Martial Arts Are Techniques for Killing

Liang Song sat by the stone table.

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

When he saw that Lin Zheyu was already able to coordinate his movements with the Internal Breathing Method while practicing, his eyes widened in shock.

"I only taught him the Internal Breathing Method a dozen days ago, and he has already reached this level!"

Liang Song was incredibly astonished.

To be able to integrate a breathing technique into fist forms requires one to fully comprehend the breathing method and undergo a period of arduous training.

Martial artists of average aptitude cannot achieve this without several months of hard work.

Those with more talent might manage it in about a month.

Yet, Lin Zheyu had done it in just over ten days.

"This kid is truly a martial arts prodigy!"

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

Back when he first encountered the Internal Breathing Method, it had taken him a full month to successfully integrate it into his martial arts.

And yet, Lin Zheyu had managed it in less than twenty days.

To encounter such a gifted martial arts talent in a small place like Songyi City was truly an unexpected joy.

"If I had known, I would have put more effort into teaching him earlier."

Liang Song muttered to himself.

He watched Lin Zheyu's movements closely.

He saw Lin Zheyu spread his legs slightly, crouch down, and settle into his stance, an invisible aura radiating from his body.

He stomped his foot hard, the muscles in his legs tensing abruptly.

Powerful force surged from his legs, channeled through his waist to his arms, and as his upper body tilted slightly, his fists struck out with immense power, like two horns of a bull.

His entire body's muscles exploded in that instant, channeling strength into his arms and transforming it into a terrifying offensive as his fists hammered forward.

Crack—

The moment his fists struck out, a resonance of tendons and bones echoed from within Lin Zheyu's body.

Twenty-some minutes later, he finished the set of fist techniques.

Clap, clap, clap—

"Not bad, very good," Liang Song said, applauding in approval.

"However, there are a few places you need to pay attention to."

"The training method for Bone Forging is slightly different from that of Muscle Refining; do not train with the same mindset you had during the Muscle Refining realm."

"First, when performing Bone Forging, you need to focus here, here, and here..."

Liang Song began to provide guidance, pointing out the areas where Lin Zheyu needed to improve upon his recent practice.

Without someone to guide him, these details and precautions would require a great deal of painstaking effort to figure out on one's own.

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

Had it not been for Liang Song's guidance today, Lin Zheyu might have needed to enter that special state again and undergo a long period of training before he could have gradually figured these things out.

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

"Yes, Master."

Lin Zheyu said respectfully.

He walked to the center of the courtyard, silently recalling Master Liang's instructions and comparing them with his own previous experience, his understanding of the Bull Fist deepening further.

Bang.

Thud, thud.

Crack.

The sound of Lin Zheyu practicing his fist techniques filled the courtyard, the crackling sounds of his tendons and bones resonating more and more densely.

This was the sound produced by the collision and resonance of tendons and bones during Bone Forging.

When the sounds become increasingly dense, reaching a state where the entire body's tendons and bones resonate in unison, it is a sign of reaching the pinnacle of Bone Forging.

"Not bad, not bad..."

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

He watched Lin Zheyu train, occasionally calling out to provide guidance and pointing out where Lin Zheyu was going wrong.

Soon, over two hours had passed.

"Take a break," Liang Song called out.

Lin Zheyu stopped, panting heavily, and sat down beside Master Liang, picking up the tea his master had brewed and drinking it in one gulp.

"Your Bull Fist has reached a certain level of proficiency; next, I will teach you about actual combat."

Liang Song said, slowly refilling the teacup Lin Zheyu had just finished.

"Martial arts are techniques for killing; all martial training serves the purpose of taking lives."

"When facing an opponent, it is not necessarily the one with the higher martial realm or greater strength who will emerge victorious."

"In true combat, many factors influence the outcome. Martial will, lethal techniques, martial wisdom, and so on—the list is endless."

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

"How to quickly discern an enemy's weakness and guide the situation to your advantage, creating a scenario where you strike from a position of strength—that is what actual combat is."

"Using leverage, assassinations, sneak attacks, poisons, and the like are all means to steer a situation toward striking from strength. True combat is extremely cruel."

"When you face an enemy, you must never show the slightest mercy or hesitation, because you never know if what they are showing you is merely a facade to lure you into a trap."

Liang Song said slowly.

Liang Song recounted the practical combat experience he had gathered over most of his life to Lin Zheyu.

He didn't care whether Lin Zheyu could absorb it all; he poured it out in a rush, stuffing it into Lin Zheyu's mind.

This included dozens of classic combat experiences and hundreds of post-combat analyses.

"Master, please slow down."

Lin Zheyu couldn't help but speak up.

Liang Song chuckled upon hearing this, realizing he had been too hasty.

It was just that seeing such outstanding talent in Lin Zheyu made Liang Song eager to teach him everything all at once.

"Let's stop here for today. Go back and think it over carefully, then come back tonight, and I will teach you how to engage in real combat."

Liang Song said.

"Master, are you planning to leave Songyi City?"

Lin Zheyu hesitated for a moment before asking the question on his mind.

Liang Song's behavior today was strange, as if he were worried about running out of time and was desperate to impart all his knowledge to Lin Zheyu at once.

"You noticed?"

Liang Song was not surprised. "I am leaving in a few days to handle some matters. It will take a long time before I return, or perhaps I won't return at all."

"Is it dangerous?"

Lin Zheyu felt a sense of worry.

Master Liang could be considered the person who had treated him best since he arrived in this world.

Although Liang Song had not formally taken him as a disciple, Lin Zheyu had always addressed him as Master.

"Rest assured, there is no danger."

"I am just getting old, and I want to visit some old friends and settle some long-standing grievances," Liang Song said with a carefree laugh.

"Alright, be off now. Remember to close the door on your way out."

Liang Song waved his hand and picked up Lin Zheyu's manuscript to flip through it.

"The greatest of heroes serve the country and the people; this kid's stories are truly interesting."

Liang Song drank his tea with a smile, reading the book.

In the afternoon.

At Bidan Tea House.

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

"Steward Wu, who are those guys? They look very unfamiliar; I haven't seen them before."

Lin Zheyu asked curiously.

Over the past month, the audience at Bidan Tea House had become almost fixed.

The people coming and going were usually the same, and Lin Zheyu had seen almost all of them, but today there were over a dozen new faces.

"A passing merchant caravan."

"Songyi City has become much busier lately. Affected by the war, many caravans have fled from the peripheral cities and are passing through Songyi City, intending to head toward the central regions."

Steward Wu said.

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

Gradually, people had become much more cautious with their spending, and the tips Lin Zheyu received every day had decreased significantly.

"No wonder they look like strangers."

Lin Zheyu nodded and walked up to the storytelling stage.

Clack!

He struck the gavel, and the story began to unfold.

As the narrative progressed, the plot became increasingly captivating.

Master Liang sat by the window, listening with great focus, though he occasionally drifted off into thought, wondering what he was contemplating.