“When learning those three knife techniques, first do what I’m doing now—otherwise, there’s no point in learning anything else.” Lillian Grant said, “I started learning at fifteen. It took me two years just to cut through this wooden rod, and five years to cut it so that the severed part wouldn’t fall.”

“Give it a try.” Lillian Grant handed the knife to Jason Carter.

Only after taking it did Jason Carter realize that the knife was very light, at most just a few ounces.

“Aim at the wooden rod and chop down.” Lillian Grant said, “Chop, not slice. Learn to chop through first, then learn to slice through.”

You have to be able to chop before you can slice; slicing is at least a hundred times harder than chopping.

Especially with such a short and light knife, slicing through depends entirely on speed and wrist strength.

Jason Carter used all his strength and swung the knife down hard. Instantly, only a shallow mark was left, and Lillian Grant was immediately disappointed. But this was exactly what she expected.

“This wooden rod was sun-dried and soaked in oil, so it’s several times harder than ordinary wood.” Lillian Grant said, “I know you’re strong, but how to focus your strength onto the blade—you’ll have to practice ten thousand times to maybe get a feel for it. Also, speed is much more important than strength.”

“You practice here by yourself. If it gets late, go back on your own.” With that, Lillian Grant left on her own.

After all, it had taken her three whole months to chop through this rod; even if Jason Carter was a genius, there was no way he could do it in a day.

“Mm.” Jason Carter nodded, but didn’t continue chopping. Instead, he watched Lillian Grant’s departing figure, because this violent beauty’s waist and hips were just too alluring, and the way they swayed as she walked was utterly captivating.

Only after Lillian Grant had completely disappeared did Jason Carter turn around, first shifting his now painfully hard lower body to the side, then starting to practice with the knife.

The second chop. Still, not a single mark was left.

The third, the fourth...

Huh? Jason Carter was very surprised to find that it felt as if a faint current was running through his arm.

Jason Carter immediately closed his eyes, searching for that electric feeling, then suddenly swung the knife down. When he opened his eyes, sure enough, there was a half-centimeter-deep cut in the incredibly hard wooden rod.

Then, Jason Carter continued to chase that feeling, and soon he could clearly sense it. In his mind, he even traced an arc for his movement. And that arc, it seemed, was the most accurate, the fastest, and the most efficient use of strength.

“Crack!” The knife went halfway through.

Following the same trajectory, Jason Carter increased his speed and chopped down hard.

“Got it.” Jason Carter thought to himself, because his palm felt hot, and he had a sense of being unstoppable.

Sure enough, the wooden rod was chopped through at an angle, the cut smooth and without any roughness.

“Wow, that’s awesome.” Jason Carter excitedly picked up the broken rod.

Next, he started practicing horizontal slicing.

But, as expected, horizontal slicing was much harder than angled chopping. Jason Carter could chop straight through, but with a horizontal slice, he couldn’t even leave a mark...

So, Jason Carter kept searching for that electric feeling, continuing to master the arc and curve of the horizontal slice.

Chapter 5: Genius (Part 2)

It was almost dark. After instructing some students in boxing, Lillian Grant returned to her room to bathe and steam in the sauna—her daily routine.

She took off her beloved black leather outfit, washed herself spotlessly clean, and then stood completely naked in front of the mirror, admiring her shapely, slender, and curvaceous body.

She let out a gentle sigh and said to the mirror, “I’m already twenty-nine.”

Her voice was full of sorrow and wistfulness, with none of her usual coldness. Even her beautiful, seductive face was suffused with softness and sadness, lacking any of its usual determination and chill. She gently caressed her firm, ample breasts, and as her fingers slid over them, her whole body shivered slightly.

She was a woman; she didn’t want to be a cold, ruthless fighter. She would much rather be a happy little woman. Yet, from the moment she could remember, she had done nothing but train and train again.

She hadn’t understood before, but by the time she did, her best years as a woman had already passed. When she was still a girl, she could only admire herself alone in front of the mirror.

“So beautiful.” Lillian Grant sighed softly, her small hand sliding gently between her legs and lightly squeezing them together. She murmured almost inaudibly, “Whose man will this beautiful body belong to?”

Suddenly, there was a soft sound at the door outside. Instantly, the sorrow and gentleness vanished from Lillian Grant’s face, replaced by coldness, her ears pricking up.

Then, the door outside was already being opened.

“Who wants to die? Don’t you know this is my private sanctuary?” Lillian Grant quickly grabbed a silk nightgown and put it on.

※※※

When Jason Carter entered, he was immediately enveloped by a warm, fragrant scent. Then, his eyes widened, and it felt like his nose was about to gush blood.

Because in front of him, Lillian Grant was wearing only a thin silk nightgown, and at that moment it wasn’t even fastened. The hem was parted, and the alluring view between her legs was faintly visible.

Lillian Grant quickly wrapped the nightgown tightly around herself, then swiftly grabbed a long knife, drew it from its sheath, and held it across Jason Carter’s neck.