"Skill Book? What the heck is that? Body Strengthening Liquid, what's that either?"
"The Skill Book is the means by which the Host acquires skills, allowing the Host to gain some rather special abilities. As for the Body Strengthening Liquid, it can improve the Host's physical constitution."
At this point, Xia Ming understood. So that's what these things meant. He had read a couple of novels about systems before, so he had some idea about this.
"Learn."
As Xia Ming uttered the word "Learn," he instantly felt a book appear in his hand. However, as soon as the book appeared, Xia Ming felt it vanish before his eyes.
Next, he felt his mind fill with a vast amount of knowledge about English. Although he had attended university, his English proficiency was only at Level 4 English (CET-4)¹. In today's society, people with Level 4 English could be found everywhere. When the extensive English knowledge entered Xia Ming's mind, he suddenly felt he had acquired deep understanding, even comprehending particularly obscure English terms. This shocked Xia Ming immensely.
Xia Ming eagerly found the nearby computer and opened a foreign website. When he saw the text on it, Xia Ming was stunned.
"It's real! It's actually real! I can actually understand this text."
Xia Ming couldn't imagine that he could truly understand the content displayed. He was merely at Level 4 English(CET-4)¹, having passed by sheer luck after immense effort. He was practically clueless about English. As for the content on these foreign websites, he was usually totally blank, knowing nothing.
But now, he found he could actually understand the text. Most incredibly, the words seemed etched into his brain; a slight thought, and it all flooded out, as if no English on the page could possibly stump him. This wasn't a dream.
Xia Ming tried his best to calm himself down. His ability to handle things psychologically was reasonably good. By now, he had completely accepted everything. He couldn't help but ask.
"System, can you explain in detail what functions you have?"
"Affirmative."
The System's mechanical voice sounded in Xia Ming's mind, just like a machine:
"This System is called the Almighty System. Its meaning is self-evident."
"Within the Almighty System, the Host can acquire multiple skills. The purpose of these skills is to forge the Host into the most awesome all-around person. It can be said that this System is omnipotent, capable of anything..."
Xia Ming started feeling drowsy listening to it. He thought inwardly: This System really knows how to brag. If it keeps going like this, by the time it finishes its introduction, the rooster will be crowing tomorrow morning.
However, Xia Ming picked out some crucial information from the System's introduction, such as Honor Points. Honor Points could be considered equivalent to currency, used for purchasing items in the System Store, making them extremely important.
The System continued its introduction:
"Honor Points allow the Host to participate in the Lottery Draw. Each draw costs the Host one hundred Honor Points. The Host can also exchange Honor Points for desired items, but there's a requirement: only items the Host has previously won in the Lottery Draw will appear in the System Store. In other words, items that haven't appeared cannot be exchanged for by the Host."
"And there is only one way for the Host to obtain these Honor Points: System Tasks. The System will issue tasks based on the Host's actual situation. As long as the Host completes the tasks as assigned, the Host will receive corresponding Honor Points. Different tasks yield different amounts of Honor Points."
Xia Ming finally understood completely. It seemed the things within this System couldn't just be used casually. Honor Points solved this limitation; only by obtaining a large number of Honor Points could he get what he wanted.
"Forgot to tell you, this System will not always be with the Host. If the Host fails to meet the requirements of becoming an all-around person, this System will leave immediately. Furthermore, the Host will undergo Humane Destruction."
"Damn it!... Are you joking?"
"This System never jokes."
Xia Ming immediately deflated. He had originally planned to live a peaceful life, relying on the System to be lazy. It seemed his idea was completely delusional now...
"Then can you leave my body?" Xia Ming couldn't help asking.
"Certainly. The System will now proceed with the Host's Humane Destruction immediately..."
"Wait, wait! We can talk about this!" Xia Ming quickly stopped it. "I don't want you to leave, okay? Can't you just stay?"
Xia Ming felt extremely frustrated. He initially thought the System was a great thing, but it turned out to have compulsory aspects. This left Xia Ming feeling helpless; he knew the System was a rip-off, but there was nothing he could do.
"System, how many Honor Points do I have now?" Xia Ming asked.
"None at all."
"What the..."
Xia Ming asked resentfully, "Can't you just give me some? Look at others; when they get a system, they always get three or four benefits. Look at me, I only got two things after all this trouble. Can't you show some kindness and give me a little more?"
