Chapter 10: Footbath Shop, Up to the Second Floor

Lao Liang was rather tsundere; after knowing me for just two days, he waived my registration fee and even paid for my nutrient paste.

Once I completely win him over with my talent and ability, won't that be something!

Qin Shi joked silently, a long-lost sense of steadiness rising in his heart.

Relying on the two Junior Achievements, 【Deep Sleep】 and 【Muscle Memory】, he gained Liang Laoshi's favor.

From now on, continue unlocking the Stela and grind growth degree.

Perhaps he could even fantasize about the legendary Four Great National Universities.

You know, among the children of Old Factory Street workers over the past nearly twenty years.

Those who got into Heng University or Ke University, the "Wenqu Stars," numbered less than one hand.

Let alone stepping into a Top University as a "Zhuangyuan Lang"!

Qin Shi happily daydreamed; he always believed that no matter how harsh the survival environment, one should show a positive attitude.

Piling up too many complaints and grievances not only makes people listless and gradually numb.

But also causes one to unconsciously lose the drive to move forward, the determination to strive!

"This portion of nutrient paste today counts as a free gift for you. If you maintain Qi Sense for an hour tomorrow, come get two more boxes."

Having drunk more than half a bottle of Hengzhou Old Cellar, Lao Liang could be said to be drinking with great enthusiasm.

"If I last a bit longer, can I have a few more portions?"

Qin Shi licked his lips; Liangxiang Ji's nutrient paste was indeed hard to swallow, but the benefits it brought to the body were real.

Just as now, as a strong sense of satiety drove away hunger, a warm heat traveled through his whole body.

Like sweet rain irrigating dry fields, silently nourishing, it nourished his sore and swollen muscle groups.

If Qin Shi's body were quantified, one should now be able to intuitively see his Six Attributes, all slightly rising.

"At least stamina and endurance increased. Combined with Deep Sleep, Old Martial Arts training methods, and nutrient paste replenishment."

"Within half a month, life force breaking through the Ten Point Threshold doesn't seem as hard as imagined?"

Qin Shi suppressed his excited mood, summoned the Stela, and the pixelated Blood Flesh Embryo seemed to have grown a bit larger.

Pity that without testing instruments, he still didn't know the degree of Life Force Development.

"Let's go."

Lao Liang ate until the table was a mess, stood up to settle the bill.

"It's still early; I'll take you to another place."

Old Factory Street at seven or eight o'clock was the liveliest, with street vendors setting up stalls, pushcarts full of fried skewer snacks, gray-faced workers, and uncles and aunts gathering in pairs to cool off...

These familiar scenes made Qin Shi feel the true bustle of life, and a kind of indescribable tenacious life force.

Compared to the dazzling brilliant stars, the stones at the bottom of the mountain foot were small and cold.

But both existed equally in the vast universe!

Whether the Sun or gravel, each had its own way of living.

"Liang Laoshi, where are we going?"

Qin Shi followed behind, gradually sensing something was wrong.

The further they walked, the dimmer the streetlights became?

Were there more and more pink signboards emitting an ambiguous aura along both sides of the street?

What was with the graceful figures loitering at alley entrances in twos and threes?

"Could I even sell you off?"

Lao Liang chuckled lightly, his footsteps paused, stopping at the doorway of the Footbath Shop.

"We're here."

Qin Shi looked up; the advertising billboard flickered, and the large characters "Jin Se Yin Xiang" came into view.

"Ah?"

Footbath Shop?

Which teacher takes a student to wash feet!

Second floor, Lobby.

"Lao Liang, long time no see. Xiao Shuang is currently on the clock; I reckon she'll be done soon. Are you waiting, or ordering another one?"

The female manager with big wavy red hair stepped forward to welcome them; as her eyes flowed, she caught sight of Qin Shi behind.

"Yo, this little handsome guy is unfamiliar; haven't come before, right? Your student?"

Lao Liang pointed at Qin Shi:

"I only drink tea; let him try Xiao Shuang's technique."

The female manager smiled charmingly, called the Front Desk to brew a pot of chrysanthemum tea, and warmly pulled the awkward Qin Shi:

"Little handsome guy, don't be nervous; everything is unfamiliar at first but familiar the second time. Experience it once today, and you'll get used to it later."

Was Lao Liang trying to exchange my Pure Yang Body for red envelopes to subsidize the cost of buying nutrient paste?

Qin Shi's expression was tense; he wasn't inexperienced, it was just that everything came too suddenly, and he was a bit confused about the situation.

