In a martial arts game, the protagonist steals the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) at t

Zhongnan Mountain stretches for thousands of miles, shrouded in clouds and mist, and has been a place for hermits to cultivate themselves and for martial arts sects to occupy since ancient times.

At the foot of the mountain, outside a simple but clean earthen courtyard, eight-year-old Wang Cheng was standing on tiptoe, busy in front of an iron pot.

He was dressed in a faded black coarse cloth outfit, and he was thin and looked somewhat frail.

But his eyes were very mature, completely lacking the innocence and cuteness of an eight-year-old child. Instead, they exuded a composure and maturity that was extremely incongruous with his age.

No one would have imagined that inside the body of an eight-year-old child was a mature soul from the 21st century.

In his previous life, Wang Cheng was a complete low-level worker. He studied civil engineering in college and was a true civil engineering student.

After graduation, I worked on various construction sites, enduring wind and sun, which was not only hard work but also subject to constant mistreatment. After several years, I still hadn't achieved anything.

To make a living, he gritted his teeth and studied at New Oriental Culinary School for eight years, perfecting everything from knife skills and cooking techniques to secret recipes. Eventually, he became the head chef of a star-rated hotel, and his culinary skills took off.

Whether it's a simple home-style stir-fry, a local snack, or a top-tier dish like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, they can all be made to taste delicious.

He is skilled in many cuisines, such as his own creations: blueberry beef tenderloin, cola rock and roll stir-fried chicken, lemon chicken feet, and spicy hot pot chicken.

These are all signature dishes of the restaurant where he works.

He thought things were finally starting to look up, but one night, he was holed up in his rented room reading Jin Yong's martial arts novels. He was reading the part where Xiaolongnu was humiliated and was filled with anger when suddenly everything went black. When he opened his eyes again, the world had completely changed.

He transmigrated into a world of Jin Yong's martial arts novels.

In this world, numerous martial arts sects such as Shaolin, Wudang, Quanzhen, Ancient Tomb, and Five Mountains Sword Sect stand side by side, while top masters like Xuanci, Fangzheng, Zhang Sanfeng, and the Sweeper Monk live in seclusion. The Liao, Western Xia, Tubo, and Mongol kingdoms are all eyeing this world covetously.

The Song Dynasty appeared stable, but in reality, it was beset by internal and external troubles. In the martial arts world, the strong preyed on the weak, and heroes used their martial arts to break the law. Without strength, one could only be bullied by others.

Wang Cheng was abandoned by his parents at birth in the weeds at the foot of Shaolin Temple. It was the dead of winter, and he was about to freeze and starve to death when he was rescued by Master Xuanku, a high-ranking monk of the Xuan generation from Shaolin who was traveling.

Master Xuanku possessed profound Buddhist teachings and exceptional martial arts skills. He saw that Wang Cheng had extraordinary talent and his eyes shone with intelligence, indicating that he was by no means a stupid person.

Pitying his tragic past, they took him back to the foot of Shaolin Mountain and fostered him in the home of an honest farmer named Wang, instead of sending him to the Shaolin Temple's servants' quarters to suffer.

Ordinary Shaolin lay disciples must first fetch water, chop wood, and sweep the courtyard for three years, performing all sorts of menial tasks, before they are qualified to learn basic Shaolin martial arts.

Master Xuanku, mindful of Wang Cheng's pitiful background and exceptional talent, made an exception and personally taught him Shaolin meditation and the introductory martial art, Arhat Fist, when he was three years old.

Zen meditation is a basic internal skill of Shaolin. It may seem simple, but it is the foundation of Shaolin internal skills. When practiced to a high level, it can produce profound and enduring internal strength. It can be said to be a very good skill.

Although Luohan Fist is a basic Shaolin boxing style, it has been improved by several generations of eminent monks, refining its essence and making each move powerful and practical, far surpassing the signature martial arts of small sects in the martial arts world.

As the saying goes, "There are no useless martial arts, only useless martial arts practitioners." Qiao Feng's ability to sweep through the martial arts world with just one set of Taizu Changquan is the best proof of this.

