human young master saved you...” Under an old tree by the stream, an old fox suddenly spoke in human language.

The little fox with an injured leg lay on the grass, nodded, and said, “He bandaged my wound and told me to be careful in the future...”

“This is troublesome...” The old fox’s face showed a worried expression. “A life-saving grace—this is a great karmic debt...”

The little fox looked up and asked, “Grandma, you always say that the fox immortals must repay any kindness. How should I repay him?”

A fox jumped over, teasing, “Of course, you should offer yourself to him...”

“Shoo, shoo...” The old fox chased it away, then sighed, “For the fox immortal clan, to become a nine-tailed celestial fox, one must fulfill all the karmic ties in the world. A life-saving grace is a tremendous karmic debt that cannot go unrepaid. But your cultivation is still too shallow. For now, focus on cultivating in the mountains. As for repaying the favor, wait until later...”

Chapter 003: Believe It or Not

At noon in Yangqiu County, smoke from cooking fires rose from every household in the city.

In the cramped kitchen, James Thompson squatted in front of the stove, staring at the dancing flames inside, habitually zoning out.

He had been here for three days. Three days ago, he took the twenty copper coins he borrowed and went to the market to buy some rice and two taels of pickled vegetables, which got him through the past three days.

During these three days, he gradually received some other memories and gained a more direct and clear understanding of the world he was in.

This was clearly a world that, in language, customs, and even religious beliefs, had a direct lineage from ancient China.

There was Daoism here, and also Buddhism. Although the history of these two sects differed from what James Thompson knew, their philosophies and teachings were essentially the same.

This was a world both familiar and strange to him.

After three days of peace, James Thompson had barely come to terms with his current situation.

He accepted that his soul had come to this strange world, starting a new life with a new identity.

After all, compared to being bedridden with illness or even death, having a healthy body and being able to live like a normal person was his greatest happiness.

In these three days, James Thompson thought about many things. After accepting this new life, the first thing he needed to consider was his future.

To live out his life as a constable in mediocrity was clearly not what he wanted—it would be a huge waste of his second chance at life.

What’s more, in this world, being a constable, though technically a government job with a salary, was far more dangerous than James Thompson had imagined.

Here, demons and ghosts ran rampant. In a single case, the criminal he had to face might not even be human.