Capítulo 17: Chapter 13: Going to the Countryside
"Huff...."
A strong wind swept through the forest, tiny fallen leaves fluttered down from the trees. There was no sunlight in the sky, no dark clouds, just thick white clouds. It was an overcast day.
Lin Fei stood silently in the midst of the forest with his eyes closed, his vigour constantly gathering and then dissipating, seemingly engaged in some kind of repetitive vibration.
This was the Remnant Sword technique from the Basic Sword Technique. One visualizes the posture and motion of exerting force in one's mind without needing to actually assume the position.
But with intense concentration, each part of the body's muscles also tended to exert this force, while at the same time suppressing this tendency with one's own strength.
This was the essence of the Remnant Sword, to harm the enemy, one must first adapt to this bizarre method of exertion.
Such a contained but unreleased stance was used to train the body, enhancing adaptability to this strange way of exerting force.
A single session of such practice generally required half an hour, and Lin Fei could only afford to do it once in the morning and once in the evening before he must rest his muscles, irrespective of energy and mental fatigue. It was the muscle tissue itself that could not endure this level of exhaustion.
This was a struggle of one's own strength against oneself.
Since having dinner with Xu Ke last weekend, Lin Fei began to increase this direct sword technique training.
The eye contact with Zhang Minghui made him clearly aware that, in this world, apart from Psychics, there likely exist other powerful beings. Martial Artists like Zhang Minghui may not be in the minority.
Another week had passed since that day. Lin Fei quietly went through six days amidst this regular cultivation routine.
He did not know to what extent he belonged, but he felt his body's agility and speed of force was significantly faster than in his previous life.
At his current age, the body is still malleable, and daily rigorous training naturally brought significant changes.
Today, Lin Fei intentionally chose a stance from the Remnant Sword within the Basic Sword Technique as the first real move to practice.
The moves within Remnant Sword are all tricky and ruthless to the extreme, like the Sword of Death, the entire Basic Sword Technique primarily consists of thrusts.
The slight difference is that Remnant Sword targets disabling acupoints while the Sword of Death targets fatal acupoints.
Compared to Basic Sword Technique, which can even control the timing of death, Remnant Sword generally aims to injure without killing.
Just like an evergreen tree, using Sword of Death is like cutting a complete ring through its bark, disconnecting its lifeblood, letting it wither naturally, whereas Remnant Sword damages its limbs.
Although both have the same difficulty of practice, in terms of practicality, Remnant Sword is better since, in modern society, the effect of killing with Sword of Death is too horrifying.
"To practice Basic Sword Technique, you must strike with your sword with utmost precision, not a hair's breadth off. When you strike, it should be quick, accurate, and ruthless," Lin Fei stood with his feet slightly apart, his hands clasped and hanging down as if holding an invisible longsword.
"Basic Sword Technique has no moves for sparring; one strike, if it misses, signifies defeat.
In other words, normally you don't strike, but once you do, it's either death or injury!
There are no techniques for dodging or blocking in Swordsmanship, all the focus is on the storm-like precision of attacking acupoints. If the attack fails, then it is time for your own downfall."
Lin Fei shook his head slightly, "Such swordsmanship is too extreme, but the key points are also straightforward, which are speed and precision. The faster it is, the more it signifies multiple strikes against the enemy. The more accurate it is, the more it signifies the severity of the inflicted damage."
Thoughts racing in his mind, Lin Fei's muscles slowly relaxed.
Suddenly!
"Hiss!" His whole body spun fiercely, and his hands thrust backward as if holding a sword, instantaneously. A very faint sound of tearing air could be heard. It was unclear whether it was the fluttering of his clothes or the intensity of the movement.
From a moment of extreme stillness to extreme motion, this gesture was the culmination of Lin Fei's recent efforts.
After this period of Visualization Qi Cultivation as well as practicing Basic Footwork and Swordsmanship, Lin Fei's body had rapidly recovered to almost as strong and fast as his past life. Coupled with the Footwork and lethal moves he was currently practicing, his actual Combat Power had already surpassed the Lin Fei of his past life.
"If I had a sword in my hand, then this move..." Lin Fei could faintly imagine the instant that the sword thrust, the silver-white flash that could sear into one's retinas.
"Although this move can't be used with a sword, perhaps I could apply its principle and Mana skill to a Bear Claw."
