"Hmm, time to bag myself a lovely wife." Lin Feng said joyfully overlooking the state through his windows and watching the beautiful sun rise. The Child of Destiny System, awakened on his eighteenth birthday, had turned his world upside down.
Its golden screen promised an immortal lineage, rewards for offspring born of love and trust, and a path to eternal life for him and his future family. Now, with 50 Destiny Points and a Charm Enhancing Pill's lingering warmth, Lin Feng trudged toward the Spirit Grove, a rusty shovel slung over his shoulder.
Mei Ling's teasing words from the Partner Selection Ceremony echoed in his mind: "Bring a shovel, not your ego." He grinned, half-nervous, half-excited. The system's task to form a genuine bond with her was his first step, but the spark in her eyes last night felt like more than a task—it felt like a fate.
The Spirit Garden shimmered with morning dew, its air thick with spiritual essence. Rare herbs swayed in the breeze, their leaves glowing faintly under the rising sun. Mei Ling knelt among them, her dark hair tied back, her hands deftly tending a patch of Moonlit Ginseng.
Her fourth-layer Qi Condensation aura pulsed softly, stronger than Lin Feng's, but her focus was on the herbs, not her power. He hesitated at the grove's edge, gripping the shovel tightly like a lifeline. "Don't step on her herbs," he muttered, recalling her warning. The last thing he needed was to ruin his shot before it even began.
"Ding! New Sub-Task: Assist Mei Ling in the Spirit Grove and deepen your bond through shared effort. Don't mess up her plants, Turtle!
Reward: Spirit Herb Cultivation Manual (Basic) + 50 Destiny Points."
Lin Feng chuckled softly at the system's usual jab, his nerves easing a little. He stepped forward, careful not to trample anything, and called out, "Mei Ling! I brought the shovel, like you said. Hope my ego's not too heavy for it."
Mei Ling glanced up, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Turtle, you actually showed up? And with a shovel that looks older than the clan. Planning to dig your own grave or help me out?" She joked but her expression was soft.
He scratched his neck, the Charm Enhancing Pill still lending his words a touch of smoothness. "Help, definitely. I meant what I said last night—about growth and building something lasting. Show me how you make these herbs follow your lead, and maybe I'll learn something unique."
She stood, brushing dirt from her hands, her lips twitching into a half-smile. "Bold words for someone who probably thinks a Spirit Daisy is a weed. Alright, Turtle, let's see if you've got any talent for this. Start digging over there but be careful and do it gently, Moonlit Ginseng doesn't like rough hands."
Lin Feng nodded, eager but cautious, and knelt beside a patch of soil she pointed out. He dug carefully, mimicking her precise movements, but his shovel clipped a nearby herb's root. Mei Ling gasped, half-laughing, half-scolding. "Turtle! That's a Starpetal Sprout, not a weed! You're supposed to nurture life, not murder it!"
His face flushed, but he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry! Guess I'm better at swinging a sword than a shovel. Teach me how to fix it?"
Her eyes softened, and she knelt beside him, guiding his hands to replant the sprout. Their fingers brushed, sending a jolt through Lin Feng's chest "SHE'S CLOSE TOO CLOSE, OH GODS" Lin Feng shouted in his mind, her sweet scent filling his lungs. "Focus, Turtle," she said, her voice teasing but warm. "Herbs need care, like people. If you want to build something lasting, start small just like this."
They worked side by side, her instructions sharp but patient. Lin Feng listened, his usual clumsiness fading as he followed her lead. The system's task felt less like a chore and more like a moment to connect, their shared effort weaving a thread of trust and respect.
As they tended the herbs, Mei Ling spoke of her dream—to cultivate elixirs that could prolong life, maybe even touch immortality. Lin Feng's heart stirred; her dream aligned with his, with the system's promise of Immortal Essence Shards.
"Ding! Sub-Task Progress: Bond strength with Mei Ling increased to 'Moderate.' Keep it up, Turtle, and don't ruin any more plants!"
