The Dawn Breathing Technique is extremely exhausting to practice.
Su Lin gritted his teeth each time, forcing himself to keep practicing until his strength felt completely drained, and only when he truly couldn't persist did he stop and pant for breath.
Once his breathing became steady and his strength slightly recovered, he immediately struggled to stand up again and get into position.
By the time he attempted the third form, the Wandering Dragon Stance, he had to focus on remembering the complex details of the posture and breathing rhythm, while also squeezing out his strength to maintain the stance. Su Lin was exhausted both physically and mentally, as if completely drained.
However, it must be admitted that this Dawn Breathing Technique truly lives up to its reputation as a divine skill developed with the nation's full resources, gathering the wisdom of geniuses from all sides!
Even just reaching the third form, although fatigued, Su Lin could clearly feel a qualitative leap happening in his physical attributes!
Each time his strength recovered and he resumed the stance, he managed to persist longer than before.
The most noticeable change was that his previously slightly rounded arms now vaguely revealed the contour of muscles.
Although not yet tested, Su Lin was sure that his strength had significantly increased compared to several hours ago!
After once again exhausting his strength to complete a round of the "Wandering Dragon Stance" paired with "Entwining Breath", Su Lin was gasping like a bull.
He tightened his right arm forcefully, looking at the muscle lines that were slightly clearer than before, and couldn't help but smack his lips:
"Exaggerated!"
Just then, there was a burst of noise downstairs.
"Did Old Liu send someone with meat?"
Su Lin's heart stirred, immediately thinking of the enchanting aroma of Treasure Meat, his Adam's apple moved involuntarily, and saliva gathered in his mouth.
Disregarding exhaustion, he hurried downstairs.
However, the scene downstairs was unexpected, besides Xiao Lu and Liu Lu from the Gouhuo Tavern, there were two unfamiliar faces, more strikingly, the fellow Hou Yong was actually there!
Su Lin's gaze instantly became sharp, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as his fingers inadvertently brushed over the gun holster at his waist:
"Well, well? I thought it was someone of great stature arriving, turns out it's my Brother Yong! What's this? Did Brother Yong come attracted by the smell, also wanting to taste the new addition to my humble abode?"
Hou Yong was so startled that he almost lost his soul, waving his hands repeatedly:
"Oh my! Master Lin, please don't misunderstand! It's innocent! I just happened to run into Young Brother Lu on the way, escorting him to bring you the meat!!"
"Escort?" Su Lin raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the two strangers, conveying an inquiry.
Su Tongxi hurriedly stepped forward, looking panicked:
"Brother Kirin, it's bad! Xiao Lu just came to deliver meat, and on the way, he was surrounded by many people, almost having the Treasure Meat prepared by Grandpa Liu for you snatched away!"
Su Lin's face suddenly darkened: "What's going on?"
The frightened Liu Lu immediately chattered, recounting the incident, and Hou Yong added intrigue and vivid details alongside.
The more Su Lin listened, the darker his expression grew, and by the time he finished, his face was nearly dripping with water.
"Chang Sanheng… that damned villain! Right from the start, he set a trap for me, for the Su Family!"
His voice was icy, instantly figuring out the crux of the matter.
Chang Sanheng sent meat merely to borrow strength, to push the Su Family to the forefront, and simultaneously roast him over the fire!
Before his voice fell, there was another commotion outside, and a group of people surged in.
Su Lin looked up to see Old Man Su Can, Second Uncle Su Qi, and Grandpa Liu Jun were all here.
"Xiao Lu! Are you alright?" Liu Jun rushed in anxiously, hugging his grandson Liu Lu, and only after seeing him unharmed did he release a long breath.
Liu Lu's eyes reddened, hugging his grandfather in grievance: "Grandpa! …I was scared to death."
Seeing this, Su Can's anger flared up, his beard and hair standing on end, he burst out cursing:
"Chang Sanheng, that son-of-a-bitch with no conscience! I thought he sent the meat as recompense, but it turned out to be a scorching hot potato!"
