As she lay on the bed, Tang Xin felt nothing but pain throughout her body. Every breath she took brought pain to her lungs, and every word she mouthed stung her throat.
Though she had just celebrated her twentieth birthday, her long hair had already turned white.
“Master, press on, the physician will be here soon. You will be fine.” The disciple, who studied medicine under her, held back her tears while they comforted her.
With her trembling hands, Tang Xin stroked her own disciple’s head, and slowly spoke, “Little fool, the most capable physician in the entire federation is lying here. I know my physical condition best.”
As she pursed her lips, the disciple retorted, “Didn’t Master used to say that physicians do not heal themselves? The second most powerful physician in the federation has been called, so you might be cured. No, not might. You’ll definitely be cured!”
“I’ve also said that medicine can’t cure diseases too.” Tang Xin wanted to raise her hand and lightly tapped her stupid disciple’s forehead like she always did. But upon realization that she no longer had the strength to lift her arm, Tang Xin gave up and reassured her disciple instead, “I inherited this terminal disease from my mother. The fact that I am able to live till twenty is all attributed to my medical knowledge and experience to all kinds of herbs. However, there are always limits. I may be able to continue developing new medicines to live for another two years, I will still die when the time is here.”
The disciple could no longer hold back her tears and cried, “No, master, what will I do if you die? I am born with poor E-grade genes and my family thinks I am a disgrace. I was only twelve years old when they threw me out. If I hadn’t met you, I would have frozen and starved to death out there. Master, since you are so kind, you will surely live a long life!”
“I started studying medicine myself at the age of eight, and I have been roaming around by myself since I was fifteen. You are sixteen years old now, yet you can’t take care of yourself? I’ve really failed raising you.” Tang Xin deliberately scowled and rambled on, “I left you a notebook, read it when you are free. Learn a few more prescriptions, keep more powder around for protection. Be smart and be more careful. And, don’t easily trust others.”
Tang Xin felt exhausted after a long speech and paused to take a rest. She knew she was going to die and has been very calm towards it. The only thing that kept her worried was this silly disciple. Although they were only four years apart, the psychological age difference was too big.
Genes are ranked from highest to lowest according to S,A,B,C,D,E,F level. Most ordinary people are C grade. However, not only was Tang Xin born with the lowest F grade, she was also terminally ill.
Many, including her parents, thought that she would die young and hence, did not want to grief over her death so they did not attach much emotion to her. At a young age, her parents sent her to foreign planet to fend for herself and later gave birth to a few healthy children.
If even her parents cannot be depended on, who else can she put her hopes on?
That’s why she had always been cold-hearted, until she met a twelve-year-old child who shared a similar fate. She kept this child with her at all times and even made an exception to teach her medicine.
“My parents may have abandoned me long ago but I managed to survive well. You have been too used to relying on me. After I’m gone, you will slowly get used to life without me. It will be better…” her consciousness faded and eyelids got heavier. Tang Xin closed her eyes as her hands gradually released.
“Master!” the disciple cried out in pain, as she hugged Tang Xin.
The second most capable pharmacist in the entire federation hurriedly arrived and realised he was already too late.
As she suppressed her sorrow, the disciple organized a funeral for her master. On that day, many came to send Tang Xin off.
The second most cable pharmacist in the federation also personally wrote an inscription, “The voice lingers on, and will be remembered forever. To my most honorable opponent.”
***
Tang Xin slowly opened her eyes. She is certain that she died. How did she wake up? Though her neck is still hurt, the rest of her body was in perfect condition.
As she noticed a full body mirror in the room, Tang Xin walked towards it and found something unusual. Although the face and age resembled her, the person in the mirror has beautiful black hair with purple strangled marks on her neck.
Upon further inspection, there is a kicked over chair next to where she woke up and an untied rope above it. Looks like someone tried to hang themself and fell onto the ground since the knot was not done properly.
Was she possessed? While Tang Xin is in deep thoughts, a sudden headache struck, followed by several fragments of memories that ran through her mind.
Tang Xin slowly sorted them out and finally understood the situation.
The owner of the body is also named Tang Xin, twenty years old. This world was also similar to her interstellar environment, but the original owner was luckier than her, as they bore a B-grade gene.
The original owner’s family was a large family with strict family rules.
The Tang’s family motto: Be ruthless or die.
The children of the Tang family, upon turning twenty years old, will be allocated some resources and separate from the Tang family.
When the current family head abdicated, he would pass down all the family business to the most outstanding child. The other children will be left to depend on themselves to fend for themselves.
Fortunately, all Tang sons and daughters, regardless of bloodline, would be treated the same once they turn twenty years old. This means that the next generation will also have the chance to compete for the position as the next family head.
This current candidate has just turned twenty years old. She is the daughter of Tang Jingnan, the current family head. She has been instructed to look for resources tomorrow and leave home the day after.
