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As Mo Li left Norma’s estate, the crescent moon had already cast its silver glow upon the night sky. Up to this moment, Mo Li still found it hard to believe that he had been reborn; it just seemed too surreal to grasp. He questioned time and time again whether this was a dream, but the crisp air repeatedly reminded him of the reality in front of him. He was really given a second chance. Not only did he get a chance to be reborn, he was also able to change history, altering it from the world line where he died. Norma wasn’t killed, and because of this change, Mo Li could foresee the huge butterfly effect it would have for him in the future. After this evening, everything would become unpredictable; he was no longer in his original world line, meaning the development of this world would deviate from his original.

As the old saying goes, fear stems from the unknown, the former Mo Li may have panicked because of these changes, but the current him wouldn’t. His past encounters with life-threatening situations and the trials of life had tempered his acceptance, as if it were steel. Swiftly grasping the situation, he formulated corresponding plans for the future. He wouldn’t squander this precious chance of rebirth and, as such, needed to steer clear of all possible endings leading to death. Mo Li calculated his options, with the most pressing issue being to free himself from the nobles’ control as soon as possible. They weren’t of the same status, and being with these sanctimonious people would only result in him being used as a pawn.

Then, there were the many forces that a powerless commoner like him couldn’t provoke. For example, the person who brought him to death’s door in his last life – the princess of the papal states. Possessing both beauty like the dazzling sun while also hiding terrifying amounts of power. Ten prime Mo Lis added together wouldn’t be her opponent, not to mention she also possesses the ancient Divine Phoenix bloodline and an entire empire’s power behind her. She was someone he could never, ever afford to provoke.

After that, cults are a big no, no. Joining a cult was like sinking into an ocean of trouble. Although Mo Li might not be forced to do things he didn’t want to, the fact that he would be chased by various righteous forces was a guarantee. This of course included the various countries that believed in the goddess Sera, inadvertently going against Mo Li’s other taboos. So, he must never listen to their sweet cajoling words. No matter what variety of demonic religions or ghost god religions one must not join – they’re all evil cults!

Finally, he mustn’t go provoking weird, unknown lifeforms. Mythical species like fox fairies, giant dragons, and vampires weren’t part of this group as no one would ever run into them in the first place. The ones to look out for are the monsters who have the ability to transform their appearances to deceive.

Examples being monsters that normally disguise themselves as small and harmless, seemingly amicable, but then suddenly bulk in size instantly after being offended. These creatures do exist. In the past, when Mo Li joined a cult, he personally witnessed a fellow cultist have some beef with a rabbit. The cultist went up and stomped on the rabbit, no one would have imagined that a second later, that rabbit became a muscular giant, several heads taller than him. Fortunately, although this kind of monster is keen on revenge, it won’t hurt innocent bystanders. After smashing the cultist who had offended it to ‘human dregs,’ it shrank back down in size and swaggered away. The cultist was, in every sense, a human dreg. Reality dictates that a person still needs to respect nature, or mother earth will make them taste what the iron fist of socialism¹ is.

After implementing his four taboos, Mo Li began to think deeply about the basic guidelines he should follow for his future. First and foremost, he must increase his own capabilities as much as possible. The graduation certificate from his current school still has its uses, and after graduating, he should be able to find a job that can use his skills. Before that, he needs to work hard and improve his money-making capabilities. As the saying goes, more skills aren’t unbearable, and learning a few extra skills could come in handy later.
Correct. Mo Li has already decided to wash his hands clean of the high-risk assassination business. If possible, he wants to live more like a normal person. Be a normal student, graduate normally, get a normal job to sustain himself, and then, when he comes of age, find someone of the opposite sex whom he gets along with, get married, have children, and live an ordinary, peaceful life. This kind of life might be uneventful, but it could avoid all possible outcomes resulting in death. If Mo Li was to be honest, he was long tired of the life of an assassin, licking blood off the tip of his daggers. Only when he returned to the beginning did he realize that having an ordinary life was true happiness.

