Ning Xufeng touched Zhou You's face, leaving a smear of black dust. He chuckled, "Why don't you wash up? Scared? I never asked for a fare, but the boss is busy and can't always pay attention to everyone. Otherwise, he wouldn't have placed you in the last vehicle. I am the captain of this one. Why don't you confide in me?"

"What?" Zhou You dug into his ear, wondering if he had misheard. Was this man implying something illicit between him and Li Hongxi? What kind of joke was this?

Ning Xufeng wore a sly grin. "No need to hide it. There's no shame in it. Others only wish they had the connections you have with the captain."

Zhou You turned away, afraid his temper might get the better of him and that he'd punch Ning Xufeng. He reconsidered his desire to join the Morning Exploration Team. With teammates like Ning Xufeng, how could he trust them with his back?

"Zhou You!" Li Yunxi spotted him and hurriedly beckoned him over, handing him a wrapped parcel.

Zhou You detected the aroma of meat and realized she had saved some for him. "I don't need this. Really, keep it for yourself."

Li Yunxi firmly refused, "Don't be shy. This is extra deer meat my brother gave me. I've already had plenty. He's the leader and gets more than he can eat. Please, just take it."

Appreciating her kindness, Zhou You accepted and thought about hunting something in return the next day. "Thank you."

"No need for thanks. Also, it's almost time for my brother's class. Why not join? Even if you're not physically strong, some martial arts knowledge will be useful."

"Class?"

"Yes, whenever my brother has time, he teaches us some exercises and also trains the children in the team. Anyone interested can join. Wang Zikai and the others all learned from him during this journey."

This was good news for Zhou You. He began to see Li Hongxi in a positive light, viewing Ning Xufeng as nothing but a minor annoyance.

As night fell, temperatures dropped sharply. Li Yunxi, wearing a black down jacket, noticed Zhou You in his ill-fitting tracksuit and offered, "Aren't you cold? Next time we enter the city, I'll find some warm clothes for you. My brother's clothes won't fit you."

"Thank you, I can manage," replied Zhou You, noticing a group of children gathering on a flat ground, with Li Hongxi, in his exercise gear, standing before them. Without a word, he began with a horse stance.

The children, ranging from two to teens, obediently followed. Their young faces bore mature expressions.

Zhou You saw many adults joining in. He did the same. Relying solely on his internal energy manipulation was insufficient, especially in close combat.

The stance lasted an hour. The younger kids eventually sat down, tired. When the time was up, Li Hongxi demonstrated a set of military boxing techniques.

Zhou You found it familiar. Li Hongxi explained, "This is the military boxing technique. It's not a secret martial arts skill. Feel free to learn or not. Elite martial arts from renowned schools aren't shared with outsiders and require rigorous selection."

"Captain Li, we're grateful for your instruction. This boxing technique is more than enough," a teenager said loudly. Everyone nodded in agreement. How could commoners access those exclusive martial arts secrets?

Li Hongxi meticulously explained the intricacies of each move, leaving it up to the observers to learn as much as their abilities allow.

Zhou You showcased his Military Boxing skills, executing them with great proficiency because he had learned them in the past.

After watching, Li Yunxi clapped and said, "Zhou You, you're impressive. You pick things up so quickly. However, your moves are too delicate and lack strength. Physical conditioning is key."

With humility, Zhou You inquired, "Apart from consuming mutated beast meat, are there other ways to enhance one's physique?"

"Yes, through training. My brother served in the army and underwent systematic training. He survived the major calamity, proving that our bodies have adapted to the current air. If the unknown elements in the air can cause plants and animals to mutate wildly, why can't it affect humans, who are also animals?"

"What kind of element is it?" Zhou You was once again faced with a gap in his knowledge.

"Who knows? Even experts haven't figured it out. But since then, people's physical strength has undeniably increased. A decade ago, your boxing skills would've made you a champion in the military. Now, they're considered weak. I'm even stronger than you."

Zhou You clenched his fist, pondering his own strength. Without using his inner power, he seemed no different from an average person.

As Zhou You started to walk away, deep in thought, Li Yunxi shouted from behind, "We're not done! Where are you going?"

Zhou You waved and called out loudly, "Tired, going to sleep."

The camp was completely quiet after 10 pm. Zhou You waited for a while, then discreetly slipped off the vehicle, vanishing into the woods in a flash.

The night watchman thought he heard a noise but saw nothing unusual upon inspection, murmuring, "Seems my hearing isn't sharp enough."

Not daring to venture too deep into the dense woods, Zhou You hunted a few weaker animals nearby and roasted them on a wind-sheltered hillside.

The evening's porridge had digested quickly, and the meat piece given by Li Yunxi wasn't that large. He felt he could eat an entire rabbit.

After his meal, he lay on the grass, mumbling to himself, "I've missed out. If I had known mutated beast meat was so beneficial, why did I practice asceticism? I thought I was on the path to becoming immortal and gave up the elixir."