Volume 1 Chapter 26 Sou Ouka, Making A Promise
──A Few Hours Later──
"You both did well."
"Yes, Master."
"...Yes, Master."
Shikei and I arrived in Horou town early in the afternoon.
Master was waiting for us in front of the town gate.
I got to the town gate before Shikei did.
After taking a break in the cave, we started running on the count of "one, 2, 3," but my 'walking technique' was faster. I created a gap of about 20 to 30 meters and joined Master.
That said, the time difference between me and Shikei was only about ten seconds.
For us, who had traveled a long distance, that was just a small error.
After joining Master, we began to move for the swordsmanship exam.
"Still, you were pretty fast."
In a corner of the town... stopping in a small square, Master said.
"I thought it would take until sunset. Did you both push yourselves too hard?"
"We took a little shortcut. But we're fine."
"...We're fine."
Shikei and I answered Master's question.
Master nodded, looking relieved.
"I see. That's good. By the way, Kaou."
"...Shikei, you're being called?"
"......"
"Kaou?"
"Shikei?"
".........Y-yes!"
Shikei, who was behind me――Shouou――quickly straightened up.
"W-what is it, Master?"
"You seem a bit spaced out. Are you tired?"
"I'm fine. No problem."
"Is that so? By the way, you look really refreshed, don't you?"
"Huh?"
"It seems like you have a lot of energy. It's strange since you traveled a long distance. Also, your clothes aren't very wet. Did you take shelter from the rain? And..."
"Master! C-can we talk about the exam instead?!"
Shouou stood at attention and raised her voice.
Then, she clasped her hands towards Master and said,
"Master, I must report that I lost to Tenhou in the 'Walking Technique' exam."
"I see. But it was a close match, right?"
Master smiled gently and said,
"With a difference like that, you could make it up in the 'Swordsmanship' exam."
"No."
Shouou shook her head.
"I would like to withdraw from the 'Swordsmanship' exam."
"Withdraw? Can I ask why?"
"Because I have decided never to point my blade at Tenhou for the rest of my life."
Shouou declared while staring at Master's face.
"On this day, when I made my vow, I cannot point my sword at Tenhou. Even if it's just a training wooden sword. After tomorrow, I could spar with a wooden sword. But today, I do not want to point any weapon at Tenhou."
"What if I told you to spar anyway?"
"I will stand still and take Tenhou's sword upon myself."
"Kaou. Can I ask you something?"
"Yes, Master."
"Did the phoenix (Houo) show its wings to Tenhou?"
Master asked.
The phoenix probably refers to Ouka.
Master is asking, "Did Ouka tell Tenhou her true identity?"
"Yes. Tenhou said, 'You are still my friend.' I want to respond to his sincerity."
I accepted Shouou completely, even though she had been pretending and hiding her true self.
She can't turn against someone like me.
──Shouou knelt before Master and said that.
"Please forgive me, Master."
"You understand that you can give up the exam, right?"
"Yes."
"The reward... that is, the technique I was supposed to teach will only be learned by Tenhou. Is that still okay?"
"Yes, Master."
"...Hmm."
"Wait a minute, Master! What about Shikei too!!"
Huh? Why is this conversation happening?
Shouou giving up the exam... that can't be right.
Shouou wanted to take on the 'role' to send her mother back to their hometown.
If she gives up the exam... she will lose that chance.
"Then, Master! I will decline the exam itself. Please give the 'role' and the reward to Shikei!"
"Tenhou!? What are you saying!?"
"Please, Master."
For a while, silence fell.
This is a corner of Horou's town.
It was good that Master chose a place away from prying eyes to conduct the 'swordsmanship' exam.
Here, I can make my request openly.
"...Honestly, you two. Hehe. Hehehe."
A laugh escaped from Master's lips.
"I've never seen martial artists who are willing to give way to each other. Really... you two are something else... really."
"Master? What's wrong?"
"I'm glad you're my disciple."
Master said after laughing for a while.
"Hey, Kaou, Tenhou. Do you know why I'm the only one who can inherit the 'Seiryuu Four Sword' and 'Four Divine Steps'?"
"...No."
"...I never thought about it."
I shook my head. Shouou did the same.
