Sigh This Life

“How few can understand the hardships of this life, how much pain there are that wants to be said but cannot be spoken...”

On the bustling streets, a desolate song rings out. A young man with rather handsome features, who looks slightly weathered due to his unshaven beard that he hasn't trimmed in a while.

His thin body sits in a secluded corner of the wall, making him look even more pitiful.

In his hands he strums an unknown musical instrument, singing a song that people have never heard before, very emotionally involved.

Next to him leans an equally emaciated girl with perfect features, her dirty goose egg face full of yearning for food in her big eyes.

She bites her thin lips with snow white teeth, as if enduring something.

The girl sits quietly next to the young man, looking left and right, hoping someone would come over and give them a few copper coins.

The young man is still very emotionally singing, as if singing about himself.

"Yet in this wine there is only endless cold..."

"When it hurts I dare not let the tears flow. Ah, all my life I have been struggling non-stop, yet I never had a moment of freedom."

On the big street, a middle-aged man hears the young man's singing, stops in his tracks, and looks towards the source of the song.

The guards following behind inquire: "What's the matter, Master?"

The middle-aged man shakes his head, sends all the guards away, and walks towards the young man.

The middle-aged man comes before the young man without interrupting him, only listening carefully to his singing.

When the young man finishes singing, he looks up at the middle-aged man.

He sees that this person has a slightly weary face with traces of the years, but it does not conceal his handsome features.

The slightly narrowed eyes reveal a hint of viciousness, his upright posture gives people a sense of oppression just standing there.

"Does this gentleman want to hear a song?"

The middle-aged man nods.

"What song would you like to hear?"

"The one you just sang."

"Alright, but it costs ten copper coins."

The middle-aged man throws the young man a silver ingot. The young man puts away the silver and hurriedly expresses his thanks.

The girl also has a smile on her face when she sees the silver, and thanks the man along with the young man.

The young man adjusts his mood and starts to sing "Lament This Life" seriously.

The young man is called Tang Xiaoyu. He has been transmigrated to this immortal cultivation world for a month now.

His character setting is that of the protagonist - a useless trash without any talent for cultivation. Orphaned, framed and expelled from the Tang family, poisoned by someone, with Tang Xiaoyu eventually taking over his body.

What Tang Xiaoyu was called on the Blue Star no longer concerns him. He was just a 28 year old uncle who liked music and had a failed marriage.

After transmigration, he has no gold finger, no systems, no elders that follow him, only an obedient biological sister.

As he neither knew the Three Hundred Tang Poems, nor calligraphy, painting, or how to make glass cement, the only thing related to music is what he can do.

In order to make a living, Tang Xiaoyu chose to sing for money, but the people in this world do not like modern songs at all.

Only when Tang Xiaoyu encounters occasional appreciative listeners can he earn himself a meal.

After all, if you let these people who have never heard modern songs listen, many of them would even mistake the lyrics.

Only when modern songs become popular can Tang Xiaoyu truly earn money.

Just like Jay Chou's songs - at the beginning many people did not understand, but became very different once it gained popularity.

It's the same logic. What Tang Xiaoyu has to do now is lead the trend.

"Ah, all my life, wandering in the darkness, even a little tenderness has always been a luxury."

When he finishes singing the last line, the viciousness in the middle-aged man's eyes has been replaced by distress.

"I really like this song. May I record your singing with a Voice Recording Stone?"

Speaking, he hands another silver ingot to Tang Xiaoyu.

【Voice Recording Stone? Might as well call it a recording stone.】

Tang Xiaoyu thinks to himself, hurriedly takes the silver, and sings it again.

The middle-aged man puts away the recording stone and bids farewell with folded hands.

"Young brother, destiny will allow us to meet again."

Tang Xiaoyu also returns the courtesy: "Destiny will allow us to meet again."

The middle-aged man turns to leave, still humming Tang Xiaoyu’s song.

"Brother, we earned a lot of money today!"

Tang Xiaoyu strokes his sister's head with a smile. "I'll treat you to a good meal today."

Tang Xiaoxue happily jumps up.

"Yay!"

Tang Xiaoyu knows better than to flaunt wealth. He quickly leaves with his sister, no longer planning to return here.

"Judging by the situation this past month, singing for money depends on choosing the right people."

"Also, choose the song according to the person's expression, temperament, experiences."

Tang Xiaoxue curiously asks, “Brother, what are you talking about?”

Tang Xiaoyu gently replies, “Brother is saying, when should I take Xiaoxue to test for qualifications to cultivate immortality. If Xiaoxue can cultivate immortality, in the future Xiaoxue can protect brother."

Tang Xiaoxue firmly states, "I must be able to cultivate immortality, I must also be able to protect brother."

"Alright, from now on brother will rely on Xiaoxue's protection."

"Mm-hmm."

The two arrive at a small restaurant and order Tang Xiaoxue’s favorite few dishes.

Seeing his sister eat so happily, Tang Xiaoyu affirms his determination to send Xiaoxue to cultivate immortality.

After the middle-aged man who came to listen to Tang Xiaoyu’s singing returns to his residence, he spends a night alone in his room.

When he walks out of the room again, his face is weary and anxious.

"All my life, what exactly was it all for?"

With this lament, he heads towards the family's council hall. All along the way he doesn't feel a trace of warmth, only indifference.

At this moment he feels very lost, uncertain of what significance there was to his pursuit.

