IPW Chapter 2: Lost Memories

 Sima Youyue lay in bed, unable to find words to truly express the turmoil within her heart. 

“Sigh…” 

After sighing for the twenty-eighth time, she finally accepted her current identity and the fact that she was stuck in this useless body. She, a top-tier assassin from the 21st century, thought that even if she couldn’t cultivate, she could still carve out a place for herself in this world. 

However, the more she reflected on the temperament and fate of her predecessor, the more an overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over her. 

 Her predecessor’s death had been truly tragic. She had simply gone to deliver food to the so-called “First Young Master of the Capital,” Murong An, but was mistakenly believed to be someone who still harboured feelings for him and wanted to cling to him. His subordinates had beaten her severely, calling her not only a worthless person but also a mentally unstable one. 

Yet that so-called refined and noble young master had simply stood by and watched as she was beaten, his attention more focused on chatting and laughing merrily with the women around him. 

Her predecessor had been beaten to the point of hanging on her last breath, and when she was brought back to the General’s Mansion, she met her grandfather, Sima Lie to whom she barely managed to utter a few words as she promised to avenge herself before she lost consciousness and passed away soon after. 

Though her predecessor had urged her to take revenge on her behalf, this tragedy had clearly been self-inflicted. Who told her to persistently cling to someone who had made it abundantly clear that he disliked her? Naturally, when she appeared before him again, it was no surprise that she was met with violence. 

“But Murong An actually watched you die without lifting a finger, and those who struck at you did so with killing intent. Hmph, don’t worry, I will avenge you!” Sima Youyue murmured to herself. “But is it true that this body cannot cultivate? Those people were all geniuses from the Imperial Academy. If I can’t cultivate, avenging you will certainly be challenging. Yet, at this moment I am not even able to examine your condition. Damn, how long will it take for these wounds to heal?” 

Her injuries were severe, and after venting her frustrations for a while, Sima Youyue succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep again. However, her rest was far from peaceful. Her brow remained furrowed, and cold sweat drenched her body. 

“Ximen Youyue, even if you are a genius of the divine realm, so what? Today, you will die at my hands. Today, your Ximen family will reunite in hell!” 

“Ximen Youyue, do you know what this is? This is a high-grade artifact— the Soul Locking Lamp. Once your soul is trapped within, you will never reincarnate. Even if you wish to scatter your soul, you will be unable to do so. Haven’t you always suppressed me? Today, you shall experience the torment of the Soul Locking Lamp! Hahaha…” 

A sharp, mocking voice echoed in her dream, and a woman holding a lamp appeared in Sima Youyue’s mind. 

“Your soul is missing a piece? In this case, even if you are reborn, you likely won’t remember this life, and your strength cannot be restored. Whether you can heal your soul and create a miracle depends on your fate!” Another voice with a neutral tone, sounded through the mist. 

“Sima Youyue, who told you to be so remarkable? Today, with the big boss absent, you shall cry to King Yama in hell! This is the latest explosive developed by our organization. If you die from this, it shall be your fate! Sima Youyue, die!” 

“Ximen Youyue, die!” 

“Ah—” 

Suddenly, Sima Youyue sat up in bed, breathing heavily. Her night robe was drenched in sweat, and her hair stuck to her face, thoroughly soaked. Her body trembled uncontrollably, whether it was from extreme sorrow or fury, was unknown. 

“Young Master, is something the matter?” A maid’s voice came from outside the door. 

Sima Youyue forced herself to calm down and replied to the maid outside, “I’m fine, you may go.” 

“Understood,” the maid replied, and soon the sounds from outside faded away. 

After catching her breath for a moment, Sima Youyue despite the excruciating pain, forced herself out of bed to pour a glass of water. Her trembling hands made the teapot shake. After drinking three glasses of cool water, she finally regained a bit of composure. 

She pondered about the dream from earlier—why had two names appeared? 

“Sima Youyue, Ximen Youyue…” She murmured both names. “Ximen Youyue, who could that be?” 

Why did her heartache when she spoke the name… 

Returning to her bed, she stared at the mosquito net, wide-eyed as the blurry images from the dream replayed in her mind. Who was the unfamiliar woman? And who was Ximen Youyue? 

At that moment, the sound of the maid’s voice came from outside. 

“General.” 

“Has the Fifth Young Master awoken?” An elderly voice inquired. 

“Reporting to the General, the Young Master screamed once. When I asked him, he said he was fine and told me to retreat. Since there’s no more sound, he probably fell back asleep” the maid answered. 

“Understood. You may leave now.” 

“Yes.” 

The door opened with a creak, and as it did, Sima Youyue quickly closed her eyes again. She heard footsteps slowly approach her and stop at her bedside. 

“Enough with the act. I know you’re awake,” Sima Lie said, looking at the person lying on the bed with eyes tightly shut. 

She had been caught! 

Sima Youyue opened her eyes to look at the person standing at her bedside but said nothing. 

This was the renowned top expert of the Eastern Chen Kingdom, her grandfather. Just as she remembered he was dressed in black, his hair tinged with gray and his face as stern as ever. His eyes however were filled with boundless affection and concern. 

“Does it hurt?” Sima Lie asked, sitting down beside her after noticing her silence. 

Sima Youyue nodded. It hurt terribly, as if her very bones were about to break apart. 

Sima Lie then unexpectedly produced a jade bottle, startling Sima Youyue. Though she knew such spatial containers existed in this world, witnessing it in person was still quite a revelation. It was far more advanced than anything from her previous life. 

The jade bottle in Sima Lie’s hand had been retrieved from his space ring. 

“This is a second-grade pill I got from Master Shi. It will speed up your recovery. Take it, and the pain will subside.” Sima Lie poured out a black pill and placed it in Sima Youyue’s mouth. 

After swallowing the pill, a bitter taste spread through her mouth. Before she could speak, Sima Lie placed a piece of candy in her mouth. 

“Master Shi said the pill is somewhat bitter, but since it’s second-grade, it works quickly. Just bear with it.” 

Sima Youyue understood that pills like this existed in this world, akin to Western medicine capsules from her previous life. However, their effects were far superior, and there were countless types for various purposes, such as healing, restoring spiritual energy for spirit masters, and revitalizing swordmasters. 

These pills were graded: first to third grade for low-level pills, fourth to sixth for mid-level, and seventh to ninth for high-level. The corresponding alchemists were classified as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. 

As the grade of the pill increased, its effects became more potent, and the price grew higher. Even among the same grade, there were distinctions between low, medium, high, and top-quality pills. 

Sigh, it wasn’t that she didn’t understand; it was just that she had been so distracted by the allure of handsome men. Every time she saw one, she lost all sense of direction. With no cultivation abilities of her own, she attended only two days of classes at the Imperial Academy before stopping altogether. Sima Lie spoiled her so much that when she didn’t want to go, they never forced her, and as a result, she had become a complete illiterate.