1 Experience Point

The prison was dimly lit.

Chen Ming had just regained consciousness. His whole body ached, he had no strength at all, and his throat felt as if he had swallowed razor blades. Did I get COVID again?

Then a foul stench washed over him, nearly knocking him unconscious.

Who took a dump on my bed?

It was a compound stench of damp mildew and excrement—so sour and refreshing it was unbearable.

Chen Ming's stomach churned, and he nearly threw up.

"This kid's awake."

"Kid, what did you do to end up in here?"

The sudden voices startled him. He instinctively turned his head and, through the dim light, saw two disheveled, rag-clad men.

Who were they?

No!

Where was this?

Chen Ming was shocked to the extreme as he realized this was not his room.

It seemed to be a prison cell?

How had he ended up here?

Bzz—

It felt as though something had stabbed into Chen Ming's brain. Amid searing pain, he let out a scream as countless unfamiliar memories flooded into his mind.

"Ming'er, you followed Master Huo to study martial arts for four years, yet you still failed to make anything of it. Our family can no longer afford it..."

"You're already seventeen. It's time you found something to do. Starting tomorrow, go work as a clerk at Golden Source Commerce. Your grandfather and their old shopkeeper are old acquaintances. You must watch your words and actions, speak little and do much, and never stir up trouble..."

"Kid, if you dare ruin my plans..."

"It was Chen the Second. He drugged my tea and tried to violate me. Master, you must seek justice for me..."

I transmigrated?

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Ming finally recovered somewhat, though his head was still numb.

This was a martial world set in an ancient imperial dynasty. It was said that cultivators existed as well, though whether that was true or not, the original owner had never seen one himself. It was all hearsay.

The original owner was twenty this year. He came from a moderately well-off family that ran a small shop and possessed some assets, though they could not be called wealthy.

He was the second child in the family and had loved martial arts since childhood. At thirteen, he had taken a martial arts master surnamed Huo as his teacher. After four years of training, he had been advised to leave due to insufficient talent.

Then, through connections, he entered a Merchant Guild called Golden Source Commerce as a clerk. Because he worked conscientiously and responsibly, he earned the shopkeeper's trust. After three years, he became a minor steward.

The problem was that the original owner had been too responsible.

Before long, he discovered someone lining his own pockets, so he secretly gathered evidence and directly reported him to the shopkeeper.

That embezzler was dealt with on the spot.

A few months later, revenge came.

On the old proprietor's seventieth birthday, the original owner was drugged. In a daze, he stumbled into the inner residence, where a half-dressed maid grabbed him and falsely accused him of attempting to violate her.

Such a scandal occurring on a day of great celebration naturally enraged the old proprietor. Not only did he have the original owner beaten half to death, but he also sent him to prison.

The original owner died in injustice just like that.

For a moment, a powerful sense of indignation filled Chen Ming's chest.

Still too young. Had he really treated the Merchant Guild as his own career?

Modern companies merely treated their employees like oxen and horses.

Ancient Merchant Guilds truly treated their clerks like dogs.

Chen Ming did not believe that shrewd old foxes like the old proprietor and the shopkeeper could not see that he had been set up. Yet one had vented his anger on him, while the other had not spoken a single word in his defense.

This world was not worth living in!

Chen Ming quickly cast aside his sympathy for the original owner and began considering his own situation.

"System?"

"Old grandpa?"

"Cheat?"

"..."

He tried everything, yet failed to summon any sort of interface or cheat. Panic crept into his heart.

With such a heaven-collapsing opening, how was he supposed to turn things around without a cheat?

No family background, no talent. He was still in prison, and his reputation was ruined too...

"Kid, stop playing dead."

At that moment, someone kicked him.

Chen Ming turned to look. It was the two prisoners from earlier, glaring at him fiercely. "Don't lie there. Your place is over there."

This was a show of force.

The old hands in the cell were testing the obedience of a newcomer.

Chen Ming lowered his gaze and laboriously climbed up from the floor.

"Move it!"

The man kicked him again, knocking him flat on his face.

Chen Ming said nothing. Gritting his teeth, he silently climbed back up and shuffled over to sit in a corner. A chamber pot sat beside him, and the stench of excrement filled the air.

Seeing that he did not even dare let out a fart, the two prisoners laughed triumphantly.

Chen Ming closed his eyes, endured the foul stench, regulated his breathing, and slowly gathered his strength.

A good man did not suffer immediate losses.

His physical condition was far too poor right now. It was not suitable to clash with others.

"Kid, I was asking you something just now..."

At that moment, a jailer came over, and the two men hurriedly shut their mouths.

The jailer glanced at Chen Ming in the corner. Seeing that he was still alive, he warned them, "You two, don't touch him. If someone dies, I'll kill you myself."

The two prisoners repeatedly said they would not dare.

The jailer turned and left.

Having just been warned, they did not dare trouble Chen Ming for the moment.

Chen Ming could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. He could recover his strength in peace now.

After an unknown amount of time, the cell became completely dark.

Night had fallen.

One of the prisoners spoke. "Kid, what did you do?"

After waiting a while and seeing that the kid remained silent, he immediately grew angry. "Don't think that officer will protect you. He just doesn't want a death on his hands and the trouble that comes with it. At this hour, they're all asleep. Even if you scream your throat raw, no one will come save you..."

At that moment, the kid finally spoke. "Hearing that line come out of your mouth is fucking disgusting."

"What did you—"

The prisoner flew into a rage, rolling up his sleeves as he moved to teach the kid a lesson. The moment he rose, a fierce wind struck, and a fist had already slammed into his chest.

The punch was brutally heavy. His vision went black, and he nearly lost his breath.

Then came two sharp smacks, and two slaps landed across his face.

"Spare... me..."

Only then did he realize he had kicked an iron plate. This was actually a trained martial artist, and he hurriedly begged for mercy.

Chen Ming stared blankly at the notification that had abruptly appeared before him.

You defeated an LV0 enemy and gained 1 experience point.

So this was it—the cheat had arrived?

His heart burned with excitement.

A panel appeared before him.

Name: Chen Ming

Level: 2

Current Points: 1

Cultivation Technique: "Iron Horse Stance" (First Level 98/100+)

Martial Skills: "Three Powers Fist" (Proficient 21/200+), Bagua Saber Technique (Beginner 12/100+)

It really was a system.

The contents of the panel were clear at a glance. He did not need instructions; he had already guessed how to operate it.

A point-addition build!

With a thought, Chen Ming added that single point to the cultivation technique, "Iron Horse Stance."

Instantly, he felt a warm current rise within his body. He could clearly feel that he had grown a little stronger.

Still not enough. Just one little bit more!

He suddenly looked toward the other prisoner and kicked him.

"Don't hit me... I didn't do anything..."

That prisoner was thinner. Clutching his head, he was beaten until he wailed for his father and mother, repeatedly begging for mercy.

You defeated an LV0 enemy and gained 1 experience point.

"So it really works."

Seeing that notification, Chen Ming was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he added the point he had just gained to "Iron Horse Stance."

In an instant, a scorching aura erupted from within him. He felt as though his body were burning, and a powerful strength surged forth.

He had successfully broken through.