The sound of the fragrant fish soup boiling in the iron pot filled the air, creating an unusual silence.
Ryuji and Sakonji Urokodaki both fell silent for a while before Ryuji spoke first, "Senior Sakonji, please."
Hearing this, Sakonji Urokodaki finally removed his tengu mask, revealing his face to Ryuji.
Seeing the old man's appearance, Ryuji wasn't surprised or shocked. However, judging from the old man's age, he must be in his sixties. Although he was over sixty, he still maintained an incredibly resolute spirit.
Sakonji Urokodaki, having removed his tengu mask, didn't immediately start eating. Instead, he asked Ryuji, "Before we eat, I want to know who taught you Water Breathing?"
Hearing this, Ryuji didn't expect the old man to ask that. He was slightly surprised and replied, "I saw Tomioka Giyuu using it, so I tried to imitate it. It turned out to be pretty good!"
Of course, this was just Ryuji's exaggerated explanation. As for why he said that, it was naturally to raise his own image a bit.
This time, Sakonji Urokodaki didn't show a surprised expression. Instead, his expression became even more serious.
The reason he wasn't surprised was that Sakonji Urokodaki thought Ryuji was bragging. He himself was a practitioner of Water Breathing and knew that learning a breathing style wasn't as simple as just imitating. It required complete unity of mind and body, gradually exploring and familiarizing oneself with the breathing style's origin and characteristics. Finally, through constant repetition, making this breathing become a bodily instinct.
"Learning Water Breathing, which belongs to the five main styles, isn't as easy as you say. You can't reach your current level just by imitating. Giyuu spent two years to reach your current level." Sakonji Urokodaki continued calmly.
Ryuji didn't refute anything. Instead, he continued, "Senior Sakonji, you have to believe that there are geniuses in this world, and I'm one of them."
Without further explanation, Ryuji attributed his ability to use Water Breathing to being a genius.
After all, he didn't have anything to say about the system, and there was no need to explain its existence to Sakonji Urokodaki.
Hearing this, Sakonji Urokodaki suddenly laughed. The laughter seemed to be saying that Ryuji was a bit arrogant.
Soon, Sakonji Urokodaki's laughter abruptly stopped, and his expression became a bit sad.
"I used to have a very outstanding disciple. He was even more outstanding than Giyuu, but he lost his life because of his arrogance. It's not so much arrogance as it is excessive concern for others. This ultimately led to him harming himself. To save everyone who participated in the selection, he eventually ran out of energy and collapsed on the mountain. The final result was naturally that he was eaten by a demon."
Sakonji Urokodaki slowly told Ryuji this story. However, Ryuji didn't understand the specific intention behind the old man telling him this. Was it simply to tell him not to be arrogant? Or was it to say that if you don't act recklessly, you won't die?
"I'm telling you this story to tell you that since you think you're a genius, don't let me see this tragedy happen again."
"Doing things beyond your capabilities is actually a manifestation of arrogance."
After listening to Sakonji Urokodaki's story, Ryuji finally understood. It turned out that he had been reminded of his deceased disciple, so he said so many heavy words.
____________________
fore more advance chapter's visit my p@treon.
p@treon.com/kane45