Proving one's path through killing—this kind of merit is poisonous!

Chapter 1 At stake
Los Angeles, Niujiao Village, Gu Family.

A bucket of cold water was poured over her, and she jolted awake, opening her eyes.

Gu Jinhe forced herself to sit up despite her headache.

What happened? Wasn't she dead?
All she remembered was that she was hit by his car and thrown into the air because she refused to contribute money to buy a house for her younger brother.

Then she lost consciousness completely...

Gu Jinhe looked down at her emaciated hands and blood-stained skirt, her expression surprised, and she instantly guessed the answer.

Could it be... that she time-traveled?
A mechanical voice suddenly flashed through her mind, and a broken voice rang in her head.

[...Please...host complete the new...task as soon as possible...]

But before she could listen carefully, she was interrupted by another voice.

“I told you this brat was worthless, she wouldn’t die so easily. Look, she woke up after this basin of water.”

Gu Jinhe looked up and saw a sharp-tongued woman holding a wooden basin.

She quickly searched her memory and finally understood what had happened.

A month ago, a man claiming to be a disciple of the Qingyun Sect came to the village, saying he wanted to recruit new disciples for the sect, but only males, and demanded that the village offer him a young girl every day.

After discussion, the villagers decided that any family that wanted to send their son to the celestial realm had to offer up a daughter.

No one knew what use the "immortal" had for so many women; all they knew was that the women offered up by the village every day would disappear without a trace, leaving only a scream.

They couldn't inquire, but they all knew in their hearts that those who were offered up were likely doomed!
Even so, no one can resist the allure of cultivating immortality.

For example, the Gu family couple chose to offer up the original owner of the body so that Gu Ping could join the immortal sect as he wished.

After overhearing their conversation, the original owner pushed open the door and confronted them. During the argument, her brother picked up a chair and smashed it over her head, killing her instantly!
And so she took over this body...

After figuring this out, Gu Jinhe was speechless.

No wonder she felt like her head was about to explode!
Good news, she time-traveled and didn't die.

Bad news: she's about to be offered up by this family and is not far from death.

Seeing Gu Jinhe sit up without saying a word, Gu's father and mother exchanged a glance, as if they had reached some kind of consensus.

So Gu's mother earnestly advised, "My dear girl, would your parents ever harm you? If you're smart, you can win the favor of the immortal master, and maybe he'll take you into the immortal realm."

Gu Jinhe didn't dare to look up, afraid they would notice that she was rolling her eyes so hard they were practically pointing to the sky.

Even a fool could tell that entering the immortal sect is no easy feat.

But the villagers seemed to be under a spell, believing whatever others said.

Father Gu added coldly from the side, "Little sister, don't say we're biased. It's just that you're not a boy!"

Isn't this biased?
The original owner could only eat leftovers from Gu Ping from childhood to adulthood, lived in a leaky thatched house, and did all the dirty and tiring work. The three family members would beat and scold her if they were unhappy.

If this hadn't happened, the Gu family would have kept the original owner for another year before marrying her off and selling her for money.

Gu Jinhe felt a surge of emotion.

The original owner's experience was so similar to hers; both were born into families that favored sons over daughters, and were killed by their so-called closest relatives just as they tried to rebel...

But she didn't dare to talk back now, after all, her body was too weak, and even standing up was a problem.

There were three people in front of him; if they attacked together, he definitely wouldn't be able to fight them off...

Escaping is not realistic. Not to mention that there are three people in her family watching her, even if she could walk out of this door, it would be difficult for her to escape the village.

After all, as early as the second day after the "immortal" came to the village, the village chief arranged for people to patrol day and night to prevent outsiders from entering and villagers from leaving.

She mustn't act rashly!
We need to find a way to separate these people first, and then defeat them one by one. Thinking of this, Gu Jinhe looked up, feigning pitifulness, but also showing some fear.

She whispered, "Father, Mother, I was so ignorant. I didn't know you had considered everything so thoroughly... For my brother's sake, I'm willing to go to the Immortal Master."

Upon hearing this, Gu's mother and Gu Pingjun breathed a sigh of relief.

Only Gu's father still had a hint of wariness in his eyes: "Since you've thought it through, I'll inform the village chief and have them come pick you up tonight."

After thinking it over, he still felt uneasy, so he turned to Gu's mother and Gu Ping and instructed them, "Keep an eye on her, don't let her run around, and don't let her die."

After explaining all this, he suppressed his unease and walked out, glancing back every few steps.

After Mr. Gu left, Mrs. Gu reached out and helped her up.

Gu Jinhe subtly scanned her mother and Gu Ping: which of the two should she start with?

Finally, her gaze settled on Gu Ping.

So she smiled and said to Mother Gu, "Mother, my head is bleeding profusely. Could you get me some medicine?"

After saying that, she added, "Also, look at my daughter's clothes, they are dirty and old. If the immortal sees them, I'm afraid he won't be satisfied and will cut off my brother's immortal destiny."

Gu Ping was still shaken by the incident involving Gu Jinhe, and upon hearing her words, he immediately realized their validity. Before his mother could speak, he urged her, "Mother, hurry and find some clean clothes for my little sister. Oh, and some medicine to stop the bleeding."

"They're all dying, yet they still have so many demands." Madam Gu glanced at her sideways and muttered under her breath. Just as she was about to leave, she added worriedly, "Ping'er, take good care of your sister."

It was called "taking care" but it was actually just watching over them.

"Don't worry, Mother." Gu Ping quickly agreed, and after his mother left, he reached out to help her up.

Before Gu Ping could touch her, Gu Jinhe forced herself to stand up and refused, saying, "Brother, I can walk by myself."

Gu Ping didn't stand on ceremony and immediately withdrew his hand: "As if someone wanted to help her up, you're covered in blood, smelly and filthy!"
He turned his back and walked towards the thatched hut, muttering things like, "Your parents have had a hard time raising you to this age, it's time for you to repay them," and "Once I enter the immortal sect, I'll make sure they live a good life, so don't worry."

Gu Jinhe remained silent, simply following behind him quietly until they passed the woodpile outside the house. There, she carefully picked up the wood-chopping knife and hid it behind her back.

Holding the knife in his hand, Gu Jinhe's palms were sweating with nervousness, and he could only keep trying to convince himself.

"If they don't die, I will..."

"I just want to live..."

"I'm not Gu Yaomei. Even if I kill them, I won't do anything wrong!"

"..."

After taking a deep breath, Gu Jinhe looked at the back of the person in front of her, a hint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes...

"arrive."

As Gu Ping finished speaking, the two stepped into the thatched hut one after the other.

The room was not small, but the floor was only covered with a layer of thatch, there was a wooden plank in the corner, and a small wooden chair not far away. It was incredibly simple.

Gu Ping's disdain was impossible to hide.

When Gu Ping heard Gu Jinhe close the door and pull the bolt, he was still unaware of the danger. He even praised her, saying, "Little sister is so thoughtful. This way, I don't have to worry about you running away."

Upon hearing this, she simply smiled and remained silent.

Seeing Gu Ping move the wooden chair, Gu Jinhe gripped the knife in her hand and quietly walked behind him.

Then, before he could turn around, he raised the knife high and brought it down heavily...

(End of this chapter)