The male supporting character was actually myself.

This time I'm going to make the main system punish them!

Let's see if they dare to keep sending out random tasks again. If this soft, cute little kitten doesn't show its power, they'll really think we're easy targets.

Jiang Chen rubbed the fluffy ball and couldn't help but laugh, "As expected, my little white cat is the most considerate. Hmm, if you could turn into a catgirl to warm the bed, I would be even more pleased."

"Oh, host, dear host~"

The fluffy little ball rubbed shyly against his arm, stammering for a while before covering its body with its big, fluffy tail. The next second, the little cat girl with big, fluffy ears popped out from under its tail and darted into the blankets, covering herself up completely. "Wait a moment, I'll warm up the bed soon so my host can have a good night's sleep, meow!"

Bright moonlight shone through the window paper onto the bed. The little cat girl lay on the innermost side of the bed, wrapped in the quilt, blinking her big eyes and looking at Jiang Chen expectantly. He could only smile helplessly and say, "Alright, you can keep the quilt warm for now. I'll go do my mission."

"Huh? Now we're doing a mission?" The catgirl's fluffy ears twitched, and she asked with a suspicious look, "Are you going to break into the mermaid world and snatch the heroine from under the golden tower? The original owner was just an underage sea god, could she really defeat so many powerful mermaids?"

Jiang Chen waved his finger and laughed, "Who said rescuing her from the Golden Pagoda means we have to fight our way out and snatch her away? We can tailor-make an escape plan for her!"

prison Break?

The kitten girl twitched her ears, still looking completely bewildered. Her CPU couldn't handle it... she couldn't keep up with her host's train of thought at all...

Seeing that her host had closed his eyes and started to sleep, she thought for a moment and quietly lifted a small corner of the blanket to cover him. Then she felt that the corner of the blanket was too small and wouldn't cover him properly. What if her host got a big cold?

So the blanket that was originally completely wrapped around the catgirl was gradually covered more than halfway over in a short time, enveloping Jiang Chen in a warm and soft blanket.

The host seems to have really fallen asleep. The catgirl stared at his handsome profile for a while, thinking he was probably just too tired. She slowly snuggled closer, hugged his arm, rested her face on the host's shoulder, and began to snore away...

Jiang Chen was in a state between sleep and wakefulness; although he was lying in bed, his soul had already left.

Deities naturally possess some extraordinary methods, such as—sending messages through dreams.

In this mission world, only deities can send dreams without special talents.

When the female protagonist, Lian Yunshang, was born, a deity who governs destiny appeared in a dream to her grandfather, Lian Qi, telling him that his granddaughter was a chosen one with an extraordinary identity and that he should not mistreat her.

Although the original owner was still a minor and his divine seal was still immature, he was quite adept at using the least technically demanding spell, dream transmission.

So in the dream that Jiang Chen specially created, clusters of pink and blue flowers bloomed under the bright sunshine and the azure sea. He, who had transformed into a mermaid and was dressed in a cloud-like, ethereal dress, stood under the flowers and waited patiently for Lian Yunshang to arrive.

Meanwhile, in the distant world of mermaids, Lian Yunshang lay listlessly on the cold ground after a day of arduous training.

Today's cultivation was clearly unsatisfactory; the places where her natal fish scales had been plucked were still oozing blood, and the lack of vital essence made her feel extremely weak.

At this rate, it would take at least a decade or even several decades to cultivate back and replenish all the fish scales and fat of one's natal fish! So how long would it take to weave a celestial robe and forge a mermaid treasure candle?

But the cruel clan leader punished her by making five celestial robes and five precious candles!

The thought of spending so much time in such pain filled Lian Yunshang with despair.

"Why am I so unlucky? I haven't done anything heinous, yet I'm being treated like this!"

"I don't want to stay here! Someone, please save me!"

"Brother Chen, where are you... I miss you so much..."

…………

She wept, tears streaming down her face and falling onto the cold ground. She didn't know how long it had been before she finally drifted off to sleep.

"Yunshang, are you alright?"

In a hazy dream, Lian Yunshang seemed to hear Brother Chen's gentle voice. She struggled to sit up and rubbed her eyes before realizing that she was on a romantic and beautiful beach surrounded by bright sunshine and blooming flowers. The contrast between this scene and the desolate and cold Golden Pagoda made her burst into tears. "Brother Chen, waaaah... I'm not feeling well at all!"

In the dream, Jiang Chen was as gentle as ever. He swam to her side, sat down, and sighed, "I really tried my best, but... although you only made a small mistake and it didn't cause any irreparable consequences, it was still a reward from a high-ranking god. It was a small gift but a great sentiment. At this point, the value of the elixir is no longer important. What matters is the attitude of the merfolk towards the god."

