Kaigaku watched as Teacher Kuwajima used better whetstones, watched as even that good-for-nothing Zenitsu received special medicinal tea, while he, the earliest disciple, received nothing.
What was even harder for Kaigaku to bear was intellectual isolation.
Cheng Mo and Kuwajima Jigorō's discussions became increasingly in-depth.
They were no longer limited to the specific force application of moves, but instead delved into the subtle differences in energy flow within meridians, optimized solutions for different body types adapting to Breathing Techniques, and even the esoteric resonance of "Qi and Blood," "Mind and Spirit," and "Thunder Breathing."
Those terms, those angles of thought, were completely beyond Kaigaku's comprehension.
He could only listen like an outsider as the old man and the young man communicated in a language he didn't understand, watching them sometimes ponder, sometimes realize, and sometimes exchange knowing glances.
An invisible "intellectual barrier" firmly blocked him out, making him feel like a complete fool, excluded from the true inner circle.
This estrangement suffocated and angered him more than any material neglect.
Meanwhile, Cheng Mo was secretly laying out the final, and most important, bait.
He began, occasionally after training, to sit alone under a peach tree far from the living quarters, carefully taking out a thread-bound "notebook" that looked extremely ancient and heavily worn at the edges.
That notebook was meticulously faked by him.
The paper was of this era, but had been aged using certain methods; the ink was also old, and the content within was a mix of truth and falsehood—interspersed with several astonishingly precise modern medical anatomical diagrams of human muscles and bones.
The annotations were his self-created symbols that only he could understand, along with numerous ambiguous diagrams of energy flow in meridians and some esoteric comments.
When he flipped through it, his expression was always exceptionally focused, sometimes frowning deeply, sometimes appearing enlightened, and he would even gesture in the air with his fingers, as if verifying some profound knowledge.
Occasionally, during training, he would "inadvertently" display some subtle, unique force application techniques or energy manipulation methods.
For instance, during one rapid turn, his change of direction seemed even more counter-intuitive, as if the impact on his ankle was somehow dispersed by a technique.
Or, for example, in the starting stance of a Thunderclap and Flash, the frequency of his arm muscle tremors seemed slightly different, and the instantaneous explosive power of his sprint appeared a touch more condensed.
These improvements were subtle but continuous, perfectly fitting his persona of "rapid progress."
All of this was "just right" for Kaigaku, who was secretly watching him, to catch.
Kaigaku's eyes were fixed intently on that ancient "notebook."
A thought, like a poisonous vine, wildly spread in his heart—
That's it! It must be this way!
How could that Cheng Mo progress so rapidly?
He must have some secret, and it's that notebook!
That must be some secret cultivation method that isn't passed down, or it records a shortcut to quickly improve strength!
Jealousy, longing, and a twisted pleasure of "I knew it" intertwined in Kaigaku's heart.
He believed he had found the "truth" of Cheng Mo's power, and this "truth" rightfully belonged to him, who had worked harder and joined earlier!
It was stolen or monopolized by Cheng Mo through some unknown means.
Cheng Mo closed the notebook and carefully put it back into his inner pocket, as if it were an unparalleled treasure.
He stood up, his gaze calmly sweeping across the training ground, and for a fleeting, imperceptible moment, it met Kaigaku's eyes, which were hidden in the shadows, flickering with greed and madness.
The bait had been cast.
Cheng Mo walked expressionlessly towards the next training equipment.
Now, it was just a matter of when the fish would be unable to resist and bite the hook.
The atmosphere on Peach Mountain, like the sultry heat before a storm, became increasingly stagnant and heavy.
The reflection and invisible catalysis of Cheng Mo's cold mirror finally began to push Kaigaku's powder keg to its breaking point, and his taut nerves started to snap one by one.
Zenitsu became the most direct victim.
Bullying was no longer occasional shoving and taunting, but escalated.
During one sparring session, Kaigaku's wooden sword was no longer just a tap, but swung with a fierce whoosh, heavily striking Zenitsu's blocking arm, producing a sickening thud.
Zenitsu cried out in pain, his wooden sword flying from his hand, and a terrifying red mark instantly swelled on his forearm.
"Useless! You can't even block! How can someone like you…"
Kaigaku's low growl stopped abruptly, but the venom revealed in his bloodshot eyes scared Zenitsu so much that he even forgot to cry out, only trembling while clutching his arm.
