It was a scorching summer day, the sun blazing like fire. Emerging from the jade-green West Yin Mountain, Zhang Beixing had walked over a kilometer before arriving at Xiyin Town, nestled at the foot of the mountain.

It was nine in the morning, and the modestly sized Xiyin Town was already bustling with noise and excitement. Apart from the town residents, Zhang Beixing also saw many men and women dressed in local costumes weaving through the crowd. Furthermore, numerous street stalls and merchants had appeared.

Seeing this, Zhang Beixing couldn't help but feel curious. What's going on here?

Just then, a surprised and uncertain voice called out from behind, "Lao Zhang?"

Hearing this, Zhang Beixing turned around. He saw Zheng Jituo standing not far away, sizing him up with a somewhat astonished expression.

Noticing the look on his face, Zhang Beixing raised an eyebrow and walked up to Zheng Jituo. "What? It's only been a few days. Don't tell me my son doesn't recognize his father anymore?"

Hearing Zhang Beixing tease him, Zheng Jituo didn't say anything. Partly because he was used to it, and partly because, "Seriously, at first glance, I really didn't recognize you!"

"Damn, what did you go through during these three days in the mountains? Why does your aura feel so different?" Zheng Jituo exclaimed, clearly astonished as he sized Zhang Beixing up and down.

As a roommate who had lived and eaten with Zhang Beixing for three long years, Zheng Jituo knew his character inside out. Although Zhang Beixing's Essence, Qi, and Spirit had undergone a huge transformation in the past few months due to his martial arts training, his fundamental aura hadn't really changed because of his personality. He was still cheeky and irreverent, giving off a playfully cynical vibe. But now... while Zhang Beixing still had that casual air about him, it wasn't as purely uninhibited as before; it had acquired a distinct, different kind of charm.

"My aura is different? How so?" Zhang Beixing asked, raising an eyebrow upon hearing Zheng Jituo's words.

He hadn't noticed any change in himself. Now that Zheng Jituo mentioned it, he couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Zheng Jituo pondered for a moment before saying, "How should I put it... You feel much more composed now, exuding a calm and unruffled aura. It's like... let me think... a hermit... a hermit what, now?"

"Are you trying to say 'reclusive expert'?" Zhang Beixing interjected with a slight sound of surprise.

"Yes! That's it! A reclusive expert!" Zheng Jituo clapped his hands, looking at Zhang Beixing with envy. "Damn it, Lao Zhang! You only spent a few days in the mountains, and you managed to develop this kind of air? I was just wondering why you seemed so impressively aloof. So this is the reason!"

"Shit, you bastard! How did you train yourself to be so damn awesome?"

"I'm begging you, man, can we just stop training, okay? Seeing you succeed like this hurts more than if you'd killed me. I'm grinding my molars to dust here!"

Zheng Jituo always said he couldn't stand seeing his brother suffer, but he could stand seeing his brother succeed extravagantly even less! At that moment, he suddenly found himself missing the old Zhang Beixing. The old Zhang Beixing was great. Sure, he was a bit handsome, but he was skinny, weak, and even a little frail. His handsomeness was pretty meaningless. Not like now. Now, he wasn't just handsome; he was also incredibly sturdy, and on top of that, he had this calm, composed, unfathomable air of a reclusive expert. Zheng Jituo could already imagine how the girls at university would throw themselves at Zhang Beixing once he returned after the summer break. Especially when he compared Zhang Beixing to himself... Zheng Jituo felt even more bitter!

"Damn it! We agreed to be slackers together, and here you are, secretly grinding and getting ahead, huh?!"

...

Zheng Jituo stared at Zhang Beixing, practically radiating envy and jealousy.

Upon hearing Zheng Jituo's words, Zhang Beixing paused for a moment. Then he began to wonder why his aura had undergone such a change. Was it the environment or his state of mind? Perhaps both played a part. This was probably why reclusive experts who lived in the mountains in ancient times always seemed to possess an ethereal, almost immortal-like bearing. However, this wasn't particularly important. The change in his aura merely made him appear somewhat different; beyond that, it held no real practical significance.

Right now, what Zhang Beixing needed to prioritize was purchasing supplies! Heaven and earth are vast, but eating is paramount. So what if he was a reclusive expert? Try going without food for three days and see if you don't starve to death!

"Speaking of which, Jituo, why are there so many people here? What's going on?" Zhang Beixing asked, snapping back to reality as he observed the shouting vendors and the bustling crowd.

Hearing his question, Zheng Jituo suppressed the envy in his heart and explained, "This is a local market day. Back in our northern regions, we call it 'going to the fair.' It's held on specific days of the lunar calendar—those ending with a three, six, or nine. There's lots of stuff, and it's cheap. Want me to show you around?"

"Sure! I came down from the mountain to buy supplies anyway. The food I bought a couple of days ago is already gone; I need to stock up."

"What the—? That fast?" Zheng Jituo was shocked. "I remember you bought a ton of food, enough to last me a whole week! And you finished it all in three days?"

"Can't be helped. Martial arts training burns a lot of energy. Just a little activity, and whatever I've eaten is gone. This time, I plan to buy more, enough for ten days. I'll get plenty of cured meats, sausages, and stuff like that. Then I can just stay on the mountain and not come down. By the way, where's your uncle's pickup truck? Could I borrow it? Otherwise, just by myself, it'll probably take me two or three trips to haul everything I buy up there."

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