Perhaps if someone sincerely expressed care for him, he would not feel so lost.

Arriving at the council hall and hearing the greetings and care from the people below, he feels not one bit moved or gratified.

As the various elders report the circumstances, he feels extremely tired, so tired that he wants to rest, no longer wanting to strive like this.

【Perhaps what I desire is freedom! 】 The middle-aged man ponders uncertainly.

After dealing with the elders, he starts to handle family business and chores again.

When a young man comes crying before him, he thoroughly comprehends, his thoughts align.

"You cry! Make a fuss! At least you can cry, throw a tantrum, but I cannot."

"I also want to cry loudly, make a loud fuss, but who can I cry and fuss to?"

"My son, you have grown up now, you should become your father's pillar."

Having said thus, he departs without the slightest reluctance. He has lived here for hundreds of years.

When the young man chases him out, the middle-aged man has already gone far. He only leaves behind one line: “I am tired. You all manage on your own now!"

The middle-aged man forsakes his family, forsakes the son he has doted on for decades. At this moment he feels extremely free and unburdened.

Flying to a mountain peak, he yells at the top of his lungs, venting hundreds of years of pent-up grievances and loneliness.

After venting it all out, he becomes lost again. Having busied about for hundreds of years, suddenly idle, he wonders what he should do.

After some thought, journeying unfettered with that youngster doesn't sound bad.

Tang Xiaoyu buys some rations and heads towards another city with his sister.

Along the way, when hungry they nibble on some rations. Thirsty - drink a mouthful of water from the river. Tired - take a nap in a tree.

Continuously walking for a few days, they finally see a village up ahead.

Tang Xiaoyu brings his sister into the village, discovering not a soul around, feeling somewhat frightened.

Still, he boldly heads deeper into the village.

Not walking far, he sees many people gathered below a high platform.

Tang Xiaoyu holds his sister's hand as they carefully stand amongst the crowd, listening attentively to what the person above is saying.

"No spiritual roots. Next."

"Next."

"Next."

The pleasant voice makes Tang Xiaoyu unable to resist sizing up this female cultivator.

Three thousand strands of dark hair fluttering in the wind. A coiled up hair bun further accentuates her talent and poise. Her peerless beauty of a face wears a light smile.

A plain white robe only makes her all the more stunning.

"Hmm! She looks quite kind, shouldn't be a hypocrite." Tang Xiaoyu mumbles softly to himself.

When all the children finish their tests, the female cultivator looks a little disappointed, about to leave. At this time Tang Xiaoyu calls out, "Miss Immortal, may my sister be tested as well?"

The female cultivator looks towards Tang Xiaoyu, then looks at Tang Xiaoxue beside him. Her eyes instantly light up.

【What an adorable little girl! She will surely grow up to be a great beauty.】

Women never have immunity against objects of beauty. The female cultivator nods her head, "Alright, let her come up!"

Tang Xiaoyu pushes his little sister forward. Tang Xiaoxue is somewhat afraid, but still goes up.

The female cultivator gently says to Tang Xiaoxue, "Don't be afraid, big sister will just have a look at your body."

Tang Xiaoxue nods.

Female cultivator Chao infused a stream of spiritual energy into Tang Xiaoxue's body, letting it course through her.

The female cultivator's expression changed from joy to astonishment, then from astonishment to shock, before finally returning to normal.

"Mixed Spirit Root"

Tang Xiaoyu felt a little disappointed, but soon let it go.

He heard the female cultivator say: "Let's test her aptitude again!"

She took out a treasure for detecting aptitude and signaled for Tang Xiaoxue to put her hand on it.

Tang Xiaoxue put her hand on it, and soon the treasure reacted.

It first emitted white light, then quickly changed to blue, yellow, green, and purple.

Suddenly, the female cultivator took back the treasure and calmly said, "The aptitude is not bad, she can barely cultivate immortality. Come with me back to the sect!"

Tang Xiaoyu happily ran up the high platform and stroked his sister's head, instructing her, "When you get to the sect, work hard to learn from the senior sisters and senior brothers. Be low-key in your words and deeds."

"If you see injustice, don't be too eager to step forward and fight for justice. If you have 10 parts skill, show only 7 and keep 3 parts hidden."

"Try to stay away from those who love to show off and act tough."

"Especially beware of those useless people who suddenly become geniuses. Avoid them as much as possible."

The female cultivator asked curiously, "Why is that?"

"Because those people are especially prone to causing trouble. In the end, they are fine, but no one around them ends up well."

The female cultivator secretly took note in her heart.

Tang Xiaoyu went on, "Also! If someone pursues you, just say you like women."

"When encountering danger, your first reaction should be to run. If you can't get away, beg for mercy. If begging doesn't work, join them. If you can't join, fight with your life on the line."

"Always carry poisons and hidden weapons when going out."

"Remember one word—"

The female cultivator asked curiously, "What word?"

"Survive"

"That one word is the core of what I'm telling you."

Tang Xiaoyu stroked his sister's head and earnestly said, "Xiaoxue, the path of cultivation is long. On this long road, who knows which day your life could be overturned."

"So you must live prudently and keep a low profile. Staying alive is the hard truth. Understand?"

Tang Xiaoxue nodded earnestly. "Brother, I understand."

Tang Xiaoyu's words continued influencing Tang Xiaoxue and the female cultivator, and from then on the world of cultivation had two more female cultivators known for being timid and afraid of trouble.