He was too ill to travel. The caravan left him in the care of a local family, paying them a commission to look after him.

Since the caravan passed through the county city several times a year, the family didn’t dare mistreat Hanwa. They brought him water and medicine on time, though their care was far from meticulous.

The martial instructor who had once taught Hanwa in the caravan, fearing the family might harm him for his money, had issued a harsh threat. This ensured the family wouldn’t dare use Hanwa’s money to hire a renowned physician without his consent. Unwilling to pay out of pocket themselves, they let him endure his illness as best as he could.

Hanwa had been physically robust, but repeated high fevers, compounded by a persistent cough and bouts of blood, sapped his strength. Eventually, Hanwa passed away. And when he did, Chen Xiao arrived.

In his previous life, Chen Xiao had thought he would close his eyes and never wake again. Yet when he opened them, he was met with excruciating pain throughout his body. He was burning up, unable even to sit up in bed. Raising a hand felt like a monumental effort.

As Chen Xiao struggled through the dizziness and splitting headache, his survival instincts kicked in. He realized that if things continued like this, this inexplicable second chance at life would end before it began.

Seizing a moment of clarity, he begged the family to summon a physician from a reputable medical hall. Using most of the money left behind by Hanwa, he persuaded the physician to treat him.

The physician, motivated by the generous payment, spared no effort. After some effort, he procured a medicinal pill for Chen Xiao. Consuming it immediately eased his symptoms, and within days, his body had regained much of its strength.

After another half month of recuperation, Chen Xiao had fully recovered. Expressing his gratitude to the family, he left their home and checked into an inn.

Though the remaining funds seemed substantial, in this bustling county city, they were only enough to afford comfortable meals and lodging for three months.

Chen Xiao had no intention of returning to the caravan Hanwa had worked with. For one, he feared someone might notice his “change.” For another, he lacked Hanwa’s memories and skills. Though he knew how to brawl, he wasn’t proficient enough in combat to work as a caravan guard.

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In the end, he took a gamble. Using the rest of his money, he found a reputable broker and entrusted the man to arrange a position for him in his current workplace.

Looking back, Chen Xiao was grateful for that decision. His job gave him indirect access to upper-class society, allowing him to quickly learn the basics about this new world.

It was a fascinating place, a blend of ancient traditions and fledgling ingenuity. It had the backwardness of a feudal era, yet showcased the creativity and invention of an industrial awakening. This coexistence of old and new was magical, drawing Chen Xiao’s curiosity and helping him acclimate despite his initial confusion.

At first, Chen Xiao thought he had transmigrated to a parallel world resembling ancient China, transitioning from feudalism to capitalism.

But as he learned more about this country called Dai, he realized he was wrong. This world had no coal or oil. Without such resources, there could be no steam age and no hope of progressing into a modern society.

However, this world had something unique: a precious mineral called spiritual stone. Rich in energy, these stones could replace coal and oil to power various devices.

Chen Xiao had once seen a marble-sized spiritual stone placed into a stove with three burners. It burned continuously for three hours, consuming only a tiny fraction of the stone.

That incident left him awestruck. The stove’s owner, fond of showing off, revealed that the stone had come from a cultivator. Only then did Chen Xiao realize that this world revolved not around agriculture, commerce, or craftsmanship but the pursuit of cultivation and immortality.

Unfortunately, after some discreet probing, he confirmed that Hanwa’s body lacked the spiritual roots necessary for cultivation. Without any innate talent, Chen Xiao was disheartened but soon rallied his spirits.

After all, being reincarnated was a bonus. Even if he lived an ordinary life, it wouldn’t be a loss.

Thus, Chen Xiao set his sights on enjoying life, saving money, and traveling the world. Marriage? In his last life, he had been a bachelor accustomed to freedom. He had no intention of burdening himself with attachments now.

Wiping the corner of his mouth, he said, “I’m not thinking that far ahead yet. For now, my priority is regaining my strength.”

No one knew how much his health had improved. After his severe illness, others thought it natural for him to splurge on food to recover. While some felt his spending was excessive, they couldn’t argue with his justification.

Zhao Erhu, a coworker, shook his head at Chen Xiao’s reasoning but didn’t press further. They were merely colleagues, not close friends. Having voiced his opinion, Zhao Erhu left it at that.

Still, Zhao Erhu couldn’t help but think to himself: Hanwa’s not good at managing money. He’s reckless and won’t save a dime.

Chen Xiao chuckled to himself. He could see Zhao Erhu’s disapproval but had no intention of explaining. Their values were too different, and saying too much would only complicate things. It was better to keep their relationship casual.

I’ve given myself a year to adapt and learn, Chen Xiao thought. After that, I’ll move on. Why stir up unnecessary conflict now?