Vincent lay on his enormous, soft bed, his thoughts drifting from Selena to Moretti's eyes, which had burned with a desire to destroy him completely.
He slowly drifted into sleep, but suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his head, startling him awake.
[Daily Task Incomplete: Acquire physical strength beyond that of an ordinary human.]
[Daily Task Incomplete: Qi Meditation for 30 Minutes. Penalty Activated.]
[Transporting to VR Test Dimension: Endurance Trial. Observe and Survive for 10 Days.]
[Failure: Double Physical Daily Task.]
Vincent sat up abruptly, his heart pounding in shock.
"What is this?" he muttered angrily. Before he could curse the system, his surroundings vanished.
Then, a sharp pain tore through his body, as if his bones were breaking. His vision darkened, then returned, but he was no longer in the luxurious room he had claimed as his own.
He stood in the middle of a bustling market, dusty roads crowded with merchants, old carts, and the rich aroma of spices. Wooden buildings with curved roofs lined the streets, silk banners fluttering atop several shops.
'Where the hell am I?' he thought, scanning his surroundings. It was an ancient Chinese city, and everything felt real—he could smell the sweat of passersby and the scent of burning wood from food vendors.
Yet he couldn't move his body or turn his head. Panic crept in as he struggled to move.
Suddenly, a system screen appeared before him.
[Objective: Observe and Survive 10 Days in Li Wei's Body. Learn Endurance and Strategy.]
[Failure: Double Physical Daily Task.]
Vincent tried to speak, to shout at the system, but no sound came out.
Then, he received images from Li Wei's memories, revealing his appearance and identity.
Li Wei was a silk and spice merchant in his thirties, dressed in a blue robe, his neatly tied hair complementing his composed demeanor. Vincent could feel his heartbeat and hear his thoughts, yet he had no control over his body.
The merchant, whose body Vincent now inhabited, walked toward his shop, his mind racing with calculations and plans—sell three rolls of silk, pay the tax, avoid the thugs. His anxiety was palpable, and Vincent could feel it as if it were his own.
Li Wei's shop was small, crammed with wooden crates and fabric. The scent of camphor filled the air. Vincent could see everything and, strangely, understood the language spoken during bargaining. He sensed Li Wei's practiced smile, his calm yet firm rejection of low offers, and the efficiency with which he closed deals.
Then, three rough-looking men entered the shop, one carrying a wooden staff. Their leader, a scar-faced thug, sneered at Li Wei.
"Hey, Li Wei! Pay the protection fee now, or we wreck your store."
Vincent could hear Li Wei's thoughts. 'These thugs again. If I don't pay, I lose my stock.'
He could feel Li Wei's rapid heartbeat, the same tension he had felt when facing Moretti's men.
Li Wei tried to negotiate. "Half now, the rest next week."
The thug laughed and slammed his staff onto the table, cracking the wood. Vincent felt Li Wei's legs tremble, but he was powerless to act.
The thug stepped closer, shoving Li Wei against the wall. "Pay in full, or we smash your face."
Li Wei's mind raced. 'Pay now, find a way to strike back later.'
But before Li Wei could speak, the thug rammed a fist into his stomach. The pain hit Vincent too, making him gasp as if he had been punched himself.
Struggling to breathe, Li Wei pulled a silver coin from his robe and handed it over. The thugs grinned as they took it and walked out.
Li Wei's mind seethed with rage. 'I'll pay them back, but not today.'
Vincent was stunned. Despite everything, the merchant still had the will to survive. If it were him, he might have laughed while killing them with his bare hands.
The rest of the day was spent serving customers, but Li Wei's mind never stopped racing—taxes due tomorrow, his sick wife, the thugs.
Vincent felt the exhaustion in Li Wei's body, his aching legs and empty stomach from barely eating.
When night fell, Li Wei returned to his modest home on the outskirts of town. His wife, Mei, lay in bed coughing violently.
Li Wei's mind filled with worry. 'Medicine is expensive, I need another way.'
Seeing everything unfold, Vincent realized how much easier his own life was compared to Li Wei's struggles. He wanted to help them, but he could do nothing.
[Day 1/10: Survive. Learn Li Wei's Strategies.]
The sharp scent of camphor filled Li Wei's shop. Though it was still early, with the first rays of sunlight slipping through the wooden window slats, the merchant had already opened his store.
The marketplace was coming alive, vendors shouting their offers while the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed through the streets.
Vincent felt Li Wei's sore legs and his gnawing hunger from barely eating last night. He wanted to move, to grab food for himself, but this body wasn't his to control.
Li Wei's mind focused on one thought. 'Taxes today, but Master Chen will demand more. If I don't pay, my shop will be shut down.'
Vincent felt the tension rising. The morning was slow, few customers had arrived. Li Wei's thoughts filled with calculations. 'Chen is corrupt, but I can play him. I have friends in the market.'
Vincent raised an eyebrow within his own thoughts, puzzled by Li Wei's plan.
Soon, a plump man in an official robe entered, flanked by two spear-wielding guards. Master Chen's oily face and greedy eyes barely concealed his thin smile, his long mustache twitching with his smirk.
"Li Wei," he spoke in a high-pitched voice, almost feminine, "Monthly tax payment, please. Three gold coins, plus... a special fee."
Li Wei's mind spiraled with frustration. 'This bastard is asking for a bribe again. Three gold is already too much, now more?'
Li Wei bowed respectfully, his voice soft and deferential. "Master Chen, the three gold coins are ready, but the special fee… this small shop is already struggling to survive."
His mind raced. 'I have to make him fear losing business.' He quickly added, "Other merchants in the market, my friends, could speak to different officials if the costs become too high."