I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 19 - Is Brother Shen This Strong?

—

The next day, people around East Street felt something odd. There seemed to be a slight tremor in the ground, though they couldn’t be sure if it was real or just their imagination.

In the underground space beneath the old man’s house, Xu Shen moved like a black shadow, darting swiftly. He was throwing punch after punch at the old man standing in the center, each strike delivered with full force.

The old man, calm and composed, had one hand behind his back while the other effortlessly deflected Xu Shen’s blows. Despite the apparent ease of his movements, he managed to completely redirect Xu Shen’s attacks.

“Are you teasing me with those soft punches?” the old man barked. “Without that unstoppable spirit, how do you expect to master the Battle Art?”

“And remember how I taught you—catch them off guard!”

BOOM!

Xu Shen’s eyes glinted fiercely as his blood energy surged around him, causing his Weapon Rune to tremble violently. The Nine Observations of the Nether Immortal technique was pushed to its limit, as if a mountain’s force was behind his fist.

He aimed a punch straight at the old man’s face!

“Now that’s more like it,” the old man smirked coldly, countering with a palm strike.

BOOM! BOOM!

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As their fist and palm collided, a shockwave erupted in all directions, causing the ground to tremble continuously.

“Remember this feeling. Now go practice,” the old man said just as Xu Shen was about to continue. With a flicker of movement, he retreated.

“What am I supposed to practice? You haven’t taught me anything!” Xu Shen protested.

The old man pointed to a large white stone standing nearby. “The Battle Art is engraved on that stone.”

“Memorize everything on it.”

“When you can shatter that stone, your training will be complete.”

With that, the old man turned and left, leaving Xu Shen alone.

Xu Shen walked over to the stone and began reading the engraved lines…

—

In the afternoon, Xu Shen sat in his shabby office, holding a phone to his ear.

“Brother Xu! I’ve found a teacher for you. Are you coming to class or not?” Ding Wentian’s voice came through. “You need some points in your cultural studies!”

Xu Shen paused his muscle massage and remembered he’d almost forgotten about this. To get into Capital Academy, he needed decent scores in cultural subjects—being a genius alone wasn’t enough. Jiang Youyi had already mentioned this.

He quickly agreed to start tomorrow afternoon.

After hanging up, Xu Shen realized his schedule was quite packed. Ever since acquiring the black knife, his life had taken a different path.

Looking around at his newly renovated office and repair shop, Xu Shen felt invigorated. This was the change brought by strength.

No wonder so many people are willing to do anything to become stronger…

BANG!

The door swung open as Yang Dian entered with a triumphant grin. He’d appointed himself manager of the repair shop and used his status as a rich second-generation heir to bring in friends for car repairs, making the staff smile with satisfaction.

“Brother Shen, some friends want to invite you for dinner. Are you coming?” Yang Dian asked.

“Friends? What friends?” Xu Shen asked curiously.

“Just some well-off folks from Yuan City. Zhang Zhuangshi organized it and wants to apologize,” Yang Dian explained with a smile.

“Oh?” Xu Shen raised an eyebrow—Zhang Zhuangshi was interesting. Was it a trap or a genuine apology?

After some thought, Xu Shen nodded. He had nothing else planned for today; might as well check it out.

“What time?”

“Seven-thirty at Yuan City Grand Hotel!”

“It’s only five now; there’s time,” Xu Shen noted, checking his watch.

“What’s up?” Yang Dian asked, sensing something on Xu Shen’s mind.

Xu Shen closed the door and pulled out his black knife, eyeing Yang Dian

.

“Take off your shirt.”

Yang Dian’s face lit up with excitement.

From outside the office came sounds of both comfort and pain—familiar to the staff who no longer found it surprising after last time.

A moment later, Yang Dian emerged wearing his shirt with satisfaction, faint traces of blood visible on it. Xu Shen remained seated in his chair, pale and sweating as he used Nine Observations of the Nether Immortal to recover his mental energy.

Engraving Points: 110!

He’d added six strokes for Yang Dian this time, earning sixty Engraving Points. He realized that fighting the tiger-shaped ghoul hadn’t earned him any points because he hadn’t killed it—only defeating an opponent granted points.

With no choice but to use Yang Dian as a tool again, Xu Shen pondered whether his employees could also serve this purpose. As long as he improved their runes through engraving, he’d gain points—but there seemed to be no strict limitations on this process.

Outside, the employees sensed Xu Shen’s calculating gaze and shivered with cold sweat.

Is Brother Shen really that strong? Is he not satisfied yet?

They hoped he wouldn’t set his sights on them.

After resting for a while until his complexion improved slightly (though still pale), Xu Shen stood up and left the office.

He found Yang Dian sitting in his sports car outside, grinning at something on his phone while ignoring the bloodstains on his clothes.

“What are you up to?” Xu Shen asked with a pat on Yang Dian’s shoulder.

Yang Dian jumped in surprise but relaxed when he saw it was Xu Shen. “Brother Shen! You scared me!”

Xu Shen glanced at his phone screen as Yang Dian chuckled sheepishly. “Brother Shen, I’ve recently taken a liking to this girl—she’s so gentle and cute.”

“Let me see,” Xu Shen said as Yang Dian eagerly showed him a photo.

Xu Shen’s face twitched as he recognized the girl—a regular at one of the bars he used to frequent, often seen leaving with different men…

“Sigh, honestly Brother Shen, I’ve never met such a pure girl before,” Yang Dian gushed. “She’s so understanding and doesn’t care about money—just love.”

“…”

Xu Shen studied the photo closely—the girl in her white dress looked innocent enough but reminded him of someone else entirely…

“You should invite her to dinner tonight,” Xu Shen suggested casually.

“Really? I thought you’d say no! Can I really invite her?” Yang Dian asked excitedly.

“Go ahead; I’ll help you vet her,” Xu Shen replied with a smile.

Since that ghoul incident in East District, he and Yang Dian had become true friends despite their rocky start. As Yang Dian called him “boss,” Xu Shen felt responsible for looking out for him—especially since he remembered this girl had scammed several guys before…

One even went crazy over her…

Soon after making arrangements with Yang Dian’s girlfriend-to-be (who was shopping downtown), they set off for Yuan City Grand Hotel nearby.

On the way there, Xu Shen asked suddenly: “Yang Dian, do you trust me?”

Yang Dian replied without hesitation: “Of course! Besides my dad—you’re who I trust most now.”

Having been completely won over by Xu Shen—especially after today’s rune enhancement—Yang Dian was convinced he’d struck gold by becoming Brother Shen’s lackey…

Many would kill for such an opportunity!

Xu Shen nodded thoughtfully before asking: “Have you ever had a girlfriend?”

Yang Dian blushed slightly before stammering: “Uh… not really—I wasn’t allowed before turning eighteen… But now there are some interesting ones.”

“My dad keeps tabs on me though… So no real girlfriends yet.”

“There were girls interested in my money though.”

Xu Shen remained silent but watched him closely—if this girl truly changed her ways then fine—but if not… she’d better watch out!

Half an hour later they arrived near their destination where two girls stood waiting—one wearing a white dress with long black hair framing her delicate face adorned by subtle makeup…

The other dressed fashionably yet heavily made-up…

Upon seeing Yang Dian exit his car—the girl in white beamed happily while waving energetically…

But her smile froze instantly when she recognized another familiar figure stepping out behind him…

A figure known for being called “the devil” by many—a figure now smiling directly at her…