Li Shaobai didn't move, not because he couldn't. But because he was under the Shi brat's foot. His eyes stayed half-open, they were cold and terrifying… while his teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked.
He could feel it.
If he exploded right now, ripped that foot off and smashed the kid's skull into the street like a melon, it would feel amazing for exactly three seconds.
Even so, Ling'er would pay for it in the following moments. The system panel hovered in his vision like a taunt, bright as day even though his face was buried in dirt.
DING!
[Series Mission: Ling'er's Kindness]
[Mission: "Being Bullied."]
[Mission Rule: The host must not retaliate.]
[If the host retaliates, the mission fails.]
[Penalty: Ling'er will leave the host permanently.]
Li Shaobai's pupils shrank.
'Leave permanently?The hell does that even mean? Run away? Get taken and sold? Or would the system kill her??'
His expression instantly darkened at that thought. If the system could kill him, a mortal, it wouldn't take that much effort to kill Ling'er.
The system didn't explain either. It never did. It only loved writing the ugliest possible outcome like it was waiting for his reactions.
Li Shaobai inhaled dirt, exhaled rage.
'Fine.'
He could take pain and humiliation. Hell, even a crowd barking at him like hyenas wasn't enough to enter his eyes.
Be that as it may, he wasn't going to let Ling'er become collateral because he couldn't control his temper.
Therefore, he endured like a blade being constantly hammered flat.
The Shi brat laughed louder, grinding his heel harder like he was kneading dough.
"Bark," he said.
Li Shaobai's fingers twitched in the dirt.
"…What?"
"Bark," the kid repeated, voice ebbing with smug cruelty. "If you're a dog, act like a dog."
The crowd ate it up instantly. Someone laughed like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.
Someone else shouted, "Do it! Don't offend Young Master Shi!"
A third voice that was older and uglier said, "That servant girl is pretty. If you want to keep her, then bark!"
Li Shaobai's jaw tightened until it hurt. He closed his eyes and told himself one thing over and over:
'Ling'er is first, surviving is second, and gaining strength is third. I MUST get stronger!'
Then, low and hoarse, he forced the words out.
"Woof."
The street went wild. Even the servants laughed. The Shi brat's eyes lit up like he'd just won the world.
"Louder," he said.
Li Shaobai almost bit through his tongue.
"Woof."
The Shi brat spread his arms grandly, looking at the crowd like he was a hero.
"See?" he said. "Once a dog, always a dog. Li Shaobai will never climb back up even if he had three lives."
He glanced down again, grin widening.
"But I'm still not satisfied."
His hand waved lazily at his servants who then stepped forward.
One of them stomped Li Shaobai's ribs.
Another kicked his thigh. A third pressed a shoe onto his back, grinding like they were wiping mud off.
Even the seductive woman beside the Shi brat giggled and stepped in too, tapping Li Shaobai's shoulder with the tip of her shoe like she was playing.
"Mm," she purred. "Not satisfied either."
Li Shaobai's breath left him in a sharp hiss.
Pain lanced through him.
His mythril skeleton technique reacted instantly, hungrily eating the pain and transforming it into strength.
DING!
[Technique progress: Evolving Mythril Skeleton increased.]
Li Shaobai's eye twitched. 'Of course it increased. The system really has jokes.'
More and more people started joining. Not everyone, though. Just the ones with rotten hearts and weak spines.
Still, it was enough. A foot to his side and a kick to his arm fed his body technique.
Someone stepped on his shoulder and laughed in his ear and spat near his face.
Ling'er screamed until her voice cracked, trying to rush forward, but she was being held back by Manager Si's people.
"Stop! Stop it! Please!" she cried. "He al-already paid! He already—!"
Nobody cared. That was the cruelest part.
Li Shaobai didn't know how long it went on.
He only knew his body was covered in footprints. Even his face, cheeks, and forehead had imprints from shoes and dust.
At some point, the Shi brat finally got bored.
He lifted his foot off Li Shaobai's head like he was stepping away from trash.
He tossed the silver pouch in his hand once and laughed.
"Next time," he said, "teach your dog better."
With that, he walked away arrogantly with the seductive woman on his arm, servants in tow like they were escorting a prince.
The crowd slowly dispersed, still laughing, still whispering.
"Li Clan trash."
"Did you hear him bark?"
"He still dared to keep that pretty servant girl… what a joke."
In the end, only Li Shaobai was left on the ground. He lay there staring up at the sky, chest rising and falling in ugly, heavy breaths. His ribs and jaw hurt.
More than anything, his pride felt like it had been peeled off in public and thrown to pigs to feed on.
