Shen Rong is a reclusive blacksmith from the modern era who possesses no interest in romance or social interaction. He prefers the solitude of his workshop and the completion of his current forging order. His life changes abruptly when he is selected by System 521, a Romance System designed to pair hosts with romantic partners. The system transports him to a parallel world in the year 1348, a time of political turmoil and war. Shen Rong’s mission is to fall in love with the future founding emperor of this world. However, Shen Rong is a man who does not like men or women; he only likes staying home and working with metal. He is deeply frustrated by the system’s intrusion and his forced displacement from his own timeline.
Upon arrival, Shen Rong finds himself in a desolate landscape filled with barren fields and strange odors. The system, No. 521, explains that the timeline is saturated with modern romantic tropes, so it chose a historical figure with top-tier attributes for Shen Rong. The system promises that if Shen Rong completes the mission, he will live like a king in this world. Shen Rong remains unimpressed and attempts to leave, but the system reveals a critical constraint: the world map only activates near the romantic target. Without following the system’s navigation, Shen Rong will be geographically restricted, unable to even find basic necessities like a toilet. Reluctantly, he agrees to follow the guidance, hoping to reach his target quickly so he can return to his forging work.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yuanyao is a squad leader in a military unit fleeing from Prince Liang’s cavalry. His men are exhausted, poorly equipped, and hunted for suicide missions. During their retreat, they take shelter in a ruined temple. One of his men, Chen Liu, is mortally wounded by a poisoned arrow. Xiao Yuanyao makes the cold, pragmatic decision to mercy-kill Chen Liu to prevent him from suffering further or slowing the group down. The remaining soldiers are terrified but loyal. They are surrounded by enemy riders who hesitate to enter the temple due to superstitions about ghosts or divine intervention.
Xiao Yuanyao plans to set fire to the temple to create chaos and escape, but before he can act, an unseen force knocks the cavalrymen from their horses. The enemy retreats in panic, believing the temple is haunted. As Xiao Yuanyao and his men cautiously exit the temple, they discover Shen Rong hanging upside down from the broken roof. Shen Rong had been launched from his spawn point by the system’s navigation error and landed precariously above them. He introduces himself casually, asking for assistance, completely unaware of the dangerous situation Xiao Yuanyao and his men are in.
The encounter marks the beginning of Shen Rong’s forced integration into this turbulent era. Xiao Yuanyao, who is destined to become the founding emperor, is now aware of this strange, pale stranger who appeared during a moment of crisis. Shen Rong, despite his desire to return home and forge blades, must now navigate the political and military landscape of 1348. The system enters sleep mode after the initial connection, leaving Shen Rong to rely on his own wits and the plot points provided earlier. The core conflict arises from the clash between Shen Rong’s mundane, introverted nature and the violent, high-stakes world of war and empire-building. Xiao Yuanyao’s path to the throne is fraught with danger, and Shen Rong’s presence introduces an unpredictable variable into his carefully calculated survival strategies.
As Shen Rong attempts to find his way in this new world, he must deal with the immediate threat of Prince Liang’s forces and the broader chaos of the era. Xiao Yuanyao, though skeptical, cannot ignore the mysterious intervention that saved his squad. The relationship between the two men begins not with romance, but with necessity and curiosity. Shen Rong’s skills as a blacksmith may prove valuable in a time of war, offering him a potential role beyond that of a romantic partner. However, the system’s mission remains active, and the pressure to develop feelings for the future emperor looms over their interactions. The story moves forward as Shen Rong tries to balance his desire for a quiet life with the demands of his mission and the realities of survival in a parallel historical world.
The narrative sets the stage for a journey where Shen Rong must adapt to a life of conflict and politics. Xiao Yuanyao’s rise to power will require alliances and strategies that may involve Shen Rong. The system’s promise of a royal life contrasts sharply with Shen Rong’s current reality of running from cavalry and hiding in ruined temples. The dynamic between the two protagonists is established through this chance encounter, with Shen Rong’s indifference and Xiao Yuanyao’s pragmatism creating a unique foundation for their developing relationship. The story continues to explore how Shen Rong, a man who wants nothing more than to go home, will navigate the complexities of love, duty, and survival in a world that does not want him.
