Vincent lay on his vast, soft bed. His mind wandered from Selena to Moretti's eyes, which had looked at him earlier with an intense hatred, as if wanting to tear him apart.
He slowly drifted into sleep, but suddenly, the system's voice echoed in his head, jolting him awake.
[Daily Task Not Completed: 30-Minute Qi Meditation. Penalty Activated.]
[Transporting to VR Test Dimension: Endurance Test. Observe and Survive for 10 Days.]
[Failure: Double Physical Daily Task]
Vincent sat up abruptly, heart pounding in shock.
"What is this?" he muttered in frustration. But before he could curse the system, his surroundings suddenly vanished.
Then, he felt searing pain tearing through his body, as if his bones were cracking. His vision darkened, then returned, but he was no longer in the luxurious room that had just become his.
He stood in the middle of a bustling market, the dusty streets filled with merchants, ancient carts, and the aroma of spices. Wooden buildings with curved roofs lined the streets, with silk banners fluttering atop some of them.
'Where the hell am I?' he thought, scanning his surroundings. It was a city in ancient China, and it felt so real that he could smell the sweat of workers and the wood burning in food stalls.
But he couldn't turn his head or move his body. Panic crept in as he tried to move.
Suddenly, a system screen appeared before him.
[Objective: Observe and Survive for 10 Days in Li Wei's Body. Study Endurance and Strategy.]
[Failure: Double Physical Daily Task.]
Vincent tried to speak, to yell at the system, but nothing came out.
Then, he received images from Li Wei's memories, showing his appearance and identity.
He stood in the middle of a busy market, the dusty streets filled with merchants, old carts, and the smell of spices. Wooden buildings with curved roofs lined the roads, silk banners hanging above some of them. This was Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, a city known for trade and wealth.
Li Wei was a silk and spice merchant in his thirties, dressed in a blue robe with neatly tied hair. Vincent could feel his heartbeat, hear his thoughts, but he could not do anything.
The merchant he was now inside was walking to his shop, his mind filled with calculations and plans: Sell three rolls of silk, pay taxes, avoid the thugs. His tension was palpable, and Vincent could feel it.
Li Wei's shop was not large, packed with wooden crates and fabric. The sharp scent of camphor filled the air. Vincent could see and, strangely, understand the language he spoke with customers during negotiations. He felt Li Wei smile as he politely but firmly refused low offers, quickly finalizing transactions.
Suddenly, three rough-looking thugs entered the shop, one holding a wooden staff. Their leader, a scarred-faced man, grinned at Li Wei.
"Hey, Li Wei! Pay protection money now, or we'll wreck your shop."
Vincent heard Li Wei's thoughts. 'These thugs again. If I don't pay, my stock will be gone.'
He felt Li Wei's heartbeat quicken, 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 still couldn't do anything.
The thug stepped closer and shoved Li Wei hard against the wall. "Pay in full, or I smash your face."
Li Wei's mind raced. 'Pay now, find a way to strike back later.'
Before he could say anything, the thug drove his fist into Li Wei's stomach. The pain Li Wei felt made Vincent gasp, as if he had been punched himself.
Wincing, Li Wei pulled a silver coin from his robe pocket and handed it to the thug. They accepted it with satisfied grins before leaving.
Li Wei's thoughts burned with anger. 'I'll get back at them, but not now.'
Vincent was a little stunned, seeing how this merchant still had the will to endure despite everything he was facing. If it had been him, he might have already killed them with his bare hands, laughing.
The rest of the day in the shop was spent with Li Wei serving customers, his mind constantly occupied by his troubles: Taxes tomorrow, a sick wife, thugs.
Vincent also felt Li Wei's exhaustion, his sore legs, his empty stomach from skipping meals.
When night fell, Li Wei walked home to his modest house on the city's outskirts. His wife, Mei, lay sick, coughing harshly.
Li Wei's thoughts were filled with worry. 'Medicine is too expensive, I have to find another way.'
Seeing everything before him, Vincent felt his own life in his era was far better than what Li Wei and his wife endured. He wanted to help, but he couldn't do anything.
[Day 1/10: Survive. Learn All of Li Wei's Strategies.]
The strong scent of camphor filled the shop again. It was early morning, sunlight just beginning to peek through the wooden windows, yet the merchant had already opened his shop.
The market was already lively, merchants shouting their offers, the rhythmic sound of horses' hooves echoing everywhere.
Vincent felt Li Wei's legs still aching and his stomach empty from eating only a small bowl of rice last night. He wanted to move, to find food himself, but this body was not his.
Li Wei's thoughts were fixed on one thing: 'Taxes today, but Master Chen will demand more. If I don't pay, my shop is done.'
Hearing this, Vincent felt the tension himself. The morning was still quiet, customers were scarce. Li Wei's mind spun with plans. 'Chen is corrupt, but I can play him. I have friends in the market.'
Vincent raised an eyebrow in his own mind, puzzled by Li Wei's strategy.
Not long after, a plump man in an official robe entered, flanked by two spear-bearing soldiers. Master Chen, his slick face and greedy eyes, smiled thinly, making his long mustache twitch upward.
"Li Wei," he said in a high, almost feminine voice. "Pay your monthly tax. Three gold coins, plus five silver coins for special fees."
Li Wei's mind scrambled. 'This scoundrel is asking for a bribe again. Three gold coins are already hard, let alone more.'
Li Wei bowed respectfully, his voice gentle and courteous. "Master Chen, I have prepared the three gold coins, but the special fee... this small shop is struggling."
His mind spun quickly. 'I have to make him fear losing more.' Then he spoke again, this time faster. "Other merchants in the market, my friends, could speak to higher officials if the fee becomes too high."