After spending the entire evening telling stories to the Adeptus Cloud-Borrower Wind-Master, Jiang Ning's mouth and tongue were completely parched.
He only stopped when his voice had become hoarse.
However, it seemed his words had greatly inspired the Adeptus, especially regarding things like water wheels, faucets, and electricity.
In any case, Cloud-Borrower Wind-Master returned to his own abode with great satisfaction, though who knows what he was tinkering with.
The immortal's mountain dwelling had no proper sleeping quarters, so Jiang Ning had to sleep in his clothes.
Fortunately, a warming brazier and blanket flew out from the immortal's abode, saving him from the embarrassment of freezing to death.
Wrapped in the blanket with the small brazier before him, Jiang Ning finally had the leisure to curiously look around.
The immortal's dwelling was at the mountain peak, surrounded by ancient-looking trees. In the center was a lotus pond containing many unfamiliar ornamental fish.
By the pond stood a stone table with several stone stools. As Jiang Ning curled up there, he suddenly remembered - didn't he have a... System?
His eyes lit up.
Could this be his chance to soar to great heights, to punch Archons and kick the Abyss Order? Perhaps with a flex of his mighty frame, he could have beautiful wives falling at his feet.
The young man's youthful hormones were still quite vigorous.
"System, are you there?"
Jiang Ning asked cautiously.
[Yes, yes! Greetings, Host. I am the Villain System, at your service!]
It was an energetic young girl's voice, somewhat lively and bouncy.
"Villain System?"
Jiang Ning was stunned.
[Yes, my grades weren't good enough at the System Training Base, so I was transferred to the Villain Academy]
The System's voice sounded somewhat foolish.
Jiang Ning fell silent.
Having read all sorts of novels, he had an ominous premonition:
"Which... training base did you graduate from?"
[The CatHead Training Systems! I wanted to go to the FL Training Systems, but my test scores weren't high enough, so I could only go to CatHead!]
The System's voice was somewhat embarrassed.
Jiang Ning fell silent again.
CatHead Systems were notorious, mainly known for being useless and clinging to their hosts' coattails.
"Tell me what exactly is a Villain System? What use is it?"
Jiang Ning could only make the best of a bad situation.
After all, there were a few reliable systems out there... hopefully his would be one of them.
[It's simple! I give tasks to the Host, the Host completes them to become stronger, and we raise you to become a great villain!]
"But I don't want to be a villain!"
Jiang Ning gritted his teeth.
What young man doesn't want to be a hero? Yet you're telling me I'm destined to be a villain?
[I can't do anything about that, it's in the examination requirements, I can't resolve it]
Jiang Ning had a headache:
"Fine... we'll discuss this later. What about the beginner's gift package? You must at least have that, right? You can't expect me to be a villain without any abilities?"
[Yes, yes! Please wait a moment, sending beginner's package now!]
[Please check your receipt. Also, Host, when talking to me in the future, you only need to think in your mind! Opening packages, submitting tasks, etc., can all be done through thoughts!]
Jiang Ning nodded slightly and thought:
"Open package!"
[Congratulations Host on receiving one 'Gene Enhancement'! Your genes will gradually become perfect! How could a villain not be a perfect being?]
[Congratulations Host on receiving the special ability 'Absorption'! As a villain, being able to absorb others' abilities for your own use is the right path!]
Then, Jiang Ning felt a warm current filling his entire body, creating a pleasantly numb sensation.
Taking a breath, Jiang Ning found that his body, which had been aching from his earlier escape, no longer hurt at all.
Moreover, the small scratches on his body from tree branches had quickly healed.
"I feel... stronger..."
Jiang Ning had the impression he could now kill a bull with one punch.
"System, explain this absorption in detail."
Jiang Ning thought silently.
[Well, it's like this - you can absorb others' energy to strengthen yourself. In simple terms, it's like star-stealing kung fu, benefiting yourself at others' expense.]
