"I've been obsessed with fitness these past few years, and recently I met an old man who practices Tai Chi. He taught me some Xingyi Boxing techniques. It's just enough to bluff people,
and it's not that I can fight. You saw those Spirit youngsters earlier; each one is so skinny, like skeletons, probably not even 110 pounds. Seriously trying would make it easy to win."
Wang Longhu explained with a smile. Except for the part about being obsessed with fitness for years, everything else was true.
But Ye Yuanpei already had a seed of suspicion planted in his heart, and he naturally found it hard to believe what was said.
"By the way, how's your injury? Do you want to go to the hospital to have it looked at?" Wang Longhu changed the topic and asked.
Ye Yuanpei shook his head nonchalantly. "This injury is nothing. Once I sleep and wake up tomorrow, it'll be fine."
"I just heard that guy with the knife say for you to return the video and IOU. Is he the one who attacked you earlier today? If he can track you down to Dong County and knows where you live, this isn't a simple matter. You both need to be careful." Wang Longhu couldn't help but remind them.
If it weren't for him drinking here tonight, Ye Yuanpei and his companion might have been badly beaten.
"I, Ye Yuanpei, am quite a figure in Dong County. It's no surprise they found out where I live. I'll make sure to pay back these two secret losses today.
Damn Lingbei, owing me money and daring to come and snatch the IOU. This isn't over." Ye Yuanpei sat back at the dining table, took a big swig of Tiger Bone Wine, and cursed.
Wang Longhu sat down helplessly; he could only intervene in this mess once, but he couldn't keep helping them.
Wang Longhu would absolutely not get involved in the paths of Ye Yuanpei and Lin Haitao, no matter how much money it makes. He didn't want to live every day on edge.
Based on various signs, Wang Longhu suspected that the business Ye Yuanpei and Lin Haitao were involved in might not be as simple as lending money. There were likely more things they couldn't disclose to him.
The three of them tacitly didn't mention calling the police or why Wang Longhu's skills had improved so much, as if nothing had happened, and continued drinking and eating meat.
…
"Uh."
Wang Longhu awoke with a splitting headache, his throat extremely dry, as if he hadn't had a drop of water in ten days.
While Tiger Bone Wine is very nourishing, it was too intoxicating. Now awake, looking around his bedroom, he had completely lost the memory of how he got back last night.
Name: Wang Longhu
Strength: 1.13 (+)
Physique: 1.35 (+)
Spirit: 0.90 (+)
Skills: Basic Fitness Lv2 (57/200), Triple-Body Style Lv2 (80/200), Xingyi Boxing (Beng Fist) Lv1 (93/100)
Potential Points: 0.07
"Did the Tiger Bone Wine give so many potential points?"
The first thing Wang Longhu did when he got up was check his physical attributes.
After eating the rogue chef's chicken yesterday, he gained 0.02 potential points. Now with 0.07 potential points left, it meant that drinking so much Tiger Bone Wine last night provided him with 0.05 potential points.
This drinking bout was even more nourishing than a seafood feast, making Wang Longhu envious.
Unfortunately, for Ye Yuanpei, Tiger Bone Wine is also a rare good thing, not something that can be offered every day, and Wang Longhu didn't have the face to ask for it actively.
It seems such a heavily nourishing item could only be enjoyed once.
Adding all the potential points to physique, Wang Longhu got dressed and prepared to start his day's workout plan.
Maybe it was because he had been waking up early every day recently. Even after drinking a lot last night, he woke up to find it wasn't even five-thirty yet. His body had indeed formed an automatic early waking muscle memory.
After washing up, he went to the rooftop terrace. Watching the rising sun, Wang Longhu calmed his mind and started doing his Prisoner Workout exercises.
From talking to the great monk before, Wang Longhu learned that if you only practice Internal Boxing, a Martial Artist won't grow any muscles. Many Martial Artists learning Internal Boxing choose to accompany it with some equipment to hasten the process of refining energy into qi, like lifting iron balls or stone locks, to strengthen their muscles, building a robust physique.
Thus, even after learning Triple-Body Style and Beng Fist from Master Chen, every morning before heading out, Wang Longhu would spend half an hour practicing the Prisoner Workout.
"1, 2, 3, 4..." With both hands on the ground, head down and feet up, Wang Longhu did handstand push-ups effortlessly.
With his strength and physique reaching 1.13 and 1.42, respectively, Wang Longhu can now do handstand push-ups without relying on his legs against the wall, directly performing them on flat ground.
His arm and back strength had progressed dramatically compared to just a few days ago.
Just as Wang Longhu completed 28 handstand push-ups while holding his breath, a window from the neighboring building suddenly opened. An elderly woman poked her head out, looking displeased.
"Hey, can you please take your workouts elsewhere? You're here every morning, and I can't sleep from all the noise you're making. Let me tell you, if this continues, I'll have my daughter call and warn your parents, and I'll also complain to the community committee."
Wang Longhu was dumbfounded; he didn't think he was making any noise. When practicing Beng Fist before, he was considerate of his neighbors, so he specifically chose to work out in the morning. Now, he's being criticized even for doing handstand push-ups.
"Ma'am, I haven't been making noise, have I? How did it disturb you?" Wang Longhu stood up, putting his legs down, and asked with a frown, slightly annoyed.
"It's incredibly noisy. I'm a light sleeper. I was sleeping soundly and got woken up by you. Young man, let me tell you, you should be more considerate. If the neighbors start arguing, it won't be good for anyone.
I've been enduring for the past few days seeing you doing these exercises here every day. Yet, you are utterly inconsiderate and continue to do as you please."
Faced with the accusations, memories long forgotten by Wang Longhu suddenly flooded back.
Maybe living in Hang City for too long, he subconsciously ignored a lot of things from home.
Like this trouble-making, nuisance-loving old lady.
Wang Longhu's family moved to Lingbei Community thirteen years ago. At that time, there was an old lady named Song living next door, known for being sharp-tongued, fond of causing trouble, and having poor relationships with people.
The community's activity square originally had two basketball courts and four ping-pong tables meant for exercise.
Madam Song and her similarly domineering troupe of sunset sisters monopolized the basketball courts for their square dancing, shooing away the young people who came to play basketball.
And even worse, she occupied the ping-pong tables as well, drying fish, shredded radish, and seaweed on all of them.
She also went to report some residents for keeping dogs without permits, regularly mooched off others for big meals of fish and meat, and shamelessly picked vegetables from others' gardens without asking.
Her despicable acts were numerous, and she was infamous for causing trouble.
Wang Longhu never forgot the shadow of being called out when he played music through speakers in his room during a college summer break.
Never would he have expected, after all these years, that this unpleasant old lady was still alive—truly the vile outlive a thousand years.
This time she wasn't genuinely upset over noise; it was clearly the old hag's mischievous desire to pick on him surfacing once again.
"I understand; I'll exercise outside next time, so I don't disturb you." Wang Longhu, slightly worried she might contact his parents, reluctantly agreed.
Before his lung cancer is completely cured, Wang Longhu didn't want his family to know he quit his job and returned to Dong County. He planned to keep it a secret for as long as he could.