Wang Cheng received the inheritance from Master Xuanku and knew that this was the foundation for survival in chaotic times. In addition, he possessed the soul of an adult and his intelligence far surpassed that of his peers, so he cultivated with extreme diligence.

From the age of three to eight, for a full five years, he rose at the crack of dawn every day to practice boxing and meditate late at night, never slacking off or giving up for a single day.

After five years of arduous training, he not only mastered the Luohan Fist, but also became highly skilled and exuded a powerful aura.

He further cultivated the Shaolin Zen Meditation Skill to the peak of the ninth level, only a little bit away from breaking through to the second-rate realm. His internal strength became very profound, far surpassing that of ordinary third-rate martial artists in the martial arts world, and even comparable to second-rate experts.

At the age of eight, possessing such formidable martial arts skills, he is a rare prodigy in the entire martial arts world.

But fate played a cruel joke on Wang Cheng. When Wang Cheng was eight years old, his adoptive father, the old man who had taken him in, fell seriously ill. Despite consulting many doctors, he could not be cured.

I spent a lot of money, but I still couldn't save my life.

He eventually passed away, leaving behind only a dilapidated mud-brick courtyard and thirty-five taels of silver that he had saved up throughout his life through frugality.

An eight-year-old child, without any support, would find it extremely difficult to survive in this chaotic world.

But having lived two lives, Wang Cheng had long since accumulated extraordinary skills and understood the rules of survival in this world. He did not grieve excessively.

Instead, he took the silver left by Old Man Wang and made a bold decision—to leave the foot of Shaolin Temple and head to the Tomb of the Living Dead in Zhongnan Mountain.

Go and woo Little Dragon Girl.

He transmigrated here and is familiar with the plot of this world. He has always had a strong desire to protect Xiaolongnu.

Xiaolongnu was stunningly beautiful and pure, yet her life was tragic and pitiful. She was defiled by Yin Zhiping, and her love-hate relationship with Yang Guo was heartbreaking.

Every time he thought about it, Wang Cheng felt extremely sad. Now that he was here in this life, he would never let the tragedy repeat itself.

He wanted to stay at Zhongnan Mountain in advance to protect Xiaolongnu and keep her safe and sound for life, keeping her away from all suffering.

Having made up his mind, Wang Cheng packed his simple belongings, bought a crude map of the martial arts world, and with thirty-five taels of silver in his pocket, set off alone for Zhongnan Mountain.

He was too young and traveled alone, enduring wind and rain along the way. He encountered bandits and robbers many times, but he managed to escape danger each time by relying on his Great Arhat Fist and Nine-Level Meditation Skill.

Those third-rate bandits were trash in his eyes, no match for him at all.

After a journey of more than two months, he finally arrived at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. He spent twenty taels of silver to buy this dilapidated little courtyard, which was only a few hundred meters away from the Tomb of the Living Dead. Finally, he had a place to settle down.

He dared not spend the remaining fifteen taels of silver carelessly.

He knew the principle that the poor should study literature and the rich should practice martial arts. He wanted to establish himself in this world and cultivate more profound martial arts skills.

To protect Xiaolongnu, martial arts skills alone are not enough; one must also have enough silver.

To ensure absolute physical strength and health.

Practicing martial arts requires precious medicinal herbs such as ginseng, deer antler, and he shou wu to nourish the body; without money, it is very difficult to make progress in cultivation.

To establish oneself in Zhongnan Mountain and escape the oppression of local bullies and tyrannical soldiers, one also needs to bribe officials.

His greatest reliance, besides Shaolin martial arts and the help of the system, is his excellent cooking skills honed in his previous life.

After settling in Zhongnan Mountain, Wang Cheng carefully observed the surrounding environment and the living conditions of the people.

In this era of scarcity, people lived in poverty, and most people were starving. It was considered good if they could eat coarse grains and wild vegetables on ordinary days, and they could only eat stewed meat during festivals.

The food is very monotonous and lacks any special features. Apart from simple cooking methods, there are almost no other special characteristics.

Even a beverage like sour plum drink was a luxury that only wealthy families could afford; ordinary people could never even see it.

As for snacks, fast food, and specialty drinks, don't even think about them.

