Unohana: Do you want to learn?

After finishing his business here, Wang Xun soon returned to the open space outside the camp.

The moonlight remains the same, the night breeze remains the same.

He drew his Zanpakuto, preparing to continue his practice.

However, just as he swung his sword, he noticed a sound behind him.

Wang Xun looked back.

Unohana stood there quietly, her plain Captain's Haori fluttering gently in the night breeze.

She carried a small Reishi lamp in her hand, the light casting a soft glow on her face.

"Team leader."

Wang Xun sheathed his sword and bowed.

Unohana took a few steps closer, her gaze falling on the Zanpakuto in his hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to practice Kendō more."

"Kendō?"

"Yes, Kendō."

Unohana remained silent for a moment.

Then she asked softly.

"Have you ever sought instruction in Kendō from anyone?"

Wang Xun was taken aback, then answered truthfully.

"I didn't have any formal training. I only learned the basics at the Spiritual Arts Academy, and I watched others practice when I was in the Second Division. The rest of the time, I figured it out on my own."

Unohana nodded, offering no comment.

She walked to Wang Xun's side and extended her hand.

"Let me see the knife."

Wang Xun handed her the Zanpakuto.

Unohana took the knife and gently stroked its blade.

The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, but as her fingers traced its edge, the cold light seemed to soften.

"How long have you had this knife?"

"I've had it with me since I graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy, for several years now."

"Hmm, not bad."

Unohana handed the knife back to him.

Then she suddenly asked.

Do you want to learn Kendō?

Wang Xun was stunned upon hearing this.

He looked at Unohana, whose gentle face revealed no emotion.

He hadn't expected Unohana to ask him.

"Captain, would you be willing to teach me?"

"What I'm asking is, do you want to learn?"

Wang Xun remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he nodded seriously.

"Think."

Unohana looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

Why do you want to learn?

"For...

The Wang Xun of Hearts pondered for a moment.

"Probably so that they can protect the people behind them when needed."

Unohana paused slightly.

Protect those behind you.

She recalled a thousand years ago, when she stood amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with no one by her side who needed protection.

Only enemies that need to be killed.

"Protect those behind you..."

She repeated the sentence softly, a very faint smile curving her lips.

She is completely different from how she was back then.

She turned and walked towards the camp.

He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

Come find me tomorrow evening, at the same time.

Wang Xun was taken aback.

Unohana didn't turn around; her voice came from the night wind.

"Now, go back to sleep."

Wang Xun watched her figure disappear into the night.

After a long while, he finally looked away.

He sheathed his Zanpakuto and turned to walk back to the camp.

The following day, after a busy day, most of the wounded had been treated.

After a few more days of rest at the base, we can lead these wounded soldiers back to Seireitei.

At night, Wang Xun arrived at the open space outside the camp on time.

Unohana was already waiting there.

She changed into a more casual outfit, took off her Captain's Haori, and let her long hair fall freely in the wind instead of being tied up in front of her chest.

She just stood there quietly.

But Wang Xun felt that the feeling of Unohana at this moment was slightly different from that of usual.

"They've arrived."

She spoke.

"Yes."

Unohana tossed him a wooden sword she had just carved.

Wang Xun caught it, somewhat surprised.

"Wooden knife?"

"No real knives needed today."

Unohana herself picked up a wooden sword.

A real knife can hurt people.

She walked up to Wang Xun, the two of them about three meters apart.

"Since you want to practice Kendō, as your captain, I have an obligation to give you some pointers."

"I watched your practice yesterday, and to be honest, I couldn't bear to watch it."

"The thought of seeing you practice Kendō like this so often gives me a headache. I might as well give you a few pointers and see if you have any talent in this area."

"If that doesn't work, then I'll specialize in the path of Kidō from now on."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xun's lips twitched.

Good grief, it turns out he was annoyed by his own practice.

Was it that many times...?

Seeing Wang Xun grip the wooden sword tightly, Unohana nodded gently.

"Remember, Wang Xun."

"The Kendō as I understand it is not about techniques, not about exerting force, nor about Reiatsu."

Her wrist twitched.

The wooden sword was pointed directly at Wang Xun.

The next moment, Wang Xun's pupils suddenly contracted.

It was clearly a wooden sword, and it clearly had no Reiatsu, but in that instant, Wang Xun seemed to see mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

I saw countless souls fall beneath the blade.

The next moment, the illusions vanished.

Wang Xun suddenly came to his senses, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.

It felt like we had just escaped death.

Even though Unohana was holding a wooden sword, Wang Xun still had a feeling.

Even if Unohana had a wooden sword, she could kill him with a single blow.

"You've experienced that?"

Unohana sheathed her wooden sword, her tone as calm as if she were discussing the weather.

"What you practiced before was just swinging a knife at thin air."

"The essence of Kendō is to kill one's opponent with a sword. All techniques and styles serve this one purpose."

She looked at Wang Xun, her gaze still gentle, but Wang Xun always felt that something was slowly awakening deep within that gentleness.

"From today onwards, I will teach you my understanding of Kendō."

"First step."

She raised the wooden knife again.

"Feel the killing intent."

For the next hour, Wang Xun continued to experience the feeling of being killed.

Although I wasn't actually cut, that feeling of being on the verge of death lingered with me.

Every time Unohana her sword, a palpable killing intent would assault his senses, making the hairs on his body stand on end.

The first time, Wang Xun instinctively stepped back.

Unohana sheathed her sword and stood there, quietly watching him.

"Refund what?"

"... Instinctive reaction."

"Overcome it."

Unohana's tone remained calm.

"The enemy won't let you go just because you retreat. They'll come at you again."

The second time, he didn't back down, but the knife in his hand was a beat slower.

Unohana's wooden sword touched his chest, causing him to catch his breath.

Why hesitate?

"... I'm thinking about how to deal with it."

Unohana sheathed her sword.

"The moment the killing intent arises, your body must react faster than your mind."

"If you let your brain work first, you're already dead."

"Again."

The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...

An hour later, Wang Xun was soaked in sweat.

If it's a real knife, if it's a real fight.

He no longer knew how many times he had died under Unohana's sword.

Fortunately, Unohana didn't really want to kill him.

As Unohana swung her sword, the fragments drifted into Wang Xun's body once more.

[Gain 2 Advanced Kendō Techniques, Kendō Experience Points +200]

[Gain 3 Advanced Kendō Techniques, Kendō Experience Points +300]

The system notification indicated that the attack had not stopped since the first swing of Unohana.

In the past hour, Wang Xun had gained far more experience than he had imagined.

But Wang Xun didn't have time to go see it.

He stared intently at the wooden sword in Unohana's hand, waiting for the next attack.

He is now gradually getting used to that murderous intent and being able to react in time.

But at that moment, Unohana sheathed her sword.

She turned away, leaving Wang Xun with only her back to her.

That's all for today.

Wang Xun was taken aback.

Unohana took a few steps, then suddenly stopped and said without turning her head.

"Tomorrow, we'll continue."

After saying that, she disappeared into the night.

Wang Xun stood still, motionless for a long time.

He was still silently processing the pressure brought by that terrifying killing intent.

Until he saw a new system notification appear.

[Kendō level increased]

[Kendō: lv6 (Experience: 30/12000)]