Zi Yang Turtle

At night, Tran Mac had Han An Nuong stew the "Zi Yang Turtle" he had brought back until it was very tender.

Tran Mac didn't say he had snatched this turtle, only that he had caught it himself, and also referred to it as a Green Turtle.

He also instructed her not to tell outsiders.

"Uncle, who do you take me for? I'm not a blabbermouth," Han An Nuong said, a little dejectedly.

Tran Mac knew Han An Nuong wasn't a blabbermouth, but a word of caution never hurt.

...

Soon, the "Zi Yang Turtle" was well stewed, with soybeans, red dates, and goji berries added.

"Uncle, this turtle smells so fragrant, doesn't it?" Han An Nuong said softly, fanning the steam rising from the pot.

Tran Mac leaned closer to sniff; indeed, there was an enticing meaty aroma that made one want to lick the pot clean.

Tran Mac took out chopsticks, picked up a piece, and ate it while it was still hot.

[Nourishing meat consumption +0.5, Blood Nurturing Technique experience +0.5.]

As the turtle meat entered his mouth and went into his stomach, Tran Mac felt a subtle, strange energy merging with his flesh and blood.

What surprised Tran Mac the most was that just one bite increased his Blood Nurturing Technique experience by 0.5.

One had to know, that bear gallbladder from before had only added one point in total.

This single mouthful of turtle meat surpassed half a bear gallbladder.

It seemed this turtle truly was the Zi Yang Turtle that person had mentioned.

Unfortunately, Tran Mac knew very little about cultivation matters. The books his original body had read didn't explain it in detail, and Tran Dai had only spoken in bits and pieces.

There wasn't much useful information; he had to figure these things out bit by bit on his own.

Regrettably, before stewing this Zi Yang Turtle, Tran Mac had deliberately weighed it; it was twenty-five catties, but the shell alone weighed ten catties.

The remaining meat was only about fifteen catties.

And Tran Mac had Han An Nuong put all fifteen catties of this meat into the pot to stew until tender.

"Sister-in-law, let's eat."

Tran Mac ladled all the turtle meat out of the pot, said a word to Han An Nuong, then sat down and ate like a whirlwind.

[Nourishing meat consumption +0.5, Blood Nurturing Technique experience +0.5.]

[Nourishing meat consumption +0.5, Blood Nurturing Technique experience +0.5...]

[Nourishing meat consumption...]

After about ten mouthfuls, Tran Mac noticed something was amiss. He felt as if the blood throughout his body was igniting, much like when he had first entered a rank, only his skin didn't turn crimson.

Tran Mac felt strands of strange energy merging with his flesh and blood.

He felt particularly aroused, especially a certain place, which was intensely restless.

He checked his system panel.

[Name: Tran Mac.]

[Age: 16.]

[Cultivation Technique: Blood Nurturing Technique (minor success 288.8/500).]

[Realm: Skin Refining (ninth rank).]

[Strength: 39.]

[Skill: Demon-Breaking Dao Technique (intermediate 77309/200000).]

The turtle meat he had just eaten had increased Tran Mac's Blood Nurturing Technique by over five points.

But that wasn't the most crucial part.

The most crucial part was that his own base strength had actually increased by one point.

This small amount should not be underestimated.

One had to know, an ordinary person's strength was 7 points. He had expended tremendous effort just to increase it to eight points. After later entering a rank and his strength greatly increasing to 38 points, no matter what he ate or how intensely he trained, his own strength had not risen by a single point.

But now, eating a few pieces of turtle meat had increased his own strength by one point.

And this was before any breakthrough.

Tran Mac suppressed the restlessness in his heart and continued to eat voraciously.

[Nourishing meat consumption +0.5, Blood Nurturing Technique experience +0.5.]

[...]

Under his frenzied eating, half the turtle meat in the bowl was gone in an instant.

And the restlessness in his heart could finally no longer be suppressed. His gaze involuntarily shifted to Han An Nuong, who was sitting beside him.

Perhaps due to the improvement in their living standards, or perhaps nurtured by love, Han An Nuong's skin had whitened somewhat, and her face was more radiant and rosy. Her way of eating was relatively ladylike, her red lips slightly parted, revealing an enticing moistness.

As if sensing Tran Mac's burning gaze, Han An Nuong bit her chopsticks and also looked at Tran Mac: "Uncle, what's wrong with you?"

Tran Mac knew Han An Nuong's monthly affair hadn't ended; he certainly wouldn't fight a bloody battle.

Helpless, he could only walk to the water vat and, under Han An Nuong's astonished gaze, plunged his head into the cold water.

Under the stimulation of the cold water, Tran Mac immediately sobered up quite a bit.

But this scene gave Han An Nuong a fright. She quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, walked over, and pulled Tran Mac out: "Uncle, you... what are you doing? It's so cold, you'll get sick like this."

Icy water droplets trickled down from the top of his head, soaking Tran Mac's clothes. Having sobered up a little, he lost the suppression of the cold water and once again became restless.

Amidst Han An Nuong's cry of alarm, Tran Mac fiercely hugged Han An Nuong, seemingly wanting to meld her into his own body.

"Uncle, you... you're hugging too tight, I can barely breathe."

But Tran Mac was already somewhat beyond hearing, hugging Han An Nuong and "gnawing" on her.

"Uncle, don't..." Han An Nuong struggled.

"Sister-in-law, I..." Tran Mac blew a breath of air beside Han An Nuong's ear.

Han An Nuong's soft body immediately went limp. She said fearfully, "But... but my monthly affair hasn't ended yet."

"Sister-in-law can..." Tran Mac whispered in her ear.

Hearing this, Han An Nuong initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Tran Mac's uncomfortable state, she immediately couldn't bear it. Thinking about how good her uncle was to her, what couldn't she do for him?

Han An Nuong...

Outside the kitchen, the snow fell heavier and heavier, the cold wind howled, and the world was a vast, dim expanse.

...

South of the county town.

Thanh Ha Bang Headquarters.

The night was deep. The small county town, unlike the capital, did not lack a night curfew. Once it was dark, the candlelight and lamps in the city were extinguished one by one.

But here, in a secluded villa nestled among the trees, it was brightly lit.

The Thanh Ha Bang was founded by Duong Uy.

Duong Uy's original name was Duong Nguu. He became famous after killing a bear and was noticed by Steward Yi, who took Duong Nguu as his son-in-law.

Later, after Steward Yi passed away, because his own son had been harmed by a "Bear Fiend" earlier, Duong Nguu inherited Steward Yi's family business.

Afterwards, he established the Thanh Ha Bang, gathered a thousand members, and took over the large and small gangs in Binh Dinh County and the surrounding Thanh Dinh County, becoming the number one gang in the two counties. For a time, his prestige soared, and Duong Nguu also changed his name to Duong Uy, respectfully addressed by people as Brother Xiong.

It was nearing the end of the year. Brother Xiong had summoned the eight branch leaders to summarize the gang's development and income situation for the year.

But now, it was already the third quarter of the Hour of Xu, yet Tran Ho, the branch leader responsible for the Thanh Ha Bang's aquatic product business, had still not arrived.

Duong Uy, seated at the head, had a grim expression.

Below, the seven great branch leaders were mostly as silent as cicadas in winter, while a fat man with large ears and a big face had a hint of schadenfreude in his heart.

"This Tran Mieu (Cat), daring to be absent even from Brother Xiong's council..."

"Not good!"

Suddenly, a lackey rushed in, flustered...