Downstairs, Feng Yin was waiting for dinner.
Hearing a voice from above, he looked up and saw Sister Xie calling him.
Although curious, he didn't say much. He silently nodded and stood up.
"Did I overdo it at work today?" Feng Yin wondered as he walked upstairs.
Probably not. There were two heavily tattooed guys, built like calves, who hauled more fiercely than he did.
Speaking of which, at least half the people in this Tongzi Building had all sorts of tattoos. It was as if an entire underworld faction from Genroku Country had been sent here wholesale.
Were Boss Hong and Sister Xie underworld bosses in Genroku Country before this?
The Tongzi Building wasn't tall. Feng Yin reached the top floor before he could dwell on it for long, finding Brother Hong and Sister Xie's room.
The two were sitting on the sofa, waiting for him.
He knocked on the already open door. "Brother Hong, Sister Xie."
"Come on in," Brother Hong beckoned.
Feng Yin walked quietly over to them.
"Have a seat," Brother Hong said, gesturing for Feng Yin to take a nearby stool. Once he sat down, Brother Hong smiled. "How do you feel after your first day of work?"
Feng Yin deliberately rolled his shoulders and back, which were genuinely a bit sore. "I don't have any experience, so I think I lifted a bit too hastily. Now I'm a little worried about pulling a muscle."
Sister Xie spoke in a cold tone. "You earn more for working more. If you can haul that much every day, it'll be enough to support an extra woman and an elder. If you don't plan on doing that, you can save some energy."
Although her tone was harsh, her words were a genuine reminder to him.
Beside her, Brother Hong chuckled. "Speaking of which, Feng Yin is a vigorous young man. There's nothing wrong with wanting a woman. If you're interested, I have some connections..."
"No, no..." Feng Yin waved his hand wordlessly. Even if he wanted a woman, he wouldn't look for one in this island prison. Everyone here was a fierce criminal sent in for severe felonies.
He couldn't afford to provoke them—absolutely not!
He quickly steered the conversation back on track. "Did you two need me for something?"
The man and woman in front of him exchanged a glance.
Brother Hong spoke first. "You heard what Yamanamikawa of the Ren Sheng Group said this morning, right?"
Feng Yin nodded. "Brother Hong, are you referring to the bidding competition?"
Brother Hong smiled, his gaze fixed on Feng Yin. "You're quite perceptive. I'll give it to you straight: if we don't win this bid, our relatively stable lives here will fall apart in an instant.
"This competition requires five people to fight. Right now, we have me, Sister Xie, and the two best fighters in the Tongzi Building. We've decided that you will be the final candidate."
Feng Yin didn't hesitate much. He simply nodded silently before adding, "Since I've eaten your food, Brother Hong, I'll do whatever you ask. But while I have strength, truth be told, I know absolutely nothing about fighting."
"First courage, second strength, third martial arts," Sister Xie suddenly interjected.
Feng Yin looked at her. "What do you mean, Sister Xie?"
Sister Xie said, "In the Domain of Martial Arts, especially in the early stages, when two people fight, the first thing they compete in is courage. The second is stamina and physical strength. Technique comes last."
She looked at Feng Yin. "Even in the realm of weapon-based Martial Arts, this principle generally holds true. However, because weapons provide a massive boost to lethality, Skills become more effective than pure strength once they are mastered to a certain degree."
Sister Xie stood up and patted Boss Hong beside her. "Old Hong never taught the Swordsmanship he learned in Celestial Essence to these barbarians. The fighters in the Tongzi Building rely entirely on a ruthless, brawling style. You, on the other hand, are a blank slate—which makes you much easier to teach."
She turned back to Feng Yin. "If you agree, I will start teaching you the Gangrou Sect's exclusive Swordsmanship today. What do you say?"
Gangrou Sect? Exclusive Swordsmanship!?
Feng Yin's spirits lifted. He straightened his back and said earnestly, "Then I will trouble you to pass on your Skills, Sister Xie."
He had agreed to their request just now for three reasons. First, a gentleman keeps his word. Before entering the city yesterday, Brother Hong had provided him with shelter and food on account of him being one of the Celestial Essence People, and in return, he had promised to do anything—even murder or arson.
Second, he was now equipped with "Armor" and had a certain degree of confidence in his own strength and potential.
Third, he was fully prepared to simply run away a day early if the situation truly turned sour.
Sure, a gentleman keeps his word, but then again, a gentleman doesn't stand beneath a collapsing wall...
