Back in the comforting little home, Su Lin just opened the door and saw Su Tongxi hanging her little feet over the crafting table, fully focused on making metal nails.
Su Lin paid attention to the market price of metal nails.
Making one himself required 20 small pieces of metal ingots, whereas the direct purchase price was equivalent to the value of forty or fifty ingots.
Calculating the costs, it's evidently more economical for Su Tongxi to make them, saving money and giving her more of a sense of involvement in protecting this home.
With a day's time, she could complete the required number.
Upon hearing the door open, Su Tongxi hurriedly looked up. Seeing that it was Su Lin, her almond eyes immediately lit up like cat eyes.
She quickly put down her work, leaped down lightly from the high stool, and ran up to greet him.
"Brother Kirin, you've worked hard."
Her voice was sweet as she naturally took the bags from Su Lin's hands and placed them on the table.
Even though she was busy herself, she was so well-behaved and understanding, which warmed Su Lin's heart greatly, bringing him immense satisfaction.
Su Lin put down things and suddenly had a mischievous smile.
He suddenly squatted down and hugged Su Tongxi's slender waist from behind.
"Ah!" Su Tongxi gave a small startled yelp.
Su Lin lifted her up easily like a doll and then planted a loud kiss on her flushed cheek, enjoying it to the fullest, he praised:
"So obedient!"
He held Su Tongxi like that, grabbed a small bag from the table with one hand, spun half a circle like dancing, and then plopped into the sofa, which squeaked under the pressure.
Su Lin stuffed the bag into Su Tongxi's arms, playfully flicking her nose:
"Here, this is for you."
Curiously opening the bag, Su Tongxi discovered two brand new dresses inside!
She looked up at Su Lin joyfully; her almond eyes turned shimmering with tears, almost overflowing with gratitude.
"Brother Kirin... you're so good." Her voice carried a soft nasal tone.
"Silly Hanbao, shedding tears already?"
Su Lin chuckled, playfully smacking her perky little butt with a "pop," feeling unexpectedly soft and springy.
"Go get busy, by the evening, I need to have completed this hand crossbow."
"Mm!" Su Tongxi nodded vigorously.
The joy from the new clothes was quickly replaced by the task Su Lin assigned, leaving her no time to wash and dry the clothes. She immediately returned to the crafting table and resumed her work.
Su Lin also didn't delay.
The constant pressure from Chang Sanheng on the Su Family was like an invisible rope tightening around his neck.
If by the month's end, something were to happen to the old man... He shook his head, not daring to think deeply.
In any case, it's urgently necessary to enhance his own strength!
With his current weak frame that collapses under a gust of wind, let alone against Chang Sanheng, it's difficult to protect himself in this harsh post-apocalyptic world.
He couldn't wait to find the manual on "Dawn Breathing Technique."
This "Dawn Breathing Technique," developed half a year after the apocalypse with all the nation's resources, had replaced traditional Ancient Martial Arts as the progressive cultivation method. It's been widely disseminated through broadcasts and compiled into booklets, practically a handbook for everyone.
Su Lin hurried to the second floor, searched his room for a while, finally finding the dusty book among his predecessor's chaotic personal belongings.
Thanks to the renovated safe house, where all personal items were organized, otherwise with his predecessor's memory, he might not find it even after rummaging through the whole house.
Named as a breathing technique, the content goes beyond that.
The book illustrates vividly thirty-six various stances of Pile Skills and corresponds with thirty-six meticulous breathing methods.
Alongside are detailed cultivation points and insights from predecessors.
Su Lin focused and took over ten minutes to barely memorize the first five stances and their breathing rhythms.
He spread the manual open beside the bed for easy reference, then set up the first stance of the Dawn Breathing Technique in the open space in front of the bed.
Feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward, heels slightly outward at a 15-degree angle.
Upper body upright, pulling in the abdomen and lifting the hips, the spine aligned like beads on a string, head neutrally aligned, chin tucked slightly, gaze forward with eyelids gently lowered leaving a slit of light.
Su Lin repeatedly adjusted the posture while referencing the manual, redoing several times when his knees extended beyond the toes until the thigh muscles felt sore, finally experiencing the subtle balance described as "neither sitting nor standing."
The corresponding breathing method is named "Endless Breath."
Inhale slowly through the nose for 6 seconds, guiding the airflow from the nose through the throat and trachea sinking to the bottom of the lungs, chest expanding accordingly, imagining a faint stream of air between the palms, fingertips subtly trembling.
Exhale also through the nose, evenly for 8 seconds, imagining the body's turbid air expelled along the airflow, chest slowly contracting, reducing the gap between palms to about 20 cm.
One cycle of inhaling and exhaling requires twelve consecutive cycles, maintaining a steady posture without slumping shoulders or waist.
Su Lin executed the technique once, and his body reacted immediately.
A warm current pumped from the heart in the chest, swiftly spreading through countless blood vessels to the limbs.
The skin began to heat up, turning red!
This Pile Skill seemed to activate a precise switch in the body, instantly driving this machine into rapid operation.
Within five minutes, Su Lin was flushed, drenched in sweat, with energy draining like a flood.
Clenching his teeth, he strove desperately to maintain his breathing rhythm.
His chest heaved violently, his face reddening like a boiled shrimp.
Persisting until the eleventh minute, he finally exhausted his strength, collapsing onto the sweat-drenched floor with a splash.
"Ha—Ha—"
When his breathing rhythm broke, Su Lin gasped violently like a broken bellows.
Exhausted, both physically and mentally, he trembled as he raised his hands before his eyes.
The breathing technique records that:
When ordinary people first practice the first form, as the Qi and Blood are stimulated, attacking the body's outermost Genetic Lock, the skin may appear sunburned red and scorching.
Those with superior talents may even exhibit the crystal-clear sheen akin to red jade.
Although his predecessor had once tried a few times, that was two years ago, a mere old memory, virtually the same as Su Lin's first attempt this moment.
With faint hope in his heart, he carefully examined his skin.
However... the sight that greeted him was an eye-piercing deep red akin to braised pig's trotters.
Disappointment flashed in Su Lin's eyes, shaking his head in self-mockery:
"Sigh... already knew the outcome, why am I adding to my own frustration?"
If he truly had some talent, with the old man's temper, even if his predecessor was useless, he would have whipped him with a spicy water-soaked whip!
Just... who doesn't have a hidden dream of being a genius?
He was a Transmigrator, after all, with a cheat!
"Seems like I'm the protagonist of a loser genre novel." Su Lin thought humorously, "Luckily, my fiancée didn't call off the engagement; more women are rushing to marry me!"
After a brief rest and calming breaths, he struggled to stand once more, resetting his stance.
This was just the first form.
He needed to quickly master the coordination of these thirty-six Pile Skills and breathing methods.
But... the physical exertion from martial arts practice was immense.
Even without Treasure Meat, he needed to eat some meat daily.
In this world, meat was highly precious, more expensive than bullets!
"Sigh, the seventeen silver coins from Grandpa and Sis are almost spent, and I still owe second uncle a silver coin; I need to earn more money."
As Su Lin practiced martial arts, he also contemplated tasks awaiting him.
Living in this post-apocalyptic world, everything was challenging.
Time quietly passed in focused practice.
Before the blink of an eye, it was nearly noon.
Zhao Zhu, sweating profusely, hurried around the village, asking everyone about buying meat.
Neighbor Zhang Chenxin spotted him in distress, couldn't help shouting:
"Hey! Zhu, you aren't really going to give meat for free to that Su Lin kid, are you? I say you're being too cowardly..."