A 21st-century engineering student travels back in time to become a poor scholar in ancient times.

Amazingly, there’s a library inside his mind, filled with all kinds of knowledge! Even if he doesn’t become a marquis or prime minister in this life, he’s got to at least become a high-ranking official and have some fun, right?

Facing the rising sun, Edward Thompson made a grand vow and bravely took his first step in this world.

“Stop!”

Atop a tall horse, a stunning woman in fitted attire sized him up carefully, then waved her delicate hand: “Tie him up!”

The fierce bandits behind her surged forward...

On the wedding night, looking at the beautiful woman who pushed open the door... Edward Thompson’s grand vow underwent a slight change.

Holding a top official’s post? So what?

Becoming a marquis or prime minister? Boring!

I want to become the man of the Bandit King!

Volume One: The Talented Scholar of Qing’an

Chapter 1: The Handsome Youth

His eyelashes fluttered a few times, and his eyes snapped open as Edward Thompson awoke from a nightmare.

The first thing he did after sitting up in bed was to look down at his own body... arms were there, legs were there, everything that should be there was there—thank goodness, nothing was missing.

He checked himself up and down, even sneaking a few glances inside his pants before Edward Thompson finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Who would have thought that such a huge provincial library would have such lousy fire safety? With temperatures at thirty-seven or thirty-eight degrees, it was impossible to stay at home, so Edward Thompson just wanted to go to the library for some free air conditioning and maybe read a bit to boost his classiness. Unexpectedly, he fell asleep while reading, and when he finally woke up from the heat, there wasn’t a soul around him.

Everywhere he could see was ablaze, the fire had even spread to the bookshelf next to him. If he hadn’t woken up from the heat at that critical moment, tomorrow’s headlines might have been: “XX Provincial Library Suffers Accidental Fire, Male Reader Perishes in Afternoon Nap...”

Once Edward Thompson realized what was happening, of course he tried to escape immediately. But just as he got up and ran toward the fire exit, a huge bookshelf beside him toppled over. Everything went black, and Edward Thompson lost all consciousness...

In that kind of situation, to not only survive but also have no injuries at all, Edward Thompson silently gave a hundred thumbs up in his heart to the brave firefighters.

So, this must be a hospital, right?

He wondered which hospital it was—how could the bed be so hard? Lying on it was so uncomfortable, and there was even a faint musty smell in the air. Who knows how long it’s been since the sheets were washed... Edward Thompson decided that after he was discharged, he’d leave this hospital a bad review—the user experience was terrible.

Looking around, there were two makeshift beds made from wooden planks, a shabby, almost unrecognizable low table, and a few tattered thread-bound books on the table... not even a TV. This hospital really was run-down... Wait, what’s that on the corner of the table, an oil lamp?

How could this hospital... damn, is this even a hospital!

Just waking up, Edward Thompson was still a bit slow to react, and only now did he realize—this place, how does it look like a hospital at all!

He was a patient, after all, how could they treat a patient like this? A nameless anger rose in Edward Thompson’s heart. He jumped out of bed, didn’t even bother to put on shoes, and ran out barefoot.

...

...

A moment later, Edward Thompson stood by the clear, shallow creek flowing past his own doorstep, looking utterly bewildered.

The creek water was crystal clear, and the reflection of a young man in the water scared away the fish that had been playing there.

The young man in the water had sword-like brows and starry eyes, a handsome and elegant face, fair skin, dressed in a moon-white scholar’s robe, with his hair tied up high—a truly dashing young gentleman. In these troubled times, who knows how many lovestruck girls would be smitten by such a fine young man.

Even Edward Thompson had to admit, this guy was just too good-looking. Edward Thompson stood there staring for half an hour, feeling like he was about to be turned gay.

But the problem was, he didn’t know this stunningly handsome guy at all!

And that wasn’t even the worst part.

What was worse was, this guy was clearly his own reflection!

Edward Thompson patted his own face, and the young man in the water did the same. Edward Thompson frowned, and the handsome brows of the young man in the water furrowed as well. Edward Thompson looked utterly confused, and the young man’s expression in the water looked like he’d just been screwed by a husky...

“Haha, I get it, this is a dream, I must be dreaming!”

Edward Thompson burst out laughing and slapped himself hard across the face, the stinging pain nearly bringing tears to his eyes.

An elderly man with graying hair walked past Edward Thompson with his hands behind his back, staring in shock at Edward Thompson as he laughed and slapped himself, his face full of fear.

“This Li family kid, could it be he’s read himself silly and gone mad?”

Edward Thompson had no time to pay attention to the old man walking past him. In fact, still in a state of extreme shock, he didn’t even notice the old man. After slapping himself a few times and still not waking up from the dream, Edward Thompson finally collapsed weakly by the riverbank.

Not long after, Edward Thompson sat by the river, resting his chin on one hand, eyes dull, staring blankly at the water.

At this moment, he looked very much like a philosopher.

“Who am I?”