Despite my seemingly severe injuries, I was able to recover by the next day. I had thought I had a concussion and broken ribs, but the pain was worse than the actual wounds themselves. After a cursory examination, the doctors in whatever fancy hospital Shu Hong Qiu brought me to discharged me, their expressions clearly conveying their opinions that we had just wasted their time. At least they gave me a new pair of glasses.
Honestly, I had no idea how they knew what my eyesight was, but I guess it was a simple matter for them to investigate or pull up my medical records. In any event, I was grateful that they took care of it.
I was too much in both physical and emotional pain to care about their annoyance. Fortunately, the pain had dulled, and I pretty much didn't feel the bruises I had developed the previous night by the time I woke up. I was even able to attend a training session with dad.
"Can you teach me how to use the sword?" I asked, bringing the peach wood sword this time. Dad blinked, staring at the wooden weapon, and shook his head. "I promise I won't get bored."
"I didn't actually learn how to use the sword, so I can't. I can teach you spear techniques, though."
I wasn't sure how helpful that was going to be, given that I was currently in possession of a sword and not a spear.
"Where did you get that sword from?"
"A friend gave it to me," I replied. "She thought it would fit to a tee."
"I see. Make sure you thank her."
"Don't worry, I already did. I always do a good deed."
"It'll be a good deed if you stop that constant rhyming of yours," Dad remarked dryly. "It's wearing on my nerves."
"Sorry."
With that option closed, I trudged to school, disappointed. I guess that meant I had to explore some other avenue of learning the sword. Or maybe I could modify it into a peach wood spear or apply spear techniques to it, but that would be like plugging a square peg into a round hole.
Against an opponent of Jiang Shi's caliber, it wouldn't work. I would be slaughtered immediately.
Fortunately, this was a story about school life. And school life was about learning new things. What was the point of going to school, if not to learn new stuff?
"Yun Shan, are you all right?"
When I stepped into the classroom, I noticed Yun Shan limping about, her face pale. Lian Hua was by her side, trying to help her. I rushed over to offer my assistance.
"What the hell happened? You look quite saddened."
"Is this really the time for your rhymes?" Lian Hua gave me a dark glare. I shrugged.
"So, what happened?"
"Yun Shan injured herself during basketball practice yesterday," Lian Hua explained, giving her best friend a glare. It was ironic, given her smaller, diminutive figure in contrast to Yun Shan's tall, athletic frame. "I told you not to overdo it."
"But the tournament is this weekend!" Yun Shan complained. She brought her fist up combatively. "I can't afford to slack off!"
"No, but look at you now. How are you going to play when you're injured?"
"Don't worry! You know I heal fast. I'll be fully recovered by tomorrow…or Friday. Definitely in time for the tournament!"
Lian Hua watched her, concerned and unconvinced. "Make sure you take care of yourself, Yun Shan. Don't overexert yourself and cause things to get worse."
"You know me too well for that. When I have ever pushed myself too hard?"
"Always." Lian Hua shook her head sadly. "Always."
"What about you?" I asked, noticing that Lian Hua looked pretty pale herself. She paused and smiled, but she clearly was out of breath. I wondered if she had difficulty breathing or something.
"No, I'm just exhausted. Yun Shan is heavier than she looks."
"Hey!" Yun Shan complained, but Lian Hua simply giggled. I shrugged and gave them a hand.
After making sure Yun Shan reached her seat safely and wasn't about to do anything reckless, I went to my desk. Tong Xue was huddled over his smartphone, and he spun around when he heard the scrape of my chair.
"Hey, did you hear?"
"About what?"
"They said they found Shen Ai Qing's body, as well as those of the other missing girls!"
"Wait, hang on, hey. Again, who's 'they'?"
"Um, the Internet." Tong Xue looked sheepish. I raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"If the school doesn't make an official announcement, and if the news doesn't print a public statement…avoid making such ominous assessments."
"Fine." Tong Xue looked upset, but when Jiao Shi arrived and made no mention of the matter, it was forgotten. I wondered if the Shu family had covered it up, or we weren't able to find their bodies because Jiang Shi was lurking around and they were too busily sending me to the hospital last night.
Damn it…just who was Jiang Shi? How could I defeat someone as powerful as her?
Thanks to my defeat, my mind ended up wandering during classes. I just wasn't in the right state of mind that day, my pride and ego wounded, and my body heavily bruised. I also knew my mission was far from done. As long as Jiang Shi remained at large, she would continue to threaten Shu Hong Qiu's safety.
I was going to do the most shounen or youthful thing ever. My solution was to undergo a training arc, get stronger, and defeat her. Instead of, you know, coming up with other more optimal solutions.
I was relieved when school finally ended. Instead of heading for the art club room or the student council room as I did for the past couple of weeks, I went to the building that housed all of the martial arts dojos. If dad couldn't teach me the way of the sword, then I would look for someone who could.
Passing by the gymnasium on my way there, I could hear the basketball team working hard. Yun Shan was doing light training, but that didn't stop her from participating. At times, her juniors had to physically stop her.
"Don't make your injury worse!"
"You need to rest! Otherwise you won't recover in time for the game this weekend!"
"Hah! Don't worry about me!"
I shook my head, impressed. Seeing Yun Shan so determined and active despite her injury, I felt guilty. She was a shining example to all, a role model. Instead of moping about and getting depressed, I should use this to motivate myself to get stronger. Dad was right. I couldn't sit around being contented forever.
I should always look for ways to improve myself. Just like Yun Shan did.
