Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes.
As far as his eyes could see, this was a sprawling, antique master bedroom. Heavy silk curtains hung from a massive sandalwood bed, gently swaying in the morning breeze. The air carried the expensive, woody scent of burning agarwood, and the distant sound of a rhythmic wooden mallet—servants washing clothes—drifted in from the courtyard.
Xiao Yan sat up, his limbs feeling strangely heavy and uncoordinated. He pushed open the carved lattice window, and golden sunlight flooded the room, illuminating a private garden where koi splashed in a stone pond.
It was spring—the season of rebirth, but for the "Original Body" of this world, it was the beginning of a nightmare.
From the Memory Sphere left behind, Xiao Yan knew that this very spring, the Xiao Family's flourishing silk empire had begun to crumble. His father, the Great Merchant Xiao, had passed away after a months , leaving the vast fortune to him. But he was young, naive, and had spent his life reading poetry instead of ledgers.
Three days ago, back in his own world, Xiao Yan had accidentally bound with the a Commission System. The system revealed a cruel truth: although he was destined for a long, mediocre life, his younger sister—the only person who truly loved him—would die within two years due to organ failure and its signs are sowing now when scaned with system.
Xiao Yan could not bear to see her suffer. He had agreed to the System's proposal and become Executor enter mission worlds, fulfill the obsessions of the wronged and fix the bugs in the world, and earn points. These rewards could be used to change his own fate and extend the lives of those he cherished.
System missions were ranked by color: White, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange and red. As a novice who knew nothing of business or combat, he could only accept White missions. A successful White mission rewarded ten points.
Xiao Yan didn't mind the small start. He needed to learn. He needed to grow. He accepted the system's recommended novice mission, which promised a low difficulty level and a high learning curve.
After processing the wish-maker's memories, Xiao Yan's grip tightened on the windowsill. The mission was straightforward, yet heartbreaking:
[Current Mission: White Rank] [Wish-Maker: Xiao Yan (The Merchant Heir)] [The Wish: save my father and not have family business fall to my treacherous step-brother, protect my younger sister from a forced marriage, and ensure she finds a lifetime of happiness.]
A cold smirk touched Xiao Yan's lips. The memory sphere showed his step-brother, Xiao Bin, already started poisioning father
In the eyes of the world, the current Xiao Yan was a weak, "pretty boy" scholar who didn't know the price of grain. He was the perfect lamb for the slaughter.
"System," Xiao Yan whispered, his eyes hardening as he watched a servant—loyal to his step-brother—spy on him from the garden shadows. "Since I've taken his body, I'll take his revenge. Let's start with the ledgers."
A flickering blue semi-transparent screen appeared only in Xiao Yan's vision.
[Ding! System 007 at your service. Host, the "Ledger of the Xiao Estate" has been digitized. Would you like to run a 'Discrepancy Scan'? Cost: 1 point . remeaning point 9(10 points from novice gift pack) ]
"Do it," Xiao Yan commanded internally.
As he walked away from the window, the heavy silk robes of the merchant heir trailed behind him. He looked like the same frail scholar as yesterday, but his gait was now steady, purged of the original host's hesitant stumbling.
He sat at the sandalwood desk and pulled a stack of rice-paper ledgers toward him. To any spying eyes, he was merely sighing over poems. In reality, his eyes were tracking red highlighted numbers flashing across his vision.
[Scan Complete. Findings: The Southern Silk Warehouse reports a 30% loss due to 'mildew,' but the local weather has been arid for three months. Result: Embezzlement detected. Authorized by: Steward Liu (Subordinate of Xiao Bin).]
Xiao Yan's lips curled. "So, they aren't even trying to be subtle. They think the 'Original Body' is a fool who can't tell the difference between rain and a drought."
A soft knock came at the door. "Young Master? Master Xiao Bin has sent over some calming medicinal tea. He says you looked pale during the morning rites."
Xiao Yan glanced at the door. Through the thin paper screen, he could see the silhouette of the servant he had noticed earlier. In the Memory Sphere, this "medicinal tea" was laced with chronic depressants that would make the original Xiao Yan lethargic and easily manipulated.
"Enter," Xiao Yan said, his voice dropping into the soft, slightly airy tone of the original scholar.
The servant, a man named Zhao with shifty eyes, hurried in and placed the steaming cup on the desk. "Young Master, please drink while it's hot. Master Bin is very concerned about your health now that the Great Merchant is... indisposed."
Xiao Yan picked up the cup, the steam rising to meet his face.
[Warning: Trace amounts of 'Withered Spirit Grass' detected. Long-term ingestion causes mental fog and organ decline.]
"Brother Bin is so thoughtful," Xiao Yan murmured, looking directly into Zhao's eyes. "In fact, he is so thoughtful that I feel I am neglecting my duties. Zhao, tell the head of the Southern Warehouse, Steward Liu, to meet me in the counting-house in one hour. I wish to discuss the... 'mildew' problem."
Zhao froze, the fake smile faltering. "The warehouse? But Young Master, those accounts are messy. Master Bin said he would handle—"
"Is my brother the head of this house yet?" Xiao Yan interrupted. His voice wasn't loud, but it had the sharpness of a cold blade.
Zhao felt a shiver run down his spine. The "Little Lamb" of the Xiao family suddenly felt like a tiger draped in scholar's silk. "N-no, Young Master. I shall fetch him at once."
As the servant scrambled out, Xiao Yan poured the poisoned tea into the base of a potted peony.
"System," Xiao Yan whispered, standing up and smoothing his sleeves. "If I remember correctly, the official who protects my 'step-brother' is the District Magistrate, correct?"
[Correct, Host. Magistrate Wang. Connection: Biological father of Xiao Bin. ]
"Good," Xiao Yan smiled, a cold, predatory light in his eyes. "Let's see what I get for bringing down a corrupt official and a fake brother in one go. First, I need to secure my father's medicine. Then, I'll show them how a 'scholar' really uses a pen."
Xiao Yan didn't head straight for the warehouse. Instead, he slipped out the back gate of the estate, dressed in a simple, inconspicuous scholar's robe. He needed an ally who understood medicine, someone the Xiao Bin faction hadn't yet bought off.
He arrived at the "Hall of Longevity," a small clinic tucked away in a quiet alley. The elderly Physician Sun was known for two things: his incredible skill with pulses and his stubborn refusal to take bribes from the local officials.
"Physician Sun," Xiao Yan said, bowing slightly.
The old man looked up from his mortar and pestle. "Young Master Xiao? I heard your father was... beyond help."
"My father is being 'helped' into an early grave," Xiao Yan replied, his voice low and cold. He pulled a small silk handkerchief from his sleeve. Inside were the damp tea leaves he had salvaged from the peony pot. "Tell me, what is this?"
Physician Sun sniffed the leaves, his eyes widening. He chewed a tiny piece and spat it out immediately. "Withered Spirit Grass. It mimics the symptoms of a slow wasting disease. Who gave you this?"
"My 'dear' brother," Xiao Yan's eyes darkened. "And my father's medicine? The one Magistrate Wang's personal doctor prescribed?"
The physician sighed heavily. "It's likely the same, but masked with stronger herbs. It's a slow-acting poison, Young Master. In another month, his heart will simply stop."
"Not on my watch," Xiao Yan said, his grip tightening. He handed the physician a small bag of silver—his own personal savings. "I need an antidote, disguised as ordinary tonic. And I need you to be ready to testify when the time comes."