The Salted Fish Cultivator: My Pet System Awakens

The evening air settled around the Lu household as Zhang Wei's loud laughter echoed from the dining room. Lu Tian sighed as he stood by the kitchen sink, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hands dripping with soapy water.

"This is inhumane," Lu Tian muttered under his breath, scrubbing a stubborn dish. "A cultivator shouldn't have to do chores."

"You're not much of a cultivator yet," the system chimed in with a teasing tone, its voice only audible to Lu Tian.

"I didn't ask for your opinion," Lu Tian hissed back, flicking some soap suds as if he could throw them at the system.

In the next room, Zhang Wei's boisterous voice called out, "Brother Lu, you're still washing dishes? At this rate, I might be hungry again by the time you're done!"

"Then you can wash your own plate!" Lu Tian snapped.

Zhang Wei's response was laughter, which only annoyed Lu Tian further.

Wei Jingyi, sitting cross-legged in the living room, glanced toward the kitchen. "Zhang Wei, stop teasing him. He's actually doing something for once."

"Traitor," Lu Tian grumbled under his breath, finishing the last plate with a flourish before slamming it onto the drying rack. "Done!"

As he stepped into the living room, Zhang Wei clapped dramatically. "Well done, Brother Lu. A true warrior of the kitchen."

Lu Tian rolled his eyes and flopped onto the couch beside Wei Jingyi. "What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be home?"

"I was about to leave, but your mother insisted I stay," Wei Jingyi replied, shrugging. "Apparently, she thinks it's too late for me to walk back alone."

"And she doesn't mind Zhang Wei hanging around?" Lu Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She said Fatty can protect me," Wei Jingyi said with a smirk.

Zhang Wei puffed out his chest. "That's right. With me around, no one would dare mess with us."

Lu Tian snorted. "No one would mess with you because they'd mistake you for a wandering mountain spirit."

Zhang Wei clutched his chest in mock pain. "Brother Lu, your words wound me."

Wei Jingyi stifled a laugh as Lu Tian leaned back, closing his eyes. For a brief moment, the house was peaceful.

But peace never lasted long in Lu Tian's world.

---

Later that night, Lu Tian lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day played over in his mind—Zhang Wei's endless teasing, his mother's piercing gaze, and the constant nagging of the system.

"You know," the system began, breaking the silence, "if you actually put in some effort, you wouldn't feel so overwhelmed."

"Effort is overrated," Lu Tian muttered, turning onto his side.

The system sighed. "Then don't complain when things get harder. Speaking of which…"

A sudden ding echoed in his mind, and a screen materialized in his vision.

[New Mission: Complete a basic cultivation routine before sunrise. Reward: 20 experience points. Penalty: Pain Calibration Level 5.]

Lu Tian bolted upright. "What? Why now? I just finished doing dishes!"

"The path to greatness doesn't pause for laziness," the system replied cheerfully.

"What if I just… don't do it?"

"Then I'll recalibrate the pain level to 7."

Lu Tian groaned and rubbed his temples. "You're a menace."

"It's for your own good," the system said, its tone annoyingly upbeat.

---

Half an hour later, Lu Tian stood in the backyard, shivering slightly in the cool night air. Zhang Wei and Wei Jingyi had long since fallen asleep, leaving him alone with the system's unreasonable demands.

"Alright, let's get this over with," he muttered, dropping into a basic horse stance.

The system chirped. "Don't forget to focus your Qi."

"I know how to focus my Qi," Lu Tian snapped, though his efforts were half-hearted at best.

Minutes passed, and his legs began to shake. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he struggled to maintain the pose.

"See?" the system said smugly. "You're already making progress."

Lu Tian gritted his teeth. "Progress feels like torture."

Just as his legs were about to give out, a soft voice interrupted his suffering.

"Lu Tian?"

He looked up to see Wei Jingyi standing at the edge of the yard, her hair slightly disheveled from sleep. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, wrapping her arms around herself against the cold.

Lu Tian straightened up, wincing as his muscles protested. "Uh, just… stretching. You know, for my health."

Wei Jingyi raised an eyebrow. "Stretching? In the middle of the night?"

"Yes," Lu Tian said firmly. "It's very important."

She didn't look convinced but decided not to press the issue. "Well, don't stay out too long. You'll catch a cold."

Lu Tian watched her disappear back into the house, then sighed. "Even she thinks I'm weird now. Thanks a lot, system."

"You're welcome," the system replied cheerfully.

---

The next morning, Lu Tian shuffled into the dining room, his movements stiff and sluggish. Zhang Wei was already there, devouring a plate of steamed buns, while Wei Jingyi sipped a cup of tea.

"Brother Lu, you look like you fought a demon beast in your sleep," Zhang Wei said with a mouth full of food.

"Close enough," Lu Tian muttered, collapsing into a chair.

Wei Jingyi glanced at him, concern flickering in her eyes. "Are you okay? You look exhausted."

"I'm fine," Lu Tian said quickly, avoiding her gaze.

Madam Lu entered the room, her sharp eyes immediately landing on her son. "Tian'er, you're late. I expect you to be more punctual for breakfast."

Lu Tian groaned but didn't argue, knowing it would only make things worse.

As the family ate, Zhang Wei leaned over and whispered, "Brother Lu, what were you really doing last night?"

Lu Tian froze, his chopsticks hovering mid-air. "I told you, I was stretching."

"Sure you were," Zhang Wei said, grinning mischievously.

Wei Jingyi watched the exchange with a small smile, but deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that Lu Tian was hiding something.

As breakfast ended, Madam Lu announced, "Tian'er, your father and I will be away for a few days on business. You're in charge of the house while we're gone."

Lu Tian's eyes widened in horror. "In charge? Me? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Madam Lu's gaze was unyielding. "You'll manage."

Zhang Wei clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Brother Lu. I'll help."

Lu Tian groaned. "This is going to be a disaster."