## [Near the Old Well - 3:15 AM]
Master Liu sat cross-legged on the stone, looking like any other homeless beggar. But Chen Wei could see the truth through his Reader's Eyes - this man's cultivation was so high it appeared as question marks.
"Lesson one," Master Liu began. "Most people think changing a story means becoming stronger than the enemies. Wrong. That's protagonist thinking."
Chen Wei sat down across from him, still holding the warm gathering stone. "Then what's the right way?"
"Seven ways to avoid death without disrupting the main plot," Master Liu held up seven fingers. "I learned these through seven failures. Each failure cost me decades and hundreds of innocent lives."
**[New Skill Available: Story Manipulation - Basic Level]**
**[Learning from: Master Liu Tianming]**
**[Prerequisites: Reader's Eyes + Acceptance of consequences]**
"Tell me," Chen Wei said eagerly.
Master Liu smiled. "First way: **Redirect the Threat**. Don't fight the bandits. Make them not want to attack."
"How do you make bandits not want to attack a defenseless village?"
"Simple. Give them a better target." Master Liu's eyes twinkled. "The Crimson Wolf Bandits attack this village because their scout reports it's easy prey with some valuable items. But what if the scout reports something different?"
Chen Wei's mind raced. "You mean... make them think the village is either too dangerous or not worth attacking?"
"Exactly. But it has to be believable. Story worlds have internal logic. Break that logic, and the narrative force will correct itself with worse consequences."
**[Skill Learned: Threat Redirection - Novice]**
**[Effect: Can manipulate information flow to change enemy priorities]**
**[Success Rate: 60% at current level]**
"Second way," Master Liu continued. "**Change the Timing**. The attack happens in three days because of specific circumstances. Change those circumstances."
"What circumstances?"
"The bandits are waiting for the merchant caravan that comes through every month. They plan to rob the caravan and destroy the village as witnesses. But caravans can be delayed."
Chen Wei nodded. "Bad weather, road problems, early departure..."
"Good. Third way: **Substitute the Heroes**. Your brother Chen Hao dies because he's the only one brave enough to fight. But what if there were other fighters?"
"Hire mercenaries?"
"Too expensive and suspicious. Better to reveal hidden strength in existing villagers. Every village has former soldiers, retired cultivators, people with secret pasts." Master Liu pointed toward the village. "Use your Reader's Eyes. Look deeper."
Chen Wei activated his ability and scanned the sleeping village. At first, he saw the same information as before. But when he focused harder...
**[Deep Scan Activated]**
**[Scanning for Hidden Backgrounds...]**
**[Found: 3 Hidden Combat Veterans]**
**[Found: 1 Retired Cultivator]**
**[Found: 2 Former Sect Members]**
"Six people with fighting experience?" Chen Wei whispered. "They've been hiding it?"
"Everyone has secrets. In story worlds, background characters often have more depth than they show. The blacksmith might be a former army captain. The old woman selling vegetables might be an ex-assassin." Master Liu chuckled. "But they won't act unless given proper motivation."
"Fourth way: **Control the Information**. Stories depend on characters not knowing certain things. Change what people know, change how they act."
Chen Wei understood immediately. "If I tell my brother about the attack beforehand, he can prepare instead of being surprised."
"Careful. Tell him directly and he might not believe you. Or worse, he might ask how you know. Better to make him discover the threat naturally."
"Plant evidence of the bandits' plans?"
"Exactly. Fifth way: **Use the Environment**. Story events happen in specific places for specific reasons. Change the place, change the outcome."
Master Liu gestured toward the village. "The bandits attack at dawn when people are sleepy and unprepared. They come from the north path because it's the only route they know. They target the village center because that's where the most valuable buildings are."
"So... block the north path? Move valuable things? Change the village layout?"
"All possibilities. Sixth way: **Exploit Character Patterns**. Every character type has predictable behaviors. Bandits are greedy and overconfident. Village chiefs are responsible but slow to act. Young masters are arrogant but cowardly when truly threatened."
