C7 To Die Without Dying

Meng Yang was deep in thought, and the burly man chose not to interrupt him. It wasn't until Meng Yang's eyes sparkled with understanding that the man spoke with satisfaction, "You appear to be working hard, yet it seems like you're just going through the motions. If you treated each martial arts practice as if you were executing your final, life-ending move, I guarantee that two days ago, even if you couldn't beat your opponent, you wouldn't have been seriously injured."

"The final move before death..." Meng Yang felt a lightbulb moment; he had always been quick-witted and eager to learn. Now, after receiving patient instruction from the square-faced man, he was filled with regret for not realizing his shortcomings sooner.

Had he taken his training seriously as the square-faced man suggested, perhaps he could have had an exhilarating battle with the core disciples of the Lin family.

"Martial artists must fight, martial artists must seize..." Meng Yang took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with appreciation as he deeply thanked the square-faced man.

"Thanking me now is premature. Starting today, as long as I'm around, I'll personally oversee each of your practice sessions."

Meng Yang cast a curious glance at the square-faced man, whose smile held a hint of mischief. Without further hesitation, he embarked on a new journey of cultivation, fueled by the persistent fire within him.

Before he could assume his stance, a familiar voice filled with scorn rang out in the courtyard. "Meng Yang, come out and speak with your grandfather, Ma Qingshan."

At the sound, the square-faced man and Meng Yang exchanged knowing looks. Before Meng Yang could let his happiness show, the square-faced man spoke with a smile, "A martial artist must fight, must seize every opportunity. Your training starts now. Remember, even if you lose face, you must never lose your spirit."

Encouraged by the square-faced man's gaze, Meng Yang couldn't help but give an embarrassed grin. Little did he know, Meng Yang had no desire for conflict; he was merely using the situation to improve his proficiency with the flesh puppet technique. This was a long-term investment that demanded Meng Yang's careful attention. Weighing his options, he could only offer a sheepish smile.

Meng Yang's smile caught the square-faced man off guard, leaving him puzzled about Meng Yang's intentions.

"Let me give it a try..."

With those words, Meng Yang turned and pushed the door open, revealing four menacing youths.

Among them was a burly man with a violent glint in his eyes.

Meng Yang scanned the group before his gaze settled on the square-faced youth. "So, you're Ma Qingshan?"

"That's right, your grandfather..."

Ma Qingshan smirked ominously at his three companions.

As Meng Yang descended the steps, Ma Qingshan gestured, and the four men quickly encircled Meng Yang, glaring at him with menace.

Meng Yang, feigning ignorance, remained silent, returning their glares.

He rotated his stare from one to the next, each second shifting his focus.

The intensity of his death aura, arguably the most potent in the world, was almost suffocating.

In this standoff, they glared at each other, creating an incredibly awkward atmosphere.

"Damn you..."

The horse-faced man couldn't contain the rage boiling within him any longer, and his powerful fist hurtled toward Meng Yang's chest.

He was resolute that this conflict was far from over. Even if Meng Yang agreed to pay the protection money, he would make it his daily duty to harass Meng Yang.

The flesh puppet skill absorbed the blow, and his proficiency ticked up by 1.

Current proficiency: 2172/10000.

As the system's prompt echoed in his mind, Meng Yang stood defiant and unshaken, continuing his unyielding stare down with the four men.

The horse-faced youth's expression hardened, and he signaled the other three.

Instantly, they all unleashed the Soul Stealing Palm, aiming their strikes at Meng Yang.

As the flood of information blinked before his eyes, Meng Yang couldn't suppress a chuckle.

At the sound of his laughter, the four assailants intensified their barrage of Soul Stealing Palms at Meng Yang.

The flesh puppet skill absorbed another attack, increasing proficiency by 1.

Current Proficiency: 2173/10000.

The flesh puppet skill absorbed yet another attack. Proficiency increased by 1.

Current Proficiency: 2174/10000.

The flesh puppet skill successfully resisted an attack, increasing proficiency by 1.

The current proficiency stood at 2,175 out of 10,000.

"Ouch, stop hitting me... Please, no more."

Meng Yang, crouched on the ground with his head in his hands, kept up his screams. He noticed that the louder he wailed, the more enthusiastically the four assailants attacked.

Unexpectedly, the blow from the towering two-meter man, delivered through the Soul Stealing Palm, actually hurt a bit.

In just a short time, they had added hundreds of proficiency points to his tally, nearly causing Meng Yang to burst into laughter.

While Meng Yang experienced a mix of pain and pleasure, the square-faced man standing at the room's doorway, covertly observing the scene in the courtyard, wore a look of bewilderment.

Possibly due to their elevated position, the four attackers failed to see the delight on Meng Yang's face, but the keen-eyed square-faced observer didn't miss it.

He frowned even deeper when he saw Meng Yang, amidst his screams, still find time to pick his nose.

The more he watched, the more he felt a mix of shame and perplexity, even suspecting that Meng Yang might harbor masochistic tendencies.

Otherwise, how could one explain the flush on his face, resembling the afterglow of intense passion?

"I, Nan Chenhai, pride myself on being decisive and having an excellent eye for people. I never thought I'd be so mistaken. It's true what they say: you can't sculpt rotten wood..."

Nan Chenhai beat his chest and stomped his feet, letting out a long sigh to the heavens. After a hearty laugh, he decided he couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned to crawl back into his bed.

Half an incense stick later, having confirmed that the four had indeed crossed him, Meng Yang, still feigning unconsciousness, didn't forget to spit in the face of the horse-faced youth before pretending to faint.

With a final scream, he collapsed to the ground.

"This grudge must be avenged, or I, Ma Qingshan, am no man. The beating will continue tomorrow."

Ma Qingshan, wiping his face, gave Meng Yang an angry kick before departing with his group.

Soul Stealing Palm: Proficiency 7,555/10,000 - Beginner Level.

Flesh Puppet: Proficiency 3,171/10,000 - Beginner Level.

Water Serpent Style: Proficiency 7,444/10,000 - Beginner Level.

Once the four had departed, Meng Yang immediately opened his eyes. Seeing the proficiency of his Flesh Puppet technique reflected in his pupils, he couldn't help but laugh with excitement. In just half an hour, he had gained over a thousand proficiency points, a rate of progress Meng Yang had never even dared to dream of before. But now, he found himself not only daring to dream but also wishing for the challenges to intensify.

"If it weren't just four people today, but eight or even ten, then the proficiency of my Flesh Puppet technique would soar even faster," he mused. "This isn't just about fighting; it's practically courting death..."

A spark of realization flashed in Meng Yang's eyes, and he suddenly felt as if he had an epiphany. As soon as he contemplated the notion of courting death, numerous perilous scenarios flooded his mind. He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

Yet, with his current modest strength and lowly status, courting death without actually dying would require a powerful patron. "It looks like I need to build up my strength to change my circumstances. I'll consult with Nan Chenhai later to see if he has any advice," he pondered.

With that thought, Meng Yang chuckled once more, brushing off the numerous footprints on his clothing. He strutted back to his room, proud and confident as a victorious rooster.