No, this wasn't just wrong—this was absurdly wrong.
"Bufan, look at this. What do you see?" Lin Li presented his palm to his deskmate, his tone serious.
"A hand."
"Look closer."
"A poor, lonely hand that's never held a girl's hand, hums out of boredom, and probably regrets following the wrong master," Bai Bufan replied, after some sincere contemplation.
Given his unique status as a system-bound individual, disregarding human life seemed normal, so it was understandable that he felt like smacking Bai Bufan to death.
But he held back, managing a polite smile. "I meant, look at what's on my hand."
Bai Bufan leaned in, examining it with mild curiosity. "A mosquito. So?"
"Exactly! It's just an ordinary mosquito, right?" Lin Li's voice grew more animated.
This creature had nothing in common with a "Blood Crow of Demon Heaven," which had a name that sounded super cool and powerful. From a biological perspective, it was simply an insect belonging to the Diptera order, Culicidae family!
Lin Li had scrutinized it thoroughly. There was nothing unusual about the mosquito's size or physical details.
"Well, maybe not ordinary. It's the hand of a poor soul who's never—" Bai Bufan started his incantation anew, his genius at work.
"Shut up, you snow leopard."
Abandoning the tissue request, Lin Li nonchalantly wiped the Blood Crow of Demon Heaven's "corpse" on Bai Bufan's uniform when he wasn't looking, feeling much better afterward.
The two fell silent as Lin Li turned his gaze out the window, thoughts once again drifting.
But this time, excitement, previously dulled by disappointment, returned to his heart.
Lin Li felt he might finally have figured it out.
The system was supposed to activate once he was transported to the world of cultivation. However, there seemed to have been a glitch, skipping the transmigration part, leaving him still in the modern world.
But the system... well, it looked like it had started up anyway.
Bad news: the system was buggy.
Good news: it could still run, even with a bug.
There was no such thing as a Blood Crow of Demon Heaven in this world, but the system, which held all official authority, decided they existed, so—
Mosquito: I am a mosquito.
System: No, from now on, you are the Blood Crow of Demon Heaven, frequently attacking villagers!
Mosquito: Does that mean I can mutate? Gain cool powers?
System: Well, that's a different conversation…
Understanding dawned, and Lin Li grinned with satisfaction.
Life truly was full of ups and downs and then even more ups.
As long as the rewards kept coming, Lin Li didn't care if the system was working properly.
Besides, given the current situation, mosquitoes were a far easier task than hunting down some mythical Blood Crow.
With these rewards, he would soon become ultra-sensitive to spiritual energy, and then he could genuinely start cultivating in the modern world. The era of him reigning supreme was about to begin!
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
"Why're you grinning so wickedly? Weren't you just in a funk? Are you trying the 'don't laugh' challenge now?" Bai Bufan asked, shifting his chair away from Lin Li's unsettling smile.
As an aspiring cultivator, Lin Li naturally wouldn't stoop to argue with a mere mortal.
Lin Li didn't rush into the quest.
He had already wasted over an hour waiting for the loading screen, and now, evening study hall was almost over. The classroom had gradually become noisier than before, filled with shuffling and whispers.
His desk was by the window, but opening it on the non-corridor side at night in the summer was strictly forbidden because the light would attract hordes of bugs. Outside, all sorts of moths and small insects were already clinging to the glass.
It made sense to wait until he got home to tackle the mission. There was no time limit, so he wasn't in a rush.
For now, he'd bask in thoughts of his glorious future. Now was time for some wishful thinking.
Rubbing his hands together, Lin Li turned to Bai Bufan with a benevolent expression and patted his shoulder. "Bufan, as long as you remain loyal, I won't let you down. From now on, if I get a bite of meat, I'll make sure you get… a sip of broth."
"…What does that have to do with me?"
"Because when I'm sipping broth, you'll have a bowl to wash."
"Such generosity, Master Lin! Even Korean exchange students have better perks." Bai Bufan offered a respectful bow.
"Tell you what, tomorrow's breakfast is on me. I'll bring it, free of charge," Lin Li smirked.
"Master Lin, you've always been my most esteemed Lord Lin." Bai Bufan's eyes gleamed with sincerity. "In that case, I'll take my usual—rice noodle rolls with an egg."
Nansang High School was a boarding school, but Lin Li was a day student.
One common duty for day students was "smuggling" for the boarding students.
Contraband included things like packages, charged power banks, and breakfast.
The school cafeteria wasn't bad; in fact, the food was more than edible and couldn't be used as a weapon, at least. But as the saying goes, home-cooked food always tastes better.
Human potential knows no bounds. Lin Li once smuggled breakfast for fourteen people at once. The campus guard at the gate mistook him for a delivery guy and tried to stop him.
"Dun-dun~~dun-dun-dun~~" The dismissal bell rang, filling the classroom with the sound of students gathering their things.
Lin Li was ready to leave. Telling anyone wanting breakfast to message Bai Bufan, who had his phone, he dashed out of the classroom.
He found his bike by the gate and headed home.
It wasn't too far but not exactly close, either. A leisurely ride would take about fifteen minutes, or ten if he pedaled hard.
[Blood Crow of Demon Heaven killed (2/10).]
The sudden notification made Lin Li freeze for a moment, almost causing a fatal accident. It was true—using the system while biking was as dangerous as texting and driving.
Probably hit another mosquito, he thought, amused. Maybe it'd reincarnate as an actual Blood Crow in the cultivation world.
Lin Li was just chuckling to himself when another system message appeared.
Another one? Did he hit two in a row?
He slowed down and opened the notification.
[On your path to exterminate demons, a shocking secret has emerged! A Hehuan demon lurks nearby, stealing life force and draining spiritual energy! Many cultivators have lost their souls and fortunes to this creature, a crime that must not go unpunished! Though your skills are insufficient, you must not turn a blind eye. Work to eradicate this demon. Sometimes a strategist must step into the lion's den! Even with limited power, if you can alert the Demon Suppression Bureau, they'll clear out the lair.]
[Mission Triggered!]
[Mission 2: Step into the lion's den and expose the Hehuan demon's base.]
[Reward: Physique improvement: Charm Resistance +100%, Internal Yang Energy Concentration +50%; Low-grade Spirit Stones x5; System Currency x200.]
"..."
"Huh?"