"Oh?" Akisame raised an eyebrow, sitting cross-legged in front of Hayashi with a slightly serious expression. "Let's hear it, then."
"Right." Hayashi nodded, rubbing his fingers together. "Well, I'll definitely be traveling to other worlds in the future, where I'll encounter even more advanced martial arts. So I was thinking... maybe I could incorporate all the techniques I see along the way into my own martial path and create something like... my own style?"
Here, Hayashi let out an awkward laugh. "Pretty overambitious, huh?"
Akisame rested his hands on his knees and asked softly, "Isn't that a wonderful idea? Why would you think it's overambitious?"
"Huh? Because I'm not exactly the talented type, right?" Hayashi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "For someone as average as me to boldly claim something like—'absorbing the strengths of all schools to create my own martial way'—isn't that just arrogant?"
In Hayashi's understanding, what kind of people could create their own martial paths?
Huang Shang from Legend of the Condor Heroes, who meticulously studied thousands of Taoist texts to create the Nine Yin Manual;
Dugu Qiubai from Return of the Condor Heroes, who roamed the world seeking a worthy opponent in vain before burying his sword in solitude;
Zhang Sanfeng from The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the peerless martial genius who created Tai Chi at the age of a hundred.
And then there was Hayashi himself?
He felt comparing his "talent" to these figures was just asking for humiliation. An utterly ordinary guy like him, indistinguishable in a crowd—what right did he have to stand alongside such prodigies?
"Talent?" Akisame pondered for a few seconds before chuckling lightly. "You're right! Compared to Shigure, you two are indeed talentless."
"Whoosh—" Erina and Hisako immediately turned to look at Shigure, who was hugging her knees and swaying happily nearby.
"Shigure is a genius, a true genius." Akisame tapped his knee with a finger. "She mastered the use of all weapons self-taught—a destined master-level martial artist."
"Mhm." Hayashi nodded.
"But the essence of martial arts was invented precisely to allow the weak to overcome the strong—" Akisame raised a finger, speaking with utmost seriousness. "Do you think the weak are naturally gifted? No! Martial arts exist precisely as a means for the weak to defy fate and change their destiny."
"This…"
"You truly are a person of ordinary talent, but martial arts are made precisely for fools like you!" Akisame raised his right hand, slowly clenching it into a fist. "To others, your ideals may seem like the delusions of someone who doesn't know their limits, but to us masters—this is an excellent goal! Move forward step by step toward it! As long as you don't give up, you will eventually succeed."
He really… I could cry.
"...Yes!" Hayashi took a deep breath, sniffled, and said with absolute determination, "Master Kōetsuji, rest assured! When I stand before you again, I will be a disciple you can be proud of!"
"Oh? That's quite the ambition—" Akisame suddenly flashed a devilish grin, baring his teeth as he chuckled. "Since you're so ambitious, I suppose I'll have to lend you a hand!"
Hayashi couldn't help but shiver, muttering weakly, "Master… when you say 'lend a hand,' you don't mean increasing the difficulty of training even more, do you?"
Akisame didn't answer, only smiling at Hayashi.
That expression made Hayashi even more uneasy. He gulped and asked again, "You don't, right?"
A slight smile—utterly terrifying.
Hayashi understood. He turned his head to Erina and Hisako, giving them a look of utter despair.
Hah. Life isn't worth it.
...
...
After Hayashi, Erina, and Hisako had each chosen their martial arts styles, their training locations changed—Hayashi followed Akisame to the indoor judo dojo, while Erina and Hisako trailed behind Shigure to the backyard training grounds for weapon practice.
"Though my expertise lies in judo, I also know a thing or two about other striking arts," Akisame said softly, standing before Hayashi in his judo gi. "I may not make you a master, but I can at least get you started."
"I… uh…" Hayashi, clad in ultra-durable training clothes, looked at Akisame with despair. "Can you go easy on me?"
"Go easy? That depends on your effort—" Akisame chuckled lightly before assuming a standard judo stance. "Also, Hayashi! Before we begin practical training, engrave my next words into your heart!"
