The city had not stopped moving, though the rain had finally given way to a light drizzle. Neon signs flickered above wet asphalt, their colors fractured and dancing in puddles. Lin Feng opened his eyes slowly. His head throbbed. His body ached. Every muscle screamed in protest. But the pain that cut deepest was not the bruises, not the scratches, not the wet clothes clinging to his skin—it was the betrayal that still pulsed in his chest like a burning brand.
He sat up, shivering, pulling his arms around himself as the chill of dawn crept into the streets. Memories of last night—the car, the moans, the betrayal—rushed back in waves, sharp and unrelenting. Xiao Yan… the woman he had loved for five long years… she had shared herself with Chen Rui, the one person he had trusted more than anyone. His mind spun as grief, rage, and humiliation tangled into a single, heavy knot in his chest.
He wanted to scream. He wanted to collapse. He wanted to disappear from the world entirely. And yet… somewhere deep inside, a spark flickered. The voice—the system—still echoed in his mind.
> "Lin Feng… do you want to live?"
The words returned like a cold blade. He had whispered yes. He had accepted. But now, sitting on the cracked pavement, the city waking around him, he wondered what that really meant.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, he focused inward. He felt a faint vibration in his mind, almost imperceptible at first, then stronger—a presence.
> [SYSTEM ONLINE]
Host: Lin Feng
Status: Activated
Power Level: Unknown
Skills: None
Tasks: Pending Assignment
Lin Feng staggered back, staring at his hands as though expecting them to glow. He whispered, voice trembling, "System…? Is this real?"
> Yes, Host. I am your System. I exist to enhance, guide, and help you survive.
His breath caught. "Enhance… how?"
> Not yet. First, observe. Then, grow. Then, conquer.
Lin Feng shook his head, uncertain if he was hallucinating. But there was something undeniably real about the voice, calm yet commanding, cold yet precise.
> Task 1: Assess Host Potential
Task Description: Evaluate your physical and mental capacities.
Reward: Base Attribute Data and Martial Insight.
Lin Feng swallowed hard. Martial insight? Base attributes? He had no idea what the system meant, but the name "Task" alone sent a shiver down his spine.
> Do you accept this task, Host?
He nodded automatically, his hands curling into fists. "I… accept," he whispered.
> Good. Observation commencing. Begin self-assessment.
Lin Feng slowly stood. Every joint ached. Every muscle protested. His body was sore from yesterday's betrayal-fueled fight with Chen Rui's thugs. He tested a stretch. His shoulder popped. His back groaned. His legs shivered as he lifted them one by one, feeling blood circulation and muscle tension.
> Observation: Host physical condition compromised by fatigue and injuries. Pain response normal.
He swallowed hard, chest burning with emotion. His fists still trembled. The weight of humiliation pressed on him, but also… something else. Rage. Determination. The desire to survive, to rise, to reclaim what had been taken.
> Mental observation: Host demonstrates high emotional resilience under extreme stress. Rage, betrayal, and grief can be utilized as motivation for enhanced output.
Lin Feng closed his eyes and recalled the five years of devotion. Every date. Every gift. Every whispered promise. Every night he had stayed up, silently preparing breakfast. Every time he had restrained his desire because she had said, "Not yet."
> Flashback Log: Host emotional memory sequences detected. Highly relevant to motivation metrics.
The system's cold voice echoed, unaffected by his grief.
> Host, emotional triggers are effective stimulants for growth. Harness them. Rage and despair can be converted into physical and mental output.
He clenched his fists, teeth gritting. I will harness it.
Flashbacks of Five-Year Relationship
Rain drummed against his memory as clearly as it did the streets now. He remembered the first time he held her hand. She had smiled shyly, looked away, and whispered, "I… I like it when you hold my hand, Feng." He had felt his chest tighten, the warmth of her trust, the hope of a shared future.
He remembered their first anniversary. She had worn a white dress, smiling softly as she handed him a small gift box. "Feng… I know you want more," she whispered, "but I want our first time to be perfect. After marriage. Okay?"
He had promised her. "Of course. I'll wait as long as you need."
He remembered staying up through her fevers, carrying her shopping bags, holding her hand as she cried over small personal tragedies. Every memory felt like a lifetime ago, yet now it all mocked him, twisted by betrayal.
> Observation: Host experiences severe emotional trauma, but retains high motivational potential. Recommended to use memory sequences as fuel for growth.
Shaking off the cold and pain, Lin Feng decided to move. If he was to survive, to reclaim, to rise, he needed to know his body. Step by step, he began exercises in the empty alley: stretches, squats, punches, kicks.
> Motion detected. Muscle tension analyzed. Posture corrected.
He threw punches into the empty air. Each strike carried the weight of betrayal, the force of suppressed desire, the rage of humiliation. His fists cut through the drizzle, striking with more precision than he had thought possible.
> System Feedback: Host exhibits natural martial instincts. Neural reflexes above average. Physical potential significant.
Sweat, blood, and rain ran down his face. Each kick, each block, each jab, strengthened him physically—but more importantly, mentally. He began to understand the rhythm of motion, the flow of energy through his body, the coordination of limb and intent.
> Endurance increasing. Strength increasing. Martial awareness increasing. Recommended repetition: continuous until fatigue threshold.
Hours passed. His breath became ragged. His body screamed in protest. And yet, every motion, every strike, every block, fed the fire inside him. Rage, betrayal, humiliation—they were no longer weaknesses; they were fuel.
As Lin Feng's body adjusted, his mind turned to Chen Rui and Xiao Yan.
Chen Rui… arrogant, overconfident, weak in strategy. Xiao Yan… careless, full of pride. They have underestimated me.
> System Observation: Initial threat assessment—Chen Rui Level 15 human, Xiao Yan Level 10 human. Host potential exceeds threat with proper growth.
Lin Feng mapped the streets in his mind, memorized the alleyways, the possible escape routes, the locations of potential informants. He imagined scenarios, fight outcomes, psychological warfare.
> System Note: Host demonstrates strong strategic cognition under emotional duress. Suggest skill and tactical training integration.
He clenched his fists. Every plan, every step, every movement was calculated now. Not blind rage, but precise, cold, tactical determination. His path was no longer just survival—it was preparation. Preparation for justice, revenge, and ultimate reclamation.