Chen Wei nodded. He'd read about these patterns thousands of times.
"Seventh way, and the most dangerous: **Become the Variable**. Insert yourself into the story in a way that changes everything, but do it subtly enough that you don't become the new protagonist."
"What do you mean?"
Master Liu's expression grew serious. "You could become the hero who saves the village. But then you risk attracting the attention of higher-level threats. The narrative force will send stronger enemies to challenge the new protagonist - you."
"So I have to save everyone without anyone knowing I did it?"
"Now you understand the difficulty." Master Liu stood up slowly. "These seven methods can be combined. The more methods you use together, the higher your success rate. But also the more complex the plan becomes."
**[Advanced Skill Learned: Multi-Method Story Manipulation]**
**[Current Success Rate: 23% (Novice Level)]**
**[Warning: Failure may result in worse outcomes than original story]**
Chen Wei looked at the success rate and felt worried. "Only 23%?"
"You're a beginner. But you have something I didn't have in my first attempts - the Reader's Eyes and advance knowledge. With practice, your success rate will improve."
"What happens if I fail completely?"
Master Liu's face grew dark. "In my worst failure, trying to save one village led to the entire province being destroyed. Seventeen cities burned. Millions died. The protagonist of that timeline became a demon lord seeking revenge against the heavens themselves."
Chen Wei swallowed hard. "And if I do nothing?"
"Twelve villagers die. Your family dies. The protagonist gets his motivation and eventually saves the world. The greater good is served."
"But I can't just let them die."
"I know. That's why you accepted my offer." Master Liu pulled out a small jade slip. "This contains detailed information about the Crimson Wolf Bandits. Their leader, their numbers, their usual tactics. Study it."
**[Information Item Received: Bandit Intelligence Report]**
**[Contains: Detailed profiles of 15 bandit members]**
**[Contains: Attack patterns and preferred strategies]**
**[Contains: Hidden weaknesses and internal conflicts]**
"Thank you, Master Liu."
"Don't thank me yet. I'm sending you into a situation where failure means death or worse. But..." The old master smiled sadly. "I've grown tired of watching good people die for story reasons. If there's even a small chance to change things..."
"I understand."
Master Liu began walking away, then stopped. "One more thing, Chen Wei. Your Reader's Eyes are stronger than you think. Tonight, you only used basic functions. As you cultivate and grow stronger, new abilities will unlock."
"What kind of abilities?"
"The power to see multiple timeline possibilities. The ability to read the 'author's intent' behind story events. Eventually... the power to edit reality directly." Master Liu disappeared into the shadows. "But those abilities come with great danger. Use them wisely."
Chen Wei was left alone by the well, holding the jade slip and the gathering stone. His first cultivation lesson had turned into a crash course in story manipulation.
He looked toward the village where his family slept peacefully. In three days, they would all be dead unless he acted.
"Twenty-three percent success rate," he muttered. "I've read stories where the MC succeeded against worse odds."
But those were stories. This was real life. His real family.
Chen Wei made his decision. He would use all seven methods. He would save everyone.
And he would prove that readers could be heroes too.
---
## [Chen Wei's Room - 4:30 AM]
Chen Wei climbed back through his window just as the first hints of dawn appeared in the sky. His family was still sleeping. He had maybe three hours before his mother woke up to make breakfast.
Time to study.
He sat on his bed and activated the jade slip Master Liu had given him. Information flowed directly into his mind:
**[Crimson Wolf Bandit Gang - Complete Profile]**
**Leader: "Iron Fang" Zhang Kuang**
**[Age: 34]**
**[Cultivation: Foundation Building 2nd Level]**
**[Weapon: Iron Claw Gauntlets]**
**[Personality: Ruthless but pragmatic, fears stronger opponents]**
**[Weakness: Terrified of ghosts and supernatural phenomena]**
**[Background: Former sect disciple, expelled for murder]**
**Second-in-Command: "Blood Axe" Li Shan**
**[Age: 29]**
**[Cultivation: Foundation Building 1st Level]**
**[Weapon: Two-handed Battle Axe]**
**[Personality: Violent, enjoys killing]**
**[Weakness: Becomes reckless when angry, poor stamina]**
**[Background: Deserted soldier, wanted for war crimes]**
The information continued for all fifteen bandits. Chen Wei memorized every detail.
