The Art of Killing

Time flew by like a white colt passing through a crack. Before he knew it, Ye Chen had already spent three months on the island of Ohara.

Smash! Luo Ji had just finished bathing and was feeling refreshed. She was about to do something beneficial for body and mind with Robin's uncle when a brick once again smashed through the window. Luo Ji flailed in rage and stormed to the window. Where was the family's big wolfhound? Why had she not heard a single sound from it? When she leaned out to look, an icy chill spread from the soles of her feet through her entire body.

That damned Ye Chen was still standing beneath her window. As for the large wolfhound she had paid for, it was already lying stiffly on the ground. By the light spilling from the house, Luo Ji could clearly see a bloody hole in its neck. Blood had flowed all over the ground. The wolfhound had been killed by Ye Chen before it could even make a sound.

"Th-this... he really did this? He's only a six-year-old boy, yet he killed such a vicious wolfhound?"

Ever since Ye Chen had smashed Luo Ji's window for the first time, Luo Ji had taken people to drive him away the very next day. She had immediately bought a large, ferocious wolfhound from town specifically to keep Ye Chen from coming to cause trouble.

After that, Ye Chen had indeed behaved himself much better. He had stayed in the woods, only occasionally returning to see Robin. Every noon, he brought plenty of food to Robin at the library. Luo Ji had thought Ye Chen was afraid, but she had never expected that this persistent pest would come back again.

"What are you doing...?"

In the instant Luo Ji froze, Ye Chen had already climbed swiftly up the outside water pipe like a gecko.

"You fat hag, I told you—I'll beat you every time I see you!" Before he finished speaking, Ye Chen flipped over and leaped in through the window like an ape.

"What are you doing?"

Luo Ji was so frightened that she forgot to put on clothes. Her face went pale, and her whole body trembled. Ye Chen lightly flexed his fingers, and his distinct knuckles cracked like popping beans. He swept Luo Ji with a disdainful glance, then charged at her without another word. What followed was a barrage of punches and kicks, and Luo Ji was brutally beaten.

Robin's uncle had just gotten out of bed when Ye Chen waved a hand at him. "All right, we'll stop here today. I generally don't stoop to arguing with women, so I'll spare you two this time." With that, Ye Chen shrugged resentfully and jumped back out through the window.

"And you call that not stooping to argue with women?"

In just that short while, Luo Ji had been beaten into a pigheaded mess. The couple was terrified. They had never imagined that after only a few months apart, Ye Chen had become so ruthless. His strength was astonishing, and Luo Ji felt as though her bones were about to fall apart.

"Robin, you're back. I roasted some dog meat. Want to try some?"

By the time Robin returned from the library, Ye Chen had already roasted the wolfhound Luo Ji had bought over a fire.

Robin could smell the rich scent of meat from far away. She frowned in confusion. "Where did you get game like this? Did you catch it in the woods?"

"Yeah, it was vicious too. No idea whose wild dog it was. Come eat while it's hot!" Ye Chen lied without even blushing, speaking as naturally as breathing. Robin had eaten plenty of game Ye Chen had brought back these past days, so she did not think much of it. After eating her fill, Ye Chen assumed a Horse Stance in the yard.

Although Ye Chen's martial arts had improved rapidly, he still made time every day to practice Horse Stance.

Robin sat quietly in front of the door with a book in her hands. Sometimes she read, and sometimes she looked up at Ye Chen.

Robin was very curious about the martial arts Ye Chen practiced. Whenever she had time, she went into the woods to find him. At first, she worried he would be carried off by wolves, but after personally seeing Ye Chen beat a wild wolf to death with his bare hands, Robin immediately came to admire his skills.

Ye Chen appeared completely still, but observant Robin noticed that his body was subtly rising and falling. Like faint ripples stirred across water by a gentle breeze, it moved up and down in a steady rhythm, containing a powerful explosive force.

Ye Chen looked straight ahead, his expression mild and composed, as though he were galloping on horseback. An hour quickly passed, yet Ye Chen remained at ease and calm. There was not the slightest trace of fatigue on his face, nor had he shed even a drop of sweat.

Horse Stance, as its name implied, made a person stand like a horse. Like riding at full gallop, the body rose and fell like rolling waves. At first glance, it seemed perfectly motionless, yet hidden force surged within, exercising the body's blood, muscles, and bones.

If one remained entirely still and held the position for too long, all the force would concentrate on the knee joints. Over time, it would only damage the knees and bring no benefit whatsoever to the body.

With Horse Stance, however, the body's subtle rise and fall constantly shifted the center of force. It not only eased fatigue, but also tempered the legs, waist, abdomen, and knees.

After ending the stance, Ye Chen tightened his clothes, moved with the stride of a dragon and tiger, and let out a fierce shout. He then performed a set of punches in the yard. His knuckles cracked, his forceful wind howled, and he shifted, turned, advanced, and retreated. Sometimes he sprang up, sometimes he leaped down. Every punch made the surrounding air boom. Like a tiger charging down a mountain, he was overwhelmingly imposing, every movement radiating astonishing might.

Hearing the commotion in the yard, Luo Ji and her husband peered out the window. The two immediately stood dumbstruck. They had originally planned to find someone to deal with Ye Chen, but seeing him throw punches with such fierce momentum, Luo Ji's head instantly drooped.

"Ye Chen, what kind of martial arts are you practicing?" Robin asked curiously.

"Ha!"

Ye Chen leaped forward, formed his right hand into a claw, and viciously struck the cold ground. The blue bricks beneath him cracked crisply, and several faint finger marks immediately appeared on their surface. Ye Chen shook his head, clearly somewhat disappointed with the power of his Eagle Claw Technique.

Over the past three months, Ye Chen had trained day and night. Not only had he mastered the circulation of his breath, but while continuing his Horse Stance practice, he had also made considerable progress in Shaolin Long Fist, Eagle Claw Technique, and Gecko Technique. Thanks to the foundation he had laid in his previous life, along with the manual's guidance, Ye Chen improved extremely quickly.

Long Fist trained the fists, Eagle Claw Technique trained the fingers, while Gecko Technique was a flexibility art useful for climbing. Also known as the Wall-Climbing Technique, it allowed one to climb walls freely. When Ye Chen had climbed up to Luo Ji's window earlier, he had used Gecko Technique.

Although no one could grow fat from a single bite, the unfamiliar world left Ye Chen deeply uneasy. Therefore, he had trained tirelessly day and night. Yet he had no idea that a disaster was about to descend upon this peaceful land.

Seeing Robin rest her chin in her hands and stare at him curiously, Ye Chen replied proudly, "This is Chinese Martial Arts. Back in my homeland, it is also called Chinese Martial Arts. Chinese Martial Arts is also known as the art of killing!"

Martial arts meant only for killing enemies, never for performance—that was Chinese Martial Arts!