After careful consideration, Zhao Chi decided to choose between Movement Speed and Defense.

The Peach Blossom Human Race’s various Attributes were quite good; their natural Movement Speed was already very fast.

Increasing Movement Speed would certainly make combat more comfortable. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

But considering safety and stability in direct combat, Defense was the better option.

Besides, the legs and feet were harder to defend compared to other parts of the body.

After all, they were the farthest from the torso.

The most convenient area to protect with a Shield was the upper body.

If the Silk Stockings also added Defense, it would raise their overall protection by a whole Level.

And even with high Movement Speed, if their legs and feet were injured, their speed would still be affected.

’I’ll improve Defense first this time.’

’Next time, I can create a new Improvement for Movement Speed.’

’Depending on the situation, I can have them switch to different Silk Stockings.’

’Wear the ones that add Movement Speed when traveling.’

’Wear the ones that add Defense when in combat.’

’Specialized stockings for specialized tasks.’

’So, Defense it is for now.’

Zhao Chi began the Improvement:

〖The current Improvement meets the conditions for "Transplantation." Transfer information?〗

He selected "Transfer."

〖Please select a transfer target.〗

He chose 2. Defense.

〖Please select the transfer Effect.〗

Transferring the 2 Configuration Points from Cleanliness to the 5 Configuration Points for Defense would change the Defense Configuration Points to:

[2. Defense +10%] 2 points

〖First time transferring Improvement data. Restriction lifted. 100% success rate. Confirm?〗

If Zhao Chi had more money, he would have definitely bought a more suitable, High Level Improvement Book for the data transfer.

But he didn’t.

And he wasn’t about to wait.

Many things, many opportunities, disappeared while you waited.

For example, confessing your love.

For example, honoring your parents.

He selected "Confirm."

Then, he allocated all the Configuration Points to Defense.

[Your Improvement is as follows:]

[2. Defense +10%] x5

[Confirm?]

He confirmed again.

In that instant, it felt as if something had appeared in the territory.

It was as if a thin veil had enveloped the surroundings.

But upon closer inspection, there was nothing there.

A system notification arrived:

[Congratulations, your territory has mastered the "Ultra-Silky" Silk Stockings Improvement Technology.]

Huh?

Zhao Chi stared at the system notification, a little surprised.

’Didn’t I increase Defense Power? What does that have to do with being silky?’

’Did it add the wrong stat?’

Zhao Chi quickly opened the Technology interface.

In the Technology interface, he then found the Fashion category.

Finally, within the Women’s Fashion subcategory, he found the Improvement Technology he had just unlocked.

He opened it to view the details:

[Improvement] Ultra-Silky Type

[Base Item] Silk Stockings

[Attributes] Defense Power +50%

[Explanation] Greatly increases the silkiness of the Silk Stockings, allowing them to deflect a large number of enemy Attacks.

"...So that’s how it is."

Zhao Chi didn’t know what to say.

So that’s what "silky" meant.

’As long as the Attribute is correct, it’s fine.’

’Looks like those women’s tender legs are going to become iron legs from now on.’

Zhao Chi breathed a sigh of relief and closed the system menu.

His territory hadn’t yet unlocked the production technology for Silk Stockings.

He would need to go buy a batch of Silk Stocking Fashion and then apply the Improvement.

Or he could just go all in and directly buy the production technology Blueprint for Silk Stockings.

But he had no money right now.

’I need to find a way to make some money and get Gu Qing and the Female Soldiers all equipped before the academy’s test.’

’Afterward, I can also use this Improvement Technology to sell some from time to time. That should also make some money.’

’But I have to control the amount.’

’Otherwise, if others get jealous, they might stab me in the back.’

’Especially my peers.’

’I have to be even more careful with noble peers.’

Trading 21 Goblins for a super-strong Improvement Technology was well worth it.

Zhao Chi felt full of energy.

He had been delayed for a while, but Tang Ruan and the five other women hadn’t slacked off at all.

They were chopping down trees with all their might, THUD THUD THUD.

The Power behind every swing of the axe was immense.

The leaves on the trees rustled violently from the vibrations.

