As someone with a bit of a persecution complex, back on Earth, Tang Wen would often wonder what he'd do if he was hurt by his boss or girlfriend, or got emotionally manipulated. What if someone smashed a bottle over his head while he was out for a late-night snack?
Then he'd realize he was lucky just to have a job.
As for a girlfriend emotionally manipulating him? He'd never had the pleasure.
And he'd certainly never met the distinguished gentleman who would smash a bottle on him.
After coming to this apocalyptic world, he often dreamed of being mugged or attacked.
While resting in the woods, he would constantly run through scenarios in his head, imagining what he would do if he were attacked.
Now, as the man charged at him, Tang Wen was more flustered than afraid.
He retreated rapidly, firing off three stones in quick succession!
In his mind, these three stones were supposed to hit the man's eyes and throat.
But in his panic, his aim went wild, and he just pelted the man's head and face.
Though he bloodied the man's face, it wasn't enough to stop his charge.
HISS!
The sharpened tip of the stick was inches away.
Tang Wen drew the dagger from his waist and sent it flying with a SWISH!
THWACK.
A direct hit to the neck.
A large amount of pinkish foam bubbled up on the man's dark, grimy neck, covering the blade.
CLATTER. The stick fell to the ground, and the man collapsed.
[Skill: Flying Locust Stone, Mastery (997→1021/3000)]
[Skill: Flying Knife Skill, Master (309→417/1000)]
Whew!
Tang Wen plopped onto the ground, the firewood in his back basket scattering everywhere.
It was a long moment before he caught his breath. He stood up in a daze and looked at the Scavenger on the ground. Blood was still flowing, its coppery smell sharp and pungent.
He didn't feel like throwing up, but he couldn't bring himself to look at the man's bulging, unseeing eyes that stared as if he had died with a grievance.
A few minutes later, he forced his legs to move. Steeling himself against the creeping horror, he walked over, pulled out his dagger, wiped it haphazardly on the ground, gathered his things into the basket, and left in a hurry.
He had thought about killing someone before, but the reality of it was a world apart from just imagining it.
Especially since Tang Wen was just an ordinary person.
「In the small cabin.」
Suddenly, Tang Wen sat bolt upright, muttering under his breath, "It's not real, it's not real..."
This was the third time he had woken up in shock, his back drenched in sweat.
"Xiaowen, you're awake again? Another nightmare?"
Tangtang rubbed her eyes and, in a small act of luxury, took out the flint and steel to light the oil lamp.
By the warm yellow light of the lamp, she got up and poured him a bowl of water.
"It's nothing, Sis. You should go back to sleep."
Tangtang didn't leave. Instead, she sat down beside him and asked quietly, "Little brother, I saw blood on your dagger, didn't I?"
"It's rabbit blood."
"But the rabbit's skin wasn't broken. Oh, right, the rabbit pelt is worth something too. When you take it to the blacksmith tomorrow, remember to ask for more. A whole rabbit pelt can be made into a hat! It's worth at least seven, no, nine pounds of Maize. The potatoes and sweet potatoes he gives are covered in dirt, so he needs to give us two for the price of one for it to be a fair deal for us..."
Listening to his sister's chatter, Tang Wen found himself smiling before he even realized it.
Tangtang stopped mid-sentence. "Xiaowen, you're capable. More capable than anyone else in this camp. You killed someone, didn't you?"
Tang Wen fell silent.
"I knew it the moment you came back. You were in a daze, there was blood on your knife that even got on your pants, you were quiet during dinner, only giving one-word answers, and you weren't as focused on your training as yesterday..."
Tang Wen gave a bitter smile. He thought he had hidden it so well, that he had appeared perfectly calm, but in his sister's eyes, he was full of holes.
After a moment's thought, he told her what had happened that day.
When he finished, Tangtang's brows furrowed into a knot. "You really don't have any combat experience."
"Yeah."
"Then tomorrow, when you go to the blacksmith's, don't trade for too many potatoes. Ask him to teach you how to fight. I heard he knows his way around a blade. He used to be a Guard."
