Before the simulation began, Chen Yi adjusted his equipment entries.

Currently, he had no martial arts realm and could only equip three entries at most. The "Simulator" was a must-have; without it, simulation was impossible.

Since it was a simulation, there was no need for "Beast-like Pain Sensation."

Getting beaten and injured in the simulation could be endured, as it wouldn't hurt in reality.

"[The tide rises on the Qiantang River, today I finally know who I am.]"

"[Your hometown was slaughtered, and all your relatives perished. Under immense shock, you awakened your past wisdom and realized you are a transmigrator.]"

"[With Da Chun's sudden inspiration, he dragged you to jump into the river to escape.]"

"[In a coma, you drifted into the territory of Qinghe County Town and were picked up by the Black Stone Gang, forced to work as a laborer at their managed docks.]"

"[Under the whip of the Black Stone Gang, you and the other laborers were like walking corpses, not knowing where tomorrow would lead.]"

"[Year one, age eighteen.]"

"[Begin entry extraction...]"

"[Extraction successful!]"

"['Lang Li Xiao Bai Tiao' (White): Enhanced swimming ability, swimming skills improved to national athlete level.]"

"[Do you want to adjust the entries (the simulated you will not actively adjust entries, only when extracting entries each year will this option pop up for you to decide which entries to equip)?]"

"[Yes/No]"

The simulation paused, waiting for Chen Yi to make a choice.

"Does the first year count as a year?"

The time in the simulation should continue from real time. In reality, this year had already been drawn, but the simulation could draw once more.

Maybe it's a perk of the simulator.

Chen Yi thought this entry needed to be equipped.

Being by the river, having good swimming skills definitely wouldn't hurt.

"[You replaced 'Hunger Resistance' with 'Lang Li Xiao Bai Tiao.']"

"[You realized you started simulating.]"

"[You wanted to act recklessly, but currently, your strength is low, and your situation is dire. Acting rashly could lead to death.]"

"[You suppressed your inner restlessness, knowing you must survive longer in the simulation to extract more entries.]"

"["Hurry up! There are still three boatloads of goods today; if you don't finish, you won't get food for three days!"]"

"[The sound of the overseer's whip made the laborers tremble.]"

"[You pretended to be scared on the surface, but inside, you were already plotting how to kill these bastards once you became stronger.]"

"[Night falls.]"

"[You were just about to rest when you heard the voice of the foreman, Wang Qiang.]"

"["Three people, come here, there's a good job!"]"

"[A good thing? You didn't believe it, so you pretended to sleep.]"

"["Chen Yi! Stop pretending to sleep, I saw you peeing by the river just now!"]"

"[Helpless, you had to get up and walk over, or else Wang Qiang would definitely beat you up and then make you do the 'good job.']"

"[Wang Qiang spoke to you three laborers.]"

"["Before dawn tomorrow, someone will take you to the Ten Mile Pavilion downstream of the Qing River to offer food to the river god! Once done, you can enjoy three days at the Yi Hong Courtyard!"]"

Was it to offer food to the river god, or to send these three people as food for the river god?

If they're gone, what's the point of going to the Yi Hong Courtyard?

Chen Yi had heard from some old laborers that there was a river demon in the Qing River that liked to eat people.

Whenever it craved, it would stir up trouble, capsizing boats.

Later, the Black Stone Gang came, and the river demon's disturbances lessened significantly.

The elders believed that the Black Stone Gang had made an agreement with the river demon, sending a few people down every month for it to eat, so it wouldn't disrupt the river transport.

From the simulation content, it seemed highly likely to be true.

"So, tonight I have to stay hidden..."

Luckily, there was the simulation, which informed him in advance. Chen Yi noted it down secretly.

But he didn't know if the simulated him could survive this ordeal.

"["Damn!"]"

"[You cursed inwardly, knowing you were doomed.]"

"[Since that's the case, escape tonight!]"

