Foot Bath Parlor, Upstairs

Old Liang was quite the tsundere. After knowing me for two days, he waived my registration fee and even paid out of pocket to feed me Nutritional Paste.

Give it a little more time, and once he was completely won over by my talent, wouldn't that be something?

Qin Shi silently joked to himself, a long-lost sense of security surfacing in his heart.

With just the two beginner achievements [Deep Sleep] and [Muscle Memory], he had earned Teacher Liang's favor.

Going forward, he only needed to keep unlocking Monument and grind Growth Value.

Maybe he could even dream about the legendary Four Great National Universities?

After all, among the Worker's Children of Old Factory Street over the past Twenty Years—

Fewer than one hand's worth of "academic stars" had gotten into Hengzhou University or the University of Science and Technology.

Much less any top scorers who had stepped into elite institutions!

Qin Shi happily indulged in his daydreams. He had always believed that no matter how harsh one's circumstances were, one should maintain a positive attitude.

Too much resentment and grumbling would not only make someone listless and increasingly numb.

It would also, without them noticing, drain away their drive to move forward and their determination to strive!

"Today's Nutritional Paste is free. If you can maintain your qi sensation for an hour tomorrow, come collect another two boxes."

Having downed over half a bottle of Hengzhou Lao Jiao, Old Liang was flushed with drink and high on spirits.

"If I can last longer, can I scarf down a few more servings?"

Qin Shi licked his lips. Longxiang Ji's Nutritional Paste was certainly hard to eat, but the benefits it brought his body were undeniable.

Just like now, as the intense feeling of fullness drove away his hunger, a warm current traveled through his entire body.

Like sweet rain nourishing parched fields, it silently replenished his sore, swollen muscles.

If Qin Shi's body were turned into data, the six attributes of his character would probably all show slight increases right now.

"At the very least, my strength and endurance have gone up. With Deep Sleep, Old Martial Arts training methods, and Nutritional Paste supplements—

Breaking through the ten-point threshold in Life Force Development within half a month doesn't seem as difficult as I thought?"

Qin Shi suppressed his excitement and summoned Monument. The pixel-art flesh-and-blood embryo seemed to have grown a little larger again.

Unfortunately, without testing equipment, he still had no idea how far his Life Force Development had progressed.

"Let's go."

Old Liang had eaten until the table was a complete mess. He got up to pay the bill.

"It's still early. I'll take you somewhere else."

Old Factory Street was at its liveliest around seven or eight in the evening. Street vendors, carts piled with fried skewers and snacks, dusty workers, elderly men and women gathering to enjoy the cool air...

These familiar sights made Qin Shi feel the genuine warmth of everyday life, along with an indescribable tenacity of life.

Compared to the brilliant stars shining in the sky, the stones at the foot of the mountain or in the bottom of a pit were tiny and cold.

Yet both existed in the vast universe!

Whether blazing suns or grains of sand, each had its own way of living.

"Teacher Liang, where are we going?"

Following behind, Qin Shi gradually realized something was off.

Why were the streetlights getting dimmer the farther they went?

Why were there more and more pink neon signs on both sides of the street, giving off an ambiguous air?

And what was with the graceful figures lingering in twos and threes at the alley entrances?

"Do you think I'm going to sell you off?"

Old Liang chuckled, then stopped at the entrance of a foot bath parlor.

"We're here."

Qin Shi looked up. The flashing sign bore the large words "Jinse Impression."

"Huh?"

A foot bath parlor?

What teacher brought his student to get their feet washed?

Second floor, lobby.

"Old Liang, long time no see. Xiao Shuang is with a client right now and should be done soon. Will you wait, or would you like to pick someone else?"

The female manager with wavy red hair came forward to greet him. As her eyes shifted, she caught sight of Qin Shi behind him.

"Oh? This handsome young man looks unfamiliar. He hasn't been here before, has he? Your student?"

Old Liang pointed at Qin Shi.

"I'll just have tea. Let him try Xiao Shuang's skills."

The manager smiled and instructed the front desk to brew a pot of chrysanthemum tea. Then she warmly took hold of the nervous Qin Shi.

"Don't be nervous, handsome. Everything's awkward the first time, but familiar the second. Try it once today, and you'll get used to it later."

Was Old Liang planning to trade my Pure Yang Body for red envelopes to cover the cost of Nutritional Paste?

Qin Shi's expression tightened. It was not that he had never seen the world, but everything had happened too suddenly, and he was having trouble figuring out what was going on.

How had he gone from eating and chatting to ending up on the second floor of a foot bath parlor?

