Two weeks later, the asset transfer Mu Yining had applied for finally came through. They went together to handle the paperwork, only for the world outside to change the second they walked out of the bank…
Mu Yining snapped out of her memory with a sudden realization. Calculating it this way, August 25th was the exact day the zombie outbreak hit. She had to prepare everything before then; the head start she gained from rebirth had to be put to good use.
Turning around, she walked toward the bathroom to take a shower before heading out on a massive shopping spree. No matter how much money one had, it would all be reduced to wastepaper once the apocalypse arrived.
Stripping off her clothes, she lay down in the bathtub as warm water surged gently around her body. Mu Yining switched on the massage function. She hadn’t taken such a comfortable bath in five whole years. The longer she soaked, the more relaxing it felt, until drowsiness overtook her and she fell into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, a vast expanse stretched out before her eyes. Above her head was the sky, beneath her feet was lush green grass, and in the distance stood grand mountains with a winding river flowing down their base, its final destination unknown.
Mu Yining had been standing there dazed for five minutes, completely unsure of how she had gotten inside. All she remembered was contemplating the apocalypse before eventually falling asleep.
The scene before her left her utterly bewildered. Could it be that she had obtained the legendary “golden finger”? What a incredible space with pristine mountains and waters!
“I am definitely going to get rich. From now on, please call me a woman of wealth…” Mu Yining murmured inwardly.
This dimension was immense, as though a person were standing on a boundless prairie with no end in sight. Far in the distance stood a house, and Mu Yining raised her feet to walk toward it.
Only upon reaching it did she realize just how grand the house was. The vermilion gates looked extraordinarily solemn. Just as Mu Yining stepped onto the stairs, the gates opened automatically. The courtyard inside was vast, with a flower bed near the entrance planted with rare flora and exotic herbs she had never seen before, each stalk glowing with a faint, subtle light.
Right in the center of the courtyard stood a towering, ancient tree. Its branches extended densely in every direction, covered in golden-yellow leaves. Nestled beneath each leaf were crystal-clear, deep-purple little fruits. Mu Yining felt a craving just looking at them, so she casually picked one off. She wasn’t worried about poison at all—as someone who had already died once, she had nothing left to fear.
Once the fruit went down her throat, it tasted sour and astringent, with a subtle hint of sweetness—a rather nice treat to satisfy a craving.
Mu Yining didn’t overthink it. Sensing no ill effects after eating it, she picked a few more, holding them in her hands to snack on as she walked deeper into the house.
Resembling a traditional quadrangle courtyard, the main building sat directly north of the tree. However, there was nothing inside except for a single sword, resting lonely atop the only table in the room.
Picking up the sword, Mu Yining noticed a small pouch hanging from the scabbard, containing a slip of paper.
“I am the ancestor of the Mu family. Fortunate enough to receive Heaven’s grace, I have ascended to immortality. This blade is named Qingling. Should a descendant encounter the opportunity, bind it with blood as a covenant to unravel all doubts.” Immediately after, the paper dissolved into nothingness.
Mu Yining bit her finger, letting a drop of blood fall from her fingertip onto the blade.
“I may not have eaten pork, but I’ve certainly seen pigs run. Isn’t this how it always goes in novels?” Having fully accepted her rebirth, she found it quite fitting that her ancestor turned out to be an almighty boss.
A moment later, the blade vibrated with a low hum, spinning continuously around Mu Yining until it transformed into a streak of flowing light and plunged into the space between her eyebrows.
“Descendant of the Mu family, you have finally arrived! I have waited for thousands of years and thought all hope was lost.”
“Who are you? That sword? You can speak…” Hearing the childlike voice, the corners of Mu Yining’s mouth twitched slightly.
“How can a descendant of the Mu family be so foolish? I am the sword spirit of the Qingling Sword. As my master ascended to immortality, he calculated that a great calamity would befall the Mu family’s descendants and commanded me to wait here to protect you. Qingling has been sealed for many years, its spiritual power faint and weakened. Feeling the aura of a Mu family descendant on the brink of death, I used every ounce of my strength to send you back to this time and place.”