You Are the Mute [Comprehensive Martial Arts] - Chapter 4

For Qiao Yiying, transmigrating wasn’t so bad, except for the frustrating inability to speak freely. Sigh. As she pondered this, her thoughts drifted to her family, and her expression immediately turned melancholy.

Looking back, Qiao Yiying had grown up bathed in love. Her parents adored her, and her paternal and maternal grandparents doted on her exclusively. Logically, her life should have continued on this seemingly predictable, uneventful path. But happiness and peace were rare treasures in this world.

After all, most of life’s experiences are dissatisfying. A predictable, uneventful life was already a rare blessing.

The six elders in her family loved her to the core. From the moment her maternal grandmother learned of her conception, she began meticulously documenting her growth in a journal, each entry a testament to her boundless affection. Her maternal grandfather, a skilled carpenter, personally crafted toys for her, his handiwork surpassing even those sold in stores.

Her paternal grandmother sewed countless tiny outfits for her, using only the finest fabrics to protect her delicate skin. From infancy, Qiao Yiying had been the most stylish child in any crowd. Her paternal grandfather served as her private tutor, tailoring lessons to her interests to ensure she remained engaged.

Her parents were somewhat unreliable, having grown up spoiled by their own parents and thus remaining emotionally immature and ill-equipped to raise a child. However, with the support of both sets of grandparents, the worst that happened was the occasional scolding for letting Qiao Yiying eat too much ice cream or forgetting to change her wet clothes after playing with water guns.

Qiao Yiying not only grew up surrounded by love, but by an overflowing abundance of it. Though her family was comfortably well-off rather than wealthy, she lived a life of unparalleled joy and freedom. The words “sunny and cheerful” seemed tailor-made for her.

Moreover, her family loved talking to her, nurturing her into a lively, outgoing chatterbox. The classmates who had been withdrawn and introverted, but gradually opened up under her influence, were undoubtedly drawn to her infectious energy.

Who could resist a bright, energetic little sun? Being her friend meant basking in her warmth—a warmth no one could refuse.

But this idyllic, peaceful life shattered one fateful day. A cliché, really: a car accident. Nearly two hundred people die in car accidents across the country every day, but these are just statistics—meaningless until tragedy strikes close to home.

It wasn’t until that number included her own family that Qiao Yiying truly understood.

During her freshman year of college, her parents took her paternal and maternal grandparents to a rural resort for the weekend. Though they missed Qiao Yiying, now that she was away at university, they refused to let her become the sole focus of their lives, determined to maintain their own joy and interests.

The six of them often went out together on weekends—sometimes as a family, sometimes individually, and sometimes just as a couple. In short, their lives were full of beauty and contentment.

They had never experienced any accidents before, making this tragedy all the more devastating. As they merged onto the highway, they were struck by a tanker truck driven by a fatigued driver. Even though the Qiao Family’s car was a six-seater SUV, it was no match for the massive tanker.

Worse still, the tanker’s fuel had leaked. The resulting explosion left no trace of the six Qiao family members—or the driver—their bodies reduced to ash.

Overnight, Qiao Yiying’s life was shattered. She was utterly devastated, even contemplating joining her family in death. But then she remembered their teachings—to cherish herself and to fear their disappointment—and so she clung to life.

Perhaps, with time, Qiao Yiying could emerge from her grief, gradually rebuild her life, and live on, carrying the hopes and love of her family. But while she was still immersed in sorrow, someone was already plotting against her.

Qiao Yiying was strikingly beautiful—not just conventionally pretty, but a captivating blend of her parents’ finest features. In a crowd, she drew every eye. Even as a child, people had urged her to become a child star, but she refused. The Qiao family never went against her wishes, so she never debuted. Her happiness was all that mattered.

Now that her family was gone, some saw her striking beauty and assumed she was soft-natured, hoping to exploit her. A woman of such beauty, with a respectable background, literacy, and a gentle temperament, would be a valuable asset if properly “trained” and brought under control.

Thus, temptations began to surface.

Qiao Yiying found these advances utterly repulsive and ignored them completely. But she wasn’t naive; she knew someone was scheming against her. Before she could devise a counterattack, she was shoved from behind, nearly colliding with a speeding train.

If it weren’t for the System, she would have been dead for sure. Though in that moment, she had briefly considered that dying might be better, allowing her to reunite with her family, the System’s intervention had transported her across time. Gradually, she no longer wanted to die.

