A Weapon in Hand Breeds Murderous Intent-Be Cautious and Prudent

Lu Yuan swept his gaze over the six bandit corpses and sighed inwardly.

In my previous life, I was such a law-abiding person. Yet now, I had killed six people in a single minute.

"But this isn't my fault. Blame this world instead. They all deserved to die—they should die. Killing them is doing a good deed."

Lu Yuan told himself silently.

No matter what world it was, it was a world where the weak were meat and the strong ate.

It was only that the strong preying on the weak in his previous world had been more hidden and murky.

In this world, it was naked, blatant survival of the fittest.

Lu Yuan had gained a direct understanding of his own strength. Facing six grown men armed with weapons had put no pressure on him at all.

The two shop assistants looked at each other in dismay, wondering when the Second Young Master had acquired such strength.

Still, they were more than happy not to have to risk their lives.

Old Man Liu, along with his still-shaken granddaughter and grandson, repeatedly kowtowed in thanks. Lu Yuan did not waste words. "Don't waste time. These bandits have plenty of companions. You heard them just now, didn't you? They're from Iron Dragon Stockade, the largest bandit gang in Lingbao County."

"Immediately throw these bandit corpses into the woods nearby. Then take your belongings and leave this place as fast as you can. Whatever you do, don't let anyone from Iron Dragon Stockade catch you, or you'll certainly be dead!"

As he continued on the road with the two shop assistants, Lu Yuan reflected on the battle just now.

"In my previous life, I heard a saying: courage comes from strength. I was never someone who feared trouble, but neither was I bold enough to kill people. Yet today, I killed six people in one minute without feeling the slightest fear."

"This was the courage strength gave me."

"And someone like Li Jing, who had undergone Three Blood Changes and possessed Blood Qi Like an Ox, killed people as easily as chickens. He was far stronger than ordinary people and could crush them to death at will. That was what it meant to have a weapon in hand and murderous intent arise of its own accord—being driven by power."

Having a weapon in hand breeds murderous intent meant that once one carried a deadly weapon, the desire to kill would naturally arise.

The Russian crown prince once gave Li Hongzhang a golden pistol. Li Hongzhang cherished it so much that he often kept it by his side.

Once, while out hunting, he could not help wanting to try his hand with it. But when he suddenly saw the silent villages around him, he stopped and never used the pistol again.

His aides were curious and asked why. Li Hongzhang answered, "It is to remind myself: a weapon in hand breeds murderous intent. Be cautious and prudent."

Strength was the "weapon" used to kill!

Whenever he thought of Li Jing, Lu Yuan realized that his strength was still far from sufficient.

"Li Jing is a Martial Artist with Blood Qi Like an Ox. He is only Iron Dragon Stockade's Third Boss, yet above him are the Second Boss and the Chief Boss, who must be even stronger. There are also their many subordinates. Uprooting Iron Dragon Stockade completely is a heavy burden and a long road."

Lu Yuan clenched his fists, warning himself inwardly not to relax in the slightest. He had to work hard, work harder, and work harder still.

What had happened to Old Man Liu's family showed just how cruel this world was. Without strength, disaster could descend upon one's head; their son and daughter-in-law had been killed by bandits.

The trip to Qinghe Village to collect the fine materials went smoothly. When Lu Yuan returned to the entrance of his home, Lu Longjing happened to be coming back as well, his expression grave.

"Father, what happened?"

Lu Yuan asked casually.

Lu Longjing said in a low voice, "It's business. I have always valued trustworthiness, and over the years, the Lu Family's business has grown better and better, squeezing the Li Family's business. Li Yong has always been unscrupulous in his dealings. I'm afraid he might resort to underhanded means against you brothers."

Lu Yuan sneered. "Some of the Li Family's Medicinal Materials are passed off as better than they are. They're short-sighted. Customers refuse to buy medicine from their pharmacy, and they blame us instead?"

