"Danger was the grindstone on which the swordsman whetted his spirit. Enemies were teachers in disguise." -Eiji Yoshikawa
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SHIN|
"Gramps! The miso soup is done, let's eat before it gets cold." I said after tasting the miso soup that I was cooking.
I prepared four bowls of miso soup for all of us including Goza-san. I also cooked rice while gramps cooked the fish and vegetables. It seems like rice is the most common food here in Reishen.
Here in Reishen, we don't use chairs when eating, instead we sit on the mat. Gramps said that it was the village's tradition. We also don't use fork and knife here, instead, we use this pair of sticks called chopsticks when eating.
"Shin-kun, you're cooking is getting better and better, this miso soup is great!" Gramps said as he continues to eat the food that the two of us prepared.
"That's right brother, you're getting good!" Said by Aria who seems like enjoying her food too.
"Thank you for the compliment, gramps, Aria, but I know I still got a long way to go."
The four of us continues to eat our food in silence, and after that, Goza-san offered to be the one who will clean the dishes.
I'm almost always free after eating, I have nothing do so I decided that instead of lazing around, I will train my swordsmanship to its full potential.
I wore my hakama that gramps gave when we came here, I use this clothes whenever I'm training. I picked up a wooden sword and went to the garden at the back of the house.
I make a proper fighting stance and continues to swing my sword. I have to polish my skills if I wanted to become stronger. I swung my sword downwards, diagonally, sideways, and upwards.
I was so absorbed in my training that I didn't even notice gramps is watching me. He's just standing there watching me as I continues to swing my sword without uttering a single word.
After a few moments, I decided to take a break and sit at the side of the walkway. That was tiring, but I know it will pay off someday.
"Shin-kun, use this." Gramps threw a towel at me that I used to wipe away my sweat.
He sat next to me and look up in the sky.
"Shin-kun, you're already fourteen years old, aren't you?" He uttered out of nowhere that made me look at him but his eyes are still focused in the sky.
"Yes, gramps. Why did you ask?" I asked as I continues to wipe the sweat all over my body with the towel he gave me.
"I think it's time for you to learn my techniques." My eyes widen when I heard what he just said.
I-Is this... Is this for real?! He will teach me his own techniques!? The sword style of him, Kojiro Sasaki the Sword Saint?! This is unbelievably great!
"Your own techniques, gramps?! Not the technique I usually use?!" I can't hide my excitement when he smile at me and nods.
"That's right. Your father's swordsmanship doesn't suit you. He wields a large two handed sword despite his slender body because he possess superhuman strength because of God's blessing." He stated and gave me the wooden sword that I used in training earlier.
"But you, you don't have the raw strength he possess but you have surpassed his speed, not to mention you also possess the same amount of magic powers that your mother has." I looked at my hands and feel the presence of magical powers within my body.
What gramps said was true, I'm not as physically strong as dad but I did inherit mom's immense amount of magic.
"You're right gramps, I can also feel it myself."
"That's why my swordsmanship suits you the most, you won't depend in your raw strength, but in the precision of your strikes." He said and stood up.
He took the wooden sword from me and make a fighting stance. He looked me with a serious face and said.
"I will show you my swordsmanship, burn this picture in your memory." He stated and demonstrate his technique.
I was surprised by the beauty of his swordsmanship, it feels like he's dancing with the rhythm of the blade. Every swings and thrusts he do was precise.
The movement of his feet is minimal yet his whole body feels so light. His movements is fast yet so slow, I can't believe what I'm actually seeing. So this is the blade dance of the Sword Saint, Kojiro Sasaki? It's deadly yet so breathtaking.
He continues to demonstrate his amazing sword style skillfully as I attentively watch it while burning it within my memories. This is the sword style that I'll be using to fight, I must do whatever I can to master it.
Gramps finished his demonstration with a stunning spinning slash which leaves me in complete awe. That final move was amazing, he leaped while spinning and perform a continues slashes as he slowly descends.
After his demonstration, he walk towards me and hand me back the wooden sword and left. I thought that he won't comeback so I decided to continue my training.
I swung my wooden sword once more and when I noticed that gramps came back, and he's now also holding a wooden sword.
"Come, Shin-kun. Have a duel with me, that way I'll know where you are lacking before I train you." He said and points the wooden sword at me.
"I understand gramps, let's have a good match." I said as the two of us bowed to each other.
I hold the hilt of my sword tightly and think of what move I'll make. Gramps is strong, one wrong move and he'll definitely take me out in an instant.
The two of us are circling at each other, noone dares to make the first move. I know he's also cautious, that's how great of a warrior gramps is, no matter who he's up against, he'll never lower his guard.
This match won't end if we just kept on moving in circles, I have to move! I was about to attack him when gramps dash towards me in an instant! I was so shocked that I only manage to block his attack using my instinct! That was a powerful slash aiming at my neck, he's not joking here. He'll never give me a chance to strike.
