Chapter 193

However... recently, his previously unchanging sword practice has begun to change.

This is mainly reflected in----

"I'm saying, weren't you a bit too hasty in the later parts? Even the landing points of your swings were a bit off."

Zuo Jian sat on the wall of the small courtyard, swinging his legs casually.

For a moment, swastikas began to appear intermittently on Theresis's forehead.

This guy has been staying here ever since he rescued them outside, almost half a month now.

... No, it shouldn't be considered as him staying here. It was more like his younger sister let him stay after learning that he had nowhere to stay for the time being...

Damn it! That's not the point. To be honest, he's not a particularly petty person, and he doesn't have much of a problem with this strange man who saved them...

The main problem is that this guy always disappears and then reappears! And it always happens to happen when I'm practicing my sword! Plus, he always seems to be muttering something about me from the sidelines...

The key point is that almost everything he said was correct! But every time Theresis tried to ask him more questions, he would brush her off by saying that he "knew nothing about swordsmanship, he was just a novice spouting off."

If that's the case, then don't just stand by and point fingers in the first place!

"You bastard! If that's how it is, then let me see what the correct way to do it is!" Theresis finally lost her temper and threw the wooden stick beside her, watching Zuo Jian casually raise his hand to catch it.

"You'll probably just say you don't know swordsmanship or something to brush me off, which shows you look down on me—"

"OK."

However, to Theresis's surprise, Zuo Jian agreed so casually.

"Aren't you going to stay hidden any longer?"

The former squinted, staring at the man whose strength was a mystery.

"Theresis, I'm not one to lie all the time. Like I told you before, you won't learn anything from sparring with me, because in the end it's just pure brute force."

"I do lack the necessary knowledge of martial arts techniques such as swordsmanship."

"Then why now—"

Zuo Jian smiled, then took out a string of jingling metal beads from his pocket, which gleamed with an eerie cold light in the sunlight.

When Theresis squinted and finally saw what the lump of metal was, he froze on the spot.

Nameplates, mercenary nameplates, or what they call dog tags in their trade, were being grabbed Zuo Jian the hand by Zuo Jian.

"Because I've also learned quite a few sword techniques these past few days." Zuo Jian gave a wry smile, then looked at the faint bloodstains on the nameplate.

To be honest, he wasn't really interested in the various techniques applicable to the human body... after all, he rarely used such things himself.

However, after seeing Theresis swinging the wooden stick every day without fail until his linen clothes were soaked with sweat, Zuo Jian changed his mind.

This technique obviously wouldn't work on him...

But... for the first time in a long time... he felt a slight urge.

Perhaps this posture is so similar to that of a normal human being; apart from being a bit more physically strong and having no heartbeat, there is almost no difference.

As a result... his thinking gradually lost its previous instinctive "efficiency" and instead became... more temperamental.

For example, even a reliable adult male like him couldn't help but imagine himself roaming the martial world with a sword in hand...

Ha, you're clearly not a child anymore, yet you still have these kinds of thoughts... Is this the rebound after not experiencing a purely human state for too long?

Although it is only a consciousness.

However, there is actually another important point.

Zuo Jian tossed the nameplates on the ground, then looked at Theresis with a smile.

The latter wielded his sword with great effort, but he could sense that his progress was not significant. Clearly, his opponent was not some exceptionally talented chosen one, and all he could do was keep pouring his sweat into it.

Perhaps one day, through perseverance and relentless effort, he too could achieve considerable success... but Zuo Jian still couldn't bear to watch.

He should have made even greater progress, but he doesn't have a qualified teacher to guide him.

Therefore, Zuo Jian wanted to see if he could help the other party.

Even if this only happens in the world of memories, like a dream.

"You... lately, I've heard that cargo transport routes have become much more stable, and there are fewer mercenaries wandering around... Is that all your doing?"

"I just took care of them while gathering intelligence outside, and I also learned a lot from them in the process."

Zuo Jian weighed the wooden stick in his Zuo Jian, then spoke with some regret.

He initially tried to find clues about the so-called Collective Souls from the mercenaries, but clearly, he found little of a clue.

The good news is... he learned a lot from those mercenaries.

Is he a genius, or simply someone who overwhelmingly surpasses others based on sheer numbers? In any case, he felt that he was now qualified to be Theresis's sparring partner.

"Alright, come on, Theresis. Let me see what you're capable of."

"Tsk, then you better not hold back."

The hot-blooded Sarkaz youth gripped the wooden stick tightly, staring intently at the enigmatic and unpredictable man.

Faced with Theresis's imposing manner, Zuo Jian simply smiled without saying a word, then held up his wooden stick, waiting for the opponent's attack.

Soon, accompanied by the boy's roar, the courtyard was filled with the dull thuds of impact.

Bang!

Bang!

