31: Chapter 31 Becoming an Apprentice of KoushirouUpon entering the inner courtyard, Luffy noticed Zoro's increasingly unsure gait and knew things were about to go wrong.Sure enough, the two got lost right inside their own arena.
Wang Lufei said helplessly, "I felt something was off when I came here, but I didn't expect you to be even more unpredictable than I imagined, getting lost even in your own home."
I only have one question: when you wake up in the middle of the night and need to go to the toilet, do you end up urinating or defecating anywhere because you can't find your way?
Hearing Wang Luffy's sarcastic remark, Zoro blushed and said anxiously, "How can you slander me like that.Not being able to find your way doesn't count as being lost.How can a swordsman's matter be called being lost?I'm so engrossed in the way of the sword that I can't see anything else."
After Zoro finished speaking, he touched the sword at his waist, then turned his head to the side, refusing to look at Luffy.
Seeing Zoro like this, Luffy didn't know what to say.He could only rely on his own observation to find the cafeteria.However, as soon as he activated his observation, he discovered a black-haired girl coming towards the two of them.
Sure enough, the black-haired girl appeared, jogging along.She waved to Zoro and said, "Zoro, I didn't see you when I passed by the gate.Someone next to me said you brought a newcomer into the courtyard, and I knew something bad was going to happen.You actually got lost.I don't know what to say to you."
Then he turned to Wang Luffy with an apologetic look and said, "I'm sorry, this green algae head has caused you trouble."
Wang Lufei waved his hand and said, "It's alright.I came here to become an apprentice anyway.It's good to come in and see other places.It will help me get more familiar with the terrain."
The black-haired girl replied, "So you've come to become my apprentice.Hello, I'm Kuina, the daughter and senior apprentice of the gym leader.Hehe, come with me, I'll take you to see your father."
After saying that, he looked at Zoro and shouted, "And you, come along too, or you'll get lost again.If you know you have a bad sense of direction, don't keep causing trouble by leading people around."
So the three of them went to the lobby of the venue, where Koushirou was sitting quietly.
Kuina said to Koushirou, "Father, a newcomer has arrived.He wants to become an apprentice to learn kendo." As she spoke, Kuina made way for Wang Luffy, who was standing behind her.
Upon hearing this, Koushirou opened his eyes, which had been tightly closed while sitting in meditation, and looked Wang Lufei up and down.He felt a little strange, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
However, Koushirou only hesitated for a moment before calmly saying, "Hmm, I understand.Judging from your physique, you're a good candidate for kendo, but I can't tell if you have a sword in your heart.Can you tell me why you want to learn kendo?"
Wang Lufei thought for a moment and said, "In order to become stronger, and to have enough strength to protect the people I want to protect, I think that as long as I am here, the people I care about will not suffer."
Upon hearing these words, Koushirou's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said, "The Sword of Protection?Becoming stronger is not for killing but for protecting.Not bad, that's a good idea.I can teach you the way of the sword, but you need to remember what you said today."
"I will never forget my original aspiration," Wang Lufei said firmly.
Koushirou nodded in satisfaction and said, "Judging from your appearance, you haven't eaten yet.Go to the cafeteria and eat first.I'll prepare the tools for your apprenticeship here.Come find me here after you've eaten."
The group wandered around and eventually returned to the cafeteria.On the way, Kuina developed a strong interest in Wang Luffy and asked:
"Why would you say that you learned kendo to protect others?Ever since I can remember, every time my father asked this question, people would either answer revenge or become the world's best."
Even I don't know why I learned swordsmanship.I just wanted to prove to my father that women can succeed in swordsmanship too.Compared to you, my thinking seems very naive.Can you tell me why that's the case?
Wang Lufei scratched his head and replied, "It doesn't have any special meaning.It's probably because everyone's experiences are different, so their thoughts are different.I'm very happy, so I want to protect this happiness.But those people may have experienced hardship, so they want to change."
You've lived in a kendo dojo since birth.As the dojo owner's child, seeing so many people around you inevitably makes you crave attention.That's why you're thinking this way now.
"Is that so?" Having received the answer, Kuina lowered her head thoughtfully, saying nothing more.Seeing this, Wang Luffy went to get his food without saying anything more.
The group quickly finished their meal, rested for a while, and then returned to the dojo's main hall.
In the hall, Koushirou moved a chair and sat down.To his left was a table with teacups and other items on it.
Wang Lufei quickly realized upon seeing these things that this was a ceremony for becoming an apprentice.So, relying on the apprenticeship ceremony he had seen online in his previous life, he began to learn it in a very professional manner.
Wang Lufei walked forward respectfully, bowed three times with his hands clasped three times at a distance of three meters from Koushirou, then moved to the table, poured a cup of tea, and knelt on one knee to offer the tea, saying, "Please have some tea, Master."
Looking at Wang Luffy in front of him, Koushirou was completely bewildered, not knowing what he was doing, but he couldn't help but take a sip of tea.Then he looked at Wang Luffy again, observing his next move, because he was also very curious.
Wang Luffy took the teacup that Koushirou had finished drinking from and put it back on the table.Then he took out one million Berries from his pocket and handed it to Koushirou, saying, "This is a gift from your disciple to you, Master.Please accept it."
Koushirou pursed his lips, took the Beli, and looked at Luffy, saying, "Anything else?" Of course, what Koushirou meant was, "Do you have a next step?"
But Wang Lufei clearly misunderstood, thinking something was missing, so he took out another million and handed it over.
This went on for four or five times before Kuina, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and said, "What are you doing?And Luffy, why are you giving my father so much money?"
Wang Lufei said with some doubt, "Isn't the gift for becoming a disciple insufficient?If the gift isn't enough, then the intention isn't sincere enough."
Koushirou said, "So you're here to become an apprentice.I thought you were offering betrothal gifts.Where did you learn these moves?Becoming an apprentice only requires kneeling down and kowtowing once; there's no need to offer tea or gifts."
After hearing Koushirou's words, Wang Lufei realized everyone had misunderstood and said, "Hey.It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.I can't just give such a small betrothal gift.These movements were all learned blindly from the elders in my family; I thought this kind of apprenticeship ceremony was common here.Shall I do it again?"
Koushirou said, "It's alright, your actions were quite polite.Since that's how you become an apprentice over there, there's no need to do it again.Let's just consider it a successful apprenticeship.Here's your money back."
Wang Lufei quickly waved his hand and said, "No need, no need.There's no reason to take back what's given out when you become an apprentice.Just consider this money as a way to improve the quality of meals for your senior brothers and sisters."
Upon hearing Wang Lufei's words, Koushirou stopped refusing and accepted the gift.
And so, Wang Lufei's life at the kendo dojo officially began.
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