Summary
Highlights
Chu Fan finds himself transported to a chaotic era where the emperor is dead and the world is in turmoil. A small government official, he's left with a group of female prisoners when attacked by a tiger. He discovers a system that grants him abilities or information by touching objects, using his first touch to gain a tiger's strength. He decides to take in the female prisoners, forming his own burgeoning community.
Chu Fan leads the women to an abandoned village, which they begin to clean and repair. He introduces a system of distribution based on labor, sparking some initial resistance from those who cling to their former noble status. However, a transformative experience outside in the cold convinces one of the women, Liu Sisi, to embrace the new rules, becoming an advocate for Chu Fan's authority. Chu Fan appoints Wanqing as housekeeper and Sissy as head of the law enforcement team.
Facing food scarcity, Chu Fan prioritizes agriculture. He obtains moldy wheat seeds and uses his system's 'Vitality' ability to make them germinate overnight, astonishing the villagers and solidifying his position as a leader capable of miracles. The successful growth of crops fills the villagers with hope for self-sufficiency, leading them to work harder to build their new home.
Chu Fan uses his 'Touch' ability on a butterfly, leading him to an abandoned mulberry forest with silkworm cocoons. This discovery allows the villagers to produce silk and new clothes, addressing their clothing needs. With food and clothing secured, a new goal emerges: building proper houses for everyone. Yu Ya, the former Minister of Public Works' daughter, is appointed as the chief designer for the new village.
During her work, Su Cicada is bitten by a highly venomous Jade Hook scorpion, seemingly a fatal injury. Chu Fan, despite her family's medical background deeming it incurable, uses his 'Touch' ability on the scorpion and gains 'Beast Language', allowing him to communicate with and be led to an antidote by the scorpion itself, saving Su Cicada. This event also highlights the need for better village security and resources.
Chu Fan receives a tiger amulet, which, through his system, grants him the 'Beast Control' ability. He tames a wolf, demonstrating the power to command wild animals for labor and defense. This capability promises to solve transportation issues for building materials. He also learns of an approaching caravan, which he plans to use for trading excess mountain goods for essential supplies like iron tools and salt, crucial for the village's long-term development.
Chu Fan successfully trades with the caravan, acquiring vital supplies including salt, iron, cloth, and seeds. He also gains valuable information about a bandit group, Black Wind Village, posing a threat to the region. He then ventures to Guo Village, a hidden settlement known for its salt mines. There, he uses his 'Mine Vein Exploration' ability (gained from touching a skilled local girl) to discover a new, rich salt mine, ensuring a steady supply for his growing community and securing Guo Village as an ally and a defensive outpost.
Back in his village, Chu Fan further solidifies his control over Guo Village, turning it into a consistent source of refined salt and a defensive barrier. He also discovers an iron ore mine, appointing Yu Ya to oversee iron smelting and weapon production. His goal is to train a female army and an armored beast army for defense. Amidst these developments, Chu Fan faces personal challenges as more women in his care, including close confidantes, become pregnant, creating complex dynamics and further entangling his relationships.
Chu Fan receives intelligence about Black Wind Village's impending attack on Guo Village. He decides on a risky preemptive strike, attacking the bandit stronghold directly while the main bandit force is away. With Miss Yueyao commanding the Women's Army and Chu Fan leading his Beast Army, they launch a coordinated assault. Their decisive victory leads to the capture of strategic resources, the rescue of numerous women and artisans, and the expansion of Chu Fan's influence, but also highlights the escalating threats in the region as a larger army is dispatched by the King of Yan.
With abundant grain from their victory over Black Wind Village, Chu Fan initiates wine production using distillation, planning to use it for trade and influence. He also gains the 'Thundering Blade Technique' through his system, enhancing his combat abilities. Amidst these advancements, his growing personal relationships lead to more pregnancies among the women in his care, including Qingqiu, causing tension with Yueyao, who discovers the situation. The village receives intel that the King of Yan is sending a 3,000-strong army to the Bitter Cold Mountains, setting the stage for a major confrontation.
Chu Fan learns that Yueyao has been captured by the Fuhu Army, an elite force dispatched by the King of Yan. He single-handedly infiltrates their camp, rescues Yueyao, and defeats the general, confirming his suspicions about their military might. Upon their return, Yueyao confronts Chu Fan about the numerous pregnancies in the village, leading to a strained personal situation. However, the imminent threat of the King of Yan's army unites them. Chu Fan mobilizes his forces, including strategically placed cannons and his Women's and Beast armies, preparing for a decisive battle to defend his burgeoning domain.