"This System is not that familiar with you."
"..."
Xia Ming knew that hoping to get benefits from the System was out of the question. This left him feeling utterly helpless.
"Hiss..."
Just as he sat down on the sofa and leaned back, Xia Ming couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. He had completely forgotten that his back had been hit and still had a Bloody Imprint. This made Xia Ming's expression darken.
Suddenly, Xia Ming remembered he still had a bottle of Body Strengthening Liquid. He quickly asked, "System, what functions does this Body Strengthening Liquid have?"
"It can strengthen the Host's body, eliminate impurities from the Host's body, and also heal the Host's injuries."
Hearing this, Xia Ming instantly became excited, thinking: How could my luck be this good? I was just worrying about this Bloody Imprint on my back, and now there's a solution.
Thinking this, Xia Ming looked at the Body Strengthening Liquid in his hand. The System had contained it in a clear white bottle, holding a small amount of white liquid. The liquid looked just like clear water, seemingly no different.
Xia Ming paused, opened the bottle, brought his nose to the opening, and sniffed. His brow furrowed, and he said with a strange expression, "Doesn't it have any smell? Is this stuff really effective?"
Xia Ming began to doubt. After all, he didn't know if this thing actually worked. Colorless, odorless – could it be water?
With this thought, Xia Ming couldn't resist swallowing the liquid. After swallowing it, Xia Ming touched his back. Immediately, he drew a sharp breath: "Hiss... Painful..."
Xia Ming instantly felt the liquid was useless. Isn't this a rip-off?
"System, is this stuff any good? Why isn't it working?" Xia Ming couldn't help but complain. "You didn't happen to create Shoddy Goods, did you?"
"Products from this System are guaranteed quality goods. However, this Body Strengthening Liquid is not meant to be drunk..."
"What the heck? Not meant to be drunk? Then how is it used?" Xia Ming was startled and immediately asked.
"It's for Soaking in a bath..."
"You tricked me! Why didn't you say earlier it was for bathing?"
"You didn't ask..." the System replied.
"I didn't ask, so you don't say? Isn't that tricking people?" Xia Ming was actually right; the System did intend to teach Xia Ming a small lesson, letting him know that this System truly existed.
At this moment, Xia Ming asked again, "If someone drinks it, it shouldn't cause any major problems, right?"
As soon as he said it, cold sweat broke out on his head. In his lower abdomen, a ball of heat lingered, refusing to dissipate. This intense heat made his mouth dry and tongue parched, and his face turned as red as a branding iron.
"Brother Chun²..."
Suddenly, these two words appeared in Xia Ming's mind. This made him utterly exasperated. He immediately roared in anger, "Damn you!... You gave me 'Brother Chun'..."
Oh, how Xia Ming regretted it now. Why didn't he ask clearly before consuming this thing? Now look what happened...
...
Early the next morning.
"Ugh."
Xia Ming slowly opened his eyes, but what came out was a string of curses.
"Your Second Maternal Grandmother's!"
Xia Ming was furious. He currently sported a pair of Panda Eyes, looking utterly terrible.
As he was taking a shower, Xia Ming suddenly felt: "Huh, something seems off."
Xia Ming quickly felt his back. He suddenly realized it didn't hurt anymore.
Yes, it didn't hurt. His back wasn't painful anymore.
Xia Ming quickly went to the mirror, turned around, trying to get his back reflected. He looked in the mirror and murmured, "The Bloody Imprint is gone?"
When Xia Ming got hit, it left a Bloody Imprint on his back, clearly caused by congested blood. But after one night, he discovered the Bloody Imprint was gone. Evidently, the Body Strengthening Liquid had worked.
"Let me try again."
Xia Ming thought for a moment, then clenched his fist hard. His knuckles cracked audibly. This gave Xia Ming an indescribable feeling of comfortable ease throughout his body; it seemed his strength had increased significantly too. This astonished Xia Ming.
"This isn't a dream. It's real."
------
Translator's Notes:
¹ The CET-4, or College English Test Band 4, is a national English language test in China designed to assess the English proficiency of non-English majors.
² 春哥 (Chūngē) - Literally 'Brother Chun', often referring to Chinese singer Li Yuchun. Here, used humorously or slangily by the system, likely implying an effect similar to a stimulant or aphrodisiac, causing Xia Ming's uncomfortable reaction.