stonecrandall Page 3
Page 3
"Hey! He..."
Shota was stunned.
Is this guy desperate for his life? !
Jigoro didn't speak, but nodded slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards for a moment.
Ryosuke gripped the wooden sword, its heavy weight almost breaking his wrist.
He stood still, his feet apart.
Using his hazy memory, he imitated the movements that Shota and the other person were practicing, raising the wooden sword above his head.
“Ah ...
The blade swung down, crashing into the air with clumsy and weak force, its posture ridiculously crooked.
Ryosuke did not stop.
The wooden sword in his hand swung down, then rose again, and swung down once more!
This was his will fighting desperately against his frail body.
Shota and Rika stood frozen in place, forgetting to eat and speech, simply staring in shock at the boy wielding the sword in the arena.
Late at night, everything is silent.
The pain from training kept Ryosuke awake at night.
At that moment, the door opened.
Ci Wulang carried the medicine and a jar of medicinal oil.
There were no lights on in the room, only the cool moonlight streaming in through the narrow window.
Just as Ryosuke was about to say something, Jigoro put down the medicine bowl, covered his hands with medicinal oil, and gently stroked his convulsing and trembling leg muscles.
The force was heavy, and the technique had a peculiar rhythm, instantly kneading open the stiff muscles and grinding in the excruciating pain.
"Well--!"
Ryosuke's jaw was chattering, and he was breathing heavily.
A moment later, a strange burning sensation penetrated the aches and pains, bringing a sense of comfort.
After an unknown amount of time, the hands finally stopped.
Ryosuke collapsed onto the mat, utterly exhausted and covered in sweat.
Ci Wulang held the medicine bowl to his lips.
The medicine was so bitter it was unbearable, and Ryosuke swallowed it with great difficulty.
"Master..."
Ryosuke's voice was hoarse, and he paused.
In his previous life, his parents died early, and he lived as a corporate slave, struggling to survive in the cracks of society.
Jigoro's sudden concern touched Ryosuke.
"Can I...can I call you Grandpa like they do?"
Ci Wulang coughed a few times, with a deliberate air of impatience.
"Call me whatever you want! Stop nagging!"
Jigoro grabbed the empty bowl, got up, and left.
However, the moment he turned his back to Ryosuke, the scene changed abruptly.
The old man instantly became kind, and the screen was filled with peach blossom bubbles.
As Ryosuke watched his disappearing figure, a warm feeling welled up inside him.
He buried himself under the covers, his shoulders twitching silently a few times.
Chapter 3 Final Assessment
Spring peaches have all fallen, summer cicadas have gone far away, and autumn maples have drifted away.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the monotonous and rigorous training at Momoyama.
After nine months of rigorous training, Ryosuke Yasui has undergone a remarkable transformation.
He had grown noticeably taller, and although he was still thin, he was no longer the sickly man who would break at the slightest touch.
The paleness faded, and the skin was tanned a wheatish color by the sun and sweat.
"Ha! Ryosuke! You won't surpass me again today!"
Shota's voice rang out, and he moved like lightning, taking the lead in rushing towards the finish line.
"Hmph...hmph...you brat, what are you so smug about..."
Ryosuke followed closely behind, only a few steps away from Shota.
Pear Blossom lagged slightly behind, her little face flushed red from running, but her steps were steady.
After finishing training, Ryosuke gritted his teeth as he stared at the conspicuous 83-day lifespan displayed on the system panel.
Yes, even with relentless training and physical strengthening, he only has less than three months left to live.
In the center of the dojo, two brand-new haori were neatly stacked.
One of them is a dark brown color that Shota likes.
One of them was a bright black garment, with a base color of jet black and fine lightning patterns embroidered in gold thread along the hem.
Jigoro handed the two Nichirin swords to the two men.
Pear Blossom is too young, and being a girl, she is relatively weak, so she will have to take the assessment a year later.
"The time for the final test has come. Survive on Mount Fuji."
Jigoro didn't give any further instructions, but simply looked silently at Ryosuke.
According to the training plan, it took Shota, who was so talented, a whole year of training to reach the standard.
But Ryosuke is reckless.
While others eat, he trains; while others sleep, he trains; while others are training, he is still training!
With Shota by my side for this final assessment, we can look out for each other.
Ryosuke didn't speak, but gripped his Nichirin Blade tightly, bowed deeply to Jigoro, and walked down the mountain.
He wants to live!
He trained like crazy for a year, all for this moment!
"Shota-nii! Ryosuke-nii! Come back safe and sound!"
Behind them, Pear Blossom's shouts grew fainter and fainter.
Tengxi Mountain is shrouded in a sea of wisteria flowers all year round.
A dreamlike, pale purple waterfall cascades down the mountainside, forming a natural cage.
Deep within the mountains, the demons captured by the Demon Slayer Corps are besieging the area.
For the final test, they need to survive inside for seven days.
Beyond the sea of wisteria blossoms, all that remains is darkness.
The ghosts howled, and a foul stench filled the air.
Every inch of this land is soaked with the despair of the defeated.
Ryosuke was not with Shota.
Having thoroughly read the original work, he knew very well that, apart from the bugged Hand Demon, most of the demons here had only eaten two or three people and were relatively weak.
It can be used by him to practice and gain lifespan, preventing Shota from stealing kills.
"Wow--"
With a strange cry, a monstrous creature with sharp teeth, a long tongue, and a body like a lizard leaped out of the haystack!
He swooped down towards Ryosuke at an incredible speed!
Ryosuke bent down and gripped his sword. As he breathed, lightning crackled around him.
"Breath of Thunder·Shape of One·Thunderbolt Flash!"
The sound of a blade rang out, like a thunderous roar!
Ryosuke's figure flashed past in an instant, and as the blade burst forth, the demon's head was severed and turned to ashes.
[Slaying a low-level evil spirit grants 10 days of lifespan; remaining lifespan: 92 days.]
A year later, the system's voice sounded again.
Ryosuke was extremely excited; this move hadn't taken a heavy toll on him.
This is thanks to the speed and destructive power of the Thunderclap sword technique.
Although Lei Hu is difficult to learn, the results are remarkable.
Most importantly, he's handsome!
A low-level evil spirit has a lifespan of 10 days!
Without pausing, Ryosuke lunged towards another bush from which the howling was coming from.
Aside from the Hand Ghost, the little Karami here are at his mercy.
"Strange, where's the ghost? Wasn't the final selection supposed to be brutal?"
A swordsman wearing a fox mask walked through the jungle, scratching his head in confusion.
Akira Moriyama has been here for six days! A full six days!
He had already assumed a fighting stance, but he hadn't seen a single ghost, let alone a ghost!
No way, bro!