In a run-down thatched cottage, an old man lay on a bed made of wooden planks, while a white-browed tiger with drooping eyes curled up nearby, quietly watching over the old man.
The old man on the bed had a sallow complexion, and his frail chest was heaving slowly, with each breath in being less than each breath out.
“Ah1 Man… Ah Man…” the old man hoarsely exclaimed. Before long, a young man dressed in thin robes entered through the door. The young man had a handsome face, but one side of his cheek was swollen and there were faint traces of handprints on it.
“Master2…” the young man replied timidly. He took a step forward but hesitated, ultimately standing nervously by the door.
“You fool, where’s the doctor?” The old man coughed vigorously several times, his condition deteriorating, yet his demeanor remained rather unkind. “Go find the doctor quickly! If you can’t find them… don’t bother coming back…”
The young man named Ah Man quickly retreated from the room.
Search for a doctor? But where can I possibly find one? Ah Man, as he emerged from the thatched cottage, was gripped with an overwhelming sense of despair, uncertain of the path forward.
They should not have ventured out of the mountains!
His master was a renowned hermit, who had secluded himself in the deep mountains for decades to cultivate. No matter how influential or wealthy someone was, whenever they sought his master’s presence, the master always remained reclusive. This time, however, they had left their mountain refuge at the behest of the Emperor, solely to attend to the Crown Prince’s ailment.
The Crown Prince was born to a late virtuous concubine who had been a commoner before entering the palace. She had met the Emperor while he was traveling in disguise, and subsequently entered the palace. The Emperor held great affection for this gentle woman and even had plans to promote her to the status of Empress. However, their marital bliss lasted only five years, as the virtuous concubine fell ill and passed away shortly after giving birth to the Crown Prince.
The Emperor, deeply grieved by the loss of his beloved concubine, then designated the son of the virtuous concubine as the Crown Prince, showering him with extraordinary favor. Little did they know that the Crown Prince’s fortune was ill-fated. Two years ago, he fell seriously ill, and despite seeking the help of renowned physicians from all corners of the realm, none could provide a solution. After a hard-fought battle with his illness, just when his condition showed signs of improvement, he developed leg problems. Now, at the cusp of adulthood, his health was already compromised.
How could the heir to the throne of a nation be a cripple? The Emperor, torn between concern and urgency, spared no effort in seeking out renowned physicians from far and wide, determined to bring them to the palace at any cost.
This was precisely the reason why Ah Man’s master had come out of seclusion.
However, nobody had anticipated that this elderly man, who hadn’t left the mountains for decades, would fall ill with a cold shortly after venturing out. He had only completed half of the journey before becoming bedridden and unable to continue.
Having caught a cold was, in fact, the reason for seeking a doctor in the first place.
But, this old man was inherently proud and had peculiar ways. His interactions with the royal court were solely through carrier pigeons, and he was adamant about not traveling with the emissaries sent by the Emperor, insisting on making the journey from the mountains himself.
Coincidentally, when he fell ill, they were in a remote and desolate area with no nearby villages or settlements. Ah Man had no other option but to quickly find an abandoned thatched cottage to provide his master with a place to rest.
In such a desolate place, how could one find a doctor? The more Ah Man thought about it, the more anxious he became, and he wandered aimlessly until he reached the riverbank.
He gazed at his reflection in the water, noticing the swollen cheek on his face, a result of his master’s strike.
His master, though a cultivator3, had a quick temper and would readily scold and strike him for the slightest provocation. If they couldn’t find a doctor now, there would undoubtedly be more scolding in store. However, even if they did find a doctor, what was the use? Once they entered the palace, he, who was timid by nature, would likely only endure further mistreatment and abuse.
As Ah Man recalled his past and all the hardships he had endured, tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes. He was an orphan, unloved and uncared for since childhood. When he contemplated the prospect of enduring more scolding and abuse in the future, he couldn’t bear it any longer and impulsively leaped into the river.
* * *
Jiang Xiaoman was awakened by the water choking him.
