Looking at the boy's incredibly serious expression, Shizuka Ikenami recalled the times she taught Heiji Hattori, and a sense of responsibility welled up in her heart.
She coughed lightly and said, "Before you learn kendo, Yuzuru, you must first understand the spirit and etiquette of kendo."
“Master, please speak.” Yu Shengnan pricked up his ears and listened attentively.
"Kendo emphasizes the unity of mind, technique, and body. It requires a firm will, superb skills, and a strong physique."
Chibo Jinghua spoke slowly and deliberately.
Yu Sheng Nan nodded as he listened, "Master, I've got it."
"Furthermore, when practicing Kendo, you must respect your opponent, respect yourself, and above all, respect Kendo itself."
Ikeba Shizuka continued to explain patiently.
"Yes, Master, I assure you, I will always respect you and uphold the Way!"
Yu Sheng Nan responded immediately without hesitation, silently adding in his mind: I would never do something as rebellious as deceiving my master and ancestors.
"That's good. Your master always believed that you could do it..."
Ikeba Shizuka revealed a faint smile, her gaze sweeping over Yu Shengnan's tall and straight figure. After a slight hesitation, she raised the wooden sword in her hand. "I'm giving you this sword as a gift from your master."
This wooden sword is the training sword she has been using since she first started practicing kendo, and it holds an extremely important and irreplaceable significance for her.
"Thank you, Master. I will definitely cherish this sword!"
Yu Sheng Nan took the sword with both hands and twirled it nimbly in his hands.
The wooden sword has inscriptions on both sides of the handle. One side is inscribed with the words "Chi Bo" and the other side with "Jing Hua". The characters are elegant and graceful, and one can almost feel the refined and otherworldly temperament of the person who engraved them through these characters.
"Let's start practicing now."
Seeing the boy's joyful expression, the slight reluctance in Ikeba Shizuka's heart dissipated, and she led him to a relatively open space.
Upon arriving at the destination, Ikenami Shizuka stopped, turned around to face Hanyu Nan, and said earnestly, "First of all, you need to stand in the right position, with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, and your center of gravity must be stable."
After saying that, she personally demonstrated the movements.
With a flick of her wrist, Chi Bojinghua's expression hardened, and she instantly assumed a stance. The belt hanging at her waist swayed gently with her movements, her peerless face exuding the demeanor of a master.
"Master is so handsome!"
Yuzuru immediately clapped and cheered.
Ikeba Shizuka rolled her eyes at him, annoyed. "Don't just stand there watching, you should do it too."
"Okay!"
Yuzuru smiled and replied, quickly mimicking her movements with a slightly awkward stance.
"No, the position of the fingers needs to be adjusted."
Chibo Jinghua frowned slightly, instantly assuming the role of her master.
The gentleness and tranquility of the moment have receded like the tide, and what is now revealed is only seriousness and earnestness.
Is it like this?
Yuzuru did as he was told, with a very proper attitude, but his posture was always just a little off.
It's not that we can't learn it, it's that there's no need to.
"You're wrong! You need to keep your balance!"
Despite several attempts to correct it, it still failed.
Seeing this, Ikeba Shizuka simply stopped talking and stepped forward, extending her warm and slender hands to personally help Yuzuru adjust his posture.
She explained softly, "You need to use your fingers like this, while keeping your wrist flexible at all times..."
While threading a needle, she carefully pressed her fingertips against Yuzuru's palm, guiding him little by little to firmly grasp the longsword in his hand.
With such careful guidance, the boy quickly mastered the correct way to hold a sword.
However, before she could even feel happy, the boy's figure veered off course again as soon as she let go of his hand.
Ikenami Shizuka: "..."
She felt like she had taken on a clumsy apprentice.
Yuzuru seemed to sense her emotions, turned around, and said pitifully, "Master, am I particularly stupid...?"
Looking at his pitiful appearance, Ikeba Shizuka seemed to see herself when she first started learning swordsmanship. Her heart softened immediately, and she said gently, "Don't think like that. Everyone is like this when they first start learning. As long as you are willing to study wholeheartedly, you will definitely be able to learn it well."
"Really?"
Yuzuru's eyes sparkled, his face full of anticipation.
"Really, it's because Master didn't teach you well before. Come on, stand up straight again."
Ikeba Shizuka nodded heavily, stepped forward, and carefully circled around Yuzuru Nanami.
After determining exactly where her apprentice had fallen short, she came up behind him and gently pressed on his lower back to help him straighten his chest.
Then, Chibo Jinghua moved gracefully forward, took a small step, turned slightly to the side, and quietly reached out her jade hand from behind to gently grasp the warm back of Yusheng Nan's hand.
Then, she tiptoed and rested her fair chin on his broad shoulder. Her lips parted slightly, and she said softly, "That's right, just like that. Hold this position and don't move. Now, follow my movements and slowly raise the sword. Remember, the movements must be steady; don't rush..."
Her graceful figure pressed against Yuzuru Nan's back, a slightly intimate gesture. Perhaps because of the boy's approachable aura, she didn't find anything wrong with it and simply focused on teaching.
"Slow down, and pay attention to adjusting your breathing rhythm."
As she spoke, Shizuka Ikemami used her other hand to support Nanami Yuzuru's arm, guiding him to make the correct movements.
"Yes, I understand. Master, you're so kind!"
Yuzuru closed his eyes contentedly, a pleasant, fresh scent lingering in his nostrils, and a strand of silky, smooth, jet-black hair inadvertently fell onto his cheek, gently caressing him and bringing a faint, ticklish sensation.
Indeed, only the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Ikeba Shizuka noticed the strange gaze from the side, turned her head, and their breaths mingled. She glared at her and scolded, "Why are you looking at me? Focus on your sword!"
"Okay!"
Yuzuru grinned and withdrew his admiring gaze.
Ikeba Shizuka continued to provide hands-on guidance.
The master and apprentice, one in front and one behind, one holding a sword and the other holding hands, began their training with undivided attention.
...
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