Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Southwest of Great Yong lay Chroma City, where Canalview Lane, true to its name, ran alongside the Grand Canal.

At this hour, the morning mist was lifting, and the first rays of dawn touched the street, still fragrant with the steam of freshly made pastries.

At the far end of Canalview Lane, a long-abandoned, shadowy alley stretched. Once a notorious den of iniquity, it housed murderers, arsonists, and brigands. For years, the authorities had turned a blind eye. But half a month ago, a high-ranking official arrived, and within days, every desperado in the dark alley was apprehended. Now, it stood empty.

Yet at this very moment—

"Amitabha, merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, compassionate Heavenly Lord, all you almighty gods, I beg you—work your miracles and send me back!" Lin Ting knelt before a dilapidated, unidentifiable statue, hands pressed together, eyes tightly shut, his face a mask of fervent devotion as he bowed in every direction.

"Whoever you are, I’m just a helpless college student! I’ve only just started university—I haven’t even begun to enjoy life! Why am I here?! Aaaah!!!"

Lin Ting was on the verge of a complete breakdown. After nineteen grueling years of hard work, he’d finally gotten into a good university. Just two days ago, he’d been lying comfortably in his dorm bed, only to accidentally roll off and wake up here.

If he’d transmigrated into an emperor or a prince, living in luxury and idleness, that would be one thing. But no—he’d become a beggar! A beggar!!!

His first thought was that the transmigration system must be broken. He was supposed to be someone rich and powerful, but some cosmic error had gone terribly wrong.

But two days passed with no change. Worse, last night, exhausted, he’d curled up on a straw mat and fallen asleep—only to have a dream.

In short, transmigrating into nobility required complex logical modifications, but a beggar was different. A beggar could appear out of thin air, no backstory needed. Simply put—the transmigration system was being lazy.

Lin Ting: "…"

What the hell! Was there no oversight? Where was the complaint channel? He wanted to file a complaint!!!

Behind him, the street buzzed with life and light, but Lin Ting felt as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss.

The system had informed him this place was called Great Yong, ruled by a newly crowned tyrant—ruthless, brooding, and plagued by crippling migraines that only made him more murderous.

And Lin Ting? Not only had he inexplicably transmigrated here, but he’d also awakened an even more inexplicable ability—a mystical scent.

The catch? This fragrance could soothe the tyrant’s headaches, making him the ultimate cure.

When Lin Ting realized his so-called "mission," he let out a hollow laugh.

Did they even understand what a tyrant was? Someone who killed indiscriminately—innocent or guilty, good or bad—that was a tyrant! How was a starving, emaciated beggar like him supposed to get near such a man?

Obviously, he couldn’t.

And if the tyrant ever found out Lin Ting could relieve his pain, he wouldn’t be honored—he’d be drawn and quartered, his heart and liver ripped out and boiled into some grotesque tonic for the emperor’s brain.

He wasn’t suicidal enough to hand himself over.

Lin Ting kowtowed three times before the statue, his forehead thudding against the cold ground. "I’ve lived a good life, accumulated good karma—I wouldn’t even step on an ant! No enemies, no grudges—why are you doing this to me?!"

The alley absorbed all sound and light, eerie and lifeless. Only a thin, icy wind whistled through.

After a long silence, the statue remained unmoved.

Lin Ting’s despair deepened. Then, his stomach growled violently—he hadn’t eaten in two days. He was starving.

Pushing himself up, Lin Ting decided to venture out and find food. Living well was out of the question, but starving to death? That was too cruel.

He’d settle for merely surviving.

Outside, the sunlight was blinding. Lin Ting shielded his eyes with his fingers, waiting for them to adjust before opening them fully.

The street was packed, a dense crowd blocking the path completely.

Then, a scent drifted toward him. Lin Ting inhaled deeply—meat… buns!!! So rich, so tempting.

Through the crowd, his eyes met those of a bun vendor across the way.

The woman blinked in surprise. The beggars of Canalview Lane had all been cleared out by the authorities—where had this gaunt, mud-streaked boy come from? He looked like he hadn’t eaten in days.

She had one bun left from the morning batch. Might as well give it to him.

"Hey, little beggar—come here," she called, waving him over.

Lin Ting’s eyes lit up. Rubbing his stomach, he squeezed through the crowd to her stall. The bun, wrapped in greasy paper, glistened with oil, its aroma maddeningly delicious. Swallowing hard, Lin Ting pulled out a single, dirt-covered copper coin from his pocket.

This was his last coin—given to him the previous evening when a passing laborer, mistaking him for a beggar, had tossed it to him out of pity.

He’d struggled with his pride before picking it up—his mind rejected charity, but his starving body had acted on its own. Can’t blame him for that.

At this point, he was no different from a beggar. Survival came first.

Though barely clinging to life, Lin Ting still believed in fair exchange. He held out the coin, his knuckles still stained with mud from when a horse had splashed him the day before. How did traffic control work in this ancient era? Horses galloping through streets in broad daylight—what kind of lawless place was this?

The vendor shook her head. "This bun is a gift. No need to pay. Go on, eat."

Just then, a breeze carried a strange, sweet-medicinal fragrance—like the herbs her children took, but with a hint of sweetness. After a few breaths, she realized it was coming from the beggar himself.

Her heart ached even more—this must be a fallen noble’s son, reduced to begging.

"No, I insist on paying," Lin Ting said firmly. His parents had taught him never to accept handouts. He didn’t know local prices, nor whether one coin was enough for a meat bun—probably not—but it was all he had.

