Ji Lin’s eyes widened slightly before a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Just as he had expected, Ye Fang’s mother was by no means an insignificant person from the perspective of destiny.
Although she possessed neither a remarkable physique nor any cultivation, her Luck Value alone had reached thirty thousand points.
That was hardly surprising.
After all, she was the mother of the Protagonist of Destiny and one of the most influential people in his life.
In the past, Ji Lin had possessed no hope of entering the path of cultivation.
Therefore, he had no choice but to remain an ordinary follower at Ye Fang’s side, offering him his medical skills while awaiting the miserable fate that he knew would eventually befall him.
Now, however, everything had changed.
With the awakening of the system, a golden opportunity to overturn his fate had appeared before him.
As long as he could drain the luck of the chosen ones, hinder their growth, seize the opportunities destined for them, or even eliminate them before they completed their rise, he could rely on the system’s rewards to become progressively stronger.
He briefly examined the System Shop, and the sight nearly caused his breathing to stop in astonishment.
Every item displayed within it was an incomparably rare and priceless treasure.
The shop contained heavenly medicines, legendary bloodlines, imperial-grade cultivation techniques, and even imperial weapons capable of shaking the entire world.
However, the prices of those treasures were equally immense.
As for the source of the Luck Points he needed…
It was lying directly before him.
Ji Lin’s gaze settled upon Xiao Yun, who remained silently stretched out in front of him.
Her back rose and fell gently with her unsteady breathing.
In the past, even if such thoughts had crossed his mind, he would never have dared to approach Ye Fang’s mother beyond what was required for her treatment.
He knew perfectly well that Ye Fang would tear him apart if he discovered that Ji Lin had crossed any boundaries with her.
But the situation was no longer the same.
Ji… Ji Lin?
Xiao Yun’s trembling voice came from in front of him, interrupting his thoughts and pulling him back to reality.
His hands had stopped at either side of her waist, and the heat radiating from them had become far more intense than before.
The warmth passed through her skin, causing her body, which had suffered from cold poison for so long, to tremble as a soothing heat spread into her depths.
Her entire face turned red, and her fingers tightened around the blanket before her.
What am I thinking?
Xiao Yun gently bit her lower lip before pinching the center of her palm in an attempt to regain her composure.
Ji Lin was her son’s close friend, and he was nearly the same age as Ye Fang.
How could she allow herself to become unsettled by a touch that was intended solely for treatment?
At that moment, Ji Lin’s voice reached her from behind.
His tone remained calm, although his breathing sounded heavier than usual.
Madam Xiao Yun, after the transformation that occurred within my body, I have gained access to a more effective method of treating your cold poison.
This method requires the use of a fire-attributed medicinal ointment, along with guiding spiritual energy through specific points along your back and waist.
He paused briefly and withdrew his hands from her body instead of continuing immediately.
However, this treatment will require more physical contact than the previous method.
Therefore, I will not begin unless you give me your clear consent.
If you feel uncomfortable, I will continue using the original treatment instead.
Silence descended upon the room.
Xiao Yun lowered her eyes as her breathing quickened slightly.
She could still feel the cold poison lodged deep within her body, and she understood that the warmth released from Ji Lin’s hands moments ago had been far more effective than any of the previous treatments.
After a long hesitation, she gave a faint nod.
If you are certain it will help me… then continue the treatment.
Ji Lin remained still for a moment before asking again in a serious tone,
Are you certain, Madam?
Xiao Yun closed her eyes as the blush on her cheeks deepened.
Then, in a quiet but unmistakably clear voice, she answered,
Yes.
I consent.
Only then did Ji Lin resume the treatment.
Thanks to the Blazing Sun Prison Physique, the energy flowing through his body had become the natural antithesis of all poisons possessing cold attributes.
The moment he guided a thin stream of that energy through his palms, the accumulated cold within Xiao Yun’s body gradually began to recede.
However, the intimate distance between them, the rising temperature inside the room, and the emotions they both continued to conceal behind their silence caused that night to surpass the boundaries of every treatment session that had come before it.
After a long time, the lights inside the room dimmed.
Outside, only the sound of the freezing wind remained as it swept through the corridors of the Ye Family residence.
Meanwhile, an ordinary-looking young man arrived in the courtyard.
His clothes were covered in dust from the road, and exhaustion was evident across his face.
Nevertheless, his eyes shone like stars with barely restrained excitement.
He stopped before the door and raised his hand to knock.
Knock!
Knock!
Knock!
Mother, I endured countless hardships to find this Fire Spirit Mushroom for you.
It is an exceptionally rare and effective medicine.
It will certainly be able to cure the cold poison afflicting you.
System, I want to make Tang Dong’er feel disappointed in Ye Fang and gradually lose her trust in him.
Is there anything in the System Shop that can help me accomplish that?
[Ding! Yes, Host. There is an item suitable for your requirements.]
A small black card appeared before Ji Lin, surrounded by a faint purple aura.
[Negative Emotion Amplification Card]
[Effect: Doubles the feelings of disappointment, suspicion, and aversion that the target experiences toward a designated individual. It will also gradually transform those negative emotions into acceptance and trust toward the host, provided that the host behaves in a manner consistent with the target’s expectations.]
[Price: 1,000 Luck Points.]
[Would the host like to purchase it?]
Ji Lin stared at the card for several moments before furrowing his brows in doubt.
System, can this card truly accomplish what I want?
It seems somewhat useless.
It neither forces Tang Dong’er to hate Ye Fang nor makes her trust me directly.
[Ding! Host, this card was recommended after analyzing the current nature of the relationship between Ye Fang and Tang Dong’er.]
[First: There are currently no deep feelings or firmly established trust between them, as only three months have passed since Tang Dong’er awakened.]
[Second: Tang Dong’er’s soul originates from an upper realm. Despite her young outward appearance, her insight and experience differ greatly from those of ordinary girls. Therefore, gaining her approval, trust, or affection will not be easy.]
[Third: Tang Dong’er plans to reconstruct her physical body in the near future. For that reason, she will remain extremely cautious toward anyone whose morals or motives appear questionable.]
[Fourth: Ye Fang has only managed to see her once so far. Therefore, their relationship cannot be described as close. In brief, Ye Fang is still undergoing her evaluation.]
The system window paused for a moment before a new series of words appeared.
[After the card is used, every disappointment Tang Dong’er feels toward Ye Fang will be doubled. Her suspicion and aversion toward him will also gradually intensify.]
[Conversely, if the host appears before her as a more sincere and principled person than Ye Fang, the comparison between the two of you will naturally shift in the host’s favor. Positive feelings toward the host will then begin to develop naturally.]
Ji Lin narrowed his eyes slightly as he reread the card’s effect.
Its function was not to control Tang Dong’er’s mind or force her feelings to change.
Instead, it amplified impressions that already existed within her heart.
Every mistake Ye Fang made in front of her would deepen her disappointment in him, while Ji Lin’s chances of earning her trust would continue to increase as long as he acted appropriately.
The corner of his lips rose into a faint smile.
I understand now.
This card does not create hatred from nothing.
It simply makes every mistake Ye Fang commits leave a deeper impression on her heart.
[Ding! The host’s deduction is correct.]
Good.
Purchase the card.
[Ding! 1,000 Luck Points have been deducted.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Negative Emotion Amplification Card.]