Gu Qingli opened her eyes, utterly bewildered. She was sure she had died, so how could she be alive again?
Her head was currently buzzing, but the pain racking her body and the blue sky above proved this was no dream, nor the underworld. She was, indeed, back in the world of the living.
As an atheist who believed only in her own hands, Gu Qingli couldn't help but smile bitterly. She had to accept this fact.
Although death had been agonizing, wasn't she willing to be alive again?
At that moment, with a mere thought, her body mysteriously vanished from where she lay.
When she reappeared, she was in a place brimming with spiritual energy and the rich aroma of medicinal herbs.
Gu Qingli inhaled the spiritual energy in this new area, feeling her body and mind relax considerably. She quickly went into the bamboo house, filled the bathtub, undressed, and submerged herself in the water.
As a doctor, looking at the bruises covering her body and the tearing pain in her lower regions, she knew exactly what had happened.
So she soaked in the bathtub. The water contained spiritual spring water, which had a healing effect and would help her body recover.
She sighed. This personal Space she had unexpectedly gained... it was both her success and her downfall.
To think she had been reborn in this body... it filled her with a biting hatred.
She had been an ordinary girl from an ordinary family in the 21st century when she accidentally acquired this Space during high school. The Space not only contained spiritual spring water and a spiritual field but also a two-story bamboo house.
Inside the bamboo house were two books—one on medicine, the other on poisons—as well as a box containing one hundred and eight silver needles.
These silver needles were neither gold nor silver; she couldn't identify the material they were made from. However, they were incredibly easy to use, as if tailor-made for her.
The box also held a small booklet detailing acupuncture techniques—techniques that could kill as well as heal.
And so, Gu Qingli had devoted every spare moment to entering her Space to study medicine and the art of poisons.
As she grew increasingly outstanding, she eventually caught the attention of her best friend, who then schemed relentlessly to get her hands on the Space.
One day, her best friend finally found an opportunity. Gu Qingli saw her friend's usually beautiful face twist with rage, and for a moment, she was dumbfounded. How could the mere existence of her Space make a person so terrifying?
She mocked, "Go ahead."
Whether she handed over her Space or not, her best friend would never have spared her.
Gu Qingli wasn't afraid of death. She had witnessed too many partings and reunions, sorrows and joys in life. But dying this way... it was just too stifling.
And as for her Space, even if she could have handed it over, she would never have given it to her.
Her best friend, already brimming with murderous intent, took a dagger from her bag. She brandished the dagger and said viciously, "Actually, I didn't want to kill you either. But who asked you to suddenly become so outstanding and attract my attention? You're destined to die." With that, her best friend plunged the dagger perfectly into Gu Qingli's heart and twisted it forcefully.
Her best friend knew Gu Qingli's temperament all too well; if Gu Qingli said she wouldn't give up her Space, she absolutely wouldn't. So, her friend had killed her without hesitation. If she couldn't have it, she would destroy it—that was her best friend's creed.
Although Gu Qingli had been prepared for betrayal, the heart-piercing, gut-wrenching pain swiftly made her lose consciousness. When she awoke, she was in this new body.
The original host was also named Gu Qingli, a fifteen-year-old girl from Qinghe Village at the foot of the mountain.
It was early winter, and food was scarce at home. The original host's grandmother sent the children out daily to find anything edible.
The adults, meanwhile, were busy tending the newly planted winter wheat in the fields.
Early this morning, after eating a little something to fill her stomach, the original Gu Qingli had gone up the mountain with a carrying basket on her back.
The edible plants on the outskirts of the mountain had long been picked clean by the villagers, and Gu Qingli had found nothing after searching for a long time.
Exhausted and hungry, she found a spot to sit and rest. Unexpectedly, a man leaped down from higher up the mountain. Seeing her, he charged and, without a word, forced himself upon her.
Soon, the original host succumbed to the brutal assault and fainted.
When the original host's body regained consciousness, it was she—the new Gu Qingli—who awoke.
Gu Qingli silently cursed her bad luck. To be reborn into such a situation! She hadn't even lived in this world for a day and had already been assaulted. Unfortunately, the man had been wearing a mask, so she didn't know who he was.
However, no matter who that man was, she would find him, castrate him, and then kill him.
Her hands, Gu Qingli's hands, could save lives, but they could also take them.
After soaking in the bathtub until her skin wrinkled, she cleaned herself, applied medicine, and dressed.
The original host's clothes were somewhat torn, so she had to make do. She couldn't very well wear her modern clothes out, could she?
She didn't want to be reborn only to be killed by the villagers before she even had a chance to properly live in this world.
What good was having the Space if it wasn't omnipotent? In her modern life, wasn't it because of the Space that she had died?
So, she had to cherish this life and be extremely careful when using the Space.
If she died again, she doubted she'd be this lucky a third time.
Gu Qingli looked at her new face in the mirror: slightly sallow skin, a classic oval face, charmingly curved eyes with double eyelids, and long eyelashes that fluttered like two small fans—utterly adorable. She had a rounded nose and a small mouth.
Each of these features wasn't incredibly delicate on its own, but combined, they made her face undeniably beautiful.
However, she was a bit too thin, and her body had not yet fully developed.
This made her think of the man who had assaulted her. Damn him! How could he lay hands on such a young girl?
Nevertheless, from the original host's memories, the man had been feverish and breathing rapidly at the time, clearly not in a normal state.
But regardless of his state, destroying her like that was unforgivable.
She was still an unopened flower bud!
Gu Qingli stared at her reflection for a moment, quite satisfied with her current appearance. It was much prettier than her previous face.
Her stomach grumbled insistently. She quickly cooked a bowl of noodles and ate before exiting the Space.
It was not yet noon, so Gu Qingli decided to head deeper into the mountains.
The original host didn't know medicinal herbs, but she did! Wouldn't digging some up to sell for grain be much better than just finding wild edibles?
However, she mixed some common grasses among the medicinal herbs. That way, it would be plausible that she didn't actually know herbs.
Once her carrying basket was nearly full, Gu Qingli shouldered it and started down the mountain.
The original host's home was at the foot of the mountain, so she just needed to follow the path downwards.
In early winter, the ground was thickly carpeted with golden-yellow withered leaves and dry twigs. Stepping on them produced a soft, rustling sound.
Reaching a point halfway down the mountain, Gu Qingli paused, her gaze sweeping over the village and fields below.
The village, home to about a hundred households, was nestled at the base of the great mountain. Most of the villagers were surnamed Gu, which was considered a prominent clan name there.
It was now past noon, and only a few rooftops still had wisps of cooking smoke curling upwards.
In front of the village flowed a river called the Clearwater River, named for its crystal-clear water.
On both banks of the river lay fields. They were already a stretch of green with winter wheat seedlings about an inch tall.
Soon, snow would fall and cover the wheat, promising another good harvest next year.
Gu Qingli retracted her gaze and continued down the mountain.
At the eastern edge of the village stood a small courtyard enclosed by a mud wall and a bamboo fence. That was the original host's home.