Business has flourished, and Zhao Lun's strength has plateaued, as has Maria's.
This is not due to the inadequacy of the spring water, but rather the limitations imposed by their own age.
The spring water's effect is gentle; it does not forcefully enhance the strength of the user.
Thus, Zhao Lun resumed his foundational training, returning to the familiar Three-Body Posture each day.
The Three-Body Posture is vast and profound. Though basic, the more one practices it, the deeper the experience becomes, and the more one can perceive the subtle transformations within. As he practiced, his previously restless mind gradually settled, and he became immersed in the rhythm of the posture. With each breath, he felt the changes in his body.
Through his awareness, he knew the strengthening process had not stopped. Now, it had reached his bones, and once his bones were fully fortified, his strength would surge once again.
Every day, he practiced continuously. During his spare moments, he worked on jigsaw puzzles. The new puzzles were even more complex, with scrambled images that dazzled his eyes and left him feeling lost. All he could do was familiarize himself with the new puzzle. When tired, he picked up comics and casually sketched anything that came to mind, leaving the tidying up to Monica afterward.
Time passed, and another holiday arrived: Easter.
Having spent so much time at home, Zhao Lun, following Nicole and the others' suggestion, decided to take a walk and clear his mind.
Maria was both eager and worried. She feared they might be bullied by outsiders, but also looked forward to the exciting things the outside world had to offer.
It was a journey accompanied by three ladies, Hodal, and one of Hodal's recruited assistants. As for the business of reselling goods, he had already made the necessary arrangements. His presence here was twofold: to protect the boss and to continue receiving large amounts of divine spring water.
Their travel mode: two luxurious RVs.
They set off from home in the morning, traveling along the highway to a nearby town. They did not stop there, merely passing through, and arrived at a small city close by. After replenishing some essentials and having lunch, the journey officially began.
They avoided cities and preferred areas with better environments. If they encountered a city, they did not bypass it but entered to explore its features, searching for local delicacies or antiques. If they found something appealing, Zhao Lun would purchase it on the spot.
Additionally, they made notes of well-known companies in the vicinity to consider possible future collaborations.
Hodal carried out these tasks, Monica handled logistics, and Zhao Lun made final decisions only on matters that could not be settled otherwise.
Great Britain is not particularly famous for its cuisine, and finding gourmet food is undoubtedly challenging. They were not actively seeking culinary delights, so the meals they encountered were mostly limited to various types of snacks: puddings, chocolates, cheese, fried chicken, fried fish, and so on.
As for antiques, Zhao Lun focused on Chinese artifacts—porcelain, ancient paintings, calligraphy, and old scrolls. Anything collectible, he gathered.
The history of this world mirrors that of his own time, with China having suffered Western invasions. Many cultural relics were plundered and taken to the West.
Great Britain was a major participant in the invasion of China, and many of the stolen relics were presented to the queen or became spoils of war for soldiers.
A century later, the soldiers who took them were long gone, but these treasures had been passed down to their descendants. However, due to poor management, the descendants had to sell their family heirlooms to make ends meet. They lacked a deep understanding of Eastern culture, and many items were sold for a pittance.
Zhao Lun, seizing the opportunity before others realized the true value of these artifacts, reclaimed them.
The journey was one of stops and starts, playing and laughing, going with the flow. That summed up their state of affairs.
Ultimately, they did not seek out antiques intentionally. If they stumbled upon them, they would collect them; if not, they left it to Monica to arrange for their acquisition.
With money, things became easier. Along the way, they collected a fair number of beautiful porcelain items and rare books. Some were damaged, while others were still relatively intact. When they acquired these items, they were often pulled from corners, discarded and forgotten.
During rest periods, Zhao Lun would examine the items that piqued his interest, storing away the ones that did not capture his attention.
On the road, Zhao Lun observed some strange creatures, visible to Maria, Ivy, and Grey Shadow as well. However, after seeing them so often, they had grown accustomed to them.
Nicole, Hodal, and the others could not see these creatures. The team and these strange beings coexisted peacefully, with no issues arising.
Great Britain, though neither excessively large nor small, was vast. They traveled slowly, and before long, over a month had passed.
Their journey was halfway complete, and everyone was beginning to feel weary. They needed to find a place to rest.
London, a highly diverse metropolis, is home to people from around the world, with a mix of races, religions, and cultures. Over 300 languages are spoken within the city. It is also a renowned tourist destination, boasting a plethora of landmarks and museums.
This time, they chose to rest in a suburban villa area outside London, located within an open estate. The villas here were available for rent, catering to wealthy visitors seeking luxurious accommodations.
Though Great Britain had become a developed nation with modern infrastructure, the hustle and bustle of the city's traffic and the noise of vehicles were unmatched by any city they had encountered so far. The streets were crowded with older cars, their exhaust fumes filling the air with a stench.
"How could London allow such cars on the streets?" Zhao Lun exclaimed, astonished. "These old cars should have been retired to a museum, yet now they are polluting the world."
Is this truly a world-class metropolis? It felt more like one of China's top pollution-heavy cities. Did I misunderstand something?
"So what if they are old cars? Not everyone is rich enough to buy new ones like you," Nicole replied with a look that could melt hearts with just a glance.
They got along well, like family. The three ladies treated them with the utmost care, as though they were their younger siblings.
"Hey! Nicole, I'm still a kid! Don't go around flirting with me! You're tempting a minor, do you know that?" Zhao Lun joked, though he felt helpless. The more familiar they became, the more 'playful' they became. Now, Nicole and the others were teasing him in ways he couldn't resist.
"A kid? Have you been weaned yet?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm allergic to milk, but if you offer me some special 'milk,' I wouldn't mind." Zhao Lun shot her a challenging look.
"Alright, I'll come find you tonight," she said, deliberately exaggerating the movement of her chest.
Maria piped in, "I want some too! I want some too!"
Zhao Lun: "..."
Angela and Monica watched the scene, enjoying the spectacle.
They crossed a bustling street and got out at a spacious area, strolling down a pedestrian street.
After visiting a few major attractions, they continued their walk through the newly developed district, exploring what new companies the city had to offer.
"Wait, what's that logo?" Zhao Lun stopped in front of a newly constructed building. Upon seeing the logo, his eyes widened in astonishment, as though he had encountered an alien.
"Umbrella, one of the world's top pharmaceutical companies, known for its unparalleled achievements in medicine..." Monica explained, knowing a bit about the company. Her tone was laced with admiration.
This company had only recently come into the spotlight, while maintaining a rich and positive social image.
Recently, it had been recruiting talent widely, offering high salaries and becoming a coveted 'sanctuary' for top-tier professionals.