novelhk Page 38
Page 38
Instead of being disappointed, Makijuro burst into laughter: "Interesting! Very interesting! And a very honest answer!"
"Fighting spirit is not something that can only be aroused by a sense of justice or a heart of protection."
"A strong will to survive, an extreme hatred for the enemy, and even a pure thirst for battle are all sources of fighting spirit!"
"The key lies in whether you can refine and condense this thought, and infuse it into your blade!"
"Your strong obsession with slaying evil spirits and surviving is the perfect breeding ground for your fighting spirit."
"Learning to perceive, guide, and hone your own fighting spirit will only benefit you, and will never harm you."
Having learned everything about fighting spirit, Ryosuke clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed slightly.
"I understand a bit now, thank you for your guidance, Mr. Purgatory."
"As long as you know!"
Makijuro patted Ryosuke on the shoulder: "The honing of fighting spirit is not something that can be achieved in a day. It requires experiencing and condensing it through countless battles."
"Ryosuke will keep that in mind."
Ryosuke nodded, then shamelessly asked, "Um, Mr. Rengoku, could you help me with the basics?"
"Hahaha, that's for sure!"
Makijuro laughed a few times and readily agreed: "Although you are unwilling to become my stepson, I would be very gratified to be able to guide you to a higher level!"
He paused, then continued, "You stay here for now, we'll start training tomorrow."
The next morning, the sky was dim.
The dojo of the Rengoku family was exceptionally spacious, and Makijuro stood in the center of it.
"Yasui boy, you've arrived!"
Makijuro's voice boomed like a bell, his eyes burning with a long-lost flame: "The beginning of fighting spirit lies in the high concentration of the mind, and even more so in integrating this power into the breath, into the blade, and even into every inch of the body!"
"Alright!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Makijuro didn't use any breathing techniques or sword forms. He simply took a step and threw a punch!
The air exploded with a loud bang, and a scorching, powerful wave of air rushed towards us.
This is not physical force, but a pure impact of momentum!
Ryosuke bowed slightly, his whole body aching.
"Can you feel it? This is the power of battle qi!"
Makijuro withdrew his fist, his eyes gleaming: "Your Thunderclap is swift and explosive, unstoppable. Your fighting spirit should be like a sudden thunderclap, sweeping away everything in its path!"
"Okay! I understand!"
Ryosuke nodded emphatically.
The special training that followed was even more arduous than Ryosuke had imagined; it could even be described as torture.
Makijuro's training methods were brutal yet effective.
He no longer engages in regular sword duels with Ryosuke.
Instead, under intense physical training, he used his own vast and powerful fiery fighting spirit as a hammer to constantly pressure, impact, and pound on Ryosuke's mind and body.
"Concentrate! Focus your mind to fight back!"
"Relying solely on physical strength is completely insufficient!"
"Sensitize the energy within your body! Guide it out!"
Makijuro's roar echoed throughout the dojo.
Ryosuke was repeatedly forced to kneel on the ground by the terrifying fighting spirit, sweating profusely.
Soon my vision went black, and my lungs burned as if I was about to suffocate.
He felt like a lump of dough, being violently pounded and kneaded by an invisible force, almost falling apart.
Under this extreme pressure, the faint energy within his body began to operate frantically, struggling to survive.
They were crushed time and time again, but they also rallied time and time again.
"Uhhhhhh-!"
Ryosuke let out a low growl, his eyes bloodshot, and tiny sparks of electricity uncontrollably crackling around his body as he fought against the mountain-like flames of his fighting spirit.
The admiration in Makijuro's eyes grew stronger.
"Yes! That's it! Grasp that feeling! Let it become your instinct!"
One day, two days, three days...
Ryosuke worked almost non-stop, immersing himself entirely in honing his fighting spirit.
He could clearly sense the faint flow of energy within his body, which grew stronger and more solid under repeated extreme pressure, eventually being tamed by him, and becoming increasingly integrated with the Breath of Thunder.
When the blade was swung, although no sword form was used, it already carried a sharp and imposing aura, and the sound of the blade cutting through the air became even more piercing.