Wang Cheng immediately had an idea.

He wants to use his culinary skills from his previous life to create unique and distinctive dishes in this era, earn money to support his family and martial arts training, and at the same time, strengthen his relationship with the Ancient Tomb Sect.

After much deliberation, he chose fried chicken cutlets and cola.

These two delicacies are readily available in modern times. They are simple to make, very inexpensive, and taste amazing. People of all ages love them.

In this martial arts world where there is no competition, you can definitely become incredibly famous and make as much money as you want.

Moreover, fried chicken cutlets are tender and nutritious, making them perfect for Little Dragon Girl who is still growing.

Cola is sweet and refreshing, a flavor that little girls would like, making it undoubtedly the best way to get closer to Xiaolongnu.

Having made up his mind, Wang Cheng decided to act immediately.

He took out ten taels of silver as start-up capital and went to the market at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain early in the morning to make purchases.

People in this era only liked to eat whole chickens. Chicken breast meat was rather dry, and ordinary people didn't know how to cook it, so it wasn't popular to eat. The price was ridiculously low; you could buy a pound for just three coins.

Wang Cheng bought fifty catties of fresh chicken breast in one go, and also purchased a small cart, iron pot, earthenware bowl, bamboo chopsticks, firewood and other tools for setting up his stall.

After buying basic ingredients such as scallions, ginger, garlic, starch, eggs, and rapeseed oil, they spent one or two taels of silver to rent a stall at an intersection in the market, thus completing all the preliminary preparations.

Back in the courtyard, Wang Cheng began to get busy.

He first washed the chicken breast and cut it into even, thin slices that were even larger than his own small face.

Then, pick up the back of the knife and gently pound the chicken cutlet repeatedly with even force to break down the chicken fibers and make the meat tender and juicy.

This method of frying chicken cutlets will result in a crispy exterior and tender interior, making them incredibly delicious.

After pounding, it's time to marinate.

He placed the chopped chicken pieces into a clean wooden basin, added chopped scallions and ginger to remove any fishy smell, and then, with a thought, activated the system in his mind.

That's right, the moment Wang Cheng transmigrated, he awakened the golden finger that transmigrators possess—the system.

This is a dual system that combines martial arts training with culinary and business skills, and it is also his greatest source of confidence in this world.

[Host: Wang Cheng]

Age: Eight years old

[Realm Level: Acquired Ninth Level (Ninth Level of Meditation)]

[Martial Arts: Shaolin Arhat Fist (Mastery), Shaolin Meditation Skill (Ninth Level)]

[Culinary Skills: God-level (Proficient in making many kinds of specialty snacks, dishes, and drinks)]

【系统背包：洗髓丹×1、秘制腌料×3、蚝油×1瓶、鸡精×1袋、可乐秘制配方×1】

[Silver: Fifteen taels]

Current task: None

System Points: 0

The system panel is very clear and easy to understand; all the information is readily available.

Wang Cheng took out oyster sauce, chicken essence, and three secret marinades—spicy, plum, and honey—from his system inventory. These were unique seasonings in the world and the core secret to his superb fried chicken cutlet flavor.

He put the seasonings into the bowl one by one, then cracked in two eggs, added an appropriate amount of starch, and mixed it thoroughly with his hands so that each piece of chicken cutlet was coated with the sauce. He marinated it for a full twenty minutes to ensure that the flavor was completely absorbed into the meat.

While marinating the chicken cutlets, Wang Cheng began making his own unique cola.

He found a small pot, put in white sugar, and simmered it over low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar melted into a thick syrup.

Then add an appropriate amount of water to dilute it. After the syrup cools down, add a little baking soda and white vinegar, and finally add the cola secret recipe liquid produced by the system, and stir gently until well mixed.

In a flash, a delicious cup of cola was made, its refreshing aroma filling the courtyard, making people want to buy a cup to drink.

With everything ready, Wang Cheng pushed his cart to the roadside stall at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

He wiped the cart spotless, set up the iron pot, and poured in very clean rapeseed oil.

In order to save costs, most restaurants and eateries in this era used murky oil that was not changed for many days, or even used inferior gutter oil.

