Ye Lianhua sat cross-legged on the bamboo mat inside the little hut, spooning the steaming, slightly watery pottage into her mouth. It was plain, mostly boiled millet and a sad piece of carrot, but she hummed with satisfaction like she was dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
"Ahhh, that hits the soul," she murmured, licking the bowl.
Her grandma sat nearby, nodding with a soft smile. "I told you I'd make more. You always did love my cooking, Hua'er."
"I still do," Lianhua said, her tone suddenly sincere. She hadn't tasted something this real in ages—not since before her modern life turned into cheap takeout and expensive regrets.
Bai Xuexin had already left with the usual fanfare of shy smiles and gentle bows. "I'll come visit tomorrow, Hua'er! Get some rest, okay?"
"Mm-hmm," Lianhua had replied, waving like a proper lady while muttering under her breath, "Go back to your sweet act, Saint Xuexin."
Now alone with her thoughts and the warm belly full of food, Lianhua leaned back with a sigh. Time to get serious.
"System," she said quietly, "Open all today's quests and logs."
[SYSTEM INTERFACE ACTIVATED][Daily Quests (Incomplete):]
Survive Day 1 in Ancient World ✔️
Talk to a Villager (Even if it's Bai Xuexin) ✔️
Replenish Energy with Food ✔️
Investigate Cause of Unconsciousness ❌
Check Memory Archive ❌
First Farming Attempt ❌
"Alright, alright. I'm not failing—just… pacing myself," Lianhua muttered.
She flicked open the Memory Archive, which appeared in her vision like a floating book made of light.
"Let's see what happened to original Lianhua…"
Images flipped past her eyes—her growing up in this same hut with her grandma, being called a jinx, nearly drowning once, being blamed for someone's cow running away, sneezing during a funeral and almost getting banished—
"Sheesh, my past self was cursed with bad PR," she muttered.
Then she saw it: a memory, fuzzy around the edges, but clear enough.
She had been standing at the edge of a cliff. Someone was behind her.
A hand reached out.
A voice.
Then—
Nothing.
"Someone pushed her," Lianhua whispered, eyes narrowing. "Me. Us."
[Memory Fragment Incomplete – System Repair In Progress.]
"Of course," she muttered. "Of course you're glitched."
Just then, she heard footsteps—slow, deliberate, and annoyingly confident.
"Lianhua~" came a voice too silky for its own good. "Ah, you're finally awake, my little unlucky star."
Lianhua froze.
She turned her head just slightly and spotted him ducking under the doorway: the Village Chief.
Chief Gao Yiren.
A man with the kind of mustache that curled at the ends and a belly that bounced when he laughed at his own bad jokes.
"Oh joy," she muttered. "It's him."
Gao Yiren sauntered in with the exaggerated grace of a man who thought himself twenty years younger and twenty pounds lighter.
"My, my," he said, eyeing her from head to toe. "What a sight you are, rising from the grave like a lotus in the mud. Truly, you're a flower—just misunderstood."
"Chief Gao," Lianhua said smoothly, forcing a smile. "What a surprise. Should I be honored or worried?"
"Oh, always honored," he chuckled, reaching out to pat her shoulder. She subtly leaned away. "The whole village was shocked you survived. There were even bets going on! Of course, I never doubted you. You're tenacious. Like a weed."
"Lovely comparison," she said through gritted teeth.
He leaned in too close. "If you need help getting back on your feet… I'm more than happy to offer guidance. Or lodging. I have space in my compound."
"Generous of you," she said, still smiling. "But I'd rather eat mud than move in with you."
He blinked. "What?"
"I said," she repeated sweetly, "I must decline. Granny would miss me."
Behind her, Granny coughed loudly.
"Ah, well," he sniffed, straightening up. "The offer stands. You know where to find me, my delicate lotus."
"Far away, I hope."
"What?"
"Nothing. Thank you for visiting," she said, nearly shoving him toward the door.
After what felt like an eternity and a final leer, Chief Gao waddled out.
As soon as his footsteps disappeared, Lianhua exhaled.
"System," she said. "Please add one more quest: Avoid greasy old men."
[Side Quest Created: "Evade Gao Yiren's Grossness"][Reward: +10 Sanity]
"Finally, a quest that understands me."
She stood, dusting off her dress, and walked to the doorway. The sun was starting to dip in the sky, casting long golden beams across the cracked courtyard.
Lianhua stepped outside.
And for the first time, she really looked.
Small huts, most barely patched together. Rice paddies in the distance. Women scrubbing laundry by a shallow stream. A boy chasing a chicken.
Mountains loomed far beyond the village like silent guardians, and smoke curled from a few chimneys. The air smelled of woodsmoke, mud, and something vaguely floral.
Ping Dynasty. Ancient world. No running water. No Wi-Fi. No six boyfriends.
And somehow… she was stuck here.
"Alright," she whispered to herself. "Step one: survive. Step two: figure out who tried to off me. Step three: level up, plant crops, get rich."
And maybe along the way… break the curse of being a jinx.
Or at least become so powerful no one would dare call her that again.
