“What techniques should I learn?” Ken asked aloud towards the air.
At least, that was what Nana saw. She looked to Emerald, worry in her eyes. Emerald didn’t respond to the woman’s worries.
[[Since you are a Leaf, it’s only right you should learn the Leaf techniques. Leaf Body, Leaf Step, Leaf Palm, Leaf Blade.]]
“Leaf Blade? Is that what I was taught when I was younger?” Ken asked, wondering what the connection was between the techniques.
[[This queen assumes so.]]
“I’ve never heard of Leaf Body, Leaf Step, or Leaf Palm.”
[[…]]
“…”
[[No wonder your family has been brought low. Leaf Body is the greatest technique to the Leaf family.]]
Ken could hear the annoyance within his mind. He looked to the side, as though he was being reprimanded by his mother. “The techniques must have been lost years ago…”
[[…]]
Ken cleared his throat. “Anyway, about these techniques…”
[[Since you are so eager to cultivate, you will begin learning the Leaf Step technique.]]
Though Ken wanted to learn the other techniques first, he realised that the step techniques were the foundations of all martial arts. Before Body, Palm, or Blade, it was Step which was most important.
“Thank you!” Ken exclaimed, placing his hands together and then bowing his head deeply. Finally, he could learn martial arts! He needed to greet his master properly since she was willing to impart such great techniques to him.
He could already feel the rush of blood rushing through his body, the heat of passion soon filling him.
Nana watched Ken continue to talk to himself. “Does he do that often?” she asked, having not seen Ken randomly talk to the air.
“Yes,” Emerald replied back.
“Who is he talking to?”
“…” Emerald looked up to the ceiling and then back to Nana. “You shouldn’t ask.”
“…” Nana stared up at Emerald, who continued to stare into her eyes. Nana understood what Emerald meant. There was no need to ask about such matters which were above her station. She’d be safer not knowing.
Ken began learning the step technique, which had him leap a large distance, floating with each step. The first time he leapt up and tried to float, he crashed onto the bed.
Emerald and Nana looked at him, and then quickly averted their gazes. Ken felt his cheeks flush red and he hopped onto his feet.
[This isn’t embarrassing. I need to do this in order to learn…]
He continued to practise the technique throughout the day, going from dating Emerald, to training martial arts. He hadn’t realised how terrible it was to do something like that, but Emerald wasn’t one to mind about such a thing.
Mastering even the first step would take weeks, and training in an inn had its disadvantages. He needed to remain quiet, and so his training was awkward due to it, as he stumbled over repeatedly.
He wouldn’t have to embarrass himself for long, since his goddess took mercy on him.
[[Nevermind. This queen does not enjoy you fumbling about any longer. This queen will teach you Leaf Body first.]]
Ken cleared his throat, hearing the disappointment within the goddess’ voice. He dared not to go against her words, instead thanking her for the Leaf Body technique.
[[The Leaf Body technique is not like your typical Body technique.]]
“How do you mean?” Ken asked.
[[This technique won’t thicken your skin as some other techniques might, and you won’t use your ki to strength yourself against a blow. It holds two main components to the technique, which is far different than most other Body techniques.]]
“Two components?” It was rare that a Body technique held more than one component, so if the goddess was giving him a technique which would have two component, then that meant it was already a great and rare technique that most wouldn’t come across.
[[The first is the way it draws power from the sun. As you spend more time outside in the sun, your body will grow stronger and tougher, as you might expect.]]
“I see. Like a plant, I will need the sun to grow stronger.” Ken nodded, understanding the main component behind it.
[[The second is that you will train to reduce the strength of a blow by moving your body with it. You will be allow a technique to strike you, but you will move in a way that it will be minimised so the first component can deal with it.]]
“Getting hit is part of the technique?” Ken asked. Usually one would have their body beaten to grow a more powerful body, but there were few techniques which actively allowed one to be hurt.
[[Once you master the Leaf Step technique, you will be able to completely dodge the blows, and if you are hit, you can move your body in a way which will lessen the blow, and the first component of your Leaf Body technique will minimise the blow even further.]]
“I see. So it’s a combination of the entire technique.” He knew that there were many techniques which combined in such a way, forming a greater whole than the sum of its parts.
[[Once you master Leaf Step and Leaf Body, you will be near unmatched against those with the same level of strength and skill, especially in this pathetic lower world of yours.]]
Ken rubbed the back of his head, flushing a little. He expected that the goddess was a being not of this world, but he didn’t realise that she held such a lowly view of the world.