The ingredients were also filthy and messy, while Wang Cheng used only the best fresh ingredients and changed the oil every two days, keeping it clean and hygienic. This alone was enough to crush all his competitors.

As the firewood was lit and the oil temperature gradually rose, reaching 70% of its maximum heat, Wang Cheng coated the marinated chicken cutlet with a thin layer of starch and gently placed it into the oil.

"Sizzle—!"

The hot oil sizzled, and the aroma instantly spread in all directions.

The golden and crispy outer layer quickly set, and the rich aroma of meat mixed with the unique fragrance of seasonings wafted dozens of meters away on the wind, instantly attracting passing villagers and merchants.

In no time, Wang Cheng's stall was surrounded by people, all craning their necks, their eyes full of curiosity, their noses constantly sniffing the aroma in the air, their mouths watering.

"Little one, what are you making? It smells so good! I've lived for sixty years and have never smelled such an enticing aroma!"

An elderly man with white hair and dressed in coarse cloth clothes squeezed to the front of the crowd and couldn't help but ask.

Wang Cheng stopped using his chopsticks, a happy smile spreading across his face. He said in a clear voice, "Grandpa, this is called fried chicken cutlet, and the black drink next to it is cola."

These are all my uniquely developed delicacies. In the entire world, only I sell them. You can't find them anywhere else, even if you want to drink them.

"Fried chicken cutlet? Cola?" The old man gestured a few times, his eyes full of doubt. He had never heard of these names before.

"That's right," Wang Cheng said, flipping the chicken cutlets in the pot. "I have three flavors of chicken cutlets: spicy, plum, and honey. They're crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with juice."

This cola is sweet and sour, refreshing, and helps to cut through any greasiness, making it a perfect accompaniment to other foods.

As they were talking, the first fried chicken cutlet was fully cooked, golden and crispy, with an enticing color. Wang Cheng picked it up with long chopsticks, drained the oil, and placed it on a clean ceramic plate.

The rich aroma wafted over, causing the onlookers to instantly swallow hard.

In the crowd, a little girl with pigtails tugged at her mother's clothes, her eyes fixed on the fried chicken cutlet, her little mouth slightly pursed, and her eyes instantly reddened.

The next second, she burst into tears, feeling wronged: "Mom, I want to eat this, it smells so good, I'm so hungry..."

The little girl was so tempted by the fried chicken that Wang Cheng made that she cried.

The little girl's mother looked troubled. Her family was poor and could barely afford coarse grains, let alone such luxurious food.

Seeing this, Wang Cheng felt a little sorry for the little girl, as he was trying to attract customers.

He picked up the freshly fried chicken cutlet, cut it into small pieces with a bamboo knife, walked up to the little girl, and handed it to her with a smile: "Little sister, don't cry, brother will give you a piece to try."

The little girl stood there, her eyes blurry with tears, looking at Wang Cheng, then at her mother, but dared not reach out.

"Quickly thank the little boy," the little girl's mother said, her heart filled with gratitude. She could tell that although the child was young, he was kind-hearted.

"Thank you, brother." The little girl took the chicken cutlet and carefully took a small bite.

The crispy outer layer crumbles in your mouth, offering a savory and salty flavor, while the meat is fresh, tender, and has a satisfying crunch.

It is very crisp and tender.

The juicy meat bursts forth instantly, and the spicy flavor spreads across the tongue. It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fragrant but not greasy, and so delicious it's unbelievable.

The little girl's eyes lit up instantly, and she began to wolf down the food, mumbling between bites, "Delicious, so delicious!"

This scene completely ignited everyone's appetite.

"Little kid, give me a spicy one!" a burly man shouted, pulling out some loose silver from his pocket.

"I want a plum-flavored one to take home for my grandson!"

"Give me a chicken cutlet and a Coke, just to try it out!"

The stall was bustling with activity, and orders kept coming in.

Wang Cheng shouted with a smile, "Fried chicken cutlets are twelve coins each, or fifteen coins with a cola! The chicken cutlets are bigger than your face, with lots of meat and little dough, enough to fill both adults and children!"

