The desire to kill is, after all, an emotion.
Simply put, itâs the intent to end someoneâs life. When combined with a martial artistâs energy, it manifests as killing intent.
The deeper the emotion, the stronger the energy. But because itâs just energy, it can ultimately be controlled.
Thankfully.
If someone went around spewing killing intent just because they felt like murdering someone, that would cause no small amount of trouble.
Killing intent is the most distinct energy a martial artist can possess. The higher their cultivation, the more they must learn to restrain it.
If unleashed carelessly, it would be far too easy for others to notice.
Thus, the more skilled the martial artist, the better they are at handling their killing intent. Use it only when necessary. Suppress it when possible.
This means that killing intent, tied as it is to emotions, can be regulated at will.
At least, thatâs what I believed to be true.
"This is just bullshit."
I scowled as I assessed my condition.
Gripping my chest where my heart was, I clicked my tongue. Something felt terribly wrong with my body.
Thrum-thrum-thrum-thrum!
âUrghâ¦â
A vibration pulsed from deep within me.
From the inside of my heart, a massive killing intent was surging. It was so intense I had to pour my energy into suppressing it.
"Goddamn it, this is ridiculous."
Barely keeping it from leaking out of my body, I had no idea how long I could hold it back. Letting it burst out wasnât an option either.
"Thereâs just too much."
The sheer volume of energy mixed with the killing intent was staggering.
It wasnât just enough to cover this placeâit could easily engulf the entire branch.