The Peerless Thief

The protagonist, Yan Yuqiong, is a modern-day Confucian thief who steals treasures, not money. At an art exhibition, he gazes at an ancient painting and his soul travels back in time, inhabiting the body of a bookish young boy named Song Zheng. Song Zheng is naturally clever and exceptionally talented, well-read even at a young age, but he's also rigid and dull, often fooled by others and made to suffer undeserved beatings. After Yan Yuqiong takes over his body, little Song Zheng suddenly becomes clever, and his chances of getting beaten drop dramatically. Determined to make his mark in this era, he studies medicine and trains in martial arts. His understanding is so keen that he proves to be a martial arts prodigy, quickly becoming a master. By chance, he discovers the locations of two secret treasure troves belonging to Prince Lu. At the same time, all the factions who know about the treasure begin to move, hoping to claim it for themselves. The Song family's servants are bribed, and Old Master Song is poisoned. Fear and suspicion grip everyone. Keeping his talents hidden, little Song Zheng uses his wits to see through one conspiracy after another and successfully thwart the bandits. Combining the nimble martial arts skills from his previous life with the vast learning of this one, Song Zheng becomes famous far and wide at a tender age, a legendary thief skilled in both letters and arms!