Su Tu stopped his steps, sweat pouring down like rain, panting heavily, as he drank all the water from his sports bottle in one go.
The system notifications arrived as expected.
[You finished a vigorous run, Body Strengthening Proficiency +15]
[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 175/300]
He sat down on the nearby bench, calming his state, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
Seeing tangible improvement brings an indescribable sense of accomplishment.
"Phew, at this rate, it won't take many days for Strengthen Body to rise to Middle Tier."
Proficiency increases quickly in the Initial Tier but will be as slow as a tortoise in the Middle Tier, like Spiritual Wisdom.
The increase in his physical abilities wasn't as obvious compared to the time when he once received a 50-point proficiency boost.
But he was well aware that his body had indeed become stronger.
The skills brought him real-time improvements; every increase in proficiency made him stronger.
"Running for an hour only raises proficiency by 15 points, but during the day a few punches can boost it by 10 points."
"Aside from participating in activities to earn extra proficiency, Martial Arts Dao offers a greater boost to Strengthen Body than simple exercises."
Su Tu thought while calming himself.
He thought of the business card Lin Feiyang 'accidentally' dropped on the ground during the day.
"Perhaps Martial Arts is the quickest way to improve Strengthen Body; I'll visit Tayue Martial Arts Hall during the holiday."
While he was pondering these thoughts, his peripheral vision caught sight of something on the ground not far away.
"Whose bag is this? Lucky it met a kind person like me; otherwise, it would have been lost for sure."
A white makeup bag lay on the ground not far away; he got up, picked it up, and put the fallen cosmetics back inside.
There's a Public Security Bureau right downstairs in his neighborhood; he could drop it off there on his way home.
Su Tu didn't mind doing such small acts of kindness, considering it as saving face.
But, as Su Tu just picked up the makeup bag, at that instant.
His body suddenly became extremely rigid.
Thump~ Thump~ Thump!!!
His previously calm heartbeat grew intensely stronger again; Su Tu could distinctly feel a malevolent gaze fixed on him.
That gaze was greedy, evil, filled with primal desire, like cold, damp tentacles reaching towards him from all directions.
The surroundings became incredibly desolate, whispers echoed in his ears.
Ever since Spiritual Wisdom reached Middle Tier, his intuitive senses became exceptionally sharp, almost confirming that something awful lurked watching him.
His fist clenched unconsciously; every muscle in his body was completely activated, ready to react to any disturbance instantly.
After mastering Fighting Skills, his body's agility, combat awareness, and muscle coordination saw significant enhancement.
The youth's gaze carried a cold glint; he slowly picked up the bag from the ground, feigned casualness standing up, while his eyes quickly scanned every corner.
It was an old neighborhood entrance, the dilapidated security booth deserted, the surroundings' cameras had become a paradise for spiders,.
There were almost no places for hiding around, yet..... the feeling of being watched persistently hovered over him.
Gulp~
It sounded like something swallowing; dirty and murky, an indescribable wet stickiness instantly filled everything around.
Su Tu sprang up immediately, clenched his fist with one hand, adopted the only boxing stance he knew, the Straight Punch.
This punch was delivered with Su Tu's full strength; he didn't even glance in the punching direction, but instinct guided him, urging him to move forward, long fist striking down!
Bam!!!
This punch even produced a sonic boom; it was Su Tu's first time taking the Straight Punch so seriously, unleashing his utmost efforts.
Every muscle in his body exerted force; he was like a beast breaking free from chains, roaring savagely with this punch!!!
The Straight Punch aimed at the shadow under the streetlight upfront, but there was nothing in the shadows.
The punch missed.
As the punch fell, the feeling of being watched disappeared.
Nothing else happened around, it's as if everything was just his illusion.
[Completed a wholehearted Straight Punch strike, Fighting Proficiency +10, Body Strengthening Proficiency +5]
[Fighting Skills (Initial Tier): 110/300]
[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 180/300]
The night breeze slightly blew, the streetlight flickered; it was just an ordinary old neighborhood entrance.
