Year 903 — Parallel Earth, Planet Terra VVV
Lin Mu awoke from what felt like an endless slumber. His eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing he noticed was the violent rattling beneath him.
He was in a carriage, racing down a rugged path through a dense forest. The wheels jolted so fiercely it seemed the whole contraption might fall apart at any moment.
Before he could fully grasp his surroundings, a torrent of unfamiliar memories slammed into his mind. Pain lanced through his skull, sharp enough to draw tears to his eyes.
When the storm subsided, Lin Mu sat in stunned silence. A single tear slipped down his cheek.
"What a tragic fate…" he muttered, recalling the fragments of the life this body once lived.
The host's father had abandoned all responsibility, leaving behind nothing but debts and disgrace. Those burdens fell on his frail mother, who struggled every day just to survive.
Lin Mu turned his head. Sitting across from him was a woman—her face tired yet warm, her gaze full of worry as she noticed his expression.
"What's wrong, my son?" she asked softly.
"Nothing, Mother," he replied. But inside, his heart burned.
Back on Earth, Lin Mu had been an orphan, never once knowing the comfort of a mother's love. Now fate had granted him a second life—and with it, a mother to protect. He clenched his fists, swearing silently: This time, I will not let anyone harm her.
The carriage jolted harder as they pushed deeper into the forest. Just as Lin Mu steadied himself, a cold, mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[ Danger Detected ][ A group of bandits is lying in ambush half a mile ahead. Host, please proceed with caution. ]
Lin Mu's breath caught. His gaze sharpened, scanning the trees outside.
A system… and danger already?
His blood quickened. Whatever lurked ahead, he was no longer the powerless man of his past life. This time, he would fight back.