One Year Swordsmanship

"800,881,882······996,997,998,999,1000"

"Haa...Haa.... This is killing me!" He Muyang collapsed to the ground with his whole body covered with sweat. Seeing Kimura Kazuya was casually making tea, He Muyang said dissatisfiedly: "Hey, old man, it's been a year, and all you taught me was these boring exercises. What's this for?"

Kimura Kazuya took a sip of his tea and savoured it: "This fragrance...This taste... It's simply exquisite!"

Some veins on He Muyang's head popped as he ran out of patience and finally shouted: "Hey, damned old man, I'm talking to you, don't ignore me, bastard!"

Kimura Kazuya glanced at He Muyang, who just collapsed to the ground and said indifferently: "Ah, are you talking to me?"

Realizing that He Muyang couldn't figure it out on his own, Kimura Kazuya put down his cup and said: "Didn't I tell you already? This training shaped up your body. With your weak body, let alone proper swordsmanship, you won't even be able to pull off a basic move."

Seeing He Muyang still looked at him in disbelief, Kimura Kazuya went on and said: "This training effectively strengthened your body as a whole. With powerful arms, you can swing your Zanpakuto harder, strong legs allow you to move swifter, and your waist is the most important one. It affects your body's flexibility since that's what connect your upper and lower limbs."

Suddenly, the look on Kimura Kazuya changed from serious to perverted, "Besides, a strong waist is more important on the bed, right?" Kimura Kazuya said as he winked meaningfully at He Muyang.

"This perverted old man!" He Muyang retorted right away but immediately laughed afterwards. "But you do have a point. It seems I do have to shape up this waist of mine! Well, it's decided, I will do another 1000 sit-ups!"

The old man and the youngsters looked at each other and laughed pervertedly.

"However, is this really okay? All I have been doing is basic training, and I haven't fought properly for a year. Don't you think I would get rusty?"

As if seeing through the anxiety in He Muyang's heart, Kimura Kazuya said with a smile: "Don't worry, I can say for sure that you didn't get rusty. In fact, you've become twice as strong than a year ago."

"How can you be so sure?"

Seeing He Muyang still had a hard time believing him, Kimura Kazuya explained: "Strengthening your physique is not all there is to this exercise. Up until now, your biggest flaw was your weak foundation, and this training eliminates that weakness. Your foundation is very solid right now. Moreover, thanks to this training, your body coordination is also improving, and you should be able to control every part of your body by now!"

Kimura Kazuya looked at He Muyang seriously like never before and said: "Remember! The power you cannot control at will can't be called your own. So don't be blinded by your pursuit of power. The power that you can't handle will only lead you to destruction, after all!"

Realizing Kimura Kazuya was being serious for once, He Muyang no longer smiled and earnestly said: "Relax, I'll be sure to keep that in mind!"

He Muyang speculated that it might be like Ichigo's Hollow power. He didn't really understand it himself, but he was convinced that if he was in Ichigo's shoes, he wouldn't be able to get away with it unscathed like Ichigo did since he wasn't the main protagonist, so of course he would try his best to control his power.

Hearing He Muyang's serious answer, Kimura Kazuya sighed in relief. He knew that He Miyang was brimming with potential at first glance, so he was afraid that he would be led astray. Now, he could rest easy because once He Muyang had agreed or determined to do something, he'll see it until the end. That was just how he was. Just like this boring training, despite complaining all the time, he'll see it until the end once he has made up his mind!

As Kimura Kazuya saw He Muyang collapsing due to exhaustion, Kimura Kazuya was relieved. He felt so lucky to be able to meet this child at the end of his life.

Kimura Kazuya then picked up his teacup and savoured his tea earlier while watching the sun setting on the horizon and He Muyang, who began his sit-ups.

"Haa...haa..."

Kimura Kazuya snapped back from his deep thoughts when he heard He Muyang panting, and upon seeing He Muyang was completely exhausted, he laughed: "If you can do 1000 additional push ups just to be strong on the bed, you should be fine, kid. It seems that these sports can't satisfy you anymore, so I'm thinking about increasing your training regime starting tomorrow!"

"Sports my ass!" He Muyang immediately retorted when he heard Kimura Kazuya's words, "Don't you see I'm out of breath? Are you planning to kill me!"

"So you don't want to? I was thinking to teach you Zanjutsu tomorrow, but if you don't want to, then forget what I just said!"

"What? Zanjutsu?!" He Muyang, who was slumping down the ground, immediately jumped excitedly, "I'm just kidding, let's do it! Finally, I can say goodbye to this boring training. I'm looking forward to tomorrow!"

"Really? I'm looking forward to it too, your expression that is...!" Kimura Kazuya smiled meaningfully.

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The next day...

"Is this your so-called Zanjutsu training?" He Muyang grumbled.

"Move your hands instead of your mouth. First of all, 1000 vertical slashes!"

"Concentrate! Look straight ahead! Put everything you got into each swing."

"Not this boring training again!" He Muyang was dissatisfied, but he still swung his Zanpakuto with all he got. With each swing, He Muyang could sense a tingling sensation inside him, although faintly, and the more he swung his Zanpakuto, the stronger that sensation was, but he just couldn't wrap his head around it. Eventually, He Muyang felt as if he and his Zanpakuto were the only ones there.

Kimura Kazuya was shocked when he watched He Muyang was so immersed in each swing. "How is this possible? I had a feeling that he's a genius, but to be able to stumble upon the True Meaning of Swordsmanship this quickly is simply unbelievable. At this rate, it won't be long before he fully grasps it!"

He Muyang suddenly looked confused when that mysterious sensation disappeared. He then immediately looked at Kimura Kazuya and asked with a confused tone: "Old man, while I was swinging my Zanpakuto earlier, I felt this strange sensation. It's as if I'm all alone with my Zanpakuto in this world, but that sensation suddenly disappeared. What was that?"

Turned out it was just momentary. Was it just a fluke? Or was he really talented? Nevertheless, it was remarkable to be able to reach such a level right off the bat.

Hearing He Muyang's question, Kimura Kazuya answered after a brief pause, "You have to know that unlike us souls, techniques are inanimate. I will only teach you the basics. Everyone has their own style, and teaching you my techniques will do you no good since there's no guarantee that it will suit you. You need to come up with your own moves. After all, what suits you is the best."

He Muyang agreed with Kimura Kazuya and nodded, "However, that did not answer my question at all!"

"Cough cough ·" Kimura Kazuya cleared his throat in embarrassment, "As for the mysterious sensation that you mentioned earlier, it is a realm that can only be grasped after one reached a certain level of Kendō."

Realm!? What realm?"

"Man and Sword are one, man is the sword, and sword is man!

"Are you kidding me!"

"Haha, not really. After you reach that realm, your Zanpakuto will be like another part of your body that you can move freely. Once you're in that state, you'll be considered a Master Swordsman provided you can perceive everything with your mind."