Godly Beggar

The day began with a brisk chill in the air, a stark contrast to Jiang Han's warm determination. As he walked to school, the morning sun cast long shadows across the streets of Petraling Jaya, but his mind was already buzzing with the system's latest challenge.

[Daily Mission: Convince someone to share their knowledge with you.]

Reward: Insight Skill (Elementary Level).]

Penalty: Reduced system points (-10) for failure.]

"Convince someone to share their knowledge?" Jiang Han muttered, shaking his head. "Sounds easy, but there's always a catch with you, isn't there?"

[Reflection: Knowledge gained through humility creates lasting impact.]

Jiang Han rolled his eyes. "Humility, huh? Alright, let's see how this plays out."

Physics class was in full swing, and Mr Lim, their stern but brilliant teacher, was walking them through a complex problem involving motion and forces. Jiang Han's pen darted across the page as he tried to keep up, but midway through, he realised his calculations didn't add up.

Hui Qi, seated beside him, was already a few steps ahead, her notes a picture of clarity. Jiang Han hesitated for a moment before leaning over.

"Hey, Hui Qi," he whispered, tapping her notebook lightly. "Can I see how you approached question three? I'm stuck."

She glanced at him, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. "You're asking me for help? That's new."

"Well, even geniuses need a hand sometimes," Jiang Han said, grinning.

Hui Qi rolled her eyes but slid her notebook closer. "Fine, but don't just copy it. Understand it."

As Jiang Han studied her notes, the system chimed softly in his mind.

[Mission Progress: 1/1 Objectives Completed.]

[Reward Unlocked: Insight Skill (Elementary Level).]

A warm sensation spread through Jiang Han's mind as the reward was activated. Suddenly, the concepts that had seemed tangled moments ago began to align. He glanced back at Hui Qi, offering a genuine smile.

"Thanks, Hui Qi. I owe you one."

"Just make sure you don't slow us down in the Olympiad," she replied with a small smile.

The canteen was bustling with activity, and Jiang Han found himself sitting with Derek and Hui Qi, the latter still engrossed in her notes. Derek, on the other hand, was launching into one of his usual rambles.

"So, I heard that the Seladang City team has this physics prodigy who's supposed to be unbeatable," Derek said, gesturing dramatically. "He solved a university-level problem in under two minutes."

Hui Qi didn't look up. "That's an exaggeration. No one's that fast."

"Still," Derek continued, "we've got our work cut out for us. What's the plan, captain?" He turned to Jiang Han with a teasing grin.

Jiang Han paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "The plan is simple: keep improving. We focus on our strengths and cover each other's weaknesses. It's not about being perfect—it's about being better as a team."

Derek nodded. "Fair point. But if we lose, you're buying us lunch for a month."

"Deal," Jiang Han said with a smirk, though his mind was already working on how to avoid that outcome.

After lunch, Jiang Han found himself in the library, scanning the shelves for resources to aid his Olympiad preparation. As he turned a corner, he spotted Chen Xun, who was poring over a thick reference book.

"Chen Xun," Jiang Han said, approaching the table. "Got a minute?"

Chen looked up, his expression wary. "What is it?"

"I noticed you've been quite solid with circuit problems," Jiang Han said. "I'm struggling with some of the tougher ones. Any chance you could help me out?"

Chen raised an eyebrow. "You're asking me for help? Aren't you supposed to be the team's problem-solver?"

Jiang Han chuckled. "Even problem-solvers need solving sometimes. Besides, you're the expert on this topic."

The subtle compliment seemed to work. Chen motioned for Jiang Han to sit and began explaining the concepts in detail. As they worked through the problems together, Jiang Han realised something important: asking for help didn't make him weak—it made him better.

That evening, as Jiang Han reviewed the day's progress, the system chimed with another reflection.

[Reflection: True strength lies in recognising when to seek knowledge from others.]

"Yeah, yeah," Jiang Han muttered, though he couldn't deny the truth in the system's words. His encounters with Hui Qi and Chen Xun had reinforced that collaboration was key to success.

