The faint aroma of stale bread and sour cheese lingered in the air, teasing Shen Yue's senses as he stared at the meager meal before him.
His stomach growled, a hollow reminder of his weakened body, but his mind was sharp with resolve.
This food—three pitiful keys to survival—was his first step toward reclaiming strength.
He reached for the bread, its surface rough and unyielding, like stone baked in despair.
Someone once told him, "When your belly is full, even the finest feast tastes bitter. But in a crisis, a single crumb can rival a five-star banquet."
Those words echoed in his mind as he tore into the bread, its texture grating against his teeth.
He forced it down, swallowing shards of crust and a sliver of meat, the act more defiance than nourishment.
By the time his crude plate was empty, his stomach felt full, but his heart remained hollow.
Shen Yue sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of his circumstances.
How did I end up here? The thought gnawed at him, pulling his mind back to a life that now seemed a distant dream.
In his previous existence, food was never a concern—platters of steaming delicacies, laughter around a polished table, the warmth of abundance.
Nostalgia flickered in his eyes, a bittersweet glow that dimmed as he glanced around the room.
The space was a shabby prison, barely sixty square meters, its walls stained with grime and despair.
A foul odor clung to the air, a mix of damp wood and unwashed linens.
The room was dimly lit, shadows pooling in the corners, with a single creaking door leading to a cramped bathroom.
Compared to the sprawling home of his past life, this was a cage.
He could only sigh, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Damn this fate, he cursed inwardly, his thoughts a storm of resentment and sorrow. Why me? Why this mess?
He closed his eyes, willing his emotions to settle, but they churned like a restless sea.
Time slipped by like a fleeting breeze, and still, his heart refused to calm.
Shen Yue shifted into a meditation pose, legs crossed, hands resting on his knees.
Hours passed, each moment a battle to tame the chaos within.
Memories unfolded like a tapestry, vivid and unrelenting.
He saw himself on a battlefield, surrounded by corpses—men and women who had fought for survival, only to be claimed by fate's cruel hand.
The stench of blood and decay filled his nostrils, a memory so vivid it threatened to choke him.
He had been lucky to survive, but luck felt like a curse when it left him alone, drowning in the weight of loss.
His mind drifted to his family—his mother's gentle smile, her unconditional love that had once been his anchor; his father, stern yet warm, whose rare visits home were filled with laughter and stories.
His fiancée, her eyes bright with dreams they'd never fulfill.
And his little sister, her giggles echoing by the lake where they'd fished and played under the sun's golden glow.
Each memory was a blade, slicing through his resolve.
His jaw clenched, his fists tightening until his knuckles whitened.
I can't stay with you anymore, he thought, the words a silent apology to his family.
I can't care for you in your old age, Mother, Father. My love, I'm sorry. I have new responsibilities now.
The memories of the original Shen Yue flooded his mind—moments of joy now tainted by tragedy.
He saw his sister's carefree laughter, the way she'd tug at his sleeve, begging for one more game.
He felt his mother's embrace, warm and fierce, a shield against the world.
His father's face, weathered but kind, appeared next, stirring a warmth in his chest that quickly turned to sorrow.
His father's death had shattered their world, leaving them vulnerable to greedy relatives who turned allies into enemies.
And then there was Uncle Peng Lei, the unshakable pillar who had shielded their family like a great wall.
Shen Yue's heart softened, the storm of emotions beginning to settle.
He knew what he had to do.
The key to his path forward lay in the mysterious power within him.
System, he called mentally, and a golden panel shimmered into existence before his eyes.
### **System Interface**
**Name**: Shen Yue
**Age**: 14
**Physique**: High-level Iron-Copper Molting Physique
Bloodline: Mid-level Flame Scorpion Bloodline
Cultivation: Uninitiated
Skills: None
Spiritual Root: Low-Level Fire Spiritual Root (Mixed) (0%)
Talent: Extraction
- Mid-Level Sword Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Archery Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Spear Talent (0%)
- Mid-Level Comprehension (0%)
Unique Traits:
- Clones: 0 (Locked)
Stats:
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 8
- Wisdom: 2
- Spirit: 0.9
---
The panel glowed faintly, a beacon of potential in the dim room.