His price was extremely fair, fifteen coins, which in this era was only the price of a few steamed buns, something ordinary people could afford, let alone such an unprecedented delicacy.

Everyone eagerly took out their money to buy, and those who received the chicken cutlet and cola praised it highly after tasting it.

"Delicious! This chicken cutlet smells amazing, a hundred times better than a meat bun!"

"This cola is so delicious! It's sweet and sour, refreshing, and I've never had such good-tasting water before!"

"Little one, your cooking skills are absolutely amazing! You're even better than the chefs at the big restaurants in the city!"

The product received rave reviews and a constant stream of repeat customers; some even bought seven or eight servings at once to take home for their families.

Some traveling merchants and peddlers planned to buy some as provisions for their journeys, and long queues formed in front of Wang Cheng's stall, making his business extremely popular.

Just as Wang Cheng was busy with his work, a series of arrogant footsteps came, accompanied by rude shouts, breaking the lively atmosphere.

"Get out of the way! All of you, get out of my way! Where did this brat come from, daring to set up a stall and make money at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain without even asking his father if he'll allow it!"

The crowd instantly stirred, retreating in fear, their faces filled with dread, and they dared not utter a sound.

Five burly men dressed in short-sleeved shirts and carrying long knives and iron rods pushed through the crowd with fierce expressions and walked over.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a hideous scar on his face. His eyes were sinister, and he exuded a fierce aura. It was clear at a glance that he was not a good person.

"It's the Black Wind Stronghold! What are they doing here!" someone in the crowd exclaimed in a low voice, their voice filled with fear.

Black Wind Stronghold was a notorious bandit stronghold in the Zhongnan Mountains, where hundreds of bandits gathered, committing all sorts of atrocities, including arson, murder, and looting.

They oppressed the people and robbed merchants. The government launched several raids, but failed each time because of the mountain stronghold's treacherous terrain. Over time, Black Wind Stronghold became increasingly arrogant and ran rampant in the Zhongnan Mountain area, with no one daring to provoke them.

The Quanzhen Sect members went to sweep through the area several times, but the bandits fled at the mere mention of it. The sweeps were never very effective, and once the Quanzhen Sect members left, the bandits would return to continue their evil deeds.

However, they only oppressed the common people and did not kill many people, so the Quanzhen Sect members were unable to kill them all.

The leader, a scarred man named Zhou Hu, was the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold. He had reached the seventh level of the Acquired Realm and possessed extremely ruthless swordsmanship.

His hands were stained with the blood of many people. He was in charge of collecting protection money at the foot of the mountain. If anyone refused, he would smash, loot, and plunder. He was ruthless.

Zhou Hu walked up to the stall, glanced at eight-year-old Wang Cheng with disdain and greed, and kicked the edge of the cart with a loud "bang," almost knocking the ceramic bowls off the cart.

"You little brat, you're young, but you've got some nerve, daring to make money on my turf. Don't you know the rules?"

Zhou Hu, with a straw in his mouth, said arrogantly, "From today onwards, you'd better pay me ten taels of silver a day as protection money, or else..."

I'll rip your stall apart, break your legs, and throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves!

The surrounding villagers turned pale with fright and lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at Zhou Hu and his group, for fear of getting into trouble.

Wang Cheng paused slightly with his chopsticks, his smile vanished instantly, and his eyes turned icy cold.

He had heard of the Black Wind Stronghold's infamous reputation when he first arrived at Zhongnan Mountain, but he never expected that these bandits would come knocking on his door so soon after he opened his business. It was truly outrageous.

Having lived two lives and possessing Shaolin martial arts and systems, why would he be afraid of these few third-rate bandits?

Moreover, he still needs to establish himself in Zhongnan Mountain and protect Xiaolongnu. If he swallows his anger today, these people will only take advantage of him in the future, and he will never have a peaceful day.

"Spicy Mom, my stall is located at the intersection of the main road. Why should I pay protection money to trash like you?"

Wang Cheng's voice was icy. His small body stood straight, his inner strength surging quietly around him, and the aura of the ninth level of the Acquired Realm slowly spread out. "This is the territory of the Great Song Dynasty, governed by the law. It's not your place to run wild, you Black Wind Stronghold bastards."

