A Typical Reincarnation

Chapter 1 - I am Xu Qi

A large compound stood within the central area in Rivulet City. The doorplate indicating "Xu Clan" was especially eye-catching; white cloths were wrapped around it. This household was currently undergoing a funeral process, and it was not for just one person.

A child around 5 or 6 years old wearing a white shirt and sackcloth was currently within the compound. He was crouched, seemingly busying with himself under the tree. He did not even realize someone appeared behind him.

"Young Master, why are you here again?"

The child stood up and looked at the middle-aged scholarly-looking man. The former then went straight to the reception hall without a word, while the latter followed silently.

The reception hall was fully decorated in white cloth, with two high-quality coffins lying right in the middle. The coffins were decorated on the front end with a red and a blue gemstone respectively. A servant in white knelt to the side burning paper incense. It was at this moment he heard footsteps and stood to greet the people approaching.

"Young Master, Elder Mang"

The child walked to the coffins without responding to the servant, then kneeled on the ground and started burning paper incense.

The middle-aged man who had been following the young master made a gesture to the servant in white, who proceeded to leave the hall after giving a nod. Right before he exited the hall, he turned around to catch a glimpse of the young master burning paper offerings.

"Both our patriarch and lady passed away, and the young master is still unable to speak. Seems as if he is truly a mute," Feeling bitter in his heart, the servant shook his head and hurriedly left.

In the hall, the middle-aged man addressed as Elder Mang was the Chief Housekeeper of Xu Clan, Xu Pingfan. His original surname was not Xu. He had been bestowed the surname Xu because of his brotherly ties with the patriarch, coupled with saving the latter from danger on several occasions. Within Xu Clan, Elder Mang's authority was just beneath Lady Xu; yet no one knew why he was addressed as such.

Xu Pingfan looked at the kneeling child, his eyes full of affection. The child was Xu clan's only remaining bloodline at six years old. Patriarch Xu was blessed with an heir in his later years, but the latter had not shown to be capable of speech till date. Everyone was convinced that he was mute, though he could understand the words of others. Patriarch Xu sought famous doctors from everywhere for the sake of curing his child's condition. In the end, none could do anything to cure his child, and he was filled with regret even as he approached death.

This child was especially obedient. He had never done anything unbefitting of his status, except for his tendency to squat under the tree in the backyard, drawing circles. Now that both the patriarch and lady had passed on, the only remaining Xu's in the clan were the young master and himself. What should be done with the clan's businesses? Xu Pingfan felt indescribable heartache at the thought of this.

"Please stand up, Young Master. Today is the day of the funeral procession, and I would like to talk to you," Xu Pingfan's words remained full of respect despite facing such a young patriarch.

Hearing his words, the child stood and faced Xu Pingfan. His innocuous eyes seemed to be void of grief.

Perhaps the young master is too young to understand sorrow, Xu Pingfan thought inwardly.

The child pointed towards the back of the hall, then turned to leave. Xu Pingfan blanked for a moment before following him into the study room behind the hall.

This used to be the study room of the patriarch. The child walked up to a wooden sculpture of a monster similar to his height right in front of a bookshelf. It has two front claws, and its lower half was a tail. With a pair of wings on its back, it looked to be preparing for flight. Even its body hair looked vivid, and it only had one eye on its sinister-looking head.