[What about me?]
Ken wondered what the goddess thought of him. Was he a bug? Or was he something more?
[What a useless thought…]
Ken returned back to training. He decided against stepping out into the sun for now, since he wasn’t in a place which was very safe for him. Instead, he trained with Emerald and Chandi, sparring with them.
They were skilled enough that they could attack him, allowing him to get used to following their blows, without being hurt too harshly.
There was something about the training which caused him to smile. Even when he was constantly beaten by Emerald and Chandi.
“Are you alright, master?” Chandi asked, seeing him smile up at her, drenched in sweat.
“I’m fine,” Ken replied. Finally, he had his legs back and could practise fighting once again. He could feel the electric excitement surge through his body.
As he fought, his mind moved a pace quicker than his body, leading him to tumble constantly, or to shift his weight slightly too late, and he would end up in one of the women’s grasp.
[[Are you falling down on purpose, mortal?]]
“I’m trying my best,” Ken said aloud to the air, not caring that he was speaking to the mid air in front of Chandi. “I’m having a lot of fun!” Ken grinned wide.
He continued to train his Leaf Body technique for the next couple of weeks. He would refrain from leaving the inn, instead cultivating with the women.
[[This queen will teach you a better cultivation technique once you understand the basics of the Leaf Body and Leaf Step technique. It should assist in its mastery.]]
“Why can’t I learn it now?” Ken asked.
[[You dare? This queen is giving you such gifts and you still ask for more?]]
“Sorry goddess…” Ken couldn’t help but feel curious, but he left it at that.
As the days passed, he finally achieved the base of Higher Martial Apprentice. With the pills he consumed, and he cultivation of his women, he could quickly achieve Higher Martial Apprentice.
Ken could feel the great strength within his fingers, smiling as he finally achieved Higher Martial Apprentice once again. He wasn’t so far off from his old strength now.
Higher Martial Apprentice would be where he remained for the moment, otherwise it would be awkward to explain his strength to the others.
Nana had also achieved Middle Martial Apprentice, and Yue was a half step from Middle Martial Warrior. Chandi was also a half step from High Martial Expert.
Ken looked to Emerald. She was probably established within High Martial Expert, though he was too busy being beaten and milked dry by her to ask.
“What techniques should I learn?” Ken asked aloud towards the air.
At least, that was what Nana saw. She looked to Emerald, worry in her eyes. Emerald didn’t respond to the woman’s worries.
[[Since you are a Leaf, it’s only right you should learn the Leaf techniques. Leaf Body, Leaf Step, Leaf Palm, Leaf Blade.]]
“Leaf Blade? Is that what I was taught when I was younger?” Ken asked, wondering what the connection was between the techniques.
[[This queen assumes so.]]
“I’ve never heard of Leaf Body, Leaf Step, or Leaf Palm.”
[[…]]
“…”
[[No wonder your family has been brought low. Leaf Body is the greatest technique to the Leaf family.]]
Ken could hear the annoyance within his mind. He looked to the side, as though he was being reprimanded by his mother. “The techniques must have been lost years ago…”
[[…]]
Ken cleared his throat. “Anyway, about these techniques…”
[[Since you are so eager to cultivate, you will begin learning the Leaf Step technique.]]
Though Ken wanted to learn the other techniques first, he realised that the step techniques were the foundations of all martial arts. Before Body, Palm, or Blade, it was Step which was most important.
“Thank you!” Ken exclaimed, placing his hands together and then bowing his head deeply. Finally, he could learn martial arts! He needed to greet his master properly since she was willing to impart such great techniques to him.
He could already feel the rush of blood rushing through his body, the heat of passion soon filling him.
Nana watched Ken continue to talk to himself. “Does he do that often?” she asked, having not seen Ken randomly talk to the air.
“Yes,” Emerald replied back.
“Who is he talking to?”
“…” Emerald looked up to the ceiling and then back to Nana. “You shouldn’t ask.”
“…” Nana stared up at Emerald, who continued to stare into her eyes. Nana understood what Emerald meant. There was no need to ask about such matters which were above her station. She’d be safer not knowing.
Ken began learning the step technique, which had him leap a large distance, floating with each step. The first time he leapt up and tried to float, he crashed onto the bed.
Emerald and Nana looked at him, and then quickly averted their gazes. Ken felt his cheeks flush red and he hopped onto his feet.
