Tianyu's life had taken an unexpected turn, and as he delved deeper into the world of cultivation, he found himself immersed in new challenges and opportunities. The Venomous Needle Technique had opened up a world of possibilities, but it was a power he vowed to use responsibly.

After confirming his new skill, Tianyu left his room and made his way to the kitchen where Qin Li Mei had already finished washing the rabbits. Recalling the information from the hunter's guide, he set up a work area.

"Okay, so first things first," he muttered to himself while organizing his thoughts, "let's drain the blood."

Taking the rabbits out into the courtyard, Tianyu used the drying rack for their clothes to hang the rabbits by their ankles. He placed a bucket underneath to catch the blood and carefully cut their throats to bleed them out.

While the rabbits drained, Tianyu returned to the kitchen to prepare a few things, using his knowledge from the system. It wasn't long before he brought the rabbits back inside, ready to begin the butchering process.

To his surprise, the system provided guidance, displaying virtual lines that showed him where to cut and in what order, much like when he had been training his foot technique.

The first rabbit took him about 40 minutes to skin and butcher, but as he gained more experience, the subsequent ones were processed much more efficiently.

Once he finished, he cleaned up his work area and left the rabbit meat to one side for his mother to sort out. He also kept the edible organs, discarding only what couldn't be used.

Qin Li Mei returned to the kitchen, praised Tianyu for his work, and thanked him for bringing home fresh meat. She mentioned that the amount he had brought would last them a couple of days if they ate it sparingly. Unfortunately, it couldn't be stored for too long before it started to spoil.

Tianyu, however, had a different plan. "You don't need to worry about that, Mother. We should eat our fill without worrying about saving more. I will bring us some meat every day from now on!" he declared proudly.

Grateful and touched by her son's thoughtfulness, Qin Li Mei could only smile and nod. "I'm going to go and exercise in the courtyard. I'll leave the rest to you," Tianyu said, smiling as he kissed his mother on the cheek.

She smiled back, jokingly cautioning him, "Make sure you don't pass out again like last time!"

Remembering his previous mishap, he turned back. "I forgot! Mother, could you wrap up one of these rabbits for me, please? I should go and thank Mister Hao and apologize for being a nuisance."

Appreciating her son's considerate nature, Qin Li Mei quickly agreed and wrapped up a butchered rabbit in some cloth. "Thanks," he said as he turned to leave.

Heading out through the gate to their neighbor Mister Hao's house, Tianyu knocked loudly, as was his usual practice when visiting. He waited patiently for someone to answer.

A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing the tiny elderly lady he fondly called Auntie, Madam Hao.

"Xiao Tianyu!" she exclaimed happily. "Come in, come in," she invited him warmly. "I don't know how many times I've told you that you don't need to knock at the gate like a stranger. You're always welcome in our home, dear!"

Smiling, Tianyu replied, "You know me, Auntie, I respect you and Uncle too much to intrude!"

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"Bah!" Auntie Hao giggled. "Still calling me Auntie. I'm old enough to be your grandma!"

"Oh, please, Auntie! You get younger and younger every time I see you. What's your secret?" Tianyu playfully flattered.

Laughing like a schoolgirl, Auntie Hao responded, "Oh, Xiao Tianyu, if only we could sell your words, we'd make a fortune with how sweet they are!"

Tianyu just laughed in response. "What brings you over here, dear?" Auntie Hao asked with a smile.

"Can't I just want to come and see my favorite person in the world?" Tianyu joked.

This caused her to laugh once more. Tianyu and Madam Hao had shared a close bond for many years.

"I've come to see Uncle and bring a gift over as thanks for helping yesterday," he explained.

"Ah, yes, I remember your mother rushing over last night. But you know what Mister Hao is like, a man of few words," she joked sarcastically.

"Husband!" Madam Hao called out to summon Mister Hao from wherever he was.

Tianyu took a moment to chat with Madam Hao. She was genuinely curious about what had transpired the previous night. Tianyu explained that he had pushed himself too hard during training, leading to exhaustion and fainting. Concern etched her features, and she asked if he was okay.

"I'm fine, Auntie, no need to worry," he reassured her.

Soon after, Mister Hao joined them, nodding to Tianyu in greeting. "Uncle, I wanted to thank you for helping us yesterday and to apologize for disturbing you," Tianyu said solemnly.