If there was a vice raid, would the police officers believe his explanation?

"Officer, my teacher dragged me in here by force. I didn't do anything..."

Qin Shi could already imagine the disdainful look on the officer's face: Keep making things up. I'm listening.

Old Liang sat in a rattan chair and teased her.

"I say, Sister Hong, why are you standing so close to my student? Has your heart been stirred? Thinking of robbing the cradle?"

The wavy-haired manager spat lightly.

"Pah! Nothing good ever comes out of your dog mouth. Who's your sister? We're from different generations! You're making me sound old!"

Then she gave Qin Shi another look and covered her mouth as she laughed.

"But you're right about one thing. This handsome boy is the most proper and likable among all your students.

"A lot of rich ladies in the Metropolitan Area love this type. They call them 'little puppy boys.'"

Old Liang had no interest in romantic gossip. He waved his hand.

"Hurry up. Take him to change, and give him two hours."

After collecting his locker tag, Qin Shi was led into a private room. He changed out of his clothes and put on a loose bathrobe.

He looked around. The room was rather dim, with a soft recliner and a low stool for resting one's feet.

A wooden screen divided the space. Looking beyond it, he saw a wooden tub large enough for two people.

Near the faucet that supplied hot water were several trays containing incense and flower petals.

"Damn, this doesn't look like a proper foot massage place!"

Qin Shi began to lose his nerve.

"Old Martial Arts have been passed down for ages. Isn't there some saying that keeping one's virginity helps with cultivation? Could Old Liang be following the ways of the Hehuan Sect or the Dual Cultivation School from the Old Era?"

Creak.

Before he could make a run for it, the door was pushed open.

"Hello, sir. Technician Number 69 will be serving you."

The voice was gentle and carried a soft, mellow quality.

"I came to the wrong—wait, it's a male technician."

Qin Shi turned to take a closer look and froze.

The newcomer wore a white long-sleeved uniform and matching trousers, with a name badge pinned to his chest. He had long, straight black hair falling over his shoulders, handsome features, and a prominent Adam's apple.

In terms of looks alone, even Qin Shi, the universally acknowledged handsome young man of Old Factory Street, fell half a notch short.

"My name is Yan Shuang. I specialize in massage and muscle release. I also know a little about bone setting, realignment, and treating external injuries and strains."

The male technician, Number 69, wore a gentle smile, looking just like the idol celebrities often seen on Metropolitan Area billboards.

"Alright, thanks for the help, Brother Shuang."

The tension in Qin Shi's heart finally eased.

The crisis of losing his virginity had been resolved!

"Lie facedown and take off your top. Teacher Liang said you might have overtrained and was worried you'd accumulate hidden injuries."

Yan Shuang opened the case he had brought in and took out several items from among its bottles and jars.

"This is Hualian Red Flower Oil, and this is Shenzhi Muscle Relaxant Cream. We'll apply them first, then begin the massage."

Qin Shi obediently lay facedown, crossing his hands beneath his chin. A cool sensation quickly spread across his lower back.

For some reason, Brother Shuang worked at a foot bath parlor, but his technique was truly on point.

The pressure was moderate, yet it contained a deep, supple force.

With every rub and movement, the medicinal effects of the Safflower Oil seeped into his tendons and muscles.

"So foot massage is a path too? This technique is insanely good!"

In only a few minutes, Qin Shi felt like he was sitting too close to a fire, pressed against a stove, his skin growing increasingly hot.

"The heat is normal. Your physique is excellent. Your tendons and bones are evenly proportioned. No wonder Teacher Liang values you."

Yan Shuang could not help praising him. He had served many customers, including quite a few Ranked Martial Artists with high levels of Life Force Development.

Yet a body like Qin Shi's, so nearly perfect inside and combining explosiveness with flexibility, was one of a kind.

After all, the human body was not symmetrical.

Especially during development, muscles, bones, and even organs all had subtle differences.

But through the massage and muscle release just now, Yan Shuang had clearly felt that Qin Shi's major tendons and muscle groups were arranged almost perfectly.

Like a human figure carved by a master craftsman!

"Evenly proportioned?"

Qin Shi pondered.

"Could it be because I activated [Muscle Memory]?"

Once the effect of that achievement activated, his body seemed to come alive, constantly correcting how his muscles and tendons operated.

Yan Shuang said with a smile in his voice.

"The Safflower Oil and cream are applied. I'm going to start putting some strength into it now."

Immediately afterward, a sharp pain like his entire skeleton was coming apart surged in and overwhelmed Qin Shi's mind!

"Fuck..."