In "Investiture of the Gods," there are scenes where President Jackson fights a great battle at the Meridian Gate against David Carter, single-handedly faces the feudal lords, and even slays the Marquis of the South with his blade—all while indulging in nightly revelry and being lost in wine and women. Judging from this alone, President Jackson's own strength was indeed extraordinary. But Jessica Bolton knew that even if he could truly possess the courage and might of President Jackson as depicted in the novel, he was still a mortal of flesh and blood, utterly incapable of contending with those immortals whose magical arts defied comprehension. Whether in history or in fiction, the fate of the Shang dynasty was always the same: it would be destroyed by King Wu of Zhou, and the Son of Heaven, Andrew Jackson, would perish in self-immolation.

Since he already knew his future fate, he could not simply live numb and await death.

If this were just an ordinary transmigration or reincarnation, Jessica Bolton would be fully confident that, with his knowledge of science and technology, he could bring about a leap in progress for this backward Bronze Age and establish an invincible and stable regime. However, the greatest enemies he would face in the future were not ordinary humans, but gods, immortals, and demons of immense power, and even sect leaders and sages capable of destroying the world at a whim. How could he possibly resist them?

What path should he take? Every time Jessica Bolton thought about this question, he felt a particular sense of helplessness.

Chapter 3: A Chance Encounter at the Market

If only he hadn't studied that damned mirror back then...

If only the super-brain were still by his side now...

If only he could realize the military and technological advances of the "future" in this era...

If only...

Unfortunately, these were all just "ifs." Just like the fact that he had already been reborn as President Jackson, many things could no longer be undone.

Fate is like rape—if you can't resist, you might as well enjoy it. Otherwise, he could simply follow the example of President Jackson in the book: indulge in wine and women, live a life of debauchery for a few decades, and then casually bury the great nation, perhaps even earning the title of Heavenly Joy Star in the end?

But Jessica Bolton was not someone who muddled through life or wallowed in pessimism. He was unwilling to accept this fate. In his "previous life," the path of scientific research had been fraught with difficulties, yet he always managed to overcome one challenge after another with unwavering will and indomitable spirit, turning the impossible into possible. How could such a person so easily submit to fate?

On this day, feeling troubled, Jessica Bolton took a few attendants with him, dressed simply, and went out for a stroll in the city of Muyi, eventually wandering into the marketplace.

Commerce in the Shang dynasty had already begun to take shape, and both land and water transportation and trade were fairly developed. There was a wide variety of goods in the market, with the most common being bronze handicrafts and pottery. There were also some expensive items, such as silk and pearls from the sea. The currency in circulation was a specially made bronze cowrie. The market was bustling with people coming and going.

At that moment, a commotion arose ahead. The passersby quickly made way as a naked man, carrying a small, frail figure on his back, desperately fled in this direction, pursued closely by more than a dozen burly men. The man seemed quite strong, running fast even with someone on his back, but in his haste, he slipped on a fruit peel and fell to the ground along with the little girl he was carrying. Before he could get up and continue running, the pursuers had already caught up and surrounded the two of them.

"You damned slave! How dare you escape from the manor!" The leader of the group glared fiercely and drew a bronze sword from his waist.

Seeing no way to escape, the naked man could only kneel down. "I did not intend to run away, but my little sister is only eight years old and gravely ill, her life hanging by a thread. I had no choice but to come out and seek a doctor. Please, sir, have mercy!"

The burly man glanced at the little girl, whose eyes were tightly shut and breath was faint, and snorted coldly. "You slaves are as lowly as ants. If you die, you die—it saves food. What right do you have to seek medical treatment? You destroyed the restraints and escaped. According to the rules, your whole family must be executed by dismemberment!"

Dismemberment was a cruel punishment at the time, where a person was chopped into mincemeat. The naked man hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy. "My parents are already dead, only my little sister is left. Please, sir, have mercy and spare my sister. I am willing to return to the manor and accept punishment!"

"Foolish wretch, you still dare to bargain? Since you dared to escape, you both must die! Aren't you a fast runner? Let me chop off your legs first and see how you run again!" As the pitiful siblings were about to be slaughtered on the spot, not a single bystander was willing to step forward to help. Some even looked on with schadenfreude, while most were simply numb.

The burly man grinned viciously and raised his bronze sword to strike, when suddenly a thunderous voice rang out: "Stop!"

The one who shouted was Jessica Bolton. The burly man was startled at first, but when his gaze fell on Jessica Bolton's brown clothes, his surprise turned into a sneer. "I am Brian Brooks, a retainer of Lord Feilian. Who are you to meddle in my business? If you know what's good for you, get lost!"

It turned out that clothing in the Shang dynasty was strictly hierarchical: white was the most prestigious, nobles often wore yellow or red, while the light brown clothes worn by Jessica Bolton signified a low-ranking official or commoner. Thus, the burly man did not take him seriously.

"Insolence!" The attendants from the Prince Shou's residence, seeing their master being scolded by a mere retainer, all shouted angrily, but Jessica Bolton waved his hand to stop them.