1: Chapter 1 System Awakening

Soft.

So soft.

When Xu Changkun woke up, he felt a warm sensation against the back of his head.

A faint scent of honey locust soap lingered at the tip of his nose—the distinct, clean scent of a woman's clothing.

"Uncle Changkun, it's time for your medicine..."

A gentle voice drifted down from above. Xu Changkun struggled to open his eyes, and Li Xiue's face, slightly haggard yet still undeniably beautiful, came into view.

At that moment, she was holding a medicine bowl in one hand while carefully supporting the back of his neck with the other, leaning forward slightly to make feeding him easier.

Xu Changkun didn't mean to be offensive, but his eighty-three-year-old body was simply too weak; he could only let her do as she pleased.

"Xiue..." his voice was hoarse.

"Don't move," Li Xiue soothed him softly, her movements as gentle as if she were coaxing a child. "The medicine was just brewed. Drink it while it's hot."

She scooped up a spoonful of the dark liquid, tested the temperature with her lips, and then brought it to his mouth.

Xu Changkun looked at the woman before him.

Li Xiue was his neighbor, in her early thirties, and had been a widow for five years. Although she wore old, patched clothes, they couldn't hide her gentle and virtuous temperament. Especially her tenderness when she lowered her gaze; it was like a spring of water that could wash away one's exhaustion.

But for the past five years, Xu Changkun had only looked after her as an elder would a junior, never crossing any lines.

But today... perhaps it was a final flash of lucidity before the end, but Xu Changkun found that scent of soap exceptionally comforting. It caused a long-forgotten stir in his heart, which had been withered and silent for eighty years.

"Cough, cough..."

The medicine choked his throat, and Xu Changkun began to cough violently.

"Oh dear!" Li Xiue gasped in alarm, hurriedly setting down the bowl and supporting his shoulders with both hands to help him catch his breath.

In the urgency, the two of them drew closer. Li Xiue's warm breath seemed to be inches away, and the concerned look in her eyes warmed his heart.

Xu Changkun could feel the tension in her body; clearly, such close proximity made her feel a bit awkward.

But he saw even more clearly the flash of fluster and shyness in her eyes.

It had been five years.

This woman, who supported her household alone, seemed strong during the day. But in the dead of night, facing an empty house, did she also feel isolated and helpless?

Just as Xu Changkun's thoughts were in a whirl—

[Warning! Host's vital signs are dropping rapidly!]

[Remaining Lifespan: 1 day!]

A cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind like a clap of thunder!

Xu Changkun's whole body jolted, and his originally cloudy old eyes suddenly burst with a sharp light.

A system?!

After seventy years of transmigration, wasting his life in this cultivation world until he was on the verge of death, his golden finger had finally arrived?!

[Strong survival instinct detected from the host... Binding successful!]

["multi-children multi-blessing system" activated!]

[This system aims to help the host spread his lineage and establish a family for ten thousand generations! Taking wives and concubines and producing offspring will all grant generous rewards to defy heaven and change fate!]

[Newbie Gift Pack distributed: Rejuvenation Creation Pill ×1, Introductory Chapter of Yellow-grade Peak-tier Cultivation Method "Longevity Art"]

[Current Mission: Please complete your first "taking of a wife/concubine" within 24 hours to extend your life! Failure will result in immediate erasure!]

A blood-red countdown ticked on his retina: [23:59:45...]

Xu Changkun took a deep breath, forcing down the wild joy and shock in his heart.

Only one day!

He had to take a wife within a day, or he would be dead!

His gaze instinctively fell upon Li Xiue in front of him.

As if sensing his gaze, a small line of text suddenly popped up on the system panel:

[Target Detected: Li Xiue]

[Age: 32]

[Beauty: 85 (Gentle and Virtuous)]

[Comprehensive Evaluation: Good Match. Suggested for pursuit.]

Xu Changkun's heart stirred.

