Chapter 83: Special Training

Some unique family techniques might have such effects, but they shouldn’t provide such a dramatic boost. Moreover, the parental or guardian section on Luo Chen’s file clearly reads “None,” indicating he’s an orphan. He entered Weston Academy as a special recruit, having scored at the very bottom on the entrance exam. Thus, it was unlikely he had learned any inherited techniques.

This puzzle lingered in the Butcher’s mind all day. That evening, after the random combat rounds, the Butcher once more strode onto the arena and pulled out a small sack of gold coins. “Same old rules—I won’t use any spirit power above level four. Any brat with guts, come and win this money!”

These coins were all borrowed from his comrades, as Luo Chen had already cleaned him out. In order to recover some pride and dignity, he had to swallow his embarrassment and ask for loans.

None of the students dared to step forward. The gold was tempting, but the Butcher was even scarier now—especially in this foul mood.

Yet barely had the Butcher finished speaking when a voice rang out, “I’ll do it!”

It was Luo Chen again, practically afraid someone else would beat him to it, and he eagerly accepted the challenge. The other students were speechless—this kid really had guts. He’d just angered the Butcher, and here he was, daring to get up there again!

The gleam in Luo Chen’s eyes made the Butcher furious, for it was as if Luo Chen saw him as a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered. The Butcher’s grip on his whip tightened until the veins stood out on his hand. He was determined to prove to Luo Chen that he wasn’t a sheep, but a ravenous wolf that wouldn’t hesitate to devour its prey.

This time, Luo Chen wasn’t so lucky. As soon as the fight began, the Butcher unleashed his full strength, wielding his whip with a mastery that made it slicker than an eel and more venomous than a snake. Yet no matter how he struck with his signature Stinger technique, Luo Chen, though he grimaced and bared his teeth in pain, never faltered. Each time he fell, he got back up, as tenacious as a cockroach that refused to die. The Stinger’s advantage was its pain, but its drawback was obvious—its killing power wasn’t as great as the Giant Palm. No matter how many times he struck, the technique simply couldn’t kill. In the end, even the Butcher’s arm grew numb after more than ten minutes. Luo Chen didn’t win, but he lasted so long that he claimed all the coins from the Butcher’s hand.

And so it went—on the third, fourth, and fifth days. The reward gradually shrank from a dozen coins to seven or eight. When the last coin finally ended up in Luo Chen’s hand, the stubborn Butcher was finally convinced. He had no choice. He’d lost so much that none of his comrades would lend him another coin. He admitted it: he had been bested by this cockroach, Luo Chen.

On the sixth night, the Butcher didn’t offer his usual reward challenge. He was already deep in debt. After that day’s training ended and the students were dismissed, the Butcher called Luo Chen over.

“Kid, fine, I’ll admit it—I’m beat,” the Butcher said, a note of dejection in his voice, though he quickly rallied. “But I called you here to ask you something!”

Luo Chen smiled. “Instructor Butcher, what would you like to know? Please, ask.”

The Butcher’s expression turned grave. “I want to know—during your internship assignment at Weston Academy, did you ever abandon your partner and run away?”

At this question, Luo Chen’s smile faded. Instead of answering, he replied with another question: “Instructor Butcher, before I answer, may I ask why you want to know? Isn’t that what everyone already believes?”

“But I don’t believe it!” the Butcher declared solemnly. “I wasn’t there that day, but I’ve tormented many with my unique combat techniques. Some would rather die, the pain is so unbearable. Yet you endured it—pain worse than death itself. If you can bear that, how could you be afraid of dying? I simply don’t believe it!”

Luo Chen was deeply moved. He had never imagined that, apart from Shi Feng, the second person to believe in him would be this ill-tempered, devilish instructor. Yet he replied, “Yes. I abandoned her and ran away.”

The Butcher’s single eye narrowed sharply. He only had one, but it had never failed him, and he trusted his instincts. No matter what, the kid before him just didn’t strike him as a coward.

Then Luo Chen added, “But before I ran, I attacked that beast’s backside.”

“You attacked the beast’s backside?” The Butcher, who had fought countless monsters and knew their habits well, immediately said, “You’ve got guts. That beast must have been enraged.”

“That’s right. It was furious, forgot all about my partner, and chased after me relentlessly. I was nearly killed, only escaping thanks to a stroke of luck.”

The Butcher frowned. “But the rumors later didn’t match your version. Why is that?”

At the memory of being falsely accused, Luo Chen’s eyes flashed with indignation. “Because just as the enraged beast was chasing me, I ran into another male student. He happened to like my internship partner, so he told everyone it was his sacred technique that scared the beast away. He always gave a good impression, so naturally people believed him over me.”

So Luo Chen had not only done nothing wrong, but had actually done a good deed and been wronged for it. The Butcher was instantly incensed. “Damn it, what a shameless hypocrite! I’ll get to the bottom of this and settle the score for you!”

Luo Chen didn’t need to prove himself— the Butcher already trusted him. That’s how soldiers were. Just for Luo Chen’s stubborn spirit, the Butcher respected and believed him.

Luo Chen hurriedly stopped him. “Instructor Butcher, thank you for your good intentions, but let it go. No one would believe it anyway, besides…”

Luo Chen clenched his fist. “If there’s a score to settle, I’ll do it myself—once I’m strong enough.”

The Butcher gave him a thumbs up. “Good, you have guts. I admire you, kid! With your determination, I’m sure you’ll succeed one day.”

“Heh, thank you for your encouragement…” Luo Chen pulled a pouch from his breast and handed it over. “Instructor Butcher, here’s the money you gave me over the past few nights…”

Before he could finish, the Butcher jumped up. “What’s this supposed to mean? You think I can’t take a loss? Take your money back!”

“Instructor, don’t be so quick to refuse. Hear me out first,” Luo Chen said with a smile. “I’d like to use this as payment to hire you for special training.”

“Special training?”

“Yes. Whenever you have free time—say, after training—you could give me a few pointers, or simply spar with me. That way, I’ll improve much faster.”

The Butcher waved his hand. “That won’t do…”

Luo Chen sighed. “I knew it—this little bit isn’t enough to hire someone as strong as you…”

This kid had so many tricks up his sleeve that the Butcher was caught between laughter and exasperation. “Fine, fine, I accept.” He took the pouch back. Although he was a blunt man, he knew Luo Chen was just finding a way to return the money, and couldn’t help feeling some gratitude. His regard for Luo Chen deepened.

The Butcher was not one to dither. “It’s settled. Every night after drills, you can come to me—for pointers or sparring, whichever you prefer!”

After that night, the students in Class Three noticed a marked change in the Butcher’s attitude toward Luo Chen. He was even less harsh on the others, since Luo Chen had told him that while they were indeed rookies, some rookies were worth respecting.

Time passed day by day. Every night after drills, Luo Chen would stay behind for over two more hours, not returning to the dorm until midnight—he didn’t need much sleep, after all.

With the Butcher’s guidance, Luo Chen improved rapidly, gathering more combat data with every fight. The Butcher was amazed at how quickly this rookie learned, and spared no effort in teaching him. Days slipped by, and before they knew it, the two weeks of military training were over.

On the last night before the final special training, the Butcher said to Luo Chen, “Hey, kid. Tomorrow I have to return to the army—there’s a mission waiting, so I won’t be able to coach you anymore. Tonight, I won’t teach you techniques, nor will I spar with you. Instead, I’ll pass on something else—something very important.”

For once, the Butcher looked truly solemn. “This thing cost me this eye. It’s called—Soul Combat Technique.”