"Young Master Napoleon has been secretly practicing martial arts since childhood, so his constitution is quite sturdy. The master need not worry."
Captain Garrett smiled.
"Originally I never expected Napoleon to be so formidable. Those two villains were experts I pursued in my youth. Who would have thought that years later, they would fall into Napoleon's hands upon their return."
He had seen the wounds—both men died from the palm force of Heartbreaker Combat Art.
He just didn't know when Napoleon had mastered Heartbreaker Combat Art, nor how deep his palm technique prowess truly was.
After all, this martial art couldn't reveal its depth from surface observation alone.
"That's for the best." Lord Marcus nodded. "It's fine, let things proceed as before. Let him rest well, then continue on to Kaer Trolde to study martial arts."
"For Napoleon to possess such skills, he must not merely enjoy practicing martial arts, but be completely obsessed with it, to achieve such rapid and excellent progress. This is good—I'm sure Napoleon would be delighted to hear this."
Stepmother Margaret spoke gently.
"Alright, alright. This was quite a false alarm. Everyone disperse now. Isabelle, go back and reflect properly. During this time, don't go wandering about outside anymore—stay home!"
Lord Marcus imposed house arrest.
"Oh..." This time Isabelle was thoroughly frightened too. If her elder brother had arrived even a moment later, she would truly have been ruined.
She also needed time to recover emotionally.
...
News of Isabelle's incident quickly spread throughout the entire Bonaparte estate, and even reached other families in Oxenfurt.
Napoleon's reputation for being obsessed with martial arts also spread.
In these times, few people knew of the Grimskull Brothers, but everyone knew that Napoleon had worked with his sister to capture several formidable wanted criminals, reportedly killing several people.
Once this reputation spread, Napoleon immediately became famous.
The way people in the estate looked at Napoleon was now different from before.
This was someone who had killed formidable wanted criminals!
Whenever they encountered Napoleon, everyone felt a measure of awe.
After all, anyone who could be wanted without being caught surely had considerable skills.
"This is perfectly normal." Isabelle sat in Napoleon's room, legs swinging back and forth, slowly munching on an apple.
Due to the previous incident where she nearly lost her chastity, she no longer ran outside all day.
Instead, she often came to Napoleon's room, trying to persuade him to investigate the Thornton family massacre together.
"Among the people in Bonaparte estate now, aside from you elder brother and Captain Garrett's few battle masters, the remaining guards probably have pitifully little experience with bloodshed.
This is how these servants have always looked at me."
She seemed accustomed to it.
"Speaking of which, if my master and fellow disciples knew I had such a formidable elder brother like you, I wonder what their expressions would be. Just thinking about it seems amusing!"
Isabelle laughed.
Napoleon held a writing brush, slowly practicing calligraphy.
"Sir Aldrich's case must be investigated, and will be investigated! Just not right now."
He spoke in a low voice.
"Sir Aldrich... died so miserably!" At the thought of this, Isabelle's eyes began to redden.
"Don't worry. I will eventually investigate this matter thoroughly." Napoleon set down his brush, looking at the large character "Patience" on the paper.
This encounter with two unified force level experts had shown him where his limits lay.
Masters of the unified force level were all formidable characters with their own unique skills, far stronger than ordinary martial practitioners.
Although he had used the Enhancement System to cultivate both kaer morhen blade Techniques and Heartbreaker Combat Art to their highest mastered state, fighting one against two was not simple addition.
When two unified force experts attacked together, the effect was one plus one equals more than two. The mental energy required was double that of facing a single opponent.
If there had been one more well-coordinated unified force expert, even he would have met his downfall this time.
Napoleon thought to himself.
He had won this time, but it was a narrow victory. In the end, even his sword was broken, and his body suffered multiple injuries.
"Still too weak... In the Thornton massacre, there were fully four unified force experts serving as guards alone! Add to that so many family servants and retainers—to kill everyone overnight without making a sound, such capability... just thinking about it is chilling."
