Chapter 43: Murderous Intent and Breakthrough

"Missing something?"

Du Huaishan couldn't understand what he was lacking. Whether it was training methods, physical aptitude, instructor guidance, or his guardian spirit—almost everything was of the highest caliber.

"Murderous intent!"

When Luo Zongwen spat out those words, his chest surged with rage. He stepped forward fiercely, like a tiger suddenly springing forth, sending chills down one's spine!

Danger! Extreme danger!

Du Huaishan's heart beat irregularly, his hands and feet began to grow cold—a clear sign of impending fear.

"Your technique is powerful, but lacks murderous intent. That's the most crucial element. There's a saying in Xingyi boxing: 'Fists like cannons, dragon twists the body; when facing the enemy, it's as if your body is on fire.' The latter half is meant to teach you that in battle, your blood should boil with rage, like wildfire burning through you, annihilating everything."

"Without murderous intent, your attacks will never be truly fierce and decisive. Sparring with me is one thing, but against demons and ghosts, any hesitation is like digging your own grave!"

The last words were shouted from Luo Zongwen's throat like a tiger's roar.

Du Huaishan stared with his dark red eyes, carefully digesting the meaning behind these sentences.

All this talk of "technique, fist intent, murderous intent, state of mind" was, in essence, about manipulating emotion.

Modern science has shown that emotions influence the body. A person in good spirits is full of energy at work, while someone depressed can't muster any strength for anything.

Transposed to combat, an athlete with soaring fighting spirit has a rush of adrenaline, lowering pain, reducing fear, unlocking physical potential, increasing strength and speed.

The famous heavyweight champion Tyson once drew spiritual power from the tattoos of great men on his body.

It's much like the realization of states in martial arts; at the root, it's all emotion.

Du Huaishan was no novice at emotional manipulation. After all, he'd spent his entire senior year honing himself in the club's professional arena, rarely showing nerves or fear.

He'd fought Xing Zhenhao, veterans, even Luo Zongwen—all manageable.

But these were merely ordinary bouts.

He lacked true life-and-death experience!

"Think back to your first kill—a demon, or a man," Luo Zongwen's voice boomed like a bell.

Instantly, Du Huaishan was awakened.

He suddenly recalled the desperate battle with the four-legged demon, and the scene in the alley where he killed the thick-browed soldier. At the time, his mind was consumed with "I must live, I must live," and his knife stabbed out naturally, without a shred of hesitation.

Especially in the alley fight.

Afraid his opponent would retaliate and he wouldn't withstand it, he went all out from the start, aiming to kill in a single blow.

Though he trembled afterwards and had nightmares, at that moment, he attacked with a killer's resolve!

Du Huaishan closed his eyes.

He carefully relived that scene—tension, fear, survival, combat.

When he opened his eyes, the devil's horn on his forehead writhed again, his demonic red-black pupils blazing like an erupting volcano!

"Ha!"

With a strange cry, Du Huaishan's murderous aura condensed, transforming him into a world-ending demon god. He struck with thunderous speed, his arm swinging like a spear, thrusting straight at Luo Zongwen's heart!

Luo Zongwen's pupils contracted, muscles knotted, raising his arm to block.

Rip!

His black robe's sleeve tore, exposing a wrist like molten bronze.

Four percent!

"Not bad. Today's training is over, head to the rest room."

Luo Zongwen hadn't expected the kid to comprehend murderous intent after just a single prompt. A true genius.

With a flick of his sleeve, torn cloth fluttered down like black feathers. He walked over to the machine and switched off the power.

I've broken through again!

Du Huaishan withdrew from his demonized state, still immersed in excitement, but pain interrupted him. Raising his arm, he felt a burning ache in his arm, abdomen, and thigh—all spots struck during the sparring with Luo Zongwen.

Yet the injuries weren't severe.

Luo Zongwen had him remove his shirt and took out a box of white ointment, applying it thoroughly.

At first, it stung as if torn apart—whenever the ointment touched a wound, Du Huaishan's muscles would tense involuntarily into a knot. But as the white ointment seeped in, the pain faded and a deep comfort spread.

