Little Ma

[You encountered the wondrous martial arts of the ancient world and gained some insight]

[You gained a skill: Falcon Strike Technique!]

The high-intensity training had nearly wrung Zhou Kai dry.

Exhaustion swept over him like a dam bursting, drowning him in an instant.

This Falcon Strike Technique was even harder than he'd expected. Even with a buff, it took him two solid hours of painstaking study before he could finally make sense of its basic structure.

Although the skill panel showed "Falcon Strike Technique Lv0 (0/1)," he hadn't reached Lv1, so he couldn't be considered a beginner yet.

Still, the tougher the bone to chew, the more worthwhile it was to crack it open and suck out the marrow.

A high-value skill like this would bring a complete transformation even if he raised it by just one level.

Meanwhile, Chen Ping, who had been watching Zhou Kai train, finally relaxed his tense expression.

Seeing Zhou Kai looking ready to collapse at any moment finally put his mind at ease.

The kid had finally reached his limit...

He'd thought Zhou Kai was a perpetual-motion machine wearing human skin.

But after all that, he was still just a person.

Chen Ping himself had been awake for nearly forty hours. Even as a True Force Martial Artist, he could barely keep his eyes open now.

If Zhou Kai really had more stamina than him, the world would be far too unreasonable.

"That's enough. Your form is almost there, and you're just one step away from getting started."

Chen Ping clasped his hands behind his back and walked over to Zhou Kai.

"Remember, your talent is a double-edged sword. Don't squander it just because it's sharp, and don't rush things so much that you break yourself."

"Tonight, and tomorrow."

"Go home and sleep. Clear your mind and don't think about anything."

Zhou Kai was so tired that his scalp tingled.

"Thanks, Senior Brother. I'll keep that in mind."

He understood all that... But sleep? Clear his mind?

Would Chen Ping try it himself?

At midnight tonight, he had something more important to do.

Although his body felt completely drained, a few minutes warming himself by the fireplace would be enough to restore him in an instant.

Zhou Kai's gaze refocused on the panel hanging in the air.

[Character: Zhou Kai]

[Status: Erosion, Exhausted]

[Skills: Comprehensive Combat Lv2 (19/25), Light Footwork Lv3 (3/50), Soraka Swordsmanship Lv1 (3/15), Occultism Lv1 (0/15), Falcon Strike Technique Lv0 (0/1)]

[Items: Residence Permit, Blood-Stained Axe, Rusted Chef Knife, Morning Star Notes, Moonlight Orchid Seed (Plump), Drying Oil Lamp, Rusty Two-Handed Sword]

[Universal Experience Points: 7]

That last encounter with Wang Jinquan—which could hardly even be called a fight—had actually earned him a point of experience in Comprehensive Combat, raising it from eighteen to nineteen.

"Good," Zhou Kai thought, his spirits lifting.

That meant his remaining seven experience points were just enough to raise Falcon Strike Technique to level one and push Comprehensive Combat up to level three.

"Two level-three skills and three level-one skills... Five skills should be enough to handle things..."

The thought had barely crossed his mind before he snuffed it out.

Hardship breeds success; comfort breeds ruin.

That was true.

There was another meaning to it, too.

Life was nothing but hardship. Death was hardly different from a peaceful end, though his dreams were anything but peaceful.

He took a deep breath. The ache and numbness throughout his body gave him a strange sense of fulfillment.

"Spend a point on Falcon Strike Technique."

[You used one Universal Experience Point. Falcon Strike Technique experience +1]

[Falcon Strike Technique Lv0 → Lv1]

In the blink of an eye, it felt as though a surging river had been poured into Zhou Kai's mind.

Phantom memories of countless strikes, wrist twists, and rending grabs washed over his nerves.

The next moment, the flood settled, transforming into the most primal instincts of his arms and fingers.

The ache and swelling in his palms intensified tenfold. The muscles in his arms seemed to inflate, growing taut and bulging.

The intense discomfort actually sharpened his spirits.

He could clearly feel that the strength in his wrists and fingers had climbed to a whole new level.

The improvement was more than a cut above what Soraka Swordsmanship had given him!

Overjoyed, Zhou Kai instinctively clenched his fist, already wondering what he could test it on.

He remembered an anime he'd watched, where a character had used absurd finger strength to crawl out of prison like an insect.

"You don't need to come this afternoon. I'm giving you tomorrow off, too." Chen Ping's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Come straight here the day after tomorrow. I've got some good stuff for you."

