Godly Beggar

Jiang Han sat at his desk, his hands trembling under the table. The math test was about to begin. Just yesterday, he would have dreaded this moment. But things were different now. With the Begging System and its strange set of rules, he had tools no one else could imagine.

Still, the thought of "begging" gnawed at his pride. How could he, Jiang Han, a grown man with decades of experience, lower himself to grovel? But the system's warning echoed in his mind:

[Reject and face immediate bodily harm.]

He had already died once. He wasn't about to risk it again.

The teacher walked in, her sharp heels clicking against the floor, and the room fell silent. She dropped a stack of math test papers on the desk.

"Alright, class," she said, adjusting her glasses. "Today's test will be challenging. No shortcuts, no complaints. You have twenty minutes. Let's begin."

As the papers were passed around, Jiang Han's pulse quickened. He had the Legendary Knowledge reward. Numbers, formulas, and concepts danced in his head like second nature. But even with that edge, he couldn't ignore the system's unpredictability.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud snicker from Tan Kang Min, the school's self-proclaimed genius. Kang Min leaned back in his chair, smirking.

"Hey, Jiang Han," he whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "You better start praying. Or better yet, begging. This test is going to crush you."

A ripple of laughter spread through the room.

Jiang Han clenched his fists. He could feel his face burning, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't let Kang Min get to him—not now.

As the test began, Jiang Han scanned the questions. A strange calm washed over him. Each problem felt familiar, the answers clear and precise. His pencil glided across the paper as if guided by instinct.

But just as he was gaining momentum, a loud ding rang in his head.

[System Alert! Situational Mission Triggered.]

Mission: Beg a classmate for help during the test.

Failure to complete will result in the system temporarily locking Legendary Knowledge.]

Reward: Enhanced Calculative Efficiency (+10% Speed and Accuracy for all mathematical tasks).

Jiang Han froze. His pencil hovered over the paper, his mind racing.

"Beg? Now?" he thought, glancing around the classroom.

For a moment, Jiang Han felt trapped. If he didn't beg, he risked losing the edge the system had given him. But if he begged in front of everyone, he'd be humiliated. Kang Min's taunts would only grow worse.

[Reminder: The mission time limit is 5 minutes.]

Jiang Han's jaw tightened. He had no choice.

He looked at Kang Min, who was grinning as he scribbled on his paper. Jiang Han's pride screamed at him to stay silent, but he forced himself to speak.

"Kang Min," he said, his voice low but steady. "Can you… help me with question four?"

The room fell silent. Heads turned, eyes wide with disbelief. Jiang Han, asking for help? The quiet student who barely interacted with anyone was suddenly begging Kang Min for assistance.

Kang Min looked up, his grin widening. He leaned back in his chair, savouring the moment.

"What's that?" he said mockingly. "Did you just… beg me?"

Jiang Han swallowed his pride. "Yes," he said firmly.

Kang Min burst out laughing, slapping his desk. "Oh, this is rich! The great Jiang Han, begging me for help? You know what? Sure, I'll help you. But…"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "If I give you the answer, you have to say 'Kang Min is the smartest person in this class.' Loud enough for everyone to hear."

The classroom erupted in muffled laughter. Jiang Han's face burned, but he kept his composure.

"Deal," he said.

Kang Min scribbled something on a scrap of paper and slid it toward Jiang Han. The answer was wrong—deliberately wrong. Jiang Han knew it immediately.

A wave of frustration hit him, but at that moment, the system chimed again:

[Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Enhanced Calculative Efficiency (+10% Speed and Accuracy for all mathematical tasks).]

A surge of clarity coursed through Jiang Han's mind. Complex equations and advanced concepts clicked into place effortlessly, faster than ever before.

Jiang Han smirked. Kang Min had no idea what was coming.

Jiang Han spent the remaining time calmly completing his test. Every answer flowed effortlessly. By the time the teacher called for papers, he was already triple-checking his work.

"Time's up!" the teacher announced. "Pass your tests to the front."

The students shuffled, groaning and muttering about how difficult the test had been. Kang Min leaned over to Jiang Han as he handed in his paper.

"You're going to regret begging me," Kang Min whispered, a smug grin on his face.

Jiang Han said nothing, his expression unreadable.

The next day, the teacher returned the graded tests. The room buzzed with anticipation as she handed out the papers.

"Tan Kang Min," she said, raising an eyebrow as she handed him his test. "Eighty-seven. Not bad, but I've seen you do better."

Kang Min frowned but shrugged. "Eighty-seven's still better than most of these losers," he muttered.

The teacher moved to Jiang Han's desk. She paused, looking at him with an unreadable expression, before placing the test face down in front of him.

"Jiang Han," she said, her voice softer. "Well done."

Jiang Han flipped the paper over. At the top, written in bright red ink, was a perfect 100.

The classroom erupted in whispers.

"Jiang Han got full marks?"

"No way!"

"Isn't he usually terrible at math?"

Kang Min's jaw dropped. He snatched Jiang Han's paper and stared at it, his face turning red.

"This… This has to be a mistake!" Kang Min stammered.

"It's no mistake," the teacher said. "Jiang Han's answers were flawless."

Kang Min's fists clenched, his humiliation evident.

Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. "Thanks for your help yesterday, Kang Min," he said loud enough for the class to hear. "Your advice really inspired me."

The room burst into laughter. Kang Min glared at Jiang Han, but he couldn't say a word.

After class, Jiang Han walked home, his steps lighter than they had been in years. He had completed his mission, aced the test, and silenced his doubters—all in one move.

"This system is strange," he thought, "but it's giving me the tools to fight back. No one's going to look down on me again."

The future was his to rewrite, and Jiang Han was just getting started.