Evasion training

After failing to learn anything supernatural from Luo Hongyun, Xia Xu wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or disappointed.

The reassuring part was that Blue Ocean Star was still essentially the modern technological society he understood. There probably weren't any supernatural phenomena or impossibly advanced technologies-or at least, they weren't widespread. Otherwise, Luo Hongyun should have encountered them.

But if none of those things existed, his hopes of quickly becoming a combat expert were out the window, and identifying the monsters in Hunter would be difficult too.

Putting that aside, Luo Hongyun ultimately accepted his offer of employment, and they wasted no time starting training that very afternoon.

This was no longer like the past two mornings, when he had casually offered Xia Xu a few pointers on everyday exercise. This time, he taught genuine techniques and experience for fighting to the death.

"I have some idea of your situation now, so I intend to give you some ability to protect yourself as quickly as possible. We'll prioritize evasion and defensive techniques."

In a quiet, open corner of the Old Residential Complex, Luo Hongyun spoke in a booming voice.

When he got serious, he was imposing. Standing face-to-face with Xia Xu, his bear-like body towered over him by nearly a full head, radiating the oppressive sense that he could lunge forward and crush him at any moment.

Perhaps because he was used to life in the military, his teaching style closely resembled a drill instructor barking orders.

And he had only one student.

No, actually, two. As Xia Xu instinctively straightened up, little Louise had somehow appeared beside him and copied his stance, standing ramrod straight with a serious expression on her small face.

"That's great."

Despite how intimidating Luo Hongyun looked at that moment, Xia Xu couldn't help feeling delighted at his words.

Luo Hongyun's teaching plan was exactly what he wanted. He could take his time learning actual fighting and killing techniques; skills that would keep him alive were his most urgent priority.

"Get serious. You're in class."

Luo Hongyun's face hardened, but then he apparently noticed Louise beside them, either hoping to join the training or simply finding it fun, and his expression softened again.

Still unaware of how serious things were about to get, Xia Xu glanced sideways and found it amusing too. The little girl looked adorable with that solemn, earnest expression.

Very soon, though, he stopped finding it adorable.

"Your form's wrong! Again!"

"Haven't you eaten? There's no strength in your movements!"

"Push with your legs! I didn't tell you to pitch forward! Are you going to fall over before anyone even knocks you down?"

"Could you put some effort into this? You're learning slower than a five-year-old! Aren't you ashamed?"

"Look at the force behind Louise's punches, then look at yours! Which one of you is the little girl?"

Luo Hongyun grew increasingly irritable as he taught.

It wasn't that he had a bad temper. The contrast was simply too stark.

A technique he considered simple and easy to learn was something even Louise mastered after watching it once, yet Xia Xu needed repeated corrections.

"It's your daughter who's ridiculously gifted!"

Xia Xu felt thoroughly wronged.

Louise had Russian blood and a five-star combat talent she had apparently inherited from Luo Hongyun. How on earth was he supposed to keep up with her?

Could you imagine a five-year-old girl watching a combat routine once, then performing it with fierce, powerful punches and spirited little cries, before enthusiastically running into the landscaped area to punch a tree hard enough to make its leaves rustle?

That was exactly what Louise had just done!

"Stop making excuses! You could've practiced it again in the time you spent saying that!"

Luo Hongyun reprimanded him sternly.

Affinity +1

Affinity +1

Affinity +1

Affinity...

"You closet daughter-doting dad."

Speechless and indignant, Xia Xu muttered his complaint, then lowered his head and returned to training hard.

By now, a stubborn determination really had taken hold of him.

After all, no one wanted to be worse than a little girl. Even knowing she was exceptionally gifted couldn't convince him to accept it, much less make the humiliating comparison any easier to bear.

Besides, the unknown creatures in the Hunter plot kept the pressure on him. The profound terror of life and death drove him onward at every moment.

Train!

As long as training doesn't kill me, train like my life depends on it!

First came simple combat moves, then techniques for generating power, followed by a heavy emphasis on evasion, defense, and minimizing injuries-even running away, scaling walls, and crawling through holes. With a round of fitness training every morning and evening as well, Xia Xu's entire weekend was packed.

By the end of those two days, Xia Xu had more or less learned the various techniques. He couldn't claim mastery or proficiency, but he could at least remember them and perform them reasonably well.

"Not bad."

On Sunday evening, after making another few minor corrections to Xia Xu's movements, Luo Hongyun showed a rare trace of approval.

Overall, Xia Xu's talent was actually quite good. After all, he did have a one-star combat talent, which already made him outstanding compared with most ordinary people.

Although the comparison with Louise had certainly contributed to his earlier complaints about Xia Xu's performance, their main purpose had been to motivate him and stir his fighting spirit. On the whole, he was quite satisfied.

"Uncle Luo, I have to go to school tomorrow. We might need to adjust the training plan."

Xia Xu took off his shirt and used it to wipe the sweat from his forehead and body as he spoke to Luo Hongyun.

After considering it, Luo Hongyun nodded slightly. "All right. You've already learned most of the basic moves. From now on, we'll continue learning different fighting styles on weekends. Monday through Friday, you only need to join me for morning exercise, then do another round of fitness and evasion training in the evening."

"Evasion training?"

Xia Xu had picked up on an unfamiliar item in the schedule.

"Like this..."

A fist the size of a casserole pot rapidly expanded in Xia Xu's vision, its tremendous strength and speed seeming to whip up a howling gust.

Whoosh!

Xia Xu had no time to react. His pupils merely contracted on instinct as he watched the callused fist stop a few centimeters from the tip of his nose, the wind from the punch tossing the hair beside his ears.

His clenched heart gradually relaxed, and awareness slowly returned to his blank mind. He now understood what evasion training meant.

"How about... letting Louise do it? A tiger's daughter is no weakling, after all. I think Louise is already good enough to help me train."

Xia Xu swallowed, tactfully rephrasing I'm afraid you'll kill me with one punch.

A pleased hint of a smile touched Luo Hongyun's face, but he quickly suppressed it before it fully emerged and said sternly, "This isn't just about practicing evasion techniques. It's about training your reactions, your awareness of danger, and your judgment in the moment.

"Beyond that, there's one even more important thing: helping you overcome instinctive fear. When most people face danger or something frightening, their first reaction isn't to run, dodge, or fight back. They freeze in place and leave themselves at someone else's mercy.

"This is a hurdle you have to overcome. Otherwise, no matter how good your dodging and blocking techniques are, what use are they if you can't use them?

"If you want quick results, this is the only way. Louise can't give you a strong enough sense of pressure and danger."

"...All right. Let's do it. We'll start today."

After hearing him out, Xia Xu gritted his teeth and nodded.

He understood that Luo Hongyun genuinely had his best interests at heart. The sooner he overcame that fear, the better his chances of surviving danger would be.

As long as he could remain calm in the face of danger and fear, he could greatly improve his chances of staying alive even without learning any evasion techniques. At the very least, he would try everything he could to dodge and escape rather than stand there frozen with terror.

"All right, then."

Luo Hongyun nodded and attacked without another word.

And the instant he moved, Xia Xu regretted it.

It was the exact same punch as before, but the menace behind it was worlds apart.

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!

The same fist now brought a sense of mortal danger, as though a venomous snake had coiled around his neck and was whispering in his ear, as though he had already stepped off a towering cliff. Every sense in his body seemed to be blaring an alarm.

"This isn't what we just agreed on!!!"