This ointment must be expensive!

"Alright, rest a bit and you can leave. Same time tomorrow."

"Thank you, Instructor Luo!"

Du Huaishan pushed himself up from the massage bed, intending to express his gratitude properly.

No exaggeration—what he'd learned from Luo Zongwen today would benefit him for a lifetime.

"Heh, you remind me of a student I once admired—Zhao Junjiang. Just as smart and calm, with great talent. Sadly, he died in the Defense of Anguo seven years ago."

Luo Zongwen patted Du Huaishan's backside and returned the ointment to the shelf.

Stories of death.

Du Huaishan had heard too many.

The battlefield at Xintun, the cavalry squad, Lai Yanlong's eleventh platoon.

I must survive!

I have to become stronger!

When he returned to the dorm, it was already eight in the evening.

Tan Hai and the others were curious where he'd been.

"Li Anqi was at the demon training ground today, even asked me why you didn't show up!" Guo Tingyu took a sip of tea and chimed in.

"Who's Li Anqi?"

"That short-haired female soldier, the first to pass Sister Zhou's training."

"Oh, I remember! Hey, she's bold, pretty too, and those buns—huge! Almost half the size of my head!" Wu Ming gestured across his chest as he spoke.

"Wu, is that all you focus on during training—her buns?" Yang Anfu teased, sending everyone into laughter.

Du Huaishan remembered her from the last rest day; she was also at the training ground.

"Instructor Chang arranged for Instructor Luo Zongwen to guide me," he said, nothing to hide—since he was skipping classes, it was obvious.

"My god, the Gun God Luo Zongwen personally guiding you! He's one of the Four Great Masters of Chiyu Empire's martial arts!" Guo Tingyu, worldly and well-informed, knew Luo Zongwen's status and was envious. "Huaishan, that's a stroke of great fortune for you..."

The others crowded around, peppering him with questions about Luo Zongwen.

Du Huaishan simply smiled, took out his notebook, and continued recording today's training and insights.

Mainly rest, diet, and how to execute techniques in demonized form.

The latter was most important—a unity of all aspects.

Lights out.

Du Huaishan closed his notebook and lay on the bunk. Suddenly, he recalled the Tiger Relaxation Exercise Luo Zongwen taught him that evening. He straightened his back, stretched his arms and legs, pressed his hips down, repeated several times, and soon drifted into sleep.

The next morning, he woke refreshed.

"The injuries from yesterday's sparring with Instructor Luo are gone—the ointment is miraculous!"

Du Huaishan clearly felt his muscles at the beaten spots were tighter and firmer.

He washed up, got his meal, chewed on chicken breast, trained his dynamic vision.

Now, Du Huaishan even incorporated training into everyday life.

During a break in new recruit training—

"Du Huaishan, why didn't you come to training last night?" a female voice called as he was stretching his legs. Turning around, he saw a short-haired female soldier with striking features and youthful energy—Li Anqi.

"I switched instructors. Instructor Chang knows," Du Huaishan replied, unsure of her intentions.

"Good, I thought you'd given up training..." Li Anqi patted her chest, relieved.

All thanks to Wu Ming's comment last night.

Du Huaishan instinctively glanced down. Yes, they were indeed large.

"You're the benchmark for us recruits. If even you fall, I don't know who I'll compare myself to..."

Du Huaishan understood her words; yesterday, two recruits couldn't handle the training and quit the academy, reportedly fined as well.

He hadn't expected to become the goal many recruits aimed to surpass.

"I'm Li Anqi!" she extended her hand, "Class 84. Let's help each other!"

"Likewise," Du Huaishan replied politely.

Strictly speaking, she was the first female soldier he'd formally met at the academy.

Many female soldiers had slipped him notes or talked about him behind his back, but few had actually chatted.

Mainly, the training ground was small and crowded.

Any little commotion would instantly draw countless eyes.

Thinking of this, he instinctively turned to look for the bun-haired female soldier, only to find her watching him as well.

Her slate-blue eyes flashed with a hint of intrigue.

Du Huaishan had changed!

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