But now, being able to learn Skills from Sister Xie was an unexpected, absolute steal.
* * *
After dinner, the sky grew dark.
From the courtyard below came Boss Hong's shouts as he trained the two Double Flower Red Sticks, mingled with the laughter of the crowd watching the spectacle.
On the Roof of the Tongzi Building, Feng Yin and Sister Xie stood facing each other across the open space.
Feng Yin looked earnestly at Sister Xie.
The middle-aged woman had massive, disfiguring scars across her face, making her look like an evil spirit at first glance. But if one looked closely, they could faintly discern beneath those hideous scars that she must have been quite beautiful in her youth.
She was looking at Feng Yin with her usual stern gaze. "Before I teach you, I'll briefly explain my background."
Feng Yin nodded. "Go ahead, Sister Xie."
"Old Hong and I both come from Celestial Essence, but our origins are different. Old Hong's real name is Hong Yuan. He was an outcast, expelled from the Five Tigers Sect for breaking sect rules. He traveled far to Genroku and built himself up from nothing, only to be arrested during an official ambush and sweep by Genroku Country, eventually getting tossed in here."
Sister Xie's expression turned reminiscent. "As for me, my real name is Xie Yanran. I am a successor of the Gangrou Sect, a faction under the Yin Yang Sword Sect, the largest Sect in the Northern Sea District of Celestial Essence Country."
Feng Yin was momentarily dumbfounded.
Five Tigers Sect? Yin Yang Sword Sect? Gangrou Sect?
Could this string of terms possibly align with the civilized, modern world he had just begun to understand?
Was this logical at all?
As Sister Xie spoke, she had been silently observing Feng Yin. Seeing his bewildered expression actually caused her to relax her guard a bit more.
So far, this kid's "amnesia" didn't seem faked.
Thus, she continued, "Celestial Essence Country has been founded on Martial Arts since ancient times. Although technological advancements later allowed the power of firearms to largely surpass human Martial Arts, the martial spirit never waned. Furthermore, every Sect has strict confidentiality rules regarding their secret inheritances—let alone ever teaching them to uncultured barbarians like Genroku Country."
Was this... cultural discrimination?
Feng Yin scratched his head. "So, what's your point, Sister Xie?"
Xie Yanran spoke softly, "Therefore, although Old Hong's many subordinates are loyal, they are all Genroku People. Even though we are facing a competition where failure risks everything falling apart, we still cannot teach our Martial Arts to these barbarians. Otherwise, once the Sect finds out, even here on Border Prison Island, we would inevitably be hunted down and killed by the enforcers of Celestial Essence."
She pointed at Feng Yin. "You are different. Old Hong and I have observed you. Judging by your accent, your appearance, and your habits, you are without a doubt one of the Celestial Essence People. That's why there's no issue passing our Martial Arts on to you."
Feng Yin laughed awkwardly. "Then I really am quite lucky..."
Xie Yanran didn't waste words with him. She picked up a Wooden Sword and tossed it to him.
"Catch!"
Feng Yin reacted extremely fast, snatching the Wooden Sword out of the air. He then noticed that the design of this sword was different from the one at Xie Yanran's waist.
Both its blade and hilt were noticeably longer.
Meanwhile, Xie Yanran suddenly drew the weapon from her waist, wildly dancing with the sword in one hand.
In an instant, the sky was filled with erratic, flashing sword Light, darting like a striking silver Snake.
Xie Yanran's figure leaped and shifted. Coordinated with her Sword Stance, she moved like a phantom illusion, making it entirely impossible to distinguish reality from fabrication.
Feng Yin's eyes trembled. He etched this scene—something he had only ever seen in movies and video games back on Earth—deep into his memory.
Three seconds later, Xie Yanran abruptly whipped her sword and froze. The edge of the blade in her hand continued to vibrate and sway at high speed, only halting abruptly after several dozen oscillations.
A Soft Sword?
Feng Yin's eyes widened.
Xie Yanran said mildly, "The Swordsmanship I primarily Xiu is named 'Snake', belonging to the 'Soft Sword' lineage of the Gangrou Sect. This Swordsmanship is treacherous and vicious, but it is difficult to use in actual combat before achieving minor mastery. Half a month is far from enough time for you to learn it...
"Therefore, I plan to teach you the 'Steel Sword' lineage, which is much more convenient for quick mastery.
"The Swordsmanship is named—Jiao."