Improving Physical Strength

Chapter 7: Improving Physical Strength

Watching the percentage suddenly rise to 85%, Shen Xing froze. He never expected to have guessed so much correctly this time.

This trait seemed pretty interesting. By interacting with a ghost, he could learn about it and figure out its traits.

He had no idea what would happen once he guessed them all, but there would definitely be some kind of result.

Just then, several more lines of text suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Your understanding of Hong Bin's traits has reached over 80%. You can lock onto Hong Bin...]

[Hong Bin has already been locked onto by the Wood Carving.]

At the same time, a strange feeling welled up inside Shen Xing. It was as if he had formed an uncanny connection with the shadow inside the half-body carving of Hong Bin.

With a mere thought, he could immediately sense the shadow of Fake Hong Bin curled up inside the carving.

[You have met the requirements to absorb Hong Bin's traits. Absorbing them can improve your physical strength. Would you like to begin now?]

[Tip 1: If your understanding of his traits reaches over 90%, there is a good chance you will discover and absorb Hong Bin's Latent Skill during the process.]

[Tip 2: Hong Bin has no Latent Skill.]

"Damn it!"

Reading those last two prompts, Shen Xing felt as if life had just mercilessly toyed with him.

The lines of text in his mind made him realize that the only way to raise his Physical Strength stat was by absorbing Fake Hong Bin's traits.

If Fake Hong Bin had a Latent Skill, Shen Xing would need to understand at least 90% of his traits to have a chance of absorbing it.

But Hong Bin had no Latent Skill, so Shen Xing could absorb his traits right away.

Regardless, while staring at the carving could increase his Mental Antibody, that only affected his mind and spirit. His physical body needed strengthening too, so he might as well seize the opportunity to improve his Physical Strength.

He picked up the half-body carving of Hong Bin and brought it closer, placing it directly in front of himself.

Shen Xing looked straight into the carving's eyes. Since it had trapped the abnormal Hong Bin inside, a close look revealed an eerie vitality emanating from within.

From its bangs and drooping brows to its slightly raised nose, thick lips, and the creases on its neck, every detail grew more lifelike the longer he looked. It felt as if he were facing a real person.

After a moment, Shen Xing silently said in his mind, "Absorb Hong Bin's traits."

A line of silver text immediately appeared in his mind.

[Hong Bin. Current understanding of his traits: 85%. You can absorb his traits. Would you like to begin now?]

"Begin."

Shen Xing repeated himself.

The Hong Bin carving before him trembled slightly the next second, as if it had been caught in an earthquake. He couldn't tell whether the table or the carving itself was moving.

Then he heard a sharp crack in his mind. Lowering his head slightly, he saw the skin on both his palms seem to glow faintly from within.

The Physical Strength progress bar at the corner of his eye slowly crept forward, stopping at 52%.

"That's it? It's over?" Shen Xing asked in surprise.

He hadn't felt a thing. The only thing he'd seen was the Hong Bin carving in front of him twitching slightly, and he had thought he'd accidentally bumped the worktable.

His Physical Strength had previously been "Mortal Body 37%," but now the stat in the corner of his eye read "Mortal Body 52%."

In other words, absorbing Hong Bin's traits had raised his Physical Strength by 15%.

He stayed still and sat quietly for a while.

After absorbing the traits, especially after seeing his hands glow faintly just now, Shen Xing felt as if an uncanny force had appeared between them.

He was just about to find a way to test the strength of his hands when a knock suddenly came from the front door.

A soft, slightly lisping child's voice spoke from outside. "Uncle Shen, are you there?"

Shen Xing knew at once that it was Lin Feifei from downstairs. Since her mother had raised her on her own, the girl had taken her mother's surname from birth.

"I am." Shen Xing put off his test for the moment, got up, and went to open the living room door.

Looking down, he saw Feifei standing alone in the doorway with her backpack on. Her little face was flushed, as if she had run all the way upstairs.

"Where's your mom?" Shen Xing asked in surprise.

"Mom isn't back yet," Feifei said. "We had PE this afternoon, and I forgot my key at home, so I can't get in. Can I wait here until Mom gets back?"

"Come on in," Shen Xing said with a smile.

Feifei beamed and changed her shoes properly at the door, though Shen Xing didn't have any slippers for children.

She put on an oversized pair and pattered inside, set down her backpack, took out her homework, and began writing at the table in front of the sofa.

Seeing the beads of sweat on her forehead, Shen Xing poured her a glass of water and set it in front of her.

"Have some water. Take it easy on your way home next time."

Feifei's school was near the Ivy Apartments. Since her mother, Lin Wanru, had to work, the girl usually went to and from school by herself.

Shen Xing didn't know where Lin Wanru worked, but she seemed to come home late quite often. Sometimes, when he returned from the shop after closing and saw Feifei alone, he would buy two dinners and give her one.

With Feifei in the room, he couldn't test the strange power in his hands. His palms and fingers only felt faintly swollen, as if they were brimming with strength.

Not wanting to disturb Feifei, Shen Xing returned to the worktable in his bedroom.

He looked at the half-body carving on the worktable. Fake Hong Bin's shadow was still inside, though Shen Xing had already absorbed his traits. Staring at the carving could still increase his Mental Antibody.

Shen Xing began thinking about making a new one for Hong Anjie and keeping this one for himself.

The shadow of Fake Hong Bin inside this carving hid too many secrets. It was definitely no longer suitable for Hong Anjie to take.

If he started over now and worked overtime, he should still have enough time. He'd earn a little less, though, and have to push himself harder.

But the wood for making a half-body carving was at the shop, and he had none at home. He would have to go there to get some.

Time passed slowly.

Night fell. Feifei had finished her homework long ago, but her mother still hadn't come home.

No one answered when Shen Xing called, either.

Shen Xing couldn't cook, and he didn't want Feifei to go hungry, so he quickly ordered two servings of fish-fragrant shredded pork over rice. One was large and one small; the small serving had no chili and was meant especially for Feifei.

They chatted as they ate, but even after Shen Xing packed up the leftovers and threw them away, Lin Wanru still hadn't come home.

Feifei didn't seem worried, though. Maybe she knew her mother's routine well and was already used to it.

After waiting another half hour, Shen Xing called again. This time, the call was hung up as soon as it rang, and Lin Wanru's voice came from the third floor.

"Feifei? Feifei?"

Feifei quickly put on her little backpack, opened the door, and ran outside. "Mom, I'm here! I'm at Uncle Shen's!"

Her little feet pattered quickly down the stairs.

Shen Xing peered out from the stairwell. By the light inside the building, he saw Feifei's mother leaning against the railing, seemingly unsteady on her feet. Looking at her face, he realized she must have been drinking—and quite a lot.

"Do you need me to come down?" he asked Feifei.

"No, thank you, Uncle Shen! Mom and I will treat you to dinner another day."

Feifei seemed quite used to this. She waved up at him, then took her mother's hand in both of hers and steadied her as she fumbled out her key. They soon went inside.

Lin Wanru staggered as she walked and mumbled something. She might have been thanking him, or she might just have been babbling because she'd had too much to drink. He couldn't make out what she was saying.

Shen Xing left them to it, turned back inside, and closed the door. A moment later, he shook his head slightly.