What Happened to My Knife?

Seven days later.

"Heh heh, you woman, don't bother me." Xia Yan lounged on the sofa, her long legs crossed and resting on the coffee table in front of her. Her feet occasionally kicked up mischievously, and she looked to be in an exceptionally good mood.

On the other end of the call, Han Jiangxue felt the veins on her forehead twitching violently. She forcibly held back her temper.

"That's enough. We're done here. Don't bother me if there's nothing important." Xia Yan hung up directly and casually tossed her phone onto the sofa. The next second, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Covering her stomach, she rolled around on the sofa without a shred of decorum.

In the distant dining room, Zhou Yi looked at her young mistress's thoroughly unladylike behavior and sighed as she shook her head. Then she turned back and continued cooking.

"That's what you get for acting aloof. That's what you get for ignoring me. That's what you get for putting on airs." Xia Yan was in high spirits as she laughed and muttered to herself. Normally, Han Jiangxue was the one who treated her indifferently. Xia Yan always had to take the initiative and shamelessly ask her out before Han Jiangxue would reluctantly agree.

But now? Jiang Xiao had only holed himself up in the basement at home for a week, yet Han Jiangxue had already called a full seven times—once a day on average. And she hadn't called even once during the first three days.

Xia Yan picked up Jiang Xiao's phone from the side. Every time she picked up this lousy phone, she felt as if she were holding an antique.

With practiced ease, she opened Weibo. Jiang Xiao's account had gained eight new posts.

Every single one was recklessly testing the limits of death.

And at the end of every post was the much-anticipated "P.S." section, clearly illustrating the process of an underage boy's deepening affection for a beautiful, sexy older woman.

"Have I gone a little too far?" Xia Yan looked at the last Weibo post she had sent in Jiang Xiao's name.

Jiang Xiaopi Pi Bu Pi · 2 hours ago · via Huawei Maimang C199 You know that even if heavy rain turned this city upside down, I would give you my embrace.

P.S.: The eighth day of liking Sister Xia Yan.

Buzz. Buzz. Xia Yan turned to look at her own phone on the sofa and answered it with a giggle. Her tone changed instantly as she said impatiently, "What is it?"

"Oh, you want to ask me out?"

"But I don't have time. I have to train Little Pi."

"Him? He's fine. He won't die."

"Hey, fine, fine, fine. I'll go, all right? Women are such a hassle."

Xia Yan hung up. Her impatient expression vanished without a trace, and she sprang up from the sofa.

She looked just like a neurotic husky, dancing around excitedly and running in circles through the living room.

In the dining room, Zhou Yi held her spatula and shook her head with another sigh. What a beautiful girl... What a pity. At the same time, in the basement.

Two men were fighting fiercely inside the octagonal cage.

More precisely, it was a brawny man and a little brat.

The brawny man was tall and powerful, with muscles knotted all over his body. His sweat-soaked black tank top clung tightly to him, looking as if it could be wrung dry. He was about 175 centimeters tall, dark-skinned, and cold-faced. Wearing protective gear and fingerless gloves, he was currently teaching the little brat in front of him how to throw punches.

The little brat in front of him was none other than Jiang Xiao. He was also fully equipped with protective gear, constantly correcting his fighting form through repeated practical combat.

For Jiang Xiao, his greatest achievement over the past few days was forcing the brawny man opposite him to put on headgear.

The two of them had practically eaten and slept together, muddling through seven full days here.

Isolated from the outside world, Jiang Xiao had lived up to Han Jiangxue's expectations—and even more so, his own.

The sweat he had shed these past few days had not been wasted, nor had the days spent without seeing daylight been for nothing.

In fact, Jiang Xiao himself didn't know whether he had good talent or whether the system was simply powerful. In any case, over this short span of seven days, his combat ability had skyrocketed.

In the Basic Skill section, his Bronze Quality Barehanded Combat had already reached Lv. 5.

Three minor levels in seven days—this speed astonished Jiang Xiao. It also astonished Lei Jin, who was serving as his coach. After all, when Lei Jin had first taken over Jiang Xiao's training, he had only been a beginner.

Although Jiang Xiao was still a beginner now, he could at least passably hold his own.

Lei Jin also felt that Jiang Xiao had decent talent. However, unlike Jiang Xiao's own opinion, Lei Jin believed this was the result of Jiang Xiao's hard work.