Mister Hao simply waved his hand as if to say it was no bother.

"I brought you a gift in thanks. I went hunting earlier today and caught some fresh rabbit. I brought one over to say thank you," Tianyu explained.

A spark of curiosity shone in Mister Hao's eyes as he asked, "You hunt?"

"I have recently taken up hunting so that my mother doesn't have to worry so much about buying meat," Tianyu explained. "I know she gets upset whenever she can't provide enough, and she thinks she is failing as a mother. I hate to see her like this, and as I am a man now, I want to take this burden off her shoulders."

Mister Hao nodded in approval. "Follow me," he said, rising from his seat and leading Tianyu through the house.

"I'll take this, dear," Madam Hao said, grabbing the wrapped rabbit from Tianyu. "And thank you," she added with a genuine smile.

Following Mister Hao, Tianyu found himself in the workshop. Silently, Mister Hao rummaged through some papers and found what he was looking for. He laid out a map on the table and called Tianyu over.

Tianyu looked at the map, a massive depiction of the area with countless notes and markings. Mister Hao explained that he used to be a hunter and had spent years hunting in the surrounding woods. The map contained details about animal locations, hunting spots, water sources, and more – a treasure trove of information for any aspiring hunter.

"This here," Mister Hao pointed to a circle on the map, "is my old hunting cabin," he explained.

From his desk, Mister Hao produced a key and handed it to Tianyu. "It's yours now," he declared.

Tianyu hesitated, saying, "Uncle, I can't take this."

"You will," Mister Hao said firmly.

"But..." Tianyu began to protest.

"You will," Mister Hao repeated, his tone brooking no argument.

Knowing when he was beaten, Tianyu reluctantly accepted the key and thanked Mister Hao once more.

Mister Hao also handed him the map, emphasizing, "The red areas on the map. Do not go there! Never go there until you are strong enough."

Tianyu, somewhat taken aback by Mister Hao's forcefulness, agreed to avoid those areas, recognizing that there must be a good reason behind the warning.

Mister Hao nodded, grunting in approval.

Staying a few more minutes to chat with Madam Hao, Tianyu eventually made his way back home. After putting away the map and key in his room, he headed outside to continue his training.

Setting up a wooden board and taking a few steps back, Tianyu focused on his practice. He carefully considered the techniques he had learned, particularly the Venomous Needle Technique. It was proving to be more challenging than he had initially thought. After throwing about 20 needles, none had managed to stick into the target. He had hit the target a few times, but it wasn't with the precision he aimed for, and the needles either hit with the side or lacked the force to penetrate the wooden target.

After throwing 10 more needles, he was puzzled to find that his needle case was empty. "Sophia," he called out, "Didn't you tell me that I would never run out of needles?"

[Host, to confirm, you have an infinite number of needles, but they will take time to regenerate,] the system explained.

Tianyu inquired further, "How long will they take to regenerate?"

[Host, you will regenerate 1 needle per minute automatically, but you can also recall the needles used, which will refill the pouch,] she clarified.

"And what happens if I recall the needle?" he asked.

[Host, once the needle is recalled, it will dissolve from its current location and reappear inside the pouch,] the system explained.

"That's crazy," he exclaimed. "Isn't this way too powerful of a killing move?"

[Host, the Venomous Needle Technique is an assassination technique, designed to kill without leaving any evidence,] the system explained.

Tianyu thought to himself, contemplating the ethics of his newfound power. "Does this make the Venomous Needle Technique an evil technique? Is this something I should even be practicing?" he wondered for a moment.

Then he remembered something, dismissing his doubts. "I shouldn't worry about this. It's not the techniques that are evil; it's the people who use them who decide if they are evil techniques or not."

After recalling the needles he had thrown, Tianyu resumed his practice, repeating the process for hours until dinner was ready.

As he sat down to enjoy a meal laden with rabbit meat, both he and Qin Li Mei relished the food. It didn't last long. Upon finishing his meal, Tianyu thanked his mother for cooking and returned to his training, which continued throughout the evening.

Washing up and heading to bed later, Tianyu smiled to himself. He had found paradise once again, and he was determined to protect it, no matter the cost.