On his way to university registration, he was involved in a car accident and died instantly. After his death, a voice suddenly appeared in his mind, telling him that he had been given a chance to come back to life. All he had to do was help the male and female protagonists in a book fall in love, and he would be able to return to his own world.
He understood that he had transmigrated into a book, but before he could fully comprehend how to proceed with his mission, he was abruptly awakened by the water getting into his mouth.
Jiang Xiaoman’s parents had passed away when he was young, and he had grown up in the mountains with his grandfather. With little else to do, he often swam in the mountain streams, which was why he had good swimming skills.
He was momentarily choked by the water, but he quickly realized it and surfaced.
Jiang Xiaoman crawled onto the bank, first checking his soaked clothes and his reflection in the water, and then glancing around at the surrounding scenery.
He had found himself transmigrated in a historical romance novel.
Furthermore, the appearance of this new body was almost identical to his original one, and one could almost say it was an exact match.
He tried to use the freshly set up reincarnation system in his mind to check the storyline of the book, but the section displaying the plot had the word ‘Loading’ on it. It appeared that he had just transmigrated, and the system hadn’t run through its processes yet.
“Ah Man… Ah Man…”
When he heard the calling, it was exactly how his grandfather used to call him. He instinctively responded and walked toward the thatched cottage where the voice was coming from.
He pushed open the door and was initially startled by the presence of the tiger beside the bed. Then, he heard the old man on the bed shouting, “Ah Man, where’s the doctor… have you found the doctor?”
What doctor? Before Jiang Xiaoman could reply, he watched as the old man shakily propped himself up and reached into his inner clothes while muttering, “You useless fool, can’t even find a doctor… take this, take it with you to the town and find someone.”
The old man took out a token, and although Jiang Xiaoman wasn’t sure about the plot, he hurried over to accept it. Little did he know that the irritable old man, impatient with Jiang Xiaoman’s slow reaction, raised his hand and hurled the token toward him.
This old man, despite his age and illness, possessed astonishing strength and remarkable accuracy. Jiang Xiaoman couldn’t evade in time, and he saw the token hurtling straight toward him—
Jiang Xiaoman felt a sharp pain in his forehead and immediately blacked out.
The original host already had poor physical condition, so when Jiang Xiaoman was hit, he lay unconscious for half a day before regaining consciousness.
When he woke up, the old man on the bed had already turned cold.
Jiang Xiaoman, “…”
Jiang Xiaoman opened the system once again, and the plot summary had now appeared. It was a novel titled ‘Sassy & Charming Thief: The Crippled Crown Prince Is Domineering.’
Jiang Xiaoman, “………”
Story summary: Nangong Xue, the youngest and most beloved daughter of the Demon Sect’s leader. To prove her abilities to her father and brothers, she boasted and swore to steal the legendary Immortal Slayer Sword that had been passed down through generations in the royal family. She infiltrated the palace, but before she could steal the sword, she unexpectedly encountered the domineering crippled Crown Prince.
Crippled Crown Prince: ‘You have stolen what is mine.’
Nangong Xue: ‘Who stole what!’
Crippled Crown Prince: ‘You have stolen my heart.’
Nangong Xue: ‘Hah, if you have the ability, come and chase after me.’
During the night, Nangong Xue was cornered by the crippled Crown Prince against a wall.
The crippled Crown Prince’s lips curled into a sly smile as he advanced step by step. ‘Hmm? Didn’t you want me to chase after you?’
Jiang Xiaoman, “………………………..”
The cripple… walked?
No, seriously, what does this author have against crippled characters?
The plot summary left Jiang Xiaoman bewildered and anxious. He moved his limbs, confirming that he could run and jump just fine—he wasn’t a cripple. If he were to be thrust into the role of that crippled Crown Prince, he would undoubtedly go crazy immediately.
After reading the summary, Jiang Xiaoman was eager to delve into the main text and discover his role. However, the loading circle in the main text continued to spin, occasionally experiencing glitches and failing to load. Jiang Xiaoman wasn’t sure if it was the system’s fault or if the encounter with the old man earlier had caused an issue, so he decided to leave it be for now.
Jiang Xiaoman turned to look at the deceased old man.