Fortunately, the kind vendor accepted it. "Alright, I’ll take it. Now eat." She handed him a bowl of warm water, adding gently, "Young man, many officials from the capital have arrived lately. The authorities are rounding up vagrants—be careful not to get caught."

Those beggars had no families. Who knew if they’d ever return once taken?

Lin Ting nodded gratefully, cradling the bun. "Thank you, big sister. I’ll remember." He took small, careful bites of the soft dough.

After finishing the water, he headed down another street, still holding the bun. The vendor had mentioned that area had many beggars—perhaps he could find companionship there. In this unfamiliar world, he wasn’t going to face it alone.

The streets were packed, bodies pressing together. Lin Ting had noticed yesterday that Canalview Lane was exceptionally prosperous, paved with neatly cut flagstones, lined by a busy river where boats plied the waterway day and night.

With such strict governance and heavy crowds, and since the system wouldn’t help, he had to—needed to—find a place more suitable for a beggar’s survival.

As he turned a corner, a vicious snarl made him nearly drop his bun.

Ten meters ahead stood several men in official uniforms, holding long blades, with the character "arrest" emblazoned on their chests. They clutched a leashed dog.

Prefects.

Their eyes locked across the crowd.

Lin Ting’s lips tightened as he recalled the vendor’s warning. Then he looked down at his tattered clothes. Would they—?

"You there—halt!" The lead prefect pointed at him. "Where did you come from, beggar?"

"Holy shit—!" Lin Ting’s hair stood on end. Without even swallowing his last bite, he spun around and ran.

He must have committed unspeakable sins in a past life to deserve this.

"Heaven help me, can’t you let me live?!"

It was already past the morning hours, and many shops along Canalview Lane were closing up, yet the streets were even more crowded than before.

Lin Ting darted through the crowd like an eel, sending carts and pots clattering in his wake.

Not far behind him, the gritted shouts of the guards cut through the noise.

"Stop!"

"Grab him!"

Lin Ting didn’t slow down—he only sped up.

It had been ages since he’d felt this kind of rush. The fact that he could sprint like this despite not eating all day proved that humans really can push their limits.

The guards, built like oxen from training, were formidable pursuers. Lin Ting could only be grateful for the dense crowd—otherwise, he’d have been caught within a few strides, likely with a dog taking a bite out of him.

"Stop!" The guards’ voices snaked through the crowd, reaching Lin Ting’s ears.

If this weren’t a life-or-death situation, he’d have loved to give them a piece of his mind. Who in their right mind would surrender when being chased? Their shouting was pretty damn useless.

Canalview Lane felt like it went on forever. Having already sprinted from one end, Lin Ting now found himself pushing deeper into even denser crowds. Ahead, an old man with a white beard maneuvered a cart down from the bridge. Lin Ting slipped past, just barely, but his right hand scraped against the rough wood.

"Ow, ow—" It stung sharply, the skin likely torn. He couldn’t tell if it was bleeding, but the pain pulsed hard. Still, he had no time to tend to it—just a quick shake of his hand as a half-hearted attempt to soothe it.

He narrowly dodged an elderly woman pushing a cart of syrupy drinks. Had he crashed into her, he’d have eaten dirt face-first.

"Too close, too close."

But luck wasn’t always on his side. The moment he cleared the drink cart, Lin Ting slammed headfirst into a solid wall—or rather, a group of men dressed in the same damn uniforms.

Head spinning from the hit, his blurry vision confirmed the worst.

"You alright?" The leader grabbed his arm and hauled him upright.

"Yeah," Lin Ting waved him off, glancing back. The pursuing guards were still tangled in the crowd, their dog drawing curses from bystanders. They were a few steps farther now.

Heart hammering, sucking in air, Lin Ting muttered, "Fine, thanks," and slipped his arm free.

"Wait, boss—this beggar smells weird as hell," one of the men suddenly remarked.

Lin Ting’s stomach dropped. Of all people to run into, it had to be the emperor’s men out hunting for the emperor’s cure.

His legs moved before his brain caught up. Even as his thoughts scrambled, his feet were already sprinting away.

...

Though Canalview Lane was a busy port town, it had remained peaceful for decades. Despite the recent surge of government troops, the atmosphere had stayed largely tranquil.

At the street’s end lay East Lane, where cramped houses and chicken coops stood side by side. Some coops were dilapidated, seemingly abandoned for years.

The quiet alley was abruptly swarmed by the guards.

"Where’d that beggar go?"

"We saw him come this way!"

A flurry of rustling and searching followed. "He’s not here."

"Maybe he went that way."

"Move out."

The constables searched around East Alley but found no trace of him, so they turned and headed down another path.

Once the sound of footsteps faded, the alley entrance fell back into silence.

Suddenly, a hand emerged from the abandoned chicken coop.

Lin Ting wriggled his way out of the hay, then struggled again to shake off the straw clinging to him. God only knew how much willpower it took to hide from these people. Though the coop didn’t seem to have been used much—the hay was still dry—the reek from the nearby chicken coops was downright nasty. If the constables hadn’t left soon, he would’ve been suffocated before they could even catch him or exhaust him to death.

Life's a bitch—always one misstep from croaking.

"Holy shit, that was close." Lin Ting patted his chest, catching his breath as he stepped out of the coop. The moment his foot touched the ground, a voice suddenly rang out from above: "Took you long enough. Come with us."

Lin Ting looked up and found himself locking eyes with the guys perched on the roof—the exact guys he'd dodged before.

Lin Ting: "..."

"Shiiiiiiiiit!"