God of Knight

Chapter 15 - Training in Secret

The next morning, Kenzou took Kazan to the foot of Mount Thousand Flowers, away from the disciples who might report their exercises to Masaki.

On the way, Kenzou kept falling silent between remarks. Kazan watched the furrow between his brows.

Before going home from the escort mission, Kenzou had reported its success to Masaki. Later that evening, the Sect Leader had passed his house.

Masaki had then called him back to discuss the boy who had spent three months in their sect.

He said he had seen Kazan meditating.

Had Kenzou taught the child? he wanted to know.

Seven-year-olds could begin the sect’s ordinary exercises, but Masaki had set Kazan’s own starting age at eight or nine. He warned that other sects might accuse them of forcing a younger child into dangerous training.

If Kazan practiced exercises beyond his age, Masaki said, he would confine him.

Kenzou thought of Masaki’s newest disciple, Rensou Takeya. He suspected the concern for Kazan concealed a wish to keep that favorite ahead of every other student.

He said nothing of that suspicion. Instead, he chose a place where he could judge Kazan’s limits himself.

Gentle exercise need not wait another two years, provided he stopped at the first sign of strain.

“We’ll be training here, so get ready for your first exercise!” said Kenzou.

Kazan nodded and watched his teacher’s hands, waiting to see what would be demanded of him.

“Before you train, you should first listen to an explanation of the basics of the exercises you’ll be doing.”

Kenzou explained what he had sensed in Kazan’s blood and pointed to the muscles the boy would use.

Careful stretching and exercise would help those muscles and Black Blood Cells develop together.

“The first exercise is to run slowly from here to that gigantic tree over there, and then come back here!” said Kenzou.

The tree stood fifty meters away. Kenzou watched Kazan’s stance before letting him begin.

“Is that all?” Kazan thought with a faint smile.

Kazan set off at a steady jog, keeping his breath in time with his short strides.

At twenty meters, Kenzou was still waiting for the boy to slow.

Kazan touched the tree, turned, and retraced his steps.

His breathing stayed even as he approached. Kenzou leaned forward, listening for the panting that never came.

The boy stopped before him. Kenzou rubbed his eyes.

“If you can still manage it, run some more—and you can rest if you get tired!” said Kenzou.

Kenzou stepped aside to count. If the boy could continue, he would see just how far those blood cells helped him.

Kazan nodded, then started running again, and this time Kenzou would count how many laps Kazan could manage.

“Two! Three! Four! Five! No way…!” Kenzou swallowed hard as he counted Kazan’s laps.

Kazan passed him again. His stride held its rhythm, and he still had breath to answer when Kenzou called.

Usually, during their first training session, new students aged seven to eight could only run two laps.

Five laps passed. Kazan came back around for a sixth time, still breathing steadily. Kenzou had not seen the three months of practice behind those strides.

“Stop, Kazan!” said Kenzou.

“What’s wrong, Master? Is the training over?”

“No, but we’ll change the exercise. Put your hands on the ground, hold your body straight, and lower and raise yourself. Five times to start.”

Kazan braced his hands on the ground and began the push-ups.

Kenzou counted five, then ten. Kazan’s elbows kept bending and straightening.

Past twenty, his arms began shaking. At thirty, he stopped and sat back, rubbing the aching muscles.

“Six laps and thirty of those lifts!” Kenzou crouched beside him. “At your age, that’s hard to believe.”

Kenzou watched him rub his arms. “I chose well. Now I must find the other scroll, so he can learn the complete art.”

Kenzou smiled as Kazan caught his breath. For once, he did not have to coax a disciple through the first few exercises.

Masaki had hesitated to accept this child. Enjou had trusted Kenzou to teach him; watching Kazan now, he was glad he had agreed.

***

Over the next four months, Kenzou kept taking Kazan to the mountain for the same exercises. Each month, he increased the distance and repetitions a little.

Five laps became ten, then more, as Kazan’s breathing and legs grew stronger.

Eventually, Kazan could brace one hand on the ground and lower and raise his body without wavering.

In front of the house each morning, however, there were only books and writing exercises between teacher and disciple.

If anyone looked through the fence, Kenzou made sure that was what they saw.

“Kenzou-san, am I bothering you?” Masaki came over to Kenzou.

“Not at all, Sect Leader! Come sit with us here,” Kenzou invited.

Masaki looked at Kazan, who was reading in the chair next to Kenzou. His sharp gaze made Kazan lift his head and meet his eyes.

“Kenzou! I don’t understand why you’re hardly ever home—even this kid isn’t home,” said Masaki.

Kenzou laughed as he poured tea into a small cup and handed it to Masaki.

“Hahahaha! Sect Leader, where do you think I’d go? We’re always at home every day. I have received no missions for the past few months, so I’ve just been keeping Kazan busy by teaching him,” said Kenzou.

“Really? Then why didn’t the messenger from the Haruki family meet with you two yesterday?”

“What? An envoy from Mr. Haruki came here?” The news surprised both Kenzou and Kazan.

“You said you had gone nowhere, so how come you didn’t know the envoy had arrived?” asked Masaki with a cynical smile.

“Oh, maybe yesterday we were out looking for medicinal plants near the mountain!” said Kenzou.

“Did you really go looking for medicinal plants? Isn’t there still plenty of medicine in the storage shed? Why go all the way out there?” asked Masaki.

“I was just looking for some common medicinal plants!” replied Kenzou, glancing toward Kazan, who was listening to their conversation.

“Oh, I see. Well, that’s good then!” Masaki nodded slowly.

“Sect Leader! Do you know what that messenger brought? Was it a message or a letter?” asked Kenzou.

Masaki withdrew a paper scroll from beneath his shirt.

“The messenger simply entrusted this letter to me and asked me to give it to you!” said Masaki as he placed the scroll on the table.