Wood chips flew everywhere.

Their slender arms channeled immense Power.

It was comparable to that of the Beastmen.

Moreover, these women were only 1.65 meters tall, much shorter than the 1.9-meter-tall Beastmen.

This allowed them to chop lower on the tree trunks.

The resulting logs would also be a bit longer.

Zhao Chi also picked up an axe and joined in on chopping the trees.

Soon, it was noon.

The women had worked very hard and were now exhausted.

Naturally, the morning’s harvest was good as well.

With plenty of Energy during the day, the Efficiency of all kinds of work was very high.

They had already cleared out an empty plot of land. After lunch, they could start building the barracks.

Nine new sets of Cloth Clothing and pants had been made, and the women had all changed into them.

Their skin was covered.

But their curvaceous figures were still visible.

There were still seven women who were practically naked, but they should all be able to get new clothes by the afternoon.

Then, by working overtime tonight, they could make cloth shoes for everyone.

Starting tomorrow, they could begin making Leather Armor.

Eighteen new axes had been made, which was enough.

Next, they would make some Firewood Knives, hammers, shovels, pickaxe heads, and the like. Tomorrow, they would also start making Weapons.

Carpenter Li Zhu had made 1 simple handcart.

It would be much more convenient for transporting Supplies.

Gu Qing returned with three female villagers, all of them having had a bountiful harvest.

One female villager was holding an armful of wild fruits.

Another held a large quantity of wild vegetables and herbs.

The third was carrying a half-grown wild boar on her shoulder.

Gu Qing, for her part, was carrying two pheasants in her left hand and a wild goat in her right.

She also had a scarf around her neck.

’A scarf?’

’Where did that come from? Did she find it?’

Gu Qing smiled. "My lord, come see what good thing I’ve caught for you!"

’A good thing?’

Gu Qing started to take off her "scarf."

Only then did Zhao Chi see clearly that it wasn’t a scarf at all.

It was a python as thick as an arm!

"Careful! Don’t play around, get it off you!"

Zhao Chi rushed over, holding a Firewood Knife.

"Hee hee, don’t worry, my lord. Look, its head is already crushed."

Zhao Chi lowered his Firewood Knife.

He saw that the python was indeed lying limply around Gu Qing’s neck.

Gu Qing patted the snake’s body.

"I’ll make snake soup for you."

"Huh?"

"It’s very nourishing, hee hee."

Zhao Chi hesitated.

From childhood to adulthood, from his original world to this one, he had never eaten snake.

In his inner heart, he felt a certain resistance.

"Eat snake? Is it safe?"

"Don’t worry, it’s fine."

"How about we just eat the wild boar? Or the wild goat is fine too. There aren’t any parasites, are there...?"

Although he was worried, it seemed this world really didn’t have any parasites.

Gu Qing moved closer and whispered in his ear, "I heard snake soup is an aphrodisiac. Let’s get you nourished and see if it has an effect."

Zhao Chi: "...Why would I need to nourish *that*?"

Gu Qing blinked. "It’s fine, I understand~ I’m your doctor, and your future personal nutritional expert. I won’t harm you."

With her saying that, Zhao Chi really couldn’t find any other words to say.

"Alright then..."

While Tang Ruan and the female villagers were barbecuing outside, Gu Qing dove into the kitchen to make snake soup for Zhao Chi.

With these women around, Zhao Chi didn’t need to lift a finger to cook.

Butchering, plucking, cleaning, dicing...

Working together deftly, they finished the job amidst chatter and laughter.

For lunch, they ate one pheasant and a small half of the goat.

All this game meat had a strange, gamey taste.

The gamey taste was different for each animal.

It probably wasn’t an issue with the cooking method.

Zhao Chi didn’t really understand.

’Perhaps all wild animals taste like this?’

However, the women weren’t picky eaters.

They ate happily.

Their Appetites were no longer as large as they were during their first meal.

Two bamboo cups of rice and half a pound of meat per person were enough to fill them up.

This Appetite was a bit larger than that of an Ordinary woman, but after all, their workload was immense—several times that of an Ordinary woman.

When you thought about it that way, they were really frugal with food.