Ling'er broke free the moment the crowd thinned enough.
She ran to him and dropped to her knees, hands shaking as she tried to touch him but didn't know where because everywhere looked painful.
"Young Master…" she sobbed. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Li Shaobai's eyes half-lidded.
He forced his arm to move and lightly patted her back like he was calming a child.
"Don't cry," he said hoarsely. "It's fine."
Ling'er shook her head fast, tears pouring.
"It's not fine! It's not fine! Th-they stepped on you like…"
'Like a dog.'
She couldn't say it, but he finished her sentence in his mind.
Her throat wouldn't dare say it.
Li Shaobai swallowed, then gave her a faint, ugly smile.
"If you're crying right now," he murmured, "then all that suffering was for nothing."
Ling'er froze at his exclamation. She stared at him with eyes red and wet, like she didn't understand how he could still smile.
Li Shaobai exhaled. He felt like saying that it was okay, yet that felt like admitting he deserved it.
So, he said something truer.
"I promised you," he said softly, "I won't let anyone bully you."
Ling'er's face crumpled again. Her nose turned sour. Tears slid down harder.
Li Shaobai's chest tightened. He hated that Ling'er had to cry because he was weak.
He hated that this stupid system was forcing him to take that unnecessary humiliation.
And yet…
He didn't regret it because Ling'er was still here.
Ling'er took a shaky breath, then leaned forward. Her hands pressed lightly against his shoulders, trembling.
Li Shaobai blinked, confused.
"Ling'er…?"
She lowered her head to his and kissed him softly. It was a soft, trembling kiss that was both warm and brief, like a little spark trying to keep a dying fire alive.
Li Shaobai was still. His brain went blank for a heartbeat.
Ling'er pulled back, her cheeks burning red, eyes shining through tears.
"I-I'm not scared," she whispered, voice shaking. "As long as you're here, then I won't be scared anymore."
Li Shaobai's throat tightened so hard it almost hurt. He could do nothing but just stare at her, stunned. First, an ice beauty kisses him in her sleep. Now, Ling'er kisses him the very next day?
'Seems like my luck is turning around after all. Two kisses consecutively.'
Just then, the system chimed, crisp and melodious as always.
DING!
[Congratulations. Mission completed: "Being Bullied."]
[Reward: 3000 EXP]
[Reward: 10 Unfair Points]
DING!
[Series Mission completed: "Ling'er's Kindness."]
[Reward: Favorability +20]
DING!
[Ling'er's favorability has reached 90.]
[New function activated: Goddess Subsystem.]
Li Shaobai's pupils shrank.
'Eh? Goddess subsystem? What could that be?'
He glanced at Ling'er who was blushing from the kiss, still holding his sleeve like she was afraid he'd vanish.
'This girl? A goddess? There's no way!'
She was a servant with burned fingers and tired eyes.
The system was insane.
Despite his thoughts, more prompts poured in like a waterfall.
DING!
[The host has received "a blessing" from Ling'er.]
[Reward: Luck +5]
DING!
[Reward: Achievement Point +5]
Li Shaobai's eyes widened so hard his face hurt.
"Five luck?" he croaked.
Ridiculous!
This was the kind of reward that made him feel like the system was trying to gaslight him into forgiving it.
Not to mention, the EXP rewarded.
Li Shaobai focused on the Goddess subsystem and new panel floated up.
[Goddess Subsystem]
Purpose: Displays favorability toward female targets.
Description 1: Favorability 1–30 (Normal), 30–50 (Good), 50–90 (Intimate), 90–100 (Bonded).
Description 2: When favorability reaches 100, the host will receive a special reward.
Current target: Ling'er.]
Li Shaobai's mouth twitched.
"So you're telling me," he muttered, "you're running a favorability scoreboard on my life?"
The system didn't answer.
Ling'er wiped her tears, still blushing like she'd just committed a crime.
"Young Master, I didn't mean to… to k-kiss you," she stammered.
Li Shaobai stared at her for a second, only to let out a sigh and pat her head, awkward but gentle.
"You did fine," he said quietly. "Don't apologize."
Ling'er's eyes trembled. She nodded hard.
Behind them, Manager Si stood near the restaurant entrance with his arms crossed. He'd watched the whole thing.
Li Shaobai's gaze flicked to him, cold.
Manager Si met his eyes and smiled thinly, like he was satisfied with tonight's entertainment.
After Ling'er calmed down, Li Shaobai walked her back into Moon-Scent Kitchen's back area before the street fully emptied.
Auntie Qiu rushed out the moment she saw them. She coun couldn't help eyes from being widened at Li Shaobai's current state; he was bruised and dirtied with hand and foot prints all over.