To quell the matter, the clan chief consumed many precious treasures from the clan's treasury, and his resentment was naturally hard to quell.

You'll just have to bear with it a little longer. Once you complete the mission and atone for your sins, you'll be able to leave the Golden Pagoda.

I will visit you in my dreams every night, talk to you, and chat with you; perhaps that will ease some of the pain.

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Prison Break Plan

"So, Brother Chen's ability is to create dreams?" Lian Yunshang asked in confusion. How come she had never heard Jiang Chen mention this before?

Still not used to this lucid dream, she paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, and at the same time, a little displeasure rose in her heart—as expected, Jiang Chen did not put her first in his heart, otherwise why would he keep her special ability a secret?

If you really care about me that much, shouldn't you have shared the secret with me immediately?

Seeing her downcast expression, Jiang Chen assumed she was just unhappy about being imprisoned under the Golden Pagoda. He continued to speak softly and subtly, trying to stir up trouble: "It's a pity that the Golden Pagoda is guarded too strictly. Even the medicine brewed by the Spirit Woman can't be sent in. Otherwise, why would you be in so much pain?"

Mentioning this incident brought back vivid memories for Lian Yunshang, causing her to shiver in pain.

"I...I never want to have my scales and fat scraped off again!" Tears streamed down her face as she recalled the indescribable pain. She grabbed Jiang Chen's arm and looked at him pitifully. "Brother Chen, please help me! I beg you! If this continues, I'll die from the pain under the Golden Pagoda!"

Jiang Chen looked troubled. "It's no use pleading with you. I really don't know how to help you get through this difficult time."

"Brother Chen, you once said you were willing to go through fire and water for me, even to the point of death, right?"

Seeing her eyes darting around, Jiang Chen was secretly delighted, finally able to steer the conversation toward a prison break!

He nodded, gazing deeply into her eyes, and said affectionately, "Yunshang, I'm willing to do anything to help you escape this sea of ​​suffering."

"That's wonderful!" Lian Yunshang's eyes lit up with excitement, and her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Then, Brother Chen, could you give me your natal fish scales and ointment?"

You can drink the herbal soup brewed by the Spirit Master without too much pain. Besides, with your high talent and fast cultivation speed, you will definitely be able to make up for it in a few years!

That way, I only have to endure the suffering under the cold golden tower, and the physical pain will be much less.

I know this request is a bit excessive, but I really can't take it anymore!

Brother Chen, it really hurts so much!

Waaaaah... You know I'm a little fool. My cultivation is already slow, let alone without any medicine to soothe it. They even ripped off my scales and scraped away my vital essence. My fishtail bleeds every day, it hurts day and night. If you don't help me, I'm going to die!

Brother Chen, please!

I don't need to go through fire and water; I just need you to do me this small favor.

I miss you so much. I want you to hug me and keep me company, like you used to when I was feeling down... But every time I wake up in pain, I'm all alone under the cold, empty pagoda, feeling nothing but loneliness and helplessness. Brother Chen, I miss you!

Jiang Chen: (╯'-')╯︵┻━┻

Damn it, I really don't want to swear!

You really know how to scheme, using other people's fish scales and fat to atone for your sins, how could you even think of that!

"As expected, was it still too difficult for you?" The hopeful light in Lian Yunshang's eyes slowly faded, and she felt a sudden sadness in her heart.

Ha, what do you mean you'd go through fire and water for me and die for me?

In the end, it was just to make me happy. I didn't actually ask you to die. You just need the fish scales and ointment from your birth year. How difficult could it be to alleviate the pain with the spirit woman's medicine?

You could have completed it in a few years, and focusing on your cultivation would have helped you break through your bottleneck sooner. It's a win-win situation, yet you didn't immediately agree.

Jiang Chen, the moment you start to hesitate, you've already completely lost any chance of having me...

Lian Yunshang sighed, "Brother Chen, it's getting late, you should rest early. I still need to meditate and cultivate to try to grow my natal fish scales as soon as possible so that I can get rid of the endless pain."

"Yunshang, I'd like to patch up all the fish scales and ointment for you." Jiang Chen sneered inwardly: Even if the original owner of this body, who was a simp, really wanted to, he couldn't do it!

The original owner was a mermaid disguised as a sea god, so where did the fish scales and fat come from?

