Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1003 - 501: Please Experience an All-New Version of the Cultivation Technique (Part 2)

Fang Cheng was carefully maneuvering that huge black SUV.

With beginner-level driving skills, he finally found a barely fitting parking space on a slightly wider roadside.

Seeing the car almost graze the wall, he helplessly shook his head.

Knowing his mom’s fondness for nostalgia and living in a lively old neighborhood, he regretted buying this gas-guzzler.

A MINI or a compact like the Fit would probably be much more convenient around here.

After turning off the engine and getting out of the car, Fang Cheng casually picked up the newly bought dark blue canvas shoulder bag from the passenger seat.

Even though the Illuminati account now had tens of millions, and he himself was quite wealthy, he still preferred these cheap street vendor items costing just a few bucks.

They’re sturdy, durable, spacious, and most importantly, low-key enough.

Even if it got scuffed in a fight, he wouldn’t feel bad.

It’s practically perfect for a tough guy like him, who often ends up in brawls.

"Yo, Ah Cheng is back!"

Just as he stepped into the hallway, the friendly Uncle Chen from next door greeted him warmly while carrying down a garbage bag.

"Uncle Chen, have you eaten?"

Fang Cheng replied with a smile.

"Just finished, just taking a little walk to work it off. Heard you were on a business trip? You were away quite a while this time."

"Yeah, I went to Tian Nan Province. The scenery over there is quite nice."

As Fang Cheng walked, he nodded and exchanged greetings with the neighbors he met.

The familiar scent of cooking oil filled the air.

It seemed to wash away the tension he had felt while hovering between life and death, relaxing his taut nerves.

Reaching the 9th floor, he pulled out the key and unlocked the slightly chipped security door.

"Click."

The living room lights were on, and a warm yellow glow poured out.

The floor was scrubbed so shiny it reflected silhouettes.

The sofa cover was pulled smooth, and the coffee table was free of clutter.

The pot of somewhat withered devil’s ivy on the windowsill was pruned and vibrant, with a few water droplets on the leaves.

Clearly, the house had just undergone a thorough cleaning.

"Mom, I’m home."

Fang Cheng changed into slippers and called out.

"Ah! Chengcheng is back?"

Li Biyun’s voice came from the bedroom, and soon she stepped out quickly, holding a cloth.

She was wearing a homely floral apron, her hair simply tied at the back, and seeing her son, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes spread with joy.

"I was just tidying your room. Didn’t you say you had to work overtime and weren’t coming home for dinner when you called this morning?"

"Everything at the company went smoothly, so I wrapped up early and hurried back."

Fang Cheng casually placed the shoulder bag on the cabinet.

The feeling of having a light on and someone waiting as soon as you walk in made his heart warm.

"You must be hungry, right? I’ll make you something to eat."

"There’s still some braised beef left from yesterday in the fridge, shall I slice it up for you and make a bowl of noodles?"

While speaking, Li Biyun headed towards the kitchen.

"No rush, Mom, come over here first."

Fang Cheng took his mother’s hand and guided her to sit on the sofa, smiling mysteriously:

"I brought you a gift from this trip."

"What gift? You’re spending money recklessly again."

Li Biyun chided him, but her eyes showed a hint of expectation.

Fang Cheng turned and took out an exquisite rosewood jewelry box from his bag and handed it over.

Li Biyun took it with curiosity and gently opened it.

The next second, her eyes widened instantly.

On the black velvet base, a jade bracelet of bright green, with ample translucency, lay quietly.

Under the reflection of the light, the vibrant hue seemed to come alive, flowing with a gentle luster.

"Is this...jade?"

Although Li Biyun didn’t know much about it, she could tell the piece was valuable.

Then, as if she realized something, she was so startled that her hands trembled:

"Chengcheng, how much did this cost? Where did you get the money to buy something so expensive?"

"It didn’t cost much."

Fang Cheng had already thought of a fib to tell, calmly and confidently explaining:

"When I was traveling in Tian Nan Province, I passed by a gemstone market where many vendors were."

