'Is it because of all the practice I've been doing lately? That real fight just now must have been a major catalyst, too.'
A realization gradually dawned on him.
To put it in gaming terms, every Skill had its own proficiency level. Modification Points were like experience points that could speed up the process.
When you didn't have enough points, you could increase proficiency through practice, which in turn reduced the number of points needed for an upgrade.
Gazing at the upgradeable symbol next to Mixed Martial Arts, Hu Qi focused his mind and tapped on it.
'Crimson, upgrade Mixed Martial Arts!'
The next instant, the Modification Point counter reset to zero.
Immediately after, a flood of memories materialized in his mind.
At the same time, a cool current of energy flowed from the crown of his head, silently nourishing his body like a gentle rain.
It strengthened his muscles, fascia, and bones, making him more powerful.
Hu Qi leaned his back against the cold, white-tiled wall. His head was bowed and his eyes were slightly closed. He appeared to be resting, but he was actually processing the memories flooding his mind.
He had considered saving that single Modification Point.
After all, Modification Points could alter his status and heal injuries; they were a true panacea.
However, after seeing the footage of what happened in the alley, Hu Qi had changed his mind.
He could save it for a dangerous situation, for a moment when his strength failed him and he was facing injury or even death.
But what if he never even got the chance to use it?
It was better to use it all to strengthen himself now. If he was strong enough, no one could hurt him, and he wouldn't need healing in the first place.
After a long moment, Hu Qi opened his eyes, completely surprised.
'The effects of this upgrade are huge!'
He held out his hand and saw that the broken skin on his knuckles had already scabbed over and was beginning to heal.
He closed his fingers into a fist, then opened them again. A sense of power far greater than before surged through him.
If he were to trade fists with Song Jian now, he was confident his body wouldn't even sway.
The change hadn't been nearly this obvious when he'd upgraded his Mixed Martial Arts before.
It seemed that once the Skill reached the Mastery level, it underwent some kind of special transformation.
After all, his more than ten years of Culinary Skill had only been judged as being at the Mastery level on his status panel.
And while one was a Fighting Technique and the other was Culinary Skill, making them difficult to compare, this still gave him a sense of the new level's high value.
BZZT BZZT!
Just then, the black phone lying next to a bottle of mineral water vibrated softly.
Hu Qi picked it up. The call had already ended, and he saw three or four missed calls on the screen.
After getting a few spam calls asking if he wanted to buy property or insurance, Hu Qi had started setting his phone to silent while training to avoid distractions.
He looked at the number, thought for a moment, and called it back.
The next second, a picturesque landscape appeared on the screen, accompanied by a melodic ringback tone.
About ten seconds later, after a BEEP, the call connected.
Hu Lemei's voice came through clearly from the other end.
"Is that you, Xiaochi?"
"It's me. I was busy earlier and just saw your call."
Hu Qi replied with a small smile.
"I figured you were probably busy, so I only let it ring for a bit. If you're still busy, go on and finish up..."
"It's okay, I'm done now."
After a bit more small talk, Hu Lemei said:
"Xiaoyi is coming back tomorrow. If you're free, you should come over in the evening for dinner. Your uncle just brought back some wild game from his hometown!"
Hu Qi's expression flickered.
Xiaoyi's real name was Li Yi. She was the older sister of Li Yi and the original owner's cousin. A year older than him, she was currently studying at a top-tier university in Anshan City, which wasn't far away.
Calculating the time, the college entrance exams were over, so it was about time for summer vacation to start.
"Alright, I'll come over tomorrow."
After a moment's thought, he agreed.
To be honest, the original owner's memories were like a movie he could rewind and watch anytime he wanted.
He knew the "plot," but he wasn't influenced by the original owner's personality or experiences, so he didn't feel a strong connection to them.
He found the idea of transmigrators who could instantly see strangers as their new parents and feel a sense of familial warmth completely absurd.
In his view, those people had lost their sense of self. It was less like a transmigration and possession and more like they had fused with the original owner to become an entirely new being.
Naturally, Hu Qi didn't feel much familial affection for the original owner's aunt and her family.
But their kindness toward him had been genuine. Besides, in this unfamiliar world, it couldn't hurt to be on good terms with them. If he ever ran into trouble, he'd have someone to turn to for support.
That's just how relationships worked, plain and simple.
Besides, his days were currently spent practicing his Fighting Technique and working out, and not much else.
Someone was offering him a free meal, so why refuse?
...
「The next day, in the afternoon.」
After finishing his training, Hu Qi left the club. He first returned to his apartment complex to wash off the sweat.
The club had public showers, but Hu Qi preferred to wash up in private.
Soon, after changing into a fresh set of clothes, Hu Qi slung a backpack containing a stun baton and other defensive weapons over his shoulder, got on his electric scooter, and left the complex.
According to his memories, his aunt's family didn't live far from his place.
They were only about three or four kilometers away, closer to the bustling city center.
On the way, Hu Qi passed a supermarket. He stopped, went inside, and bought two cases of milk and a large watermelon.
It was a matter of courtesy.
The original owner, it seemed, hadn't understood this, always showing up to freeload meals empty-handed.
Although Hu Lemei and her family had never said anything, Hu Qi wasn't shameless enough to show up for dinner empty-handed.
He rode his scooter, weaving through the streets.
More than ten minutes later, Hu Qi turned onto another street.
There was a university on the opposite side of the street, while his side was lined with neat rows of restaurants and shops.
Since it wasn't dinnertime yet, the street wasn't crowded; only a few young people were scattered about, window shopping.
Hu Qi rode up to a restaurant near the middle of the street and stopped.
Looking up, he saw that the shop took up two adjacent storefronts that had been combined into one.
The sign read "Lemei Grilled Fish."
The glass doors were wiped spotless, offering a clear view of the interior.
At the moment, only one table was occupied.
Hu Qi parked his scooter, grabbed the milk and the watermelon, and walked inside.
"Oh, Xiaochi, you're here! Why'd you bring gifts to your aunt's place?"
Hu Lemei, who had been standing behind the counter with her head down doing the books, heard the door open. She looked up and saw Hu Qi walk in.
But when she saw the milk and watermelon in his hands, she couldn't help but chide him gently.
"Don't buy things next time. I have everything here. It's not easy for you to earn money. You should be saving it, not spending it frivolously."
Hu Qi smiled, murmured an agreement, and set the items down.
His gaze swept around the restaurant.
"By the way, where's Uncle?"