Today was the day that would decide the future of Lin Tianren—or rather, the body he had just taken over.
The grand hall of the mayor's mansion shimmered with golden lanterns and floating spirit fire, reflecting off jade pillars and polished marble floors. Nobles whispered in clusters, eyes darting to the young man kneeling at the center. Every gaze was filled with mockery, pity, or curiosity. They had already labeled him: useless, weak, unworthy.
Lin Tianren blinked. The last thing he remembered was dying on Earth… and now, he was here. Inside the body of this so-called "trash noble," whose only fame was being a joke in every noble circle. The whispers confirmed it. Everyone here knew.
"I… am honored to meet you," Lin Tianren muttered quietly to himself, testing the voice that wasn't his own.
A soft but cold laughter rang from the other side of the hall. Mu Yuhan, the mayor's daughter, glided forward. Her silver-black hair fell like a river of moonlight down her back, catching the flickering lantern light. Her posture was perfect. Every step spoke of royalty and authority. Her eyes scanned the crowd, then landed sharply on him.
"I would rather die than marry a man like you," she said plainly.
The hall froze. Gasps spread like wildfire. Some nobles stifled laughter. Some murmured bets—how long would this "useless boy" survive?
Lin Tianren froze as his knees hit the polished marble floor. The rejection had been expected, but the sting of it in reality was sharper than he imagined. He looked at the kingly merchant who claimed to be his father. The man's face was unreadable, like a statue carved from jade. Beside him, the mayor nodded slightly, approving the insult.
This is worse than I thought, Lin Tianren thought. I'm in the body of a weak, ridiculed noble at the engagement ceremony of the town's most formidable young woman. How did I even get here?
And then it happened.
A small, almost imperceptible shimmer appeared before his eyes—a floating screen with faint, golden text:
[Destiny Reversal System Activated]Objective: Survive 30 days.Hidden Mission: Convert all future villainesses in this town into allies/empresses.
Lin Tianren blinked. System?
"Survive 30 days?" he whispered, disbelief lacing his words. Is this some kind of joke?
Mu Yuhan's glare cut through him like a blade.
"Do not touch me. Do not expect mercy. Any misstep, and I will make sure your death is public," she said, her voice calm but lethal.
Whispers rippled through the hall. Nobles exchanged bets. Some laughed under their breath. Some shook their heads in sympathy.
Lin Tianren forced himself to rise, his body trembling slightly under the weight of expectation, fear, and the system's subtle hum in his vision. Alright, he thought. If this body is trash, then I'll have to earn power the hard way. Step by step. No shortcuts.
He met Mu Yuhan's eyes, and for the first time, a spark of determination ignited.
"If you want to see me fail… then surviving this will be the least of your concerns," he muttered quietly to himself.
The candles flickered. Outside, the wind howled. Inside the hall, destiny had just tilted.
And so it began: The Broken Engagement.
The next morning, Lin Tianren woke with a start. His body ached—not unusual, given the rigorous "training" of his original body, but heavier somehow. The room was silent, the only sound the soft rustle of the curtains in the morning breeze.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the weak energy of this body flow unevenly. His eyes caught the golden text shimmering again in front of him:
[Daily Mission Unlocked]Task: Observe the engagement aftermath. Identify three nobles plotting against you. Reward: +1 Perception, +10 Energy.
Lin Tianren exhaled slowly. So this is how it begins. Little by little. I grow.
He dressed quickly, trying not to draw attention. The mayor's mansion was quiet in the early morning, servants whispering nervously, some peeking from behind curtains. Word of his public humiliation had spread overnight. Some laughed quietly. Others shook their heads.
Stepping outside, Lin Tianren felt the town square buzzing. Nobles were already gathering for the post-engagement banquet. And there she was—Mu Yuhan—sitting at the main table like a queen, flawless, cold, untouchable.
That woman… Lin Tianren thought. She is dangerous. But I need her… not now. Not yet. Step by step.
His system pulsed again:
[Mission Hint: Minor Threat Detected]Target: Local bandit attempting to kidnap a noble child.Difficulty: EasyReward: Minor combat skill, +10 reputation
Lin Tianren frowned. Easy? For a body like this?
He quickly assessed the situation. The bandits were few, hiding near the edge of the town. The child was already crying softly, a servant kneeling protectively.
Using quick thinking, Lin Tianren guided the guards subtly—"accidentally" tripping a crate here, knocking a plank there. The bandits panicked. Lin Tianren moved forward, stepping into view for the first time. His fists were clumsy, but he improvised, using the environment to trap the bandits in a corner.
Not bad for a useless noble, he muttered to himself.
The bandits surrendered quickly. The child was saved. The nobles watching from the balcony murmured in surprise—some impressed, others suspicious.
As the sun set, Lin Tianren sat quietly in his chamber, system pulsing once more:
[Mission Complete: Reputation +10, Combat Skill +5, Confidence +5]
He leaned back, finally allowing himself a small smile. Step one had succeeded.
Outside, Mu Yuhan's figure appeared at the balcony. She stared at him, expression unreadable, before walking away. Lin Tianren's chest tightened slightly—but he forced himself to focus on the system's next instruction:
[Next Mission: Identify the family traitor plotting against you within 5 days. Reward: Hidden Secret Skill]
Step by step… little by little… he whispered. I will grow. And I will survive.
The evening breeze carried the faint scent of incense and pine from the mountains surrounding the town. Somewhere in the distance, a beast's roar echoed. Lin Tianren's eyes narrowed.
This world… it will bend to my strategy. And the first empress will be mine to command—but not yet.
The night deepened. The system hummed quietly, as if approving the determination of its new master.
[Destiny Reversal System Active: Mission Queue Updated]
Lin Tianren closed his eyes. Tomorrow, he would step further into this dangerous, unpredictable world.
And this time, he would not be a trash noble.