How did eating and chatting lead to the second floor of the Footbath Shop?

If they ran into an anti-prostitution raid, would Officer Uncle believe his explanation?

"Officer, I was forcibly dragged in by my teacher; I did nothing..."

Qin Shi could imagine the disdainful expression on Officer Uncle's face: "Keep making it up, I'm listening."

Lao Liang sat on a rattan chair and joked:

"I say, Hong Jie, getting so close to my student—are you having thoughts of an old cow eating tender grass?"

The big-waved female manager spat:

"Pah! A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory—who's your sister? We're generations apart! You're making me sound old!"

Immediately, she sized up Qin Shi with a glance, covering her mouth as she laughed:

"But I have to say, this handsome young man is the most upright and likable of your students."

Many wealthy wives in the Urban Circle love this type; they call it 'little milk dog'."

Old Liang had no interest in salacious gossip, waving his hand:

"Hurry up, take him to change clothes, for a full two hours."

After taking his token, Qin Shi was led to a private small room, took off his clothes, and put on a loose bathrobe.

He surveyed the surroundings; the room's lighting was rather dim, with a soft lounge chair and a low stool for propping up his feet.

A wooden screen divided the space; looking inside, there were wooden tubs for two people.

Near the faucet dispensing hot water, several trays were placed, holding incense and flower petals.

"Hiss, doesn't look like a proper foot massage place!"

Qin Shi felt the urge to retreat in his heart:

"Old martial arts have been passed down for ages—isn't there a saying that keeping one's virgin body is more beneficial for cultivation? Old Liang wouldn't be from the Hehuan Sect, following the Dual Cultivation School path, would he!"

Creak.

He hadn't had time to run away when the room door was pushed open.

"Hello sir, Technician No. 69 is at your service."

Her voice was soft, carrying a tender, coquettish tone.

"I went to the wrong... eh, it's a male technician."

Qin Shi turned to look closely and was stunned.

The person wore a white long-sleeved shirt and long pants, with an employee ID card pinned to his chest; shoulder-length black straight hair, handsome features, and a prominent Adam's apple.

Speaking of looks alone, even Qin Shi, a recognized handsome youth of Old Factory Street, was inferior by half.

"I'm Yan Shuang, skilled in massage and relaxation; I also know a bit about bone-setting and treating external injuries and strains."

Male Technician No. 69 smiled gently, looking just like an idol often seen on Urban Circle billboards.

"Okay, thanks, Shuang Ge."

Qin Shi's hanging heart finally settled.

Crisis of losing his virginity averted!

"Lie face down, take off your upper clothes; Teacher Liang said you might have over-cultivated and worries about hidden injuries and root causes of disease."

Yan Shuang opened the box he was carrying and took out several items from among the bottles and jars.

"This is 'Hua Lian Red Flower Oil', and 'Shen Zhi Shu Jin Gao'. We'll apply it first, then massage."

Qin Shi obediently lay down, palms crossed under his chin, and a cool sensation quickly spread across his waist and back.

This Shuang Ge, who for some reason worked at a footbath shop, indeed had skilled technique.

The pressure was moderate, yet contained a heavy soft strength.

With each rub and movement, the medicinal power of the Red Flower Oil seeped into the muscles.

"Foot massage is also a path? This technique is too fierce!"

In just a few minutes, Qin Shi felt like he had stood too close to a fire, pressed against the edge of a furnace, his skin growing increasingly hot.

"Heating up is a normal phenomenon. Your physique is truly good; your tendons and bones are evenly distributed. No wonder Teacher Liang values you."

Yan Shuang couldn't help but praise him; he had received many clients, among them not lacking fixed-stage martial artists with quite high Life Force Development Levels.

But a body like Qin Shi's, internally extremely perfect, possessing both explosiveness and flexibility, was unparalleled.

You must know, the human body is not symmetrical.

Especially during development, muscles, bones, and even organs have minute differences.

But through the massage and relaxation just now, Yan Shuang clearly felt Qin Shi's large tendons distribution and muscle group arrangement were nearly perfect.

Like a statue carved by a master craftsman!

"Evenly distributed?"

Qin Shi considered.

"Could it be because of activating 【Muscle Memory】?"

Once this achievement effect was activated, the body seemed to come alive, constantly correcting the way muscles and tendons and bones operated.

Yan Shuang said with a smiling tone:

"The Red Flower Oil and ointment are applied; I'm going to start using force now."

Immediately after, a clear pain like bones scattering surged forth, occupying Qin Shi's brain!

"Fuck..."

(Chapter End)