Brilliant as a Galaxy

Dong dong dong!

A rapid, piercing clamor of bronze gongs suddenly rang out from outside.

Like a blow to the head, it smashed against everyone's eardrums, making their faces turn solemn.

This was the Tiger Gang's gong, meant to remind the people of Mudstone Alley that it was time to pay their household protection fee.

The so-called household protection fee was nominally charged by the Tiger Gang for protecting each family, but in truth, it was extortion under a contrived pretext.

They had no choice but to pay. In Mudstone Alley, where the authorities were unwilling to set foot, the Tiger Gang was the lofty heavens!

At the sound, both Auntie and Elder Aunt's expressions darkened.

A faint, almost imperceptible panic flickered in Grandpa's eyes, but when his gaze fell upon Hong Ming, it slowly subsided.

He looked at Hong Ming, his tone carrying the undisguised expectations he had always held. "A Ming, take a look and see what else you need for martial arts training. Grandpa will get it for you!"

He spoke with absolute confidence, as though if Hong Ming asked, he truly could find anything.

Yet Auntie and Elder Aunt's expressions changed abruptly. The two exchanged a glance, and in that brief meeting of eyes, countless words and emotions collided.

Everyone understood that behind Grandpa's firm assurances, he would surely expect them to contribute something for nothing.

They were naturally unwilling, but they did not openly refuse in front of Hong Ming.

Grandpa's expectation-filled words left Hong Ming slightly silent.

He knew that Grandpa had placed all his hopes on him, intending to change the fate of the whole family through his martial arts training.

But how could martial arts be so easy to learn?

It required resources, money, renowned teachers, and more. Above all, it placed exceptional importance on talent.

Though he possessed some martial aptitude, it was among the worst of the worst—better than nothing, perhaps.

He had trained in martial arts until now without even touching the threshold. Who knew whether he would have to wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse before achieving anything?

Though that was what he thought, when the words reached his lips, Hong Ming shook his head. "Grandpa, I don't need anything for now."

He truly could not bear to add any further burden to this family, already battered by wind and rain.

Hong Ming's refusal slightly eased Auntie and Elder Aunt's expressions, and they silently swallowed the words at their lips.

After hearing this, Grandpa stood. "All right. If you need anything later, tell Grandpa."

With that, he gave them a look and called Auntie and the others away, leaving Hong Ming time to rest.

Before leaving, he did not forget to remind him, "A Ming, remember to drink your medicine."

"Mm." Hong Ming nodded in agreement.

The wooden door closed softly, shutting out the broad swath of light and plunging the room back into dimness.

Hong Ming struggled into a seated position and surveyed the crude room before him once more.

Mottled earthen walls, old tables and chairs, broken windows... everything was so real that it left him dazed.

But this was not the transmigration he wanted!

Sigh!

With a soft sigh, Hong Ming suddenly recalled the voice he had heard while unconscious.

Where did it go?

As his thoughts stirred, the voice abruptly appeared.

Along with it came an azure panel that rippled out from the depths of his retina:

[Fate Grid: Child of Luck]

[As a Child of Luck, your cultivation will be aided as though by the gods. You will certainly become a Bright Force martial artist within one month.]

[Failure will lower your Fate Grid, entangle you in calamity and misfortune, and reduce your lifespan by ten years.]

After seeing the contents clearly, Hong Ming froze. Why did this Fate Grid seem like it wanted him dead?

Child of Luck Fate Grid? How did he look like one?

Couldn't he change it?

"Certainly become a Bright Force martial artist within one month?"

Hong Ming frowned slightly. No matter who this requirement was placed upon, it was utterly forcing an impossible task upon them.

If he could do that, he would not still be keeping his purse and harboring thoughts of pulling strings through the back door.

Let alone one month—even after half a year, he doubted he would achieve much.

Hiss!

As his thoughts scattered, a splitting headache struck Hong Ming.

