A Massage More Expensive Than a Full Set

"So when you said you'd take me to have some fun, this is the fun you meant?!"

Staring at the shabby little storefront before him, Fang Qingyu's mouth twitched.

Clear Pool Club

The name sounded nice enough.

Qi Hao said nothing, just smiled and motioned for Fang Qingyu to follow him inside.

Once they entered, Fang Qingyu realized there was more to it than met the eye.

The antique decor gave off a tranquil, reassuring vibe.

"Chenfeng Martial Hall, Basic Medicated Massage Package, for two."

Qi Hao walked up to the front desk and said smoothly.

"Sure, this way please."

The receptionist led them to a room and left.

Qi Hao immediately urged Fang Qingyu to strip down.

"SPA?"

They changed into the shorts provided, and Fang Qingyu lay down on the adjacent bed, muttering a question.

"Nope, you'll see soon enough."

Qi Hao was still playing coy.

Soon, two middle-aged men walked in, each carrying a food box.

Fang Qingyu took one curiously and opened it.

The ingredients inside were too dimly lit to make out what they were.

"Eat up, Qingzi. Once you're done, we can start."

Qi Hao said from beside him, then began wolfing it down.

Fang Qingyu followed suit, finishing in a few bites.

Small portions, but good flavor.

After eating, he lay face down.

Then, in the dim light, the two masseurs began their work.

The first press made Fang Qingyu realize the man was targeting exactly the sore spots from today's martial arts practice.

Within two minutes, a warmth rose in his stomach, slowly spreading toward the areas being massaged.

Surprise flickered in Fang Qingyu's eyes, and he understood why Qi Hao had brought him here.

It really was satisfying.

Like greasing a rusted-up tractor.

An hour later.

The massage ended.

Fang Qingyu stood up and stretched, his eyes full of amazement.

It wasn't completely pain-free, but it was far better than before.

"How was it? Satisfying, right?!"

Qi Hao grinned and gave Fang Qingyu a playful punch.

"Yeah!"

Fang Qingyu nodded.

If he could come here after every training session, it would definitely speed up his progress in martial arts.

"How much does one package cost?"

So after changing back into his clothes, Fang Qingyu asked.

"Uh..."

They reached the doorway, and Qi Hao suddenly hesitated.

"Ten thousand."

"?"

"How much?"

Fang Qingyu was taken aback.

"Ten thousand."

"I only came here before because I followed some Elite Disciples. Their packages are even pricier."

Qi Hao scratched his head.

"This one's my treat. You know my family situation—this is nothing."

When he saw Fang Qingyu pull out his phone, he rushed over and grabbed his hand.

"I know."

Fang Qingyu helplessly pulled his hand away and opened Feixin.

Balance: 2921.

"Then why'd you open your wallet?"

"If I don't check the balance, how else will I get motivated to earn money!?"

Fang Qingyu shot back irritably, then waved his hand and turned to leave.

"I'm off."

Watching Fang Qingyu board the bus, Qi Hao scratched his head and muttered to himself.

"If only I had Qingzi's talent."

As soon as the bus arrived at the stop.

Fang Qingyu headed straight for the Second-hand Electric Vehicle Market.

Still too poor.

One medicinal massage cost ten thousand, nearly shattering Fang Qingyu's worldview.

The most expensive he'd heard of before was only three or four thousand.

And that was just for one hour.

But he had to admit, the results were really good.

With this massage as support, his progress in Practicing Martial Arts would absolutely max out.

A simple example.

On the first day, his body felt good, and Fang Qingyu could stick through the full set.

On the second day, his body was sore, and he could only manage half.

The gap was obvious.

So Fang Qingyu immediately launched the Delivery Driver plan he'd worked out earlier.

First, it could unlock a new Job.

Second, it let him earn money anytime.

Right now, there were still many functions on the Genealogy Chart he hadn't figured out.

For instance, Attribute Points and Skill Points hadn't shown up yet.

Since this opportunity had been given to him, he had to seize it!

He spent 800 on a used Electric Scooter, then another 500 on a brand-new battery.

Rider Fang Qingyu, engage!

He checked the time.

Two in the afternoon.

He could still run a few hours of deliveries.