Lin Feng stifled a laugh, glancing at Mei Ling. "You hear that? I'm not a total disaster yet."
She raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Yet being the key word. Keep digging, Turtle, and maybe I'll let you water the herbs next time."
Their work was interrupted by a sharp voice. "Mei Ling! Why waste your time with the Eternal Turtle?" Lin Wei, a fifth-layer Qi Condensation disciple from the main family, strode into the grove, his silken robe gleaming. His aura pressed against Lin Feng's, heavy with disdain.
"You could join my cultivation group. My father is an elder, he'll get you spirit stones, not rusty shovels."
Mei Ling's eyes narrowed. "Lin Wei, I choose who I work with. Lin Feng's here because he cares, not because he's flashing wealth. Go polish your ego somewhere else."
Lin Wei's face darkened, but he sneered at Lin Feng. "You think you can rise above your trash tier, Turtle? Stay out of my way, or I'll crush you in the clan trials next month." He stormed off, leaving a tense silence.
Lin Feng clenched his shovel, his resolve hardening. "He's wrong about me, Mei Ling. I'll prove it to you, to the clan and to everyone."
She placed a hand on his arm, her touch steadying him. "You don't need to prove anything to him, Lin Feng. Just keep showing up, like today. That's enough for now."
"Ding! Sub-Task Complete: You deepened your bond with Mei Ling and didn't ruin the grove, Congratulations! Reward: Spirit Herb Cultivation Manual (Basic) + 50 Destiny Points."
Lin Feng's heart soared, the system's rewards barely registering in his mind. Mei Ling's words, her trust, were the real victory. After some time he shook his head and focused on his rewards, The manual appeared in his mind, a scroll of knowledge on nurturing spiritual herbs, perfect for learning beside her. His 100 Destiny Points now felt like a stepping stone to their shared dream.
"Alright, i think that's enough for today. But i am really looking forward to working with you again turtle" Mei Ling said her voice warm as she dusted her hands clean with a spiritual water. "I think so too, don't worry Mei Ling next time ill be more careful with the plants" Lin Feng stood up as well.
"Ill be looking forward to it, see you soon turtle" Mei Ling smiled softly and walked away leaving Lin Feng with his thoughts, "I will keep your trust in me protected Mei Ling i swear on my name" He said watching her back till she faded from his view.
Back in his courtyard, under a starlit sky, Lin Feng sat cross-legged, the system screen glowing softly. He called up the Partner Growth Tracker. Mei Ling's tab showed her fourth-layer cultivation, herb mastery, and bond strength now at "Moderate."
The Spirit Herb Cultivation Manual would help him match her skill, maybe even craft elixirs together. He imagined their future together moments of closeness guided by the Dual Cultivation Technique, their Qi intertwining in a loyal, heartfelt union, pushing them toward immortality.
He shook his head and scolded himself "Am i becoming a pervert? NO NO, I am a proud man of culture. Its just another tempering phrase, yes its exactly what it is"
System: ...
Readers: ....
Author: ....
Lin Feng: "BELIEVE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"
The system chimed again like a savior to his image.
"Ding! New Task Unlocked: Train with Mei Ling to refine your Qi and prepare for the clan trials. Don't let that silk-robed punk show you up! Beat his ass.
Reward: Qi Condensation Pill (Low-Grade) + 100 Destiny Points.
Penalty: Kowtow and Destroy your Dantian, cause you DESERVE IT."
Lin Feng gripped his rusty sword, its faint hum echoing his resolve. Lin Wei's threat loomed, but Mei Ling's faith in him was stronger. The Child of Destiny System was his guide, but immortality was a shared dream—for him and mei ling and he'll do anything to achieve that with her and his future wives and future family members.
Their love would be a fortress, unshaken by rivals or storms. He pictured Mei Ling's teasing smile, her hands nurturing herbs, and vowed to stand beside her. Tomorrow, he'd train harder, learn her craft, and deepen their bond—one heartfelt step toward eternity at a time.