"Could it be I'm too nervous?"
"The possibility of Martial Arts being included in college entrance exams is too significant, causing my anxiety, resulting in fear due to the surrounding scene."
Su Tu released his fist, his gaze lowered, deep in thought.
"Beep Beep!!"
A sharp car horn sounded abruptly behind him, followed by blinding lights shining over.
Su Tu turned around, shielding his eyes with his hand, looking toward the source of light.
It was a black floating car, its high beams glaring over.
"Oh, Su Tu, it really is you, what are you doing here late at night instead of sleeping? Tell me, are you in a relationship early!"
"If you're dating early, I'll definitely tell your aunt!"
A voice with a teasing tone reached Su Tu's ear.
A figure with an impressive physique stuck half out from the car; the charms of those proportions rivaled some Japanese teachers, a dainty face captivating even without makeup, dressed in a small tank top exposing half a shoulder.
"Zhang Jie?" Su Tu looked at the familiar face.
"Why call me Zhang Jie, call me older sister! Calling me 'Jie' ages me, people might think I'm seventy or eighty!" The woman got out of the car, rolling her alluring fox eyes at Su Tu.
She wore black shorts, with red-edged black stockings enhancing the fairness of her thighs making them appear more seductive.
Zhang Jie, full name Zhang Meng, lives in the same building as Su Tu, also Su Tu's aunt's childhood friend, clearly of the same generation as Su Tu's aunt but insists Su Tu call her sister, fond of teasing Su Tu.
"Zhang Jie, what brings you here?" Su Tu inquired.
"Just finished a classmates' reunion, happened to pass by, I haven't asked you, what are you doing here?" Zhang Jie asked, crossing her arms, half interrogatively.
"You're not really dating early?"
"Just a night jog before sleep, merely exercising." Su Tu replied.
Zhang Meng looked at Su Tu with curiosity, then stepped forward, pinching his arm with surprise: "Wow, Su Tu, didn't expect you to look so thin, yet so solid underneath."
Feeling Su Tu's muscular arm, Zhang Meng's mouth gaped exaggeratedly: "Good at studying, great physique, if I were in your class, I'd seal the deal immediately!"
Used to Zhang Meng's teasing, Su Tu had been accustomed to it from their first meeting, she hadn't skimped on teasing him, and as Su Tu grew older and more handsome, the teasing grew even more frequent.
"Women only slow down my sword drawing!" Su Tu said solemnly.
Upon hearing, Zhang Meng stood straight, flaunting her assets as if to show off: "What do you know about women? How about coming over tonight, I'll let you understand what 'drawing a sword' means?"
"Cough, cough, cough, really unnecessary."
"Hahaha, okay, not teasing anymore, come on, hop in the car, I'm heading home too."
By now, the earlier sense of danger and strangeness had long dissipated.
Following the earlier event, Su Tu lost the mood for exercise, getting into the car with Zhang Meng as the engine roared, the floating vehicle speeding away.
In the car, Su Tu appeared somewhat absent-minded.
Everything that had happened earlier flashed in his mind; he lowered his head looking at the makeup bag in hand.
"Was it truly my imagination?"
As he pondered.
The system notifications suddenly popped before his eyes.
[You just experienced a battle, Fighting Proficiency +50, Body Strengthening Proficiency +50.]
[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 230/300]
[Fighting Skills (Initial Tier): 160/300]
At this moment, looking at the system panel's notifications, Su Tu's dark eyes slightly deepened.
Meanwhile, at the old neighborhood entrance, under the dim light a shadow stirred, a towering figure crawled out from underground, tilting its head looking in Su Tu's leaving direction, greed almost materializing from its gaze.
"Damn hairless monkey..." its voice was venomous, a large dent in its chest with a massive fist imprint, brown blood oozing from the wound.