Chapter 11: The Cute System is the Bug

Ji Wuxiu stared fixedly at the black panther, silently vowing to himself, “Wait… I will definitely rescue you.”

The panther, already severely injured, had just screamed with all its might. Soon, due to excessive blood loss, it no longer had the strength to hold itself up. It staggered, attempting to get up, but still failed. With great difficulty, it lifted its head, its claws desperately scratching at Ji Wuxiu. The once cold, sharp eyes that seemed not afraid of anything now held a sense of urgent pleading.

—Run away.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Ji Wuxiu’s heart trembled. Unable to hold back, he reached out his paw and gently patted the panther’s head.

“Xiao Hei, don’t be sad… I will definitely save you.”

The black panther did not avoid the touch this time, but the light in its eyes suddenly extinguished, losing all will to survive. It let out a low, muffled growl, no longer filled with the strength it once had, no longer the proud arrogance it had before.

This time, its voice was like a fragile child, softly sobbing.

The black panther weakly closed its eyes, tears slowly falling, dampening the fur around its eyes.

It clearly understood that both it and this ugly creature were going to die.

Ji Wuxiu’s heart clenched. He rubbed the black panther forcefully, wanting to tell it… Don’t cry, neither of us is going to die.

Seeing the black-and-white fur ball affectionately stroking the panther, there was no trace of fear in its actions.

“Do these two know each other?” The leader, frowning, suddenly asked.

The other two shook their heads, equally confused.

“Whether they know each other or not, first kill the black panther, then take this one with us.” The leader quickly decided on the next course of action.

The other two nodded, signaling their understanding.

The black panther couldn’t understand human speech, nor did it want to. Its eyes remained empty, devoid of life.

But Ji Wuxiu heard it clearly, and his heart suddenly froze.

Then, one of the men bent down, trying to pick up the black-and-white fur ball.

The fur ball seemed somewhat reluctant. Despite its clumsy and plump body, it managed to struggle free in the man’s stunned gaze, then clung tightly to the black panther, showing a pitiful expression and letting out a low, and whimpering sound. Its innocent, clear eyes were filled with pleading, as if it didn’t want to be separated from the panther.

【Ding! Your cuteness has caused the human in front of you to soften slightly. You gained +1 cuteness points.】

The man was stunned, hesitantly looking back and saying to the leader, “Big Brother, this fur ball doesn’t seem to want to separate from the panther.”

The leader’s expression darkened, and he shouted angrily, “Useless fool, you can’t even handle such a small thing.”

After being scolded, the man’s expression soured, but he could only swallow his anger and step aside, speaking with a hint of flattery, “Big Brother, in terms of skill, you’re definitely better than me. I just can’t stand its little gaze, it looks so pitiful.”

The leader sneered upon hearing this: “How many animals have died at our hands? Which one was more beautiful than it? Which one didn’t show a pitiful gaze begging for mercy before it died? Back then, you didn’t think they were pitiful, and now you feel sorry for this one?”

Upon hearing this, the man looked at the black-and-white fur ball and retorted, “Although this animal is only black and white, not as colorful as other creatures, it somehow looks better than all other animals, and it’s especially…”

He wracked his brain and finally recalled a term that was popular on ancient Earth long ago, “It’s especially cute, different from other adorable animals.”

The man called Big Brother still sneered, his eyes full of impatience. He roughly shoved his younger brother aside, intending to take action himself. He didn’t believe that he, a tough man…

The black-and-white fur ball had a sad expression, its wet eyes filled with pleading, as if it were saying…

Please.

Don’t separate us.

I’m so sad.

So helpless.

The chubby little fur ball clung tightly to the panther, looking clumsy yet… filled with an irresistibly cute charm.

The leader paused in his steps, his fierce, cruel expression stiffening for a moment. The malicious thoughts in his mind suddenly dissipated by half.

【Ding! Your naturally innocent little gaze caused this human, who likes brutal killings, to experience a “heart-softening buff” for one second.】

【Ding! You gained +1 cuteness points.】

After the buff lasted for one second, the leader’s expression quickly returned to its cruel, cold-blooded state, his gaze filled with icy indifference.

