Chapter 36: Green with Envy

Although Wei Qing is a Xuan practitioner, her talent is mediocre. However, she leverages her status as a practitioner to inflate her social standing, convinced that the Imperial Capital is her domain and that every handsome man should bow before her.

In reality, she is merely the daughter of a father who has not yet fully consolidated his power, and who is notoriously stingy toward both her and her mother. A seventy-thousand-dollar dress is something they could never dream of owning. Yet, having infiltrated the circles of the elite "Crown Prince" faction, how could Wei Qing not envy the attire of the princesses among them? Consequently, Wei Qing suffers from a petty flaw: she loves to cling to wealthy, influential men. Unfortunately, she lacks both intelligence and cunning, and isn't even half as successful as Wei Xuan.

Thinking of how Wei Qing would surely fly into a rage—perhaps even stamping her feet in fury—upon seeing the pictures, Wei Zi could barely contain her laughter. Feeling that this wasn't enough, Wei Zi uploaded all the photos she had taken of herself the previous day to her public album, opening the permissions for everyone to browse. The clothes were incredibly expensive and all of the latest designs; she was certain that Wei Qing, who studied fashion so intently, would be spitting blood.

Not giving Wei Qing a chance to retaliate, Wei Zi unhesitatingly blocked her, along with Wei Dongming, He Xiaohe, and Wei Xuan. With everything settled, Wei Zi returned to filling in the details of the future trends she knew.

"Knock, knock, knock!" A knock sounded at the door, followed by Xing Haotian’s deep, magnetic voice from outside. "Wei Zi, it’s time to eat!"

Wei Zi glanced at her communicator and realized, to her surprise, that it was already five o'clock. How time flew! The dinner was naturally lavish. Xing Haotian had clearly found a way to please Wei Zi; he was incredibly diligent, ensuring the military district cafeteria prepared a rotating variety of dishes, all of the highest quality. Wei Zi enjoyed the meal thoroughly, though mindful of the joke she made earlier after overeating at lunch, she did not overindulge.

"Wei Zi, I have drafted the training plan we discussed. I’ll send it to you to review," Xing Haotian said.

"Oh, okay!" Wei Zi opened her communicator and connected with Xing Haotian, receiving the file. At the same time, Xing Haotian obtained Wei Zi's contact number.

Carefully saving her number, Xing Haotian began browsing Wei Zi’s recent updates. The latest posts were naturally the beautiful photos of her wearing the clothes he had bought. Wei Zi was incredibly photogenic—stunning from every angle. Xing Haotian also noticed a trait appropriate for her age: it turned out she actually liked the clothes he bought, even if she hadn't expressed it verbally. Feeling as though he had discovered another secret passcode to her heart, he happily saved her photos into a top-secret file.

Meanwhile, Wei Zi was reviewing the materials Xing Haotian had sent. One entry, a breathing technique for Tai Chi, caught her by surprise. "This martial art actually has a breathing technique?" she asked.

"Yes, it’s a military secret. However, because Tai Chi requires consistent, long-term practice, it’s not ideal for the military," Xing Haotian explained. For the Huatian Kingdom's military, the ideal age for recruitment is 18 to 20, and soldiers are discharged after three years unless they rise through the ranks. In such a short timeframe, the slow progress of Tai Chi isn't favored. But for ordinary people, it is clearly highly effective.

Wei Zi understood. Training was set to begin tomorrow; for tonight, she would rest. Xing Haotian promptly brought her a quilt made of Golden Great Wilderness Sheep wool, provided by the research institute. The quilt was so soft it made one want to roll around in it. Wei Zi loved it and politely thanked him.

The next day, Wei Zi rose on time and practiced Tai Chi using the breathing technique. At first, she struggled to grasp the rhythm, but once her breathing smoothed out, she felt her blood begin to circulate, with a current of energy flowing through her body. She sweated profusely, and every cell seemed to become healthier and more vibrant with the movement. After three repetitions, she was drenched in sweat but felt refreshed and energized, as if she had endless stamina. She even felt her mind had become sharper.

"This breathing technique combined with the martial art not only trains the body but can also rapidly restore strength in critical moments. Let’s do one more round," Xing Haotian said. He was wearing a black tank top and camouflage pants, his lean, powerful muscles exposed. While not overly bulky, they radiated strength. He had also just finished a round of forceful military combat drills and was radiating heat; even standing near him, Wei Zi could feel the air around them shimmering.

"Okay!" Wei Zi agreed.

After showering and eating a strictly prepared breakfast, Wei Zi began her training under Xing Haotian’s guidance. Having been a mercenary for ten years, Wei Zi possessed astonishing willpower. She didn't fear hardship or fatigue. With the memories of her past life, her body adapted quickly, even if it struggled with the movements at first. This secretly surprised Xing Haotian, who felt she was in no way inferior to his most elite soldiers.

Reaching the limits of one's physical body is no simple task. Exercise is merely the tempering; excessive training can damage the body's functions, so one must also nourish it. After an hour of prescribed training, Wei Zi performed another set of Tai Chi and then soaked in a medicinal bath prepared by Xing Haotian.

The bath was infused with low-level Xuan fruits and spiritual herbs. As Wei Zi’s body became tougher, the grade of these ingredients would gradually increase. To some, spending such resources just for physical training would be the definition of having money to burn. But neither the reborn Wei Zi nor Xing Haotian, who was traveling further and further down this path, considered it a waste. On the contrary, they believed this was the high road—a path that would lead them to heights others had never reached.

The medicinal liquid was quickly absorbed by Wei Zi’s skin. The bath also contained elements to soothe muscles, ensuring that while she trained, she wouldn't end up looking like a "bodybuilder Barbie." Xing Haotian would have ensured this even without Wei Zi’s reminder. Moreover, since Wei Zi’s skin was already so beautiful, Xing Haotian intentionally added Xuan fruits similar to the "Ice Muscle Fruit" to the bath, making her skin even more clear, translucent, and flawless.

After all, once Wei Zi’s skin became perfect, he would be the one to benefit. Xing Haotian was more than happy to make such an investment!