Over the next few days, Xuan immersed himself in various types of physical conditioning exercises. While he had never exercised before transmigrating to this world, the reason he got so immersed in exercising after coming here could be explained in a few lines.
[You have leveled up! 2 => 3]
[You have leveled up! 3 => 4]
[You have leveled up! 4 => 5]
[You have accumulated 9 Blank points]
Xuan felt amazing every time he heard this wonderful announcement from the system, and this was enough motivation to keep him going. As he observed himself in the mirror, a smile played on his lips.
"Damn! I've grown so muscular! I actually look like a handsome wolf now!" Xuan said as he looked at himself. His face was by no means ordinary; it had an energetic and youthful charm to it. "Now where should I invest all these points…"
Xuan had previously poured all his points mostly into Strength and Vitality. But after training for the last few days, observing and getting used to his body, he discovered that he was genuinely lacking in stamina, and that his Strength stat directly improved his speed as well.
"Hmm, that makes sense. Since I'm exerting a lot more power now, my lower stamina leads to getting exhausted too quickly. Let's put some points into Stamina and pour the rest into Strength for now. I don't need too much Vitality yet. An agile and lethal wolf is better than a bulky one."
[Opening 'Status']
Name: Feng Xuan
Race: Wolf-kin
Race Rank: Warrior
Level: 5
Mana: (180/180)
Essence Points: 20
Attributes:
Strength: 10 => 17
Intelligence: 9
Stamina: 15 => 17
Vitality: 20
Perception: 13
Blank Points: 0
This time, right after assigning the points, Xuan felt a much stronger wave of energy course through his body. He immediately did some squats and push-ups to test his strength. Before, he could easily do 100 push-ups before growing tired, but now, as minutes passed, he noticed he could do 170 push-ups before his arms finally felt heavy from exhaustion!
"Amazing. The increase in Strength is the most noticeable, but I can really feel the change in Stamina too. I did that many push-ups and I'm barely winded!"
Xuan then claimed the rewards he had been forgetting to claim. He opened the window that listed the mystery box, and the mystery box manifested in his hands.
When he opened it, the box immediately disappeared, leaving a pearl in his palm.
[Mystery Reward: Impulse Stone]
[Using this Impulse Stone, one can gain a temporary boost in physical strength]
Xuan smiled. As expected, it was only a low-grade mystery box, so the item wasn't anything amazing.
"Well, it's still pretty useful."
…
In the dining room on the first floor of the general's mansion, Xuan sat at the table enjoying the delicious food alongside the other servants and slaves. There were many dishes on the table—fried foods, desserts, curries, and much more—but the only thing Xuan picked was the leg piece! The piece was as large as half a chicken, and he plunged his canine teeth into it, savoring the juices that flowed into his mouth from the meat.
[Essence Points gained 5]
Xuan smiled. He had been accumulating Essence Points little by little. From what he had learned, the Brand wouldn't form over the first person he released his seed inside if he didn't have sufficient Essence Points, so he had been doing his best to save as many as possible by eating only meat every day. The servants had even started mocking him for being so picky.
"That bastard, he's just a slave—how dare he act like some noble, eating only meat every day," Liu Hao muttered as his own teeth tore large chunks from a chicken leg. "I gotta teach him a lesson soon, once he finishes his physical conditioning! The moment we start sparring, I'll tear him apart!"
Xuan heard everything despite Liu Hao trying to keep his voice low. "Sigh, what is this? This guy is hating on me just for eating? Talk about bad luck." Xuan didn't see Liu Hao as much of a threat. Once he made Chen Mei his lover and gained a few more levels, Liu Hao wouldn't be able to touch him. "I've got to find a way to get close to Chen Mei. She's locked herself in her room these past few days—apparently she's super busy. I wonder if it's because of those rumors I've been hearing…"
After breakfast, Xuan went straight to the training ground. Unlike his supposed senior brothers, who were busy chatting up the female servants of the mansion, Liu Hao was working particularly hard to get the attention of a wolf-kin woman who served as a security guard.
Xuan smiled as he watched his "brothers" trying so hard to impress the girls. Even though he didn't particularly like them, they reminded him of himself and his friends in his previous life—they had worked just as hard to get girls. He couldn't help but feel a little sympathy.
But today, there was something very unusual about the atmosphere in the entire mansion—and the whole manor, for that matter. He had seen many empty carriages arriving and parking inside the grounds, with more still coming. The servants were chatting far more than usual; some were visibly excited. Xuan had already tried asking a few of them what was going on, but they were so absorbed in their conversations that they didn't even hear him.
"They were talking about unification and stuff, and how they're gonna get richer?" Xuan felt confused; he had only caught bits and pieces. "Ah well, I'd rather just focus on training and getting stronger!"
But right at that moment, Xuan overheard two maids who were cleaning and checking which training equipment needed replacing. His wolf ears perked up as he focused on their conversation.
"From today onward, our tribe will officially be known as a Kingdom! I'm truly blessed to have been born in such an amazing time!" one servant said while appraising the equipment. "It happened so quickly. General Yulin and the Supreme Leader Shihuang were both truly wise—the moment the Fang Tribe showed weakness after we repelled their invasion, the joint counterattack of General Yulin and the Supreme Leader completely unraveled them!"
"Haha, true, but be careful—refer to the Supreme Leader as Queen from now on, or we'll get in trouble," the blonde beastman replied as she noted which equipment needed replacing.
"Yeah, especially now that the legislation for the formation of the kingdom is complete. General Yulin has also been granted a huge amount of the conquered territory by the Queen. Attendant Chen Mei is going to have her work cut out for her."
Xuan felt dazed. To think he had arrived in this world at such a chaotic yet pivotal time. In a way, it was highly beneficial for him too—his owner was the general who had just received a massive amount of new territory. That naturally meant her closest subordinates would see their responsibilities and wealth expand as well.
"Chen Mei is General Yulin's personal attendant; she already handles all her finances and manages this entire mansion. And from what I know, the general started as a nobody and rose purely through genius and merit. So this new territory she's been granted—she'll probably hand a large part of its management to Chen Mei."
Xuan smelled opportunity, he had previously thought of taking the job of a servent who specifically did the chores of the second floor of the mansion. He had been informed that it would take a week before he could be officially assigned to that duty. But now? He couldn't wait for such official permission.
"Gotta strike the iron while it's hot!" said Xuan as he approached the two maids and asked about Chen Mei's current situation. As a slave, he wasn't allowed on the second floor unless summoned or delivering something requested.
"Uh, about Lady Chen Mei? She's just been promoted to head of the economic division of the general's new dukedom. The general herself has been elevated to duchess for her massive contribution to conquering the Fang Tribe."
Xuan nodded and returned to his training. After finishing and taking a bath, he went to another servant's room and asked to take over his duties for the week.
"Huh? Why do you want my shift? Are you trying to steal my job?" the servant asked suspiciously.
Xuan scratched the back of his head. "Of course not. For your information, I'm the general's direct slave—why would I need to steal your work? I'm just bored out of my mind with my usual routine. Let me cover for you this week; you can rest the whole time. I won't take your pay, and I'll owe you a favor!"
That was more than enough. The servant agreed instantly. Xuan had almost had no duties this week—his only real job from sunset onward was tending to the general's sexual needs, but since she was away and not in the mansion, he was completely free.
He started the servant duties immediately, working in the kitchen. His main task was bringing food and items to the second floor and handling chores for those living there. He had chosen this duty on purpose.
Soon enough, the call he had been waiting for finally came.
"Hey, Xuan! Bring this tray up to Lady Chen Mei—and watch your manners around her."
"Yes, chef!"