Chapter 0004: Shen Family Knife, Eight Steps to Chase the Cicada

Seeing Shen Lian smile, Chen Hao understood that Shen Lian had finally accepted him as his cousin, and at least he would no longer speak to him with a stern face

Recalling the lively scenes of the past at home, Shen Lian felt both like laughing and crying. He wanted to laugh at his own foolishness back then and cry over his current loneliness. Ten years ago, his grandparents and parents were still around, but now, in this vast home, only he and his brother remain

Chen Hao understood Shen Lian's intention, which was clearly to guide him. He had already wanted to learn martial arts from Shen Lian, so he quickly climbed up the pole and clasped his fists, saying: "I kindly ask for your guidance, elder brother"

Little rascal! Seeing his cousin acting mischievously, Shen Lian chuckled and lightly punched Chen Hao's chest, of course much softer than the first time he hit him

Chen Hao raised an eyebrow and said, "Can a simple apology solve the problem?"

"Yesterday, during our sparring, I found your reaction ability to be quite acceptable; however, your physique is rather frail. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been knocked out by my single strike!" Shen Lian said, shifting the topic.

Alright, alright, it's all my fault, big brother didn't mean to see you being so unambitious! Since you've decided to diligently practice martial arts from now on, then big brother apologizes to you!" Shen Lian said helplessly, thinking to himself that he should have known better than to provoke this little ancestor!

Our Shen family possesses two unique skills, which are somewhat renowned in the martial world. You may have practiced them before, but today you must cast aside all past experiences and start anew from the beginning

However, Chen Hao was no longer as respectful as he had been earlier; he disdainfully curled his lip. He was unaware that this action made Shen Lian feel much closer to him. In Shen Lian's impression, a cousin should be like this, rather than being overly respectful as he had been before.

The two brothers used to have a very good relationship, and the original owner, with his carefree personality, often managed to make the aloof and stern Shen Lian laugh

Scenes from his childhood kept surfacing in Shen Lian's mind. Ten years ago, his uncle Shen Yigao had not yet gone to Guangzhou, and at that time, his grandfather was still alive. The two families lived together, and his younger cousin, who was mischievous in his youth, often got into disputes with other children. Whenever he found himself at a disadvantage, he would seek Shen Lian's help. When the other children's parents came to confront them, his cousin would shift the blame onto him, and it was always Shen Lian who ended up getting beaten and taking the fall.

Shen Lian's ability to articulate such profound truths truly surprised Chen Hao. In the film "The Assassin's Blade," Shen Lian is portrayed as selfish and foolish. In the first installment, he accepted bribes from Wei Zhongxian to redeem Zhou Miaotong, which indirectly led to the deaths of his elder brother and third brother. In the battlefield of Asura, he caused great trouble while trying to save Beizhai, resulting in a joint pursuit by the Eastern Bureau's Jinyiwei. The key point is that neither of these two women loves him, and in Chen Hao's view, his actions are utterly incomprehensible.

"Do you want to learn the martial arts of the Shen family from me?" Shen Lian asked again

Sometimes my cousin makes a mess at home, and in the end, he is the one who gets punished

Oh! Shen Lian suddenly stared directly into Chen Hao's eyes, as if he wanted to see through him completely. After a moment, he said: "To practice martial arts, one must endure pains that ordinary people find hard to bear. Training in the cold of winter and the heat of summer, only through relentless effort can one master excellent martial skills. You have a heart that refuses to yield, but can you withstand such suffering?"

Chen Hao chuckled awkwardly and said, "Brother, the two sets of techniques you mentioned are rather ordinary. Do you have anything more powerful?"

Shen Lian is not an ordinary person; he is a top expert in the world of "The Painted Skin". His skills and vision are far beyond what Chen Hao can compare to

In fact, Shen Lian is a very cold and self-centered person; he would not bother to ask others. However, the person before him is his cousin, his only relative!

Shen Lian noticed that Chen Hao had a somewhat dazed expression, thinking that he was distracted, and said: "Be more serious!"

Oh, look at that, big brother can still smile. I thought big brother would always have a stern face!" Chen Hao teased, his tone as if he wanted to make up for all the grievances he had suffered before

Perhaps he is aware of his powerlessness to change the status quo in this dark society, and thus chooses to go with the flow, plunging headlong into the quagmire of fate

"I invite you to enjoy the pastries from Rongyuezhai, this time it should be acceptable, right!" Shen Lian gritted his teeth, putting on a pained expression.

