Four days passed quietly.
Within this short span, Shen Yue's transformation was nothing short of astonishing. His days were filled with relentless study and disciplined physical training. With 19 books devoured back to back, he found his mind sharper, more focused. Despite reading eight to nine hours daily, his mind no longer grew weary—instead, it grew clear, like a blade being honed.
His system interface now reflected that growth:
---
**[System Interface]**
**Name:** Shen Yue
**Age:** 14
**Physique:** High-Level Iron-Copper Molting Physique
**Bloodline:** Mid-Level Flame Scorpion Bloodline
**Cultivation:** Uninitiated
**Skills:**
- Literacy and Knowledge (Small Success) (7%)
- Calisthenics (Beginner) (99%)
**Spiritual Root:** Low-Level Fire Spiritual Root (Mixed) (0%)
**Talent: Extraction**
- Mid-Level Sword Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Archery Talent (0%)
- Low-Level Spear Talent (0%)
- Mid-Level Comprehension (0%)
**Unique Traits:**
- Clones: 0 (Locked)
**Stats:**
- Strength: 10
- Dexterity: 8.3
- Wisdom: 2.7
- Spirit: 0.9
---
His daily routine paid off. The ache in his shoulders, knees, and back had vanished. His flexibility improved. He could now move with ease, like a wild animal in its prime. The small adjustments within his body were no longer minor—his frame was subtly reshaping, aligning itself toward a more efficient and powerful build.
Even his dexterity and wisdom had both improved by 0.3 points.
He attributed the changes to his calisthenics routine. Not only did it repair his body, but it made movements like planche push-ups, handstand presses, and high-jumps easier. Training for three to four hours straight no longer left him gasping.
Motivated by the progress, he pushed even harder. After three intense hours of training, he glanced at his panel—and smiled.
**Calisthenics – Master (5%)**
A long exhale escaped his lips. *Still far to go,* he thought. *Only 16 days left before the end of my military period...*
A sudden knock broke his focus.
Without waiting for permission, a familiar servant girl entered. Over the last few days, Shen Yue's relationship with this girl had noticeably softened. Her name was **Ming Xue**.
An orphan taken in by Madam Xia, she'd grown up serving the estate, especially Madam Xia personally. Despite her role, she saw the woman not as a mistress—but as her mother. Her loyalty was genuine.
Today, however, she saw something different.
Ming Xue entered just as Shen Yue stood shirtless after training. Her eyes landed on his toned upper body, and for a brief moment, her expression froze.
His lean frame had filled out. Muscles were no longer soft or adolescent—they were refined, shaped by discipline and purpose.
A blush crept onto her cheeks. Shen Yue raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Little Xue, barging into a man's room uninvited? Could it be you're starting to think... other thoughts?"
Her cheeks turned crimson. "Y-You must've hit your head during training!" she huffed, trying to turn away.
"Oh?" Shen Yue chuckled. "Then why are your eyes still on me?"
She quickly averted her gaze. When he jokingly asked if she wanted to touch his body, her entire form tensed up. Her ears and face went beet red.
Relaxing his tone, Shen Yue waved his hand. "I'm just teasing. You're so easy to rattle."
Without responding, she quickly placed the food tray on the table and muttered, "I added two extra eggs. Eat well and recover quickly," before turning on her heel and fleeing the room.
Shen Yue couldn't help but grin. "She's fun to tease."
He finished the meal quickly and dove back into training.
What he didn't know was that outside his room, Ming Xue had paused. Her heart raced. Her breath came short.
*How could he say that so casually?!*
Yet, beneath the frustration, another thought echoed in her mind. *His body really was… amazing.*
*Should I… ask to touch it next time? Maybe in exchange for helping him bathe?*
She shook her head violently, cheeks still burning, and ran off to resume her duties
The days passed swiftly. Another week slipped by like flowing water. During that time, their bond continued to evolve. Though she was older than him by four years, Shen Yue continued to call her "Little Xue." And strangely, she never corrected him.
Their teasing became more frequent… and bolder.
One day, Shen Yue made the same joke again.
"Wanna touch my body again?"
But this time, she didn't pull away.
Her hand reached out—first his chest, then down his arms, and even lower. When she brushed against a more private area, Shen Yue instantly jumped back, face and ears burning red.
"You're really… small," she teased with a hand gesture, her tone laced with playful mischief.
"Out!" he barked in embarrassment.
She left laughing while he collapsed back, flustered. But the moment didn't linger—his mind returned to training.
That night, the results came in.
**[System Update]**
- **Literacy and Knowledge**: Great Success (9%)
- **Calisthenics**: Small Success (2%)
---
Shen Yue's smile returned.
He'd grown—mind, body, and strangely… heart.
But just as the final day of his training arrived, something unexpected stirred the winds of fate.