Nothing had changed yet, but Shen Yue felt a spark of hope.
This system was his lifeline, a tool to carve a new path.
He dismissed the panel with a thought—
Just as a heavy knock reverberated through the room, the sound like a hammer striking his fragile calm.
---
"Enter," Shen Yue called, his voice hoarse after coughing twice.
The door creaked open, revealing a towering figure.
Uncle Peng Lei stepped inside, his broad shoulders filling the doorway.
His face was stern, etched with the scars of battles and the weight of years, but his presence brought a familiar warmth.
Shen Yue didn't need to look up to know it was him—the man who had been his protector, his shield in the darkest times.
---
When hunger gnawed at him during his early military days, it was Uncle Peng who slipped him bread.
When bullies loomed, it was Uncle Peng who stood like a mountain between them.
And when his father died, it was Uncle Peng who held their fractured family together.
---
"You shouldn't be moving," Peng Lei said, his voice thick with concern as he watched Shen Yue struggle to sit up.
"I can't lie in bed all day, Uncle," Shen Yue replied, forcing a weak smile.
His body ached, each movement a reminder of his frailty, but his spirit refused to yield.
Peng Lei settled beside the bed, his massive frame sinking into the creaking chair.
His eyes scanned the room, and guilt flickered across his weathered face.
The shabby walls, the foul air—it was a far cry from the life Shen Yue deserved.
A heavy sigh escaped him, his fists clenching as he fought to steady his emotions.
---
"I made a promise to your father," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"To protect you… your family. But look at you now."
His eyes shut tight, his jaw clenching as if the words pained him.
"I failed you, Shen Yue. My incompetence brought you to this."
---
"It's not your fault, Uncle," Shen Yue said, his voice firm despite his weakness.
"You tried. I know you gave money to keep me from the frontlines. I remember."
---
Peng Lei's eyes widened, surprise mingling with the guilt in his gaze.
"How did you—?"
"I know you did all you could," Shen Yue continued, cutting him off gently.
"The fault lies with the system—a machine that chews up loyalty and spits out corpses."
His words carried a bitter edge, born of countless nights spent grappling with his fate.
---
Peng Lei looked down, his shoulders slumping under the weight of regret.
"If I had a higher rank… more influence…"
"Don't blame yourself," Shen Yue said, his tone resolute.
"I'm alive, aren't I? That's enough. I have a chance now."
---
Silence settled between them, thick with unspoken emotions.
Peng Lei's gaze softened, a faint smile breaking through his stern facade.
"I took leave today," he said after a moment.
"Have to return by evening, but I wanted to see you."
He paused, his smile widening.
"You're stronger than I thought, nephew. More positive than I am."
"I came to give you hope, but it seems you're the one lifting me."
---
Shen Yue nodded, his heart heavy but warmed by his uncle's presence.
Then, his expression grew grave, a question burning in his chest.
"Uncle, tell me about my father's death."
---
The air in the room shifted, growing heavy with tension.
Peng Lei's body tensed, his eyes flashing with rage before he reined it in.
He glanced around, his movements cautious, as if the walls themselves might betray them.
---
"Someone once said walls have ears," he muttered, leaning closer.
His voice dropped to a whisper, each word laced with a gravity that made Shen Yue's heart pound.
"Your father's death… it wasn't an accident. It wasn't a battlefield casualty."
He paused, his gaze locking onto Shen Yue's.
"It was a pre-planned murder."
---
Shen Yue's breath caught, his pupils shrinking as the words sank in.
His thoughts spiraled, a storm of shock and fury threatening to consume him.
*Murder?*
The word echoed in his mind, a dark promise of truths yet to be uncovered.
His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms.
Whoever did this… they will pay.