At this thought, Napoleon felt his preparations were still far from sufficient.
He needed stronger power, more formidable martial arts!
"Elder brother, what are you thinking about? Would you like to accompany me shopping?"
Isabelle waved her hand in front of Napoleon, her eyes showing a hint of expectation.
Ever since being rescued, she had become like a different person in Napoleon's presence—her temper much improved from before, and she had become more delicate, more feminine.
"Isabelle, do you know about battle energy methods?"
Napoleon didn't answer her, but asked in return.
"Battle energy methods... I've heard my master mention them." Isabelle nodded. "Battle energy masters are different from us who practice external martial arts. They take a very long time, progressing slowly. Generally without three to five years of foundation, when displayed they're no different from ordinary people.
Why do you ask about this, elder brother?"
"Does your master know any battle energy masters?" Unable to find Morgana, Napoleon planned to seek a breakthrough through Isabelle.
"He does know some. Master has two good friends who are priests practicing life-nurturing energy cultivation."
"Life-nurturing energy cultivation... Are there any formal battle energy masters of the type used for combat?"
"That... I haven't heard of any."
Isabelle's answer disappointed Napoleon.
But it was within expectations.
Even the mysterious Morgana had only produced a few life-nurturing energy cultivation manuals. Since Isabelle's master was merely a somewhat famous external martial arts expert, the possibility of knowing battle energy masters was slim.
"What's wrong? Does elder brother want to practice battle energy methods? I've heard those things are very mystical, take a very long time, have complex and dangerous cultivation processes, and their power isn't even that great. How could they compare to external martial arts which show quick results and are strong in actual combat? What's the point of practicing that?"
Isabelle didn't understand.
"I have my plans."
Napoleon pondered in his mind.
Kaer Trolde—he did intend to go, but now that this incident had occurred, it would be difficult to leave Oxenfurt.
The family members of this life had all been good to him—father, stepmother, Captain Garrett, and others were all decent people.
He didn't want the family to encounter mishaps just after he left.
Moreover, in these times and this world, if something truly happened, where could he hide as just one person?
Napoleon also sensed that his father Lord Marcus's decision to send him far away to Kaer Trolde seemed intended to help him avoid something.
"Storm clouds are gathering..." He sighed deeply, looking at Isabelle who knew nothing of these concerns, and suddenly felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
"If I truly left, I might avoid disaster temporarily, but I couldn't avoid it every time in the future. Eventually I would have to face it.
While the family circumstances are good now and money isn't a concern, I should quickly grow stronger and gain the power of self-protection. That is the right path."
Going to Kaer Trolde was truly too far. Napoleon had already formed different plans.
Combining internal and external cultivation, uniting internal and external—this was the most powerful direction he could conceive...
He suddenly remembered the manual he had spent a fortune to obtain at auction: the Shadow Force incomplete manual.
"Although it's incomplete, this is the only manual I have on hand now. Never mind."
While listening to Isabelle chattering beside him about amusing incidents from her apprenticeship, Napoleon began silently recalling the cultivation pathways of the Shadow Force technique.
He had previously practiced Shadow Force for quite some time and still remembered the first level's basic mental method for entry.
Seeing Napoleon somewhat distracted, Isabelle spoke for a while before leaving somewhat disappointedly.
Petite entered afterward, bringing Napoleon a basin of water for washing his face, then serving him medicinal soup.
Throughout this time Napoleon said nothing, doing his tasks while focusing all his attention on running through Shadow Force's mental cultivation pathways.
He speculated whether Shadow Force's difficulty in achieving success was because, like the Ravencrest Method, it should have had an initial breathing diagram.
The Ravencrest Method's breathing diagram featured a crane with wings spread, ready to take flight.
Shadow Force might also have required such a diagram.
But the manual lacked one.
"This diagram seems like an overall framework, coordinating and unifying the entire body's internal energy circulation pathways."
