26 The Thousand Flower Invitation

It was currently 8 a.m. on the same morning. Somewhere in a middle-class neighborhood, within a five-story apartment complex, on the fourth floor, Dylan Ludwick exercised, doing multiple hand-stand push-ups. "98... 99... 100," he voiced as his body went up and down, sweat dripping from his body. On the last count, Ludwick stood up, his chest heaving up and down as he stood facing the window to his apartment. Looking through the window, Ludwick could see the neighborhood kids playing around—some playing football, others tag, and some basketball.

Ludwick's body was very fit; his back muscles were neatly outlined, his triceps and biceps were decently stacked, and his abs were cleanly detailed. His entire body resembled that of an athlete who has been training their body for decades.