**[Total Bandit Strength: 2 Foundation Building, 8 Qi Gathering, 5 Mortals]**
**[Planned Attack Time: Three days, 5:30 AM]**
**[Attack Route: North mountain path]**
**[Primary Target: Village grain storage and blacksmith shop]**
**[Escape Route: Same path, with stolen goods and captives]**
Chen Wei's mind began forming plans. With his Reader's Eyes, he could see exactly what needed to be changed.
**[Strategy Planning Mode Activated]**
**[Current Resources: Basic cultivation method, gathering stone, bandit intelligence]**
**[Available Time: 2 days, 19 hours]**
**[Allies: Master Liu (hidden support), Family (unaware)]**
"First priority: get stronger," Chen Wei decided. "I need at least Qi Gathering 1st Level to be useful in a fight."
He sat in meditation position, holding the gathering stone, and began his second cultivation session.
**[Cultivation Session 2 - Beginning]**
**[Spiritual Energy: Abundant (Gathering Stone + Dawn Energy)]**
**[Expected Progress: 20% toward breakthrough]**
As spiritual energy flowed into his body, Chen Wei felt his meridians slowly expanding. The Flowing River technique was gentle but steady, like water gradually wearing down stone.
But even while cultivating, his mind worked on the problem.
Method 1: Redirect the Threat. Make the bandits choose a different target.
Method 2: Change the Timing. Delay or advance the attack to when conditions were less favorable for them.
Method 3: Substitute the Heroes. Find the hidden fighters in the village and give them reason to act.
Method 4: Control the Information. Make sure the right people knew the right things at the right time.
Method 5: Use the Environment. Change the battlefield to favor the defenders.
Method 6: Exploit Character Patterns. Use the bandits' personality flaws against them.
Method 7: Become the Variable. Insert himself into the story as a catalyst for change.
"I need to combine all seven," Chen Wei realized. "A single method won't be enough against fifteen bandits."
**[Cultivation Session 2 - Complete]**
**[Progress: 38% toward Qi Gathering 1st Level]**
**[Physical Enhancement: +15% strength and speed]**
**[Spiritual Sensitivity: Improved]**
Chen Wei opened his eyes as sunlight streamed through his window. He could hear his mother moving around in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.
Time to begin implementing his plan.
Step one: Use his Reader's Eyes to identify the hidden fighters Master Liu mentioned.
Step two: Find a way to delay or redirect the merchant caravan.
Step three: Plant evidence of the bandit threat in a way that would motivate the village to prepare.
Step four: Set traps and change the village layout subtly.
Step five: Exploit the bandit leader's fear of supernatural phenomena.
Step six: Find a way to turn the bandits against each other.
Step seven: Position himself as a minor helper rather than the main hero.
Chen Wei smiled grimly. He had 67 hours to save his family and prevent a massacre.
In every cultivation story he'd ever read, the MC would simply get stronger and fight through the problem with overwhelming power.
But Chen Wei was smarter than that. He was going to win this fight before it even began.
"Wei'er! Breakfast!" his mother called from the kitchen.
"Coming, Mother!" Chen Wei called back.
Time to start changing the story.
**[Day 1 of Operation Village Save - Begin]**
**[Success Probability: 23% → 31% (Preparation bonus)]**
**[Status: All methods ready for implementation]**
Chen Wei stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked toward the kitchen where his family waited.
They had no idea that their youngest son was about to rewrite their fate.
**[Chapter 3 Complete]**
**[Next: The Hidden Warriors]**