1: Reincarnation Simulator, Zhang San's Life

"Chuan, you understand the dangers of the secret breathing technique better than anyone. Even if it's to preserve the martial hall, you shouldn't have..."

A lean old man stood by the hospital bed, speaking earnestly to the young man lying on it.

The young man did not speak, his eyes full of confusion, as if his soul had left him.

The old man looked down at the time and sighed, "I'll come see you again later. Don't worry about the matters of the martial hall. Even if I have to break these old bones, I will definitely protect it."

As the old man walked further away, the young man's eyes grew increasingly clear.

"Rebirth? No, it should be Reincarnation, recovering memories?"

After a moment, he finally sorted out the general sequence of events.

Qin Chuan, a transmigrator.

In his previous life, he was hit by a dump truck while saving someone and most likely died on the spot.

In this life, he had been adopted by the old Master of the Mountain Sea Martial Hall since childhood, the old and the young relying on each other for survival.

A few days ago, in order to protect the martial hall, he forcibly cultivated the secret breathing technique, suffering severe injuries and falling into a coma.

Because of this, he also regained the memories of his previous life.

The key point is that along with recovering his past life memories, what also appeared before Qin Chuan was this thing—

[Reincarnation Simulator]

[Player: Qin Chuan.]

[Strength: 3]

[Physique: 3]

[Agility: 4]

[Spirit: 9]

[Reincarnation Tips: None.]

[Available Reincarnation Count: 1.]

[Life Goals Achieved: None.]

Is this something like a System?

Qin Chuan was all too familiar with this—wasn't it just a Transmigration Golden Finger!

Systems take turns, today it's my turn!

The so-called Reincarnation simulation is to project one's consciousness into the myriad worlds, experiencing another lifetime.

Each Reincarnation yields rewards. Achieving specific life goals can even bring unimaginable benefits!

Could this allow him to protect the martial hall?

Pah!

Qin Chuan spat, inwardly cursing himself for being too short-sighted!

Think bigger!

Take the current world, for example. Although it's no different from his previous life in many aspects, there are significant differences in the details.

For instance: news breaks out every now and then about people controlling lightning, spitting fireballs, and even spitting water...

Cough, someone spitting water doesn't seem particularly surprising.

But these people undoubtedly possess certain special abilities. The public calls them Awakened!

Moreover, in recent years, the authorities have been vigorously supporting martial halls and civilian fitness groups for unknown reasons.

Even physical education classes in schools are now valued on par with, or even surpassing, core academic subjects!

PE teachers will never get sick again!

For privately-owned martial halls with business licenses, not only does the government provide substantial funding, but there are also reportedly astonishing benefits!

Under these circumstances, the Mountain Sea Martial Hall, where Qin Chuan and his Master relied on each other, naturally became a target.

Through various means, the situation escalated to the most primitive form of challenge—a martial hall duel.

But Master Qin was old.

This was also why Qin Chuan forcibly practiced the secret breathing technique, resulting in severe injuries.

Unfortunately, he had been weak since childhood, even worse than the average person. Forcibly cultivating was no different from seeking death.

But now it was different!

With this Golden Finger, the [Reincarnation Simulator], everything... might not be without a chance!

Forget just protecting the martial hall. What about matching those Awakened, even with a Mortal body?

Thinking of this, Qin Chuan didn't want to wait in this hospital for a second longer!

[Begin Reincarnation?]

"Yes!"

As he confirmed, the appearance of the hospital room before his eyes suddenly became illusory.

Immediately after, continuous prompts followed.

[Reincarnation selection in progress. Detecting player possesses 'Reincarnation Tips,' 'Reincarnation Bonus,' and other elements.]

[Since the player has not set a 'Target Reincarnation World,' your Reincarnation world this time will be randomly selected from the myriad realms.]

[No relevant 'Reincarnation Tips' detected. No bonus for this Reincarnation. Before the 'Mystery of the Womb' is resolved, you cannot control the reincarnated character.]

[Preparation complete! Connecting to the Dao of Reincarnation, analyzing spacetime rules.]

[Reincarnation complete. You have been born in an unknown world!]

Whoosh—

As the prompt ended, Qin Chuan found himself looking at a dilapidated temple.

As the perspective zoomed in, he saw a group of people dressed in rags.

They sat huddled together, the atmosphere heavy, as if waiting for something.

"Waaah—"

A clear cry, like the dawn's first light, instantly stirred the group.

"It's born! It's born, Old Zhang, a boy!" a woman said to an anxious man beside her.

Hearing this, the man forced a faint smile onto his face.

"Born is good. In these times, sigh... How's A'Cui?"

"A'Cui... fainted. She lost a lot of blood. Don't know if she'll make it."

Hearing this, the man seemed to lose all his vitality, cursing weakly.

"Damn heavens."

In the Void Realm, Qin Chuan watched the scene before him in astonishment.

He was still in a 'third-person observer' perspective.

But that didn't stop him from identifying his reincarnated character.

—Sallow and emaciated, features all scrunched up, looking just like a monkey.

"Isn't this too ugly? Well, all babies look like this. How could I possibly be ugly? Also, how long do I have to stay in this state?"

A moment later, a prompt appeared before Qin Chuan.

['Mystery of the Womb' unresolved. You cannot control the reincarnated character. Would you like to simplify the life progression viewing until the Mystery of the Womb is resolved?]

"Of course simplify!"

—He didn't have the patience to wait.

Moreover, given the current situation, who knew what state his original body in the hospital was in.

[Initiating simplified life progression—]

[Starting Point: Present—0 years old.]

[End Point: Resolve the Mystery of the Womb, or life ends.]

Huh? Qin Chuan keenly caught one of the keywords.

What does 'life ends' mean?

