A swordsman can be gentle.
But a warrior cannot.
As a soldier of Watatsumi Island, if Teppei dared to fight like this on the battlefield, he wouldn't just be endangering himself—he'd be jeopardizing his entire squad. If Bai Luo were a proper commander, he would never allow someone like this onto the front lines.
Teppei was more dangerous than those terrified rookies.
At least the rookies, after overcoming their fear, would eventually transform into real soldiers.
But someone like Teppei...
Perhaps he was more suited to being a medic in the logistics unit.
"Attack again."
Bai Luo stood there calmly, gesturing for Teppei to strike once more.
"Yes!"
Teppei responded firmly, gripping his wooden sword tightly before swinging it down at Bai Luo.
Perhaps because Bai Luo had pointed out his lack of intent earlier, this time, he aimed straight for Bai Luo's head.
Even though it was just a wooden sword, if the strike landed cleanly, it could very well be fatal.
But Bai Luo seized the moment.
Lowering his stance, he stepped forward with his right foot, dodging Teppei's attack while simultaneously thrusting his palm upward.
Crack!
His strike landed directly on Teppei's chin.
With a single motion, Teppei was sent flying before crashing hard onto the ground.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Style: Ryu-Sho-Sen."
Retracting his arm, Bai Luo calmly stated the name of the technique.
At a glance, it might have seemed like he was using his skills to bully Teppei.
But in reality... Bai Luo hadn't used any system-provided abilities at all.
This was purely his own understanding of Ryu-Sho-Sen, adapting it into a palm strike.
Simply put, the one who had executed this move wasn't Himura Kenshin, but Bai Luo himself.
And with years of combat and assassination experience under his belt, he was—at best—a seasoned warrior, but a beginner swordsman.
So it wasn't really bullying, right?
Teppei winced as he got back on his feet, but instead of blaming Bai Luo, he looked somewhat ashamed.
Because he had realized his mistake.
Even though he had aimed for Bai Luo's vital point this time, there had been a moment of hesitation in his strike.
And that slight hesitation had given Bai Luo the perfect opening to counter.
It wasn't just Bai Luo—any experienced fighter would have seized that moment without hesitation.
"I think I understand how I should train you now."
Seeing the embarrassed look on Teppei's face, Bai Luo sighed.
He knew that someone like Teppei couldn't be taught using conventional methods.
He needed something... different.
"If you want to learn swordsmanship, you must have the resolve to kill your opponent."
"A sword is a weapon. Swordsmanship is the art of killing. No matter how you dress it up, no matter how you try to conceal it, this is an undeniable fact."
As he spoke, Bai Luo slowly drew the Reverse Blade Sword from his waist.
Under the sunlight, its blade gleamed brightly.
But instead of warmth, that light carried a chilling aura.
Had the edge not been reversed, Teppei might not have even had the courage to stand before it.
"Since that's the case... want to experience death firsthand?"
Bai Luo smiled gently.
Teppei barely had time to react before he saw a flash of red.
In an instant, Bai Luo was already in front of him.
The same stance, the same speed, the same technique.
Bai Luo perfectly replicated Teppei's earlier thrust—
Except this time, the blade pierced directly into Teppei's heart.
Bright red blood attempted to cling to the gleaming blade, yet it found no purchase, slipping away without a trace.
Scalding droplets fell onto the sand, staining the golden shore with splashes of crimson.
"This... is the art of killing."
That was the last thing Teppei heard before losing consciousness.
<+>
The air on Watatsumi Island was heavy with moisture. Most of the land was covered in water, and countless jellyfish-like creatures swayed gently in the air. Bubbles drifted up from the coral, evoking images of the fabled Dragon Palace.
At first glance, the scenery was mesmerizing. But after seeing it enough times, it became just another backdrop.
The wooden wheels of the cart creaked as they rolled along the well-trodden path, paved long ago by the ancestors of the Watatsumi resistance.
Aside from being loaded with supplies, the cart also carried a boy—Teppei—his unconscious body covered with a cloak.
"Lord Battousai, would you like some water?"
The young rebel driving the cart was only slightly older than Teppei.
Yet, unlike him, this boy carried a faint aura of bloodshed, a telltale sign that he had already fought in battle—had already taken lives.
If things went well, after a few more kills, he might even earn the rank of squad captain, a position beyond his wildest dreams just a few years ago.
His return to the island wasn't just to escort this batch of supplies. He was also here to check on his little sister.
"No need. I'm not particularly thirsty," Bai Luo replied, shaking his head.
He found it somewhat unfortunate that the resistance still relied on actual horses for their carts. He had grown quite fond of the Anemo Slime that had accompanied him from Mondstadt to Liyue.
He wondered how Qiqi was taking care of it.
"Still, Lord Battousai, you're really strict. When we first saw Teppei, we thought he was dead."
The young rebel glanced warily at Teppei's unconscious form.
That chest wound—it was the kind of injury that, on a battlefield, would mean immediate abandonment. Yet somehow, the boy still clung to life.
Truly, a testament to Battousai's skill.
Wait, why was he praising Battousai?
Shouldn't he be marveling at Teppei's resilience instead?
No, it was obvious. The fact that Teppei was still breathing at all meant that Battousai had held back.
"If he wants to grow stronger, he must be pushed beyond his limits. If he can't endure it..." Bai Luo's tone was indifferent. "Then I have no obligation to continue teaching him."
And he meant it.
If that blade had shattered Teppei's spirit, then Bai Luo would simply abandon his training.
Come to think of it...
For someone as inherently kind as Teppei to be forced into wringing out the last dregs of his life force—should the blame fall on the Delusions?
On the Shogunate?
Or on the Fatui?
...Wait.
I am a Fatui.
Well. Then it's the Shogunate fault.
"Being strict is fine, but don't go too far," the young rebel said with a wry smile. "Every time I scold my little sister, she gives me this pitiful look, and I just can't bring myself to be too harsh."
His words were full of complaints, but the fondness in his expression was impossible to hide.
Yeah, this guy was definitely a sis-con.
"You have a sister?" Bai Luo raised an eyebrow.
When the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, many had joined the resistance.
But most of them came alone. Only a rare few had brought their families.
Given this boy's age, his sister was likely just a child. That meant he wasn't like the other rebels—he was a true native of Watatsumi Island.
"Yeah, her name's Mirai. Lady Sangonomiya personally gave her that name," the boy said with pride. "She said it was to honor those who could no longer walk this path—to let her witness the bright future of Watatsumi Island in their place."
As he spoke, he puffed out his chest, clearly taking great pride in the fact.
On Watatsumi Island, receiving a name from the Divine Priestess herself was no small honor.
It was no less prestigious than being trained in swordsmanship by Battousai.
For a family, it was a moment worthy of remembrance for generations.
<+>
Tn: The Sis-con rebel is Takahashi
https://genshin-impact.fandom.com/wiki/Takahashi
. . . . .
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