Chapter 25 Physique Breakthrough

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Chapter 25 Physique Breakthrough

Jack usually doesn't drink much, but occasionally, he'd light a cigar just to savor the aroma. This box of 52% baijiu was actually bought from a Chinese supermarket for cooking, 12 bottles per box, each bottle 600 milliliters.

As a result, within a few days, Hannah secretly drank two bottles. She said the taste reminded her of the moonshine her dad used to make with potatoes back on the farm.

Taking out four beer glasses, John's wounds hadn't fully healed, so Jack only poured a splash in his glass and did the same for himself. Then, he filled the other two glasses with about a third each, dropped in a couple of ice cubes, and reminded, "This is like the Chinese version of vodka, don't drink it too quickly."

They raised their glasses, and as the custom goes, they needed a toast, but it didn't feel appropriate to say "Cheers" when drinking such high-proof liquor. Quick-witted Hannah, who had been craving sweets, came up with, "To being single!" The other three responded with a mix of laughter and tears, "To being single!"

As expected, the three Americans, who were crazy about sweets, couldn't stop praising the braised pork elbows. But they didn't spare other dishes either. After drinking almost all the baijiu, except for two vegetable dishes, the table was cleaned up by the four carnivores.

Rubbing his bulging belly, John sighed, "My diet plan is ruined. Why is it that you, Jack, can eat so well every day and still maintain your figure? Is that the advantage of youth?"

Jack was busy wrestling with Hannah over the bottle. She was already a bit tipsy, and he was worried she'd throw up tonight's dinner again, so he poured the remaining baijiu into Tim's glass. "Hannah turned the guest room into a combat room. Before I got injured, I had to accompany her daily in practicing martial arts. Staying here isn't just about enjoying free food and drink. Besides being beaten by her, I also have to cook for her, do the laundry, clean the house, and tidy up the yard."

Hannah wasn't too happy, looking at the empty bottles, she retorted with a pout, "I can almost beat you now. My coach already said I could take the E1-level exam in martial arts in Juda."

Jack rolled his eyes. After getting beaten so many times, the system had already shown his combat skills as proficient. He estimated that by breaking through a Physique score of 20 tonight, he could spank this little girl on the ground tomorrow.

"So, what are your plans for the future?" John turned to look at Tim.

Tim shook his head, grinning awkwardly as he took a sip, seeming still uncomfortable with the liquor but not willing to put the glass down. "I don't know, maybe I should leave everything to time to solve. I have an irresponsible father, and my wish has always been not to follow in his footsteps, to be a good husband. But the result..."

Jack lovingly messed up Hannah's golden long hair, stopping her attempt to open another bottle of baijiu. "Maybe it sounds cruel to say this, but I think Isabella might have ended your marriage so decisively because she knows you too well. She's already in hell and doesn't want to drag you down with her."

Tim sniffed, wiped away tears from his eyes, and downed the strong liquor in his glass with a hoarse voice, choked up, "I have thought of this possibility, but I still love her."

John agreed with Jack's view, "You've been a cop for so many years, you understand the state of those junkies on the streets better than we do. When Isabella left you and the home, you should have known that the person you loved was no longer there. Don't let so-called responsibility bind your future."

In the end, the drunk and heartbroken Tim was sent back home by John. Watching the departing taxi, Jack sighed, drugs really harms people.

After cleaning up the tableware, Jack turned around and saw Hannah already asleep on the couch. He couldn't help but smile. This girl looked like a drunkard, but her actual alcohol tolerance was just three to around 150-200 ml.

Just as he was about to princess-carry her back to her room, he suddenly felt her soft body stiffen. He quickly turned his head, and a punch wind barely missed his cheek.

"Hannah!" Jack called out hurriedly.

Hearing his familiar voice, Hannah's eyes widened suddenly, her unfocused blue pupils gradually refocused until they saw his face. Her stiff body slowly relaxed, and she closed her eyes again, nuzzling her nose against him like a little puppy, seemingly seeking a familiar scent. Her right hand, which was clenched into a fist, actively wrapped around his neck, and she burrowed her head into his embrace.

Jack was both annoyed and amused. Sometimes he really couldn't tell whether Hannah's attachment to him was more of romantic or familial love. He walked into the bedroom and carefully placed her on the bed, taking off her shoes and covering her with a blanket before quietly leaving the room.

This kind of stress reaction from Hannah wasn't the first time Jack had encountered it. Even with his entry-level psychological skills, he could tell it was a typical PTSD symptom. Coupled with her aversion to men, he had tried to approach the subject indirectly before, but she always remained tight-lipped about her past, leaving him helpless.

Back in his attic room, Jack lay on the bed. He first removed the bandages on his right leg, healing the wounds with his Healing Magic. Then he opened the system and used two gold coins to purchase one point of Physique, breaking through to 20.

There was no overwhelming pain throughout his body, nor any cheesy scenes of black, foul-smelling liquid being expelled from his body. Instead, there was a tingling sensation starting from his toes, passing through his calves, thighs, up his spine, reaching his arms, fingers, neck, and finally gathering at the crown of his head. It felt like his entire skeleton had been reset.

Getting up and taking off his clothes, Jack stood in front of the mirror. What greeted him was a male body resembling a Greek marble sculpture, with well-proportioned and perfect muscle lines. His skin was as flawless as jade, and even the slight acne scars on his chin had disappeared.

Jack clicked his tongue, posing in front of the mirror. With this figure combined with his original handsome face, he could probably make action movie actors in San Fernando Valley collectively unemployed.

That night, Jack experienced the benefits of breaking through both 20 points in Mental Power and Physique. His sleep time was reduced to less than three hours, which meant he had more than five extra hours each day for learning, training, or entertainment.

On the last day before the end of the vacation, Jack and Hannah visited Hunter and Dee Dee again. Thanks to the python Hunter gave him, Jack felt confident about walking out of the Brownson Building unscathed. Oh, the gunshot wound on his calf doesn't count; that was Tim's fault.

The only regret was that the python's magazine only held six rounds, and even with a speed loader, reloading was still cumbersome. If he had the chance, Jack would like to get a high-powered semi-automatic pistol specifically for dealing with people wearing body armor.

Although he was now proficient in pistol marksmanship, ensuring headshots within 20 meters, he was currently only an ordinary cop, so it's better not to stand out too much.

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