Could it be that even after the reincarnated character dies, the Mystery of the Womb might not be resolved?

That's ridiculous!

Regardless of his thoughts, the journey for this Reincarnation had already begun.

[Age 0: You were born in an era of famine. Automatically acquired identity: Refugee.]

[Age 1: Your mother fell ill due to complications from your birth and died during the journey of displacement.]

[Age 2: The great famine worsened. Corpses littered the land for thousands of li. Your father seemed to be planning to exchange you with another refugee group for a little girl. Not sure what he intended, but he was very hesitant.]

"Hiss—"

Seeing these words and the corresponding scenes, Qin Chuan's expression changed slightly.

Fortunately, the situation he feared—selling children—didn't occur—

[Age 3: A great sage took pity on the people's suffering. He prayed for rain with poetry, and heavy rain poured for three days, alleviating the drought. The Families of Prominence and the authorities distributed relief grain, easing the famine.]

[Age 4: Returned to hometown. Struggled to make a living.]

[Age 5: Struggled to make a living.]

[Age 10: Your relationship with your father was poor. After an argument, you ran away from home.]

[Age 11: You arrived in Yongzhou City and began seeking a livelihood.]

Seeing this, Qin Chuan's expression relaxed slightly.

Just as he thought life was finally getting on track—

[Age 12: You worked successively as an Inn waiter, a butcher's apprentice, and a brothel errand boy. But you felt none of these were the life you wanted!]

[Age 13: By chance, you came into contact with the Black Wind Stronghold outside the city. Amazed, you exclaimed, 'A true man should live like this—drinking wine from big bowls, eating meat in large chunks!' After contact, you chose to join the Black Wind Stronghold—Acquired new identity: Bandit.]

Qin Chuan: Huh? Huh? Huh?

Why did he feel this development wasn't quite right?

[Age 14: After joining the Black Wind Stronghold, you diligently learned swords, spears, and clubs, practicing through the coldest winters and hottest summers.]

[Age 15: You joined the raiding party, robbing passing merchant caravans. Influenced by latent wisdom, you shouted: 'In this life, I Cultivate no virtue, only love killing and arson.' You were dubbed the 'Literary Bandit.']

[Age 16: Pillaging and plundering.]

[Age 17: Pillaging and plundering.]

Watching year after year of pillaging and plundering, Qin Chuan was completely numb.

Is this what Reincarnation is like?

Criminal! So very criminal!

The key was, whether because this was a lawless place or this guy had incredible luck—

Despite encountering numerous dangers on his life's path, he stubbornly survived.

Until—

[Age 33: During a robbery, you encountered a haughty teenager who claimed to be a scion of the Longxi Li Family of Prominence. He demanded you kneel and apologize. You laughed heartily, stripped the kid naked, threw him into the river, and left him to fend for himself.]

Seeing this, Qin Chuan was already accustomed.

He desperately hoped this so-called Reincarnation would just kick the bucket.

Looking at his actions, living was a waste of air!

But this time, it seemed different.

[Age 34: Within a year, someone secretly severed your palm and foot bones, but you could never find the culprit. The Black Wind Stronghold bandits all said you had offended immortals or gods. But you still staggered on, clinging to life.]

[Age 35: One day, while cleaning the latrine, you saw the Black Wind Mountain leader humbly leading a young man to you. It was the teenager you had thrown into the river two years ago. In that moment, you understood!]

"Hahahaha! In this life, I Cultivate no virtue, only love killing and arson. Suddenly, the golden ropes are loosened, here the jade locks are broken. Ah! The tide comes on the Qiantang River—today I finally know, I am me!"

[Mystery of the Womb resolved!]

[Your name is Zhang San, bandit of the Jingzhou Black Wind Stronghold. Please continue your life!]

The next moment, Qin Chuan felt the world spin. The perspective before his eyes suddenly shifted.

Directly ahead was the Black Wind Stronghold leader, bowing and scraping with a fawning, humble expression.

In front of the leader stood a teenager looking down with a disdainful gaze.

Suddenly, Qin Chuan felt the thick stench and the pain from various parts of his body, and understood—

Damn it!

You might as well have just died!

Resolving the Mystery of the Womb just to make me suffer like this?

Unfortunately, events did not proceed according to Qin Chuan's wishes.

The teenager covered his nose, his face full of disgust:

"Hah, 'In this life, I Cultivate no virtue'? 'Literary Bandit'? In your whole life, you only have those two lines. How are you worthy of being chosen by my family as my whetstone? Ridiculous! I, Li Xiurui, am destined to become a sage!"

With that, as if unwilling to spare Qin Chuan another glance, he casually swung his sword!

At that moment, Qin Chuan didn't know where the strength came from.

Although this body's condition was worse than his original one, the vision honed from growing up in a martial hall allowed him to instantly spot the teenager's flaw!

He threw himself to the side with all his might, barely dodging the killing blow.

Then, taking advantage of the opponent's overextension, he clamped the latrine-cleaning shoulder pole under his arm and swung it with force!

*Thwack!*

The heaven-favored prodigy, Li Xiurui, was directly smacked into the cesspit by his shoulder pole.

Li Xiurui was stunned. He looked at the filth submerging half his body and went completely berserk.

"Ah!!! I'll kill you! Die! Die! Die!"

The Black Wind Stronghold leader had already ordered his men to restrain Qin Chuan.

Then, under a barrage of clubs and the venting slashes of the teenager who climbed out of the cesspit—

[You have died!]

[Life Goal 'I Will Become the King of Bandits' not completed.]

[Congratulations, player. Obtained basic reward: Physique +1.]

[One Reincarnation Tip per day. Welcome to play the Reincarnation Simulator again.]

[Friendly reminder: Obtaining 'Reincarnation Tips' can greatly enhance your gaming experience.]