Jiang Ning understood - they really were training him to be a villain...
Though it didn't sound very nice, Jiang Ning wasn't a pedantic person.
Being a hero would be nice, but power was what really mattered.
In this dangerous place, though he wasn't clear on the plot, the term "Archon" suggested it was certainly dangerous.
Therefore, power was the capital needed to survive, regardless of whether one was good or evil.
Whether a cat is black or white, if it catches mice, it's a good cat! Moreover, as an orphan, he knew to rely on himself and was more mature than his peers.
"What's this about perfect genes?"
[Taking from a certain perfect being's saying, it will make you, Host, tend toward perfection in talent, comprehension, and appearance.]
"Very good..."
Jiang Ning was quite satisfied. This system wasn't bad at all. Perfect being - he liked that.
[Additionally, the optimization of your body and appearance has already been completed, with no further changes to come.]
Jiang Ning's smile froze: "What do you mean?"
The System announced: [Let me manifest a mirror for you to see yourself.]
"Hurry!" Jiang Ning said anxiously.
He stood up quickly, eager to see his current appearance. But the reflection in the mirror left him stunned.
Bright eyes and delicate features greeted him - a boy of fourteen or fifteen, caught between youth and childhood. Though his basic features remained similar to before, every detail of his formerly plain face had been subtly adjusted toward perfection.
His once-black hair had transformed to the color of fresh snow, and his brown eyes had become a deep crimson.
"By the Archons," he thought, "is this some kind of elemental mutation? From a normal Liyue native to... a white-haired, red-eyed young antagonist?"
But why? And his height - he'd shrunk! From being nearly 1.7 zhang to less than 1.6!
"System, explain this to me!"
Jiang Ning was truly agitated. Didn't the System understand how important height was to a young man in his adolescence?
The System's voice seemed somewhat embarrassed: [Well, after calculations, this height provides the optimal balance of deception and agility... And considering your previous height, we selected what would suit you best...]
Jiang Ning's face twisted: "So you just decided to cut off a whole zhang? I want a refund!"
[All sales are final.]
"You didn't disclose all the necessary information. I should be able to get a refund!"
[Ah, about that... I may have forgotten to mention some details in the instructions.]
The System's voice was thoroughly awkward.
Jiang Ning deflated. Great, just his luck to get stuck with a half-baked System like something out of a bad cultivation novel. He'd thought it would be more reliable... what a misconception.
"Then explain the eyes and hair to me."
The System's voice suddenly became animated and... excited?
[Don't you think this height combined with your porcelain-doll perfect appearance makes the white hair and red eyes absolutely perfect?]
As it spoke, the System's voice grew increasingly enthusiastic. Combined with its feminine tone, Jiang Ning became increasingly convinced his System was quite peculiar.
"Please be normal..."
[cough My apologies, Master. I got carried away...]
"Anyway, explain this 'Absorption' skill to me."
Jiang Ning hastily changed the subject, trying to console himself that appearances were superficial. After all, he looked... well, quite striking now, didn't he?
[It's exactly what it sounds like. The instruction manual... Wait, where is my manual?!]
The System's voice became panicked.
Jiang Ning pressed his lips together: "You truly do your academy proud..."
"Never mind, I'll figure it out myself..."
Jiang Ning increasingly felt that self-reliance was the better path.
"System, give me a mission. You must have annual evaluations, right?" Jiang Ning said.
The System was taken aback - how did this contractor know their procedures better than she did?
[Yes, we do! Our evaluations are much more humane than they used to be. If you want missions, I'll issue them. If not, you can simply exchange enemy defeats for evaluation credits... and you don't even need to defeat too many.]
Then the System added sheepishly: [Mainly because Systems of our rank don't have much authority. Unlike those from the FL Academy - those high-authority Systems will threaten termination if goals aren't met...]
[For us, failing evaluations just means three days of... digestive issues, similar to a bird's digestive tract...]
