Chapter Twenty-Two: Martial Training

Time flew by swiftly. Three months had passed since Liu Tian visited the Gaine Manor to observe antiques. During these months, nothing major occurred, but every morning when he went out for a run, Liu Tian noticed that the friction between the two gangs in the city was becoming increasingly intense. They had started to fight in earnest, using things they would normally never bring out.

Knives, guns, even homemade Molotov cocktails and rocket launchers—one could say that, apart from tanks, everything else had been pulled onto the stage.

Yet, for reasons unknown, despite the fierce clashes between the two sides beginning to seriously affect public security, the authorities remained utterly silent. It seemed as though, so long as the gangs didn’t launch large-scale attacks on ordinary people or invade designated zones, the upper echelons simply pretended the warring factions didn’t exist.

Of course, the Kingdom of Hundred Flowers hadn’t done nothing. It was obvious that in some areas, patrolling police officers had been replaced by gun-toting, well-trained soldiers, and noble estates saw the rare appearance of private guards, with large numbers of personnel coming and going daily.

Riding this current, some previously unemployed people swiftly banded together to set up small, mobile stalls, which did a little to stem the steadily falling employment rate.

Gang warfare, decline of all trades, a surge in migrant populations—and amid this bleak, grim atmosphere, the summer arrived.

Due to its climate, this world had twelve months a year, each with thirty days, for a total of 360 days annually.

The summer vacation at Rose Academy was exceptionally long, lasting two and a half months from July until mid-September.

During this period, students at Rose Academy whose families had means either threw banquets or balls to cultivate future connections, or interned in family businesses to prepare for someday managing their own companies. Those without such resources would return to their country estates to enjoy a happy summer.

Among them, a few would immerse themselves in study or work—particularly those obsessed with academics or admitted by merit.

Although his family was not lacking in money, Liu Tian had always been a student obsessed with martial arts, and this year was no exception.

Thanks to Tia Gaine’s generous assistance, Liu Tian no longer had to worry about collecting antiques. Thus, these days, his life was wonderfully regular.

Training, resting, training, resting—the two activities alternated.

School, his own home, and the Tiandao household formed a triangle, with occasional visits to Gaine Manor.

During this time, Liu Tian diligently honed his basics and confirmed his innate talent in martial arts.

He thought—damn it, let me see what heights my efforts can reach through relentless training!

It was difficult to endure the slow progress in martial arts. The simple act of gathering strength and breaking through instantly in the Headbreaker technique, even with Tiandao’s guidance, took Liu Tian three months to fail to master, which gave him a clear sense of his own aptitude.

So, one late night, staring at the sixteen points on his panel, Liu Tian could no longer bear it.

I’ve worked so hard, and you still keep me stuck at level five? Do you look down on my talent?

Let me add points. Damn it, let me add.

With five source points vanishing, Liu Tian immediately felt as if he’d trained with tireless vigor for two years, mastering the Heavenly Martial Killing Way and finally fully grasping the Headbreaker technique. His physical qualities soared, reaching the threshold of the Fighter.

Next, according to Tiandao’s instruction, Liu Tian needed only to continue training systematically, constantly pushing his body to its limits. Then, at a certain moment of insight, when mind, energy, and spirit merged, his spirit would nourish his body, breaking past its inherent limits and revealing battle marks—thus attaining the Fighter realm.

Once Liu Tian broke through as a Fighter, the Heavenly Martial Killing Way would be fully taught, and the rest of the journey would be his to walk alone.

After all, the Fighter, so named, signifies the achievement of a foundation and the ability to establish one’s own school.

Regardless of the method by which one attains it, every Fighter has at least broken the human limit in some aspect, enough to found a sect and train disciples.

Among Fighters, there are strong and weak, since each person’s physical limits and the number of breakthroughs differ. The strongest may have broken only one limit, and for the weakest, perhaps a single move suffices. Yet all remain on the same plane.

Beyond this lies only the mysterious, seen solely in ancient texts, uncertain whether truth or legend—the King of the Century.

When Liu Tian told Tiandao that he had finally mastered the Headbreaker technique, Tiandao no longer required him to train together daily and became busy, often disappearing for stretches, engaged in unknown affairs.

With Tiandao unable to spare much time, the bustling courtyard once filled with children training under Tiandao temporarily came under Liu Tian’s care.

After all, it was merely teaching basic martial arts to a group of children. It didn’t take long, and was a good chance for Liu Tian to reflect on his own fundamentals through teaching. If he didn’t wish to teach or had other matters, he could simply dismiss the class.

That was Tiandao’s original advice.

But considering that Tiandao had spent nearly ten years instructing the local children in this courtyard, and since Liu Tian was on holiday, had nothing else to do, and with the current unrest, it was safer here than alone at home, he chose not to disperse the children for the time being, and continued daily practice.

Not only that, he added to the group a new figure—a senior in age, but junior in entry—Alice Gaine.

Today was another day of peaceful practice.

The children steadily performed the basic boxing forms, their movements uniform.

Neither Tiandao nor Liu Tian had any intention of teaching the Heavenly Martial Killing Way or even its diluted version, the Heavenly Martial Fist, especially to a group of children whose worldviews were not yet formed.

Unlike adults, the Killing Way—emphasizing murderous intent and dominance—if taught from childhood, could easily distort those children’s values, so that even if they later reached the Fighter level, they would never master their own murderous intent and dominance.

At that point, those qualities would be woven into their very blood and thoughts, becoming inseparable parts of their identities.

One cannot control what one is unaware of; such a person would let murderous intent and dominance rule them, acting impulsively, killing whomever they wished, indulging every desire, believing it entirely justified.

Of course, perhaps with early instruction and outstanding talent, one might surpass even Tiandao, as Bai Ciman has done.

Yet to charge headlong down the Killing Way—does that truly benefit a person, a being with emotions and desires?

Tiandao had no answer, so apart from accidents or unforeseen circumstances, he never taught the Heavenly Martial Killing Way to anyone but Bai Ciman and Liu Tian.

Liu Tian simply believed it was not a good thing, and so had no intention of teaching it to the children.

“Piglet, your posture is wrong!” Even while letting his mind wander, Liu Tian could spot mistakes in the children’s movements; so close to the Fighter threshold, he possessed such ability.

“Every move in the basic boxing forms must be correct.” Liu Tian gently adjusted Piglet’s posture. “Both Master and I have tailored these forms to your individual physiques; they’re perfectly suited to you. Any error now will leave hidden dangers for your future.”

In this gentle instruction, Liu Tian felt his mind growing ever calmer. Even the murderous intent and dominance that had been roaring within him since his breakthrough gradually quieted, perhaps the very reason Tiandao had him teach the children.

“Bang, thud!” A faint sound of something heavy hitting the ground came from nearby. Liu Tian’s ears twitched, his brows furrowing as he walked toward the training field—what has Alice smashed now?