While Qiao Yiying’s desire to return home wasn’t as intense as the System’s, the thought of not having avenged herself left her deeply dissatisfied. If she ever managed to return, she would definitely settle the score! Pah! Some clueless fools thought she was an easy target and tried to bully her, while others even tried to harm her. When she finally returned, she would flatten them all!

If only I could go back, she thought, tears welling in her eyes. Back to when Mom and Dad, Grandfather and Grandmother, and Grandpa and Grandma were all still alive.

Ding-dong. The System has come online.

Qiao Qiao, do you want to return to a fixed point in time? Sure, if we have enough energy, I’ll take you back. Though the System often remained offline for centuries due to insufficient energy, it still cared deeply for its Host.

After all, if the Host self-destructed, the System would perish along with her. Naturally, it was deeply concerned. Moreover, having appeared earlier that day, it still retained a sliver of energy, allowing it to sense Qiao Yiying’s intense emotional fluctuations. That’s how it knew. And so, it came online again.

“Are you serious?” Qiao Yiying shot to her feet. “I can go back to a fixed point in time?”

Of course. The System would never deceive its Host.

I want to go back to the day before my family’s accident. Is that possible?

Absolutely. However, you’ll need sufficient energy.

Don’t worry. I’ll complete my missions diligently and never hold you back. Qiao Yiying’s mind had been racing so furiously that she hadn’t realized her conversation with the System was taking place internally. Now that she’d calmed down a bit, she noticed her mouth was only opening and closing, making no sound at all. What was going on?

Host, you’ve used up all your chances for today! the System shrieked. Stop talking in public! You only get three chances!

That’s not right! I haven’t been talking in public! Qiao Yiying was bewildered. I used one chance to tell Chu Liuxiang’s fortune, and that was it!

You just spoke two sentences—not fortune-telling, and in public! That’s two opportunities! The System felt its data circuits about to overload. It had finally figured out what its Host wanted and motivated her, only to have today’s mission progress halted. Which system wouldn’t be in a state of chaos?

Which system has it as bad as me? QAQ

Qiao Yiying abruptly turned toward the back room. Green Robe! She tapped the Jade Flute against the table.

No response.

Heh, no response is the biggest response of all, isn’t it? Qiao Yiying sneered. Just moments ago, she had thought hiring Green Robe was a good idea. Now, discovering her hidden agenda, she felt utterly disgusted.

System, let’s go.

Huh? Where to?

To the Capital. Qiao Yiying strode out, Jade Flute in hand. The Capital is where fortunes converge. There will be even more people seeking fortune-telling, and plenty of influential figures too. Maybe my ‘World-Renowned’ progress bar will finally budge.

Alright. The System never refused anything that advanced the mission. But are you just leaving like this? Without taking anything?

What should I take? Nothing. I don’t need any of that anymore. Qiao Yiying smiled. My money and valuables are all with you. As for clothes and such, out with the old, in with the new. If I don’t need them, I don’t need them.

Rather than get entangled with Green Robe here, she’d rather just leave. Besides, she only brought her Jade Flute when she left the house, so no one would suspect she planned to leave Jiangnan for good. After all, who would go out without even a travel bag?

But sorry, she was exactly that kind of person. Qiao Yiying headed straight for the Escort Agency after leaving the house. The Chief Escort there had once escaped a calamity thanks to her fortune-telling, making her his benefactor. If she asked to repay the favor, he would surely ensure her safe and secure passage to the Capital.

Of course, Qiao Yiying wasn’t foolish enough to blindly trust anyone. She had calculated the Chief Escort’s character beforehand, knowing his sense of righteousness was why she dared approach him. But most importantly, anyone who tried to harm her would face the System’s backlash and suffer terrible misfortune.

Since she requested immediate departure, Qiao Yiying was seated in a carriage within fifteen minutes, leaving through the city gates and heading toward the Capital. Clutching her Jade Flute in the carriage, she felt an unprecedented surge of determination coursing through her.

She would definitely complete her mission and return to that day!

Meanwhile, Green Robe noticed that Qiao Yiying had been gone for an unusually long time. She immediately realized something terrible had happened—Miss Qiao had escaped. If she lost Miss Qiao, her master would kill her!

Her once rosy complexion turned deathly pale. Unable to hate her master, Green Robe transferred her resentment to Qiao Yiying. If the girl hadn’t run away, she wouldn’t be facing her master’s wrath.