Chapter 1: A Slave's Awakening

The sharp sting of a whip cracked through the air, jerking Adam awake. His body throbbed with pain, his wrists bound tightly by rough iron shackles. He blinked, his vision swimming as the realization hit him: this wasn't his room, and this wasn't his body.

The scent of damp straw and stale sweat filled his nostrils. Around him, other slaves were hunched over, thin and weary, their backs covered in scars. His hands, calloused and bloodied, looked nothing like the smooth hands of a modern man who had spent his days pranking his way through life.

"What the hell..." Adam muttered, his voice raspy and weak.

A booted foot slammed into his side, knocking the wind out of him.

"Get up, worm!" barked a burly overseer, his face twisted into a sneer. "You think you can laze around while the rest of us work?!"

Pain radiated through Adam's ribs, but he forced himself upright, his mind racing. Memories that weren't his flooded in—he was a slave in the household of the Lu family, one of the most powerful noble clans in the region. The previous owner of this body had been beaten and humiliated by fellow slaves and masters alike, ultimately succumbing to his injuries.

Adam gritted his teeth. "So, I died and got dumped into this mess? Great."

Then, a sudden chime echoed in his mind, crisp and clear.

Welcome, Host, to the Pranker System!

Prank your way to power, wealth, and immortality!

Adam froze, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

"What...?"

The voice in his head continued, cheerful and automated.

Mission: Perform your first prank within 24 hours. Reward: Random Treasure Chest. Penalty for failure: System deactivation.

A wicked grin spread across Adam's face despite his aching body. If this was real, then maybe—just maybe—he had a chance.

"Alright," he muttered under his breath, "let's see how much trouble I can cause."

Adam scanned his surroundings. The overseer, now distracted with berating another slave, had left his whip hanging loosely from his belt. Nearby, a stack of buckets brimmed with murky water meant for the slaves to carry. A simple plan began to form in his mind.

He shuffled toward the buckets, feigning weakness. The other slaves ignored him, too lost in their misery to pay attention. With practiced ease, Adam "accidentally" tipped one of the buckets, spilling the filthy water all over the ground.

"Hey!" the overseer roared, spinning toward him.

Adam stumbled backward, hands raised in mock fear. "S-sorry, sir! My hands slipped!"

As the overseer marched forward, Adam let himself trip over another bucket, sending its contents splashing directly onto the man's boots and pants.

The overseer's face turned a furious shade of red. "You little—!"

But before he could finish, his foot landed squarely on the wet floor. With a loud yelp, he slipped, arms flailing, and crashed into the mud. Laughter erupted from the other slaves, the sound hesitant at first but quickly growing.

Adam fought to keep a straight face, but inside, he was already celebrating.

Reward: Random Treasure Chest

A shimmering chest appeared in Adam's mind, glowing faintly.

"Open it," he whispered, excitement bubbling up despite himself.

Reward Obtained: [Beginner's Cultivation Manual: Path of the Hidden Trickster]

Adam's grin widened.

"So, this is how it works," he murmured. "Alright, system. Let's see just how far I can take this."

End of Chapter 1