SWNOVELXO Chapter 115:
Chapter 115: You Picked Her Up Again:
Creating his own martial arts technique was incredibly difficult.
Trying to design a technique that disregards qualifications and basic skills was even harder.
Xu Xi had no other martial arts to draw inspiration from and no knowledgeable mentors to guide him. His only resources were himself and a few martial arts books from the real world.
Practice.
Perform martial arts.
Practice again, and perform again.
Xu Xi’s life was monotonous. In the solitude of his courtyard, he practiced silently, fists striking the air as he stood alone.
Only the scorching sunlight, the white floor tiles, and the trees surrounding the courtyard bore witness to his relentless efforts and countless drops of sweat.
“Time is running out…”
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
Finally, after countless punches, he stopped, letting out a long sigh.
From last winter to this summer, “Primordial Energy Technique” had undergone several iterations, but none satisfied Xu Xi.
A technique that ignored qualifications and basic skills—could such a thing even be created?
Xu Xi knew the challenge of developing such a technique was monumental, but he refused to give up. He couldn’t stand idly by while fresh and familiar faces faded away.
…
[Your heart warns you.]
[Intuition honed through martial arts signals an impending disaster.]
[The next winter demon tide will expand further, with demons at your level—or even stronger—emerging. These demons will be beyond the ability of Qingniu Town’s people to resist.]
[You reduce your boxing practice time and dedicate more energy to refining the technique.]
[To your surprise, reducing martial arts training does not slow your strength’s growth. In fact, the flow of your qi and blood feels slightly faster.]
[This is because your heart and mind are fully devoted to forging your own path.]
[When you perform “Primordial Energy Technique,” your belief in martial arts grows stronger than ever.]
[You smile, take another bite of the bitter vegetable dumplings, and immerse yourself in reading the increasingly worn pages of “Primordial Energy Technique,” searching for ways to improve it.]
…
[Your daily routine is dominated by martial arts training and performance, but occasionally, you go out.]
[Sometimes, you venture into the Shiwanda Mountain to kill demons, sharpening yourself and distributing the surplus flesh and blood to the townspeople.]
[Other times, you stand atop a high place, overlooking Qingniu Town, which has grown quieter, and recall those who are no longer there.]
[Visitors come again.]
[Like the year before, they arrive hurriedly, searching for a fugitive.]
[This time, the officials are more meticulous, entering every household instead of relying solely on verbal inquiries.]
[Of course, they find nothing.]
[Disregarding Qingniu Town’s dilapidated state and its diminished population, the officials leave quickly, wary of lingering too long and risking demon attacks.]
[They ride away on green-scaled horses, and as an innate warrior, you silently follow them.]
[You watch them inspect more villages and towns. After searching in vain, they curse and return to the pass.]
[You faintly hear words like “disgusting” and “pig.”]
[You gaze at the dark army stationed at the pass.]
[You look at the tall city walls built to guard against both demons and humans.]
[The fire in your heart burns hotter, and your qi and blood flow with increasing intensity.]
…
When Xu Xi returned to Qingniu Town, it was dark.
Rain drizzled down.
The raindrops mixed with old bloodstains—both human and demon—that had seeped into the walls over time. These marks had become impossible to clean, and no one bothered trying, as there was little hope for tomorrow.
The rain grew heavier.
Xu Xi walked through the downpour, his qi forming an invisible shield that kept him dry. He made his way back home.
“Maybe the idea I had last time can be improved,” he thought.
“Primordial Energy Technique’s quality isn’t high, but that’s precisely why it’s suitable for modification. Its low threshold makes it accessible to everyone.”
Determined, he resolved to complete the improvements before winter, no matter how challenging the task.
Crunch—
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Xu Xi stepped inside. He paused slightly.
In the empty courtyard, the rain had washed away layers of mud and blood, leaving only clean tiles. Amidst the rain, he spotted a familiar figure lying motionless.
“Sorry, sir…”
The battered girl forced a bitter smile, coughing up blood as she spoke. “I may not be able to repay you this time.”
“It’s fine. I’m a kind person,” Xu Xi replied calmly, stepping forward to help Wu Yingxue, who could barely move. “You can repay me in installments later.”
The girl froze, as if wanting to respond, but her severe injuries sent her into unconsciousness.
“She must have fought with an innate warrior to sustain such injuries,” Xu Xi muttered. He stopped the bleeding with Qi and carried her inside.
Treating her wounds, he ventilated her qi, stopped her blood loss, and bandaged her injuries.
Once everything was done, Xu Xi waited for Wu Yingxue to regain consciousness.
“In recent days, there’s been no sign of this child near the border. She must have truly returned to the Thirteenth Prefecture of Daqian,” he thought.
“Is there a special access route not guarded by the garrison at the pass?”
“I’ll have to ask her later.”
“If the town can’t survive this winter, I could use such a route to evacuate everyone, saving them from dying here.”
Xu Xi lowered his gaze, picking up Wu Yingxue’s dragon-patterned spear.
Examining the worn tip and the many nicks along the shaft, he grew curious about her experiences outside the border.
What had happened to her that warranted such a serious search by officials?
“The border’s complexity saved her life. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it back.”
Tick-tock.
Tick-tock.
The rain continued to fall heavily.
The rhythmic sound created a compact melody, drumming against every surface.
As he waited for her to wake, Xu Xi performed “Primordial Energy Technique,” his thoughts still focused on refining the technique.
The rain eventually stopped, and the moon rose, dimly illuminating the room.
By evening, the severely injured seventeen-year-old girl finally opened her eyes.
“Thank you, Mr. Xu…” she whispered, staring blankly at the ceiling. Gone was her usual liveliness, replaced by silence and despair.
Xu Xi recognized the look—it wasn’t unfamiliar to him.
“Can you tell me what happened?” he asked.
…
[You picked up the injured princess again.]
[This time, her injuries were more severe, her appearance more pitiful, and even her dragon-patterned spear bore significant damage.]
[You suspect she faced an enemy stronger than an innate warrior.]
[When you asked the truth, the girl remained silent for a long time. Tears flowed quietly down her cheeks as she hoarsely revealed that her parents were dead.]