Kuwajima Jigorō's angry reprimand followed: "Kaigaku, stop! Do you want to break his arm?!"
Kaigaku sharply pulled back his sword, his chest heaving violently, not admitting fault, but just clenching his teeth tightly and turning his face away.
In that posture, there was no hint of remorse, only suppressed brutality.
He also became more eager for quick results in his training, his movements completely losing their form.
He pursued strength and forgot coordination, pursued speed and disrupted his breathing.
Time and again, he fruitlessly tried to break through the threshold of the First Form, only to be met with increasingly clumsy falls and more severe muscle strains.
Kuwajima Jigorō frowned as he instructed him: "Center of gravity! How many times have I told you, your center of gravity needs to sink! Keep up your breathing, don't just use brute force!"
In the past, even if Kaigaku was unconvinced, he would grudgingly agree on the surface.
But now, anxiety and a sense of failure gnawed at him, and he suddenly looked up, growling at the old man: "What's the use of just saying these things? Tell me a faster way to get stronger, specific methods!"
These words were almost insubordinate.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he himself was stunned for a moment, seemingly realizing his slip of the tongue.
Kuwajima Jigorō's movements froze, and he looked at Kaigaku, his always sharp eyes, for the first time, clearly showing disbelief and deep disappointment.
He didn't get angry immediately, but just watched him in silence, a silence more suffocating than any roar.
Kaigaku avoided Teacher Kuwajima's gaze, lowering his head with a livid face, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner defiance and resentment.
And towards Cheng Mo, his hostility was barely concealed anymore.
During training, that venomous gaze was like a tangible knife, scraping across Cheng Mo's back repeatedly.
Occasionally their eyes met, and what Cheng Mo saw was a chaotic mix of jealousy and hatred, almost ready to devour him.
Kuwajima Jigorō saw every bit of this.
Initially, he merely thought Kaigaku was restless and needed discipline and tempering.
For a young man, being competitive wasn't entirely a bad thing.
But the existence of Cheng Mo's "perfect reference system," like a ruler, mercilessly measured Kaigaku's shortcomings.
Cheng Mo's calm self-discipline highlighted Kaigaku's impetuousness and recklessness.
Cheng Mo's effortless mastery highlighted Kaigaku's clumsy struggles.
Cheng Mo's control and respect for power highlighted Kaigaku's greed and distorted view of power.
Especially Cheng Mo's "unintentional," abstract comments—
"An unstable mind, gaining power will only lead to disaster."
"Internal team strife depletes everyone's chances of survival."
These words struck Kuwajima Jigorō's heart repeatedly.
He was increasingly unable to simply attribute Kaigaku's problems to "youthful impetuosity."
What he saw were flaws deeply rooted in his character: impatience, narrow-mindedness, jealousy, lack of resilience, and even… an impure heart.
Disappointment, like a cold tide, slowly drowned the old man's hopes.
Kaigaku, meanwhile, was completely consumed by anxious jealousy and a sense of powerlessness.
Cheng Mo's progress was astonishingly rapid; he wielded various sword forms with ease, and even began to devise his own variations.
Kuwajima Jigorō's gaze towards Cheng Mo, his undisguised admiration and relief, acted like the most potent poison, corroding Kaigaku's reason.
Why? Why him?!
He trained even more frantically, but with little effect, even making frequent mistakes due to his imbalanced mindset, which drew even harsher criticism from Kuwajima.
This formed a vicious cycle.
His bullying of Zenitsu also intensified, as if only by trampling on the weaker could he reclaim a pathetic sense of existence and control.
And his gaze drifted more and more, uncontrollably, towards Cheng Mo.
That guy… he must have some secret!
It must be that notebook!
This thought, like a curse, wildly spun in his mind, impossible to shake off.
That notebook must contain the secret to getting strong quickly! It's Cheng Mo's hidden treasure!
As he thought this, his eyes were Hot and greedy, mixed with extreme longing and a sense of resentment at being deprived.
He even began to subconsciously observe Cheng Mo's habits for storing the notebook, when he would take it out to read, and the surrounding environment… a dangerous, desperate thought quietly sprouted in his heart, filled with jealousy and despair.
Cheng Mo clearly perceived all of this.
Kaigaku's almost overflowing negative emotions, and the increasing disappointment and heaviness in Teacher Kuwajima's eyes.
He continued his daily training, his expression calm, as if oblivious to the surging undercurrents around him.