Lin Tian—now forced to answer to the name Li Fang—still couldn't decide if his situation was a nightmare, an elaborate prank, or both. One minute, he was just another underwhelming guy; the next, he was in some martial arts world, with a face that barely fit a baby's slingshot and a body that could probably lose a fight to a house cat.
And the cherry on top? He had a "system" in his head that wanted him to act arrogant. It wasn't even optional.
Ding! New Task: Demand a discount from the next vendor you encounter.
Lin Tian nearly dropped the Beginner's Guide to Alchemy he was holding. "Really? I don't even know if they use coins, let alone if I have any."
The system's reply was cool, almost mocking.
Punishment for refusal: Host will be afflicted with Poison Ivy Rash for three days.
Lin Tian scowled, glancing down at his rough clothes and wondering just how bad a "Poison Ivy Rash" might be in this world. "Fine. Discount it is. But if I get slapped over this, you and I are going to have words."
He made his way down to the village. It was small but bustling, with stalls selling everything from medicinal herbs to rusty swords. The people here had an odd air of strength, as if even the old vegetable sellers could body-slam him if they felt like it. He wasn't exactly eager to draw attention to himself, but here he was, under orders from a system that seemed to find his discomfort hilarious.
He approached a stall run by a hunched old woman who was arranging jars of powdery herbs. She eyed him as he stepped forward, clearly assessing him—and finding him lacking.
He cleared his throat. "How much for that jar of Healing Powder?"
She squinted at him, her voice dry as sandpaper. "Two silver coins."
Lin Tian gulped. He didn't even know what "silver" looked like, let alone have any on him. But he wasn't about to explain that to her. Remembering the system's punishment, he steeled himself and tried to channel every arrogant character he'd ever seen in a bad drama.
"Two silver? For this low-quality powder?" He forced a scoff. "Hah! You'd be lucky to get a single copper for it anywhere else."
The old woman's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "Low quality, huh? Then maybe you ought to take your high standards and empty pockets elsewhere."
He blinked. Did she just guess he was broke? But the system had its own opinion on how things were going.
Task complete. Congratulations, Host! You have received: Qi-Infused Herb Bundle.
Lin Tian felt a small pouch appear in his hand. He quickly stuffed it into his pocket before the woman could see. A rare wave of smugness washed over him as he managed a half-smile at the woman.
"Maybe I will take my business elsewhere," he said, trying not to sound too pleased.
She muttered something about "sassy beggars" as he walked off, and Lin Tian stifled a laugh. Maybe he could survive this game of arrogance after all.
Just as he was feeling a bit too good about himself, a loud, mocking laugh cut through the market's chatter. Lin Tian's heart sank. A group of young men stood in his path, clearly aiming their attention—and bad intentions—directly at him. The one in front, tall and wiry, wore a sneer that would've looked right at home on a schoolyard bully. The guy had a pair of leather bracers and an attitude like he owned the whole village.
"Well, look who it is," Bracer Boy sneered. "The big shot who tried to haggle with Old Chen. Got a mouth on you, don't you?"
Lin Tian stifled a groan. Of course this happens the first time I try anything.
He thought about dodging them or talking his way out—anything but picking a fight. But the system chimed in right on cue.
Ding! New Task: Mock the strength of the leader.
Lin Tian's eyes went wide. "No, no… you're kidding, right?" he whispered under his breath. "Look at this guy! He's got biceps in places I don't even have muscles."
But the system wasn't listening. If he backed out, he'd be paying in itchy rashes. Left with no choice, he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and put on his best sneer.
"Nice bracers, buddy," he drawled. "Do they come in a bigger size, or did they run out of the real ones when you got yours?"
The leader's smirk vanished, replaced by a glare so cold that Lin Tian actually felt a chill. "Oh, you're going to regret that," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I think we've got time to teach a lesson to a clueless brat."
Ding! Task complete. Reward: Iron Skin Pill.
A small pill appeared in Lin Tian's hand. He glanced down at it, resisting the urge to do a happy dance. He didn't know what "Iron Skin" meant, but it sounded a lot better than no skin.
As the thugs closed in, he quickly downed the pill. A strange tingling sensation washed over his body, and suddenly, he felt… solid. Like his skin had turned to leather.
The leader threw a punch, aiming right for Lin Tian's face. With his "Iron Skin" activated, Lin Tian instinctively raised his arm to block, and the punch barely even hurt.
Oh… this could be fun.
Grinning, he took a step forward and threw a punch of his own, catching the leader in the stomach. To his surprise, it actually landed with enough force to make the guy stagger back.
"What… how did you…?" the leader stammered, clutching his side and staring at Lin Tian in shock.
Lin Tian couldn't resist. "Looks like you should've sprung for a thicker pair of bracers, huh?"
The other thugs looked between their leader and Lin Tian, clearly rethinking their life choices. The leader scowled, his pride more bruised than his body.
"Fine," he spat, backing away. "You just got lucky this time. Next time, you won't walk away so easy."
Lin Tian just watched them leave, resisting the urge to rub his bruised knuckles and reveal how much that last punch had actually hurt. But for once, he didn't mind the system's smug tone as it chimed in.
Well done, Host. More tasks await. Arrogance must be maintained at all times.
Lin Tian sighed as the Iron Skin's effects began to wear off, leaving him feeling vulnerable again. "Yeah, yeah, system. Next time, though, can you at least warn me when I'm about to get beat up?"
No answer. Just the lingering reminder that, like it or not, this wasn't his world, and the only edge he had was that ridiculous system and its idea of "tasks."
With a final look at the retreating thugs, he couldn't help but smile a little. It was reckless, it was painful, but if a little arrogance was what he needed to survive here, maybe he could pull it off. He might be stuck, but at least he was going to enjoy making trouble on his way up.