People Who Get Carried Away Have No Reason

Peach Mountain, which had always had only two people, became home to three from this day onward. Two figures, one large and one small, cut through the thin mountain mist. Yu Luo carried two buckets filled with water as he strode easily along the snow-covered mountain path, his steps steady and his body agile. Not a single drop spilled from the buckets.

Behind him, Kaigaku carried two buckets of water just as Yu Luo once had, swaying as he inched forward step by step. He glared fixedly at Yu Luo's relaxed figure ahead, failing to watch his footing. He slipped and fell face-first into the mud. His once-clean clothes were instantly covered in muddy water, while the two buckets rolled a long way down the mountain path.

Hearing the commotion, Yu Luo turned around and saw Kaigaku already climbing to his feet, apparently uninjured. Yu Luo did not say much, merely reminding him softly, "Be careful."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Kaigaku brushed the dirt from himself, then raised his head to look at Yu Luo's carefree back. A vicious gleam flashed through his eyes before vanishing. His hands clenched tightly into fists, and only after Yu Luo disappeared around the mountain path did he turn to retrieve the buckets.

Although Peach Mountain had gained another person, Yu Luo's daily routine remained unchanged. Every day, he still chopped firewood, carried water, swung his sword, and practiced the First Form of Thunder Breathing, which never seemed to succeed. The only difference from before was that he now had a junior brother.

Strangely enough, Kaigaku was usually very polite toward Yu Luo. Whenever he did not understand something, he would ask. Not only was he not a troublesome brat, he was even exceptionally easy to look after. A child like that should have been easy to grow close to, yet Yu Luo simply could not bring himself to feel close to him.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form—Thunderclap and Flash!"

Lightning suddenly flashed through the air. The frost-cold blade lodged deeply in the thick tree trunk. Yu Luo yanked out his katana, his brows tightly furrowed as he muttered to himself:

"The breathing method isn't wrong either. Why won't this move work?"

After pondering for a long time, Yu Luo still could not figure it out. He had practiced this move for nearly five months. At first, perhaps there had been a problem with his breathing, but now his breathing matched Jigoro Kuwajima's when using this form. Yet he still could not cut this peach tree in two with a single strike.

Shaking his head, Yu Luo assumed the stance again and adjusted his breathing. He stared at the thick trunk with complete focus. After a while, brilliant lightning erupted atop the mountain once more...

At dinner, the three sat around the pot and ate. Jigoro Kuwajima ate quietly and meticulously, while Yu Luo wore a thoughtful expression as he considered the key points of using the First Form, trying to find where the problem lay. The room was silent, with only the sound of chewing.

"Senior Brother," Kaigaku suddenly said, jolting Yu Luo out of his thoughts. Yu Luo looked at him in confusion.

"What is it?"

A trace of disdain flashed through Kaigaku's eyes, but he swiftly concealed it. "Master said I can try practicing the First Form tomorrow."

"Congratulations." Yu Luo had other things on his mind and absentmindedly offered Kaigaku a few perfunctory words. Kaigaku was somewhat displeased, but he said nothing more and obediently lowered his head to eat.

The weather was rather poor that day. The night was dim, and the yellowish moon was hidden behind thick clouds. Darkness filled the world. A wolf's howl drifted over from somewhere unknown, while damp wind brushed across the hearts of the three.

"Tonight should be Jingzhe." Jigoro Kuwajima sat cross-legged on the veranda, looking at the bleak night as he meaningfully said to Yu Luo, "There should be spring thunder tonight. Don't go to bed too early, or the thunder might wake you."

"Got it." Yu Luo propped himself up on the wooden floor and distractedly replied to Jigoro Kuwajima. He had already thrown the dishwashing onto Kaigaku with the authority of a senior brother.

Kaigaku in the kitchen naturally heard their conversation as well. His right hand clenched into a fist as he glared resentfully at Yu Luo.

Late at night, the wooden house extinguished its lights. Yu Luo could not sleep in the oppressive air. He tossed and turned for a long time before finally recalling Jigoro Kuwajima's words. He put on his clothes and felt his way out of the room in the dark.

"You brat, why are you running around in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?" The moment Yu Luo stepped outside, a voice more familiar than any other sounded beside him.

"Weren't you the one who told me not to sleep so early?" Yu Luo replied helplessly. In the darkness, Jigoro Kuwajima revealed a smile Yu Luo had never seen before, though it vanished in an instant.

