Aside from the knowledge of this world, Xu Ping'an also came to understand the boy who once owned this body… Wu Ping'an.
Wu Ping'an was fifteen years old, the eldest son in a family of four. Compared to others his age, he was unusually mature.
He had a younger brother, Wu Chen, four years younger than him. The boy was mischievous, restless, and full of life. Even so, Wu Ping'an cared for him deeply, often taking it upon himself to look after him.
Their father was a farmer, working on a land that did not belong to him. The family relied entirely on the small wages he earned each day.
Their mother stayed at home, managing the household. In the evenings, she would sell roasted sweet potatoes to ease the burden on her husband.
The family was poor… but they were content.
Even with all their struggles, they faced each day with quiet smiles.
Wu Ping'an did whatever he could to help. Every morning, he assisted his father. In the afternoons, he climbed the mountain behind the village to gather firewood. His routine rarely changed.
Sometimes, while on the mountain, he would search for edible fruits.
To them, such things were small luxuries… things they could never afford to buy.
But today was different.
While gathering firewood, he noticed something unusual.
Something… valuable.
A strange flower grew from a crack in the rock wall, hidden along a bend in the mountain path.
He had only spotted it because of the afternoon sun.
The light struck its petals at just the right angle, revealing faint silvery veins shimmering beneath the surface.
If it had been an ordinary herb, he would have ignored it.
But this one…was glowing.
Wu Ping'an had heard rumors.
Amberwill Mountain was once known for its mysteries, a place where rare medicinal herbs grew in abundance.
Back then, the mountain was said to be filled with treasures.
Now… even finding one was considered a blessing.
If he could sell this flower, he might earn three silver coins or more.
For his family… that was a fortune.
They could buy meat.
Something they only tasted on rare occasions.
And his little brother… had been craving it for a long time.
Thinking of that, Wu Ping'an's grip tightened slightly.
This… might be his chance.
A chance to make things just a little better.
So, Wu Ping'an made his decision.
He chose to take the risk.
The flower was within reach… yet far enough to demand a price.
Without hesitation, he began climbing the steep rock face with his bare hands.
The surface was rough and uneven.
Each grip felt uncertain.
He knew the danger.
If he had rope, the risk would have been far lower.
But it was already afternoon.
If he returned now, night would fall before he could come back.
And once night came… no one dared step onto this mountain.
A thick mist would swallow the paths whole. Visibility would drop to nothing.
There were rumors…
Those who climbed at night never returned.
Wu Ping'an didn't know if that was true.
But he had no intention of finding out.
Which left him with only one choice.
Either give up…
or take the risk now.
His gaze returned to the flower.
If he left it, someone else might find it.
This path wasn't his alone.
Today, he was lucky.
Tomorrow… he might not be.
Wu Ping'an clenched his jaw.
"…Just a little more."
He climbed carefully, step by step, trying not to make even a single mistake.
But fate had no interest in his caution.
His foot landed on a piece of rock.
And then something happened which he feared the most.
The rock was fragile enough that it couldn't bear the weight of his foot.
It cracked and broke into pieces.
His balance collapsed in an instant.
His fingers slipped… and he fell right on the face.
That was how Wu Ping'an died.
A single mistake…was all it took to take his life.
****
"What a pitiful life…"
Xu Ping'an shook his head slowly, a trace of disappointment in his eyes.
"He only wanted to help his family… and in the end, that recklessness cost him everything."
He exhaled quietly.
If it had been him, he would have chosen safety.
To Xu Ping'an, nothing mattered more than staying alive.
Money could be earned again. Opportunities would return as well.
But once you lose your life… that is the end of everything.
It was this belief that had helped him survive in the modern world.
Avoid trouble, stay out of danger and live longer.
It was a simple, reliable and safe method.
"Then again…"
He let out a faint, bitter chuckle.
"I'm not exactly in a position to judge."
His gaze lowered slightly.
"I died too, didn't I?"
The memory of the accident resurfaced again.
He frowned.
"…Why did I do that?"
Even now, he couldn't understand it.
That moment…when he stepped into danger instead of walking away…
It didn't feel like him.
If he had just ignored it…
If he had stayed out of it like he always does…
Would he still be alive?
Would things have been different?
Would he have been able to fix things with Rumi?
The questions circled endlessly in his mind.
Xu Ping'an clenched his jaw.
"What's the point of thinking about it now…?"
He sighed.
"What's done is done."
Just as his thoughts began to sink deeper, a faint sound echoed in his mind.
Ding!
A holographic translucent blue screen appeared again before his eyes.
[A quest has arrived]
[A tutorial quest will begin shortly. Please wait.]
Xu Ping'an blinked.
"…Tutorial quest?"
His brows slowly furrowed as he stared at the floating screen.
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
Ding!
[Description: Wu Ping'an wanted to give his brother a proper meal. Acquire the flower located on the steep wall.
Rewards: +1 Stamina
Time Limit: 1 Hour
Penalty: ???]
Xu Ping'an stared at it in silence.
"…What the hell is this?"
He read it again. Slowly this time. Carefully.
And the more he read…
the worse his expression became.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He pointed at the screen, irritation rising in his voice.
"You want me to do the exact same thing that got him killed?"
His voice rose as he gestured toward the cliff wall.
"Climb that again!?"
A sharp, disbelieving laugh escaped him.
"No. No, no, no."
He shook his head immediately.
"There's no way I'm doing that."
His tone turned firm and final.
"Not a chance."