Barker City

"Ye Tian, big brother, I feel so hot!"

"That's good. It means the pill is taking effect."

After answering Dong'er's question, Ye Tian asked, "Do you still feel sleepy?"

Dong'er shook her head. "No, I feel wide awake now."

"Now run back and forth between the wooden hut and the stream. You can stop when you no longer feel hot."

Dong'er agreed and immediately dashed out, sweating as she ran along the path.

Whenever she felt she was about to run out of strength, a warm current would flow from her stomach, quickly spreading throughout her body and restoring some of the strength she had used up.

Dong'er gritted her teeth and ran back and forth along the path. Sweat soaked her clothes, and droplets scattered over the ground. Her lungs wheezed like bellows, and every breath felt as though it took all her strength.

Her steps grew heavier and heavier. Eventually, Dong'er could only stagger forward on instinct.

"I can't stop!"

"Ye Tian, big brother, didn't say time's up. I can't stop!"

Dong'er was unwilling to stop, but her steps grew heavier and heavier. At last, she stumbled on a step and pitched forward.

The moment she lost consciousness, Ye Tian took control of Dong'er's body, letting her land safely. He walked back to the wooden hut, placed a Foundation Strengthening Pill in her mouth, and handed her body back just as she swallowed it.

The pill entered her stomach, and waves of warmth flowed through her body, quickly dispelling her exhaustion.

Hmm?

Dong'er had slept soundly. Just as she was about to ask Ye Tian, big brother, something hit her with a powerful stench, making her gag.

Looking closely, she saw a layer of mudlike grime covering her hands and legs, giving off a foul odor.

Ugh~

Holding her breath, Dong'er instinctively rushed into the stream, took off her clothes, and began washing the dirt from her body.

In the Mental Space, the moment Dong'er woke, Yun Shu conscientiously closed his eyes.

Only halfway through washing did Dong'er realize there was someone else in her mind. When her mental body entered and saw Ye Tian sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, a blush passed over her face. Reassured, she continued washing.

"Ye Tian, big brother, you can open your eyes now."

Ye Tian opened his eyes and saw a face reflected in the stream, sculpted with divine precision. Once clean, Dong'er was in no way less beautiful than the big stars on the screen in his previous life.

She was only five and already this pretty. He couldn't imagine what a peerless beauty Dong'er would become when she grew up.

"Now, take a look at how your body feels. Do you notice any changes?"

Dong'er carefully felt over her body before replying, "I don't feel cold at all now, and I feel like I have a lot of strength."

"Mm, that's right."

Dong'er had only just begun to hesitate when her stomach rumbled. A trace of embarrassment crossed her face.

"The pill works well, but you still need enough food to replenish your energy. We'll roast some more wolf meat to eat later. After that, I'll teach you how to make some traps. If we're lucky, we'll find more food tomorrow."

Dong'er agreed. Once she sat by the fire and began eating one bite at a time, even she was startled by her appetite.

She actually finished an entire wolf hind leg, and her belly didn't feel bloated at all. It was as if the dozen or so pounds of meat she'd eaten had all fallen into a bottomless pit.

After she was full, Ye Tian began teaching Dong'er how to set traps and find food in the wilderness. Dong'er learned each lesson as soon as he taught it, making Ye Tian feel a great sense of accomplishment.

"Dong'er, it's time to start the next stage of training. Hand your body over to me."

The next second, Yun Shu felt the abundant vitality within the body and began practicing a set of punches that were firm yet flexible. At the same time, he explained the essentials of the technique without holding anything back.

"Pay attention to my breathing. Coordinate every punch with your breath."

"Keep your feet planted firmly. No matter what happens, your lower body mustn't sway!"

"With every punch, bring your whole body's strength into it. Let your waist and abdomen drive your arms—that way, your punches will carry more power!"

After finishing the set, Ye Tian asked, "Did you remember everything?"

"I did."

"Good. Then give it a try, Dong'er. I'll point out anything you get wrong."

Dong'er nodded firmly. She recalled Ye Tian, big brother's punches, planted her feet in a horse stance, and began practicing.

From time to time, Ye Tian pointed out where her movements were off. Whenever she couldn't understand something, he taught Dong'er by hand in the Mental Space.

By the end of the afternoon, Dong'er had memorized every move in the technique. Her proficiency grew rapidly with each repetition. She would be able to master the technique completely by tomorrow at the latest. Of course, becoming proficient would take time and practice.

When the day ended, Ye Tian also received the system's regular tally.

[Congratulations, host. You have slightly improved the character's potential. Reward: 500 Fate Points.]

He'd invested 20 Fate Points and taught her a set of punches, yet received 500 in return!

That was a twenty-five-fold profit. The return on investment was astonishingly high!

If he received this much every day, wouldn't he be able to get the Godhood Inheritance in the Mall if he just worked a little harder?

After his excitement faded, his reason soon returned. Ye Tian knew that the reason he'd received so many Fate Points today was that Dong'er had taken a pill for the first time. It was like the cleansing and remolding of one's body and meridians in cultivation novels.

No matter how many more pills she took, they wouldn't bring about much change. Unless, of course, they found those Immortal Herbs in Sunset Forest.

Over the next few days, Dong'er took the remaining Foundation Strengthening Pills, two a day. The Fate Points she earned each day added up to only 300.

"Ye Tian, big brother, I'm all packed!"

Dong'er ran out of the wooden hut with a small bundle on her back. Inside were rabbit pelts and pheasant feathers she'd gathered herself over the past few days.

With Ye Tian's guidance, they left the forest and headed toward places where people lived.

Along the way, Ye Tian shared some life lessons with Dong'er. For example, in this world, the one with the biggest say was also the one with the biggest fists.

Always keep something in reserve around outsiders. Leave yourself at least one trump card...

Dong'er committed all of it to memory. After walking through the forest for a while, they soon spotted a clear set of wheel ruts.

She waited by the roadside for a while, until at last an ox cart came along and agreed to give her a ride.

After speaking with the old man driving the cart, she soon learned that they were headed for a small city called Barker City.

The city belonged to the Spirit Hall, whose members were all Soul Masters. It was also only a hundred li from the Spirit Hall's Holy City, making it safer and home to more wealthy people.

The old man usually made bamboo goods and raised chickens and ducks at home. Every so often, he went into the city to sell them.

Dong'er was a sweet talker. Before long, she had the old man laughing heartily. He liked the clever little girl so much that he wished he could give her everything he had.

When he learned that Dong'er was going into the city to sell her goods, the old man even offered to accompany her. He said that if a little girl went alone, the shopkeepers would drive down her prices.