“In the hands of a master, anything can become a sword”

* * *

Amaru: “Sensei is unbelievable!”

The task before him was as impossible as sun falling from the sky.

Amaru was told to cut down a large tree using nothing but a wooden sword.

Amaru: “But sensei, that is impossible!”

In response to that, Shoyo simply drew his wooden sword and within a moment, the large tree next to Amaru’s tree was cut in half.

Shoyo: “You were saying?”

Amaru: “But how?”

Shoyo: “If a blade has no edge, you must use your chi to give it an edge. The sharper you can make it, the smoother it will flow”

Amaru: “I understand but….”

Shoyo: “Even if you understand the concept with your mind, your body needs to learn in through experience”

And in order to gain that experience, Amaru had to cut a thick tree with a wooden sword.

Unfortunately, every attempt at infusing chi into his wooden sword ended with a blast-like impact, sometimes even resulting in his sword being flung away or destroyed. By now, he was on his third wooden sword.

Amaru: “Blast again! I need it to be a blade not a fricking explosion!”

According to Shoyo, chi has very many uses, it was like a multipurpose tool, but each way of using it had to be painstakingly learned.

Giving an edge to an edgeless object was the most basic of basics

Shoyo: “If you can accomplish this by the time I come back, I will make you my official student”

Amaru: “So basically this is a test if I am worthy of being his disciple, huh”

Shoyo did say that he was a very demanding teacher and this just proved it.

Amaru: “If I fail this he will not teach me anymore!”

Even with his hands full of blisters and bleeding, Amaru refused to stop.

No matter what, this tree had to be cut in half, even if it causes him unbearably pain and fatigue.

Amaru: “I refuse to give up, watch me sensei! I will succeed!”

* * *

Yama: “One, two, three, hop, one, two, three, hop…”

He was currently levitating three pebbles on top of his hand, in a motion similar to juggling.

Nagare: “How are you doing this?”

Yama: “You mean this? Neat trick isn’t it?”

Yama: “Though it does use up a lot of chi to maintain and further the distance, the more you use up”

Nagare: “Can you teach me?”

Yama: “Of course. Grab a pebble”

Nagare did just as instructed.

Yama: “Pour just enough into it that it will float but not so much that it will explode”

Nagare: “It’s not working”

Yama: “You gotta visualize it floating above your hand”

Nagare: “I gotta give it more juice!”

Yama: “Oh boy”

An explosion that followed was strong enough to send Nagare flying to the nearby lake.

Nagare’s was wet and humiliated.

Yama: “Told ya. Too much chi without any control will cause an explosion”

Nagare: “But doesn’t pouring more chi solve the problem?”

Yama: “Not really, it’s not about using more chi, it’s about how you use it; namely how good your control over chi is”

Yama: “Levitating an object has many uses, such as….”

He pulled out his sword and threw it in the air. The sword stopped falling and became suspended in mid-air.

Then, it started spinning with a motion resembling a saw.

With a motion of his finger, the sword launched itself into a nearby tree.

Yama: “It’s a neat trick; many assassins use it to catch their victims off guard”

Nagare: “I had no idea chi could be used in such a way”

Yama: “Did you think that use of chi is limited to sharpness and elements? Many different organizations exist that utilize chi in rather creative recreational ways. After all, chi is just energy; you are only limited by your creativity on how you use it”