Silence!
Dead silence!
Ryosuke was both annoyed and amused.
What he probably meant was: Your swordsmanship is so exquisite it surpasses my understanding, I cannot break it, it's very impressive!
Although, it sounds like this guy is making fun of him.
"Hahahahahahaha—!!!"
Sabito clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he was bent over: "Giyuu, Giyuu... next time, maybe don't think."
Giyuu's small head was filled with big confusion.
Everyone laughed... that means what I said this time must be right.
I shouldn't be disliked.
Giyuu silently gave himself a thumbs-up in his heart.
"Giyuu!"
Makomo stomped her foot, her small face deliberately stern, pointing at Giyuu's nose.
"You are the most—annoying!"
Giyuu suddenly froze, his mind feeling as if a white line had pierced through it.
He abruptly turned his head, his expression still serious.
"No!"
Giyuu's tone was decisive, as if stating an established law.
"I won't be disliked."
"..."
This overly serious rebuttal, coupled with his naturally blank face, left Makomo with no temper at all.
Ryosuke and Moriyama Akira watched clearly from the side. The two exchanged a knowing glance, their shoulders starting to tremble violently again as they desperately stifled their laughter, finding it incredibly hard to hold back.
Makomo sighed helplessly, deciding to temporarily let go of her single-minded senior brother, and turned to Ryosuke.
A bright smile immediately bloomed on the girl's face as she bowed gracefully:
"Hello, Mr. Yasui! I am Makomo! Urokodaki-sensei's disciple!"
Ryosuke also reined in his smile, nodding gently in return: "Hello, Makomo, I am Yasui Ryosuke."
Makomo then remembered the real reason, turning to Sabito and Giyuu.
"Master is waiting for you inside."
Sabito and Giyuu immediately straightened their expressions.
Ryosuke and Moriyama Akira exchanged glances, then tacitly followed them.
The wooden house on Mount Sagiri was simple and clean, carrying a faint scent of wood and herbs.
Pushing open the sliding door, Urokodaki Sakonji was kneeling by a low table, intently pouring tea.
He wore his characteristic red Tengu mask, his expression unreadable.
Hearing footsteps, Urokodaki raised his head, his gaze passing over his disciples and landing directly on Ryosuke.
"You..."
A low, gentle voice sounded: "Are you Yasui Ryosuke from Mount Momoyama?"
Ryosuke bowed slightly: "Yes, Mr. Urokodaki, I am Yasui Ryosuke, a disciple of Master Jigorō Kuwajima."
"Grandpa has always been very concerned about you, saying that the moisture on Mount Sagiri is good for people, and he hopes you take care of your health."
He paused, then added: "This time, my mission passed nearby, and Moriyama cordially invited me, so I ventured to disturb you."
Hearing this, Urokodaki Sakonji's tea-pouring motion paused slightly.
He chuckled softly, teasing gently.
"Master Jigorō is concerned?"
He gently put down the teapot and pushed a cup of clear tea in front of Ryosuke.
"That doesn't sound like something that hot-tempered old man would say; it sounds more like polite words you thought up for him."
Ryosuke smiled frankly, not denying it.
"I can't hide it from you, Master. This is my understanding of my teacher's feelings. Although he doesn't say it explicitly, he remembers the friendship between Mount Sagiri and Mount Momoyama, watching out for each other."
"Hmm."
Urokodaki responded, then turned to look at Sabito and Giyuu, who stood respectfully.
"How was the flow of energy during today's boulder-splitting? Have you found that balance point between the flexibility of water flow and the sharpness of the strike?"
Sabito immediately bowed, meticulously reporting his insights from training and the obstacles he encountered.
Giyuu, on the other hand, was concise, occasionally adding one or two key points.
Urokodaki listened intently, offering guidance from time to time.
Ryosuke listened quietly from the side, observing Urokodaki's teaching methods.
Compared to Jigoro's lightning-fast emphasis on instantaneous bursts and extreme exertion,
Urokodaki focused more on the longevity of breath, the continuous flow of power, and the perception and utilization of environmental forces.
Like a mountain stream, seemingly gentle, but in reality, containing an endlessly surging power.
When the instruction concluded, Sabito and Giyuu bowed and withdrew to continue with the assignments Urokodaki had given them.
The tea aroma in the room became even more serene.
Ryosuke put down his teacup, deliberating before speaking:
"Mr. Urokodaki, the tranquil atmosphere of Mount Sagiri is also completely different from Mount Momoyama. I would like to impose upon you for a period of time here to refine my Breathing Technique."
Urokodaki raised his eyes, his voice remaining gentle: "The mountain dwelling is simple; if you don't mind, feel free to stay."
"Thank you, Master!"
Ryosuke thanked him solemnly.
In the following days, Ryosuke quickly integrated into the rigorous yet unique training rhythm of Mount Sagiri.
He did not abandon the foundation of Thunder Breathing, still training his explosive power on the mist-shrouded cliffs.
After all, a man can't just be fierce; he also needs to be persistent!
Only by being fierce and persistent can one break through!
For the rest of the time, Ryosuke continuously practiced Total Concentration Breathing Constant.
Without the burden of illness, Ryosuke's practice yielded twice the results with half the effort.
At night, he sat cross-legged in front of the wooden house, attempting to extend the state of Total Concentration Breathing into his sleep.
This was the most difficult hurdle for Total Concentration Breathing Constant.
To allow the body, even in an unconscious state, to instinctively maintain the rhythmic breathing of Total Concentration.
Initially, this was an almost impossible task.
The moment his mind relaxed slightly or his body fell into deep sleep, that delicate breathing rhythm would immediately break.
Several times in his sleep, Ryosuke was startled awake by a sudden change in his breathing.
"Still no good..."
Late one night, Ryosuke was once again startled awake by failure, irritably raking his fingers through his hair.
Moonlight streamed through the window lattice, casting patches of light on the floor.
The sliding door was gently pulled open, and Urokodaki Sakonji silently entered, sitting cross-legged on a cushion opposite him.
"Feeling restless?"
Urokodaki's voice was calm and unwavering.
Ryosuke exhaled a murky breath, feeling somewhat defeated.
"I apologize for letting you see me like this, Master. This Constant Concentration, once I fall asleep, my body becomes uncontrollable. Forcibly maintaining it only causes anxiety and restlessness, as if my body is instinctively resisting it."
"Instinctive resistance?"
Urokodaki repeated softly, then shook his head: "You've misunderstood, Ryosuke."
Ryosuke looked up, confused.
"Breathing Technique is not a skill you force upon your body."
Urokodaki softly added, highlighting the key: "It is inherently an instinct of your body, like your heartbeat, like the flow of blood."
"What Constant Concentration seeks is not how hard you try to maintain it when you're awake, but for it to completely become a part of your life, as natural as normal breathing."
"What you need to do is to make Total Concentration Breathing a state of your existence."
"When you are awake, it is your antennae for perceiving the world; when you are asleep, it is the riverbed where your life flows. It is not you controlling your breath, but your breath being you."
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