Chapter 50 - Thinking and Accumulation

“Pant pant ~pant pant ~”

Kimura Muyang fell to the ground weakly. Although his body was covered with sweat that it was so sticky and uncomfortable, he didn’t even want to move one finger.

“Is that all it takes to put you out of breath, kid?”

Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s voice came from the side. Although he sounded as indifferent as usual, those who were familiar with Captain-Commander would know that there was a hint of satisfaction in his tone.

“Ah, I’m afraid so, Old man Yama. Your fist is too powerful!”

Kimura Muyang was still lying down there, gasping for air, and continued.

“My whole body is in pain that I can’t even move a finger.”

Just like his Zanjutsu, Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s Hakuda was rigid, solid, and absolute power. His power was on a whole different level. He lifted the heavy as if it was as light as a feather. From the way he punched, Kimura Muyang could guess how powerful it was. Although it seemed plain, the destructive power each punch packed was unbelievable. Kimura Muyang himself was the proof of that!

Yamamoto Genryūsai just looked at Kimura Muyang, who couldn’t move with a satisfied look on his face. Although Kimura Muyang often complained, Kimura Muyang still did everything he told. He was also talented and tough.

Maybe he could inherit my Hakuda.

That thought suddenly crossed Yamamoto Genryūsai’s mind and couldn’t leave his mind. Therefore, he, who at first simply intend to check out what Kimura Muyang got, became strict and serious at teaching him now that Yamamoto Genryūsai has treated Kimura Muyang as his own disciple.

By this time, Kimura Muyang and Yamamoto Genryūsai had bonded to the point where the way they addressed each other has changed from ’Captain-Commander’ and ’Lieutenant Kimura’ to ’Old man Yama’ and ’kid.’

“Okay, let’s wrap this up for today.” Upon seeing Kimura Muyang was too tired to move a muscle, Yamamoto Genryūsai thought that he was too strict. He himself was anxious as he never trained anyone this strict before in his life. He never expected that Kimura Muyang could come this far because he just wanted him to experience the training firsthand at first. But to his surprise, Kimura Muyang could keep up with the training!

“So, we’re done for today?”

Kimura Muyang immediately got up and smiled the moment Yamamoto Genryūsai said they were done with the training.

This kid!

Yamamoto Genryūsai was surprised. He thought that Kimura Muyang was too tired to move a muscle, but it turned out he had the gal to trick him.

“Ouch~ ouch! It hurts!”

Seeing Yamamoto Genryūsai was staring at him intently, Kimura Muyang immediately pretended to fall to the ground while holding his shoulder and shouted as if he was in pain.

“Relax, I won’t take back my words. Today’s training ends here.”

Even Yamamoto Genryūsai couldn’t help but chuckle after seeing Kimura Muyang turned out to be faking his exhaustion. Although that was a hopeless part of Kimura Muyang, he didn’t take back his words.

However, before Kimura Muyang could even breathe a sigh of relief, Yamamoto Genryūsai immediately added.

“Tomorrow’s training will be doubled.”

Kimura Muyang almost fainted when he heard those words. His daily training was already brutal as it was. Imagine double of that!

“Since today’s training is over, care to join me for a cup of tea?”

Kimura Muyang immediately nodded in response to Yamamoto Genryūsai’s invitation. By this period of time, Kimura Muyang has learned about Yamamoto Genryūsai’s hobbies and interests. The tea ceremony was a leisure activity that he enjoyed.

————–

As Kimura Muyang took a sip, he felt rejuvenated. This relaxing activity really soothes his mind and body after intense training.

“Oho? So, you at least know how to enjoy a tea.” This time Yamamoto Genryūsai seemed like an ordinary old man, completely different from his usual stern and strict self.

“Don’t follow Shunsui’s example. He only knows how to drink sake all day.”