Ordinary, this was the type of life Mo Li wanted to lead the most. But contrary to his ideals, and currently unbeknownst to him, the farthest thing away from him was none other than ordinary. While he was planning out his future, Mo Li quickly arrived at his current residence – an almshouse located at the junction between the outskirts of the city and the city itself.

Mo Li was raised in this almshouse since he was a child. The man who managed the place was a bad-tempered old man, and Mo Li always referred to him as “²bald donkey.” Of course, he would only call him this in private; if he were heard, Mo Li would probably be counting stars in the woodshed tonight. Now that he was thinking about it, the days spent at the almshouse were some of Mo Li’s few moments of warmth. The old man loved to swear and beat people, but it wasn’t until Mo Li left the almshouse and met various people during his escapades, that he realized how caring the old man really was.

“Damn brat, coming back at this hour! What kind of trouble did you get into??” A shout seemingly strong enough to blow the ceiling off the room dashed Mo Li’s hopes of tip-toeing back to his room. Mo Li looked speechlessly at the door, wondering what crazed thought caused this old man to wait for him at his door today.

The old man was born with a tall stature, perhaps it was due to how he grew, but his face always carried a fierce, vicious look. The wrinkles on his face did little to mask his piercing gaze, and the most frightening about him was the knife scar across his face. Rumors say, he was a mercenary when he was young; while others claim he was a bandit or some sort of ex-prostitute, regardless, Mo Li didn’t know, and the old man never talked about his past.

“I was lied to, almost got beaten up, and narrowly managed to come back safely.” Mo Li said as he threw the old man a glance.

“Oh ho, such self-esteem, brat. After all that, I’d have expected you to crawl back.” The old man’s big mouth cracked a smile, revealing his yellow-stained teeth.

“You’re the one that should crawl back.” Mo Li rolled his eyes at him.

“If you have something to say, hurry, if not, then leave, grandpa’s busy.”

“I couldn’t tell that a brat like you was a busy person. What are you so busy with?” The old man mused while giggling.

“Stargazing.”

“Can’t you watch the stars from right here?”

“Of course, I can see them, but there’s an annoyance next to me, so it’s not enjoyable.” Mo Li crossed his arms and spoke in a familiar fashion with the old man.

“You brat!” Mo Li, thinking he would get hit, instinctively covered his head, only to realize a few seconds later that the expected punishment did not happen, but instead, a black box was set in front of him.

“Tomorrow, you’ll be fifteen.” The old man thoughtfully looked at Mo Li, seemingly filled with empathy.

“What is this, your birthday gift to me?” Mo Li spoke a little surprised.

“Gift my ***! Where would I get the spare money to buy a gift for you?? Take a look at the finances of this almshouse. Do you think I can fart gifts out my *** for you or something!”

Mo Li’s guess caused the old man to have a fit of indignation. “Then why are you giving me this black box?” Mo Li pursed his lips. “Are you trying to tell me my time here’s up and to go beg out in the streets?”

“Take it!” The old man was running out of patience with Mo Li and forcibly stuffed the box into his hands while muttering under his breath. “This was left behind by the guy who left you here. He said to give it to you when you turn fifteen.”

“The old drunkard??” Mo Li’s eyes slowly widened. “He left it for me?”

“That’s correct. It was in the year he left you here. He asked me to give this box to you when you turned fifteen.” After giving the box to Mo Li, the old man turned around to leave without saying a word. Then his shadow paused, and he opened his mouth. “This place, live here if you want to and don’t if you don’t. It’s fine if you move out; it’d save me the hassle! I’m going upstairs.”

“Pfft, pfft.” Only when the old man’s shadow disappeared did Mo Li start laughing. This old man always had a mouth full of daggers no matter when, but now that I think about it, he is probably one of the few people in this world that genuinely cares about me. Not willing to ponder on his thoughts, Mo Li opened the small box. Lying inside was a ring and pendant of exquisite craftsmanship…

1. Ahhhh china gotta have something socialist.
2. Derogatory term for monks.