While chopping firewood, Tran Mac saw a mantis in a clump of grass, and an idea suddenly struck him.
Mantises are also considered meat-eaters; he didn't know if it would work.
He immediately caught up to that mantis; it was as big as his little finger.
He crushed the mantis to death, then removed its internal organs. Forcing himself not to think, he closed his eyes and ate the mantis. [Nourishing meat consumption +0.1, Nourishing Blood Technique experience +0.1.]
"It's useful!" Looking at the Nourishing Blood Technique (Entry 0.9/100), Tran Mac's eyes lit up, but then he was very puzzled.
According to his previous research, one jin of meat counted as one point of experience. Did that mantis just now weigh one liang? Clearly not.
"What's the reason for this?"
Tran Mac couldn't figure it out, but one thing could be confirmed: as long as it was eating meat, it could increase Nourishing Blood Technique experience.
So, after finishing chopping firewood, Tran Mac started looking for insects similar to mantises. Since there were no wild chickens or hares, he would make do with these insects.
When Han An Nuong learned Tran Mac was looking for insects and eating them raw, she was completely stunned.
Has Uncle gone mad from hunger?
"Uncle, if you want to eat insects, you can catch them, steam or boil them, then eat. Eating raw will cause diarrhea," Han An Nuong couldn't help saying.
Stunned was stunned, but she understood this kind of thing. Previously heard people say, last year during the great drought in the north, some people even ate tree bark, ate white clay...
Han An Nuong's words reminded Tran Mac. Eating raw wasn't easy to get down; it was still better cooked, preferably fried in oil, to make it easier to swallow.
So, Tran Mac and Han An Nuong caught insects in the forest together. Crickets, locusts, mole crickets...
By sunrise, they had caught over thirty insects in total. However, these insects were small. Put together, they didn't even make up one jin. Wanting to fill one's stomach with them was unrealistic. Moreover, winter was approaching fast; these things weren't found everywhere, and finding them wasn't easy.
Tran Mac used a cloth bag to collect them, and returned home with Han An Nuong.
Returning home, the two first brought the firewood to the kitchen, not leaving it in the courtyard. Han An Nuong had said that even firewood was stolen by people.
Afterward, Han An Nuong made breakfast. Tran Mac gave the insects to Han An Nuong. Han An Nuong was reluctant to fry them, just boiled them in water, then added a little salt for seasoning.
Breakfast was thin porridge with wild vegetables, and the insects the two had caught. Tran Mac picked a mantis slightly larger than the previous one and swallowed it. [Nourishing meat consumption +0.05, Nourishing Blood Technique experience +0.05.]
"Mm?"
Tran Mac ate a cricket. [Nourishing meat consumption +0.03, Nourishing Blood Technique experience +0.03.]
"What the devil?" Tran Mac was stunned.
...
In the following time.
Tran Mac, while training, spent another seven days testing this golden finger, finally reaching a conclusion.
That is, for meat from something dead no more than half a shichen (one hour), half a jin could add one point of experience. While for meat from something dead for more than half a shichen, one jin was needed to increase one point of experience. Swallowing alive was the same as eating meat from something dead no more than half a shichen. In other words, fresher meat added more experience.
...
Time entered November. The weather turned cold, the cold wind howled outside. Tran Mac carried the wood-chopping knife back to Phuc Trach Village, quickly heading home.
During this period, Tran Mac, regardless of wind or rain, would run to Dai Trach Mountain early in the morning, then return at sunrise. However, as the temperature dropped, even insects like locusts were very hard to find.
Waiting until he returned home, Tran Mac saw a middle-aged man with a stooped waist walking out of his own courtyard, hands tucked into his sleeves.
"Uncle Dai Lam?" Tran Mac recognized the man; he was from the same extended family.
"Bro Mac." Tran Dai Lam saw Tran Mac, his eyes lit up, mouth opened, wanting to say something, but after hesitating for a while, ultimately didn't say it.
The two exchanged a few words and passed each other.
"Sister-in-law." Returning to the room, finding no one, Tran Mac called out. Han An Nuong came out from his parents' room holding a cleaver. Seeing Tran Mac, she sighed softly in relief: "Uncle is back."
Saying so, Han An Nuong put down the cleaver, brought out food from the house and placed it on the table: "Uncle, food is ready, hurry and eat." Breakfast was cornmeal and wild vegetable porridge, one bowl each. Tran Mac's had the most, also a few strands of dried meat.
Tran Mac frowned, didn't move, but only said: "Sister-in-law, did Uncle Dai Lam come over just now?" "Mm." "Did he bully you?" "No." "Then Sister-in-law, why were you holding a cleaver?" "I... I was scared being home alone, held the cleaver for self-defense," Han An Nuong said, lowering her head fearfully.
A brief silence. Tran Mac took a deep breath: "It's cold outside, can't find edible insects on the mountain. Starting tomorrow, I won't go out." "Ah... Okay." Han An Nuong looked up, her face showing joy.
Tran Mac picked up his chopsticks first, eating while saying: "What did Uncle Dai Lam come to our house for?" "To borrow grain, but I didn't agree." "Indeed." Hearing this, Tran Mac looked at Han An Nuong and said, "Sister-in-law, you did right. In the future, no matter who comes to borrow grain, no need to lend." "Mm-hmm." Han An Nuong nodded lightly, looking to be in a good mood.
The ground cornmeal wasn't very fine; even when made into porridge, it was a bit scratchy on the throat. However, over the past month, he had gotten used to this kind of life.
After finishing breakfast and digesting for a while, Tran Mac returned to his room and began to train. Fifty push-ups. Thirty sit-ups. Lifting a ten-jin stone to train arm strength.
After completing one set. A strange power was first felt flooding into his two hands, then suffused his whole body, followed by the Thien Hop Saber Technique he had practiced for several years entering his mind. Instantly, his mastery of the Thien Hop Saber Technique reached a state of consummate skill.
At the same time, the system prompted. Tran Mac's thoughts moved. [Name: Tran Mac.] [Age: 16.] [Cultivation Technique: Nourishing Blood Technique (Entry 11.3/100).] [Realm: None.] [Strength: 7.] [Skill: Thien Hop Saber Technique (Peak 2300/10000).]
"Finally upgraded from a weakling to a normal person's level..."
Over the past month, Tran Mac persisted in training, swinging the cleaver, eating three meals a day, maintaining a normal work and rest schedule, and also had protein supplements (from insects/meat), finally nurturing his body. Of course, the reason he could improve to a normal person's level in such a short time was because he discovered his recovery aspect was different from ordinary people. Previously, a small scratch would scab over in half a day, and the scab would fall off in two days.
Tran Mac hurriedly took out the wood-chopping knife. Instantly, his strength stat underwent an earth-shattering change. Strength: 7+14. This added 14 points of strength, including 2 points from the wood-chopping knife, and 12 points from the highly proficient Thien Hop Saber Technique. His physique improved to a normal person's level, allowing him to then exert the power of the intermediate or even advanced Thien Hop Saber Technique.
"Finally have some self-protection strength." Tran Mac was in a very good mood.
...
Two days later. At night. Tran Mac and Han An Nuong were eating dinner. On the table was the last remaining three liang of dried meat. Just then, a shout came from outside the room. "Mistress Han! Mistress Han..." The voice was somewhat familiar. "It's Lu Tam, probably here to borrow grain again." Han An Nuong frowned, was about to stand up and go out...