The sound of cheers and laughter filled the air as Lin Tian sat on the grassy hill overlooking the riverbank. The summer sun bathed the world in its golden light, and the local kids were playing a lively game of football just a few feet away. Lin Tian, a quiet university student with an affinity for books over sports, had only come along because his friend Zhang Lei had dragged him out of his dorm.
"You need to get out more, man!" Zhang Lei had said earlier, shoving a bottle of soda into his hands. "You're going to turn into a hermit if you keep burying your head in those fantasy novels."
Lin Tian chuckled at the memory, shaking his head. Maybe Zhang was right. Lately, he'd been spending too much time dreaming about otherworldly adventures—where he wasn't just a face in the crowd but someone with power, purpose, and destiny. The idea of cultivation, mystical powers, and defeating arrogant rivals fascinated him to no end.
Lost in thought, Lin Tian didn't notice the ball flying toward him until it was too late.
"Look out!" someone shouted, but the warning came a split second too late.
The ball hit him square in the head with a dull thwack. Stars exploded in his vision, and before he could steady himself, he stumbled backward. The world spun as his foot slipped on the edge of the hill. Gravity did the rest.
With a sharp cry, Lin Tian tumbled down the slope and plunged into the river below.
The water was icy and disorienting, dragging him under before he could take a proper breath. He struggled against the current, flailing his arms, but the river's pull was relentless. Panic set in as his chest burned for air. Just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, a strange sensation washed over him—like a warm current of energy wrapping around his body.
The world went dark.
Lin Tian woke to the sound of distant chatter and the acrid smell of smoke. His body ached, his head throbbed, and his throat felt parched. Slowly, he opened his eyes and blinked against the harsh sunlight. The scene before him was... completely alien.
Gone was the grassy riverbank or the bustling streets of his modern city. Instead, he found himself lying on a dirt road surrounded by towering wooden buildings with curved roofs and red lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. People dressed in flowing robes bustled past him, some carrying baskets of vegetables, others pulling carts laden with goods. The air was alive with the scent of unfamiliar spices and the distant hum of a marketplace.
"What... where am I?" Lin Tian muttered, his voice hoarse.
He pushed himself up and immediately felt a wave of dizziness. Glancing down, he noticed his clothes—or what was left of them. His T-shirt and jeans were gone, replaced by a tattered, oversized tunic that reeked of grime. His hands were calloused and dirt-covered, and his body felt thinner, weaker than he remembered.
"Hey, you! Get out of the way!" a gruff voice barked.
Lin Tian turned just in time to see a cart piled high with hay trundling toward him. He scrambled to his feet and stumbled to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding being trampled. The driver spat a curse at him before continuing on his way.
"What the hell is going on?" Lin Tian muttered, leaning against the wall of a nearby building to steady himself.
His mind raced as he tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing he remembered was falling into the river... and then—nothing. Had he drowned? Was this some kind of dream? Or...
"Did I... die and reincarnate?" he whispered, the idea sending a shiver down his spine.
Before he could process the thought, a sharp pang of hunger clawed at his stomach, reminding him of a more immediate problem. He looked around, hoping to find something—anything—to eat. But the looks the passersby gave him were anything but friendly. Their gazes flicked over his ragged appearance, and some even held their noses as they hurried past.
"Great," Lin Tian muttered, "I'm not just in a new world—I'm an orphaned beggar."
He wandered aimlessly through the streets, avoiding the more crowded areas, until he stumbled upon a quieter alley. The faint aroma of steamed buns wafted from a small food stall nearby, and Lin Tian's stomach growled in protest. He hesitated, glancing at the few copper coins he'd found tied to his belt. It wasn't much, but maybe it would be enough for a meal.
As he approached the stall, an elderly vendor looked him up and down with a wary eye.
"What do you want, boy?" the man asked, his tone curt.
"I'd like one bun, please," Lin Tian said, trying to sound polite despite his desperation.
The vendor snorted. "One copper."
Lin Tian handed over the coin and eagerly grabbed the warm bun. He took a bite, the soft dough and savory filling sending a wave of relief through his body. For a brief moment, he felt like everything would be okay.
But the peace didn't last.
"Hey, old man! Where's our protection fee?" a voice growled.
Lin Tian turned to see a group of burly men stomping toward the stall. They were dressed in roughspun robes, each armed with crude weapons—a rusty sword here, a spiked club there. Their leader, a stocky man with a scar running down his cheek, glared at the vendor.
"I paid you last week!" the old man protested, his hands trembling. "Business has been slow—I don't have any more!"
"Not my problem," the thug sneered, grabbing the vendor by the collar. "If you can't pay, we'll take it out of your stall."
Lin Tian clenched his fists as he watched the scene unfold. Back on Earth, he might have stayed out of it. But something about this new world—the injustice, the helplessness—ignited a spark in him. He couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Let him go," Lin Tian said, stepping forward.
The thug turned, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the scrappy, dirt-covered boy before him. "And who the hell are you?"
Lin Tian swallowed hard, his heart pounding. "Just... someone who doesn't like bullies."
The group burst into laughter, their leader wiping tears from his eyes. "You've got guts, kid. Too bad that won't save you."
The thug lunged at him, swinging his club. Lin Tian dodged, but his movements were clumsy, and he tripped over a loose cobblestone, landing hard on the ground. The thug loomed over him, raising his weapon for another strike.
Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from Lin Tian's chest, and the air around him seemed to tremble. The thug froze, his face twisting in confusion and fear.
"What... what is that?" he stammered, stumbling back.
Lin Tian felt a strange warmth spreading through his body, as if a dormant power had awakened within him. He looked down to see a faint golden glow emanating from his chest, pulsing like a heartbeat.
The thugs exchanged uneasy glances before bolting, muttering curses under their breath.
Lin Tian sat up, his mind racing. "What just happened?" he whispered.
The vendor, still trembling, approached him cautiously. "Young man... that light... it looked like... like the awakening of a spirit root."
"A spirit root?" Lin Tian echoed, confused.
The old man nodded, his eyes wide with awe. "It's the foundation of cultivation—the path to power. Boy, you might be destined for greatness."
Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat. Could this be the start of the adventure he'd always dreamed of?