The second technique is called 'Eight Steps to Catch the Cicada'. It is a set of exercises focused on leg training, and when mastered to the highest level, one can match the speed of a flying cicada within eight steps. This technique is most suitable for you at present

Chen Hao's heart was instantly filled with joy, and he hurriedly said: "I kindly ask my elder brother to impart the family martial arts to me."

Chen Hao was somewhat bewildered; the Shen family's swordsmanship, "Eight Steps to Chase the Cicada," sounded like a common and mediocre style, far removed from his expectations

When it comes to martial arts, Shen Lian became serious. He solemnly said: "The first ultimate skill is the sword technique, which has been passed down from our ancestors. Outsiders call it 'Shen Family Sword Technique.' This sword technique combines the ruthless directness of life-and-death combat from the military with the agility and mobility of the Jinyiwei sword techniques, and it was not until it reached the hands of our great-grandfather that it was fully formed"

"How do you understand the training methods of the red-haired ghost?" Shen Lian couldn't help but ask.

It was not until Chen Hao truly encountered the person of Shen Lian that he realized his understanding of this individual was too one-sided. Who can say that this person is not a sage who appears foolish?

Shen Lian let out a light sigh and said, "I originally intended for you to resign from your position and engage in business. What we, the Jinyiwei, do is often offend others, and being targeted for retaliation is a common occurrence. Even among the successive commanders, how many have met a good end? It is laughable that those people spend money to find a way into the Jinyiwei. You must understand that the current situation is turbulent; with just a moment's carelessness, one could lose their head, not even knowing how they died. If you go into business, at least you can leave a bloodline for our Shen family, and you, being inherently weak, are not suited to be a Jinyiwei!"

Indeed, it is ordinary! Chen Hao nodded and said softly, "Shouldn't you teach me the inner energy?"

At the same time, Chen Hao also understood why the original owner did not appear in the film; it was likely due to accepting Shen Lian's arrangement, withdrawing from the Jinyiwei to engage in a small business to support his family.

In his view, actions such as push-ups may seem simple, but they can provide significant benefits for beginners who are just starting to practice martial arts. However, for an expert of his caliber, they offer little to no auxiliary effect

The expression on Shen Lian's face made Chen Hao burst into laughter, as he recalled how the original owner often used Shen Lian's weaknesses to coerce him into treating him to the pastries at Rongyuezhai when they were young

For Chen Hao, how could it be possible to traverse the martial arts world without cultivating that coveted internal skill

"One must endure hardship to rise above others; I can still bear this little suffering!" Facing Shen Lian's intimidating gaze, Chen Hao remained unfazed, lifting his head and standing tall as he calmly met his eyes.

Shen Lian noticed that Chen Hao's response was brief and assumed that Chen Hao was intentionally being evasive and did not want to mention his secret, so he refrained from asking further questions

Certainly, if Chen Hao had truly chosen to retreat like a piece of mud that cannot be supported, Shen Lian would have maintained a stern expression and would no longer show Chen Hao any kindness. In Shen Lian's heart, only a diligent and upwardly mobile cousin who does not bring shame to the family is worthy of his earnest attention

At this point, Shen Lian paused for a moment, then continued: "However, when I saw the bloodthirsty look in your eyes, I changed my opinion of you. I believe that regardless of a person's innate talent or strength, the spirit of not giving up is the essence of being human, and you possess this spirit!"

This type of exercise is a very common training method in the West, and one can understand it with just a glance! Chen Hao was somewhat astonished, saying, 'Are you insulting my intelligence? Even a few-year-old child understands exercises like push-ups, okay!

Shen Lian nodded with satisfaction and said, "I do not know who you have learned martial arts from, but it is an undeniable fact that your body is weak, so I have decided to first strengthen your physique"

"Alright, stop laughing. Next, I will teach you martial arts, so pay attention," Shen Lian said with a serious expression.

Then please, big brother, feel free to ravage! Chen Hao deliberately put on a fearful expression of a young man

Haha, brother, you are still so stingy

"Ordinary?" Shen Lian's brows almost turned upside down; it was the first time he had heard someone say that the Shen family's swordsmanship was ordinary!