Although she is a B-level gene, the candidate was lazy and has always neglected training. For a normal person, even for a C-level gene, would have become a third-level martial artist by twenty years old with diligence. Whereas, the current candidate, who is more talented, only possessed the ability of the second level.
The candidate was well aware that her father, who is a womanizer, has six wives, and dozens of children, excluding those dead. She was not an outstanding child and has no edge over the rest, especially since her mother died early.
The candidate did not want to leave home for the harsh life outside. But the Tang family rules clearly state that, should anyone not leave home after turning twenty years old, he must adhere to the arrangements made by the family head, thereby losing their freedom for the rest of their lives.
The thought of choosing to stay at home and possibly getting married to a sixty-year-old man, terrified the successor. As such, the successor wanted to join her mother by hanging herself at night.
After going through the memories, Tang Xin sighed lightly. While she desperately tried to find a way to live, someone who had been living well wanted to find death. Now that the original owner of the body had died, she could borrow this identity and continue living.
Tang Xin opened the door. It is already noon. Today is the day to collect the resources. After taking a shower, she changes into black high-collared clothes to cover the marks on the neck. Following her memories, she headed for her lecherous father.
Along the way, a person suddenly leapt out and wrapped her arms around Tang Xin’s shoulders, “Eighth sister, are you going to meet Dad and discuss leaving home?”
Tang Xin turns her head. It is Tang Jing, the ninth children and C-grade gene with and a level three martial artist. “Hmm.”
Tang Jing quietly surveyed Tang Xin. Tang Jing gave an odd expression and patted her shoulders, “Eighth sister, from what you’re wearing, I can feel your current mood.”
Wearing? Tang Xin looks down. Aren’t they just black clothes and shoes? She had been running around for years and is used to being dressed in black since it doesn’t get dirty easily.
“I absolutely understand that the thought of leaving home feels heavier than going to the grave. But the price of staying is too high. Why don’t you consider my proposal?” Tang Jing winks, “My birthday is only three days later than yours. You can talk to Dad and we’ll pick a place to work together.”
Tang Xin is puzzled, “Two people can work together? Is it not against the rules?”
Tang Jing pats her chest, “No issues, there has been a precedent like this before. When the time comes, let’s put our resources together and I will take care of all the chores. Eighth sister, you just need to continue having fun, just like when you are at home. How nice.”
Tang Xin raised her eyebrows. Good scheme. On the one hand, if she had agreed, she would be eliminated from the competition for the family head position. To live under someone’s roof without resources and support is no difference from choosing to stay at home. On the other hand, Tang Jing would have gained the resources of two people and gotten an advantageous start.
Meanwhile, Tang Jing continues to persuade, “You don’t know, eighth sister. Although it is said that each Tang family’s children will get a share of resources, it is not clear how much this share is. Look at our talented tenth brother, the amount of the resource he’ll be getting would be equivalent to the two of ours combined. If we don’t collaborate, we are bound to lose.”
Tang Xin lightly laughs, “I didn’t know ninth sister had the ambition to compete for the family head. I only want to live my life in peace and quiet, so I won’t interfere.”
“We sisters can also keep each other company and live a peaceful life too.” Tang Jing stares with big watery eyes, “Isn’t it good to have a lookout for each other?”
“No, I like to be alone.” Tang Xin refuses again.
When she realized that Tang Xin was resolute, Tang Jing tried to compromise, “Okay, okay, I thought Eighth sister wanted to stay together, like I did. Then I’ll find someone else.”
“Father should be waiting now. Let’s talk after I come back.” Tang Xin smiled and left.
A trace of doubt flashes across Tang Jing’s eyes: The eighth sister was strange today.
If you are afraid to make a decision, wouldn’t you not want to see Father? Also, she called him father… Usually, she would go overboard and shout words like “old immortal”, “bad old man”, “womanizing old man “, and all kinds of titles. Was she that afflicted today?
While she walked, Tang Xin pondered within herself. Though Tang Jing was only a young girl, her actions are definitely above average. The Tang family’s method of raising their offspring may be overboard but evidently, the children brought up cannot be underestimated.
Tang Jing looked cute and behaved as a good sister. But when she thought further, since there was only one position of the family head, with two people working together, the final heir can only either of the two. What will happen to the other? The best scenario is that Tang Jing will keep her alongside but that is no different from choosing to stay in the Tang family.
Also, where did the information on the differential share of resources given to each child come from?
Furthermore, what if Tang Jing makes a bad decision and runs out of resources? She does not want to pin her hopes on anybody.
Tang Xin has already carefully thought through – although her new body is a B-gene, she has no interest in the competition. Her aptitude had always been in medicine. It is much more interesting to find some of the world’s medical books to read, cure others and make some money for a living.
Unfortunately, the original owner was not interested in medicine. After she searched through her memories, there was nothing about medicine at all.
If only the two worlds had the same herbs, the numerous medical formulae in her head will come in handy.
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