Training in progress

"Run, Uzui!"

"Keep going, we're halfway up the mountain!"

"Quick, we're almost at the top of the mountain!"

"Keep going, you're almost there!"

Encouraging shouts echoed along the mountain path as two figures walked side by side, one in front of the other.

Sweat trickled down Teiichi forehead, but Teiichi didn't pay it any mind.

Turning his head to look at Tengen Uzui beside him, he encouraged him again:

"Quick, run! It's almost there!"

Upon hearing this, Tengen Uzui's lips twitched slightly. He looked at Teiichi, and roared:

"Why don't you calculate how many times you've said 'almost'?"

"Hmm, the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth time, I suppose!" Teiichi moment's thought.

"Then why did you keep talking!" Tengen Uzui roared in dissatisfaction.

"Sigh! We're almost there this time!" Teiichi said helplessly.

"Ghost..."

"Ah! Teiichi, and Mr. Uzui!"

A sudden voice interrupted Uzui's words. Teiichi and Uzui both turned to look, only to see Mitsuri looking at them with a happy expression.

She was also carrying a stone, but unlike the other two, she was carrying it down the mountain.

This training was divided into two parts: not only carrying the stone up the mountain, but also carrying it down to the waterfall at the foot of the Yamashita.

"You've already reached the summit?" Tengen Uzui asked, panting.

"Okay!" Mitsuri nodded.

"How far is it from here to the top of the mountain?" Uzui asked Mitsuri.

"Hmm~" Mitsuri thought for a moment and replied, "We've probably covered about two-thirds of the way here!"

Upon hearing this, Uzui quickly turned his head and glared angrily at Teiichi.

The two have been walking for almost an hour and have only covered two-thirds of the way. Doesn't that mean that, even not counting the descent, it will take at least another half hour to reach the summit?

Teiichi gave Tengen Uzui an awkward smile, then turned to look at Mitsuri.

"Mitsuri!"

"Yes! What's wrong?" Mitsuri looked at Teiichi expectantly.

Teiichi slightly raised his head and looked at the rock less than three meters high above Mitsuri's head, and said:

"Tomorrow, when you replace your stone, you'll have to take a stone that's over four meters tall, just like Uzui!"

Upon hearing this, Mitsuri's face immediately fell.

"All right!"

The two sides quickly passed each other.

The two then encountered Giyu, Kanae, Kyojuro along their journey...

It wasn't until he saw Shinobu that Teiichi stopped again.

After realizing that Teiichi had something to say to her, Shinobu Kocho slowly stopped and looked at Teiichi with some confusion.

Teiichi looked down at Shinobu Kocho 'Shinobu Kocho face and saw that it was covered with beads of sweat, and her mouth was constantly opening and closing to help her breathe.

Then, Teiichi's gaze shifted slightly upwards, glancing at the stone on Shinobu Kocho's head that wasn't much smaller than a typical Pillar, and he said:

"Why don't you get a smaller stone tomorrow?"

Knowing that Teiichi cared about her, Shinobu Kocho smiled slightly, shook her head, and said:

"Isn't this what makes training more meaningful?"

Teiichi slightly, said nothing more, and the two quickly passed each other.

Shortly after Shinobu Kocho, Teiichi and Tengen Uzui also reached the summit.

Then he turned around and continued running Yamashita.

a long time.

Tread!

With the final step, we reached the foot of the mountain.

With a loud 'boom,' Teiichi and Tengen Uzui both dropped the stones they were holding onto the ground.

After throwing it all, Teiichi still had the strength to maintain his dignity, while Tengen Uzui was completely exhausted and knelt on the ground, panting heavily.

"I didn't expect Uzui to actually finish it. It seems I'll have to add some more pressure to myself tomorrow!" Kyojuro said enthusiastically.

Teiichi walked up to the crowd and shouted:

"That's right. Those who went down the mountain quickly today, be mindful tomorrow and choose a bigger rock for yourselves! Those who went down slowly can consider whether they want to choose a smaller one!"

"Then, come with me!"

As he spoke, Teiichi led the group in one direction, and soon they arrived at a waterfall.

Teiichi, "Next, we will practice Breathing Style meditation!"

"What's there to train for? Everyone here has already mastered Breathing Style to a very high level, haven't they?" Sanemi said, frowning.

"That's right, but you're all far from reaching the pinnacle of Breathing Style. At least, you can't do this, can you?"

As he spoke, Teiichi gently raised his hand, and a breeze softly swept towards the crowd.

"Yes! Even though I already knew, and I just experienced it myself, I still feel it's incredibly magical every time I feel it!" Kyojuro nodded earnestly, then looked at Teiichi and asked:

"Does Mr. Kato mean that this is something that can only be understood after one has mastered the Breathing Style to its fullest extent?"

Teiichi, "I don't know if this counts as the end of Breathing Style, because I'm still practicing Breathing Style myself, but it's definitely the result of my more than ten years of consistent Breathing Style practice!"

"Wind Breathing, Flame Breathing, Thunder Breathing, and the like are one thing, but I can't possibly cultivate Serpent Breathing to the point where I can summon snakes, can I?" Obanai, arms crossed.

Teiichi chuckled and said, "I don't expect you to cultivate to my level! But the practice of Breathing Style has many benefits. It can deepen your control over your body and help you further develop your physical abilities!"

"The reason I was able to lift such a large rock is because I've been practicing Breathing Style for years!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, but said nothing more.

Teiichi pointed to the protruding stone that had already been placed in the river and said:

"Next, everyone, stand up there and practice Breathing Style meditation!"

"Aren't those covered in moss?" Giyu said, looking at the stones.

"Yes, these stones were taken from underwater, and they are very slippery. Everyone should stand on them to avoid falling while practicing Breathing Style meditation!"

Why is it this kind of weird training method again?... Upon hearing this, Sanemi frowned and subconsciously looked towards Gyomei Himejima.

However, he didn't say much, and soon he followed the others and stood up one by one.

Half an hour later, Sanemi couldn't help but open his eyes and look around. He found that everyone around him was still standing there quietly meditating, so he closed his eyes again.

An hour later, Sanemi lost his footing and fell into the water. After getting up and seeing that everyone was still meditating, he thought for a moment and climbed back up.

An hour and a half later, Sanemi stopped meditating and went to the riverbank, where he began practicing sword techniques with his wooden sword.