"Madam, you overpraise me," Lilia replied humbly. "Young Master Wood is naturally gifted. I haven't taught him much at all. In fact, sometimes, it feels like he's teaching me."
Lilia had long since grown accustomed to Wood's exceptional intelligence and talent. Whether it was mastering intricate etiquette or learning complex literature, Wood consistently demonstrated a wisdom far beyond his years.
Zenith may have thought that Wood's polite demeanor was a result of her teaching, but the truth was that Wood's maturity surpassed that of any ordinary child his age.
In the small courtyard of the Greyrat home, Paul and Wood stood opposite each other, each holding a wooden sword.
While Wood maintained a serious stance, ready for combat, Paul's expression was much more relaxed.
It was obvious that Paul didn't take the match too seriously. After all, Wood, though clearly talented, was still just a five-year-old child. He had never experienced real combat and had no real sparring experience. How could a child like him possibly match someone like Paul?
Wood gripped his sword with both hands, taking an offensive posture. However, he didn't recklessly charge in. Instead, his sharp eyes carefully observed Paul's movements, searching for any openings in his father's defense.
"Not bad, Wood," Paul praised. "It looks like you're even more capable than I first thought.
"A swordsman isn't a brute. Rushing into an attack without gauging the strength of your opponent is unwise. Observing your enemy and biding your time is the key to mastering the flow of battle."
Though Wood was still physically a child, his experience and skill from his past life as a great swordsman remained with him. To his trained eye, Paul, while appearing relaxed, was actually revealing very few openings.
If Wood attacked the right spot, he might not win immediately, but he could certainly make Paul scramble to defend.
However, if he attacked too effectively, it would raise questions. After all, how could a five-year-old possess such skill?
Lowering his sword slightly, Wood dashed forward.
Paul wasn't going to strike first. In his mind, if he attacked, Wood wouldn't be able to defend himself, and the match would end before it even began.
But as he watched Wood close in, Paul's relaxed expression tightened, and his pupils shrank in surprise.
Wood's speed was far greater than Paul had anticipated!
Though Wood's young body was not as developed as it had been in his previous world, the potential in this world's physical systems was vast and flexible. Given time and proper training, Wood could once again master the "Six Powers."
However, the techniques of the "Six Powers" required a body honed to its peak, something Wood couldn't achieve with his current five-year-old form. Even so, his refined skills and moderately trained body allowed him to tap into physical abilities far beyond those of children his age.
Wood's small frame darted toward Paul like a nimble squirrel, and before Paul could properly react, Wood's wooden sword was already thrusting toward him.
It was only at the last moment that Paul snapped out of his shock and quickly raised his sword, using the Water God Style's signature defensive techniques to block Wood's strike.
Clack!
The sound of wood clashing against wood echoed in the courtyard. Wood's attack had taken Paul so off guard that his parry had been a little hasty.
As a former S-ranked adventurer and an advanced-level swordsman, Paul's strength was vastly superior to that of a five-year-old.
At the moment their swords collided, Wood felt a powerful force travel up through his weapon, vibrating painfully through his arms.
Even though he gripped the sword with both hands, the sheer difference in strength between an adult and a child was undeniable. For a split second, Wood's wooden sword nearly flew out of his hands.
But Wood, a seasoned swordsman, knew all too well that dropping his sword would spell defeat. No matter how numb his arms were, he forced himself to keep his grip tight.
Seeing Wood get knocked back, Paul's expression shifted to one of guilt. Zenith and Lilia, watching from the side, both rushed forward, ready to catch Wood before he could hit the ground.
However, just as they were about to reach him, something unexpected happened.
Wood, despite being thrown backward, managed to adjust his posture mid-air. Twisting his body, he kicked off from the trunk of a nearby tree and launched himself back toward Paul at an even greater speed.
Whoosh!
His wooden sword cut through the air with a sharp whistle, though the strike missed Paul.
It was only natural that Wood's downward slash hadn't landed, but Paul's once-relaxed demeanor was now completely gone. His eyes were filled with both satisfaction and seriousness.
"That was an excellent strike, using the Sword God Style. A clean, direct blow with no hesitation," Paul commended. "But, you'll need more than that to defeat me."
Wood had been using the Sword God Style, a technique that prioritized swift, decisive attacks. It was the most widespread swordsmanship style on the continent.
The Water God Style was focused on defense, the North God Style relied on cunning tricks, while the Sword God Style was all about offensive power. This was the style that Lilia had taught Wood.
Wood chose not to use his "Hyakki Yagyō Sword Style" (Hundred Ghosts Sword Style) to avoid raising suspicion. A five-year-old child with incredible natural talent was one thing, but inventing his own sword style would surely raise too many eyebrows.
Clack, clack, clack!
The sound of wooden swords clashing filled the courtyard as the two figures, one large and one small, continued their sparring match.
Paul remained mostly on the defensive, while Wood relentlessly attacked, embodying the core essence of the Sword God Style.
The reason Paul had chosen to stay on the defensive wasn't that he couldn't match Wood's strikes. On the contrary, he wanted to see just how far his son could go, to test Wood's limits.
At first, Paul assumed that Wood was merely an inexperienced swordsman with some basic knowledge.
But as their sparring match continued, Paul quickly realized that Wood had already reached the level of an entry-level swordsman.
Just when Paul thought he had seen the extent of Wood's abilities, the boy's unrelenting attacks and clean technique began to make him reconsider. If not for Wood's smaller, underdeveloped body, he might have already been able to stand toe-to-toe with an intermediate-level swordsman!
Watching from the sidelines, Zenith and Lilia's initial worry had turned into astonishment and joy as they witnessed Wood's extraordinary talent unfold.
*******
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 380+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a