Unfortunately, he had too little battle energy material to study and explore systematically.
Thus he concentrated on practicing Shadow Force while recuperating from his injuries.
In the blink of an eye, several more days passed.
Another strange incident occurred in Oxenfurt.
Someone discovered children's random graffiti on the courtyard wall of a suburban villa.
It appeared to be charcoal scribbles on the wall, but curious individuals specifically stood watch to see which family's child was being so mischievous.
Unexpectedly, overnight, more inexplicable graffiti mysteriously appeared on the courtyard wall.
No one was seen passing by at all.
The Thornton family massacre, the Riverside Village well-jumping case, the missing hunters case, plus this mysteriously appearing graffiti.
This series of incidents had Oxenfurt in a state of panic.
Some people claimed to have heard shrill screams outside the city at night. When the bold went to investigate, the ground seemed to show traces of fierce beasts fighting, with bloodstains remaining.
Meanwhile, orders came from City Hall that assistance requests for finding people could be withdrawn.
One morning, Lord Marcus and the other three family heads were again summoned to City Hall.
He returned with a very displeased expression.
When Napoleon asked, he wouldn't say, only mentioning that he had clashed with the magistrate and the meeting had ended unpleasantly.
Subsequently, Lord Marcus summoned Napoleon's uncle, Deputy Commissioner Aldwin Bonaparte, who served in the garrison army.
For the Bonaparte family to maintain their footing over these years naturally wasn't due to Lord Marcus alone. Uncle Aldwin was also a pillar he had cultivated and supported.
The two men closeted themselves in the study for a long time before opening the door.
Afterward, someone saw the uncle hurriedly leave the Bonaparte estate.
Napoleon rested and recuperated in his room, continuously learning about conditions in the estate through Isabelle, Petite, Stepmother Margaret, Lu Yingying, Captain Garrett, and others who came to visit.
The Oxenfurt outside the Bonaparte estate now gave Napoleon an increasingly dangerous feeling.
At this time Captain Garrett sent word again that they had discovered traces of Little Pine. He had been found in a house on that street where he had collapsed, and by the time someone found him, he was emaciated from hunger.
"Little Pine? Did he say what he encountered? How did he end up alone in that house?"
Napoleon asked.
The messenger was one of Captain Garrett's subordinate guards, who shook his head.
"He didn't say much, only kept repeating that when he desperately ran there that day, he had just reached that street and entered briefly when he suddenly collapsed. When he woke up, he saw us."
Napoleon frowned.
"Is his account reliable?"
"Reliable. Captain Garrett has verified it from multiple sources. It's indeed as Little Pine described."
"That's strange..."
Napoleon shook his head.
"You may go."
"Yes."
The guard quickly departed.
Napoleon paced back and forth several times in the small courtyard outside his room door.
His injuries had long since mostly healed. He had been focused on arduously practicing Shadow Force, waiting for energy sensation.
As long as he could achieve even a thread of energy sensation, he planned to rapidly advance his battle energy cultivation, ensuring Shadow Force truly became part of his strength.
Just then, Lord Marcus hurriedly entered the courtyard with two family servants.
"Napoleon, you're recovered enough. Let's depart today, shall we?"
Lord Marcus's expression was gentle and calm as he carried a black leather satchel in his hands—travel money prepared for Napoleon.
"So urgent?" Napoleon accepted the satchel and asked quietly.
"Time is of the essence. Leave early. The city might be chaotic for a while, but don't worry—I've arranged everything."
Lord Marcus gave Napoleon a reassuring smile.
Napoleon nodded without wasting words. Taking Petite with him, he packed a few clothes and quietly left through the side gate by carriage.
Sitting in the carriage, Napoleon gazed through a small gap at the gradually receding Bonaparte estate.
His heart felt inexplicably heavy.
"Young master, are we really going to Kaer Trolde? It's so far away. When will we be able to return?"
