Chapter 2

Wu Ming's face was indifferent as he watched the butler, Wu, interrogate the guard. His mind was still sorting through the memories of his predecessor.

This playboy, though uneducated and incompetent, still had a basic understanding of common knowledge, which allowed Wu Ming to know that the country he was in was called 'Great Zhou'!

This Great Zhou, clearly had little to do with the Eastern and Western Zhou of his previous life, but it did have the existence of mystical forces!

Here, there were terrifying martial artists whose physical bodies were comparable to Vajra, like ancient ferocious beasts!

There were also Confucian cultivators who read books and cultivated their qi, bringing peace to the world, and could cultivate a mighty and righteous body!

There were Daoist immortals who could turn beans into soldiers and summon wind and rain!

There were also shamans skilled in witchcraft, who could borrow the power of natural spirits, and cruel and mysterious poison masters who could raise insects and cast curses from a thousand miles away...

Wu Ming naturally wanted to know more, but unfortunately, his predecessor, an uneducated and incompetent playboy from the countryside, only knew these things because he had a sister who had entered a Daoist academy.

"Old Six is really a failure!"

Wu the butler swung his arm, and his bones crackled, as if he had set off a firecracker in the air.

His strength permeated his bones!

This butler, Wu, seemed to have no weak point in his martial arts skills.

"Master! Shall I go and capture that Lin Qi for you to deal with as you please?"

However, after turning around, the butler's fierce aura completely disappeared, replaced by a fawning expression. The difference was so stark that it was as if he had become a different person.

"Wait a moment!"

If it were the previous Wu Ming, he would have already been shouting to tear Lin Qi apart.

But this Wu Ming was not the same as the previous one. The woman was not taken by him, and Lin Qi was not sent to be killed by him, so he did not want to take the blame.

Moreover, as a newly arrived Wu Ming, the thinking and concepts of his previous life were still deeply rooted, making it difficult for him to order a killing, especially of someone unrelated to him.

The most important point was that the current situation was too strange!

"Who is that Lin Qi? What kind of person is he?"

Wu Ming decided to first understand the situation.

"Lin Qi?"

Wu the butler, being a seasoned lackey, quickly responded, "Reporting to Master Ming, this person lives in Bai Shui Village, next to Miss Yun. He lost both parents at a young age and lived on a few acres of poor land... He was once sent to the village martial hall, but after being tested, he was found to have no talent or potential and was expelled after three days..."

Wu Ming's expression became even more peculiar.

In this world, the village martial hall was like a primary school in the future, even more widespread, with almost every peasant child being sent there to train for a few months, learning martial arts for self-defense.

The entry requirements were naturally very low, and someone who was not even worth teaching by the village martial hall could be considered a world-class failure!

"Potential?!"

Wu Ming tapped his head. Humans were the most intelligent of all beings! In theory, as long as one was human, they could practice martial arts, cultivate Dao, nurture qi, and even achieve immortality!

However, in a world where everyone had potential, the quality of that potential was very important.

Some people could practice martial arts for ten or a hundred years and still not achieve as much as others in just a few days or even a few months! This was the gap.

When everyone had potential, but it was very poor, it was as if they had no potential at all.

This body of his seemed to have a few layers of martial arts cultivation, but it was only achieved through constant nourishment, high-quality cultivation methods, and his sister's supervision.

According to the martial arts instructor of the fortress, Wu Ming's potential was average, barely passing, but the resources invested in him were enough to cultivate ten, or even fifteen, equally skilled martial artists.

The lack of perseverance of this person was evident!

"From this, it seems... that Lin Qi is probably even more of a failure than my predecessor... I need to be careful!"

Wu Ming's heart suddenly tightened.

When something unusual happens, there must be a reason! A previously useless boy suddenly becoming a martial arts expert and making decisive decisions must have had a special encounter!

Whether it was meeting an old man, unlocking hidden wisdom, or being a穿越者 (穿越者 means someone who has traveled through time or space, often used in the context of a person from the modern world who finds themselves in a fantasy or historical setting), Wu Ming found himself in a very awkward position.

His body seemed to have become the mortal enemy of the other party?

"I hope he is just a smart and patient boy!"

Wu Ming knew the terrifying nature of encountering a 'true protagonist'!

Not only did they grow at a monstrous rate, but they also had an invincible life! No matter how many times they were beaten, they would always come back, and they would quickly take revenge for any past grievances, even involving their families and teachers.

"If this were a novel from my previous life, I would be sending waves of minor enemies to help the protagonist level up and gain experience, and then I would be the one to pay the ultimate price... Then my sister would step in, the protagonist would suffer a minor setback, quickly level up, and come back to humiliate me... This cycle would repeat, and in the end, even my sister's Daoist sect would be involved, becoming the protagonist's growth nutrients..."