Although he didn’t yet know the old man’s identity, their brief conversation had hinted at a familial connection. Jiang Xiaoman had been inseparable from his grandfather since childhood, and after his grandfather’s passing last year, he had mourned deeply. This old man, despite scolding him, brought back memories of his grandfather.
Jiang Xiaoman dug a grave outside and buried the old man.
“Old man, though I don’t know who you are, our meeting must have had some purpose. Rest in peace,” Jiang Xiaoman said, bowing to the old man’s grave with clasped hands.
Digging a grave might seem simple, but it was actually physically demanding. Jiang Xiaoman was exhausted after burying the old man. He wanted to take a break but then remembered that before he had passed out, there was still a tiger inside the cottage. The tiger had vanished without a trace after he woke up, and he wasn’t sure if it would reappear later.
Jiang Xiaoman didn’t dare to linger here anymore. He returned to the thatched cottage to gather his belongings.
There wasn’t much inside the thatched cottage—only two bundles. One contained the clothes of the old man and the other the clothes of the young man. There was a small amount of dry rations and a few copper coins as well.
None of these items held much value, except for the token the old man had hurled at him. It was made of gold and engraved with seal script that Jiang Xiaoman couldn’t comprehend. It appeared to be something of significance, so he made sure to keep it securely on his person.
The plot content still hadn’t been loaded, indicating that the local network was quite unreliable, and the technological infrastructure of the system was lacking.
But Jiang Xiaoman had figured it out. Since the female lead and male lead would meet in the palace, as a supporting character assisting them, he would have to make his way to the palace as well.
Jiang Xiaoman carried his bundles, found the traces of a cart wheel on the ground, and set off on the road.
Three days later, Jiang Xiaoman arrived in a bustling city.
This was the first city Jiang Xiaoman had arrived at after his transmigration. The city was bustling, with people coming and going, street vendors calling out their wares, creating a lively atmosphere. However, the ancient cityscape didn’t captivate Jiang Xiaoman, as he had been walking for three days straight, and his legs were trembling from exhaustion.
Over the past three days, he had been eating and sleeping outdoors, either in a rundown temple or under a tree, and his meager supply of dry rations had long been exhausted. He was currently disheveled, with his already tattered Taoist robe covered in dust, resembling a wandering beggar.
Jiang Xiaoman’s stomach growled loudly from hunger, but what could he do? His copper coins had been spent on food in the small villages along the way, and now he was truly penniless.
What frustrated him the most was that the plot still hadn’t been loaded yet, and he didn’t even know who he was supposed to be…
Jiang Xiaoman, dizzy from hunger, made his way to the river and scooped up a handful of water to drink, attempting to alleviate his hunger pangs.
All those tales of thriving in ancient times with the knowledge of a modern person were just deceptions. Starting off like this, how was he supposed to make it work…
Suddenly, Jiang Xiaoman thought about that golden token and remembered the old man’s words before he passed away.
How about… trying to use that token?
With this thought in mind, Jiang Xiaoman quickly rinsed his face with water and tidied himself up.
In the evening, a young man dressed in a gray Taoist robe approached the yamen4 .
The young man had a delicate and fair complexion, with a hint of baby fat still on his slightly wrinkled face, resembling a freshly steamed white bun. His eyebrows were a bit furrowed, and his lively, dark eyes blinked incessantly, indicating a hint of nervousness.
This was none other than Jiang Xiaoman.
Jiang Xiaoman held the golden token in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
What should he do? Should he just show the token? Would that be too straightforward? Should he say something?
At the entrance of the yamen, there were two yamen runners, both of them burly with fierce expressions, and their round, bulging eyes made Jiang Xiaoman’s heart race even faster.
“What are you doing there skulking around?” one of the yamen runners barked.
Seeing Jiang Xiaoman peeking around, the yamen runner shouted loudly. Jiang Xiaoman was startled, and in his nervousness, he fumbled, and the token flew out, rolling on the ground before coming to rest.
The air fell silent. Jiang Xiaoman stared at the fallen golden token, and the two yamen runners also looked at the token.