"Yes—"
"And that is—'Don't be constrained by techniques!'" The moment Akisame finished speaking, his hands seized Hayashi's collar and—thud—slammed him onto the tatami mat below.
"Gahhh—!" Hayashi stiffened in pain, pounding the floor beneath him as he howled, "At least say 'begin' first! Agh, my back!!"
"The first lesson you must learn is—how to take a hit!" Akisame looked at Hayashi rolling on the ground and said, "This is the most fundamental 'ukemi' technique! From now on, I will keep attacking you, over and over. If you can't minimize the damage I inflict, you might really get thrown until you lose consciousness—"
"De... devil!!"
Hayashi let out a wail of despair.
...
...
Before he began martial arts training, Hayashi never imagined he would spend a full year and a half in this world.
For the first nine months, under Akisame's rigorous training, he built a solid foundation and transformed his muscles into pink fibers that balanced explosive power and endurance.
The following half-month was spent entirely on "learning to take hits." From morning until noon, Akisame threw him around relentlessly. If not for Florges's healing abilities, Hayashi would have likely suffered internal bleeding.
Over the next two and a half months, having "graduated" from taking hits, Hayashi began preliminary combat training under Akisame's guidance. Deliberately nurtured by his master, Hayashi grasped partial techniques from over a dozen martial arts styles, including judo, ground boxing, Baji Quan, animal mimicry, karate, and Muay Thai.
For the remaining time, Akisame took Hayashi on a worldwide journey, honing his adaptability through real combat. Only when Hayashi could fluidly switch between various martial arts styles did the training conclude.
"A year and a half—from complete novice to master-level skill..." Akisame stroked his chin with a satisfied smile. "It's clear you've worked extremely hard, Hayashi."
Hayashi retorted, "Should I say 'thank you for the compliment'?"
Akisame tilted his head. "Hmm, why shouldn't you?"
"Then at least turn this damn thing off—!!" Hayashi frantically sprinted on the spinning wheel, screaming hysterically. "Why is there still this devilish training on graduation day?!"
"Well—" Akisame chuckled as he affectionately patted the "perfectly harmless little training device" he had crafted. "I had a sudden inspiration last night, so I built it. See? It works quite well, doesn't it?"
"Demon!!" Hayashi wailed.
Outside the door, Erina and Hisako shivered, hugging their arms.
"Ah, all good things must come to an end." Akisame reluctantly switched off the wheel and watched as Hayashi stepped down, panting with his hands on his knees. "I remember your words—next time we meet, I hope you'll be a disciple I can truly be proud of."
"Hah—don't worry, Master Kōetsuji!" Hayashi gave a thumbs-up, still catching his breath. "Next time... hah... I'll definitely amaze you!"
"Though the line sounds cool, your current drenched and gasping appearance isn't very heroic—"
"Who on earth made me get up in the morning before parting to test new training equipment, leaving me panting like this!?" Hayashi couldn't help but complain. "The culprit shouldn't act all innocent!"
"Seeing you so energetic puts my mind at ease," Akisame chuckled as he patted Hayashi's shoulder. "Alright, take a shower and then we'll set off."
"...Yes."
...
...
After a cold shower that left him refreshed, Hayashi was drying his hair as he returned to the living room—only to see Shigure holding onto Erina and Hisako's hands with reluctance.
"Don't want to let go?" Hayashi stood beside Akisame and whispered.
Akisame nodded helplessly—Shigure had few friends growing up, so now that she finally had sisters to spend all her time with, of course she wouldn't want to part.
Hayashi stroked his chin with a mischievous grin and suggested, "Then how about little Shigure comes with us?"
This was a guaranteed expert-level bodyguard! If she went to another world with Hayashi to develop further, she might just become a grand swordmaster (big exaggeration).
"!"
At Hayashi's words, Shigure's eyes lit up, seeming tempted, but she quickly composed herself and shook her head, muttering, "Not now. I must retrieve the swords!"
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