Beneath the canopy of a star-studded night, the Fang Clan's estate loomed, a bastion of martial prowess and heritage. Renowned as one of the five most formidable Martial Arts Families in Dragon Tail County, the Fang Clan held steadfast at the third rank, their legacy stretching back over a decade.
Within the confines of a secluded servant's courtyard, a young man of seemingly fifteen to seventeen years lay in quiet contemplation. Despite his youthful appearance, time had etched lines of wisdom beyond his years upon his face.
With a heavy sigh, he broke the silence that enveloped him. "It has been five years since the awakening of my past life's memories," he murmured to himself, the words carrying the weight of unfulfilled expectations.
Reflecting on his current life, Lin Wei could only characterize it with a series of sorrowful events. At the tender age of nine, he lost his mother to a devastating outbreak, leaving him orphaned and adrift in a world filled with uncertainty. In a bid to secure a better future, his father sought refuge for him within the halls of the Fang Clan, where Lin Wei was taken under the wing of the patriarch's eldest daughter, serving as her devoted servant. However, tragedy continued to haunt him when, five years later, his father met his demise in a botched assassination attempt targeting the heir of the Fang Clan. These successive blows painted a portrait of a life far more harrowing and tumultuous than anything he had ever experienced in his past life.
"Shouldn't this be straight out of those Chinese novels plot I used to read?" he muttered, frustration etched on his features as he wrestled with the disillusionment of reality. "Where the protagonist's alternate self faces tragedy, only to awaken Heaven-defying talents, luck, or even a system to ascend to greatness?" His voice carried a tinge of bitterness, a stark contrast to the fantastical tales he once reveled in.
"Or perhaps those plots were nothing more than fanciful fabrications," he pondered aloud, a sigh escaping his lips. "Yet, during my first year after regaining my memories, I witnessed an Immortal-like figure overcoming a lightning tribulation mid-air. It was the talk of the county for weeks."
"I suppose I'm just one of those unlucky transmigrators who won't be blessed with any cheats after transmigration," Lin Wei muttered with a resigned shrug, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness.
With another heavy sigh, he resigned himself to his fate. "Accept it, Lin Wei," he thought with a hint of resignation, his discomfort evident in the mere mention of his name. "You're destined for mediocrity in this Immortal-like world. Despite hearing 'Lin Wei' daily for the past 19 years, I still can't grow accustomed to it."
Pushing aside his lingering reluctance, he concluded, "This is my new life. It's time to bury the past and embrace the present."
Despite his rationalizations, Lin Wei couldn't shake the idea of returning to Blue Planet if he had the ability, hoping to help his family and undo his regrets. Memories of his mother battling a terminal illness in the hospital for six months, his father toiling as a construction worker, and his little sister attending elementary school still lingered, tugging at his heartstrings.
Yet, it had been 19 long years since then, and he couldn't be certain if any of his parents were still alive, especially his mother. The passage of time had likely wrought significant changes, leaving Lin Wei with a mixture of longing and uncertainty about the fate of his loved ones.
As Lin Wei's eyelids grew heavy and his breathing steadied, he surrendered to the embrace of sleep, the gentle whispers of the wind through the leaves in the servant's courtyard serving as a lullaby. In the tranquility of the night, his mind ventured into the realm of dreams, where memories intertwined with hopes and fears, weaving a tapestry of his past and present.
Unbeknownst to Lin Wei, in the depths of his subconscious, dormant energies stirred, like slumbering titans awakening from their age-old rest. A power, ancient and primordial, surged within him, its presence echoing across the cosmic expanse. Even the celestial beings themselves paused in reverence, sensing the awakening of a force that transcended the Heavens Themselves.
......
The following day, Lin Wei roused from his slumber, his eyelids parting to reveal the dim light of dawn filtering into his modest servant quarters. As he took in the familiar confines of his room, he noted its compact size—barely accommodating a narrow bed, a simple table, and a solitary chair.