"When you meet robbers, you have to kill them. They don't do any work themselves; they just prey on others. If you give in to them once, they'll target you every day, robbing you constantly. They'll steal your firewood, your Red-beaked Sparrows, and your Maize..."
By the end of her speech, the young woman was seething with anger.
Even though her brother had already killed the man, she was still frightened and furious just thinking about it!
The siblings talked for a while longer before Tangtang went back to bed. As she drifted off to sleep, Tang Wen thought he heard her mumble, "How dare you try to steal my rice... I'll kill you all..."
The next day, a thick fog filled the air.
Before the fog had a chance to dissipate, Tang Wen arrived at the blacksmith's forge.
"Brother Tang, you're here!" Li Daniu's eyes lit up, wondering how many Red-beaked Sparrows he'd brought today.
"Brother Li, you're looking radiant lately."
"Hehe, that's what happens when you have meat with every meal!" Li Daniu said, rubbing his bald head.
"Well, Brother Li, you're in for a treat today."
"Got something special?"
"Take a look."
"A rabbit! Brother Tang, your skills are getting more and more impressive!" Li Daniu exclaimed, lifting the rabbit by its ears and weighing it in his hands. "How about thirty pounds of potatoes plus a dagger?"
Tang Wen smiled. "I heard Brother Li knows Sword Skill?"
"Hmm?" Li Daniu looked at him.
"I was just asking, Brother Li. Could you teach me?"
"I could, I suppose, but my skills are nothing special."
Tang Wen quickly replied, "Brother Li, you're too modest. I really want to learn how to use a blade. Please consider this rabbit as my tuition fee."
"I only know one set, the Wind-breaking Blade. It's not worth this much. But for Sword Practice, you need a blade. You can practice here. Just grab one to use for now. Once you've learned it, you can make it up to me with some sparrows or something, and I'll give you the blade. How does that sound?"
"Great! Thank you, Brother Li."
"Don't mention it."
With just a few words, the two settled the matter of the Sword Practice.
In addition to the rabbit, Tang Wen would bring Li Daniu five Red-beaked Sparrows every day, and in return, Li Daniu would teach Tang Wen three rounds of the blade forms.
Both men were decisive. Li Daniu immediately went to the weapon rack and picked out a thick-backed Single Blade for Tang Wen.
"Give it a few swings. If it feels too heavy, we can swap it for a lighter one."
Few people in the camp could eat their fill every day.
The thick-backed blade was the type used by Guards. Never mind a half-grown kid like Tang Wen; even a farmer would find it heavy.
[Body: 1.05]
Tang Wen glanced at his Physical Attribute.
It had gone up by 0.05 from his recent training.
He gripped the blade and began to swing it, cutting through the air with a WHOOSH. After a while, he still didn't feel tired.
Li Daniu's eyes widened in surprise. "Xiaotang, you're so skinny, but you're surprisingly strong!"
"Haha, born with it, just born with it."
"Alright then, let's start practicing today. This Sword Skill of mine, I learned it when I was a Guard. It's called the Eight Wind-splitting Blades."
As they spoke, Li Daniu latched the door from the inside and led the way to the backyard.
"Honey, who's this?" a woman asked, coming out of the house.
This was the first time Tang Wen had seen Li Daniu's wife. She was pregnant, with fair skin and a lovely smile. She was probably the first beautiful woman Tang Wen had seen in this post-apocalyptic world since he'd arrived.
As for his own sister, it wasn't that she wasn't pretty, just that she was too thin and hadn't fully blossomed yet.
"Hello, Sister-in-law. I'm Tang Wen."
"Hello, Brother Tang. I've heard Brother Li mention you. He says you're very capable."
Seeing that Tang Wen was polite and respectful, not letting his eyes wander, Eldest Sister-in-law Li had a good impression of him.
Li Daniu also thought more highly of him. Which of the neighbors who had occasionally seen his wife hadn't been dumbstruck by her looks?
This Xiaotang... he was different!
The couple exchanged a glance. Eldest Sister-in-law Li went back inside to cook, while Li Daniu picked up his own usual blade. "Xiaotang, I'll demonstrate it for you once. The first move: a fierce, head-on cleave..."
SWOOSH!
The great blade chopped down, cutting through the air with the force of a tiger.