Ji Wuxiu, who had thought his cuteness had succeeded in softening the human’s heart, froze in disbelief.

Incredible!

This person was actually able to resist the world’s number one cutest panda attack. It just showed how ruthless this human must be.

Truly formidable.

As the leader was about to forcibly separate him from the black panther, Ji Wuxiu, panicked, had no choice but to ask the system for help.

“System, what should I do?”

He really had no other option.

Fight?

No, no, he couldn’t win.

Act cute?

No, no, he couldn’t pull it off.

He could only rely on the system… Only then could he find a way to save the panther.

It seemed the system sensed that Ji Wuxiu appeared lifeless on the outside, but his mind was constantly churning. It immediately responded, 【Then don’t resist. Let them capture you. It’s a good opportunity to rack up more cuteness points. Later, you can exchange them for a skill to kill them all.】

The calm and emotionless tone of the system made Ji Wuxiu shiver despite it being broad daylight. He hesitated slightly before thinking, “But I’m afraid the panther won’t last until then.”

He couldn’t help but glance at the panther.

The panther’s eyes were dull and lifeless, filled with an unsettling stillness, as if quietly waiting for death. If it weren’t for the faint sound of breathing, Ji Wuxiu might have thought the black panther was already dead.

The system’s tone remained extremely calm: 【Those three people’s goal is to force the Lightning Panther to mutate. So, while the black panther seems badly injured, it won’t die that easily. Besides, it has already mutated, so it won’t die so easily.】

Ji Wuxiu let out a sigh of relief after hearing this and couldn’t help but marvel at how much the system knew.

At this moment.

The leader of the three humans bent down, preparing to forcibly separate the black-and-white fur ball from the black panther.

The black-and-white fur ball silently raised its head, showing a lifeless expression full of endless grievance and unhappiness. When the human’s hand reached out, the fur ball silently swatted it away with a bear paw. The motion seemed rough, but it didn’t cause the human any pain.

【Ding! Your attack caused the human’s vigilance to decrease by 50%, and their once fragile belief now wavers shamefully.】

【Ding! Your previous action made the human think, “This little thing is so cute,” you gained +1 cuteness points. Please keep it up, host.】

Ji Wuxiu’s expression changed instantly from neutral to one of shock and disbelief.

He hadn’t even intended to act cute just now, and he had even swatted the person’s hand away.

This… actually succeeded in being cute???

The system quietly appeared, speaking in a sighing tone: 【Earth pandas are naturally cute, not to mention the body I personally created for you. Every part of it was meticulously calculated, and humans are always creatures that deserve some punishment. The more you flatter them, the more they disdain you. Keep that in mind at all times.】

Ji Wuxiu was stunned: Once again… I’ve learned something.

The system, dead serious, said: 【No need to thank me, young host. The road of cuteness is long and difficult, so learn well. Now, do you realize what a huge bug I’ve created for you with this body? Relying on cuteness to level up will absolutely crush other systems and let you easily reach max level.】

Ji Wuxiu looked dazed: I… understand now.

Being cute really isn’t as simple as it seems.

At this moment…

The leader of the humans, due to Ji Wuxiu’s actions just now, had his vigilance drop significantly, and a glimmer of thought flashed in his eyes.

It seems this black-and-white fur ball is not a mutated beast, otherwise, it wouldn’t have struck with such light force.

He couldn’t help but glance at the black-and-white fur ball.

It still clung to the panther, with a pitiful expression full of pleading. Its innocent, bewildered eyes hung low, as if it had no wariness toward humans whatsoever.

The leader of the group couldn’t help but be stunned, touching his own face, unable to imagine that there could be an animal that wasn’t afraid of him.

With his aura of bloodshed, even the most foolish of creatures would instinctively avoid him.

【Ding! Your cuteness successfully made this human think, “I look so fierce, and yet it’s not afraid of me. It really is different from other animals.”】

【Ding! You gained +1 cuteness points.】

Ji Wuxiu, who was utterly confused, thought, “??”

What just happened?

He hadn’t done anything at all, and yet, he succeeded in being cute again?

The system suddenly appeared, speaking in a calm tone: 【Being cute doesn’t follow reason or logic.】

Ji Wuxiu was left in shock.