"First casually twisting the grave crime of his son's gluttony into mere desire! Then secretly turning the act of sending Treasure Meat as compensation into implied payment for the old man's intervention…"
Su Qi's eyes were frigid, his voice carrying a piercing coldness, "Two unrelated things forcefully entwined! A good tactic! Truly a good tactic!"
"The old man was forced by his words, compelled to act. A mere meeting of upper and lower lips, black becomes white, and suddenly it's that the old man agreed because he coveted the Treasure Meat! What a mouth that can call a duck a mouse! Remarkable!"
The more he spoke, the more his anger turned into laughter.
Su Tongxi covered her small mouth, eyes full of horror: "How could it be like this…"
Hou Yong looked at Su Lin, then furtively glanced at Su Can, cautious as he spoke:
"But if he's saying that… would people truly believe?"
Su Lin said coldly: "Is belief important? The point is, the Treasure Meat ultimately ends up in the belly of this 'trash'! Those who are blinded by envy only wish to 'believe' in the portion that Chang Sanheng wants them to!"
He saw it clearly.
Chang Sanheng's intertwined light and dark plots core around betting on Su Can's favoritism towards Su Lin, seeing if the old man is willing to withstand the pressure of public opinion to insist that the Treasure Meat goes to Su Lin.
Even if this meat was originally Chang Family's compensation to Su Lin!
Su Can's face was ashen, he turned and was about to walk out.
Su Qi hurriedly stopped him: "Old Man, what are you planning to do?"
"What? I'm going to twist off Chang Sanheng's damn head!"
Su Can bared a grin, his tiger-like eyes showing fierce light, like a tiger about to devour someone.
He had never suffered such indignity before!
Su Qi sighed, helplessly saying:
"Old Man… Dad, our Su Family is no longer the feared Su Family of last year.
"If you kill Chang Sanheng now, the Search Team will lose a Martial Artist capable of unlocking Tendon Locks. At the end of the month, the risk of the Night of Survival sharply increases, and our Su Family will immediately become the village's enemy!"
Su Lin opened his mouth but swallowed back the words "Just kill Chang Sanheng? Leave the rest of the Chang Family for the holidays?"
Within the rules of the safe house, if the owner dies violently, any tenants not released from the relationship or without a house contract will become undocumented!
The Chang Family's tenants will instantly become a group of outlaws that could retaliate at any moment!
Su Tongxi said weakly: "Can't we just ignore the villagers?"
Su Qi shook his head: "In these current times, no one can detach from the collective. If ignored, the prestige our Su Family has accumulated over the years will instantly fall into the abyss, which is precisely what Chang Sanheng hopes to see."
"It takes the bell ringer to untie the bell." Su Lin stepped forward, his gaze firm, "Grandpa, Second Uncle, let me handle this matter."
"You?" Su Can, Su Qi, and Liu Jun all looked at him in surprise, filled with disbelief.
Su Lin didn't explain much.
Having only crossed over for two days, the change in his character and image had already earned his family's trust, but the incompetence of the former self was still deeply rooted.
Empty words change nothing, only action can prove.
This applies internally as well as externally!
Su Lin turned to Liu Jun, solemnly clasping his hands:
"Master Liu, there's another matter to trouble you with. That Treasure Meat, I presume it's not entirely processed yet?"
Liu Jun shook his head: "No, Treasure Meat must be cut and cooked fresh to prevent losing its efficacy."
"Then I trouble you," Su Lin's gaze was sharp, "to bring all the remaining meat to me."
Liu Jun deeply gazed at Su Lin's steady and confident face at that moment, sighing:
"It seems… you kid truly have transformed." He nodded, no longer saying much, pulled his grandson and swiftly left.
Immediately after, Su Lin turned to his two elders, his tone steady yet carrying an indisputable force:
"Shortly, I'd like to request Grandpa and Second Uncle to stand guard for me. No matter what I do or say next, please both of you… endorse me!"
Su Can and Su Qi exchanged glances, seeing deep astonishment and a touch of incredulous confusion in each other's eyes.
And Su Lin ignored the various gazes behind him, striding out the door.
At this time outside the house, villagers who had come with the wind had already gathered spontaneously, their eyes like hyenas fixed on him.