Petite worried.
Napoleon smiled without responding.
The black carriage looked similar to other carriages on the surrounding streets, appearing worn with age.
The carriage body bore no Bonaparte estate markings.
Along the way, leaving the city center district and heading toward the main gate, the carriage was stopped and questioned several times by passing patrol units.
Napoleon lifted the carriage curtain slightly and saw outside teams of city guards divided into many small units, accompanied by numerous hastily organized peasant militias, patrolling throughout the streets.
He glanced at a pointed building they passed outside the window.
Snap!
Suddenly Napoleon clapped his hands once.
The carriage immediately turned left, entering a relatively narrow small street.
The carriage's speed decreased considerably and soon stopped.
Napoleon took Petite's hand and lifted the carriage curtain to step down.
"Napoleon, I've been waiting for you for quite a while."
Marcus Goldwin's plump face appeared before them.
"Eh!?"
Petite was immediately surprised.
"Let's go. This isn't a place for talking. I've prepared the location you wanted."
Marcus Goldwin said quietly.
The carriage slowly drove out of the small street again.
Napoleon and Petite changed to another carriage on this small street and slowly headed out of the city.
After leaving the city, at a chaotic rocky hill several miles from Devil's Pit.
There was a small patch of green forest with the sound of a flowing stream inside.
The carriage stopped in front of this small forest.
Marcus Goldwin stepped down first, looking left and right.
"This is it. A secret hideout I set up with money when I was young. I'm temporarily lending it to you."
Napoleon stepped down with Petite.
"Thanks, fatty."
"We're brothers—why speak of such things?"
Marcus Goldwin said earnestly.
"The surrounding area is quite unpopulated in many places. The nearest location is one of my family's estates. I've already arranged for food to be delivered to this forest daily and left outside the courtyard. You can collect it yourselves."
Napoleon nodded.
Marcus Goldwin continued.
"Be careful. This place isn't far from Devil's Pit. Although the roads are guarded by military patrols and there shouldn't be major problems, occasionally wolves and wildcats may wander over."
"Don't worry. Remember to keep me informed of news from the city, or send it along with the food deliveries."
Napoleon instructed.
"Very well."
The three walked into the small forest together. After penetrating dozens of meters, they saw a silver ribbon-like small stream flowing down along the rocky hillside.
The stream formed a clear, beautiful flow between grass and stones in the forest.
The forest was full of chirping—various birds were abundant. On the trees and grass, there were almost no traces of human activity visible.
Napoleon crossed the small stream and saw a delicate small wooden cabin in the depths near the hillside.
The white wood was stacked log by log, like building blocks assembled into this simple-appearing white timber house.
Beside the cabin was also a small garden plot.
"I'll leave you here."
Marcus Goldwin said quietly.
He had brought two personal bodyguards, both trained from childhood and absolutely loyal types. He wasn't worried about them revealing anything.
"Thank you for your trouble this time. Go back and continue your business."
Napoleon nodded.
Marcus Goldwin also hurriedly departed with his group.
Napoleon began having Petite help tidy up the small wooden cabin.
The cabin contained both grain and dried meat, along with some fresh vegetables and fruit—obviously recently brought.
"Young master, are we going to live here indefinitely? We're not going to Kaer Trolde?"
Petite was still somewhat confused.
"We'll still go eventually, but that's for later. For now, we'll temporarily stay here."
Napoleon casually answered a few questions.
The two spent until afternoon tidying the house, by which time it was nearly dark.
Petite lit the oil lamp.
The yellowish lamplight in the pitch-black wooden cabin seemed lonely and dim.
Napoleon stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky.
The sky was overcast and dark, with moon and stars obscured, not a trace of light visible.
The oil lamp's light from inside the house cast a sliver of yellow radiance, illuminating the courtyard.
This small courtyard became the brightest place in the entire forest.
Napoleon stood in the courtyard, gazing outward through the fence.
