The sun wasn't even fully up yet, but Willow Brook was already doing its thing. Roosters were screaming like someone stepped on them, kids were running around, and the muddy paths sparkled like they were about to betray someone.
Lin Tianlian lay stretched out under a willow tree, chin on his arms, staring up at the sky like he had absolutely no intention of contributing to society today.
A couple of boys from the neighbor's yard were currently losing a 2v1 against a chicken.
"Get it! It's right there!" one shouted.
The chicken, clearly the raid boss today, sprinted straight into the stream and splashed them.
"You idiot! Now you're wet!"
Tianlian's eyes drifted from the boys… to the chicken… to the water.
A tiny ripple—barely there—shifted against the natural flow of the stream.
"…Huh," he muttered, eyebrow twitching. "Weird."
Before the boys even noticed anything, Tianlian casually flicked a stone with a lazy spin. It landed behind the chicken, making it dodge right back toward the boys.
"Wha—?" one boy spun around, spooked.
Tianlian yawned. "Morning."
Both boys stared like a forest spirit had just joined their party.
"You cheated!" the smaller one yelled.
Tianlian shrugged. "Or maybe you two just suck at catching birds. Strategy, man. Big brain."
The chicken screamed in protest. Probably offended.
---
By the time sunlight hit the rooftops, Tianlian had relocated to the tiny garden behind his house. His father, Li Yingshu, was sorting herbs—carefully, slowly, like they were fragile artifacts instead of very boring leaves.
"Lian'er," his father said. "Come help with these bitterleafs."
Tianlian looked at the pile. Leaves. More leaves. Nothing fun.
He picked one up, sniffed it, then another. His fingers paused for half a second. That subtle curl? That little shimmer? Yeah, that wasn't bitterleaf. That was mountain mint trying to cosplay as bitterleaf.
He sorted everything cleanly and quietly.
"All done."
His father blinked. "…Already?"
Tianlian shrugged. "I memorized it yesterday."
"Then why do you act like you don't care at all?"
"Because if I look too useful," Tianlian said, "you might ask me to do actual work. And I'm twelve. Let me enjoy life."
His father sighed like a man who had absolutely lost control of the situation.
---
Later, Tianlian strolled back to the stream. He crouched and dipped his fingers in the water. The current tugged gently.
A small fish wriggled nearby. But Tianlian wasn't watching the fish — he was watching the water before the fish moved. Those ripples? Too intentional. Too… responsive.
There was energy in the stream. Weak, yes. But real.
"…Nice," he whispered.
His body was small now, yeah. But his mind? Still the same one that had survived a ridiculous number of fights, close calls, and bad life decisions in his past life.
He pressed his palms lightly to the surface. Tiny ripples spread. The energy stirred back, almost like it was poking him.
"Heh. Cute."
From the house, Mei's voice echoed, "Lian'er! Breakfast!"
He waved lazily over his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
---
By mid-morning, the village was awake and chaotic. Merchants bargained. Kids ran around screaming about absolutely nothing. A dog spun in circles chasing its tail like it owed him money.
Tianlian watched it all — movements, habits, patterns. Every little detail. His past-life instincts whispered that this world had layers. Systems. Rules he hadn't cracked yet.
So he practiced small things as he walked.
A fruit basket tipping too far? He nudged it gently at the right millisecond.
An old man almost tripping? Tianlian grabbed his sleeve, steadied him, then disappeared before the man even realized someone helped.
No one ever noticed.
Which was exactly how he wanted it.
Power wasn't for showing off. It was for survival.
And for trolling chickens sometimes.
---
As the sun climbed, Tianlian knelt by the stream again, staring at his faint reflection.
"Tiny body. Big brain," he muttered. "Same me. Different DLC. Alright. Let's see how broken this world's power system is."
Somewhere beyond the hills, something stirred. Watching. Waiting.
But Tianlian had no clue.
He had more important things to focus on.
Like figuring out this world's rules. Testing its limits. And maybe causing a tiny bit of chaos before lunch.