"The law?" Zhou Hu laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his eyes full of mockery. "At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, I am the law!"

You little brat, you think you're so tough? You dare try to reason with me? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson so you won't know how powerful I am!

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Hu's face darkened. He raised his fist and, with the power of the seventh level of the acquired realm, slammed it hard into Wang Cheng's chest. The fist was fierce and merciless, clearly intending to seriously injure the eight-year-old child with one punch.

In his view, an eight-year-old child was too weak to even kill a chicken and was utterly vulnerable.

The surrounding villagers gasped in shock and closed their eyes, unable to bear to watch Wang Cheng being beaten so badly.

But the next second, something shocking happened.

Just as Zhou Hu's fist was about to hit Wang Cheng, Wang Cheng suddenly moved, stepping into the basic Shaolin footwork, his movements incredibly agile.

He easily dodged Zhou Hu's heavy punch, and at the same time, he made a fist with his right hand, poured his internal energy into his fist, and instantly used the Black Tiger Stealing Heart technique from the Great Arhat Fist.

There was nothing fancy about it, just the most simple and powerful strike.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, Wang Cheng's small fist landed precisely on Zhou Hu's chest.

Zhou Hu's arrogant smile froze instantly. He felt an immense internal force, far beyond his imagination, surge into his body like a flash flood, causing his internal organs to shift and his blood to surge.

His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. He simply couldn't believe that an eight-year-old child could possess such formidable strength.

"ah--!"

Zhou Hu let out a piercing scream, and his whole body flew backwards several meters away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, the long sword slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He instantly lost the ability to resist and lay on the ground howling in pain.

In a single move, Zhou Hu, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold, was defeated by eight-year-old Wang Cheng!

This scene left everyone present speechless, and the entire room fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The remaining four Black Wind Stronghold bandits were even more terrified, their faces turning deathly pale, their bodies trembling, staring at Wang Cheng with utter horror, as if they had seen a ghost.

They never imagined that this seemingly frail eight-year-old child was actually a hidden master!

"Second-in-command!" one of the bandits cried out in alarm, brandishing his long knife and charging towards Wang Cheng. "You little bastard, you dare to hurt our second-in-command? I'll kill you!"

The other three bandits also came to their senses, picked up their weapons, and attacked Wang Cheng from all sides, their blades flashing and their momentum fierce.

Wang Cheng's eyes were cold, showing no fear whatsoever.

He moved swiftly through the crowd, his Shaolin footwork executed to its fullest extent, making him appear like a ghost as he effortlessly evaded all attacks, while simultaneously unleashing a series of Arhat Fist strikes.

Every move he made was incredibly powerful, like a tiger descending the mountain, an arhat pushing a mountain, or a black tiger tearing out a heart. Each move was fierce and powerful, every punch landing with a visceral impact, his inner strength bursting forth with tremendous force.

"Bang bang bang!"

Screams echoed continuously throughout the intersection.

In just three breaths, all four bandits were knocked to the ground by Wang Cheng. Some had their arms broken, some had their ribs shattered, and some had their leg bones crushed. They all lay on the ground, howling and begging for mercy, with not a trace of their previous arrogance.

Wang Cheng slowly withdrew his fist, his aura receding, and he returned to being the seemingly ordinary eight-year-old child. But at this moment, no one dared to underestimate him anymore.

The surrounding villagers were stunned for a moment, then burst into enthusiastic cheers.

"Good! Well done! Finally, someone's taking care of these thugs!"

"This little kid is amazing! So young, yet his martial arts skills are so high—he's a true young hero!"

"With the little one here, we finally don't have to be afraid of the Black Wind Stronghold anymore!"

Wang Cheng ignored the scorn of the bandits on the ground, gave them a domineering look, and spoke in an arrogant tone:

"Go back and tell your Black Wind Stronghold chief that from this day forward, no one is allowed to oppress the people or collect protection money at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. If you dare to invade again, I will raze Black Wind Stronghold to the ground and make you pay for your blood debt!"