The forest was pitch black, with unknown sounds occasionally moving about, flashing by.
Napoleon reflexively gripped the sword hanging at his waist.
Marcus Goldwin had offered to arrange guards for him, but he had refused.
The fewer people who knew about his staying here, the better.
Looking at the forest outside the courtyard where you couldn't see your hand before your face, Napoleon closed the courtyard gate and turned to shut the cabin windows.
The windows had two layers: an inner layer of paper-covered window lattice, and an outer layer of thick, solid wooden shutters for protection.
Napoleon closed the outer wooden shutters, so the inner light could only be glimpsed through tiny cracks.
He pushed open the door and entered the house.
Petite was making the bed.
There was only one bed in the house, covered with many wood shavings and dry grain stalks, then spread with mats, followed by cotton padding and such.
"Young master..."
Petite's eyes were dewy, her cheeks blushing red.
"If you wish to rest, let Petite warm the bed for you first."
"..." Napoleon was speechless. "There's a small bed in back. You can sleep there."
Petite looked just like a twelve or thirteen-year-old young girl, which really gave him a sense of criminality.
"Alright..." Petite immediately became terribly embarrassed.
In this wilderness, with just her and the young master together in such a small wooden cabin.
Whether changing clothes or bathing, there was no avoiding each other.
If something were to happen, it would be quite normal.
Unfortunately, the young master didn't seem to have such thoughts yet.
After washing separately, Petite went to sleep early under Napoleon's urging.
The so-called small bed was actually placed on the inner side of the wooden cabin, separated by a wooden partition. Between the large and small beds was only a palm-thick wooden wall, connected by a small door covered with a cloth curtain.
If something were to happen, it would be a matter of a single thought.
Napoleon's mind, however, wasn't focused on such matters.
He went to sleep early, concentrating on practicing Shadow Force for a while.
The next morning, Petite went out to collect the food boxes delivered to the courtyard gate.
After breakfast, Napoleon performed a set of Heartbreaker Combat Art, then continued practicing Shadow Force.
The entire morning, except for Petite occasionally going out to wander around the courtyard, everything else was quiet. Napoleon devoted all his time to practicing Shadow Force.
At noon, after eating, he practiced Black Tiger Blade Techniques.
In the evening before dark, Napoleon checked the note included in the food box. Confirming there was no special news, he slept early, practicing Shadow Force for over two hours before bed.
This cycle repeated.
Just like this, Napoleon and Petite lived in the small forest for half a month.
Yet Shadow Force still showed no signs of progress.
Logically, according to martial arts texts and common martial knowledge, anyone would have given up after half a month without energy sensation.
After all, if a battle energy method suited oneself, energy sensation should appear within just a few days.
But Napoleon knew Shadow Force very likely was an incomplete lost battle energy method missing its general diagram. Morgana had mentioned this point initially.
So he persisted this long. Unexpectedly, there was still no response.
Just as Napoleon was about to give up.
A trace of unusual energy sensation finally appeared during one Shadow Force practice session.
...
The sky was overcast.
At noon, the air carried a hint of cold.
The forest was dim throughout, and even the usual bird calls lacked vigor—only occasional sounds could be heard.
Napoleon held his long sword, slowly practicing Zephyr's Blade Dance in the courtyard.
His speed wasn't fast; he was merely practicing the precision of his technique.
On the surface he appeared to be practicing swordwork, but actually Napoleon's main attention remained focused on Shadow Force.
Swish swish swish!
After three consecutive diagonal slashes, Napoleon sheathed his sword and prepared to tidy up and go inside for lunch as usual.
Unexpectedly, just as the final strike ended.
A thread of scorching, burning energy flowed like silk briefly through his lower back at both kidneys before vanishing.
Napoleon's movements suddenly froze as he carefully sensed again with extreme caution.
He slowly circulated the visualization pathways of Shadow Force.
Immediately that scorching, burning sensation flashed through again, still located at both kidneys.
