All Heavens and Worlds Starting from the Night Watchman - Chapter 1

Chapter 001: In the Great Feng Prison, Cellmate of Xu Qi’an

The depths of the Great Feng Capital Prison were dark and damp, filled with an unbearable stench of rot.

Lin Qiye slowly opened his eyes. As his vision adjusted, he saw walls made of rough stone bricks surrounding him in pitch darkness. The only source of light was a faint gleam filtering through a crack above his head, barely illuminating the cramped space.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar surge of memories flooded his mind, helping him grasp his current situation.

This was a world called the Great Feng Dynasty, located in the central plains of the Nine Provinces Continent. The dynasty had stood for six centuries, weathering storms and turmoil.

Twenty years ago, a cataclysmic battle erupted at Shanhai Pass. Great Feng allied with the Buddhist sects of the Western Regions to fight against the Southern and Northern demon clans, the barbarian tribes, the Gu clans of the Southern Border, and the Sorcerer God Cult from the northeast. In the end, Great Feng emerged victorious, solidifying its current dominance.

Lin Qiye’s past self had been a lowly beggar, wrongfully accused and imprisoned in this sunless dungeon after taking the fall for someone else.

To make matters worse, he had no idea he was facing a death sentence. The mastermind behind his misfortune had even taken measures to silence him permanently, ensuring the case would be closed for good.

Lin Qiye rubbed his throbbing temples, a sense of absurdity welling up within him.

During a company retreat, he had participated in a role-playing game, drawing the character of a “Night Watchman.” The story had been full of twists and turns, the character’s fate filled with hardship. He had thought it was just a fictional tale.

Yet, against all logic, he had woken up to find himself in this world—as a condemned prisoner with no way out.

“Is this… real?” Lin Qiye murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief and confusion.

At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps shattered the silence. A jailer, clad in black robes and holding a long whip, entered with a bowl of leftover food.

He cast a glance at Lin Qiye, who was huddled in the corner, and barked, “Lin Qiye, time to eat!”

Lin Qiye stood up hesitantly, his hoarse voice filled with uncertainty. “Why am I here? What crime did I commit? And… what year is this? Why are you all dressed like you’re in some kind of play?”

The jailer’s face darkened, a sneer of disdain and irritation flashing in his eyes.

Thinking that Lin Qiye was feigning ignorance to escape punishment, the jailer cracked his whip sharply in the air, sending a chill down Lin Qiye’s spine.

“Hmph! Quit the act! You committed a capital crime, and you dare claim you don’t know what you did? And what year? Obviously, it’s the Great Feng Dynasty! Behave yourself, or you’ll suffer for it!”

With that, he dumped the bowl of food onto the dirt floor, letting the meal mix with the filth. A pack of stray dogs immediately rushed over, fighting over the scraps.

Lin Qiye clenched his fists, his emotions churning.

He knew he had been framed. But in this dark prison, where no one would listen, who would believe in his innocence?

Was he truly doomed to die here?

Just as despair began to take hold, a crisp, mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind, piercing through the darkness like a ray of light:

“Ding! System binding in progress… Binding complete! Newbie task: Survive for three days. Reward: Sword Heart Clarity!”

Lin Qiye froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up with exhilaration.

A system!

He actually had a system! Could he really be the protagonist of a novel?

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down and began examining this mysterious system carefully.

A translucent interface appeared before him, displaying details about his mission and rewards.

A surge of hope ignited in his chest. With this system, perhaps he had a chance at survival.

“Hmph! You want me dead? Not that easy!” Lin Qiye gritted his teeth, determination gleaming in his eyes.

He started formulating a plan—how to use the system and make it through the next three days.

Just then, from the adjacent cell, another prisoner stirred.

Xu Qi’an had also just woken up, mumbling incoherently at first.

“I’m not Xu Qi’an! I’m Yang Ling! I swear, I’m not the criminal you claim me to be…”

His ramblings, filled with strange words that the jailers couldn’t comprehend, made him seem like a madman.

After some time, no one paid him any attention, and he eventually fell silent.

Lin Qiye let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice, “Yang Ling, don’t get worked up. We’re both prisoners here… and both sentenced to death.”

Xu Qi’an jolted in shock, his eyes locking onto Lin Qiye.

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing—why was this man calling him Yang Ling?

Then, as he got a clear look at Lin Qiye, realization struck him.

Wasn’t this his old buddy from work, Lin Qiye?

“Lin Qiye? Why are you here? Is this part of the script for our game?”

Lin Qiye shook his head. “I wish it were just a game. But I have to tell you… this is an entirely different world.”

“I don’t think we’re going back. We might actually be those so-called transmigrators from novels!”

“Ah!” Xu Qi’an collapsed onto the ground, his body trembling. He knew what those words meant.

No way back?

After a long silence, Xu Qi’an finally came to terms with the situation.

Lin Qiye sighed, “Well, since we’re here, we might as well accept it.”

Xu Qi’an frowned and quickly gestured for him to stop. “Hold up. What do you mean, ‘accept it’?”

Lin Qiye let out another sigh. “Because we’re both death row inmates. I was framed, and you… your second uncle was escorting tax silver when it was robbed, leading to the execution of three generations of your family.”

“What?!”

Xu Qi’an was completely dumbfounded.

What kind of terrible luck was this? What kind of absurd situation had he landed in?