Chapter Ten: The Two-Headed Chicken, No Longer the Original World

Soon, the two men spotted a torch in the distance, flickering in the dark of night like a dancing sprite. Father Li shouted, "We are here! Yuan is safe."

Upon hearing that he was unharmed, the anxiety in Mother Li and Yue'er's hearts finally dissipated. However, a young man standing nearby appeared noticeably uneasy. Was it a guilty conscience?

The youth stammered, "Since he has been found, I shall head back now." With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Seeing Li Yuan safe and sound, Mother Li was overjoyed, though she felt like giving him a scolding for nearly losing his life over a flower. She hugged him and chided, "I don't need anything, I only want you to be safe. Don't be so foolish next time."

Li Ziyuan stood there being held by her, his heart filled with complex emotions. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of revenge, but the prerequisite was to first understand where he was and where those ruthless bandits might be hiding.

"I understand. It won't happen again. I'm hungry; let's go home and eat," Li Ziyuan said, his tone cool and detached.

"Mother will make your favorite two-headed chicken," Mother Li said, finally releasing him from her embrace.

The villagers nearby also offered words of concern, promising to bring him some food the next day to help him recover and calm his nerves.

Li Yue'er stood behind Mother Li, holding a torch. In the glow of the flames, her flawless cheeks looked like fine porcelain. Her eyebrows, delicate as distant mountains, were slightly furrowed, as if carrying a trace of gentle sorrow. Her eyes were like autumn water, clear and bright, reflecting the beauty of the world. Her nose was small and exquisite, and her lips were as pink and luscious as cherries. With her hair cascading like a waterfall, she possessed an elegant and quiet temperament that was a delight to behold. How could such a beautiful woman exist in this Qingyan Village? Even in her simple attire, her beauty could not be hidden.

Li Ziyuan glanced at her, realizing this was the sister of the body's original owner, Li Yue'er.

Li Yue'er spoke first, "We were all so worried about you. I'm just glad you're safe."

"I'm fine. Sorry to have made you worry," Li Ziyuan replied. To Yue'er, his tone seemed to have changed—it was cold and calm. Yet, she did not suspect that he was anyone other than her brother, Li Yuan; she likely attributed his demeanor to the shock of the incident.

In the eyes of others, Li Yue'er’s history was filled with twists and legends.

Fifteen years ago, Father Li and Mother Li were traveling by carriage when they heard someone screaming for help. Following the sound, Father Li arrived to witness a tragic scene.

The three-year-old Li Yue'er had once had a happy family. However, a group of ghost-like men in black had broken that peace. Her biological father had fought desperately but was ultimately overwhelmed and murdered. Her mother had fled frantically with her, only to be cornered in a secluded bamboo grove. To protect Yue'er, her mother had steadfastly taken a fatal blow. The three-year-old girl had cried uncontrollably, forced to watch the tragedy unfold.

Just as the men in black were about to strike at Yue'er again, a brilliant light flashed, and several afterimages appeared like lightning. Li Ziyuan's father, Li Yunfeng, arrived instantly, gripping a sword manifested from spiritual energy that emitted a mysterious golden glow. Before the attackers could react, they fell one by one. Li Yunfeng’s speed was absolute; he dispatched the group of bandits in an instant.

At that moment, Yue'er’s dying mother used her last ounce of strength to beg Li Yunfeng to adopt her daughter. "Please... take in my daughter... she is still so young... do not let her... die like this." Looking at the dying woman, Li Yunfeng nodded solemnly.

After burying Yue'er’s mother, Li Yunfeng returned to the carriage with her. Inside sat a young, heavily pregnant woman of striking beauty—this was Mother Li. Seeing Yue'er, Mother Li’s eyes filled with deep sympathy, and she gently stroked the girl's hair. "This child is so pitiful. Let's take good care of her from now on."

Li Yunfeng had spared one of the men in black, demanding, "Who wanted this family dead?" The man replied in terror, "It was Wang Fu, a business rival of the girl's father."

Mother Li, possessing great wisdom, said, "If we do not root out those who hold a grudge against Yue'er, she will be trapped by the desire for revenge for the rest of her life." Following her advice, Li Yunfeng went to the Wang estate and executed only Wang Fu.

As Yue'er grew up, she learned the full truth at the age of ten. Filled with gratitude toward Father and Mother Li, she vowed to spend her life repaying them. Later, they moved to the idyllic Qingyan Village, where Father Li lived under an assumed name, Li Jingchuan. Soon after, Li Yuan was born, and Yue'er cared for her brother with all her heart; the two shared a deep bond.

Li Ziyuan followed his parents back to a home that felt both familiar and strange—familiar due to the original owner’s memories, and strange to himself. The house was built of blue rock; it was not large, but sufficient for a family of four. It included a vegetable garden, a fish pond, and a chicken coop. The light inside did not come from a kerosene lamp, but from glowing crystals that Li Ziyuan had never seen before, filling the room with radiance.

Having experienced death, Li Ziyuan’s heart was not filled with thoughts of avenging the original Li Yuan, but rather with the desire to avenge Yu Tian. However, he reasoned that since he now occupied this body, he should do something for the original owner, so he resolved to kill that Jiang Yun.

Father Li pushed him into his room, urging him to change out of his soaked clothes, while Mother Li and Yue'er busied themselves in the kitchen. Having never experienced such domestic warmth in his previous life, Li Ziyuan felt an indescribable emotion. He changed into fresh clothes and lay on the bed to meditate.

The door was pushed open gently, and Yue'er poked her head in, smiling. "Yuan, your favorite two-headed chicken is ready."

Li Ziyuan responded and went to the table. Looking at the bird, he frowned; it was indeed a chicken with two heads. During his meditation, he had sorted through the fragments of the original owner's memories and realized this village was strange, filled with flora and fauna he had never seen in his past life. He finally understood he was in a peculiar world. He had once mistakenly thought this mysterious village was just a hidden sanctuary in his original world, but he now understood that returning home would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

Li Ziyuan was truly hungry and began to eat. Mother Li and Yue'er watched him, their faces full of smiles. Afterward, they peppered him with questions and gave him a thorough check-up, marveling that he had survived such a disaster and would surely have good fortune ahead.

Just now, Li Ziyuan had been thinking about how the original owner's name, Li Yuan, was so similar to his own. Was it a coincidence or fate? His heart grew conflicted.