Chapter One: The Superpowered Traveler

Fang Can was well aware that he possessed supernatural abilities.

Or rather, he was born with an extraordinary talent that set him apart from others.

He named this power "Fortune in Adversity."

Whenever he encountered danger, depending on the severity, his intelligence, endurance, luck, and willpower—all would increase proportionally.

This ability could also be described as "prosperity arising from calamity": first comes adversity, then comes fortune.

He was convinced of his supernatural gift because of countless experiences throughout his life.

When he was just six months old, his parents fed him notorious, low-quality infant formula from a famous brand.

The aftermath was astonishing: three days after the incident, he could walk; five days later, he could speak; within ten days, he was able to communicate fluently, quickly becoming a prodigy renowned in the neighborhood.

In junior high, after a scuffle left him with a shattered right arm, his family won ten million in the lottery that same month.

This windfall allowed the once-struggling household to send Fang Can straight to the best... ICU ward in town.

During high school, despite battling influenza, his academic performance soared by seventy-five points in a single month, reaching the threshold for admission to the prestigious National Beiqing University.

All these incidents solidified Fang Can’s belief that he was indeed a superhuman.

Now, on the cusp of university—at the peak of both mental and physical prowess as a senior in high school—Fang Can woke from sleep to find himself in a desolate alley.

“Have I... traveled to another world?”

Clad in pajamas, Fang Can rubbed his chin, standing in the alley with a hint of frustration.

His old man had left a few million in assets yet to be inherited, and now, without even a single gold coin dropping, he’d ended up transmigrating?

Through the interplay of light and shadow in the alley, Fang Can could glimpse the scene outside.

It was early morning—the sun had barely risen, its rays illuminating the world before him.

He stood before a quaint and ancient town: shops lined cobblestone streets, wooden signboards swayed gently in the breeze.

Outside, passersby wore coarse linen garments reminiscent of those seen in period dramas. The cries of street vendors and laughter from teahouses blended together, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Judging by the surroundings, it seemed to be somewhere in the near-modern era, with technology yet to make its mark.

Pulling his pajamas tighter, Fang Can felt little concern for his current predicament.

After all, he was a superhuman—how could he possibly fail to survive? What was there to fear?

“Though there aren’t any of those systems like in novels...”

Fang Can’s thoughts had barely begun to wander when a harsh shout, sounding like a dialect, rang out from behind: “Hey, short-haired kid, how dare you trespass on our turf!”

“Hmm... Are there others in the alley?” Hearing the voice, Fang Can turned around, puzzled.

He saw five young men, their hair tied haphazardly and clothes mismatched, rising from atop a pile of discarded wooden crates.

Their attire was simple and filthy; even their hair was matted from long neglect, marking them as true bottom-rung street thugs.

Their faces bore the gauntness of chronic hunger.

“Well, look at that—a pretty boy, too.”

As Fang Can turned, the one in the middle, seemingly the leader, squinted his eyes, which resembled those of Li Ronghao.

Not long ago, the five of them had gathered to discuss ways to scrape together enough money to get through the new year.

Now, they suddenly found a short-haired youth in luxurious-looking pajamas appearing in the alley.

Sizing him up, the “Li Ronghao” thug determined the boy was no pampered son of a wealthy family.

His plush, expensive-looking coat was worth at least five taels of silver, his delicate features strikingly handsome, his unusual black short hair, and his bare, fair feet resting on dusty bricks.

“This isn’t some young master—he looks more like a servant who’s fled from a big household. Could he be one of those rabbit boys who serve the rich?”

The leader was certain: no true young lord would shave his hair into such a ridiculous style.

Seeing Fang Can’s calm gaze, the emboldened leader’s eyes grew fierce.

“Kid, if you don’t want to be hauled off to the authorities, hand over anything of value you’ve got.”

“Yeah, and strip off that coat, too,” said the youth with a bulbous nose beside the leader, greed gleaming in his eyes.

That roomy, fine-looking coat would fetch a decent price—enough to get them through winter.

As for whether Fang Can could survive winter after being stripped of his clothes? That wasn’t their concern.

Fang Can paid no mind to their threats.

His attention was fixed on a bone-white, misty virtual frame that had appeared before him—he wasn’t sure when.

Name: Fang Can

Physical: 1.2

Spirit: 1.2

Vitality: 1.0

Innate Trait 1: Fortune in Adversity—The worse your environment, the higher your hidden stats. Misfortune turns to luck! Calamity brings prosperity!

Innate Trait 2: Unyielding Resolve—Only when death is imminent can the true meaning of life be awakened!

Description: None

...

“What is this?” Fang Can wondered, curiosity piqued by the bone-white panel in his vision.

In his eighteen years of previous life, he’d never seen anything like this. Yet, upon transmigrating, it was bestowed upon him, like a character sheet in a game.

In the cold, damp alley, Fang Can’s silence convinced the five thugs he was frightened.

More certain than ever that he was a runaway servant, the leader reached out to strip Fang Can’s clothes.

Seeing the greedy hand pass through the translucent panel toward him, Fang Can felt a surge of annoyance and swung his arm forward.

“Smack!”

The leader withdrew his arm, teeth gritted, the spot bright red.

Stung by pain, now convinced Fang Can was a fugitive, he could no longer restrain himself and prepared to beat him up.

But before he could act, a powerful right leg kicked him straight in the abdomen.

With a muffled groan, the leader was sent sprawling, clutching his stomach in agony.

Watching these “radishes holding a meeting,” Fang Can’s eyes flashed with disdain.

“Just five gutter rats from another world, and you dare try to rob me?”

With that, Fang Can stomped his foot on the fallen thug’s chest and declared, as if it were the most natural thing in the world,

“Since I’m in a good mood, get out of my sight while you still can.”

As the thugs’ gazes grew more dangerous, Fang Can withdrew his foot, then changed his tone:

“Wait—I’ve changed my mind.”

“Hand over everything of value you have. And the five of you, put together another set of clothes for me. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!”