"[In the second half of the night, when everyone was sound asleep, you leapt into the water.]"

"[You aimed to swim to the opposite bank!]"

"[The Qing River's waters were turbulent. Previously, you would never have used this method to escape, as you would surely be caught or drown from exhaustion.]"

"[But now, with the 'Lang Li Xiao Bai Tiao' entry, you could take a gamble!]"

"[Anyway, staying here, you wouldn't survive until tomorrow night!]"

"[You paddled hard in the water, and your swimming skills indeed improved greatly. Swimming to the opposite bank was no problem at all!]"

"[Haha! I'm free now!]"

"[Hearing the splashing water, a group of laborers stood up and shouted.]"

"["Chen Yi ran away! Someone, come quickly!"]"

"[Fuck! Were they all pretending to sleep?!]"

"[The laborers were so alert because they were in a collective punishment system.]"

"[If one person escaped, everyone in the same team would be implicated, at best beaten severely, at worst executed and displayed.]"

"[The Black Stone Gang was alarmed.]"

"[Wang Qiang snorted coldly.]"

"["Let's see if you swim faster or our boat is faster!"]"

"[Wang Qiang led people onto the boat, about to pull up the anchor and set sail, when suddenly flames shot up from the shore.]"

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"["Hahaha! It's on fire!!"]"

"[Da Chun had poured the fire basin used for lighting onto a pile of goods that hadn't been shipped yet.]"

"[The fire instantly blazed, throwing the entire dock into chaos.]"

"["Quick, put out the fire! If this batch of goods burns, the boss will kill us!"]"

"[Wang Qiang couldn't bother chasing you anymore and hurriedly led people to fetch water to put out the fire.]"

"[In the firelight, you vaguely saw a group of Black Stone Gang members, cursing and wielding machetes, rushing towards Da Chun.]"

"[Blood splattered five steps.]"

Seeing this, Chen Yi's expression changed.

Da Chun had already saved him once back in Luoding Village.

Unexpectedly, in the simulation, upon discovering his escape, Da Chun still helped him without hesitation.

Even at the cost of his own life.

Chen Yi glanced at Da Chun beside him.

At this moment, Da Chun, due to hunger, was squatting on the ground, drooling over the thin porridge in someone else's bowl.

He might not be very smart, but he was loyal and righteous.

Chen Yi thought that if he ever had the ability to escape the Black Stone Gang, he would definitely take Da Chun with him.

"["Splash..."]"

"[The river water churned.]"

"[There was no time to grieve for Da Chun's death; his sacrifice couldn't be in vain.]"

"[You had to survive!]"

"[Live until the day you could have a chance to cultivate!]"

"[Then inherit the cultivation from the simulation, allowing the real you and Da Chun to escape the Black Stone Gang's oppression!]"

"[You exerted all your strength, swimming to the opposite bank in the icy, turbulent river water.]"

"[Heaven be praised, neither the river god nor the river demon appeared.]"

"[Perhaps it had already received news from the Black Stone Gang and was waiting at the mysterious dining spot downstream, so it didn't notice the situation upstream.]"

"[After reaching the shore, you faced the decision of where to go next.]"

"[1. Seek refuge with Third Sister in Baiyun County Town;]"

"[2. Wander in the wilderness, hiding in the deep mountains and forests;]"

"[3. Swim back."]"

"[Please make a choice:]"

The simulation paused again, waiting for Chen Yi to decide the next course of action.

Chen Yi thought for a moment.

Option three was a joke, so it was immediately eliminated.

Should he seek refuge with Third Sister or hide in the wild?

Chen Yi actually had three siblings.

His elder brother and second sister went missing while picking herbs on the mountain when he was eight, and there had been no news since.

Third Sister got married to Baiyun County Town when he was fifteen.

"I remember Third Brother-in-law is a martial artist. If I seek refuge with Third Sister, I might get access to martial arts, perhaps even ask how to obtain innate talent, or if it's possible to cultivate without it?"