"This is... energy sensation!!"
Napoleon's heart leaped with joy.
After arduously practicing for so many days, he had begun doubting whether the Shadow Force he possessed was truly a battle energy method.
Unexpectedly, after all hardships came reward. This single circulation of internal energy finally settled a great weight in his heart.
"While the energy sensation is present, quickly advance!"
Napoleon wasted no time in striking while the iron was hot.
"Gold Finger."
He silently called in his mind.
The dark gold Enhancement System interface quickly appeared before his eyes.
Clicking the modification button, the interface flashed intensely.
This time the interface was indeed different from before. At the bottom of the martial arts section, Shadow Force had been added.
'Shadow Force: Not Yet Initiated.'
Though just a few simple words, seeing them filled Napoleon with barely containable joy.
At this moment when he could hardly find better methods of advancement, Shadow Force was almost his only hope.
Otherwise he truly didn't know how to face the unknown anomalies and threats in the outside world.
"Modify Shadow Force, advance one level!"
Napoleon's intent was barely transmitted.
The "Not Yet Initiated" status of Shadow Force suddenly jumped, changing to "Initiated" status.
BOOM!!!
Almost simultaneously with seeing the status change, Napoleon felt his internal organs suddenly surge with intense heat.
A massive torrent of heat appeared from nowhere in his body, savagely beginning to flow through more than ten meridians with violent intensity.
The heat flow was scalding and burning, like a flame circulating through Napoleon's body.
He stood in place, his face rapidly flushing red, his entire skin following suit, like a cooked shrimp shell.
Sweat poured from every pore across his body, then turned to white vapor, slowly rising.
The heat flow came quickly and left quickly.
After just several breaths, the heat flow completed several rapid circuits through Napoleon's body, and his constitution gradually adapted somewhat.
Although Napoleon's body temperature remained quite high, it wasn't as scalding as before.
The Ravencrest Battle Energy internal cultivation within his body also began accelerating, naturally releasing numerous threads to repair damaged meridians and organs.
After another moment.
Napoleon's skin color gradually faded, returning to its original fair complexion.
Whoosh...
Even the breath he exhaled was scorching.
Every part of his body ached—his entire muscles and bones felt as if they'd been stabbed with needles.
This was completely different from his experience with Ravencrest Method. Now he felt as if his entire body had been pummeled repeatedly with a great hammer.
"Fortunately, this period's Ravencrest Method practice had accumulated considerable internal energy. Now it's perfectly suited for healing."
Napoleon felt the Ravencrest Method beginning to heal his internal organs and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I never expected Shadow Force to be so dominating at just the initiated level. If it reaches higher levels later, that power... how strong will it be?"
He hardly dared imagine.
"Petite."
He called loudly.
"Coming, young master!"
Petite hurried over from behind, her hands still dripping with water—she must have been washing something.
"Bring me medicinal tea."
Napoleon instructed. His entire body ached everywhere, and internally he suffered from burning fire and yin deficiency, making him terribly thirsty.
Petite quickly brought the prepared medicinal tea. This tea contained many yin-nourishing medicinal ingredients like Magister Kalkstein's Vitalis essence, Southern Barbarian turtle shell, snow gardenia, winter shade... and other precious medicines unique to this world.
Drinking one cup, Napoleon immediately felt coolness slide from his throat into his stomach, then spread from his stomach in all directions throughout his body.
This coolness slightly alleviated the burning fire within.
Napoleon drank an entire pot consecutively.
One pot could serve five cups.
He even chewed and swallowed the medicinal residue, finally sighing with satisfaction though still wanting more.
After lying on the bed to rest for several hours, by the time it was nearly dark.
Napoleon's pain throughout his body had finally somewhat subsided.
Petite didn't understand what was happening. Seeing Napoleon showed no unusual signs, she assumed he had suddenly felt like drinking, took the medicine pot and ran back to the stream to wash clothes.