Huh?
Jia Xitong was preparing to draw a talisman when she heard the system voice and was momentarily stunned, but upon hearing the trust score increase, she calmed down.
After all, she once managed to raise Shang Yanting's trust level to 65, so an increase of 1 point was nothing.
As the ancients said: One must aim high.
Her goals were: Max out the protagonist's trust level;
Correct the protagonist's erroneous worldview;
Attain freedom quickly;
Become Long Aotian in the Otherworld!
Just thinking about it made her a bit excited.
Currently, she lacked the materials to draw Mixu Talisman, so Jia Xitong took stock of her remaining talismans and their raw materials.
Exploding Talisman was certainly the least, only two newly drawn ones;
Solidification Talisman had the most left, with 93 remaining;
Healing Talisman still had 76 left as Shang Yanting had been using them frequently these past few days.
Among the talisman raw materials, rock ink and vermillion paper were also running low; the only sufficient supply was ink made from explosive turtle and fiery flame wolf blood. Given the current situation, Jia Xitong planned to use all the vermillion paper on this to produce about a hundred pieces.
She opened the "Talismanic Record" to prepare to draw talismans, suddenly realizing that there was extra content in the mid-to-late section known as "Talismanic Records·Treasures of Heaven and Earth".
[Chapter 1: Undetermined Secret Grass]
[Habit: Grows in areas with extremely abundant spiritual energy, coexists with Undetermined Silver Fish. Leaves are broad and thick like palm shape, grows an inch in a hundred years]
[Function: Its fruits can heal foundation damage. Its stalks and leaves are the main material for Undetermined Paper, an excellent talisman paper product.]
[Chapter 2: Undetermined Silver Fish]
[Habit: Resides in areas with extremely abundant spiritual energy, places often have Undetermined Secret Grass. A mature fish is a meter long, carnivorous and aggressive, dies upon leaving the water.]
[Function: Its meat can heal foundation damage. Possesses Mediocre Dragon Bloodline, its dorsal fin condenses essence making it a fine ink material.]
Wow!
Jia Xitong was utterly shocked after seeing this.
The protagonist deserves his title, even the unused things are treasures!
She looked outside, her eyes lighting up at the sight of several Undetermined Secret Grass and Undetermined Silver Fish by the pond.
Right, Shang Yanting had his foundation damaged, unable to cultivate.
In the following days, Jia Xitong planned to pick all the fruits to feed Shang Yanting. Catching fish was a bit more difficult than picking fruits; a moment of inattention could turn the situation from catching fish to being caught.
Although the fish were large, Jia Xitong planned to feed him one fish three times a day.
Initially, Undetermined Silver Fish were easiest to catch. Jia Xitong only needed to place her paw in the water and the fish came up. But as their numbers dwindled, the fish became smarter. Jia Xitong's fishing technique evolved from using paws to her tail, even cutting pieces of dead snake meat outside to lure them.
"Host dear, time to eat fish."
Dragging a fat and strong big fish back, Jia Xitong heard the familiar system voice again.
The protagonist's trust level increased by another point.
For consecutive days, Shang Yanting's trust value frequently increased by one or two points, now it totaled 7 points!
She deftly separated the fish using her paws, then placed the chunks before him.
Shang Yanting was now starting to train his wrists to do small tasks.
He endured the severe pain at the moment, his trembling fingers reaching for the fish chunks before him. Often, halfway through taking them, the chunks would slip from his hand. He would keep trying until he managed to get the pieces into his mouth.
"Wow, host dear is amazing!"
At moments like these, Jia Xitong would lavishly praise him.
Shang Yanting looked at the small beast in front of him.
Its fur was all tangled, one side even balding. All its limbs bore bite marks, and its tail was broken at a third of its length.
He knew it was bitten by the fish.
Even his closest kin had betrayed him for profit, so why was it treating him so well?
"These fish, and those fruits before, all can heal foundations. Outside, each fish and fruit would be priceless."
Once a foundation is destroyed, healing is near impossible.
The kind of medicine that can heal foundations would be coveted by countless people out there.
Once it realizes the things it feeds him daily are treasures, how would it react?
Shang Yanting eagerly and maliciously anticipated the shock and anger of the "system" upon knowing it missed treasures for a useless person and ripping off its facade of friendliness, proving it is no different from others.
"I knew, that's why I told you not to waste it."
Jia Xitong skillfully broke the largest bone of the entire fish, exposing its marrow inside, "You've eaten quite a few, has your body felt any better?"
The face-the-consequences speech exposed bone marrow as pure as jade, seemingly mocking his paranoia.
Shang Yanting was stunned, recovering his speech after a long time, he spoke dryly,
"You gain nothing by staying with me, my current worth... is less than a fish. You have those mysterious means, surely you can find a more powerful master, there's no need to waste all your time on me.
Just go, you are special, I won't resent you."
After speaking, he closed his eyes.
With a bit of relief, yet some resentment and unwillingness.
Jia Xitong was shocked after listening.
Honestly, since Shang Yanting fell off the cliff, this was the most he had spoken!
What a great protagonist, even in dire straits, still thinking of others!
"I won't leave."
Jia Xitong placed her withered paws on the back of his hand, her body gently against him to comfort, "Host dear is super awesome! Maybe you won't believe it, but the whole world revolves around you.
The current adversity is a trial, your future is bright, and there will be many who love and respect you"
Though those people eventually will be wiped out with a snap of your fingers.
But that's the original book.
At least the current Shang Yanting is great.
Must transform the protagonist, later on the Aotian Continent, he claims first, while she claims second.
Jia Xitong snuggled beside him thinking happily, until the puppet's usage time was up and she returned to the Sea of Consciousness.
Shang Yanting watched the little beast lose its strength beside him, its body gradually slanting as it leaned on his arm. For the first time, he reached out his hand, ignoring the searing pain to include the small bear within his range.
He had given it an opportunity.
It chose him.
Within his capabilities, he would give it anything it wanted, but the condition was never to betray him! Otherwise... it will pay for its choice!
Shang Yanting's deep black eyes stared at it intently, his elbows gradually tightened, like a snake outside the cave wanting to crush the fragile puppet, suddenly he quickly released.
The vacant cave was eerily silent, even the sound of Undetermined Silver Fish swimming and snatching food could be heard from the pond.
"Absolutely, don't, betray me!"
A low, suppressed voice quietly resounded, and several Undetermined Silver Fish gathered at the shore scattered in panic.
Elsewhere, Jia Xitong heard the system broadcast, [Congratulations tasker for gaining 50 trust points from the protagonist, current trust value: 57/100]
An instant increase of fifty!
Indeed the protagonist is a big pitiful figure suffering betrayal, lacking in trust! Just one heart-to-heart talk gave her such a large trust boost.
Belief in true love remains.
Jia Xitong sighed and decided to treat him even better in the future!