In 'History of Swordmaster,' only Master Raikou could use 'Four Divine Steps.'
That's why I became Master's disciple, but when I think about it, it seems strange.
Just like I have Shikei, Master should have other disciples too.
"The secret lies in 'Beast Body Guidance.'"
"'Beast Body Guidance'?"
"To use 'Seiryuu Four Sword' and 'Four Divine Steps,' you need to increase your 'ki' energy with 'Beast Body Guidance.' But that method is not very effective if you do it alone. To gain strong 'ki' energy, you need to practice together and exchange your energy."
Everything in this world exists in pairs.
──Yin and Yang.
──Heaven and Earth.
──Sun and Moon.
──Day and Night.
──Male and Female.
These things come together and interact to create the world.
'Beast Body Guidance' is based on that principle.
Because of that, doing the guidance alone has little effect.
The true effect is shown when both people do it together from a young age.
When 2 people connect and exchange 'ki', they enhance each other's 'ki' energy.
That seems to be the true way to use 'Beast Body Guidance' passed down in Master's school.
"Only by doing 'Beast Body Guidance' together can you truly use the power of 'Seiryuu Four Sword' and 'Four Divine Steps.' But... that also means creating 2 strong people at the same time."
Martial artists want to be the strongest on their own.
However, getting stronger with 'Beast Body Guidance' means both people get stronger.
The more you train, the more powerful rivals you end up creating.
"That's why, as members of my school get stronger, they start to fight each other. My master also went down the wrong path because of that. They made a fellow student unable to recover. That person regretted it for a long time."
Master Raikou said this with a distant look in his eyes.
"After teaching me 'Beast Body Guidance', 'Seiryuu Four Sword', and 'Four Divine Steps', my master abandoned martial arts. Well, they said they were going to become a hermit and went into the mountains, where they passed away."
"...Is that so?"
"But you all won't fight each other, right?"
Master said this and smiled.
"Rather, you guys are trying to give the 'task' and the reward to your opponent. There's no other martial artist like this. Seriously... Kaou and Tenhou..."
Saying that, Master started laughing, holding her stomach.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked genuinely happy.
After laughing for a while, Master looked up and said,
"Well then, the exam is over. I've seen enough of your growth."
"Yes. So, master, about the 'task'..."
"I'll let Ryougen-kun know. Kaou and Tenhou. You two will fulfill the 'task', right?"
It was so straightforward.
In a surprisingly light tone, Master said.
"You guys were mistaken. I said I would test if you have the ability to fulfill the 'task'. But I never said it has to be done by just one person, did I?"
...Now that I think about it, that's true.
Master said, 'I will test if I can entrust the task to you.'
She never said it had to be just one person.
"...Huh?"
Oh, Shouou looks stunned.
That's right. We thought only one person would take the task and acted recklessly. As a result, she ended up revealing her true identity.
It's no wonder she feel drained now that she realizes her misunderstanding...
"Master. Please, give the reward to Shikei after all."
"That's not allowed! Tenhou. Once I promised..."
"Okay, okay. I'll give the reward to both of you."
Saying that, Master smiled.
"You all will compete in martial arts, but you won't be enemies. Just understanding that is enough. As a reward, I will teach you both the fifth form, 'Kirin.'."
With that, Master taught me and Shouou the 'sword techniques' and 'footwork' of Kirin.
It seems that the martial arts of Master's style are completed by learning the form of Kirin.
In 'Seiryuu Four Sword' and 'Four Divine Steps,' the Seiryuu dragon represents wood, the Suzaku bird represents fire, the Byakko tiger represents metal, and the Genbu turtle represents water.
With the addition of the Kirin, it seems that wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are all gathered.
"If you can master these, you will be able to perform flexible attacks and movements. While I am away on business, make sure to train properly."
"Yes, Master!"
"When I return, I want to see your progress. Especially you, Tenhou."
"What is it, Master?"
"Your 'ki' energy has become remarkably strong. Continue with 'Beast Body Guidance.' I look forward to seeing what kind of 'ki' energy you will have when I come back."
With those words from Master, the exam was over.
After that, we took a room in Horou's town and returned to Hokurin's town the next day.
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