"In any case, be careful. When you go out, don't go alone. Bring several people with you, understand?" Lu Longjing instructed.

"I understand."

Lu Yuan nodded solemnly.

The Li Family was also a major medicinal merchant in Lingbao County and a competitor of the Lu Family. However, under Lu Longjing's business philosophy of putting trustworthiness first, the Lu Family's business had flourished over the years and surpassed the Li Family.

Li Yong was ruthless in his actions and truly would stop at nothing.

If he were driven into a corner, he really might resort to underhanded means against the Lu Family.

"Practicing martial arts is a dull and unadorned process. If you want to become an expert, you must be able to endure loneliness."

Soaking in hot water, Lu Yuan half-closed his eyes. As the hot water washed over him, the fatigue of the day slowly faded away.

Over these past months, he had trained through the scorching heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter without missing a day. He rarely even left the Lu Family residence, spending almost every day holed up in the courtyard practicing martial arts. Though it was exhausting, he could clearly feel himself growing stronger, and no matter how tiring it was, it tasted sweet to him.

Every day was packed full. In the mornings, he practiced the Ox Demon Fist; in the afternoons, he practiced saber techniques. He also sparred with the guards to accumulate combat experience. His strength steadily grew every day.

He was like a weapon being forged, enduring constant hammering and becoming increasingly refined as he charged down the path of tempering steel a hundred times over.

The Lu Family did not possess towering wealth, but it lacked no money to support Lu Yuan's martial training. He had ample meat and Medicinal Materials every day. With sufficient logistical support, his martial progress was like a car racing down a highway.

In the courtyard, Lu Yuan practiced the Ox Demon Fist. Though it was the depths of winter and he wore only a single thin garment, his entire body felt warm.

"The Ox Demon Fist has finally reached perfection."

A smile curled at the corner of Lu Yuan's mouth.

Name: Lu Yuan

Age: 16

Talent: High-grade Talent

Lifespan: 61 years (14 years remaining)

Techniques: Ox Demon Fist (Peak Perfection 100%), Great Gale Saber Technique (Transcendent Mastery 88%)

Even with High-grade Talent and daily diligent practice, it had taken him another three months to cultivate the Ox Demon Fist to perfection. The Great Gale Saber Technique was also close to entering the Peak Perfection realm.

Yet Zhang Zhi had trained for over twenty years, and his attainments in the Ox Demon Fist and Great Gale Saber Technique were still far inferior to Lu Yuan's.

Although his mastery of the Ox Demon Fist and Great Gale Saber Technique had improved quickly, he was still some distance from the Second Blood Change.

Thinking about it, that made sense.

Zhang Zhi had practiced martial arts all his life and had only reached the Second Blood Change. The Third Blood Change remained far beyond his reach. Although Lu Yuan's talent far surpassed his, wanting to catch up to him in less than half a year was sheer fantasy.

"Unless..."

Longing filled Lu Yuan's gaze.

"Unless my talent becomes that of a true genius."

"Unfortunately, over these four-plus months, I tried many methods but failed to gather any martial arts techniques that nurtured health and extended one's lifespan."

With strength held in highest regard, the goal of most people practicing martial arts was combat power. Martial arts techniques dedicated specifically to preserving health and prolonging life were far too rare.

"Xiaoyuan, it has been a long time since we sparred, hasn't it? How about a match?"

Zhang Zhi walked into the courtyard and tossed over a wooden saber. Lu Yuan caught it. "Uncle Zhang, are you ready?"

"Oh? Looking at you, are you thinking of beating me?"

Zhang Zhi raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lu Yuan was a genius, Zhang Zhi admitted that. But Lu Yuan had only undergone one Blood Exchange, while Zhang Zhi had undergone two. That meant Zhang Zhi had experienced Shedding Mortal Body and Exchanging Skeletons one more time than Lu Yuan had. Their physical qualities were simply not on the same level.