C1 The Old Trick of Transmigration!

Inside a quaint diner.

"Hey, Wang Pingfan, you holding up okay? If not, maybe sit out the afternoon's activities. We've only walked a few miles and you're already out of breath. We've still got a mountain to climb later," a voice called out, drawing the attention of a dozen or so young men and women from two tables to a youth whose face was tinged with paleness.

"Oh, it's nothing serious. Just a bit of a cough lately that had me gasping, but I'm feeling a lot better now. I'll be fine for the afternoon," the youth replied.

"Don't push yourself too hard, or we might end up having to take you to the hospital, which would be a hassle," a girl nearby chimed in.

"Really, I'm okay. Let's all go have fun together," the youth said, sitting up straighter and playfully swinging his fist.

The class monitor spoke up, "Glad to hear you're alright. But remember, if you're struggling, you need to tell us. The college entrance exams are right around the corner, and this is our last group outing. Safety first."

A muscular boy added, "Okay, since that's settled, let's finish up and take a short break. We need to hit the road soon, especially since we're heading back tomorrow."

"Did you hear about the wild man sightings around here recently? I wonder if there's any truth to it," a bespectacled individual pondered aloud.

"True or not, don't scare us, class monitor. The news already debunked that story, right?" another girl with glasses interjected.

"I'm not entirely sure myself, but it's better to err on the side of caution," the class monitor advised.

"If there really is a wild man out there, well, I'd send him packing," boasted the muscular youth.

Someone retorted, "Oh, cut it out, Chen Ya. Everyone knows your size doesn't match your strength. I'm stronger than you any day."

"Please, everyone knows you as the 'Female Tyrannosaurus' of our school. Who could possibly take you on?" the boy muttered under his breath, yet loud enough to be overheard. "Are you asking for a fight?" she said, her fist raised and ready to strike.

"Alright, alright, Huahua, enough with the antics. Everyone's done eating, so let's hit the road," the class monitor announced.

"I'll let it slide this time for your sake, class monitor, but if I hear it again, watch out," Huahua warned, brandishing her fist.

As they journeyed, a tourist remarked, "Ah, I wonder if there really are wild men around here. I brought my high-definition camera hoping to capture something unique."

After a short trek up the mountain, the class monitor cautioned the group, "Be careful, everyone. The slope is steep here. We don't want anyone getting hurt."

"We get it, we get it. We're not kids. No need to keep reminding us," Chen Ya interjected.

Soon, a light rain began to fall, prompting someone to lament, "Ugh, this wretched weather. The forecast promised a clear day, perfect for hiking, and yet here comes the rain."

Wang Pingfan glanced skyward and commented, "These days, you can only trust the weather forecast if you read it backwards."

"Let's not waste time complaining. We should find shelter from the rain before anyone catches a cold and falls behind on their homework," the class monitor suggested.

The group quickened their pace in search of cover when, suddenly, a streak of light flashed across the sky. Wang Pingfan looked up just in time to witness a meteor, but his moment of awe was cut short by a lightning strike that startled everyone.

Caught off guard by the lightning, Wang Pingfan's footing gave way, and he tumbled down an adjacent path. "Hey, hey, Wang Pingfan has fallen! Come quick!" a classmate yelled from behind.

But it was too late. The path was perched on the edge of a cliff, and the drizzle made it treacherous. Wang Pingfan vanished from sight, plummeting into the valley below. The students peered down into the abyss, fearing the worst from the hundred-meter drop.

Meanwhile, Wang Pingfan's vision was engulfed in a blinding light, and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. A flash of green zipped by before everything went dark. When he finally awoke, his initial thought was astonishment at being alive. "I must be incredibly fortunate," he mused, relieved by his apparent stroke of luck.

As he pondered his situation, Wang Pingfan suddenly felt that something was amiss. He realized he was lying on a wooden bed. Shouldn't he be in a hospital? Where was this place?

The wooden door swung open, and in walked a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old, her hair tied back in a ponytail, dressed in what appeared to be ancient attire. "Young Master, you're finally awake. I'll go notify the Madam and Master right away," she exclaimed.

The girl dashed off, brimming with joy, leaving Wang Pingfan sitting on the bed, utterly bewildered, still trying to piece together what had happened.

Then, a piercing headache struck, and a new set of memories flooded his mind. He was in a place called the Tian Yuan Continent. Damn, he had somehow traveled to another world. Waves of shock and disbelief churned within Wang Pingfan's heart.

Soon, the girl returned, followed by a middle-aged couple. The woman rushed to Wang Pingfan, who was still in a daze, and embraced him, whispering words of comfort, "Don't be afraid, everything is alright now. As long as you're awake, that's what matters. Please, stay away from those troublemakers from now on."

A sudden realization hit Wang Pingfan. The previous day, he and his rowdy friends had been at a brothel where they encountered the City Lord's daughter. His friends had egged him on to tease her, but he hadn't anticipated her guards' swift and brutal response, knocking him out cold. Now it was clear to him; he had been set up. Why else would the City Lord's daughter be at a brothel unless it was a trap?

"Humph, at least you're awake now. I've managed to quell the scandal of you harassing the City Lord's daughter, but it cost us a significant amount of spirit stones. You'd better steer clear of those ruffian friends of yours from now on," the middle-aged man interjected.

"Enough, let's not dwell on it. Our son has just come to and needs his rest," the woman said, her face etched with concern.

Yet, the man continued sternly, "Humph, if he put in more effort, the resources we've provided wouldn't be wasted, and he wouldn't still be without the title of Martial Cultivator. Look at the other children in our family; by fifteen or sixteen, they've already reached the Martial Cultivator Realm. He's the only one still stuck in the Body Tempering Realm."

"Enough already, let's leave it at that! All I want is for my child to live a peaceful life," the middle-aged woman said.

"Hmph, what do you understand about the ways of women? In this world, strength is the only eternal truth. Without cultivation, you'll eventually be killed by someone else. Look at our family now; my cultivation is second only to my father's, which is why he holds me in such high regard. And you? You've given birth to this... this thing. It's truly a disgrace to me." With those words, the middle-aged man swept out of the room with a flourish of his sleeves.

The woman's face was etched with resignation. "My dear, your father isn't wrong. We must focus on our cultivation. I'll leave you to rest now. Later, I'll have the kitchen prepare a nourishing black chicken soup for you."

Meanwhile, Wang Pingfan was sitting on the bed, his mind completely detached from the dialogue that had just taken place. His inner world was tumultuous, dominated by a single, unshakable thought: "Damn, I've transmigrated."