Suō Tsukasa naturally slept very well this night.
Since he began training, the ample daily diet, sufficient training, and regular routine had ensured his sleep quality was never poor.
Waking up, morning exercises, breakfast, classes, lunch, classes, dinner, evening lessons, sleep.
This was his fulfilling, nearly perfect daily routine at the Shin'ō Academy of Spiritual Arts.
In the morning.
After having breakfast with Tōshirō, Suō Tsukasa headed to the training grounds for the morning Hakuda (Hand-to-Hand Combat) class.
When they arrived, quite a few other students from the elite class had already gathered by the side of the field.
The moment Suō Tsukasa stepped onto the training ground, the small groups of students, as if receiving a command, suddenly formed neat rows.
They uniformly straightened their backs, their gazes fixed on him, and called out in unison:
"Suō-kun, good morning!"
"Good morning, everyone!"
This trend had formed at some point, and Suō Tsukasa had grown used to it, calmly nodding in return.
It was still the familiar Hakuda class, the familiar training ground, and the familiar, stern-faced Yuuki Shinnosuke.
What was different today was that the instructor, who usually taught alone, had brought several upperclassmen with him.
Yuuki Shinnosuke's gaze swept over the students present.
"Today, you will practice the fundamental boxing forms as before, following their lead. No slacking off!"
Then, his gaze turned to Suō Tsukasa, and he added:
"Suo, come with me."
"Yes, sir!"
Suō Tsukasa nodded, stepped out of the line, and walked steadily to his side, following him toward the back of the training ground.
Watching the two figures walk away, the expressions on the faces of the elite class students behind them were far more excited than the calm-faced Suō Tsukasa.
The students couldn't contain their emotions and discussed in low, small groups:
"Oh, oh, is it finally happening!"
"I thought the teacher hadn't noticed Suō-kun yet!"
"It's only fitting for Suō-kun!"
Everyone had witnessed Suō Tsukasa's performance in Hakuda class, but up until this lesson, he had been practicing fundamental forms with them.
This had been a topic of analysis and discussion among them. Now that the teacher had specifically called him out, it must be for advanced instruction.
As for jealousy, there was none—their skill level was far too inferior to Suō Tsukasa's.
Moreover, Suō Tsukasa often helped answer their questions during his spare time and offered sharp, insightful suggestions, which was why the 'Suo Fan Club' had been established in the first place.
"Quiet! Start practicing!"
Their voices were quickly hushed by the upperclassmen, and the training ground returned to silence, save for the sounds of fists being thrown.
Meanwhile, Suō Tsukasa followed Yuuki Shinnosuke through a small back door of the training ground, down a corridor, and finally arrived at an inner room.
The room was plainly decorated: four bare walls, a dozen wooden dummies, and a calligraphic scroll hanging on the front wall, bearing the powerful characters for "Genryū" (Original Style).
Yuuki Shinnosuke stopped in the center of the room and fixed his gaze on Suō Tsukasa.
Suō Tsukasa looked back, waiting for him to speak.
The two remained silent for a moment. Finally, Yuuki Shinnosuke slowly began to speak.
"The most fundamental aspect of Genryū is 'Sei' (Correctness or Purity)."
"With every batch of students, I try to select talent to pass this on, but unfortunately, most never meet the standard even by graduation."
For him, who possessed an incredibly long lifespan, teaching was just a job, and he consistently adhered to his principles.
He had been quite satisfied with Suō Tsukasa's initial performance on the very first day of class, but could tell his Hakuda foundation was insufficient.
It wasn't until Suō Tsukasa began dedicating part of his energy to studying Hakuda, showing increasingly noticeable progress with each class, that Yuuki Shinnosuke considered teaching him.
"..."
Suō Tsukasa didn't reply, broadly understanding his thinking.
Yuuki Shinnosuke was much older than his appearance suggested, and his mindset was close to that of a traditional martial artist who strictly adhered to ancient teachings. Naturally, he had strict standards for passing on his style.
In addition to solid foundations and a degree of physical aptitude, one had to possess a continuous passion for Hakuda practice and persistent patience.
"I only hold the Menkyo (License) qualification of Genryū, granting me only partial teaching authority for the style. You are still to call me Teacher."
"Yes, Teacher."
In martial arts traditions, whether swordsmanship or fist arts, those granted teaching qualifications in various styles are generally divided into three stages: Menkyo, Kaidensho (Transmission Certificate), and Menkyo Kaiden (License of Total Transmission).
These stages respectively correspond to teaching basics and techniques, teaching the deepest secrets (Ōgi), and inheriting the style.
Even the first stage, Menkyo, already signifies an outstanding practitioner of the style, with the difference from the higher stages being only the depth of understanding of the Ōgi.
"The path of Hakuda may not be entirely suitable for you, but it won't disappoint you either."
"Come, take off your top, and try to throw a punch following the demonstration I gave that day."
Yuuki Shinnosuke's voice pulled Suō Tsukasa's thoughts back. He walked to a wooden dummy, patting its top as he gestured.
"Yes, sir!"
Suō Tsukasa untied the sash of his top as instructed, smoothly slipped it off, and tied it around his waist.
With the loose top removed, a physique starkly different from his usual style was revealed.
He was over six feet tall, very tall among the new students.
Coupled with his high intake of food and rigorous training, his bare-chested figure looked exceptionally well-built due to his intense daily regimen.
Stripped to the waist, Suō Tsukasa's broad shoulders and back, flowing silhouette, and solid muscles showed no hint of bulkiness.
When he settled in front of the dummy and raised his arm, his arm and spine formed an arc full of tension, followed by a swift and stable Seiken (Straight Punch).
Boom—
A muffled thud. After the fist retracted, a clear, indented punch mark remained, but the completeness of its edges was still several measures short.
"Not bad. To reach this level through personal practice and comprehension is already quite outstanding!"
"Next, I will teach you the 'Sansei no Kata' (Three Correct Forms), the core technique of Genryū. Watch closely!"
Yuuki Shinnosuke nodded with great satisfaction at Suō Tsukasa's performance, praising him without reservation.
He, too, then removed his top. His two-meter height combined with his strong, sinewy muscles made his figure resemble a colossal pine tree rooted firmly in the earth.
Boom—
Another muffled thud. The mark on the wooden dummy was identical to the punch mark he displayed during the first lesson.
This time, however, Yuuki Shinnosuke not only slowed his speed but also removed his top, allowing Suō Tsukasa to clearly observe his entire force generation trajectory.
After retracting his punch, Yuuki Shinnosuke pointed out Suō Tsukasa's current deficiency.
"Tō-sei (Head Correct), Shin-sei (Body Correct), Ba-sei (Stance Correct). The only thing you are currently missing is a slight correction in your Shin-sei."
"Adjust your posture, and try again!"
"Yes, sir!"
Suō Tsukasa settled in front of the dummy as instructed, recalling Shinnosuke's posture and force trajectory just now—from the heel's drive, through the waist's rotation, the shoulder blade's push, ultimately condensing at the tip of the fist.
"Incorrect. Straighten your waist slightly more, try again!"
After ten or more punches, and with Yuuki Shinnosuke's constant vocal guidance, Suō Tsukasa made continuous micro-adjustments to his upper body posture and successfully delivered a qualified punch.
Boom—
As he threw the punch, Suō Tsukasa clearly felt a smooth, integrated sensation. He slowly retracted his fist, and the punch mark was clear with perfectly defined edges.
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