He glanced at the Insight Skill in his system interface, which glowed faintly at the Elementary Level. Though modest, it already enhanced his ability to connect ideas and spot patterns.

"This is just the beginning," Jiang Han thought.

The following day, the team gathered for a mock test in preparation for the Olympiad. The questions were brutal, covering everything from advanced calculus to obscure physics theories.

Halfway through the session, Jiang Han hit a wall. A particularly challenging problem on thermodynamics left him stumped.

He glanced at Hui Qi and Derek, both of whom seemed equally perplexed. Finally, Jiang Han raised his hand.

"Mr Tan," he called out to their adviser, who was observing from the corner of the room. "Can you clarify question five?"

Mr Tan approached, glancing at the question before nodding. "It's about applying entropy principles in a non-equilibrium system. Think about how energy disperses over time."

As Mr Tan walked away, Jiang Han jotted down notes, the explanation sparking new ideas.

The rest of the team looked at him curiously.

"What?" Jiang Han said, grinning. "Sometimes, even the teacher's insight is worth begging for."

The room erupted into laughter, the tension of the test momentarily forgotten.

By the end of the day, Jiang Han felt a renewed sense of purpose. The challenges he faced weren't just about solving problems—they were about learning how to adapt, collaborate, and grow.

As he lay in bed that night, the system offered one final reflection.

[Reflection: Growth requires humility, curiosity, and the willingness to rely on others when needed.]

Jiang Han smiled, letting the words sink in. "Alright, system. Let's keep pushing forward."

With that, he closed his eyes, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him next.

The next morning, Jiang Han arrived at school feeling more determined than ever. The mock test had been a wake-up call, reminding him that even with his system and knowledge, there was still so much to learn.

As he walked to his locker, Hui Qi intercepted him, a book tucked under her arm.

"Morning," she said briskly. "You left this behind after our study session yesterday."

She handed him a notebook, and Jiang Han blinked in surprise. "I didn't even realise. Thanks, Hui Qi. I owe you—again."

"Keep count," Hui Qi replied with a faint smirk. "You're racking up a lot of favours."

Before he could respond, Derek bounded over, his usual grin firmly in place.

"Guys, big news!" he announced dramatically.

"What now?" Hui Qi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"There's a rumour that Seladang City's team is planning to join our district's mock Olympiad next week," Derek said, lowering his voice as if sharing a state secret.

Jiang Han frowned. "Seladang City? Aren't they supposed to be the best team in the state?"

"Exactly," Derek said, his excitement undeterred. "This is our chance to test ourselves against the best!"

Hui Qi looked thoughtful. "If it's true, we'll need to step up our game. Seladang City doesn't just rely on individual talent—they're known for their teamwork."

Jiang Han nodded slowly. "Then that's what we need to focus on—working together, covering each other's weaknesses. If we can do that, we might stand a chance."

During their next Olympiad training session, Jiang Han took charge, guiding the team through collaborative exercises.

"Alright," he said, addressing the group. "We're not just solving problems today. We're learning how to communicate under pressure."

The first exercise involved breaking a complex physics question into smaller parts and assigning each section to a team member. Jiang Han monitored their progress, stepping in to mediate when disagreements arose.

At one point, Derek and Chen Xun clashed over an interpretation of the problem.

"Let's take a step back," Jiang Han said calmly, raising a hand to stop the argument. "Chen, explain your reasoning first. Then, Derek, you can share yours."

The group watched as the two worked through their differences, eventually finding common ground.

"See?" Jiang Han said, grinning. "When we listen to each other, we get better results."

Hui Qi glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Not bad, Jiang Han. You're starting to sound like a real leader."

That evening, as Jiang Han reviewed his notes at home, the system chimed softly.

[Daily Reflection: Leadership is built through empathy, adaptability, and vision. The host is demonstrating all three.]

Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, system. Let's hope it's enough to handle Seladang City."

The looming mock Olympiad felt like a storm on the horizon, but Jiang Han was ready to face it. With his team by his side and his determination growing stronger, he knew they were on the cusp of something great.