Lin Tian transmigrated to the Great Liang dynasty’s Yu Village three years ago, only to find himself in a world ravaged by drought and banditry. He adopted a mute girl named Nannan, and they lived in abject poverty, scraping by on stolen food and odd jobs. Life became even more unbearable when the bandits from Qingfeng Stronghold repeatedly plundered the village, devouring his last dog, stealing his sweet potatoes, and leaving him with nothing. One day, two bandits discovered him stewing rabbit meat and attacked, intending to rob and kill him. Lin Tian, driven by desperation, fought back with raw strength, killing one bandit instantly and the other after receiving a chest wound from a Thunderclap Pearl. At that critical moment, the Strongest Sign-In System activated, rewarding Lin Tian for surviving three years. He received a Golden Gift Pack containing the attributes Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Groin Kick, Simple‑Minded, and Great Compassion Fist, along with ten bottles of Erguotou, the hidden weapon Rainstorm Pear Blossom, and ten years of internal energy. He activated Bronze Skin Iron Bones and Great Compassion Fist, immediately becoming a Second‑Rank martial artist, and his wound began to heal. Fearing revenge from the bandits, he fled on horseback with Nannan toward Qingshui County. On the road, a sudden rain broke the two‑year drought, bringing a glimmer of hope to the suffering people.In Qingshui County, Lin Tian and Nannan took shelter in a small noodle shop run by a woman who offered them plain noodles. Hearing that Lin Tian needed lodging, she rented him her vacant family courtyard for one tael per month. After settling in, Lin Tian brought Nannan to see a physician, Old Man Li, whose clinic faced the Listening Wind Pavilion. Li claimed Nannan had no serious illness and charged ten taels for useless medicine. Enraged at being exploited, Lin Tian grabbed Li by the collar. Constable Pang Shan, arriving to break up the disturbance, drew his saber and attacked Lin Tian without inquiry. Lin Tian countered with the Great Compassion Fist, sending Pang Shan flying across the street. More constables surrounded Lin Tian, but Pang Shan, recognizing that he was outmatched, stopped them. After Lin Tian explained the unfair charge, Li lowered the price to one tael. Lin Tian paid and left, declining Pang Shan’s offer to drink together. Back home, Lin Tian recalled Nannan’s strange seizures and nonsensical muttering of “Bi Yao,” which made him suspect she might also be a transmigrator. He brewed the medicine, but Nannan refused to drink it, frustrating him.Meanwhile, at Qingfeng Stronghold, the Second Leader reported the deaths of the bandits to the chieftain Ma Rulong and the Third Leader Zhan Rixing. They identified Lin Tian as a Second‑or Third‑Rank martial artist and considered using his attack as a pretext to raid Qingshui County. However, Zhan Rixing advised waiting for an envoy from the Marquis of Nantian, with whom they planned to ally, before making any move. Their real goal was to test the imperial court’s weaknesses and strengthen their own position. The bandits knew Lin Tian had escaped to the county, but they considered him an insignificant target compared to the larger scheme. As night fell, the rain stopped, and a new day began. Lin Tian, determined to cure his daughter and secure a place in this harsh world, started the medicine, knowing that more threats from both the bandits and the county authorities were lurking just ahead. His journey of survival and growth had only just begun.