Wu Ming silently thought to himself, feeling a chill. He then shook his head, "Enough... It's also possible that I'm just scaring myself!"

"Master Ming?!" Wu the butler saw that Wu Ming was somewhat dazed and immediately asked.

"Nothing... Follow me..."

Wu Ming put aside his thoughts and led Wu the butler to the study, which he remembered from his predecessor's memories.

The rosewood bookshelves were filled with brand new books, and two bunches of ink plum blossoms were inserted in a vase on one side, emitting a fragrant aroma. However, the desk was a mess, with a few extremely sensual books, seemingly secret manuals of erotic techniques, peeking out.

"..."

Wu Ming's forehead was marked with a black line, and he swept various miscellaneous items to one side with his right hand. He then noticed that the indoor light was slightly dim, frowned, and took out a fire-red ring from his pocket. The ring had a purple cloud pattern, and he lightly touched it.

Crack! The runes lit up, and a small flame appeared, lighting the oil lamp.

The indoor light suddenly became much brighter, and a trace of envy appeared on Wu the butler's face.

Wu Ming, with a blank expression, put the ring away, but his heart was filled with complex emotions.

In this world, extraordinary powers were so closely integrated into daily life.

Of course, although it was just a small household gadget that didn't even qualify as a basic level, it was clearly quite valuable. If it weren't for his sister, as a rural tycoon, it would have been difficult to obtain.

This further confirmed to Wu Ming the reality and mystery of this world.

"Go find Lin Qi... He may have left Bai Shui Village, but he won't have gone far..."

"Rest assured, Master Ming, I will severely torture that boy, and then..." Wu the butler grinned, thinking he understood the meaning.

"Who told you to beat him to death?"

Wu Ming rolled his eyes, "When you catch him, explain that it was all a misunderstanding, and I can return the Yun family girl to him. Both sides will stop here..."

Wu the butler's eyes widened as if he had never seen Wu Ming before.

"There is one more thing!" Wu Ming's expression became solemn, "Send someone to the county Daoist academy to find my sister and tell her that I have gotten into trouble and need the help of a true expert!"

Wu Ming deliberately emphasized the word "true."

"Master Ming... You want to involve the young lady?" Wu Ming gasped, "It's just a boy, is it really necessary?"

Although this playboy often caused trouble, every time it was only when things got out of hand that he had to ask his sister to resolve it. This time...

Wu the butler's mind was overwhelmed.

"Just do as I say!"

Wu Ming dismissed the confused butler, closed the study door, and let out a long breath.

He wasn't going to take the blame for his predecessor!

Therefore, he first sent someone to probe. If Lin Qi was willing to reconcile, it would be the best outcome.

If not, these backup plans would come into play.

He wasn't a foolishly naive big villain in a fairy tale who liked to send his subordinates one by one to give experience to the hero, only to face death alone when the hero reached his peak.

Although meeting his family immediately was somewhat awkward, Wu Ming, who had digested all of his predecessor's memories, still had confidence in passing off as the real deal.

Moreover, he only asked his sister to send experts, not necessarily to come herself.

Thinking about the previous playboy's actions, Wu Ming felt somewhat embarrassed.

However, under the threat of a suspected true protagonist, Wu Ming unhesitatingly activated his ultimate move—calling for help from his family!

With his current strength, protecting himself was already a challenge, and it was not shameful to seek protection from others before he could quickly improve and grow.

At this moment, after confirming that no one was around and the door was tightly closed, Wu Ming immediately began a matter of life and death.

"System!"

... Silence.

"Golden Finger!"

... Still silence.

"Grandpa?"

... The empty study remained silent, and Wu Ming, not believing in his bad luck, searched his body inside and out again, suddenly sitting back in his chair, frowning and lamenting, "Golden Finger? Where is my Golden Finger? Where is my Golden Finger?"

In Wu Ming's previous life, there was a myth that had always been passed down:

Are you dissatisfied with your job? Are you tired of the monotonous life? Have you failed in life and want to start over?

Then travel through time! As long as you travel through time, even if you are a failure, you can immediately turn your life around, become a CEO, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the pinnacle of life!

As long as you travel through time, no problem is a problem!

The ugly can become handsome, the handsome can become even more handsome, the weak can become brave, and even the foolish can immediately become a world-class genius!

And the most important point—was the Golden Finger!

After confirming this multiple times, Wu Ming couldn't help but cover his face and wail, "Oh no... Without the Golden Finger, how can I survive in this world of countless strong people, where cities can be destroyed and countries can be annihilated? Time and Space Administrator, I want to file a complaint, I want to go home!"

It must be said that compared to this world of extraordinary powers, where rules were ignored and strong people emerged one after another