Yan Xing was a recent graduate who had just found a job at a small company. He rose early and returned late, bustling through the city to make a living. He dreamed of earning enough money to buy a small house in the metropolis and find a girlfriend.
But such an ordinary life ended... after he discovered he possessed a minor ability.
That day, Yan Xing rode his electric moped through an empty field, helmet on his head.
A cool breeze blew, the green trees were vibrant, and the fragrance of flowers and grass filled the air around him.
The sprawling grassland presented a starkly different scene from the towering skyscrapers he was used to in the city.
Only... how did I end up here!
What is this place? The city’s outskirts shouldn’t be such barren grassland!
And what in the world are these two foreign-looking vagabonds in ragged clothes, holding pitchforks, standing before me?
The clothes on the two men before Yan Xing were so tattered they were nearly shredded strips. Caked with dried mud, they hung in tatters. Their faces were smeared with mud, their hair disheveled and as filthy as if they had rolled in it several times.
This place was in the middle of nowhere; there wasn’t a village ahead or a shop behind.
Yan Xing, speaking in his mediocre English, asked the two strange foreigners, "Hello ah! Good morning ya! How to go to Erlang Bridge?"
I don’t even know if they can understand me.
The two foreigners seemed somewhat fearful of the wheeled "steed" between Yan Xing’s legs, but one of them still postured threateningly by jabbing his pitchfork forward before quickly retreating.
Then, in the meekest voice, he made the boldest demand, "Hey, got any food? Quick... hand it over!"
Yan Xing straddled his moped. He appeared calm, but inwardly, he was panicking.
He didn’t take off his helmet, his palms clutching the throttle, ready to bolt at any moment.
Strange, too strange.
Around Zhehai City, where land was precious, finding such an expansive, undeveloped grassland was impossible. Moreover, Yan Xing was certain he had just been on his way to work. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, he and his moped were on this very field.
Have I transmigrated?
When Yan Xing realized he actually understood their language—an accent he couldn’t place from any country—he was certain, absolutely certain, that he had most likely transmigrated.
The odds were two against one.
Even if they both looked like they hadn’t eaten in days, their pitchforks were still menacing to the unarmed Yan Xing.
In this unfamiliar place, running around blindly would be asking for trouble.
Just lay low for now; no need to be a hero.
Being poked with a pitchfork that reeked of feces and was coated with some unknown yellow substance wouldn’t cause serious harm, but the insult would be immense.
"Food? Yes, yes, yes..." Yan Xing reached into the storage compartment behind his seat, pulled out a plastic bag, and took out two hamburgers, handing them over. "I’m just a passerby; I mean you no harm. Could you please put your weapons down? They look quite scary..."
Before Yan Xing could finish, the aroma of wheat mixed with meat enticed the two men to drop their pitchforks and rush forward, snatching the two hamburgers.
Up close, the smell was even more irresistible.
The two didn’t even bother to remove the wrappers, opening their mouths wide to bite into the hamburgers they held.
Then, in unison, they let out hums of satisfaction.
It was a taste they had never experienced before: the soft buns, crisp salad, tender chicken, and the crunch of lettuce stimulating every taste bud on their tongues.
It was incredibly satisfying, yet it also made their stomachs ache with an even greater hunger.
The two men didn’t savor this food they had never eaten before, gulping down the entire hamburgers, wrappers and all, in just a few bites.
Then, they both turned their gaze back to Yan Xing.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Their eyes, desperately craving more, made Yan Xing uneasy. He shook the empty bag, showing there was nothing left. "That was all my breakfast. I’ve given it all to you."
The two still stared at him intently, making Yan Xing’s hair stand on end.
They... they aren’t thinking of eating people, are they?
Just as Yan Xing was preparing to rev the engine and flee on his moped, he heard a "DING" in his ear, and a line of text suddenly appeared in his consciousness.
[Two peasants greatly admire you and wish to join your army. Do you agree?]
This sudden development completely surpassed Yan Xing’s comprehension, leaving him somewhat at a loss.
Peasants? Who are the peasants?
These two people here?
They look like beggars, not peasants!
Besides, what merit or ability do I possess... why would they admire me?
And what does ’wanting to join my army’ mean? What kind of joke is this!
[Two peasants greatly admire you and wish to join your army. Do you agree?]
The text and voice appeared once again in Yan Xing’s consciousness.
This doesn’t seem like a joke.
Furthermore, judging by the looks of these two "peasants," it seemed they would turn hostile if he didn’t agree to let them join.
That leaves no choice!
Yan Xing made his choice, and another prompt appeared.
[You have gained two peasant followers.]
[You have gained 2 Experience.]
[You have gained 1 Prestige.]
[You have been promoted to Hero.]
[Please check your personal attribute panel for corresponding functions.]
What’s an attribute panel?
As that thought flashed through his mind, a long, semi-transparent attribute panel appeared in Yan Xing’s field of vision.
Yan Xing (Human) Level: 1
Hero Specialty: Popular Support (Increases the appeal of Human peasants and the efficiency of governance. Inspire: Boosts the morale of subjects and allied troops.)
Basic Training (In the troop-specific training ground, train lower-level troops into higher-level ones. Training cost is related to training level.)
Basic Leadership (Provides a limited, constant boost to the morale of subjects and troops. Can stack with Hero Specialty effects.)
Basic Offense (Provides a limited boost to troop combat effectiveness, allowing your forces to perform better in offensive operations.)
Charge (Increases speed by 50% for a short period. For every 1% increase in speed, attack power increases by 1%.)
Collision (Strikes the target, causing a knockback effect.)
Prayer (Slowly restores health to oneself and the spell’s target.)
Zeal (Increases own and allied attack power while moderately reducing defense.)
Contempt (Provokes the target, increasing their aggro towards oneself.)
Looking at his attribute list, Yan Xing was utterly baffled.
How is this so much like playing a game!
Could somebody please explain...
Yan Xing looked up at the azure sky as black crows CAWED and flew overhead.
A cool breeze blew, the green trees were lush, and the scent of flowers and grass wafted from all directions.
Waves of stench also assailed his nostrils.
Yan Xing looked down to see the two peasants prostrating on the ground, caressing and kissing his electric moped.
"Hey, what are you doing!"