Chapter 24: Calling You Father, Exposure, and Breaking Through to the Skin-Refining Realm!

The praises from the crowd rose one after another, and Xia He smiled, responding to everyone’s warmth one by one. Even Uncle Wang from the medicine shop, holding a jar of wine, had a face full of smiles. "Haha, Xia He, you lad have really brought glory to your father-in-law! Come, come, today Uncle Wang must have a good drink with you no matter what!"

However, Xia He did not have the heart for it. He stuck to his usual line, saying he would pay a formal visit after the upcoming assessment.

Once he finally made it home and set the side of pork on the ground, Wang Erpang collapsed, soaked in sweat and panting. The guard station outside the town was dozens of miles away, and carrying several hundred pounds of pork all the way back was exhausting.

"Brother He, did the military camp slaughter pigs today?" As soon as Xia He stepped inside, he saw his wife walk out, her eyes wide with surprise, as if she had seen something rare. Seeing this, his lips curled slightly into a doting smile. For Xia He, every time he had a harvest, the thing he looked forward to most was the joy on his wife’s face. He had promised to give her a good life, and now that goal was initially realized.

Wang Erpang, who had known all along that Xia He was married, greeted her with honeyed words, calling her "Sister-in-law" repeatedly. This made the already shy Li Huilan blush even deeper.

Just then, a commotion came from the room, and a small head poked out. It was his nephew, Xiaowen, who came bounding out. Xia He understood immediately: the little guy’s illness must have mostly recovered—he was back to begging for food again! He intentionally put on a stern face and scolded with a laugh, "You little rascal, did you come running because you smelled the meat?"

Xiaowen wasn't afraid; he giggled and ran to Xia He, hugging his leg. "Uncle-in-law, there’s meat to eat when I’m with you! Can I call you Dad from now on?"

Li Huilan was stunned, and Xia He burst into laughter. The boy was quite pitiful, having lost his father at a young age; he likely hadn't had his fill of food for years. "If you want meat, just come to your uncle's place. You’re at the age where you’re growing—you can’t stay hungry."

"Yes, Uncle-in-law! When I grow up, I’ll protect my mother so no one can bully her!"

"Good boy, eat plenty later." It seemed the antidote he had concocted for the blood disease was effective; Xiaowen was no longer in danger.

"Erpang, don't leave yet. Stay for dinner." Since his father passed away and his mother remarried, Wang Erpang had lived a lonely life. Hearing the invitation, he teared up. "Brother He, I knew there would be meat if I followed you. From now on, I’m your man!"

"Get lost, you looking for a beating?"

Afterward, the two of them worked together to prepare the fresh pork. Before long, an enticing aroma drifted from the kitchen. A piping hot, delicious pot of cabbage stewed with vermicelli was brought to the table. The family sat together, enjoying the hearty dinner in harmony. Laughter echoed in the small room, filled with warmth and family love.

***

As night fell, the courtyard was shrouded in a quiet, ink-like darkness. Xia He, his bronze-toned upper body bare, stood with his feet planted firmly in a horse stance, sweat dripping like broken strings of pearls. He had consumed eight or nine pounds of fresh pork in one sitting. The vast amount of food was being digested, releasing torrents of scorching energy that surged through his body. Xia He focused entirely on guiding these heat flows, attempting to convert them into power. His breathing was long and steady, following the rhythmic pattern he had learned from Old Zhou on his way back.

With this new breathing technique, his progress in the fist stance was rapid. Between his focus and the new method, the speed was astonishing. The twenty-seventh, the twenty-eighth, the twenty-ninth... Within two hours, he had broken through to the thirty-third stance, with only three more left to achieve full mastery.

As the moonlight deepened and the horizon began to pale, Xia He finally completed the last movement. He exhaled a long breath of stale air, feeling reborn, his face brimming with uncontrollable excitement.

Basic Fist Technique: Mastered!

[Skill: Fist Stance Mastery (Entry)]
[Progress: 0/200]
[Effect: Fists can pierce armor; Copper Skin]

Xia He felt clearly that at the moment of mastery, not only had his strength increased significantly, but the surface of his muscles had also condensed into a thin, tough film. It felt like resilient oxhide, providing extraordinary protection and toughness.

"Is this the Skin-Refining Realm?" Xia He was thrilled. It had been seven days since he started training! He picked up a sickle and slashed at his arm, but it left only a white mark. "So strong?"

He looked around, jumped to the neighbor's tree, and threw a punch with all his might. *Bang.* The branches shook, the trunk trembled, and wood chips flew as his fist punched clean through the tree, leaving a large hole on the other side! "The improvement from just Skin-Refining is this massive!"

He had not expected this.

[Current Skill Attribute Points: 1]

A night of training had allowed his body to fully absorb the boar meat, granting him another attribute point! Feeling sticky and smelling of impurities, he took a cold shower in the backyard and changed into clean clothes. After downing several bowls of cold water, he pulled out the manual he had brought back: *Barbarian Bull Strength*.

"A low-level martial art that can significantly increase power... I’ll use the new attribute point to boost its proficiency. With the town in such chaos, I need a solid trump card for survival."

***

"Brother Hu, the bodies have been found. They’ve all... all been found!"

Hearing the urgent knocking, Brother Hu climbed off his soft couch and away from the beautiful woman he was with. Opening the door, his face darkened. "Where is my brother-in-law's body? Take me there!"