The Salted Fish Cultivator: My Pet System Awakens

"Lu Tian! Wake up! You can't just nap everywhere!"

Lu Tian groaned and cracked open one eye. Standing over him was Wei Jingyi, hands on her hips, her brows furrowed in exasperation. Around them, students passed by, throwing him curious and judging looks.

"Jingyi…" Lu Tian drawled, shielding his eyes. "Why are you yelling? Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Busy?!" Wei Jingyi almost choked on the word. "You're lying in the grass under the trash incinerator! This isn't 'busy.' This is… disgraceful!"

Lu Tian tilted his head lazily, looking up at the rusted building pipe that periodically spit out smoke and ash above him. He coughed lightly. "Ah, no wonder it was so warm here. I thought I found the perfect napping spot."

"Perfect?! Lu Tian, you're going to be the death of me!" Wei Jingyi grabbed his sleeve and began tugging him up.

"Fine, fine…" Lu Tian sighed dramatically, allowing himself to be dragged up. "You're so persistent. Are you my nanny or something?"

Before Wei Jingyi could retort, a strange, metallic ding! echoed in Lu Tian's mind.

[Initializing… Myriad Astral Guide System activation complete.]

Lu Tian froze mid-step. "Huh?"

Wei Jingyi blinked. "What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Lu Tian spun around wildly, looking left and right. "Who said that?"

"Said what?" Wei Jingyi asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

[Host recognition complete. Welcome, Lu Tian.]

This time, the voice was louder and clearer—a strange, robotic tone that somehow carried an air of smugness.

Lu Tian's eyes narrowed, and he muttered under his breath. "Whoever you are… come out, or I'm taking a nap."

[Your sleeping habits are noted, Host. They're unacceptable.]

Lu Tian blinked. "Huh?"

"Lu Tian, are you okay? You're mumbling to yourself," Wei Jingyi asked, looking increasingly concerned.

"Can't you hear that?" Lu Tian hissed, glancing around suspiciously. "That voice—it's talking to me!"

[Host, focus. I am the Myriad Astral Guide System, and from today onward, I am here to help you reach your full potential.]

Lu Tian felt like someone had punched him in the gut. "A system? I didn't sign up for this!"

[You were automatically selected. Congratulations!]

"Take your congratulations back. I don't want it," Lu Tian said flatly.

"Who are you talking to?" Wei Jingyi asked, waving her hand in front of his face. "Lu Tian, are you sick? Should I take you to the infirmary?"

[Host, rejecting me is not an option. You are now bound to the Myriad Astral Guide System. Failure to comply with issued missions will result in… consequences.]

Lu Tian froze. "Consequences?"

[Severe consequences.]

Lu Tian gulped. "What kind of consequences?"

[You will find out soon enough.]

Before Lu Tian could argue further, a new notification blared in his mind.

[First Mission Issued: Perform 100 push-ups within 10 minutes. Reward: 10 experience points. Penalty for failure: System Pain Calibration Level 1.]

"Wait, what?" Lu Tian's voice shot up an octave. "Push-ups? I refuse!"

[10 minutes remaining.]

Lu Tian's mouth opened and closed like a fish. "Hey, wait—stop the timer! I didn't agree to this!"

[9 minutes, 50 seconds remaining.]

"What's going on?!" Wei Jingyi shouted, trying to get his attention. "Why are you yelling about timers?"

Ignoring her completely, Lu Tian dropped to the ground with a loud thud, positioning himself for a push-up.

"Fine, you mechanical demon! I'll do your stupid push-ups!"

"Lu Tian, what are you doing?!" Wei Jingyi cried, horrified.

"Saving my life, obviously!" Lu Tian hissed.

He completed his first push-up with the grace of a sleepy turtle, grunting with every movement.

"One…"

By the time he reached five, his arms were trembling, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Five… How are people expected to do this?!"

[Effort is necessary for growth, Host. Do not question the system.]

Wei Jingyi watched in disbelief, her face pale. "Lu Tian… have you lost your mind?"

"Not yet, but I'm getting there!" he barked, struggling to push up again.

Around them, more students began gathering, whispering among themselves.

"Is that Lu Tian?"

"What's he doing?"

"Is he… exercising?!"

"I thought the world would end before Lu Tian did something like this!"

Wei Jingyi buried her face in her hands. "This is so embarrassing…"

Lu Tian ignored the growing audience, muttering under his breath as he pushed through. "This system… is pure evil."

[Motivation requires discipline, Host. You'll thank me later.]

"Thank you? I'll curse you!" Lu Tian shot back.

At push-up number thirty, Lu Tian collapsed face-first into the dirt. "I can't… I'm done. Just end me now."

[Penalty activated: Pain Calibration Level 1.]

Suddenly, an electric jolt shot through Lu Tian's body.

"AAAAAAAHHH!"

The scream echoed through the academy courtyard, sending birds scattering into the sky. Wei Jingyi nearly jumped out of her skin. "LU TIAN?! WHAT'S WRONG?!"

Lu Tian lay twitching on the ground, his hair standing on end like a hedgehog's. "It shocked me… it actually shocked me…"

Wei Jingyi's face turned white. "Are you possessed? Do you need an exorcist?!"

[Penalty concluded. Mission timer reset. Continue your push-ups, Host.]

Lu Tian groaned, his eyes burning with hatred. "You… you heartless machine…"

[8 minutes, 30 seconds remaining.]

Gritting his teeth, Lu Tian pushed himself up again. "Fine! I'll do it, you sadistic pile of metal!"

The crowd around him continued to grow, students murmuring louder than before.

"Is this some kind of punishment?"

"Maybe Instructor Zhao finally broke him…"

"I've never seen anything this pathetic in my life!"

At push-up fifty, Lu Tian's face was redder than a tomato, and his limbs felt like noodles. "Why… is this happening to me?"

[Because you need discipline, Host.]

"Who asked for your opinion?!"

Wei Jingyi finally knelt down, shaking his shoulder. "Lu Tian, seriously, what's going on?"

Lu Tian paused long enough to glance up at her. "Jingyi… If I don't survive, tell my parents I regret nothing."

"…You're insane."

"Correction: I'm tortured."

The students watching burst into laughter. Even the most stoic faces couldn't help but crack a smile.

By push-up seventy, Lu Tian was yelling random insults at the system. By push-up ninety, he was muttering prayers. When he finally hit one hundred, he collapsed flat on the ground, unmoving.

[Mission complete. 10 experience points rewarded.]

"Is it… over?" Lu Tian whispered faintly.

[For now, Host. Congratulations on completing your first mission!]

Lu Tian's eye twitched. "I hate you…"

[Hate is a sign of progress.]

Wei Jingyi stared at him in utter confusion. "You… need serious help."

Lu Tian rolled onto his back, glaring at the sky. "How did my life come to this?"

Far above, the system's robotic voice echoed smugly in his head.

[This is only the beginning, Host.]