Chapter 27: Martial Artist
Chapter 27: Martial Artist
When Misaki really saw that Shishio was going to practice martial arts, she ran toward her room to bring something back.
“Don’t start first! Wait for me!”
Misaki quickly dashed after leaving such words.
Shishio looked at Misaki’s back and wondered what this girl wanted to do. He shook his head and then stood in the middle of the courtyard. He took a deep breath and quickly put the “horse stance” on his feet.
The first thing that he tried was “Bajiquan Mastery” since it was a martial art and he didn’t need a weapon to try it unlike “Thunder Breathing” which needed a sword to perform it since it was a sword technique.
However, in truth, even without a sword, it should be possible for him to use a “Thunder Breathing” since this sword technique revolved around speed, especially the “First Form of the Thunder Breathing” and he could also use that technique as a movement technique.
But then, Shishio quickly threw all the distractions on his mind and used the “Bajiquan Mastery” that he had received before.
Bajiquan is a Chinese martial art that features explosive, short-range power and is famous for its elbow and shoulder strikes. Its full name is” kai men baji quan”, which means “open-gate eight-extremities fist”.
Bajiquan was originally called “bazi quan” or “rake fist” because the fists, held loosely and slightly open, are used to strike downwards in a rake-like fashion. The name was considered to be rather crude in its native tongue, so it was changed to bajiquan. The term baji comes from the Chinese classic, the Yijing (I-Ching), and signifies an “extension of all directions”. In this case, it means “including everything” or “the universe”.
Bajiquan forcibly opens the opponent’s arms and mounts attacks at high, mid, and low levels of the body. It is most useful in close combat, as it focuses on elbow, knee, shoulder, and hip strikes. When blocking an attack or nearing an opponent, bajiquan techniques emphasize striking major points of vulnerability, namely the thorax (trunk of the body), legs, and neck.
Besides fists, Bajiquan also teaches an armed martial art which is the saber and the spear.
However, Shishio didn’t intend to try that now since he wanted to familiarize his body with this martial art first.
*Swoosh!* *Swoosh!*
His fists were moving very fast, creating a mirage of several fists appearing and the sound of fists breaking the air was heard, showing how powerful each fist was.
Shishio had to admit that this martial art was dangerous since it always attacked the vital points of someone’s body with very fast speed and it was created to defeat someone in one move.
Shishio also had to admit that the uniqueness of this martial art was in how he sent out each of his fists. Even though the distance he sent out those fists was short, with the power of his waist and legs, the added power of each fist became even more powerful.
That was also the reason why the training of Bajiquan was emphasized in the lower body.
When Shishio was focused on his training, there was one girl who stared at Shishio with surprise.
Kawai Ritsu was thinking of reading her book quietly, but she didn’t expect to hear a loud noise from both Misaki and Shishio who were bickering with each other. She thought to go back to her room, but she quickly sat down in the recreation room once again when she heard that he was going to do martial arts training since the book that she read at that moment was a novel about a martial artist.
Ritsu, who was on the side, was watching Shishio, who was training, in amazement since each of the fists that were sent by Shishio was very powerful and fast. It was so fast that she couldn’t see his fists clearly.
Ritsu then heard a sound of scratching then turned her head and saw Misaki, who was drawing something on her book. She looked at Misaki’s serious expression and could only shake her head before continuing to read her book. She thought for a while and decided to visit the bookstore later since she remembered there was a new book.
On the other hand, Misaki was very serious, drawing Shishio’s figure that was doing martial art training.
Shishio used various Bajiquan techniques from the fist, elbow, shoulder, knee, feet, etc. He had to admit that besides its power, this martial art was fast, very fast. He also understood why the master of Bajiquan, Li Shuwen’s famous quote would be “I do not know what it’s like to hit a man twice” since as the quote said, as long as someone was hit by Bajiquan’s techniques then the chance they would wake up would be close to zero.
