Xia Chi hadn't expected Mustard to actually train him in martial arts.
He'd assumed their relationship would be no different from Mustard's relationship with Leon-a purely trainer-focused apprenticeship.
The old man would offer guidance on battle strategies and raising Pokémon, while Leon worked to hone his battling skills.
After all, if Leon were accomplished in martial arts, the highly commercialized Galar League would surely have slapped the title of "martial arts prodigy" on him.
Just like Bea, the "karate prodigy" of Stow-on-Side Stadium. That was a genuine selling point.
"Uh, Master, isn't it a little late for me to start learning martial arts at my age?"
That was Xia Chi's question.
He wasn't actually opposed to martial arts training. The idea of getting into shape had been sitting in the back of his mind for a long time.
In this world he'd crossed into, Pokémon partners with extraordinary powers might take center stage, but physical fitness was still too important to ignore.
Trekking through mountains in the wilderness required stamina, reacting to sudden danger required speed, and then there was the most practical consideration-
Being able to run faster with his Pokémon when a wilderness battle went south.
A strong body was the foundation of survival and growth.
But starting horse stance training at eighteen?
That sounded a little ridiculous.
After all, in Xia Chi's admittedly shallow understanding of martial arts, anyone who hadn't started as a little brat already counted as a late bloomer.
Mustard laughed. "Hahaha! Too late? Do you think I'm running some children's extracurricular class, or training Fighting-type Gym Leaders?"
Puzzled, Xia Chi asked, "Then what do you mean, Master?"
"I'm teaching you martial arts so you can do more than punch a Corviknight to pieces. Though that's not impossible if you train far enough."
Mustard