Although his voice was young, it carried a powerful and domineering authority that made the bandits on the ground tremble. They nodded repeatedly, scrambled to their feet to help Zhou Hu up, and fled in panic, never daring to look back.

After dealing with the bandits from Black Wind Stronghold, Wang Cheng returned to his stall and continued working, as if the thrilling fight had never happened.

His calm and composed demeanor earned him the utmost respect from everyone.

Just then, three figures in white slowly walked from the direction of Zhongnan Mountain, attracting everyone's attention.

The woman at the head of the group was in her early thirties. She was stunningly beautiful and had a cool and aloof demeanor. Dressed in white, she exuded an ethereal and otherworldly aura. She was none other than Zhao Xian'er, the leader of the Ancient Tomb Sect and the master of Little Dragon Girl.

Beside her was a seven-year-old girl, dressed in a white dress, with her hair styled in two buns, her skin as white as snow, and her features as beautiful as a painting.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and she had a pure and perfect appearance, looking like an absolutely beautiful and innocent little girl. It was none other than the young Little Dragon Girl.

Following behind the two was the kind-faced Granny Sun.

The three were practicing their skills in the ancient tomb when they were attracted by the rich aroma of fried chicken cutlets and heard the sounds of fighting outside, so they came to check it out.

The little dragon girl was still young and innocent. She ate a light diet in the ancient tomb, eating vegetarian food all day long, and had never smelled such a rich meaty aroma before.

A pair of big eyes stared intently at the golden, crispy fried chicken cutlet on the stall, her little face full of craving, her cool expression revealing a touch of childlike innocence and cuteness.

Zhao Xian'er's gaze fell on Wang Cheng, a hint of amazement and admiration flashing in her eyes.

She could tell that although Wang Cheng was young, his martial arts skills were extraordinary. His Arhat Fist was powerful and his internal strength was profound. He was no ordinary child. Moreover, he was kind-hearted and did his duty to rid the people of evil, which was truly rare.

When Wang Cheng first settled in Zhongnan Mountain, he was destitute and bullied by local thugs. Zhao Xian'er saw that he was pitiful and too young, so she secretly helped him and helped him resolve several crises. They had a certain friendship.

"Young friend Wang Cheng, I didn't expect you to be so skilled in martial arts at such a young age." Zhao Xian'er stepped forward, her tone gentle and full of praise.

Wang Cheng immediately stopped what he was doing, bowed respectfully to Zhao Xian'er, and said, "Junior Wang Cheng greets Aunt Zhao, Little Dragon Girl, and Granny Sun."

He always remembered that when he first arrived at Zhongnan Mountain, if it weren't for Zhao Xian'er's secret care, he would have been bullied by local bullies and thugs, and wouldn't even have been able to set up his stall and do business in peace. He always kept this kindness in his heart.

"Brother Wang Cheng, this smells so good!" Little Dragon Girl tugged at Zhao Xian'er's sleeve and whispered, her voice soft and sweet, her eyes full of anticipation.

"If Little Dragon Girl likes it, I'll give you a few pieces, and you can also take the cola."

Wang Cheng smiled and quickly picked up the two largest chicken cutlets, poured two full glasses of cola, and handed them to Xiaolongnu and Zhao Xian'er. "These chicken cutlets are very nutritious. Little sister is growing, so eat more. It's good for your health."

Zhao Xian'er waved her hand slightly, somewhat embarrassed: "How could we accept this? We can't just eat your food for free."

"Aunt Zhao, you're too kind. When I first arrived at Zhongnan Mountain, I was very grateful for your care. This little thing is just a token of my appreciation. Please don't refuse it," Wang Cheng said sincerely, insisting on handing over the chicken cutlet and cola.

Seeing his sincere attitude, Zhao Xian'er stopped refusing and accepted the chicken cutlet and cola.

Little Dragon Girl took the chicken cutlet, which was bigger than her little face, and carefully took a bite. Her eyes instantly lit up, and a bright smile spread across her face. She said sweetly, "Delicious! Brother Wang Cheng's chicken cutlet is the most delicious thing in the world!"

