Jiang Ruoxu Binds the Pretentious System, Shen Yu is Afraid of Thunder

"Damn, this Ye Liangchen really got the short end of the stick, huh? Flexing earned him 210 years of internal energy, but failing the flex cost him 250 years? So now he owes the system 40 years?"

After checking Ye Liangchen's flexing records in the system, Jiang Che couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Talk about bad luck!

Is this what they call "trying to flex and ending up getting wrecked"?

"I seriously suspect this so-called 'Ultimate Flex System' was just developed by someone to mess with the protagonist's head," Jiang Che muttered.

"This system is a total scam if you ask me."

Jiang Che sighed. He had already chosen the perfect candidate for the "Ultimate Flex System."

No matter how trashy the system was, it was still a system—no way he’d let an outsider benefit from it. Of course, it had to go to his little cousin, Jiang Ruoxu!

And maybe skim some points off him in the process.

So Jiang Che tweaked the source code of the "Ultimate Flex System."

Originally, Ye Liangchen’s system was painfully simple—rewards were just internal energy, nothing fancy.

But Jiang Che modified it, changing the reward from internal energy to "Flex Points" and linking it to his own system.

Similar to Chen Hao’s "Scam Points," for every 1 Flex Point Jiang Ruoxu earned, Jiang Che would get 10 points. Jiang Ruoxu would also have a system store, stocked with goods supplied by Jiang Che.

Of course, if Jiang Ruoxu failed a flex, there’d be penalties—deducting Flex Points, and those lost points? Straight into Jiang Che’s pocket.

Just like a boss docking your paycheck.

"OK, debugging complete!"

Another little cash cow secured—Jiang Che couldn’t suppress his grin.

A 1:10 profit ratio was the system’s limit, not the limit of Jiang Che’s greed!

If there were no restrictions, he could’ve set it to 1:100,000,000 and drained his own system dry.

"Wait, now that I think about it… my little cousin still has that 'Ring Grandpa' with him, right? Wonder if the system will freak the old man out?"

What kind of sparks would fly when an ancient cheat clashed with a modern one?

Jiang Che couldn’t wait to find out.

"Go forth and flex, my foolish little brother!"

...

"Achoo—!"

Jiang Ruoxu, deep in his martial arts training, suddenly sneezed, an inexplicable feeling creeping over him.

Like something had just locked onto him.

Then, in the next second, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! The Ultimate Flex System has located a host. Would you like to bind?]

[Ding! Binding successful.]

Jiang Ruoxu nearly jumped out of his skin. "What the hell?!"

He was, after all, a martial arts master at the peak of the Zongshi realm, with a powerful master hidden in his ring. Even a Grandmaster couldn’t sneak up on him unnoticed.

"Master… did you hear something just now?"

Unfortunately, his master remained aloof and silent.

Meanwhile, the system repeated its message, and this time Jiang Ruoxu heard it clearly.

"What? A system?!"

After a brief moment of shock, overwhelming excitement took over.

As a 15-year-old, he’d read plenty of wish-fulfillment novels, but as the prodigy of the ancient Jiang Family, he never quite got the appeal of those stories.

But the overpowered systems in them? Now those left an impression.

"Ultimate Flex System? What exactly can you do?"

[Ding! This system is named the Ultimate Flex System. Host can earn Flex Points by flexing, which can be exchanged for any item in the system store.]

Hearing this, Jiang Ruoxu’s heart raced. He eagerly opened the system store.

Both Chen Hao’s "Scam God System" and Jiang Ruoxu’s "Flex System" had stores copied directly from Jiang Che’s—except everything was marked up ten times the original price.

What did that mean? For every 1 pill they bought from Jiang Che, they had to cough up the value of 100. Even capitalists would shed tears at this exploitation!

Low wages, sky-high prices.

"Whoa—" Jiang Ruoxu’s excitement surged.

"So many incredible things?"

His eyes darted around, overwhelmed by the options.

Many of these items were legendary—even life-extending elixirs and youth-preserving potions were available.

"Life-Extending Pill? Adds ten years to your lifespan?"

Jiang Ruoxu thought of his grandfather, Jiang Yunhuang, and clenched his fists. "Grandfather, you’ve shielded the Jiang Family for decades. It’s time I carry the burden."

"Just 10,000 Flex Points? Flexing… who can’t do that? I’ll single-handedly lead the Jiang Family to immortality!"

"Wait, there’s even a Body Refining Pill here? Only a million Flex Points? Master… I’ll prove I’m no worse than Jiang Che!"

Mentioning Jiang Che made Jiang Ruoxu smirk.

"Jiang Che, now that I have this system, crushing you will be child’s play."

"But since you’ve treated me well, if you’re willing to call me 'big brother'… maybe I’ll carry you along!"

[Ding! Host has performed an audacious and idiotic flex. Penalty: -100 Flex Points.]

Jiang Ruoxu’s face froze.

What the—?!

Not a single point earned, and now I’m 100 in the hole? And it called me an idiot?!

How am I supposed to play this game now?!

His mentality was in shambles.

......

Evening.

A thunderstorm rolled over Hangcheng.

Though the rain poured outside, the Jiang Family Villa remained warm and cozy.

The entire estate was brightly lit, and the maids had retreated indoors to rest.

By the floor-to-ceiling window on the third floor, Yu Wan'er sat cross-legged on the carpet in her pajamas, chin propped on her hands as she gazed outside. Her petite legs stretched out, bare feet peeking out—her delicate toes as pale and tender as bamboo shoots.

"Jiang Che, you know what? I love rainy days. I really, really love them," Yu Wan'er murmured absently.

Beside her, Jiang Che leaned lazily against the window, exuding an air of effortless arrogance.

"When I was little, I’d hide under the covers during storms… outside, the world was chaos, but I had a safe little home. That feeling of warmth… nothing compares."

Jiang Che glanced at the sentimental little girl and casually dropped a hand onto her backside.

"Where’d a kid like you learn to be so philosophical? That ‘warm feeling’… the happiest you get is when your eyes turn into little hearts!"

Yu Wan'er bristled. "You brute! And you call yourself a top scholar?"

Jiang Che raised a brow. "Yeah, yeah, I’m a brute. And you’d know just how ‘brutal’ I can be, right?"

Yu Wan'er rolled her eyes.

After spending half a year with Jiang Che, she knew his habits all too well.

At times like this, you absolutely must not provoke him—not even in thought—or you’ll only be setting yourself up for misery.

...

A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the night.

"Boom—" A clap of thunder roared.

Next door, Shen Yu jolted awake. The usually composed girl actually showed a flicker of fear in her eyes.

But she said nothing, only curling up against the headboard like a little hedgehog.