But he still pretended to be affectionate and shook his head and sighed: "First of all, the colors of our fish tails are completely different. I really want to help you. The color of the silk thread that is refined is completely different from the color of the woven Rainbow Garment. The clan leader is so shrewd. How could he not see it and let you fool him?"

Secondly, I really have no way to help myself.

The Golden Tower is one of the most heavily guarded and highest-level places in our Merfolk tribe. How could I possibly slip through the defenses and send something in when I'm at my weakest, having pulled out my life-bound fish scales and scraped away my roe?

If I could slip that thing in without anyone noticing, I would have rescued you from under the golden tower long ago, taken you far away from the merfolk, and never returned!

"Chen, Brother Chen!" Lian Yunshang was deeply moved upon hearing the last sentence.

It turns out his hesitation wasn't because he didn't want to give it, but because he was considering the feasibility!

Yes, the Golden Pagoda is too heavily guarded; there's simply no way to get her in. If such a way truly existed, Brother Chen would be willing to elope with her! He'd be willing to abandon everything—his future and all hope—just to rescue her…

Her eyes were brimming with tears and her face was filled with sorrow. "What should I do? If this continues, I'll die from the pain! I don't want to die, sob sob sob... I haven't even had a passionate and sweet romance yet, I haven't been able to marry the person I love and have children, and my beautiful face hasn't even had a chance to bloom before I'm going to die under the cold and gloomy golden tower!"

"Brother Chen, save me! Please, save me!"

“Perhaps there is another way.” Jiang Chen’s expression shifted, and after a few breaths, looking at her pitiful face with tears streaming down her face, his gaze gradually hardened as if he had made up his mind. “Yunshang, I will help you create a dream bridge so that you can meet your grandfather in your dream.”

He is now ordered to read you the "Mermaid Clan Instructions" every day. Each time the time comes, the golden-armored mermaid will open part of the restrictions on the golden tower, which will be the weakest link in the entire defense!

Have your grandfather go to the Spirit Woman and get a dose of herbal medicine—a top-grade sleeping incense that can put even golden-armored mermaids to sleep just by smelling it. Then, have your grandfather take down the guards outside, and I'll secretly help you unlock all the remaining restrictions on the golden pagoda.

You only have one chance, you must seize it and escape from under the tower!

Remember, after you escape, don't worry about anything. Go far away from the mermaid world with Grandpa, the farther the better! Yunshang, you must live well, live happily, and leave the rest to me.

Lian Yunshang was stunned. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at him. "Brother Chen, you're so amazing now? You can even break through the Golden Pagoda's defensive restrictions?!"

So...aren't you coming with us?

Should I remind Grandpa to take good care of his valuables?

“You know I’ve been very talented since I was a child.” Jiang Chen’s voice was slightly low and tinged with a hint of loneliness. “After all, the Golden Tower is one of the most heavily fortified defenses of the Merfolk. I need to burn my lifespan to forcibly break through the defensive restrictions inside the Golden Tower.”

If you succeed, you can only hold on for a few breaths at most. Remember, when that time comes, don't look back, don't hesitate, leave immediately!

As for me... after burning a portion of my lifespan and exhausting my spiritual power, following you will only be a burden.

Moreover, someone needs to clean up the mess and bear the wrath of the clan chief, and I am the most suitable person to stay.

Don't worry, the clan chief will definitely not kill me. After all, for the merfolk, squeezing out the last bit of value is more in the best interest of the entire clan than killing me.

At most, I'll take your place, imprisoned beneath the golden pagoda, weaving celestial robes and crafting mermaid candles.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Persuasion

“Brother Chen…” Lian Yunshang was moved to tears, “You are so good to me! But is it really okay to leave you behind? I’ve discussed it with Grandpa, maybe we can take you with us!”

We escaped to the deep sea and then went ashore to the human world, never to come back and suffer again!

The younger generation of the merfolk have been unfriendly and ostracizing you since childhood, and now the chieftain wants my life over a trivial matter! There's nothing to miss here, let's go together!

Jiang Chen forced a smile and shook her head to comfort him, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Grandpa is old and frail; it's good enough that he can take care of himself.

You've just had your life-bound scales plucked and your vital essence stripped away, leaving you extremely weak. It's already quite an achievement that the old and the weak could escape the mermaid world. After I help you break the seal, you'll be no different from a cripple. If you insist on taking me with you, I'm afraid none of the three of us will escape.

Don't worry, my talent for cultivation is so good that even if I make more heavenly robes and precious candles, it will only indirectly help my cultivation.

Moreover, I am truly happy to do these things for you. I ask for nothing more than for you to escape this sea of ​​suffering and live a long and happy life.