"Damn it!"

Theresis, panting heavily, stared at Zuo Jian, who was handling the situation with ease. His hand gestures were almost nonstop, but to Zuo Jian, it was as simple as brushing aside children's playful hands.

Did they defend against it all?

He didn't even move a single foot?

"You're too hasty, Theresis," Zuo Jian said while parrying.

"I've encountered quite a few mercenaries lately, including some very experienced ones. Do you know what the biggest difference is between you and them?"

Something seemed to flash in Zuo Jian's eyes as he spoke to Theresis.

"You seem to be too eager to succeed with every strike; if one strike fails, you simply try to make up for it with the next..."

"To be honest, I don't dislike energetic, high-spirited guys... but..."

Theresis was taken aback, then watched Zuo Jian, after blocking his attack, suddenly exerted his strength, pressing his entire body forward, the wooden stick grazing his side and directly against his neck.

"Being hot-blooded and impulsive isn't a bad thing, but it's not good for you either. Don't forget, you're not just a swordsman Sarkaz, you're also an older brother."

"No matter what, we must be aware that..."

Zuo Jian removed the wooden stick from his neck, but the next moment, he swung it at him with even greater speed!

But at this moment...

Theresis felt as if the surroundings had slowed down again. He watched Zuo Jian's swing towards Zuo Jian, sensing that his opponent's chest was almost entirely exposed...

Strike first before his attack arrives!

Just as he was thinking this, Zuo Jian's voice rang out again.

"If you can't be calm and take responsibility, then your sister will do it for you."

Do you want your sister to bear the consequences of your impulsive actions?

?!!!

In an instant, Theresis seemed to remember something, gritted her teeth, withdrew her offensive stance, and assumed a defensive posture, tightly protecting her neck.

Bang!!

My arm was numb from the shock, but... it blocked it...

"That was a good stop, at least you managed to block it for a moment. It seems you really listened to my advice."

Zuo Jian put away the wooden stick and looked at Theresis with some pleasure.

"Stop... for a moment?"

Theresis looked at Zuo Jian with a puzzled expression, then glanced at the side he hadn't protected, in the direction Zuo Jian was pointing.

Several pieces of wood chips could be faintly seen on the neck and shoulder area.

?

He looked up again and glanced at the wooden stick in Zuo Jian's hand.

Could it be that...

Just now... did he swing his sword in two directions in quick succession?

Why... why didn't he react at all to the first strike?!

Just then, Theresis noticed that a deep footprint remained on the yellow earth where Zuo Jian had exerted his strength...

"But... you're much better than I thought. I thought you wouldn't be able to react at all." Before Theresis could be surprised for long, Zuo Jian stepped forward and ruffled the boy's hair.

He was telling the truth; he hadn't even expected Theresis to actually be able to stop him once.

Does this mean he was actually a genius whose talent was buried by his surroundings?

But he still failed to protect his younger sister.

"Theresis."

"What's wrong."

"I will help Theresa, don't worry."

"What do you mean?" Theresis was taken aback, seemingly not understanding what the man was talking about.

"Brother! The door is broken. Do you know where we keep all the tools?"

Just then, from inside the small, simple house, Theresa poked her pink head out from behind the window, looking at the two people in the yard.

"..."

"Of course, it's to fix the door for your sister! As an older brother, all you do is practice swordsmanship, and now you even have to let your sister fix the door when it's broken. Theresis, you're so embarrassing~" Zuo Jian suddenly revealed a relieved smile, and then scratched Theresis's head hard.

Catch

He then went to Theresa's side, ready to help her fix the door.

"Hey! I just..."

Theresis stood there, momentarily unable to think of a rebuttal...

'Calm down, Theresis.'

Zuo Jian's words seemed to echo in my ears again.

Damn it... bad things always seem to come one after another.

I have to take another day off today; I'll make it up tomorrow.

Damn it, I've been having a bit of a mental block lately, so I guess that's fine.

My damn Arknights got stolen.

The Bilibili server is really difficult to manage. When I logged in, I found that I had to log in again, and after logging in with my mobile number, I found that my account had changed.

Holy crap, how did they do that? My Bilibili account isn't even verified with my real name. How could they change the account without my knowledge?

I'm appealing now... Should I thank them for spending so much money on the game before? Based on my spending history, I should be able to get it back... I guess...

Chapter Thirty, Brother and Sister (Part 2)

"Zuo Jian, you're back."

He walked into the dilapidated little house where the brother and sister lived and saw Theresa squatting down in the hallway, leaning against a broken wooden door, tapping and tinkering with the joints.

Zuo Jian forward and took the rusty repair tools from Theresa's hands, then began to examine the loose parts of the door frame.

"Well, things were resolved quickly today, so I came back early. Don't you need to mend clothes for the guests?"