Chapter 1: Chapter 1: I Have Innate Divine Strength

"How tragic. The old Chen family line has been wiped out..."

"Just because they couldn’t pay the Incense Money, a bunch of people from the Tiger Gang burned their house down in the middle of the night. A family of three, and not a single one escaped."

"Sigh, the Tiger Gang is truly heartless. They’re making an example of the Chen family for all of us to see."

"Isn’t that the truth? Their daughter was just violated last month, and now it’s their turn."

"Hush! Be careful the Tiger Gang doesn’t hear you. You’ll bring trouble on yourself..."

「Early in the morning.」

The crowded slum of Rat Alley was already packed with people, all chattering amongst themselves and pointing at a collapsed, blackened pile of what was once a building.

Everyone’s face held a mixture of pity, anger, and helplessness.

Every person was gaunt, their clothes covered in patches. Their complexions were sallow, and they looked like thin bamboo stalks, as if a strong gust of wind could blow them over.

The typical attire of the lower class.

"Sigh. In this world, just looking out for yourself is already a monumental task. How can anyone spare a thought for others?"

An old man in a long robe, who looked somewhat learned, sighed softly.

"In Panshi City, there are dozens of gangs, big and small. The big fish eat the small fish, the small fish eat the shrimp, and the shrimp eat the plankton. We common folk are the most pitiful plankton. Once you’re low-class, you’re low-class for life. Go on, everyone disperse..."

His voice was full of sorrow. With a gentle wave of his hand, he turned and left.

Everyone fell silent.

Just as the crowd was about to leave.

Suddenly!

A muffled RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE came from the blackened ruins. It sounded like something was struggling, accompanied by violent coughing and a faint shout.

"Help! Quick, help me! I’m not dead! Someone’s still alive..."

Chen Xuan’s voice struggled to make its way out of the rubble.

’He was on the verge of a complete breakdown.’

’He’d been playing games all night, and the next thing he knew, he opened his eyes in this godforsaken place.’

’More importantly, the original owner of this body was still trapped under the rubble, his entire family having been burned to death just last night.’

’Why wasn’t the original owner’s body burned to a crisp? Because he’d hidden in a cellar at home beforehand, which kept him intact.’

’But even though he wasn’t burned, he was choked to death by the thick smoke.’

’And that was how Chen Xuan had transmigrated over.’

The crowd, who had been about to leave, froze for a moment before snapping to their senses.

"Someone’s still alive?"

"It’s the Chen family’s Xuanzi..."

"Heavens, quick, save him!"

Everyone rushed forward.

After a great deal of effort, the group finally dug the skeletal, soot-faced Chen Xuan out of the ruins.

Everyone was exhausted and panting heavily.

They were already living hand-to-mouth, and this physical exertion was more than they could handle.

"Merciful heavens, Xuanzi is still alive! The heavens have protected him, they truly have."

A weathered-faced woman put her palms together and bowed toward the sky in gratitude.

Chen Xuan gasped for air, looking at the wrinkled woman whose clothes were covered in patches.

’He recalled that she was his predecessor’s neighbor. She had been on good terms with his parents. Her name was Aunt Zhang, and she scraped by on the meager income she earned as a washerwoman for wealthy families. She was considered one of the kind souls of the slum.’

"Child, you must be hungry. I have a vegetable flatbread here. Take it and fill your stomach."

Aunt Zhang quickly took a blackened vegetable flatbread from her robes and handed it to Chen Xuan.

Her fingertips were clearly covered in cracks, like tiny cuts from a knife. Many of the cracks had turned black—the lingering effect of years of manual labor.

Without a second thought, Chen Xuan took the flatbread and began to wolf it down.

’It just goes to show, when a person is starving, they don’t care if the food tastes good or not.’

’All that matters is filling your stomach.’

The surrounding crowd murmured amongst themselves.

"That kid is really lucky. Even a fire like that couldn’t kill him."

"Surviving a great disaster means good fortune will follow..."

"Hah, what good fortune? He’ll just be bullied by those gangs for the rest of his life..."

"The Tiger Gang is a blade hanging over the heads of us common folk. Which family hasn’t been forced by them to sell their sons and daughters? This time it’s the Chen family. Who knows whose turn it will be next..."

"I wonder when these days will ever end..."

...

As Chen Xuan scarfed down the food, he processed the residual information in his mind.

’Panshi City. Rife with gangs, dozens of them, big and small.’

’The more powerful gangs even colluded with the local authorities, forming a cruel network to exploit the common people layer by layer.’

’The people were like fish in a pan, fried over and over.’

’The gang in charge of their area was the Tiger Gang.’

’The Tiger Gang was responsible for collecting protection fees. The original owner’s family had fallen three months behind on their payments...’

