Zephyr, Do You Want a Disciple?

Before Xia Luo could speak, Colonel Whiteman said rapidly, "All right, you don't need to say anything else. It's settled, then. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you Soru. Go back and get some proper rest today."

"Training in the Six Powers isn't that simple. You'd better be prepared."

As soon as he finished speaking, Colonel Whiteman turned and left without looking back, his steps swift.

A little while later.

Once he was out of Xia Luo's sight, Colonel Whiteman's tense body instantly relaxed, and he panted repeatedly.

"Goddamn, that was close. I almost gave myself away!"

"I'm exhausted!"

"Dammit, I have no idea what is wrong with that kid. His combat ability isn't all that great, but his endurance is even better than mine."

Whiteman wiped away sweat as he panted. "I hit him so many times, yet after the fight, he acted like nothing had happened. If I hadn't called a stop, he probably could've kept dragging it out with me forever. What a freakish kid!"

When others had called Xia Luo a freak before, he had merely smiled and paid it no mind, because he had seen even bigger freaks. But now, he suddenly understood exactly how they felt.

"That kid really is a freak!"

But Whiteman quickly changed his tune and said gleefully, "I struck gold! Hahaha..."

"No, no. I need to go seek Zephyr's advice again. Whether it's strength or teaching students, he's better than me..."

"Oh, right. While I'm at it, I'll have Zephyr give me the training methods for Kami-e, Rankyaku, and Geppo. Xia Luo improves so quickly in real combat, which means his comprehension isn't bad. I can let him learn them himself."

"No, no, I should learn them first. Once I've mastered them, I'll teach him. Besides, with Soru, Tekkai, and Shigan, those three techniques alone will keep him busy for a long time."

Thinking back, it had taken him nearly two years just to barely master those three techniques. Xia Luo would need at least a year, right?

"Mm, that'll do. I'll contact Zephyr first, and congratulate him while I'm at it. I heard he's about to be promoted to admiral. Tsk, tsk, that promotion speed is really something!"

As he spoke, Colonel Whiteman had already returned to his office and skillfully dialed Zephyr's Den Den Mushi.

"Hahaha, Zephyr, it's me again. Listen, I've got to tell you..."

Once the call connected, Colonel Whiteman chattered away. First, he congratulated Zephyr and exchanged a few pleasantries to strengthen their rapport. Then he asked for the Six Powers training methods, saying he couldn't fall too far behind. Finally, when Xia Luo came up, he praised him lavishly, painting Xia Luo as an unparalleled genius.

Looking at the Den Den Mushi before him constantly mimicking Whiteman's expressions, Zephyr chuckled. "You showed him off last time, and now you're doing it again. Still, from the sound of it, his talent really is impressive. He's a good prospect."

"Of course!" Whiteman said with a proud look. Then he added, "By the way, Zephyr, do you want a disciple?"

Zephyr's eyebrows rose slightly. "You want to recommend him to me? Isn't he your disciple?"

"Ah, I'm only giving him a few pointers. That doesn't make me his teacher. Besides, before long, I won't be able to teach him anymore. With his talent, I don't want to hold him back." Whiteman's tone was melancholy. It wasn't that he didn't want to take Xia Luo as his disciple; his strength simply didn't allow it!

"I see..."

After that, the other end of the call fell silent.

After a long while, Zephyr spoke again. "I've been a little busy lately and can't spare the time. I'm afraid I don't have much availability. Let's talk again once I'm done with this stretch."

Whiteman said excitedly, "Then it's a deal. If you still haven't contacted me after a while, I'll go find Garp or Sengoku. The two of them might be interested."

Zephyr laughed heartily. "Hahaha, they're probably even busier than I am. All right, I understand. I won't forget."

"Fine, then. I'll buy you a drink when the time comes."

"No problem."

"Soru, put simply, is a high-speed movement technique. It requires both feet to stamp the ground more than ten times in an instant, using the ground's reactive force to launch the entire body forward, creating an effect similar to teleportation."

"The more times you stamp, the faster you go."

Early the next morning, Colonel Whiteman explained the principles of Soru to Xia Luo while demonstrating it himself.

"Of course, it sounds simple, but it involves extremely demanding force techniques. Watch my feet carefully, especially my calves..."

Whoosh!

As soon as he finished speaking, Colonel Whiteman vanished from where he stood, then reappeared in front of Xia Luo.

"Did you see it clearly? I deliberately slowed down just now."

To make it easier for Xia Luo to observe, Colonel Whiteman had specifically worn loose shorts today. He had even shaved off his beloved leg hair!

For that, he had wrestled with himself for a long time last night before finally making up his mind.

Honestly, if his former instructor hadn't led by example, he truly wouldn't have been willing to do it.

Xia Luo furrowed his brow in thought and did not answer.

"It's all right if you didn't see it clearly. I'll demonstrate a few more times."

Seeing Xia Luo's reaction, Colonel Whiteman was unsurprised. He even wanted to laugh a little. Back then, he had watched it many times without understanding, and in the end could only grasp it bit by bit through idiot-proof practice. How could Xia Luo possibly learn it after seeing it once? Thus, he had long been prepared to demonstrate it repeatedly.

And that was indeed the case. Xia Luo nodded and said, "Yes, please demonstrate it once more for me."

"All right."

And so it went: a second time, a third time... all the way to the sixth.

With his astonishing eyesight and observational ability, Xia Luo finally discovered the trick.

So he stopped Colonel Whiteman, who was preparing to demonstrate it a seventh time. "Colonel, that's enough. Let me try."

"Huh?"

Colonel Whiteman looked at Xia Luo instinctively, his face blank.

Then he said, "No rush. This is only the sixth time. Watch a few more times before trying. Sharpening your axe won't delay chopping wood."

Xia Luo insisted, "It's fine. I'll try first."

"Then... all right."

Fine, letting this kid hit a wall wouldn't be a bad thing either, Colonel Whiteman thought.

"Mm."

Xia Luo stood where he was, his eyes tightly shut. In his mind, he recalled how Colonel Whiteman's feet and calves exerted force when using Soru...

It should be like this.

As he thought, Xia Luo's feet stomped the ground fiercely, stamping it ten times in an instant. Then... his body flew away.

Well, upward. Like he was jumping, rather than moving sideways.

"No, no..."

As if possessed, Xia Luo kept trying over and over after landing, refusing to give up, while Colonel Whiteman offered timely guidance from the side.

"Still not right!"

After failing once again, Xia Luo knitted his brows tightly and muttered, "What exactly am I doing wrong?"

Seeing this, Colonel Whiteman hurriedly comforted him. "Xia Luo, you've already done very well. Soru is one of the Navy Six Powers, and it's extremely difficult to learn. Mastering it in a single day is practically impossible."

"So there's no need to rush. Practice slowly, and you'll eventually master it. When I learned Soru back then, it took me several—"

Before he could finish, Whiteman's vision blurred. A figure suddenly shot out at incredible speed, moving in a strangely familiar manner.

So that's how it is. I think I understand now.

On the other side, Xia Luo's furrowed brow gradually relaxed, and an enlightened expression appeared on his face. Then he turned to Colonel Whiteman in confusion. "Colonel, what did you just say? I wasn't paying attention."

"That was... Soru?"

Whiteman stared in dumbfounded shock, his jaw nearly dropping.