Just like with Martial Arts Apprentice, the Delivery Driver's Job Panel quietly appeared on the Genealogy Chart after Fang Qingyu finished his first order.

Unlocking Delivery Driver was much easier than Martial Arts Apprentice.

Delivering one order added one point of progress.

But right now, Martial Arts Apprentice's progress, thanks to Instructor Qin's personal guidance afterward, had reached 27%.

It'd unlock in a few more days.

Everything was moving in the best direction.

Even though the sky started raining again.

Fang Qingyu only grew more energized as he rode.

By 8 PM.

Fang Qingyu had pushed through 57 orders.

Earning 171.

For a first-time delivery driver, hitting that many in seven hours was pretty impressive.

He grabbed some bread from a random Convenience Store, then headed to the Bar.

"Yo, Qingzi, bought a ride?"

Fang Qingyu took the radio, smiled, and said, "Bought it for deliveries."

The person handling the handover nodded thoughtfully.

"Ah-ba-ci, ah-ba-ci, ah-ba-ci~"

Lights and music intertwined—it was time for the night's revelry again.

Tonight's club scene was perfectly normal.

Besides gaining pleasure from the ever-increasing experience, Fang Qingyu also found endless amusement watching the people in the nightclub.

Actually, coming to a nightclub wasn't a big deal.

But seeing their occupations made him want to laugh.

For instance, a musician clinging to a woman, dancing awkwardly, as if trying to merge into her body.

Or a waiter in a suit, arms around two people in a booth, putting on the full act of a wealthy man.

Absolutely priceless.

All kinds of ugly displays, laid bare under the dim lights.

"Good work."

Time slipped by until it was time to clock out.

After handing over to the staff, Fang Qingyu walked out the back door.

From today onward, he no longer had to scan a Little Yellow Bike to get home.

The feeling of being a car owner was pretty nice.

Though the rain was heavy and the convertible was taking a beating.

Still better than having no car at all.

Neon lights blurred into fuzzy patches through the rain curtain, and the e-bike kicked up fine silver beads as it splashed through puddles.

Fang Qingyu turned into the crisscrossing narrow alleys of the urban village, trying to take a shortcut. The headlights startled a stray cat curled up on a trash can.

The handlebars suddenly trembled slightly.

He instinctively turned his head to look toward the alley entrance on the right.

Several figures flickered past a rusty rolling shutter door. Rain slanted through the residual glow of a neon sign, and he vaguely caught a glimpse of ink-black characters flashing above a hunched silhouette.

Like ███ splattered with asphalt.

But when Fang Qingyu braked sharply and whipped his head around for another look, he only saw an empty rain-soaked alley with half a sodden recruitment poster fluttering in the air.

"Did I see wrong?"

Fang Qingyu frowned, muttering to himself.

After waiting a full minute and seeing nothing happen, he restarted the bike and continued home.

Fengning Residential Complex.

Located in the undeveloped area of Qingjian City.

Most residents were like Fang Qingyu—people who entered society early or migrant workers.

Back home, Fang Qingyu didn't rush to shower.

Instead, he opened the Job Chart and continued working out.

Ever since the Fitness Enthusiast occupation had been unlocked, bodyweight training had become a daily must for Fang Qingyu.

His focus was on persistence.

An hour later, Fang Qingyu walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair.

He opened the chart and looked at the gains from just now.

Occupation: Fitness Enthusiast Lv.1 (44/100)

Occupation Basic Skill 1: Push-ups Lv.1 (58/100)

Occupation Basic Skill 2: Pull-ups Lv.1 (61/100)

Occupation Basic Skill 3: Squats Lv.1 (59/100)

All skill experience had passed the halfway mark, and occupation experience was nearing it too.

The Fitness Enthusiast's progress was actually the fastest among his current occupations.

Then he flipped to the preface page.

Name: Fang Qingyu

Age: 18

Strength: 7.7→7.8

Physique: 7.8→7.9

Both Strength and Physique had increased by 0.1!!

Working out was originally meant to strengthen the body and health, but with the chart's progress tracking, it gave people more motivation to keep at it.

Fang Qingyu lay down on the bed and closed his eyes to rest.

This... was just the beginning.