Kimura Muyang suddenly blushed embarrassedly. He has always been drinking with Shinji as soon as he was free. In fact, he just drank with them until midnight last night, and he was pretty sure that he drank more than Shunsui. Shunsui and Lisa ended up stopping him as he drank too much, even though Lisa herself drank even more than him.

Yamamoto Genryūsai pretended not to notice Kimura Muyang’s awkward expression and picked up the teacup and took a sip, savoring the tea.

“Learning how profound a tea ceremony is should be good for you. It can calm your nerves, help you concentrate so that you can understand yourself, understand what power is, why your power exists, and how you should use it.”

“Try to calm your mind and concentrate on essential things that are most important for you.”

Kimura Muyang conscientiously took in the meaning of Yamamoto Genryūsai’s words. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how profound those words were. What is power? How to face yourself? Will you be the master of your power or merely a slave to it? These philosophical questions suddenly flooded Kimura Muyang’s mind…

As Kimura Muyang held the teacup in his hand, his eyes were drawn to a few tea leaves that slowly converged in the middle. Kimura Muyang felt that his impetuous heart was soothed the more he focused on the tea leaves. Then it was as if there was something that arose deep down inside him that intensified as time passed.

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By the time Kimura Muyang came back to his senses, the tea in his hand had already cooled down, and the sky was already dark before he realized it. It turned out so much time had passed since he was lost in thought.

Kimura Muyang looked towards Yamamoto Genryūsai, who was still sitting across him apologetically. From the looks of it, Yamamoto Genryūsai seemed to keep him company the whole time. A Captain-Commander was usually so busy that the chance of having an audience with him alone didn’t come that often, yet he kept Kimura Muyang company until nightfall.

Seeing Kimura Muyang’s expression, Yamamoto Genryūsai immediately knew what Kimura Muyang was going to say and just shoved a freshly brewed cup of tea toward Kimura Muyang instead of saying a word.

After taking a sip of the tea that Yamamoto Genryūsai just brewed for him, Kimura Muyang slowly sorted out his thoughts. Too many things entered his mind at once, and he couldn’t process it all yet. It felt like he almost grasped something, yet nothing came to mind.

“It seems that you have thought about a lot of things. There’s no point in rushing it. Just take your time thinking.”

Kimura Muyang was silent for a moment as Yamamoto Genryūsai was right. He could take his time pondering about it. Brooding over it right now would result in nothing but trouble

“You’re right. I’ll ask you some other time.”

Kimura Muyang quickly put these thoughts aside. That was how he has been. If there were something he didn’t understand, he would simply put it aside.

“It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave, Old man Yama.”

Kimura Muyang finished his tea and bid his farewell to Yamamoto Genryūsai.

“Wait a moment,” Yamamoto Genryūsai said out of the blue, ignoring the curious look on Kimura Muyang’s face, and then he put down the teacup in his hand. “I have taught you for a quite while.”

Although it’s a bit weird that Yamamoto Genryūsai said that out of the blue, Kimura Muyang sat back out of respect and then said after a brief pause: “Yes, it’s already been around a year and 3 months. why did you ask all of a sudden, Old Yamamoto?”

“During that period, you should have learned almost everything. I have nothing left to teach you for the time being, so you don’t need to come again starting tomorrow.”

“Huh?” Kimura Muyang immediately raised his head and looked towards Yamamoto Genryūsai surprisedly, “really, Old man Yama? Didn’t you say that tomorrow’s training is doubled?”

Seeing Kimura Muyang had a hard time believing that he was telling the truth, Yamamoto Genryūsai was slightly touched, but he didn’t show it on his face, “Your Zanjutsu is excellent, your Kidō has improved ever since you’re in Captain Hikifune’s care, as for Shunpo and Hakuda, I have taught you personally, and it should be enough. You now have reached your limit in Shinigami’s four fighting techniques, Zankensoki.”

Kimura Muyang listened carefully to Yamamoto Genryūsai. Usually, there would be a ’but’ right after because he knew Yamamoto Genryūsai wouldn’t simply praise him. He must have something else to say.

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