Thankfully, she didn't ask questions. Her work kept her from knowing what was going on outside on the streets. She just gritted her teeth and pulled them inside.
"You two," she said lowly, voice trembling with restrained anger, "stay in the back tonight. Don't go out again."
Ling'er nodded fast, still holding onto Li Shaobai's sleeve like it was a rope keeping her from drowning.
Li Shaobai sat on a wooden stool, letting Auntie Qiu clean the bruises on his face with warm water.
It stung a bit, but he barely reacted.
His mind was already moving on to other things. He checked his Unfair Points.
He was only at the fifth layer Body Tempering Realm. The Innate Gate Realm was still far enough to feel like a joke.
Li Shaobai stared at his hands.
This place wasn't enough to build strength.
He needed a real danger zone, not a bullying session. Nor will the slaughter of yard chickens be enough. He needed a place with real beasts. A place where EXP didn't come in minuscule amounts.
Starfall Mountain Range.
He'd thought about it before. However, at that time, Ling'er's mission prevented him from going out.
Now, he didn't have a limitation. But, what about Ling'er? If he left her unprotected, the next Shi brat would just come again.
And if the system's warning about "permanent loss" was real…
Li Shaobai's eyes narrowed, not continuing.
Reaching 100 favorability with any of the targets would grant him a "special reward."
He didn't know what it would be.
But he knew one thing:
This system always forced him forward with a knife to the back of his neck.
However, he'd move forward at his own pace if he could help it. So, he stood up, rolling his sore shoulders.
Ling'er noticed his movements instantly. "Young Master, where are you going?"
Li Shaobai's voice was calm, but it had steel now.
"To pack," he said.
Ling'er's eyes widened. "Packing? For what?"
Li Shaobai looked at her, gaze steady.
"I'm going to Starfall Mountain Range," he said. "I can't stay in this city and grind like a rat forever."
Fear flashed across Ling'er's face.
"But, you'll die," she whispered. "People say even Innate Gate Realm experts—"
"I know," Li Shaobai cut in.
Then, softer:
"That's why I have to go."
Ling'er shook her head fast, sadness threatening to return.
Li Shaobai reached out and held her shoulders gently.
"Listen," he said. "You're staying here with Auntie Qiu."
Ling'er's breath hitched. "No…!"
Li Shaobai's gaze sharpened.
"Ling'er," he said firmly, "you can't follow me into the mountains. I'm not bringing you into a beast's mouth."
Ling'er's eyes shook. "But… what if something happens here? What if they come again?"
Li Shaobai's jaw tightened. He glanced toward the front of the kitchen where Manager Si's shadow sometimes moved.
"I'll make sure they don't," he said quietly.
Ling'er didn't look convinced. However, Li Shaobai didn't waste words. He called the system panel up again in his mind and stared at the "Bonded" stage line.
If favorability reaches 100, there's a special reward. He didn't know what it was, but unlocking it was the he needed to quickly do.
It wasn't for romance or some stupid "goddess army" fantasy harem. The rain was for protection and survival.
For a future where Ling'er never has to beg another person for money on his behalf again.
That night, Li Shaobai packed light. He packed a knife, ragged cloak, and some dry food.
He didn't say a dramatic goodbye. Only looked at Ling'er one last time, then patted her head.
"Just stay low and wait for me to come back," he said.
Ling'er's eyes were red, but she nodded hard like she was trying to be strong.
"I'll wait," she whispered. "I'll… I'll work hard too."
Li Shaobai's throat tightened.
"Good," he said.
Before dawn, he left Skybridge City. The city gates were quiet. The road west was empty and the wind carried the cold scent of distant mountains.
After half a day of walking, he finally saw it.
Starfall Mountain Range.
A massive, dark spine stretching across the horizon like a sleeping beast. Just standing at its foot made Li Shaobai's skin prickle. The air felt heavier, wilder, almost as if it had teeth.
Li Shaobai stared at the mountains, eyes narrowing.
"No matter what," he muttered, "I'm leveling up here."
He then stepped forward unceremoniously.
The moment his foot crossed into the outer edge of the range…
DING!
[Novice Benefit Mission force-activated.]
[Objective: Kill 100 wild fur-chickens.]
[Reward: ???]
Li Shaobai froze. He could only laugh bitterly.
"Force-activated?" he muttered. "You really don't believe in consent at all, do you, cheap system?"
He pulled out his butcher knife and looked into the forest like he was staring into a battlefield.
"Fine," he whispered. "Come on, then. Let's see what awaits me."