Martial Arts are Killing Techniques

Liang Song sat beside the stone table.

He held a cup of hot tea, leisurely watching Lin Zheyu practice his fist techniques.

When he saw that Lin Zheyu could already coordinate his punches with the Internal Breathing Exercise, his eyes widened.

"I only taught him the Internal Breathing Exercise a little over ten days ago, and he's already reached this level!"

Liang Song was astonished.

To integrate a breathing exercise into a fist technique, one had to thoroughly comprehend the breathing exercise and then undergo a period of arduous training.

A martial artist of average aptitude could not manage it without several months of hard practice.

A more talented one could do it in about a month.

Yet Lin Zheyu had taken only a little over ten days.

"This kid truly is a rare genius for martial arts!"

Liang Song sighed, feeling a touch of envy in his heart.

Back when he had first encountered the Internal Breathing Exercise, it had taken him a full month before he could integrate it into his Martial Arts.

Lin Zheyu had managed it in less than twenty days.

To come across such a gifted martial arts seedling in a tiny place like Songyi City truly was Unexpected Joy.

"If I'd known, I should have put more effort into teaching him before."

Liang Song muttered quietly.

He watched Lin Zheyu's movements closely.

Lin Zheyu stood with his legs slightly apart and lowered into a stance. An invisible field of force spread from his body.

He stamped down fiercely, and the muscles in his legs surged with power.

Mighty force flowed from both legs, traveling through his waist as a link and into his arms. Then his upper body tipped slightly, and his fists shot forth with overwhelming power like a pair of bull's horns.

Every muscle in his body erupted in that instant, power flooding into his arms and transforming into a terrifying offensive as both fists blasted out.

Crack—

The instant his fists struck out, a sound of Muscle and Bone Resonance rang from within Lin Zheyu's body.

More than twenty minutes later, he finished one set of fist techniques.

Clap clap clap—

"Not bad, very good." Liang Song applauded in approval.

"But there are a few points you need to pay attention to."

"The method for Bone Forging differs slightly from the method for Muscle Training. Don't train with the same mindset you had in the Muscle Training realm."

"First, when forging the bones, you need to do this here, here, and here..."

Liang Song began instructing him, pointing out the areas where Lin Zheyu needed to improve in his earlier practice.

Without someone to teach him, he would have needed considerable effort to gradually figure out such details and precautions on his own.

As Lin Zheyu listened to Master Liang's explanation, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Without Liang Song's guidance today, Lin Zheyu might have had to enter that special state again and undergo a long period of training before slowly working these things out.

"Alright, do it once more and let me see," Liang Song said.

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu replied respectfully.

He walked to the center of the courtyard, silently reviewing Master Liang's guidance before comparing it point by point with his own previous experience. His understanding of the Wild Bull Fist deepened another degree.

Bang

Boom boom

Crack

The sounds of Lin Zheyu practicing his fist techniques rang through the courtyard, while the crackling sounds of Muscle and Bone Resonance became increasingly dense.

These were the sounds produced when muscles and bones collided and resonated during Bone Forging.

When the sounds grew dense enough to reach the state of Bones and Sinews Ringing Together throughout the entire body, it would be a sign that Bone Forging had reached great completion.

"Not bad, not bad..."

Liang Song nodded repeatedly, becoming more and more satisfied the longer he watched Lin Zheyu.

He watched Lin Zheyu train and occasionally spoke up to correct the mistakes in his movements.

Soon, more than two hours had passed.

"Take a break," Liang Song called.

Lin Zheyu stopped, panting heavily. He sat beside Master Liang, picked up the tea his master had brewed, and drained it in one gulp.

"You've gained some mastery over the Wild Bull Fist. Next, I'll tell you about actual combat."

Liang Song spoke as he slowly refilled Lin Zheyu's empty cup.

"Martial Arts are Killing Techniques. Training in martial arts is all in service of killing."

"When facing an opponent, having a higher martial arts realm and greater strength does not necessarily guarantee victory."

"In true combat, there are many factors that determine victory or defeat: Martial Will, Martial Killing Moves, Martial Wisdom, and more besides."

"To put it simply, actual combat is using strength to strike weakness."

"How to quickly see through an enemy's weaknesses, guide the situation toward an advantage for yourself, and create a situation where strength strikes weakness—that is actual combat."

"Borrowing force to strike force, assassination, sneak attacks, poison, and the like are all methods of guiding the situation into one where strength strikes weakness. True combat is exceedingly cruel."

"When you face an enemy, never show even the slightest mercy or hesitation, because you never know whether what they display is merely a false appearance meant to lure you into taking the bait."

Liang Song spoke slowly.

Liang Song told Lin Zheyu, one by one, of the combat insights he had accumulated over most of his life.

He did not care whether Lin Zheyu could absorb it all. He poured everything out in one breath, stuffing it into Lin Zheyu's mind.

This included dozens of classic combat experiences and analyses of more than a hundred battles.

"Master, please slow down."

Lin Zheyu could not help speaking up.

Liang Song was momentarily speechless, then laughed. He had indeed been too hasty.

Seeing Lin Zheyu's exceptional aptitude, Liang Song had simply wanted to teach him everything at once.

"Let's stop here for today. Go back and think over it carefully. Come again tonight, and I'll teach you how to truly fight an opponent in combat."

Liang Song said.

"Master, are you leaving Songyi City?"

After hesitating for a moment, Lin Zheyu still asked the question in his heart.

Liang Song had been acting somewhat strangely today, as though he feared he would not have enough time and wanted to teach Lin Zheyu everything at once.

"You noticed?"

Liang Song was not surprised. "I'll be leaving in a few days to deal with some matters. It will be a long time before I return—or perhaps I may not return at all."

"Is it dangerous?"

Lin Zheyu felt worried.

Master Liang could be said to be the person who had treated him best since he came to this world.

Although Liang Song had never formally accepted him as a disciple, Lin Zheyu had always called him Master.

"Don't worry, there's no danger."

"I'm simply getting old. I want to see a few old friends and settle some old grudges." Liang Song smiled with easy unconcern.

"Alright, hurry along now. Remember to close the gate when you leave."

Liang Song waved his hand, picked up Lin Zheyu's manuscript, and began reading through it.

"The greatest heroes serve their country and their people. This kid's stories really are interesting."

Liang Song drank tea with a chuckle as he read.

Afternoon.

Inside Bi Dan Teahouse.

It was much livelier than usual today, with many unfamiliar faces.

"Steward Wu, who are those people? They look unfamiliar. Why haven't I seen them before?"

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

After more than a month, Bi Dan Teahouse's audience had mostly become fixed.

The same people came and went, and Lin Zheyu had seen nearly all of them, yet today there were more than a dozen unfamiliar faces.

"A passing merchant caravan."

"Songyi City has become much livelier recently. With the war spreading its effects, many merchant caravans have fled those outlying cities. They're passing through Songyi City on their way to the central regions."

Steward Wu said.

The war seemed to be showing signs of expanding, and even Songyi City had been affected.

Gradually, people became far more cautious with their spending, and the gratuities Lin Zheyu received each day had decreased considerably.

"No wonder they looked unfamiliar."

Lin Zheyu nodded and walked onto the Storytelling Platform.

Smack!

The sounding block struck, and the story began to unfold.

As the story progressed, the plot became ever more captivating.

Master Liang sat by the window, listening with rapt attention. Every so often, his mind wandered, and no one knew what he was thinking.