Chapter 44

Lu Buqi did not sleep well that night; it was the second time he had experienced insomnia in this world!

The first time was shortly after he was born. Even though his infant brain prevented him from thinking too much, he still felt the taste of insomnia.

And today, Lu Buqi was once again sleepless. He didn't know why, perhaps it was because he had truly integrated into this world and, as a small swamp slave, found a bit of purpose in life and felt a sense of hesitation; or perhaps it was the sudden loneliness from being far away from the familiar Northwest Household and his parents; or perhaps it was because of Wang Shuangqiao...

Lu Buqi didn't know why he thought of Wang Shuangqiao when he was sleepless. His lips curled slightly, and the image of a determined girl's smile appeared in his mind: "Perhaps... it's because her features somewhat resemble mine!"

"Those who are gone are gone, don't think too much!" Lu Buqi consoled himself: "Since I've finally seized an opportunity and successfully left that vast swamp, my life will have a new start... learning some skills from Wang Lishou, I can improve the living standards of the Northwest Household when I return... and if I can break through to the Bone Resonance Realm one day, I can be granted a surname and escape the status of a swamp slave..."

"If there's a chance... to see even larger places and pursue the higher realms of martial arts in this world..." Lu Buqi's gaze passed through the open window to the night sky: "That shouldn't be the moon from my previous life, right? It's bigger... and there's no Wu Gang chopping the tree... what is that!"

Lu Buqi suddenly sat up. Just now, he saw a figure fly past the moon, but when he looked again, there was nothing. The vast night sky remained desolate.

"How could a person possibly fly? It seems insomnia really affects the mind..." Lu Buqi laughed at himself. Perhaps those on Earth who saw unidentified flying objects felt the same way!

"But this world... is really very different..." Unconsciously, the sleepless Lu Buqi eventually fell into a deep sleep. That night, he had a dream where he was flying gracefully in the clouds, his every move causing the rivers to surge and the seas to boil, like a celestial being. Beside him, several beautiful women, each with their own charm, were smiling and talking to him...

The next morning, Lu Buqi found that he not only had a severe morning erection but also experienced nocturnal emission, which made him, who should have long said goodbye to his teenage years, quite depressed.

However, Lu Buqi didn't dwell on this issue for long. After all, this wasn't the first time in his life. It was just that the connection to that absurd dream made him somewhat surprised.

Lu Buqi's biological clock always made him wake up about an hour earlier than most people. At this time, Wang Niansheng was still sleeping like a pig. Lu Buqi got up, tidied his bed, and went down from the loft. He met a few older blacksmiths, nodded slightly to them, and left the shop.

It was just past the hour of the Rabbit, and there were almost no pedestrians on the street. Lu Buqi followed the street, exited the south gate of Guojian Town, and came to a flat grassland not far from the main road, where he began his routine practice of the Five Animal Imitation Fist, standing postures, and the Twelve Meridian Force Techniques.

However, the practice of the Force Techniques did not add to Lu Buqi's burden; it could be integrated into the practice of the Five Animal Imitation Fist. Due to the increase in muscle strength, Lu Buqi's standing postures and movements looked increasingly like the mature level of his previous life.

"Buqi, you're really here!" Wang Lishou's voice came from behind: "If Liqing and the others knew that you are so diligent all the time, they would understand that your skills were not obtained by chance."

What surprised Lu Buqi was that Wang Shuangqiao was also there. Today, Wang Shuangqiao was still wearing the floral dress from yesterday, with neat hair, looking clean and fresh.

Wang Shuangqiao held a food box covered with a white cloth, which was not light: "Yes, I didn't expect that you would be so diligent, Uncle said that you got up as soon as it was just light."

Nearly an hour of daily exercise did not make Lu Buqi exhausted; instead, it made his spirit reach a peak. He wiped his face and smiled faintly in the morning light: "I'm used to it, if I sleep any longer, my whole body will feel uncomfortable..."

At this moment, a light breeze brought a fragrance. Wang Shuangqiao walked over and presented the food box to Lu Buqi: "Buqi, this is the mushroom meat buns that my mother and I made this morning. My mother asked me to bring them to you."

"Probably you were also thinking about them, right?" Wang Lishou joked: "But they do smell good. I've been wanting to eat them, but someone said that you must be here to eat them... Ah, being young is great."