The injury to his head had only just healed, and it could not withstand such strain. He could only rub his forehead and rest for a while.

Once the pain eased, he read the contents over and over again, yet he could not calm down no matter how he tried.

Every word seemed to say that rather than bearing the Fate Grid of a Child of Luck, he had violated some heavenly law!

"Failure costs ten years of lifespan?"

Hong Ming's brow furrowed even more. He truly held little hope of fulfilling the Fate Grid's requirements.

What he needed to consider now was whether he even had ten years of life to deduct. If he did, how many times could it be deducted?

There were too few clues for Hong Ming to judge, and he could not possibly gamble with his own life.

Shaking his head slightly, Hong Ming stopped thinking about it, lest his headache return.

He simply picked up the medicinal soup from the wooden stool beside him, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip to test its temperature.

Unexpectedly, the instant his lips touched the medicine, a sudden change arose. The panel twisted, revealing new words:

[Trait: Cure-All]

[Status: Can be solidified]

[Required Luck: 1 point]

[Solidification Effect: Consuming any ordinary medicine will cause it to take effect rapidly.]

"What's this?"

Hong Ming's expression blanked for a moment before realization dawned upon him. His cheat had finally arrived.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he could not help wondering how he was supposed to use it.

He soon learned the answer: he only needed to use Luck to solidify the Trait.

As for how much Luck he possessed?

With a thought from Hong Ming, his personal panel appeared on cue, displaying his relevant information:

[Word Master: Hong Ming]

[Level: Level 1 (10 points of Luck required to level up)]

[Luck: 6 points (95%)]

[Trait: None]

[Martial Arts: Coiling Dragon Stake (Beginner 131/500)]

[Fate Grid: Child of Luck (Backlash)]

Six points of Luck?

He could solidify it!

Hong Ming immediately made his judgment. After a brief hesitation, he tried it.

The panel sensed his intention and instantly responded:

[Consumed 1 point of Luck. Successfully solidified the "Cure-All" Trait.]

No reaction?

Hong Ming turned his attention to the medicinal soup in his hand and gulped it down.

The medicine entered his mouth. Before its bitterness had even faded, a warm current arose, sliding down his throat into his stomach and slowly spreading through his limbs and bones.

His head had been hurting as though needles were stabbing into it, but now the pain retreated as if it had encountered its nemesis, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

In its place came a refreshing clarity, as though the suffering he had just endured had been an illusion.

Yet the sensation when his palm touched the back of his head proved that it was no illusion. The Trait had taken effect.

"So powerful?"

Hong Ming was somewhat surprised. He felt that more than half of his injuries had healed, and he could already get out of bed and walk around.

There was no rush. Hong Ming summoned the panel to inspect the changes.

Aside from the addition of "Cure-All" in the Trait column, only the Luck column had changed, with one point of Luck reduced.

As for the progress displayed after his Luck, it was still 81%.

"How do I increase Luck?" Another question arose in Hong Ming's mind.

After experiencing the benefits of Traits, he knew this was his only means of resisting the Fate Grid. Naturally, he hoped to obtain as much Luck as possible.

It did not take him long to figure out how Luck was gained—it was related to his own strength.

In short, the stronger he was, the more Luck he would have.

"Looks like only practicing martial arts can bring Traits to their fullest potential."

Hong Ming fell into thought. The tightly wound string in his heart finally loosened with the emergence of the Trait.

He could hardly wait to solidify a Trait that could aid his martial arts training.

Thought turned into action. Hong Ming got out of bed and began searching around the room.

[Trait: Insightful Eye]

[Status: Can be solidified]

[Required Luck: 1 point]

[Solidification Effect: When mending clothes with needle and thread, you can discover all damage and patch it.]

--

[Trait: Dull Blade Sharpness]

[Status: Can be solidified]

[Required Luck: 1 point]

[Solidification Effect: When using blunt tools such as kitchen knives and woodcutting knives to cut, efficiency increases slightly.]