’The original owner also had an older sister. About half a month ago, she was violated by a few thugs from the Tiger Gang. That very night, she threw herself into a well.’

’When they pulled her out, her body was blue-black and completely mangled.’

’The original owner’s father went to confront them, only to have his leg broken on the spot...’

’The original owner himself was slapped more than a dozen times, so hard that his teeth flew out. He was forced to his knees and became withdrawn for half a month...’

’The original owner’s mother cried until her eyes were swollen, and she fell ill in bed overnight.’

’And now, the Tiger Gang had acted even more maliciously, locking the entire family inside their home and secretly setting it on fire...’

’It’s like the end of a dynasty. The government doesn’t govern, it only wants to line its own pockets. The people at the bottom live worse than pigs or dogs... The key is that this world has martial arts. Even if ordinary people wanted to resist, they are insignificant in the face of a Martial Artist...’

In an instant, Chen Xuan had sorted through all the information.

A furious rage burned in his heart.

’What’s the fucking point of living?’

’Better to die a quick death than to eke out a miserable existence!’

Just as his heart filled with vicious thoughts while he gnawed on the flatbread, an untimely voice suddenly cut through the crowd, "What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Who told you to give him food?"

Two thugs in black enforcer uniforms charged over from a distance, carrying wooden clubs. They had vicious expressions, and their chests were embroidered with the pattern of a snarling tiger, looking as if it were about to devour someone.

The faces of the crowd changed, and they hurriedly got to their feet.

"It’s the Tiger Gang!"

"They’re here again! Quick, run!"

...

"Sirs, the boy hasn’t eaten all night. Please, have a heart..."

Aunt Zhang shuffled forward, hurrying toward the two thugs.

She hadn’t expected the men from the Tiger Gang to be so tyrannical.

They even interfered when someone was helping another person, giving them something to eat.

"Fuck off!"

One of the thugs kicked out. The blow was powerful, and with a THUD, it sent Aunt Zhang flying into a corner. Her face contorted in pain as she whimpered, unable to get up.

"You have money to give food to others, but no money to pay our Incense Money? You fucking piece of trash. You like being a charity case, huh? Well, I’ll let you be a charity case to the very end! Next month, you’ll pay double the Incense Money. If you can’t, I’ll fucking beat you to death!"

The thug rushed forward, grabbed a handful of Aunt Zhang’s hair, and with a series of slaps, left her dizzy. Then he dragged her by the hair and slammed her head hard against a nearby wall with a sickening THUD.

Blood splattered.

Aunt Zhang immediately clutched her forehead and screamed in agony.

"Bitch! That’ll teach you to act up again!"

The thug let out a savage grin. "If the Tiger Gang wants him dead, no one can keep him alive!"

The other thug walked straight toward Chen Xuan. With a THUD, he kicked the flatbread from Chen Xuan’s hand, then stomped on his palm, grinding his foot down and forcing a pained grunt from Chen Xuan.

"Who the fuck gave you permission to eat? You think you’re off the hook just because the fire didn’t kill you? Let me tell you, you still owe us our Incense Money, and you won’t be short a single coin. If you can’t pay up next month, I’ll skin you alive! Do you hear me? You piece of trash!"

He stomped a few more times, then sent Chen Xuan tumbling with a kick. He spun around to face the other neighbors and barked menacingly:

"And that goes for the rest of you, too! The Incense Money you owe the Tiger Gang... if any of you motherfuckers dare to be late again..."

A hateful glint flashed in Chen Xuan’s eyes as he snatched a large rock from the ground.

’Motherfucker!’

BAM!

He smashed the rock viciously against the back of the thug’s head. Blood spurted, and the thug let out a piercing scream, collapsing to the ground.

Then, as if he’d gone mad, Chen Xuan repeatedly smashed the rock into the man’s head, producing a series of sickening CRUNCHES and agonized screams. He struck him more than twenty times.

[Ding! The Retribution System is activating!]

[As long as the Host exacts retribution and does not act against their true intentions, they will receive retribution points and corresponding rewards.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the first mission. +5 retribution points!]

[Reward: One Newbie Gift Pack! Acquired Talent: Innate Divine Strength!]

BOOM!

A powerful force instantly surged to life within Chen Xuan’s body, rushing mightily through his limbs and torso, filling them with endless strength.

He felt as if his entire body had undergone a transformation.

From the inside out, his muscles, meridians, and bones were all filled with an incredible power.

’He had a system?’

Chen Xuan was shocked, then overcome with exhilaration.

’Good, good, good!’

’The heavens are truly on my side!’

"Zhang San!"

The other thug’s eyes widened. He stared at Chen Xuan, let out a furious roar, and charged over, brandishing his thick club.

"Chen Xuan, I’ll fucking kill you!"