… Is this token useless? Why isn’t anyone speaking?
… Maybe… I should pick it up first… and then figure out a different approach later…
Just as Jiang Xiaoman was about to pick it up, one of the yamen runners shouted again.
“The immortal has arrived!”
Jiang Xiaoman, “?”
Upon hearing the shout, a crowd rushed out from the yamen. Leading the way, and not even having had time to put on his shoes, was a middle-aged man dressed as a county magistrate.
“The immortal!”
“The immortal has come!”
The crowd kept calling Jiang Xiaoman ‘the immortal,’ leaving him bewildered. They grabbed his hand and ushered him into the yamen.
An immortal? Am I an immortal? Jiang Xiaoman wondered.
But this token was given to me by that old man…
Moreover, where would an immortal come from, living in such a destitute manner…
At that moment, the system that had been stuck for three days in Jiang Xiaoman’s mind finally started to load something—it was the task introduction.
‘It is said that there is an otherworldly immortal residing on Longming Mountain, and you, Ah Man, you are indeed the legendary immortal…’
Jiang Xiaoman’s eyes lit up. Am I really an immortal? That’s fantastic! This is a great start!
“Immortal, you have finally arrived. We’ve been eagerly waiting for you for so long; we were nearly driven to desperation!” The county magistrate, who was old enough to be Jiang Xiaoman’s father, was exceptionally polite to the eighteen-year-old Jiang Xiaoman. He quickly summoned someone to prepare food and drinks to welcome him.
With only a brief character introduction, and not knowing what kind of personality this ‘immortal’ should have, Jiang Xiaoman opted to wear an enigmatic expression, preserving the air of mystery around him.
In no time, a spread of food and drinks was placed in front of Jiang Xiaoman. He was eager to dig in, but to maintain his image as a celestial being, he had to discreetly swallow his saliva and put on an expression of indifference towards mortal food.
The county magistrate kept talking beside Jiang Xiaoman, and from his words, Jiang Xiaoman could gather a rough idea of the situation. This ‘immortal’ had been invited by the Emperor, but the immortal had not appeared for several days, which had greatly worried the county magistrate.
“If you hadn’t arrived, I wouldn’t have known where to find you,” the county magistrate said while pouring wine for Jiang Xiaoman. “There have been people impersonating you. Come, taste this wine; it was all prepared for you by His Imperial Majesty.”
Impersonating me? Jiang Xiaoman raised his wine glass and used his eyes to inquire about what the county magistrate meant by this.
“In His Majesty’s quest to find the most skilled physicians for the Crown Prince’s ailment, he extended his search across the realm. However, as you decided to emerge from your seclusion, your true appearance remained shrouded in mystery. Consequently, various charlatans and impostors have attempted to assume your identity,” explained the county magistrate.
The county magistrate looked at Jiang Xiaoman with deep admiration and said, “Without the token as a marker, I wouldn’t have been able to identify you. Just look at you, you’re eighty years old, but you don’t appear a day over eighteen! It’s truly a marvel of immortal arts!”
Eighty years old?
I’m eighty years old?
Jiang Xiaoman suddenly had a bad feeling, but he forced himself to remain calm. He took a sip of wine while discreetly checking the plot introduction to confirm once again.
‘Ah Man, you are indeed the legendary immortal…’
Suddenly, the ellipsis after ‘immortal’ quivered, and two more words were added.
‘…’s disciple5.’
At this moment, the county magistrate added, “Those who impersonated you deserve severe punishment. But you can rest assured, those impostors have all been dealt with! The Emperor has decreed that anyone daring to impersonate the immortal will be captured and executed publicly!”
Jiang Xiaoman spewed out a mouthful of wine.
1adding Ah- before a man or woman’s name was, and still is, a common way of creating a nickname; shows closeness and familiarity with the person.
2师父 shī fu is a polite form of address to a monk; usually used in cultivation/martial arts novels by the disciple.
3Practitioner of the Dao.
4衙门 yá men government office in old China.
5In case people got confused, the full sentence is: Ah Man, you are indeed the legendary immortal’s disciple.
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