I guess I'll try stepping back few feet away from him, so that I can see what move he'll try to do next. But knowing his speed, he can easily rush towards me just like his first attack.
Before I could even step back, gramps rush towards me once more, and I've already seen that attack! Instead of backing down, I charged at him to counter attack! This is my chance! I caught him off guard! All I have to do is to swing my sword!
I tighten my grip on my sword and made a full swing! This will definitely hit! That's when I make a full swing, confident that I'll be able to hit him.
Wait... where is he? I missed?! I'm very sure that's he's rushing towards me and was about to make another full swing!
I feel a strong killing intent on top of my head, and there, I saw gramps in mid air preparing to launch a powerful thrust at me! Damn! He tricked me! That first attack from him was a bait to set this attack up!
This is not good, I can't avoid him even if I step back! He got me good, I have no choice to take this risk!
I leaped in the air to intercept the attack of gramps. Based on his reactions, he didn't anticipated that I'll counter him in mid-air. This is my chance!
I charged at him, and prepare to thrust but he change his attack midway! Instead of thrust, he spins his whole body while rushing directly at me to parry my attack! This isn't good!
I thought that his move was already finished but all of a sudden, he grabbed my ankle and slammed me to the ground without mercy! He's so strong...
My whole body hurts after that move of gramps, good thing I still manage to stand and I still have strength left to continue to fight.
He's still staring at me with his serious face. I never thought that he'll counter all of my attacks. I even thought my mid air attack is a good counter but he still manage to outmanuever me in that desperate situation.
Gramps is really fearsome and his sword technique is very dangerous. No matter how careful I am, he can always find a way to attack and counter me in any possible ways.
I tighten my grip on the hilt of my sword again and prepare to fight. I tried to analyze what happened to our previous exchange earlier and think of a better way on how will I handle this match.
I took a deep breathe and intensely stared back at him. I guess the only thing I could do is to attack first before him.
I was about to attack him when I saw him change his stance that made me hesitate and stop my movement. What is this stance? His head is wide open and his sword is pointed to the ground diagonally with his eyes closed.
"Ganryu style, second stance, Gedan no Kamae." He mumbled something but I wasn't able to hear it. Just what in the world is he saying?
I shake my head to remove those thoughts. This is not the time to hesitate! I need to attack immediately.
While his eyes were still closed, I rushed towards him. I'll aim for his chest! I didn't hesitate even just for a second to thrust his chest but he jumped again.
I can feel the strong killing intent when he opened his eyes. I can't do the move that I did earlier, specially now that I know I can't win against him even in mid air.
His attack wasn't a thrust, it was a downward slash! I manage to dodge his attack when I leaned backwards, and now he's wide open!
I got you now, gramps! I was about to attack him with a finishing thrust in the chest, but before I manage to hit him with my attack. Something hit me in the chin and now I'm laying on the ground with gramps pointing his wooden sword at me.
I don't know how did that happened, but it's clear that I was hit by one of his attacks. How? How did he manage to hit me with an attack I didn't even notice?
"Second sword, Tsubame Gaeshi. That's the name of that attack I used." Gramps stated and placed his wooddn sword his waist. "Take a good rest, I already know what method I'll use to train you. We'll start tomorrow." He said and took his leave.
I still haven't been able to move because of the shock that my body took. I think I already understand what attack did he just use. A full downward swing that was only meant to be a bait and a counter upwards swing to finish the job...
I see, and the reason he manage to pull that off without me noticing was because, the blade of his sword never touches the ground. He stopped it before it hits the floor. I see... I get it now... Gramps is indeed a fearsome warrior...
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KOJIRO|
My grandchild, Shin-kun, indeed has a strong potential. He did caught me off guard once, when he decided to leaped and counter me instead of dodging my attack.
I look at my hand that is shaking quite a bit because of intercepting his one attack. He may not hold the same amount of strength that Ro-kun has, but he's still very strong, that's why I never tried to take his full swing head on, I'll be in trouble just by stopping one of those attacks.
If I train him, I know he'll surpass both me and Ro-kun someday. Shin-kun has the potential to become the strongest warrior someday, and when that time comes, I can finally rest in peace.
But there's still one missing piece to make him stronger, and that's the reason why I'm here right now.
I knocked at his door a couple of times and wait for him to open the door. After a few moments, he open the door for me and I immediately stated my business.
"Shimizu-dono, I have a request that I want you to fulfill."
"I see, let's talk about it inside, Kojiro-san, and see if there's something I can do." He said and let me enter his house.
Don't worry Shin-kun, your gramps will make sure that you will become the strongest person who will wield a sword, I'll do whatever it takes to make you powerful even if it kills me...
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End of chapter 14