"Hmm, then lock the door. It's not safe around here lately, so stay in as much as you can unless necessary."
"Okay, I understand." Zui'Er nodded fervently.
Zhao Ya left.
Tang Zui'Er watched his figure disappear into the distance before closing the gate again.
"Zui'Er, who was that just now?"
There came an elderly voice from the main room.
"Grandma, it was Ya. He came to pick up the washed clothes and even brought us half a bag of rice!" Tang Zui'Er said happily.
"Oh, it's Ya. It's touching how this child still remembers us, his grandparents. If only your father were still alive..." the old lady said, her voice already choked with sobs.
"Oh, Grandma, please don't say that. You've cried your eyes blind. I'll go make you some rice porridge." Tang Zui'Er hurriedly changed the subject.
Of course, Zhao Ya was unaware of this. By now, he had already returned home and was preparing dinner for the day.
The little girl just now, named Tang Zui'Er, was Zhao Ya's neighbor.
Speaking of which, she's also a pitiful child; her mother died at birth, her father disappeared while doing business when she was little, leaving her to depend on an old blind woman.
Zhao Ya helped this little girl because, during childhood, he had received help from Tang Zui'Er's father, and out of gratitude, he couldn't stand by as the grandparents struggled.
This half-bag of coarse rice meant little to Zhao Ya now, but it provided significant help to the grandparents.
Otherwise, given the current state of the world, Tang Zui'Er was bound to face a fate darker than hell itself.
A bowl of white rice, a plate of garlic shoots stir-fried with preserved meat.
Simple ingredients, yet Zhao Ya found them delicious.
Soon, the food was all gone.
Satisfied, Zhao Ya burped, and after cleaning up, he stood in the courtyard to begin his necessary daily practice.
In the first move, Zhao Ya spread his arms out, slowly raising them to shoulder level, then suddenly lifting them above his head and then reaching toward the sky.
It was the first move of the Eight Vajra Skills, "Double Hands Uplift to Benefit the Triple Jiao."
The Eight Vajra Skills were something Zhao Ya had learned online, with a long history rumored to date back to the Tang dynasty, becoming a health secret among many Taoist sects by the Song dynasty.
The Eight Pieces of Brocade, popular later, was derived from these Eight Vajra Skills.
Initially, Zhao Ya learned it for fun, not taking these slow moves like an old lady's Tai Chi seriously.
Yet finding himself in this bizarre world, Zhao Ya decided to give it a try.
After all, techniques in this world were incredibly valuable, much like the Five Tiger Fist he's mastered now.
It's an extremely basic skill, yet even that required him to join the Changlong Escort Agency and pass his probation to learn.
After a few days of practice, other than better sleep and appetite, Zhao Ya hadn't noticed any changes.
But having started, he had to continue.
The second, "Hands and Feet Forward to Strengthen Kidneys and Waist"; the third, "Adjust Spleen and Skin with a Single Lift"; the fourth, "Left Liver and Right Stomach Like Shooting Eagles"...
Eight moves, each repeated nine times, Zhao Ya practiced with great diligence.
Soon, sweat appeared on his body.
By the seventh move, "Phoenix Spreads Wings with Strength Throughout," his muscles started trembling, and sweat poured down like rain, yet Zhao Ya clenched his teeth and persevered.
Finally.
After completing all Eight Vajra Skills, Zhao Ya raised his hands to his forehead and then slowly lowered them, allowing his boiling Qi Blood to gradually return to normal.
[Eight Vajra Skills proficiency increased by 2]
[Stomach unlock progress increased by 1%]
The sudden prompts startled Zhao Ya, who then excitedly opened his panel.
Indeed.
He found a new item in his skills tab.
Eight Vajra Skills (Novice Practice 2/100).
Additionally, the remaining lifespan tab changed too.
Remaining lifespan: 20 years (+10 days).
Importantly, the stomach area of the Human Body Outline Map also showed changes, glowing slightly brighter.
Zhao Ya felt his entire Qi Blood growing more vigorous.
These changes made Zhao Ya ecstatic, yet he also suddenly felt an intense hunger.
It was as if the food he'd just consumed vanished into thin air.
Zhao Ya quickly made another pot of rice porridge, but even after several bowls, the hunger remained.
A thought struck Zhao Ya, who took a piece of preserved meat, washed it briefly, cut it into large chunks, heated it in the porridge, and began to eat.
Indeed.
Once the meat entered his stomach, the intense hunger finally abated, and his growling stomach stopped protesting.
With ravenous speed, he consumed the pot of porridge and the large chunk of preserved meat, finally feeling content.
Seeing the empty dishes before him, Zhao Ya realized why his practice of the Eight Vajra Skills hadn't been effective earlier.
It was due to the lack of meat essence as an aid.
In this world, eating meat was a luxury for most, reserved for holidays and special occasions.
This was something Zhao Ya, from a highly developed world, found hard to bear.
So, he bought plenty of preserved meat once he received his salary to satisfy his cravings.
Unexpectedly, he discovered the system's secret.
Considering this, Zhao Ya pondered.
He'd just eaten at least two large chunks of over a pound of preserved meat, yet only unlocked 1% of progress.
If that's the case, he'd need to consume a lot more meat to fully unlock his stomach, wouldn't he?
Yet, it seemed acceptable.
It's just that his current salary wouldn't support it for long.
But then Zhao Ya laughed.
With this Golden Finger, surely he wouldn't lack money?
Needless to say, unlocking his stomach and enhancing his Qi Blood would naturally improve his martial arts, potentially enabling him to cross the Bone Refining Realm to become a Muscle Strengthening Realm expert.
By then, what's a bit of meat?
Moreover, increasing the unlock progress also extended his lifespan, meaning continuous progress would continually extend his life.
With that thought, Zhao Ya felt his heart ablaze with passion.