Chapter 12: One's Own Failure Is Frightening Enough, But a Friend's Success Is Even More Heartbreaking

Tokugawa Ririko, unable to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, naturally went along with it.

She walked to the corner alone, continuing her daily Swing practice.

The sound of wind breaking from beside him made Uesugi Toru click his tongue in displeasure.

This was the same principle as a university student being able to sleep soundly under the racket of blue-switch keyboards, yet lying awake all night at the sound of a roommate turning pages.

Uesugi Toru focused his attention on the gleaming String Hun Xiang Hui, and before long, a 【Whether to Use】 Prompt popped up.

Uesugi Toru froze for a moment — so he himself could also use String Hun Xiang Hui?

Isn't this thing a material for Yokai Avatar Star Upgrades? Wouldn't a person eating it just directly kick the bucket?

However, although String Hun Xiang Hui is a necessary material for upgrading Yokai Avatars, in reality it doesn't count as precious at all.

On the contrary, it's a dime-a-dozen thing in the Gacha Pool where nine out of ten Ten-Pulls yield it.

Squinting and thinking for a moment, Uesugi Toru clicked Use.

In just a moment, Uesugi Toru felt the world before his eyes shift from a blurry 1080p to an incomparably clear 4k; countless minute movements and sounds slowly flowed through his five senses.

And when Uesugi Toru gripped the Bamboo Sword tightly, Ririko's words and hand-on-hand Guidance from not long ago became clear in his heart.

Every movement, every theory, seemed to have become extraordinarily simple.

"I understand."

He murmured.

Ririko, who was doing Swings, stopped her movement and glanced at him: "What did you understand?"

"Stance, Grip, center of gravity control, Swing, advancing step..."

Like reciting a menu, Uesugi Toru spoke out all the fundamentals Ririko had just taught, making the latter's Expression gradually become splendid.

She covered her mouth, her body trembling for a good while before she spoke seriously: "Say a bit more, I promise I won't laugh out loud."

Uesugi Toru, however, did not reply to Ririko; he knew this state definitely had a time limit, and String Hun Xiang Hui was a Consumable.

So he had to engrave these realizations into his flesh before the effect disappeared.

Thus, under Ririko's half-smiling gaze, Uesugi Toru circulated Kiai Technique, maintaining a Heart Like Still Water state as he stood up, gripped the sword, and swung in the air...

Consequently, Uesugi Toru's Swordsmanship level rapidly transformed in the air swings from a completely clueless Ordinary Person into something like a Swordsmanship enthusiast who had practiced for about one or two months.

Ririko's Expression also shifted from initially being unable to hold it in, to gradually turning serious, then to puzzlement, and finally to silent speechlessness.

When all this passed, time...

Ririko dazedly lowered her head and looked at her Mobile Phone.

Only one hour had passed.

As the String Hun Xiang Hui's effect vanished, the world before Uesugi Toru's eyes instantly blurred by more than one tier.

Only then did he discover he was already drenched in sweat, as if fished out of water, and his muscles ached abnormally, as if he had been brutally beaten by Ririko beside him.

But it was all worth it.

【Under the effect of the first use of String Hun Xiang Hui, after arduous training, your Skill, Kiai Technique Fragment Proficiency +18!】

【Kiai Technique Fragment (Entry Level 74/100)】

【Under the effect of the first use of String Hun Xiang Hui, after arduous training, your Skill, Tennen Rishin-ryu Proficiency +50!】

【Swordsmanship·Tennen Rishin-ryu (Not Entered 51/200)】

【Under the effect of the first use of String Hun Xiang Hui, after arduous training, your Will +1!】

Not only did both Skills' Proficiency Significantly Increase, but Will also went from 7 points to 8 points.

Uesugi Toru turned his head to look at Ririko, barely maintaining a smile, and said faintly: "I said, let me be quiet for a bit to sort out my thoughts."

Ririko was bewildered.

In just one hour, he had crossed the distance of her month of day-and-night effort.

One swing of his sword equaled her swinging a thousand times, even ten thousand times.

Effort, it turns out, really amounts to nothing before talent.

The clown, it's actually me.

In the silence, Ririko suddenly spoke: "Little Toru, come, slap me once."

"Hah?"

Uesugi Toru hadn't Reacted yet.

"As expected, it's Reality." Ririko sighed: "If it were a dream, I'd already be beaten into a Pig's head."

Ririko paused, then asked: "Still want to learn today?"

"Spare me, I can barely even lift my hands."

Uesugi Toru shook his head, shaking his limp arms.

"Mm."

Ririko nodded, silently disassembling the Bamboo Sword, carefully wiping and polishing every part, then reinstalling the tsuba, nakaknot, and sakigawa, and finally hanging the tendon String used to straighten the Bamboo Sword.

Uesugi Toru watched Ririko, serious as if experiencing a great battle, and felt the Atmosphere seemed a bit off.

But he couldn't put his finger on what was off.

He had just focused on practicing sword for a bit; it didn't seem like he had provoked Ririko anywhere.

After a long while, Ririko put the Bamboo Sword into the bag, pitter-pattering to the Doorway, and turned back with some puzzlement: "Uesugi-kun, not coming?"

Uesugi Toru pondered for a few Seconds, decided to ask directly: "Something on your mind?"

Ririko stared at him for two seconds, no longer pretending to wait: "Just like you said, let me be quiet for a bit, sort out my thoughts."

Uesugi Toru had no reason to stop her, so he nodded: "Tomorrow, I'll teach you breathing techniques."

The Swordsmanship girl smiled briskly, pushed open the wooden door heavily, and her voice came from ahead:

"Then see you tomorrow, Uesugi-kun."

Uesugi Toru watched Tokugawa Ririko's retreating figure; he had originally wanted to ask this guy out for barbecue tonight.

But forget it.

Since Ririko left first, he might as well find some time later to go to the Playground and clear the new map.

As long as the Shrine at the spawn point is lit, it's no longer necessary to be at a designated location to enter Chang Shi.

For example, right now, even in the Kendo Hall, Uesugi Toru can enter Edo Castle.

……

After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Uesugi Toru found a dark corner on the Playground and lay down.

He used his mind to click the 【Enter Chang Shi】 option, and then his vision went black once more.

New map, activate!

Fresh straw roof smell mixed with pungent sulfur filled his nose; Uesugi Toru was almost dazed by the irritation, and without a second word put on the Mask of the Laughing Hannya.

He sat up and looked around.

He discovered he was still born inside a cramped thatched hut, only the interior furnishings had undergone some changes.

Besides the common old tatami mats, grass piles, and low table, there were actually two or three broken chairs leaning against the wall.

"This map's era is at least post-Mei Zhi Zhi period."

Uesugi Toru mused; what he saw and heard had already proven that different eras indeed coexist simultaneously within Chang Shi.

Although chairs were introduced to Japan from Tang Chao as early as the Na La period, they actually only became popular in commoner households after the Mei Zhi Zhi period when Western culture invaded extensively.

Hope the little monsters here don't use American-style Iaido...

Holding this thought, Uesugi Toru began searching for the Shrine.

First time raw, second time familiar.

Before long, Uesugi Toru lit the Shrine.

His eyes brightened.

【You have lit the Shrine of Arakawa Guicun.】

【Current Region Unlocked: Arakawa Guicun (One Star)】

(End of Chapter)