I had a few things in my possession and what seemed like money. I decided to first get a place to eat and sleep. Only when I feel a modicum of safety would I take a more detailed look. After all, counting your coins in front of the public is plain stupid. At least, it was where he came from.

Standing up from the alley, I decided to go inside the inn connected to it. The inn was well lit by lanterns and I saw a barkeep talking in low voices with a customer. I also noticed that the inn had gone quiet by the time I reached the counter and the gaze of every patron focused on me. What happened? Do I look different? Is there a social custom that I neglected? Many types of questions came to my mind but I didn't show any outward reaction, although I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead.

Fortunately, the rotund barkeep decided to lend me a hand, "Welcome to the flowing bamboo inn, old man. I am the innkeeper. I could give you something to eat and drink on the house if you can help sate the curiosity of my other patrons. If not, dinner is 5 coppers and wine depends on the type." I gave him a grateful smile and asked for a meal. There was nothing wrong with answering questions, but he truly didn't know, what they were going to ask. They could ask him for today's date and he would fumble.

I came up with an excuse and found that my voice was raspy, "I truly would like to get free food, innkeeper but I've come from far away and am ignorant of anything important."

One of the patrons from the side interjected before the innkeeper, "Now now, fellow Daoist, we just wanted to know, how is the situation outside. The esteemed elder who we all kneeled to, in respect, " he coughed and continued, "surely must have gotten a treasure. Now that he has left..." He gestured awkwardly.

I started to ponder his question, taking my time, that was definitely a plus of being an old fart. Who is this esteemed elder? I didn't kneel to anyone. Am I in trouble? Either way, I am pretty sure, it was me transferring here that caused the commotion. Two big incidents in one day seemed unlikely. The elder should be that terrifying youth. But which treasure is he talking about?

Again taking advantage of my age, I deflected the implied question, "Ah... What is there to worry about? What will happen, will happen. The youth took the treasure and went on his way. You should go too..." I pointed my hand towards the door.

Silence fell over the inn again. All the while I was chanting please work in my heart over and over again. It was finally broken by a burst of loud laughter from the innkeeper who had food in his hand. "You speak true, old man. The youth of today worries too much." He faced his crowd, "If you all have the guts, then go and find out yourself. Why do you bother an old man like him?"

There was some grumbling but a few people went outside to take a look and the hubbub finally died down. Meanwhile, I slumped in my chair and started eating. It was some soup with meat in it. What type of meat, I didn't bother to ask. I was afraid, they would say something that would ruin my appetite. I repeated my words in my mind and thought, would they find me to complain about something? I hadn't lied, neither did I say or ask them to do anything. I did imply for them to go but didn't specify where or when.

There was no need to worry too much, but I really needed to find a place to learn all the important things lest I get myself embroiled in something that I can't get away from. After eating, I asked the nice innkeeper for a room and board. After paying a silver coin for a night, which included a bath and food. I retired to my room on the first floor.

The room wasn't big, a small bed and a table with one lantern. I was promised clean sheets that seemed to hold true at least.

I decided to sit on the bed and looked at my possessions; a green robe, a token with "late core" and "guest" written on the other side, a parchment which seemed like a letter and a pouch of coins and three glowing stones.

I decided to first count my coins, simply because, I believed the letter would take most of my time and give me things to think about. He had twenty-five coppers, thirty-nine silver and four gold coins. Not counting the five coppers and a silver coin already spent. He believed that the fat innkeeper didn't deceive him with the price but out of caution, he decided to book only for one day. He would find another inn if this one was high charging him.

Finally, he opened the parchment.

Han Li,

If you're reading this, then you don't remember anything. You're Han Li of a cultivator clan Han. Your ancestors had reached the realm of Core in their heyday, led by our matriarch whose cultivation level can only be guessed at. Our ancestor Han Jia performed the first and only successful ritual at the age of ten. she forgot all her memories but in return got so talented, that even the heavens got jealous of her. She was plotted and ambushed by the seven flames sect. Remember, you have to take revenge for the humiliation caused and grievances suffered against our clan.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

From one of the most prosperous clans in the empire to our current state, where you're a gardener of an insignificant Qing clan. You're currently at body tempering stage five and your peak was fifteen years ago at the seventh stage of body tempering. You have a good son (Han Jian) and an eight-year-old wonderful granddaughter with the namesake of her ancestor. Your son is a fool like yourself, by rights this ritual is to be performed by your granddaughter but your son did not want her to forget about her mother. For the sake of her daughter, he has decided to cut himself from his clan. He doesn't want her to be driven by revenge like I am.