A sixteen-year-old youth locked in a basement day after day ought to have been driven crazy. Yet Jiang Xiao's perseverance and determination had truly made Lei Jin see the boy in a new light.

From 4:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night, he had never once been late or skipped a session. Not a single day did he act spoiled or mischievous. He steadily followed the plan Lei Jin had set out, almost exceeding his assignments every day.

To be honest, even the adult Lei Jin felt that he needed to go outside for some fresh air and get some sunlight. But how could this kid work so hard?

How could he be so desperate?

He was only sixteen. This didn't look like the behavior of someone who had lost a spouse, either.

Just what kind of drive was this kid hiding? Who exactly was he going to get revenge on?

It was precisely because of Jiang Xiao's diligence that Lei Jin cast aside his various prejudices toward this "rich kid." He no longer felt much disgust or aversion toward Jiang Xiao absorbing Star Pearls.

That's right. In seven days, Jiang Xiao had absorbed a full four White Ghost Star Pearls.

Every time he was physically exhausted and spent, he would absorb a White Ghost Star Pearl. In Coach Lei Jin's words, that was the best time for the body to absorb it and improve its constitution.

During that Snowfield trip seven days ago, Jiang Xiao had obtained two White Ghost Star Pearls while scavenging corpses. After the mission ended, he had received another one. On the way home, Han Jiangxue had given him two White Ghost Star Pearls and one White Ghost Witch Star Bead. And when training began at Xia Yan's place, Xia Yan had tossed him another two White Ghost Star Pearls.

Thus, Jiang Xiao had a total of seven White Ghost Star Pearls and one White Ghost Witch Star Bead.

Now, after absorbing four White Ghost Star Pearls, the Star Skills embedded in his second Star Slot—Green Glow and Endurance—had both reached Bronze Quality Lv. 5.

Jiang Xiao was extremely pleased about this. The Inner Star Map stated that ten White Ghost Star Pearls were needed to increase a Star Skill's quality. However, since he had One Star Double Technique, he had assumed he would need to pay twice as many Star Pearls. Unexpectedly, absorbing a single Star Pearl raised the levels of both skills in the same Star Slot.

"Faster. Faster!" Lei Jin kept both hands in front of his face in a standard defensive stance, then suddenly tapped out with his left fist.

This lightning-fast left jab not only broke through Jiang Xiao's attack, but also sent him stumbling several steps backward with its simplicity and effectiveness.

"Why didn't you dodge? I'm not a punching bag. I have hands, and I can attack." Lei Jin's feet didn't follow through, and he remained standing in place.

Jiang Xiao shook his head. The man opposite him was a Sanda sparring partner to begin with. Especially in this world filled with Star Power, the art of combat had also flourished. Fighting competitions with all kinds of rules had emerged one after another.

Lei Jin was a fighter who stayed relatively close to ordinary human combat. He at least possessed the Green Glow Star Skill, but since he had never taken it seriously, he had never opened his Star Map. Jiang Xiao had no idea what his Star Map looked like, how many Star Slots he had, or what his aptitude was.

Of course, Jiang Xiao had never opened his own Star Map, either. He had not even displayed the Blessing Star Skill in front of Lei Jin.

Thus, whenever Jiang Xiao healed himself, he either went to the bathroom or did it while showering.

As a result, Lei Jin could always hear the boy making strange noises in the bathroom or shower.

Lei Jin had advised Jiang Xiao about this before, and he had done so right in the middle of lunch.

At the time, Jiang Xiao had nearly sprayed soup all over the table.

He still remembered Lei Jin patting him kindly on the shoulder and saying earnestly, "We live together every day. There's no way I wouldn't know about that little matter of yours."

Jiang Xiao blinked, not understanding what his coach meant.

Lei Jin said, "I know you're young, but you have to learn some restraint. I've been too embarrassed to say anything these past few days, but it's already been seven days. You're a very hardworking kid, and I like you, so I think I should advise you."

Jiang Xiao looked at Lei Jin in confusion. What are you trying to say?

Lei Jin continued, "You're at the age where your body is still growing. You have to learn restraint."

Jiang Xiao awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth. "Restraint?"

Lei Jin nodded awkwardly and suggested, "Also, if you need some private space, just tell me. I can go sleep upstairs at night. As someone who's been through this, let me tell you something, little brother: you're too impatient. If you're always that fast, you'll develop a bad habit."

Jiang Xiao's face darkened. Damn it!

Where was his knife? Come on, give me some recommendation tickets. (▽`)