That was why I was standing in front of the kendo dojo. At first, I didn't dare to step inside. I waited outside, staring at the entrance nervously. Inside, the clangs of bamboo swords clashing against each other rang, along with shouts and barked instructions.
"Oh? What's this?"
A gruff voice spoke up behind me. I turned around and caught sight of a senior standing behind, dressed in the usual kendo gear and having a bamboo sword case slung over his back. His eyes scanned the peach wood sword on my shoulder and he grinned.
"Are you here to join the kendo club?"
"Yeah, I guess…it's for the best…"
"Wait…I know you." The kendo senior leaned over to study me. His eyes widened. "You're the one who beat up Hen Xiong, aren't you?"
…that really was his name? I only intended to give the big guy a nickname because I didn't know his real one, but conveniently enough I turned out to be correct? Wow, what were the odds?
"Um, that was just a tiny accident. I hope everyone forgets that incident."
"Nonsense! That's something you should be proud of! And you beat him without a sword! We're honored that you would join us! Now, come in!"
He pushed me through the door. Credit to the other kendo club members, none of them turned around to stare at me curiously. They continued with their practice, drilling or sparring against each other. That was what I call discipline.
"I believe you have some sort of martial arts background already, so I want you to show me exactly what you have."
"Uh…I haven't learned swordsmanship or how to fight with a weapon before. If I try displaying what I know right now, I'll just be beaten sore."
"That's fine." The senior nodded toward my peach wood sword. "You came here to learn how to wield that, right?"
"Yeah."
"First, let's get you geared up." The senior retrieved his armor, helmet and everything from his bag. He jerked his head toward the shelves. "We have spare gear in those lockers. Grab a set that fits you. If you don't know how to put them on, ask me. I'll strap you up."
"Sure, thanks."
I went to the lockers and was relieved to see that they had conveniently labeled it by size. Given my average height, I went to the lockers designated for medium size, found that they fit me decently – though they were a bit too large (but the small size was too small and tight) – and strapped them on without any issues.
Once I was done, I staggered toward the senior who brought me in, not used to the weight on my head and shoulders. This was completely different from the martial arts training that I had undergone under dad's supervision.
"All right, come at me, bro."
"Okay…uh, how do I address you?" I realized that I still had no idea who I was speaking to. For obvious reasons, I forewent the rhymes this time.
"Oh, you can call me Hao Jian Fa. I'm a third-year student. I'm going to graduate soon." He picked up his bamboo sword from the case and practiced a few swings with it. He nodded toward my peach wood sword. "Take that up, let me see what you've got."
"Nothing. I hadn't had any practice with the sword at all. I'll be incredibly lucky not to fall."
"Sure, but I'd like to know your level so that I can adjust my curriculum accordingly."
"Understood." I put down my stuff and hefted the peach wood sword. Holding it in both hands, I tried to imitate Hao Jian Fa's stance, but failed miserably. Instead of attacking, he eyed my weapon.
"Uh, why a peach wood sword?"
I shrugged. "Because I'm feeling peachy?"
"Would you like to swap to one of our bamboo swords? We have a few spares that you can practice with."
"It's fine," I assured him. "My movements will feel wooden either way."
"Seriously?" Hao Jian Fa snorted and executed a smooth stroke that whistled through the air, making my hair stand. He grinned wickedly and beckoned me over. "I wonder what will happen if we practice with real swords then?"
"Then you'll see how rusty my skills are."
Taking a deep breath, I charged forward and swung my peach wood sword, only to have it knocked out of my grip in a single blow. I staggered and did a cartwheel when Hao Jian Fa countered with a strike, flipping my leg up and kicking him. He parried my foot with his bamboo blade and shoved me off before thrusting it forward. I twisted my body about and retaliated with another kick that was aimed at his temple, but he reflexively pulled his sword back and blocked it.
Dropping to the ground, I snatched up my fallen sword and rolled back to my feet, holding it up warily as I eyed my opponent. Hao Jian Fa regarded me for a moment, and nodded.
"I see. Your barehanded combat skills are impressive, but you know nothing about using swords."
"That's the crux of it, yeah. I'd admit it, but bleah."
"…do you always talk like that?" Hao Jian Fa raised an eyebrow. I shrugged.
"I like rhyming my words. I feel like singing birds."
"Okay, stop." Hao Jian Fa lifted a hand, trying to hold back a scowl. "If you continue, I'm going to beat that rap out of you."
"You can try, but I'll cry."
"I told you to stop it!"
And he charged at me. Hefting my peach wood sword up, I met him in the center, only to be blown back. Undeterred, I came back for more, swinging as best as I could, and using what I did know about combat to supplement my deficiencies.
I discovered that day that I was far from being the expert I thought I was. I discovered that dad was right, there was always a mountain higher. And I discovered that there were so many gaps in my techniques that I should be ashamed of myself for ever thinking no one my age could beat me. Most of all, I discovered that there were plenty of areas that could use improvement.
What a fool I was to have gotten complacent just because I beat up a couple of schoolmates and defeated a single ghost.
Hao Jian Fa taught me a brutal lesson, striking me down each and every time I attacked. Even when he allowed me to be the defender, he demonstrated just how far the gaps between our skills were, punishing any openings I had in my stance. A thrust left my shoulder numb. A strike almost broke a rib in my chest. A smash almost broke my skull. Good thing I was wearing headgear and armor, otherwise I would have been beaten to a pulp.
At the end of the day, while I lay on the tatami mats heaving, sore and bruised, I made my decision.
I was going to join the kendo club.