"Xiue..." He steadied his breathing. Though his voice was still weak, it held a firmness it hadn't before. "These years, you've worked hard."

Li Xiue was busy wiping the medicine stains from the corner of his mouth. Hearing this, her eyes reddened. "Uncle Changkun, what are you saying? If it weren't for that bag of rice you gave us back then, Xiao Juan and I would have starved to death long ago."

"Xiue." Xu Changkun suddenly reached out and grasped her wrist.

His palm was large and dry. Though aged, it carried an undeniable strength.

Li Xiue was slightly startled and instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but he held her even tighter.

"Uncle Changkun, you..." She looked up, somewhat at a loss, only to collide with eyes as deep as the sea. In those eyes, there was no longer the kind concern of an elder, but a... solemnity that made her heart race.

"Do you want to... find someone for Xiao Juan to rely on?" Xu Changkun looked into her eyes and asked word by word. "Do you want someone to stand up for you when you're wronged in the future? Do you want a home where you can feel at peace when it thunders at night?"

Every word was like a heavy hammer, gently striking the softest part of Li Xiue's heart.

The bitterness, grievances, and helplessness of the past five years flooded her heart at this moment.

"I..." Her lips trembled, and her eyes grew moist.

"Although this old man is old, my bones can still last a few more years." Xu Changkun's tone was sincere, yet it exuded a powerful confidence. "If you trust me, from now on, I will protect you and your daughter."

Li Xiue's mind was in a mess. She could feel the warmth of Xu Changkun's palm; it was a long-lost sense of security.

But... he was already eighty-three!

Xu Changkun saw her hesitation. He also knew that he couldn't force it right now.

The system mission was imminent; he had to prepare two options.

"You don't need to rush to answer me." Xu Changkun let go of her hand and pulled a heavy cloth bundle from under his pillow. "Right now, I have a more urgent matter that I need your help with."

Li Xiue secretly wiped away a tear and steadied her emotions. "Tell me."

"I want to marry a wife," Xu Changkun said, his words shocking. "I want to take a concubine to bring good luck and extend my life. You are well-informed; do you know if any nearby family is in urgent need of money and willing to marry off their daughter?"

Li Xiue's mouth dropped open in astonishment, and it took her a long while to recover.

At a time like this, he still wanted to take a concubine for good luck?

But looking at Xu Changkun's unquestionable expression, she inexplicably thought of someone.

"There... really is one," Li Xiue said hesitantly. "The girl Fenglan from Lin Laoshi's family. Her father ran up gambling debts and wants to sell her into 'that kind of place' to pay them off. Auntie Lin is currently crying her heart out..."

Xu Changkun's eyes lit up.

Lin Fenglan? He had some impression of her; she was an honest and dutiful girl, the perfect candidate for the system!

"She's the one!" Xu Changkun stuffed the cloth bundle into Li Xiue's hands. "There are twenty-five taels of silver here. Go and propose for me. Tell the Lin family that as long as she's willing to marry, I'll settle the gambling debts, and from now on, Fenglan will be a proper mistress of the house!"

"This..." Li Xiue held the silver, feeling it burn her hands.

"Go." Xu Changkun patted the back of her hand, his gaze meaningful. "Xiue, this is also for you to see. To see if I, Xu Changkun, actually have the ability to protect my own family."

Li Xiue's heart jumped. She flusteredly avoided his gaze and hurriedly turned to leave.

Looking at her back, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Xu Changkun's mouth.

As long as he demonstrated enough strength, this woman who lacked security would eventually understand who her true reliance was.

The door closed, and the room returned to silence.

Xu Changkun took out the "Rejuvenation Creation Pill" from the newbie gift pack and swallowed it without hesitation.

Boom!

The pill melted as soon as it entered his mouth, and a majestic wave of heat instantly exploded, washing through his withered meridians and internal organs like a surging river!

A withered tree meeting spring, defying heaven to change fate—it was happening right now!