[This isn’t embarrassing. I need to do this in order to learn…]
He continued to practise the technique throughout the day, going from dating Emerald, to training martial arts. He hadn’t realised how terrible it was to do something like that, but Emerald wasn’t one to mind about such a thing.
Mastering even the first step would take weeks, and training in an inn had its disadvantages. He needed to remain quiet, and so his training was awkward due to it, as he stumbled over repeatedly.
He wouldn’t have to embarrass himself for long, since his goddess took mercy on him.
[[Nevermind. This queen does not enjoy you fumbling about any longer. This queen will teach you Leaf Body first.]]
Ken cleared his throat, hearing the disappointment within the goddess’ voice. He dared not to go against her words, instead thanking her for the Leaf Body technique.
[[The Leaf Body technique is not like your typical Body technique.]]
“How do you mean?” Ken asked.
[[This technique won’t thicken your skin as some other techniques might, and you won’t use your ki to strength yourself against a blow. It holds two main components to the technique, which is far different than most other Body techniques.]]
“Two components?” It was rare that a Body technique held more than one component, so if the goddess was giving him a technique which would have two component, then that meant it was already a great and rare technique that most wouldn’t come across.
[[The first is the way it draws power from the sun. As you spend more time outside in the sun, your body will grow stronger and tougher, as you might expect.]]
“I see. Like a plant, I will need the sun to grow stronger.” Ken nodded, understanding the main component behind it.
[[The second is that you will train to reduce the strength of a blow by moving your body with it. You will be allow a technique to strike you, but you will move in a way that it will be minimised so the first component can deal with it.]]
“Getting hit is part of the technique?” Ken asked. Usually one would have their body beaten to grow a more powerful body, but there were few techniques which actively allowed one to be hurt.
[[Once you master the Leaf Step technique, you will be able to completely dodge the blows, and if you are hit, you can move your body in a way which will lessen the blow, and the first component of your Leaf Body technique will minimise the blow even further.]]
“I see. So it’s a combination of the entire technique.” He knew that there were many techniques which combined in such a way, forming a greater whole than the sum of its parts.
[[Once you master Leaf Step and Leaf Body, you will be near unmatched against those with the same level of strength and skill, especially in this pathetic lower world of yours.]]
Ken rubbed the back of his head, flushing a little. He expected that the goddess was a being not of this world, but he didn’t realise that she held such a lowly view of the world.
[What about me?]
Ken wondered what the goddess thought of him. Was he a bug? Or was he something more?
[What a useless thought…]
Ken returned back to training. He decided against stepping out into the sun for now, since he wasn’t in a place which was very safe for him. Instead, he trained with Emerald and Chandi, sparring with them.
They were skilled enough that they could attack him, allowing him to get used to following their blows, without being hurt too harshly.
There was something about the training which caused him to smile. Even when he was constantly beaten by Emerald and Chandi.
“Are you alright, master?” Chandi asked, seeing him smile up at her, drenched in sweat.
“I’m fine,” Ken replied. Finally, he had his legs back and could practise fighting once again. He could feel the electric excitement surge through his body.
As he fought, his mind moved a pace quicker than his body, leading him to tumble constantly, or to shift his weight slightly too late, and he would end up in one of the women’s grasp.
[[Are you falling down on purpose, mortal?]]
“I’m trying my best,” Ken said aloud to the air, not caring that he was speaking to the mid air in front of Chandi. “I’m having a lot of fun!” Ken grinned wide.
He continued to train his Leaf Body technique for the next couple of weeks. He would refrain from leaving the inn, instead cultivating with the women.
[[This queen will teach you a better cultivation technique once you understand the basics of the Leaf Body and Leaf Step technique. It should assist in its mastery.]]
“Why can’t I learn it now?” Ken asked.
[[You dare? This queen is giving you such gifts and you still ask for more?]]
“Sorry goddess…” Ken couldn’t help but feel curious, but he left it at that.
As the days passed, he finally achieved the base of Higher Martial Apprentice. With the pills he consumed, and he cultivation of his women, he could quickly achieve Higher Martial Apprentice.
Ken could feel the great strength within his fingers, smiling as he finally achieved Higher Martial Apprentice once again. He wasn’t so far off from his old strength now.
Higher Martial Apprentice would be where he remained for the moment, otherwise it would be awkward to explain his strength to the others.
Nana had also achieved Middle Martial Apprentice, and Yue was a half step from Middle Martial Warrior. Chandi was also a half step from High Martial Expert.
Ken looked to Emerald. She was probably established within High Martial Expert, though he was too busy being beaten and milked dry by her to ask.