"I went over to join the crowd and saw the raw stones were cheap, so I bought one just for fun."

"Who knew I’d be lucky? A single cut made it increase in value, so I had a local craftsman conveniently make it into a bracelet for you."

"Really?"

Li Biyun looked at her son with a suspicious gaze.

"Truer than gold. Here, try it on."

Fang Cheng smiled as he picked up the bracelet and gently slipped it onto his mother’s wrist.

The emerald bracelet complemented Li Biyun’s somewhat rough but still fair wrist, making her appear exceptionally elegant.

As if it immediately subdued the air of hardship from decades of toil, revealing a touch of gentle charm.

Li Biyun raised her wrist, looking left and right, unable to hide the affection in her eyes.

What woman can resist something so dazzling?

But she couldn’t help but reach out to poke Fang Cheng’s forehead, launching into her nagging mode:

"You child, you’re so bold. Can you just play around with that kind of stone gambling? This time you were lucky, but what if you lose next time?"

"You’re not allowed to do such opportunistic things in the future, understand? It’s not easy to earn money; you have to save it for getting married..."

"Got it, got it, won’t do it again."

Fang Cheng nodded obediently, taking the lesson to heart.

Li Biyun gave him a thorough scolding, but her heart was filled with happiness.

She carefully touched the bracelet and stood up:

"Alright, I’ll go make you dinner. I’ll add extra poached eggs for you tonight!"

Watching his mother walk briskly into the kitchen, Fang Cheng chuckled, shouldering his bag as he returned to his bedroom.

Closing the door, he unzipped his bag and pulled out a smaller jewelry box from a hidden compartment.

Inside was a finely crafted platinum necklace with a small blue sapphire pendant, designed stylishly and simply.

Though not as valuable as the bracelet, it cost him over ten thousand and was specially prepared for Zhou Xiumei.

That girl was participating in a singing contest, with the audition starting this Saturday.

A few days ago, she even called to ask when he’d be back, her tone filled with anxiety and anticipation.

It had been a while since they last met. This gift, given just before the competition, would surely boost her confidence.

Before long, dinner was ready.

Steaming hot poached egg and beef noodles, paired with mom’s homemade pickled radish.

Fang Cheng ate three large bowls, leaving not even the broth behind.

This sense of fulfillment was incomparable to any gourmet delicacy.

After dinner, Fang Cheng took a hot shower, washing away the dust of his day’s travels.

He then returned to his bedroom, not turning on the light, and sat cross-legged on the bed.

The sound from the living room TV was already becoming quieter.

Li Biyun assumed her son was too tired from work and had gone to bed early, so she didn’t disturb him.

Outside the window, the nightlife on Old Factory Street was just beginning.

The glow of neon lights seeped through the gaps in the curtains.

The shouting from the barbecue stalls downstairs and the honking of cars on the distant road were clear to his ears.

These noises did not disturb Fang Cheng; instead, they gave him a long-lost sense of peace.

Fang Cheng suddenly understood why his mom insisted on living in the old district.

It was precisely this human touch that made him more humane rather than becoming a cold and isolated recluse...

He shook his head, closed his eyes, and adjusted his breathing, letting his heartbeat gradually blend into the night.

Initially, chaotic thoughts still flashed through his mind.

The establishment of the Illuminati, the threats from the Ideal Land, his mother’s smile, Zhou Xiumei’s anticipation...

But as his breathing became long and gentle, these thoughts dissipated like clouds blown by the wind, little by little, until they completely vanished.

The noise from outside slowly faded, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

Time silently passed in the tranquility.

No one knew how much time had passed; perhaps just a moment, perhaps an hour.

When Fang Cheng awoke from the deep meditation again.

He felt clarity in his mind, every pore in his body exuding transparency and comfort, his spiritual power amassed to its fullest.

He did not immediately rise, still maintaining his cross-legged posture.

In the darkness, his eyes slowly opened.

His gaze seemed to penetrate the wall before him, looking into another dimension.

"I can start trying now..."

Fang Cheng murmured to himself, a flash of gold flickering deep within his pupils.