Shishio then rested for a bit and let out his breath calmly. He felt very good at the moment and the “Bajiquan Mastery” was fully integrated into his body, however, he wasn’t sure whether he could fully use all of this technique during the fight since he didn’t think that he would have a chance to fight someone in the future.
The world was so peaceful and Shishio didn’t have a hobby to provoke someone.
Lastly, as a smart man, it was better to use the brain to have revenge rather than his muscle.
When Shishio stopped, he heard a voice from his side.
“Why did you stop, Shishio-kun?” Misaki asked curiously since she could tell that Shishio didn’t seem tired and she was also wondering whether she could see more techniques.
“Senpai, is there a wooden sword here?” Shishio asked.
“Wooden sword? You can do kendo too?” Misaki asked curiously.
“Yes, I wonder whether there’s one?”
“Wait a moment! Let me get it for you!” Misaki then stood up and dashed somewhere.
Shishio was wondering where Misaki was going to take a wooden sword, but then before long, she returned with a wooden sword in her hand.
“Here.”
Misaki directly gave the wooden sword to Shishio.
Shishio was dumbfounded and asked, “Where does this wooden sword come from?”
“It’s in the corridor,” Misaki said.
“Corridor?”
“Un.” Misaki nodded and said, “In the woman’s corridor, it is used to smash any man that is going to enter the woman’s area.”
“….”
Shishio nodded and didn’t say much. “Senpai, stay a few meters away from me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because it is dangerous, trust me.” Shishio knew powerful “Thunder Breathing” was so he wanted to take some precautions.
“Un! Un!”
Misaki became even more excited and wondered what Shishio was about to do.
Shishio then took a few steps back then started his “Thunder Breathing”.
Based on his understanding, “Breathing Styles” are swordsmanship forms practiced and taught by the “Demon Slayer Corps”. “Breathing Styles” makes use of specific and concentrated breath patterns, which increase the user’s lung capacity and amount of oxygen in the blood. This increase of oxygen allows the user to enhance their physical abilities and mental concentration, allowing them to fight on par with “Demons”, whose physical prowess surpasses that of the average human.
With this “Breathing Styles”, his top-class body became even stronger.
Shishio then started to breathe and his breath was so powerful that it was heard by both Misaki and Ritsu who watched on the side.
The way Shishio wielded his sword at this moment was similar to a sword style known as Iaijutsu.
Shishio channeled his strength into his legs, maximizing the output of every single muscle and blood vessel in them.
Then…
“First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.”
*Swoosh!*
Shishio unsheathed his wooden blade, dashed forward at blinding speeds that mimic lightning ripping through the air, and decapitated the opponent.
Shishio appeared five meters from his previous spot then looked at the wooden sword in his hand before letting out a sigh since he could feel that this sword was almost destroyed after he used it before, and at the same time, his feet felt slightly sore which made him wonder whether his body wasn’t powerful enough to use “Thunder Breathing”.
“….”
On the other hand, Ritsu and Misaki opened their eyes and mouth wide since Shishio’s speed was so fast!
‘Is that human speed?’ 2x
It was their thoughts at that moment.
Shishio was about to try “Thunder Breathing” again, however…
“Shishio, can you come with me?”
Shishio, who heard Chihiro’s voice, turned around and asked, “What’s wrong, Chihiro-nee?”
“Your entrance exam result has been announced so come with me,” Chihiro said.
“Yes, Chihiro-nee.”
Shishio walked to the corridor and left the courtyard, following Chihiro to her room.
Ritsu and Misaki blinked their eyes before wiping their eyes several times since they knew that what had happened before was a reality.
“Wait a moment, Shishio-kun! Chihiro-sensei! I want to know Shishio-kun’s result too!”
Misaki then chased after Shishio and Chihiro.
“…”
Ritsu was alone in the room before she stood up and decided to go to the bookstore since she wanted to see whether there was a book about swordsmanship, kendo, or a samurai since she was curious about Shishio’s kendo style before.