She had never eaten such delicious food before. She ate with great relish, taking a bite of chicken cutlet and a sip of cola, her little mouth stuffed full, looking absolutely adorable.

Zhao Xian'er also took a bite, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes. She had grown up in the ancient tomb since childhood and had tasted all kinds of vegetarian food in the mountains.

I have never tasted meat that is so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, so juicy and flavorful, bursting with aroma in every bite. The cola is also refreshingly sweet and sour, cutting through the richness and stimulating the appetite. It is truly a delicacy.

"Young friend Wang Cheng, your culinary skills are truly unparalleled in the world," Zhao Xian'er exclaimed sincerely.

Grandma Sun nodded repeatedly, praising Wang Cheng's cooking skills.

Wang Cheng exchanged a few pleasantries with the three of them, and seeing Xiaolongnu enjoying her meal, his heart was filled with warmth. He knew that he had completely won the favor of Zhao Xian'er and Xiaolongnu, and he would have more confidence in protecting Xiaolongnu in the future.

After seeing off Xiaolongnu and the other two, Wang Cheng's business became even more booming.

Having just driven off the bandits of Black Wind Stronghold, and with the added reputation of Little Dragon Girl and Zhao Xian'er, more and more people are coming to buy fried chicken cutlets and cola.

In just half a day, all fifty kilograms of chicken breast were used up, the cola was sold out, and all the ingredients were completely sold out.

After packing up his stall, Wang Cheng returned to his courtyard, counted the silver, and was filled with joy.

After deducting all costs such as ingredients and stall expenses, he earned a full three taels and seven qian of silver that day!

At the time, this was an extremely high income. Ordinary people might not earn that much even after a month of hard work. A typical small restaurant could only earn about one or two taels of silver a day.

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully defeated the Black Wind Stronghold bandits, ridding the people of a scourge, and completed the hidden quest: First Glimpse of Talent!]

[Ding! Detected that the host has earned their first pot of gold through their culinary skills, the path to business has begun, complete the beginner's mission: Culinary Journey Across the World!]

[Double tasks completed, system rewards issued!]

[Reward 1: Shaolin Meditation Skill has broken through to the tenth level of the Acquired Realm, just one step away from the Second-Rank Realm!]

[Reward 2: Shaolin Arhat Fist breaks through to the Perfect Realm, its power triples, and the essence of the fist is comprehended!]

[Reward 3: 2 Marrow Cleansing Pills. Taking these pills will cleanse your marrow and meridians, improving your innate bone quality!]

[Reward 4: 100 System Points, which can be redeemed for martial arts techniques, ingredients, and seasonings in the system shop!]

[Reward 5: Gain a special skill: Photographic memory, making learning martial arts and cooking twice as effective!]

A series of cold system notifications rang in Wang Cheng's mind, filling him with elation.

A warm and powerful internal force surged from his dantian, sweeping through his entire body. His meridians widened, his internal force surged, his meditation skill broke through to the tenth level of the acquired realm, and his Arhat Fist also reached the perfect realm. His understanding of the fist technique deepened, and he vaguely comprehended a trace of the fist intent.

Wang Cheng clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, a glimmer of hopeful excitement flashing in his eyes.

The tenth level of the Heavenly Realm, the Perfected Arhat Fist, the Marrow Cleansing Pill, and the ability to remember everything seen...

With the system's rewards, his strength increased significantly once again, bringing him closer and closer to the second-rate realm. In this martial world, he also gained more power to protect himself.

He looked up, gazing in the direction of the Tomb of the Living Dead, his eyes resolute.

Little Dragon Girl, in this life, I established myself in Zhongnan Mountain at the age of eight. With the skills of a culinary master, the support of the Martial Arts Culinary Master System, and the unique skills of Shaolin, I will surely protect you for a lifetime and not let you suffer the slightest grievance.

The Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts, the Yi Jin Jing, the Xi Sui Jing, and countless other opportunities in the martial world—I, Wang Cheng, have arrived!

Zhongnan Mountain is just the beginning; this vast martial arts world is his true stage!

In the future, Wang Cheng will change Xiaolongnu's tragic ending and give her a happy life.