Zhou Kai's eyes lit up. The two words Wu De had mentioned—Secret Medicine—leapt into his mind, and excitement flared in his chest.

He didn't ask Chen Ping why he wasn't giving it to him now.

His senior brother had already done more than enough for him. Some procedures still had to be followed.

"You did it? Xiao Kai, you're incredible!"

Lu Yan bounced along in front of Zhou Kai like a rabbit, punching the air with her little fists. She was even more excited than Zhou Kai himself.

"That Wang Jinquan, with his beady eyes and his pointy face—he looked like trouble from the start! He bragged about training for months, but how'd that work out? He couldn't hold a candle to you after just one week!"

She chattered excitedly, her cheeks flushed.

"Okay, okay, Sis Yan." Zhou Kai helplessly patted his rumbling stomach. "Let's find somewhere to eat first."

"I haven't eaten a thing since last night. I'm starving."

Only then did Lu Yan realize how hungry he must be. She nodded firmly, her expression grave. "Right! Food! No matter how important something is, we have to eat first!"

Meanwhile, Ma Yifan had finally completed the paperwork to withdraw from the classes.

He had no intention of staying at Falcon Wing Martial Arts Hall.

He'd come because of Chen Ping's reputation, and had believed all that nonsense about "equal treatment" and "everyone having a chance to learn the secret ancient martial arts."

But things hadn't gone as he'd hoped.

He couldn't swallow his pride, so he decided to find somewhere else.

At noon, he followed Zhou Kai and Lu Yan out of the martial arts hall.

Just as Zhou Kai and Lu Yan were about to hail a taxi by the roadside, Ma Yifan finally stopped hesitating and spoke up. "Brother Kai, Sis Yan, how about... I give you a ride?"

Zhou Kai glanced at him and readily agreed. "Sure."

Two minutes later, Lu Yan sank into the leather seat in the back of the luxury car. She stared up at the dazzling "starry sky" on the ceiling, her tongue nearly tying itself in knots.

"A... a starlight ceiling?"

"A private chauffeur?"

"You've been keeping a low profile, huh? Turns out you're a rich kid!"

Ma Yifan gave a stiff smile, clearly still not quite over everything that had happened.

He quietly gave the driver an address, then said, sounding a little downcast, "My parents... just made a little money."

That settled it beyond a doubt.

Zhou Kai grinned. "Little Ma, you've been hiding it well."

Ma Yifan's face reddened even more, and he said awkwardly, "Don't make fun of me, Brother Kai."

His eyes shifted as if he'd just remembered something, and he took the opportunity to invite them. "Since we're going to eat anyway, how about... coming to my place? Uh, I mean, the restaurant my family owns."

Zhou Kai and Lu Yan looked at each other. The same two words appeared in both their eyes.

A free meal?!

Who could turn that down?

They answered in unison. "We'd be delighted!"

Ma Yifan's family restaurant was nestled among the skyscrapers of Xishan City's CBD. More precisely, it occupied a middle floor of one of the buildings.

It didn't accept walk-ins and only took reservations. It didn't even have a sign.

"Cool! This place has such a classy vibe!"

Unlike the cyberpunk-style buildings outside, this place was decorated in a thoroughly Western classical style. Everything from the oil paintings on the walls to the candleholders on the tables exuded the elegance and refinement of old money.

"Can I take a picture?" Lu Yan had somehow produced a point-and-shoot camera. She pointed at an Impressionist landscape painting in the corner.

Ma Yifan nodded. His soft jawline gave him an amiable smile. "Go ahead... This was a last-minute arrangement, so I could only bring you here. Please forgive me if anything's lacking."

Zhou Kai waved a hand and patted his shoulder. "What are you talking about? You've shown us a whole new world."

He winked at Lu Yan. "Ignore her. My sis is a total country bumpkin."

Lu Yan had been busy snapping pictures of a crystal chandelier. At his words, she whipped around, eyes wide.

"Hmm? What are you two whispering about?"

Ma Yifan finally laughed aloud. The gloom he'd been feeling vanished completely under their teasing.

The dishes they served, whether lamb stew with peas, cheese pizza, or mixed seasonal vegetables, were worlds apart in flavor and texture from the local cuisine of Red Star.

Zhou Kai and Lu Yan dug in, devouring everything in sight.

Lu Yan's craving for alcohol struck again, and she insisted on having a drink or two.

Zhou Kai couldn't talk her out of it, so he opened a bottle of semi-sweet red wine.

Lu Yan took a few sips, and a captivating smile spread across her face.