Lin Fei took out a black Bear Claw the size of his palm from a small bag on the side. The metal claw, adorned with unique serrations, exuded a fierce and ferocious air.
He hooked a single hand around the handle of the Bear Claw, which featured a small round hole, just big enough for a finger to secure the grip, likely designed to strengthen the hold on the weapon.
"Basic Sword Technique emphasizes speed and accuracy. Then, with the Bear Claw... perhaps I can treat it as a short sword. And I can utilize the slicing style from the Basic Sword Technique."
His grip tightened, and beneath the rolled-up sleeves, his fair skin bulged with taut veins. A sense of an impending thrust, yet not yet in motion, subtly emanated from him.
```
"This move shall be called Ripping."
The black fang flashed through the air, disappearing instantly. Silent as a whisper.
******
******
Saturday, early morning. The weather was clear.
"Fei, have you packed everything? Your dad and the others are already waiting downstairs," Mom Jiang Feng cleared away the breakfast dishes, calling out to Lin Fei's bedroom.
"Almost done," Lin Fei's voice answered from the bedroom.
This weekend, the parents had decided to take the family to visit a relative in the countryside. It was mainly a courtesy visit to keep in touch with distant relatives whom they rarely contacted.
According to Mom, when they were younger, this branch of relatives had been very kind to them. This trip to the countryside was in response to an invitation from them. After so many years without a visit, the parents missed them too, so they decided to close the small bookstore for a couple of days and make a trip as a family.
Lin Fei looked at the black Bear Claw on the table, hesitating whether to take it with him. Considering that he still needed to practice with it during this time and there might be an opportunity to use it, he finally picked it up and slid it into his trouser pocket.
"You go ahead. I'll be right there," Lin Fei shouted towards the outside of his room.
Mom, who had reached the door, responded, and then Lin Fei heard the clear sound of footsteps descending the stairs.
Ensuring his mom had gone downstairs, Lin Fei quickly opened his bedroom door, his gaze falling on his younger sister's room across the hallway.
"Perhaps this opportunity could be used to..." He recalled the black notebook his sister had received that day. If he could get hold of that notebook, he would likely gain access to more information and data.
He stepped forward and gently twisted the doorknob. There was a click, and after turning halfway, it resisted—clearly locked. But Lin Fei had long ago mastered a simple way to bypass these bedroom locks. If he wanted to open it, it wouldn't be difficult.
"Fei! Hurry up!" Footsteps on the stairs were heard again, and being on the first floor, it was convenient for the Lin family to go up and down the stairs.
"Never mind, next time," Lin Fei's eyes flickered, he grabbed his packed toiletries, and turned to leave.
**********
Tongxiang, a small town under the jurisdiction of Ping City, was no larger than two long streets in area.
The Lin family took a short-distance bus and spent two hours reaching their destination.
The streets of Tongxiang were crowded, obviously bustling with market day, with plainly dressed people mostly carrying bamboo-woven baskets or holding baskets in their hands.
The vehicles in sight were mostly agricultural tricycles and motorcycles.
Sitting by the bus window, Lin Fei looked out at the scene outside.
The bus had slowed down, and as it passed by the tricycles, plumes of yellow dust were continuously raised, and the occasional passing of donkey carts and horse carts brought the smell of animal dung.
Lin You, sitting beside him, was unusually excited at the sight of horses and donkeys, squeezing closer to Lin Fei and peering out curiously.
"We're here, time to get off," the driver called out loudly.
"Fei, You, let's get off," their father, Lin Jianguo, called out loudly from the seat in front.
"Don't forget your things," their mother, Jiang Feng, reminded them.
"Got it," Lin Fei picked up his bag, but his sister Lin You cheered and ran out of the bus, forgetting her bag on the seat.
Lin Fei helplessly picked up her things as well and squeezed into the disembarking crowd.
Just after getting off the bus, as the bus began to move slowly again, Lin You suddenly started shouting from outside.
"Oh no!! My stuff is still on the bus!!"
Lin Fei, speechless, raised the bag in his hand. "Stop yelling, it's right here!"
Lin Jianguo frowned. "How can someone your age still be so forgetful?"
Lin You's cheeks flushed slightly, but seeing her brother Lin Fei's indifferent expression, she suddenly flared up again. "I was wondering why I couldn't find it, it turns out you took it!" She snatched the plastic bag from Lin Fei's hand.
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