System's "Thoughtful" Task? Tang San and Xiao Wu's Unexpected Gains

At the same time, a system notification sounded deep within Lin Jiang's mind.

[ Ding!~ Detected that subsystem-bound user (Ma Hongjun) has successfully completed a task! ]

[ Calculating reward feedback... ]

[ Congratulations, main controller Lin Jiang! Feedback reward obtained: Soul power level increased by one! Item obtained—Soul Ring Age Upgrade Card *1! ]

A pure warm current instantly flowed through his limbs and bones. There was no need for meditation or arduous cultivation; the barrier to the next level silently melted away like ice and snow beneath the sun.

At the same time, a dark golden card with strange ripples of time flowing along its edges and countless tiny annual rings drifting across its surface silently entered his system space.

[ Ding!~ Detected that subsystem-bound user (Yu Xiaogang) has successfully completed a task! ]

[ Calculating reward feedback... ]

[ Congratulations, main controller Lin Jiang! Feedback reward obtained: System-Bestowed Soul Ring *1! ]

Immediately afterward, the second notification brought an even greater shock!

A sphere of light, impossible to describe with any color, seemed to be condensed from pure energy of laws. Countless star vortices slowly revolved within it as it floated at the core of the system space.

It radiated an ancient and majestic aura, carrying a sense of "infinite possibilities" as it quietly awaited his summons.

Oh?

Lin Jiang paused, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The rewards really are handed out at random. The feeling of leveling up while lying down truly is flawless.

His consciousness quickly swept over the two new gains.

The Soul Ring Age Upgrade Card... was certainly practical.

As for that "System-Bestowed Soul Ring"...

System-Bestowed Soul Ring... it sounds rather similar to a God-Gifted Soul Ring.

It grants the greatest age limit one can withstand according to one's physique...

With my current physique... the limit for my third Soul Ring should definitely be far beyond an ordinary thousand-year ring!

I need to break through to Rank 30 as soon as possible!

It's time... to find some new fun for my Tool No. 1 and that little rabbit.

In their respective rooms, the resting Tang San and Xiao Wu were startled awake by cold mechanical voices in their minds at almost the same moment.

In Tang San's room:

[ Godhood System task issued: Prepare a bucket of foot-soaking water at a suitable temperature and bring it to Xiao Wu. ]

[ Task reward: 100 Gold Soul Coins ]

[ Task failure: No penalty ]

[ Time limit: 1 hour ]

Tang San, who had been sitting cross-legged on the bed and trying to drive his frustrations from his mind, abruptly opened his eyes.

The system notification first made him tense instinctively—this bizarre system had always issued tasks that left him utterly embarrassed.

Yet once he heard the task's contents clearly, his taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and he was even overcome with an unbelievable delight!

"Fetching water... for Xiao Wu to soak her feet?"

Tang San murmured to himself, a long-lost, almost gentle light flashing through his eyes.

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins... Th-this system finally issued a somewhat normal task!"

"Could it... could it be helping me? Does it want to use this method to help Xiao Wu and me make up?"

The thought was like sweet rain, instantly extinguishing the anxiety and gloom that had grown in his heart due to Xiao Wu's recent distance.

He could practically picture Xiao Wu's surprised and touched expression when she saw him bringing her hot water.

How considerate was a foot soak! She would surely understand his concern and apology!

"That's right! It must be!"

Tang San was instantly full of motivation. He sprang off the bed, the gloom that had hung over his face for days swept away and replaced by eager attentiveness.

"I need the cleanest bucket. The water temperature has to be just right—not too hot, but not cold either!"

Like a gust of wind, he rushed out of the room, his heart filled with gratitude for the system's "change of heart" and anticipation for repairing their relationship.

Meanwhile, in another room, Xiao Wu was standing before a mirror, absentmindedly combing her soft hair.

The girl in the mirror still seemed to carry traces of the embarrassment from fleeing in panic the night before, as well as an indescribable flutter in her heart.

[ Ding!~ Transformation System task issued! ]

The cold notification made the hand combing her hair tremble slightly.

[ Task: Give the second person you encounter after leaving your room a full-body massage lasting a quarter of an hour. Upon accepting the task, you will automatically receive a massage set and specially formulated essential oil. ]

[ Task reward: Soul power level increased by one! ]

[ Task failure: No penalty ]

[ Time limit: 8 hours ]

"!!!" Xiao Wu's beautiful eyes instantly widened, and even the hand holding her comb froze in midair.

Her soul power... would rise by one level?!

This reward... was too astonishing! And too sudden!

It was completely different from those previous tasks involving concealing her aura or changing into embarrassing outfits!

Her heart pounded wildly as immense temptation mixed with unease brought about by the task's contents.

"I have to... massage someone? For a whole quarter of an hour... their entire body..."

Just imagining that scene made her cheeks begin to burn uncontrollably.

That would be such intimate contact...

"If only I could run into Rongrong or Zhu Qing..."

She prayed instinctively, the images of the two girls flashing through her mind.

If it was another girl, she would still be embarrassed, but at least...

However, just as that thought arose, another tall, upright figure with a faint smile always lingering at the corner of his lips forcefully barged into her mind—Lin Jiang!

She remembered the steady strength when Lin Jiang had wrapped an arm around her waist, as well as that...

That kiss she had somehow placed upon his cheek...

All the images instantly became vivid, bringing intense embarrassment that made even her toes curl slightly and sent her heartbeat racing.

"Why did I think of him..."

Xiao Wu vigorously shook her head, trying to drive that figure away, but the pretty face in the mirror only reddened more thoroughly, like a ripe cherry.

The temptation of raising her soul power by one level was like the sweetest poison.

She needed strength far too badly, whether for self-protection or something else.

"I'll do it!"

She took a deep breath as though she had made an enormous decision, determination flashing in her eyes.

She did not give much thought to why the system was being so "generous" this time, nor did she know that at the distant main control terminal, a certain mastermind had long regarded her as his possession. Naturally, the "reward limit" he offered her was as high as possible.

With a thought, she chose to accept the task.

A faint glow flashed, and an exquisite-looking woven basket appeared in her hands.

Inside were neatly arranged soft white towels, several bottles of essential oils with different effects that gave off refreshing fragrances, and some massage tools whose names she did not know but which felt exceptionally pleasant to the touch.

Carrying the basket, Xiao Wu crept up to her door like a thief. Her ears perked up as she listened carefully to the sounds outside, her heart thumping wildly.

Who would be the first person she encountered? And the second... who would that be?

Xiao Wu took a deep breath, her fingertips trembling slightly as they pressed against the cold doorknob.

Her other hand tightly gripped the woven massage basket, the rich fragrance of the essential oils drifting out in wisps.

She carefully pulled open the door.

Creak—

The gap widened, and the dim light of the corridor spilled in.

Yet in the very next instant, the person she least wanted to see right now was walking directly toward her door with a measure of urgency!