"At least you're obedient." Jigoro Kuwajima sounded somewhat pleased. "Watch the spring thunder carefully tonight. It'll benefit your practice of Thunder Breathing."

Hearing Jigoro Kuwajima's words, Yu Luo hesitantly asked, "Um, old man..."

"Hm? You want to ask about the First Form?"

"Yes."

"Think carefully about what breathing methods are, and what forms are. Once you understand, you'll learn the First Form. If you don't understand, then you... should practice the Second Form instead."

Jigoro Kuwajima's voice was very soft, yet it still plunged Yu Luo into deep thought.

"Breathing and forms..."

Neither of them noticed that Kaigaku's tightly shut door had quietly opened a crack. A figure sat behind the door, secretly listening.

"That damned old man, giving him private lessons!" Kaigaku no longer looked obedient. His delicate face twisted with rage and jealousy, and a vicious light filled his eyes.

At that moment, a dull rumble of thunder sounded from the horizon without warning. A bolt of lightning, like a dragon or serpent, tore directly through the night sky before vanishing in an instant. Yet that magnificent electric glow was deeply imprinted in Yu Luo's eyes. Though it lasted only a moment, it was eternal.

Thunder stirred, wind swept, startling those shut indoors; heaven and earth opened, turning through the great cycle.

Spring thunder suddenly sounded, and countless insects lay dormant. It was not only spring thunder exploding at the horizon—spring thunder also exploded within Yu Luo's heart. A silver serpent tore apart the haze in his mind, and he suddenly understood.

"I get it!" Yu Luo cheered with joy. The problem that had troubled him for nearly five months completely crumbled beneath that clap of spring thunder. He already knew why he had never successfully practiced the First Form. In his excitement, he grabbed Jigoro Kuwajima's body, which did not even reach his waist, and hugged him. Like a child, he shouted excitedly.

"Let go of me!" Jigoro Kuwajima viciously raised his cane and struck Yu Luo hard on the backside. Yu Luo yelped in pain and released him, only then realizing how bold his behavior had been. He immediately fled in embarrassment, hurriedly tossing back a sentence:

"I'm going to sleep. Farewell!"

"Hmph!" Jigoro Kuwajima angrily tapped his cane, then sighed softly. "I hope you can become the next Thunder Pillar. The position of Thunder Pillar has been vacant for far too long..."

With that, Jigoro Kuwajima returned to his room to rest, leaving only Kaigaku behind the door, his face twisted with jealousy.

"Ahahahaha..." Yu Luo burrowed into his blankets, laughing excitedly in his mind.

"I'm so stupid! Breathing methods are used to draw out one's potential, while forms are merely the specific application of breathing methods. I put the cart before the horse!"

"My First Form wasn't failing at all. My breathing intensity just isn't high enough. Put simply, the First Form is like Sword and Fairy 6, while my current breathing is a quad-linked Titan. It can run it, but it can't reach maximum settings!"

"Yes, yes, yes, you're an absolute genius, but could you stop disturbing my sleep if you're not going to sleep?!" the system roared furiously.

"Sleep my ass, get up and have fun!" Yu Luo was clearly so excited that he had forgotten who he was.

"Come to think of it, I have a bold idea."

"Then I beg you, put that idea away." The system had already begun pleading, but Yu Luo splendidly ignored its objection and fell into his own excited fantasy.

"Look, forms are actually developed based on breathing. So can I develop my own form?"

"Mm..." The system halfheartedly humored Yu Luo, only hoping that his burst of excitement would disappear soon.

"From what I can tell, Thunder Breathing mainly enhances explosive power in an instant. Don't you think it goes perfectly with the Flying Dragon Sword Style?" Excited color stained Yu Luo's face, while the system was dumbfounded by his sudden words.

"Huh?"

"The essence of the Flying Dragon Sword Style is godspeed drawing techniques, and Thunder Breathing's First Form is also a drawing technique. In other words, I can combine the First Form with the Flying Dragon Sword Style and make it into a form unique to me!!!"

"Wait, calm down first." If the system had possessed a body, it would probably have been holding its forehead right then. It asked helplessly, "The idea is great, and your imagination is impressive, but..."

"Do you know the Flying Dragon Sword Style?"

"Uh..."