A bird's digestive tract - straightforward, meaning three days of incontinence... Between termination and social death, it was quite the choice.
"I see... That is rather humane. Well then, issue the first mission."
Jiang Ning clearly hadn't noticed anything amiss.
Though he had been enhanced, it was only relative to his previous state. He still needed to grow stronger to be secure.
[Mission issued: As a future antagonist, how could you not have a proper tragic backstory? Congratulations, you're now an orphan - that satisfies the prerequisite. Now you need a master, one under whom you'll quietly grow stronger until you become the rebellious disciple.]
[Mission: Become the disciple of the Cloud Retainer. Long-term objective: Eventually become the rebellious disciple.]
Jiang Ning froze: "Isn't that wrong? To kill the master who saved my life?"
He was already considering if he could complete the evaluation targets with enemy defeats instead.
Then he quickly realized: "Wait, what do you mean 'congratulations' on being an orphan?"
[Oh, don't worry about those details... Actually, there are loopholes in this mission. This is my specialty - something I researched extensively during my studies.]
"Honestly, it's rather sad that your specialty is finding loopholes."
Jiang Ning sighed.
"But I like it."
At least he wouldn't have to truly commit the act of killing his master. While Jiang Ning wasn't opposed to being an antagonist, he still despised truly unconscionable acts.
[It's simple! Once you're stronger than your master, you can censored them and put them in various censored positions. Isn't that another kind of master-disciple rebellion?]
How could a feminine System even suggest such things that needed censoring?
Jiang Ning recalled the crane's appearance and struggled to say: "One shouldn't... or at least shouldn't..."
[Well, you could just kill your master then. Besides, Adepti can take human form. At worst, it's still a female crane, right?]
Jiang Ning relaxed: "That's better then..."
Being able to take human form was fine.
Though... human form? An Adeptus must be quite beautiful.
The adolescent boy was quite curious about these unknown matters.
However, between conversing with the System and the day's events, things had been quite overwhelming, and Jiang Ning began to feel drowsy.
Wrapped in his blanket, Jiang Ning mumbled: "Good night, Sys..."
As he spoke, he drifted into dreams.
After Jiang Ning fell asleep, a pink humanoid figure materialized, gently embracing him.
[Good night~ Looking forward to working with you, my little contractor.]
Then it vanished once more.
Meanwhile...
In her Adeptal abode, Cloud Retainer was observing Jiang Ning.
Though interested in what he had described, she wasn't sure how to proceed, having failed in several attempts to recreate it.
So Cloud Retainer became somewhat anxious - he had made it sound so simple, so why couldn't she succeed?
Mainly because concepts like water pressure and pumps were completely foreign to Cloud Retainer.
She had thought to go ask again, only to find him asleep.
This left the Adeptus quite frustrated, caught between action and inaction.
However... was his hair always that color? Or perhaps travelers to Teyvat experienced some changes due to the unfamiliar environment?
Cloud Retainer was quite curious.
Moreover, this incredibly endearing young boy seemed to possess much interesting knowledge from another world, and he enjoyed creating new things? As a technical enthusiast herself, Cloud Retainer naturally felt quite fond of this child.
"If only this one could keep him around longer..."
Cloud Retainer muttered.
Then she paused, her bird-like eyes brightening:
"This one could take him as a disciple, keep him close for proper guidance. As for his character, time will reveal all."
In Cloud Retainer's peculiar confidence, she believed no mortal could hide anything from her.
After all, she prided herself on her conversational skills - a few words would be enough to extract any information.
Thinking thus, Cloud Retainer praised her own wisdom.
Hmph, Shenhe and Ganyu, you two will soon have a junior disciple.
Speaking of Shenhe though...
Yes, where was this one's disciple?
Cloud Retainer started.
As for Shenhe at that moment...
She was still climbing the mountain, her beautiful face showing no displeasure, merely assuming this was her master's way of letting off some steam.