At that time, Ethan Bennett was still too young. He couldn’t disobey his father, but he also couldn’t ignore his teachers, so he became a truly outstanding student in both character and academics.

After his father left, Ethan Bennett continued living on his own, but he didn’t become depressed because of it. In middle school and high school, Ethan Bennett had similar experiences: when teachers announced a parent-teacher meeting and Ethan Bennett told them he had no parents or relatives, the look of disbelief on their faces was always the same. No teacher could have imagined that this sunny and cheerful boy had lost his mother at a young age and his father at nine.

In fact, by that time, Ethan Bennett had gradually come to understand the qualities his father wanted him to have. Of all the things his father said, it really boiled down to just four words: optimism and kindness.

He missed his father very much.

He also continued to practice the “Star Killing Technique” his father had taught him.

As his skills improved, he could feel changes in his body—his flexibility, strength, speed, reflexes, eyesight, and hearing were all getting better, far beyond what any exercises taught in PE class could achieve.

This was just the physical training aspect of the “Star Killing Technique.” What Ethan Bennett felt even more clearly was a kind of energy inside his body. This energy grew stronger and gradually spread throughout his body. Ethan Bennett also realized that the reason people who practiced “techniques” could sense each other was because of this energy.

But by the time Ethan Bennett noticed this energy within himself, he was already ten, and his father was no longer by his side. He had many questions about this energy, but unfortunately, there was no one to answer them. He tried hard to recall everything his father had taught him, but found nothing directly related to this energy. All he knew was that now, when he practiced the “Star Killing Technique,” it was no longer just his body that was being strengthened.

What surprised him even more was that some moves in the “Star Killing Technique” had become increasingly powerful since the day this energy appeared. Whenever he performed these moves, he could feel the flow of energy inside him with every gesture. Ethan Bennett began to focus more on practicing these moves, and as he did, the energy within him grew even stronger.

He had only ever used these moves once outside of practice.

That time, he used the simplest move on a long-haired young man.

The young man vomited on the spot, fainted, and lost consciousness. He was later taken to the hospital and stayed there for a long time. But no one believed what he said—no one believed it was Ethan Bennett who hit him. That year, Ethan Bennett was only eleven. He began to truly understand how terrifying the “Star Killing Technique” could be. If it had been a year later, and his energy had been even stronger, that punch would have meant the long-haired young man wouldn’t have needed to go to the hospital at all.

Ethan Bennett also gradually began to understand why his father often went out at night.

Anyone who had mastered the “Star Killing Technique” was definitely not an ordinary person, and of course would do extraordinary things.

Ethan Bennett actually wanted to be like his father, but unfortunately, his father had never told him anything about that side of his life.

He only remembered one thing his father said. Whenever he asked what his father did every night, his father would always smile and say: Do what you want to do.

Do what you want to do—Ethan Bennett remembered these words well. Later, his father also told him: Ethan Bennett, when you grow up, you can do what you want to do too.

Now he was gradually growing up. What did he want to do? Ethan Bennett had asked himself this more than once. There was only one answer: to do what his father did.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it, and maybe he would never know what his father had really been doing.

He could only go through life step by step like an ordinary person, and now, he was about to go to college.

On the wall outside the courtyard gate, there was a big character “demolish” painted. The row houses in Ethan Bennett’s neighborhood had been requisitioned by the government, and all the residents had long since moved out.

Ethan Bennett looked at the big character on the wall and sighed, “Ignorance is truly frightening.” He took one last look at the small house, finally walked toward the entrance of the alley, and never looked back.

After receiving the relocation compensation, Ethan Bennett planned to go straight to the city where his university was located and be a homeless person for a while!

Volume One, Chapter Two: Leaving Home

Stepping out of the alley, Ethan Bennett was about to hail a cab to the train station when he heard someone calling his name as soon as he reached the roadside. He didn’t even need to turn around to know it was his longtime friend: Ryan Hughes.

It was two in the morning. Other than the occasional speeding car, there was no one else around. Ryan Hughes stood alone under a streetlamp, looking a bit like a homeless stray. But no matter how much he looked the part, it still didn’t inspire any sympathy. Anyone who saw this scene would have the same first thought: creepy. The second thought: very creepy.

Ethan Bennett walked over and said, “Didn’t I tell you not to see me off? Why did you still come?”

Ryan Hughes was quite frustrated: “You think I wanted to come? It’s all because Xiao Qing insisted on coming. If it were just her, fine, but she had to drag me along, crying and shouting. What could I do?”