Bai Ning’s spirits instantly lifted. Even if she couldn’t go back, it would be enough if her parents and brother knew she was still alive; at least they wouldn’t be so heartbroken. Besides, she truly longed to see them one last time.
“How many points do I need to exchange for a ‘Lucid Dream’?”
“One moment, Host, let me check… Hm… found it! Host, to exchange for a Lucid Dream, you need 690,000 points!”
“690,000? That much?! Then how many points do I get for collecting one type of flora or fauna?”
“Points vary based on rarity! The first time you collect a species, the points are higher—starting at a minimum of 20 and going up to 1,000,000 points. If you collect something not yet recorded in the system, you’ll earn even more!”
Hearing this, Bai Ning breathed a sigh of relief. 20 to a million—not bad. As long as she worked hard, she should be able to scrape together 690,000 points! After all, this was the Beast World; there had to be plenty of plants and animals!
However, in her current state, she probably couldn’t go out to collect anything. As if hearing her thoughts, Tongtong spoke up.
“Host, the Mall has medicine that accelerates wound healing. It only costs twenty points.”
“Twenty points?” Bai Ning was pleasantly surprised. She could get wound medicine for so little?
“Yes, yes! You just need to have someone grab some random weeds or flowers to exchange for it.” Tongtong’s voice rose with a hint of subtle pride.
“But Tongtong, my leg and arm are broken. Can that medicine treat fractures?”
“Fractures?” Tongtong paused and scanned Bai Ning’s body. Looking at the data, the system felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry, Host. It’s my fault for having insufficient energy and failing to protect you.”
The soft, milky voice was so full of remorse that Bai Ning’s heart softened. She shook her head quickly. “How can I blame you? If it weren’t for you, Tongtong, I would have died in that car accident long ago. I should be thanking you instead.”
“Host, are you really not angry?” Tongtong was puzzled. It had heard from an “older brother” system that hosts would scold them over the smallest things. It had failed to protect her and let her get so badly hurt—was she truly not angry?
Bai Ning smiled. “Of course. You’re my savior; why would I be angry?”
“Host, you are the best!” Tongtong cheered happily before explaining, “Ordinary medicine is only for external injuries. For something like a fracture, you need higher-grade medicine. One bottle of Intermediate Healing Medicine will do! Luckily your bones aren’t displaced, otherwise one bottle wouldn’t be enough.”
“How many points is the Intermediate Medicine?”
“Only two hundred points, Host.”
“…”
Good grief, the price jumped ten times!
Ten times it is, then. As long as it fixed her limbs, she didn’t care; she had no desire to be a cripple. But since she couldn’t get out of bed, she’d need the beastmen’s help for the collection tasks. The language barrier was going to be a massive headache.
“Tongtong, the language here is different from my world. Do you have a way to make me understand them?”
“Of course! I’m the greatest Collection System there is. Give me a moment—coming right up!”
In just three breaths, Tongtong’s chirpy voice returned. “Ready, Host!”
That fast? Bai Ning was stunned. Did that mean she was speaking the Beast Language now? She tried to say something, and strange sounds tumbled out of her mouth.
“Holy… Tongtong, you’re amazing! If this were the modern world, you’d be the ultimate cheating tool!”
Bai Ning’s praise made Tongtong overjoyed. Somewhere invisible to Bai Ning, the system was bouncing up and down.
As she celebrated mastering a foreign language, Bai Ning suddenly remembered from the novels she’d read that systems usually provided a “Beginner’s Gift Bag.” She wondered if her system had one.
“Tongtong, I heard systems usually have a Beginner’s Gift Bag. Do you have one for me?”
“Beginner’s Gift Bag?” Tongtong sounded confused. “What’s that?”
“Uh… like when you play a game for the first time, the system gives you a starter pack with basic equipment and supplies…” Bai Ning explained patiently, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Tongtong went silent for a while. Just as Bai Ning started to think she was overthinking it, Tongtong’s excited voice rang out in her mind.
“Host! Host! There is a Beginner’s Gift Bag! I just went to the Main System, and it said that if the Host requests it, a gift bag can be issued. Wait a moment, I’ll get it for you right now!”
The Main System? If the Host requests it? Tsk. That Main System was pretty crafty. If a host didn’t know to ask, they just wouldn’t get a gift bag? Unbelievable…
“Host, I’ve just recovered and the system still has some minor issues. Once I’ve repaired them, you’ll be able to see the Gift Bag and the Mall. For now, let me describe the contents for you!” Tongtong’s voice dipped for a second before becoming cheerful again.
“I’ll actually be able to see it?” Bai Ning was surprised. she thought she could only hear Tongtong. Being able to see it would be much more convenient.
“Of course! I just woke up, and the system has some glitches from the previous hibernations. Once I fix it, you’ll see!”
“Tongtong, you’re so capable!”
Bai Ning realized Tongtong’s personality was like a child’s—it loved being praised. She certainly wouldn’t be stingy with compliments; after all, Tongtong was her “Golden Finger” (cheat code)!
Hearing the praise, little Tongtong got even happier.
“Hehe… Host, let me introduce the gift bag! It contains healing medicine, so you’ll definitely get better quickly.”
“Okay…”
“Alright, the Beginner’s Gift Bag is now being issued. Please listen carefully, Host.” Tongtong’s voice turned serious. “The Beginner’s Gift Bag includes: 10 square meters of storage space, 5 square meters of stasis space (15 total); five bottles of Primary Healing Medicine; one bottle of Intermediate Healing Medicine; one Physical Enhancement Serum; one Basic Survival Kit; and one Encyclopedia of Beast World Flora and Fauna. We hope that with the system’s help, you can better collect resources. The citizens of Planet Kalu thank you for your help! Wishing you a pleasant journey in the Beast World!”
“Okay, Host! The gift bag has been issued and everything is in the storage space. Try to see if you can sense it!” Tongtong urged her happily.