Devoid of any windows, the room lacked both natural light and proper ventilation, a stark reminder of Lin Wei's lowly status within the Fang Clan's hierarchy. Yet, despite its limitations, it served as his humble abode within the bustling household.
As Lin Wei sat on his bed, stretching his weary limbs, a sudden beep pierced the quietude of his surroundings. His response, though not lightning-fast, came within a couple of breaths as his senses snapped to attention. Alert and wary, he scanned the room, his eyes darting from corner to corner in search of the source of the unfamiliar sound.
In this fantastical realm devoid of modern machinery, science, and technology, where ancient magics reign supreme, the laws of mathematics remain as a vestige of the world left behind. So when a sound he hadn't heard in nearly two decades pierced the tranquil air, Lin Wei's senses snapped to attention, his alertness heightened by the unfamiliar intrusion.
After a brief moment of silence following the initial noise, Lin Wei began to question if he had imagined it altogether. Then, unexpectedly, another beep shattered the silence, followed by the startling announcement, "Successfully bound Lin Wei to the system. Welcome, Host. I'm the Wishing System." The mechanical female voice jolted Lin Wei to the core, prompting him to let out a startled scream. Reacting swiftly, he leaped from his bed and grabbed the broom leaning against the nearby table, fashioning it into a makeshift weapon as he scanned his surroundings with vigilance.
"Hey! Lin Wei, it's still dark outside. Why are you screaming at this ungodly hour? Don't you realize people are trying to sleep?" scolded Lin Wei's supervisor from beyond the door, his voice laced with irritation.
Lin Wei promptly opened the door and stepped outside his room, greeted by the sight of his supervisor—a fifty-year-old servant with a weathered yet dignified countenance. Clad in a loose-fitting robe adorned with delicate embroidery, he exuded an aura of quiet authority, standing with squared shoulders. His facial features conveyed strength and intelligence, accentuated by high cheekbones and piercing eyes.
"I-I'm s-sorry, sir," Lin Wei stammered, his voice shaky. "I seemed to have heard a female voice, and I-I thought it was a ghost."
"Hey! Kid, did you go crazy or something?" replied the servant from the neighboring room with a mocking smile, his head poking out of the not fully opened door. He, too, had been Awakened by Lin Wei, which left him feeling unhappy.
"Lin Wei, if you're not feeling well, you can take the day off today," suggested his supervisor.
"But-"
"No buts, just take a day off," insisted the supervisor firmly. "I'll tell the miss of your day off".
"Yes," Lin Wei reluctantly agreed before retreating back into his room.
"That hallucination is probably caused by my severe lack of sleep due to the never-ending errands the young miss has been assigning me lately. Looks like I really need to rest," Lin Wei muttered to himself, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. "I just hope that the supervisor is true to his words and would inform the young miss if not..."
His words trailed off as a sudden rush of excitement overtook him, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Despite the fatigue clouding his mind, Lin Wei's gaze remained fixed on the object before him.
"A system interface? Is this really a system?" Lin Wei questioned softly.
"Yes, host" responded a mechanical voice emanating from the holographic screen.
"You're truly real?" Lin Wei exclaimed excitedly, but he quickly suppressed his laughter, mindful of the reprimand from his supervisor moments ago.
"Yes, host, I am one hundred percent real," affirmed the mechanical voice from the holographic screen.
After the mechanical voice replied, Lin Wei delved into the system interface, his curiosity piqued.
"Wishing System? The Wishing System?" he murmured, recalling the words uttered after the second beep, nodding to himself in recognition.
"So it was the system who spoke just now," Lin Wei remarked with a hint of mockery in his tone. The lingering unease dissolved, replaced by a sense of intrigue.
"So, system, what capabilities do you possess? What features do you offer, and how can you assist me?" Lin Wei inquired, leaning in with curiosity.
"Will you aid me in achieving the pinnacle of strength, helping me become the strongest?" he questioned further, his gaze fixed on the holographic display, awaiting a response with anticipation.