For you, there is no choice, you are the last remaining heir of the Han clan. Don't forget about the humiliation suffered by your clan until you die. You would not be able to show your face to your ancestors otherwise.

I had a good son and I hope he forgives himself as there was no sin committed. If you see him someday, tell him that you love him. You will know him by sight, after all, he is your son.

In accordance with our teachings, I will perform this ritual every ten years as the youngest heir to the clan. I hope this ritual does not succeed and the flames of revenge die with me.

I have three spirit stones as well as my life savings in a green pouch on me. Spend them wisely, I fear you won't be suited to remain a gardener anymore.

I have removed my disguise, leave the clan from the front gate before the sun rises, I have paid off the guards, they won't block you.

I reread this letter. The first time, I was taken in by the story, it was a sad story of a broken man bent on revenge. But this time, I noticed that he believed, he would be the same guy just without his memories. Clearly, that wasn't true. So that Jia girl lied and told them that she lost her memory. That does make sense, I am pretty sure, I would also be giving the same excuses.

All of his excitement of coming to this new world dimmed a little. He indirectly caused a person's death. He wasn't inconsiderate of the possibility of murdering, a different world would have different rules and he was prepared to stake his life against another but this... this wasn't what he imagined his first kill would be like.

He read the letter again, this time focusing on words he didn't understand. Realm of Core, cultivator, and seven flames sect. The seven flames sect seems like a group or an organization. Cultivator came up in conversation with that vanishing kid along with Qi and Daoist.

He read the letter the last time committing it to memory. Surprisingly it wasn't as hard as he expected. He wanted to decide on this revenge stuff. There was no reason for him to get revenge. He wasn't going to be meeting Han Li's ancestors and if he did, he still didn't have anything to do with it. His own son was more level headed and intelligent than him. He even cut himself off from his clan, whatever that meant.

So why was he hesitating? He killed a person albeit unknowingly, that was a debt of life. It's possible he swapped places with him but his instinct told him, that wasn't true. He didn't discount the possibility but that felt like a cheap way to wash hands off this matter. He lived for this revenge after all and his life in exchange for revenge seemed fitting if not poetic.

He decided, he would think about it depending on the feasibility. If it is something that he can accomplish, he would. He wouldn't be throwing his life at it though.

He burnt the letter from the flame of the lantern, reminding him of his diary antics.

He truly was lucky. Even before coming to this place, he knew there was a lot of luck involved in his successes. There was no denying his hard work, but there was little doubt that had he been born in different circumstances, he would have been little more than average. Stable country, parents who believed in education and strived for him to study at the best school possible. Good friends, a decent brain, and lots of opportunities to grow.

He had thought of so many scenarios, chained to a stone, being tortured, lost memory, and many other possibilities but thankfully, none of those came to pass. Even this possibility, him just dying and becoming a vessel of a completely different person was terrifying and not even having a chance in the first place. This was a reality of the real Han Li.

Things weren't so glum for him after all. He decided to sleep before deciding on his tasks for tomorrow. After some time, he felt something and woke up.

Where am I? What is this room? Oh shit, is that me? He noticed that he was in a large hall and in the middle, there seemed to be a naked old man sleeping in a not so flattering position. He started panicking a little bit until he noticed that he had control over the hall. He could also see himself sleeping in the inn which mirrored the position inside the hall. Or the hall is the one mirroring the position.

So there are three me. One is sleeping at the inn, the other is being copied at the hall, and the one who is aware of both. I went to have a closer look at the naked old guy. Hmm, the short hair suits me, but I am pretty skinny. At least, I can see some muscle, I am pretty fit for an old fart. When I started looking at the skin, the skin turned crystalline and fell away, and now I was looking at... something weird. Not flesh and bones that I dreaded for a moment. There were a lot of points/holes in his body and five big ones were shining brightly, two were dim and five others were almost not lit at all. Even of the five, that were shining brightly, the fifth was pretty dull compared to others.

I wanted to know more about why there were holes in my body and why I could see them but it was more important for me to be able to recreate this scene. I knew it was important and as long as I could recreate it, I would eventually learn about all the holes I needed to. I started searching for the source, which was surprisingly easy to find. it was my own neck. I mean, my neck of the inn version of me. It was actually a pretty beautiful necklace. I was sure, there was nothing like that on me before. I would have hidden it in fear of being stolen. Once I was sure, that this was something that I could recreate. I let myself go back to sleep. Otherwise, my mind would probably explode from questions.