Knowing that Wang Shuangqiao and her mother were probably expressing their gratitude for saving her life, Lu Buqi didn't act pretentiously, said thank you, and took the food box from the blushing Wang Shuangqiao.

"Indeed, they taste really good, even better than usual!" Sitting on the grass with Lu Buqi, Wang Lishou rubbed his eyes and ate with a loud smacking sound.

Under Wang Shuangqiao's hopeful gaze, Lu Buqi nodded repeatedly: "This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten in my life."

"Then I'll bring them to you every day!" Wang Shuangqiao was clearly very happy and sat down beside Lu Buqi: "I don't know how much you eat, but I estimated it would be about the same as Uncle Lishou, so I brought forty buns... if it's not enough, I'll bring more tomorrow!"

Forty buns, plus this large food box... it probably weighed thirty pounds. It was quite a feat for Wang Shuangqiao, a small girl, to carry it from the north of the town to the south.

"That's already enough!" Lu Buqi was moved, and while swallowing the delicious buns, he quickly responded: "Shuangqiao, this is already too much trouble for you."

"Not at all! Compared to saving my life, this is nothing!" Wang Shuangqiao smiled sweetly.

Wang Lishou, with unclear speech, mumbled: "That's right, she's willing to give her life for you, so how could this be considered trouble?"

"Uncle Lishou!" Wang Shuangqiao glared at Wang Lishou: "Don't say such things... By the way, Buqi, I saw you floating around from a distance, looking like a big bird, quite interesting, and different from how others practice..."

Before Wang Shuangqiao's gaze turned, Lu Buqi also gave Wang Lishou a glare. Then he softened his expression: "Oh, that's a combat technique I created, called the Five Animal Imitation Fist. Just now, I was practicing the Crane Fist..."

"Wow, you can create your own martial arts at such a young age? That's amazing!" Wang Shuangqiao's eyes were full of admiration: "The Crane Fist looks so interesting... boys are so lucky, they can practice martial arts and the Force Techniques to protect their country!"

Hearing that Wang Shuangqiao envied boys for being able to practice martial arts, Lu Buqi responded: "If you're interested, I can teach you the Five Animal Imitation Fist. Although it's not as magical as the Force Techniques, it can still strengthen your body."

"Wow, really?" Wang Shuangqiao looked at Lu Buqi with surprise.

"Of course, the status of a swamp slave is low, but fortunately, the master hasn't forbidden us from passing on our self-created skills to others!" Lu Buqi said with a self-deprecating smile: "And if you practice the Five Animal Imitation Fist well, you won't be helpless when you go out to pick mushrooms and encounter a couple of wild wolves."

Hearing the double meaning in Lu Buqi's words, Wang Shuangqiao giggled: "That's a deal, I'll get up early to bring you buns and learn your Five Animal Imitation Fist, hehe..."

"It's not the 'Beast Fist'!" Lu Buqi rolled his eyes: "It's the Five Animal Imitation Fist!"

As Wang Shuangqiao stuck out her tongue, Wang Lishou also laughed, spitting out bits of food: "Haha, the Beast Fist... But, Buqi, your Five Animal Imitation Fist might become popular in the whole Guojian Town. Liqing and the others said they want to invite you for a drink when they have the chance."

Lu Buqi's heart stirred: "Old Wang, did you tell them about my Five Animal... Imitation Fist?"

"You're more worldly than anyone else!" Wang Lishou nodded: "I also know you're not a stingy person, so I mentioned it. Of course, whether you want to teach them is up to you. Liqing and the others are our own people, and if they learn your martial arts, they won't be able to stand by when something happens."

Chewing on the increasingly delicious buns, Lu Buqi shrugged: "It doesn't matter, I'm working under you now, you're the boss, so it's up to you."

"Haha... you kid!" Wang Lishou felt greatly relieved: "Eat quickly, after you finish, we'll go to pay respects to the Chief Steward early. If we don't, he'll skin us alive."

Thinking of the short-browed, small-eyed Wang Yingfu, Lu Buqi also remembered that the Chief Steward had spoken up for him in front of the Sixth Young Master a few times. He nodded: "That's right, I'll leave two heart cores as a backup and take one as a gift. It shouldn't be too shabby, right?"

Wang Lishou was slightly stunned, then laughed heartily: "Buqi, you have to be careful not to make the Chief Steward too picky, or it will be hard for us to get along in the future!"