"Not bad, Brother Mo!" Zhao Peng leaned in to look at the display, and his eyes lit up at once. He couldn't help giving Chen Mo a firm slap on the back, harder than before. "75.23 calories! It's only been a little while, and you've already gained over four points! At this rate, you'll easily break 90 before the Gaokao. And your qi and blood activity is at 82%—that's an excellent level! You're amazing! And that potential rating of B+... I bet this lousy machine's underrating you! With the way you're improving, you've got at least an A-—good—level of potential!"
Chen Mo drew his hand back, the coolness of the sensor plate still lingering on his fingertips. He smiled and replied modestly, "Come on, Brother Peng, don't flatter me. I know where I stand. But the machine does seem pretty accurate. At least it gave me a precise Qi and Blood Value, which gives me a better sense of my progress. Thanks for going out of your way to let me take the test today."
"What are you thanking me for? There's no need to be so formal between friends!" Zhao Peng was delighted, as if Chen Mo's progress had something to do with him. His smile grew ever more hearty. "Come on, come on. The test's over, so it's time to refuel! We've been at it all afternoon. You must be hungry, right? I'll have Mama Wu make us something good. You can eat your fill today!"
The two returned to the dining room on the first floor, which had been completely transformed. Several delicious-looking dishes had been laid out on the solid-wood table, nearly two meters long. Most were meat dishes, their enticing aromas making their mouths water. Mama Wu was still busy moving between the kitchen and dining room, carrying a plate of freshly grilled meat, steaming hot.
"Come on, Brother Mo, let me introduce the dishes!" Zhao Peng led Chen Mo to his seat and pointed them out one by one, sounding a little proud. "This is Crimson Ridge Savage Beef, a specialty product from my family's hotel chain. We source it directly from the Psionic Cultivation Farm. The savage cattle are raised on feed mixed with low-concentration Psionic Grass. Their meat contains trace amounts of psionic energy, which helps replenish your qi and blood. It works pretty slowly, though—you have to eat it for a long time before you notice any effects."
Chen Mo looked at the plate of beef. The steak's grain was clearly visible, and its surface was grilled to a fragrant crisp, with the edges curled slightly and oil sizzling on top. The black pepper and sea salt sprinkled over it were easy to make out. Just looking at it was enough to whet his appetite.
"This is Clear Pond Silver Thread Fish, from the Qingtan Reservoir upstream on the Hui River. The water there is rich in minerals, so the fish is tender and almost boneless." Zhao Peng pointed to another plate, where a steamed fish lay, its flesh as white as jade and topped with shredded ginger and scallions, with a light drizzle of soy sauce. Its aroma was fresh and delicate. "It gently regulates your qi and blood, so it's good to eat after training. It won't make you overheat."
"And this is Earth Root Stewed Pheasant—a proper medicinal dish!" Zhao Peng pointed to the covered pot in the middle of the table. The broth was amber-colored, with several pieces of tender chicken and thick Earth Root floating in it. Its aroma was rich. "The Earth Root is a wild variety dug up in the mountains, and the pheasants are free-range. It simmered over low heat for three hours. It restores vitality and strengthens your sinews and bones. Have plenty of the broth. It works better than ten ordinary Qi and Blood Capsules."
Besides those, the table held several refreshing vegetable dishes and a carefully prepared cold appetizer. The mix of meat and vegetables was enough to make anyone hungry. Chen Mo was secretly astonished. Just from their names and origins, he could tell these ingredients were extraordinary. They probably cost ten or even dozens of times more than similar ingredients sold elsewhere—far beyond what an ordinary family could afford.
"Mama Wu, bring us two more bottles of chilled juice!" Zhao Peng called toward the kitchen.
"Coming right up!" Mama Wu soon brought over two bottles of freshly squeezed orange juice and set them in front of the two men. She thoughtfully placed clean utensils beside them, then smiled and stepped aside to wait.
The two stopped being polite and dug in. At first, Chen Mo had been a little restrained. He was a guest in someone else's home, and the ingredients were so precious. But Zhao Peng kept piling food onto his plate. "Brother Mo, have more of this beef. It'll replenish your qi and blood!" "The fish soup's delicious. Try some!" "The Earth Root's stewed until it's meltingly tender. Don't let it go to waste!"
Besides, the food really was incredible. The Crimson Ridge Savage Beef was crisp on the outside and tender inside, bursting with juices when he bit into it and carrying a faint, warming trace of psionic energy. The Clear Pond Silver Thread Fish was tender and free of gristle, its savory flavor spreading across his tongue. The Earth Root Stewed Pheasant had a rich broth that warmed him from head to toe. Gradually, Chen Mo relaxed and ate to his heart's content.
As soon as he swallowed his first bite of Crimson Ridge Savage Beef, Chen Mo sensed something unusual. The tenderness and juiciness were a given, but more importantly, as he chewed and swallowed, a warmth much fainter than that of a Qi and Blood Capsule—but just as real—slowly spread from his stomach. It flowed along his meridians to every part of his body, subtly responding to and mingling with his own qi and blood. Each bite replenished only a negligible amount, but there was plenty of it. The steak weighed at least half a pound, and by the time he'd finished the plate, it had replenished a considerable amount of qi and blood.
The other dishes had their own nourishing effects. The Silver Thread Fish broth gently regulated his qi and blood, helping his meridians flow more smoothly. The Earth Root Stewed Pheasant focused on restoring vitality; after eating it, the qi and blood in his Dantian felt a little denser. By the end of the meal, Chen Mo was warm all over, his qi and blood replenished and his mind refreshed. Even the faint fatigue he'd felt after using his qi and blood during the test had vanished completely. He estimated that the meal had replenished and nourished him about as much as one Qi and Blood Capsule would. And since it was food, its effects were gentle and came without side effects. It seemed to offer subtle long-term benefits to the body, too, making it a much safer option than relying on pills alone.
"How is it? Pretty good?" Zhao Peng asked, eating with grease on his lips as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. His words were a little muffled. The plate in front of him was already more than half empty, making it clear he enjoyed his food, too.
"Pretty good doesn't even begin to cover it. It's incredible." Chen Mo set down his chopsticks and spoke from the heart. "Brother Peng, do you eat like this all the time? You've got it so good."
"More or less. My mom always says martial arts training burns a lot of energy, so you have to build a solid foundation and eat well." Zhao Peng took a sip of orange juice, saying it as casually as if he were talking about having rice for lunch. But Chen Mo could hear how normal it was for him. For the Zhao Family, this kind of nourishment was simply part of everyday life.
That was the difference. Chen Mo sighed inwardly. He had to budget carefully and grit his teeth just to buy a single Qi and Blood Capsule now and then. In the Zhao household, that kind of nourishment was just part of the daily diet. With resources like these, how could anyone's training not progress quickly? Zhao Peng's strong foundation in qi and blood was thanks not just to his own hard work, but also to the exceptional resources available to him.
As they ate, the two grew more and more absorbed in conversation. Zhao Peng seemed carefree, but he was sharp and quick-witted. He could talk about anything under the sun—from Martial Arts Class at school to the latest martial arts competitions and the business gossip in Huihe City. Chen Mo gradually opened up, too. Every so often, he shared some of his insights into martial arts training. He was subtle about it, but he always seemed to hit the mark, making Zhao Peng nod again and again.
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