By the time the last rays of sunlight had dipped below the jagged mountains, Ye Lianhua had pulled out the straw mat and laid herself down in the corner of the room. Her grandmother had already fallen asleep beside the fire, snoring softly, wrapped in a worn but lovingly patched quilt.
Lianhua stared at the ceiling—wooden beams, full of cobwebs and one suspiciously bold lizard—wondering how the heck she ended up in a place where her neighbors believed peanuts could chase off evil spirits and the village chief probably hadn't bathed in the last month.
She sighed, folding her arms behind her head.
"I'll start tomorrow," she whispered. "Farming. Quests. Investigation. All of it. But tonight…"
She turned on her side and curled up tighter.
"Tonight, I rest and try to understand this crazy place."
[Host has entered Rest Mode. Would Host like to initiate Passive Knowledge Sync?]
"…What now?" she whispered, blinking.
[Passive Knowledge Sync: During Host's rest period, the System can provide historical and world data relevant to survival. Begin?]
"Yes, yes. Download the cheat sheet, System."
A soft blue glow shimmered briefly in the corner of her vision. Like a nightlight, comforting and strangely familiar now.
[Initiating Ping Dynasty World Overview…]
Lianhua closed her eyes, expecting to be lulled to sleep. But instead of soft ambient tones, a clear, robotic-yet-feminine voice filled her mind.
[Welcome to the Ping Dynasty.]
[Note: This dynasty is NOT the Ping Dynasty from Host's modern history books. This is an alternate world with similar naming but separate development.]
She frowned. "I knew it. Fake Ping."
[The Ping Dynasty is currently in its 314th year under the rule of Emperor Mingzhao, the fourth ruler of the Wen Clan lineage. It is a land divided into multiple provinces, each ruled by a governor loyal—or pretending to be loyal—to the Imperial Court.]
A holographic-style map appeared before her closed eyes, showing sprawling mountain ranges, rivers, and cities glowing softly.
[In this world, cultivation is not just a myth—it is the root of power.]
[Spiritual energy flows through the land, and individuals with strong roots may awaken cultivation abilities. These individuals are referred to as Cultivators. They are ranked by realms: Body Tempering, Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and so on.]
Lianhua sat up in the darkness.
"What the heck? So I transmigrated into an ancient world and it has cultivators? Are there flying swords too?!"
[Yes. Host may encounter flying swords, spirit beasts, immortal sects, and demon clans. It is advised not to offend them until Host is stronger.]
She buried her face into the straw mat.
"Of course. Why have one death option when you can have twenty?"
[Please note: the average villager is not a cultivator. Spiritual roots are rare. Most villagers live normal lives, farming and trading. Cultivators often live secluded or in cities, unless they are traveling or serving as protectors.]
"So this village probably doesn't have one of those immortal grandpas hiding in a shed?"
[Probability: Low. But not zero.]
Lianhua groaned. "Fantastic."
[The System has scanned Host's body. Result: latent spiritual root detected. However, activation will require a separate awakening process.]
"…So I'm not useless?"
[Host is… average.]
She gasped. "Excuse me?!"
[Correction: Host possesses a rare, dormant 'Earth Vein Root.' It is compatible with farming-based spiritual energy. This root is usually overlooked due to its slow cultivation growth—but with the assistance of this Farming System, it has high potential.]
"Earth Vein Root?" Lianhua repeated. "So, I grow crops and grow stronger?"
[In simplified terms: Yes.]
She sat upright on the mat, now wide awake.
"Okay, okay. So what else do I need to know? Is this a peaceful dynasty or is there about to be a war over rice grains and magic beans?"
[Current Status: The Ping Dynasty is politically stable on the surface. However, internal court conflicts are rising. Sects are clashing. And rumors of a Demon Cult resurgence have spread in remote regions.]
"…And of course, I landed right before chaos."
[Correct. Congratulations, Host.]
"Thanks, I hate it."
The voice paused, as if letting the sarcasm wash over.
[Additionally, Host's body suffered trauma before transfer. Original Host was pushed off a cliff. It is still unknown who the attacker was.]
"I remember that much," she said quietly, rubbing her temple.
[Memory sync is incomplete, but clues will be revealed as Host explores the area and interacts with familiar individuals.]
"Bai Xuexin," she said aloud. "That white lotus girl. She's definitely hiding something."
[Noted. Suspicion recorded.]
She laid back again, this time with more intent. The straw mat itched, the pillow was more rock than fluff, but her brain spun with everything she had learned.
Earth Vein Root. Cultivation. Demon Cults. A hot mess of a dynasty.
She didn't know how she was going to survive this. But somehow, it was all weirdly exciting.
"Alright," she whispered to the night sky. "Starting tomorrow, it's time to dig. Into the ground—and into secrets."
Just before she dozed off, the system chimed softly.
[Goodnight, Host. Rest well. Tomorrow's quests await.]
And so, under a leaky roof and a thousand unknown stars, Ye Lianhua drifted off—dreaming of giant turnips, flying swords, and slapping Bai Xuexin with a hoe.