Although Ryosuke's body was exhausted every day, he was thrilled by the visible increase in strength.
On the evening of the fourth day, Ryosuke sat cross-legged on the veranda, trying to guide the nascent fighting spirit within his body to circulate with his breath.
Footsteps sounded, and Rengoku Kyojuro came over carrying a wooden tray with a bowl of dark brown medicinal wine on it.
"Mr. Yasui, my father asked me to deliver this to you."
Kyojuro placed the medicinal wine next to Ryosuke, his voice bright and clear.
"This is a special medicinal wine made at home. It has a remarkable effect on restoring physical strength and strengthening the body. Father said that you practice very hard, and this is just what you need."
Ryosuke picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
A surge of heat burst forth from my stomach, flowing through my limbs and bones, relieving muscle soreness and subtly nourishing my nascent fighting spirit, making me feel extremely comfortable.
Kyojuro didn't leave immediately. He looked at Ryosuke and spoke very seriously.
"Mr. Yasui, thank you."
Chapter 36 How did you guys end up together!
Ryosuke was taken aback, somewhat confused.
"Thank me for what? I should be thanking Mr. Purgatory for his guidance, and for your medicinal wine."
"Different."
Kyojuro shook his head: "Since you came, Father hasn't trained with such focus and such fighting spirit in a long time."
"He became somewhat depressed after his mother's condition worsened."
"Although you didn't do anything special, your arrival and your seeking of advice seem to have brought back a sense of the past for him."
Ryosuke paused for a moment, recalling Kagaya's instructions, his feelings becoming somewhat complicated.
"I didn't do anything, it was Mr. Purgatory..."
"But you appeared, and you became stronger."
Kyojuro's eyes were burning with pure trust and expectation.
"My father needs a rival, a junior who can get him serious! Mr. Yasui, perhaps you really can help my father get back on his feet!"
Looking into the boy's incredibly earnest and hopeful eyes, Ryosuke suddenly smiled.
He reached out as if possessed and ruffled Kyojuro's golden-red hair, which was as bristling as an owl's.
I've wanted to touch it ever since I watched anime in my previous life!
It feels really good, fluffy and soft.
Kyojuro paused for a moment, but did not flinch or show any displeasure.
He blinked, taking the gesture as a sign of approval and closeness.
After two more days of hellish beatings, Ryosuke felt that his fighting spirit had been initially stabilized.
Although it is far from being as overwhelming and terrifying as Makijuro's, it has already begun to integrate into breathing and techniques, significantly increasing its power.
Fujikasayama's final assessment was coming to an end, and Ryosuke resigned.
Makijuro did not stop him, but simply crossed his arms.
"To hone your fighting spirit, it's ultimately a inferior method to work behind closed doors. The real battlefield is the best crucible! If there's a suitable mission, I'll have the raven inform you to come with me. You'll learn much faster in actual combat!"
"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Purgatory!"
Ryosuke bowed respectfully.
He remembered this kindness in giving him guidance.
Leaving the Purgatory Mansion, Ryosuke quickened his pace and headed straight for Fujikaze Mountain.
When they arrived at the shrine, the seven-day deadline had just passed.
The wisteria blossoms swayed in the breeze, and the swordsmen who had passed the test had already gathered at the exit.
The number of people was more than that of Ryosuke's class, with more than twenty people, and most of them looked tired but not too scared.
Clearly, this is all thanks to the cunning rabbit.
He then triggered his fine tradition again, single-handedly eliminating most of the evil spirits.
"Ryosuke-nii!"
A crisp shout rang out, and a beautiful figure crashed solidly into Ryosuke's arms.
Pear Blossom hugged his waist tightly, rubbing her face against his chest, her voice filled with coquettish fear.
"Waaaaah—Great! Ryosuke-nii! You've come to pick me up~"
"It's so dark in there, and the ghosts are so ugly. I'm so scared!"
Feeling the gazes directed at him, Ryosuke suddenly felt awkward and didn't know what to do with his hands.
He pursed his lips and could only manage a dry laugh as he patted Pear Blossom's back.
"Alright, alright, it's all over now, isn't it? There are so many people watching..."