007 Everything Is Moving in a Better Direction

“Heh heh, not bad, right? Come on, let me show you around.”

Hearing what Du Ruo said, Yang Chenguang immediately broke into a proud smile. He had played a significant part in all this, and now that his friend was visiting, he was eager to show off.

“Let me tell you, things here are really great now. Do you see that? That’s our commercial center. At night, this place comes alive.”

Yang Chenguang led Du Ruo to the center of the village, where a guesthouse stood open. In front of the guesthouse was an open square, with a few shops lining its edge. The layout was quite well thought out, but Du Ruo couldn’t quite imagine how this place could possibly get lively at night.

“There’s a guesthouse on each side, more than twenty rooms in all. On either side you have restaurants, a convenience store, and even a tavern.

When evening comes, the guests from the guesthouses come down, and there’s a barbecue in the square, a bit of drinking, some dancing. I’m telling you, it’s just fantastic.”

Yang Chenguang’s background as a tour guide and live streamer showed—his words flowed smoothly as he pointed things out, and it was clear that many of these ideas were probably his.

“Sounds nice. I’ll come by one night and check it out,” Du Ruo replied casually. He wasn’t particularly interested in crowds these days; he much preferred the quiet sleep in his own village. After all, his old house used to be right on the pedestrian street in the city center, and he’d had his fill of lively nights.

“Why wait for another day? Let’s do it tonight. I’ll cook one of my home-raised chickens and we’ll have a drink together.”

Yang Chenguang was brimming with enthusiasm, as if he feared Du Ruo might decline. He added, “And let me tell you, the owner of the tavern is a real beauty—and she’s single, too.”

“Not tonight. I already have plans for the evening. I’ll be heading back soon,” Du Ruo shook his head. Right now, nothing mattered more to him than his martial arts practice. A few hours of training at night could boost his experience and attributes. If he missed that, he’d regret it for days.

“Look—that’s the tavern owner,” Yang Chenguang said, his eyes lighting up as he nodded toward the tavern.

Du Ruo followed his gaze. A woman emerged from the tavern across the way, its decor old-fashioned and elegant. She wore loose short sleeves, long pants, and slippers, her long hair draped casually over her shoulders. The distance made it hard for Du Ruo to make out her features.

Still, he made a quick assessment: long hair, long legs, an impressive figure—those three things alone made a woman's face much less important. And since Yang Chenguang called her a beauty, she probably wasn’t lacking in looks.

“Ahem… Well, maybe not tonight, but I’ll come by tomorrow evening. Honestly, I just want to try your home-raised chicken. I’ll come over tomorrow afternoon, and after dinner, the drinks are on me.”

Du Ruo changed his tune. It had been a long time since he’d visited Yang Chenguang’s parents. Since he was back this time, he ought to bring some gifts and pay a proper visit.

“Heh heh, sounds good,” Yang Chenguang replied, giving Du Ruo a knowing look and a chuckle, leaving it at that.

The two stood quietly for a moment, watching the tavern owner ride her electric scooter toward the town.

“All right, it’s about time. I’ll take you home, then I need to head back to town. My kid gets out of school soon and I have to pick him up. Remember to come by tomorrow night. The day after is a holiday, so I’ll bring my wife and child home for a stay.”

After strolling around the village with Du Ruo, Yang Chenguang glanced at his phone and explained. He lived in town, where his child attended school and his wife worked.

…

Carrying the kiwifruit he had brought back, Du Ruo fiddled with his phone until his father, Du Jianting, returned home, and it was time for dinner.

“So, how was your day at Chenguang’s place? His two sons—his eldest must be in elementary school by now, right?” his mother asked at the table, quickly moving on to expound on the virtues of starting a family.

Du Ruo understood her meaning right away. He’d thought it would be a few days before she started urging him, but the topic had come up sooner than expected. But what could he do? He simply kept his head down and ate.

“I’m done. You two take your time. Mom, don’t put the kiwifruit in the fridge—they need to ripen at room temperature for a few days,” Du Ruo said quickly, finishing his meal and making a swift escape to the backyard.

“Honestly, was it kiwifruit I wanted you to bring home…?” he heard his mother mutter as he walked away, but he pretended not to hear.

The backyard used to have only a few scallions, ginger, and garlic growing, with plenty of open space left—a perfect spot for his martial arts practice. It was the backyard, after all, and there had only been a dim bulb for light.

Now, as he turned on the light, the place was bright, and a sunshade and a set of tables and chairs had been added to the once-empty space.

Seeing all this, Du Ruo was filled with a sense of gratitude—how wonderful it was to have parents. He felt like a child again, always sheltered from the storms.

After sitting for a while to digest his meal, Du Ruo began his evening training.

Three hours later, he felt he couldn’t go on—he was hungry again, and his mind couldn’t focus any longer. It was time to stop.

Name: Du Ruo

Age: 31

Essence: 8.12

Vitality: 8.14

Spirit: 8.46

Attribute Points: 0.00

Skill: Xingyi Fist LV0 (18/100)

“Twelve points of experience in one day, and 0.12 attribute points. At this rate, it’ll take another week to level up Xingyi Fist. I wonder what will happen after leveling up—will I get new skills?”

Du Ruo pondered the attribute panel before him.

He wasn’t sure what higher levels of Xingyi Fist would entail. Strictly speaking, Xingyi Fist included not only the Five Elements Fist but also the Twelve Animal Forms. If the Five Elements Fist was the foundation of technique, then the Twelve Animal Forms should be the foundation of application. He wondered when he’d unlock them, and whether leveling up would grant him new skills—and what those skills might be.

“Never mind, no point in overthinking it. I’ll just keep exploring on my own. It won’t be long before I level up anyway.”

Even at the foot of the mountain, even at night, summer remained stiflingly hot—especially after a session of boxing practice, his clothes were drenched.

Ignoring his rumbling stomach, Du Ruo headed upstairs to wash up.

“I have to admit, my stomach does seem smaller, and I feel more energetic.”

In the bathroom, he patted his belly and noticed the benefits of boosting his essence, vitality, and spirit.

After thirty, the biggest change was a decline in energy. Sitting all day with little exercise slowed his metabolism, and a bit of belly fat was inevitable.

Now, though, he could clearly feel his stomach shrinking. The slight bulge was fading, and everything seemed to be improving.