Chapter 153: Can't Reason With You Ascetic Types
"I'm sorry..." Suiko hung her head in self-reproach.
"You're not wrong, and I'm not angry either." Aokiji shrugged.
After all, the reality was different from what Suiko had imagined.
He had transmigrated here through a plane crash, with his Physical Body arriving but nothing left behind. He'd probably be judged as having died from vaporization.
Although his family would inevitably be heartbroken, at least there would be a hefty compensation payout.
It was much better than those who transmigrated after suddenly dying from gaming or from overwork.
Speaking of which.
Suicho was also a Grandmaster in the martial arts world.
He should be able to get in touch with people from the swordsmanship side too, right?
"Where is the new Dojo being established? Can we go observe it now? I actually have a favor to ask of Great Master Suicho."
"Of course, you're welcome to observe as you like! Grandfather would be delighted!"
Suiko excitedly wanted to lead the way.
Suddenly remembering the invitation for Great Master Bang was still in her hand, she jogged back over and handed the invitation to the second Disciple, Sour Face.
Then she jogged back again, leading Aokiji towards the direction of the Void Fist Dojo.
"By the way, Great Master Aokiji."
On the way, Suiko couldn't hold back her curiosity and finally asked.
"Grandfather said your martial arts have already reached the Peak, but don't you also have many Psychic Powers? Combining the two should make you even stronger!"
Her eyes shone with passion for martial arts.
She looked up at Aokiji expectantly.
"Could martial arts reach even higher, surpassing the Peak?"
"That's hard to say." Aokiji opened his hand.
Numerous strange abilities manifested simultaneously in his palm.
"Merging and using them together would indeed be stronger, but when it comes to martial arts Realms, it's not something you can break through by just adding Psychic Powers."
"For example, like this."
An arm grew from Suiko's back.
It was identical to Aokiji's hand, with a muscular forearm and long, powerful fingers.
It reached forward and waved a greeting at Suiko.
Suiko was slightly startled.
Realizing this was yet another new Psychic Power Aokiji hadn't revealed to the public, she curiously examined and observed it again.
She poked it with a raised finger.
Wow, it's just like a real hand! It has body temperature and substance. Did it grow from... the clothes?!
"This ability allows me to grow parts of my body within my perception range. If used against an enemy, I could grow dozens of arms on them and attack simultaneously."
That arm simultaneously clenched its fist, muscles bulging, its overwhelming sense of power distorting the very air.
Aokiji shook his head again.
"But this only increases attack efficiency; it doesn't help elevate the martial arts Realm."
"It's already amazing!!"
Suiko instinctively retorted.
She pointed at the independently grown arm.
"They say two fists are no match for four hands. If you can produce dozens or even more hands, wouldn't that be a huge help in combat? Martial arts could be utilized even better, right?"
"Realms aren't discussed that way."
Aokiji was about to continue explaining.
But he noticed they were about to descend to the foot of the mountain and enter the city.
He paused and said:
"Wait a moment, I'll do a disguise first, otherwise I'll be surrounded by crowds."
He activated Life Return.
Consciousness poured into various parts of his body, initiating changes.
Under Suiko's astonished gaze.
His physique compressed to around 1.8 meters, his facial features adjusted, and his hair grew out a section.
His original appearance carried an aggressive, invasive handsomeness, purely rugged, though his usual laziness slightly tempered that aura.
Now, he looked somewhat softer.
Like his adolescent self, not yet fully matured, with a touch of youthful innocence.
"Great Master Aokiji, you're...?" Suiko couldn't resist asking.
"A profound body technique truth, allowing precise control over body parts."
Aokiji swept his now longer hair back from his forehead.
Like a certain famous villain's hair gel hand, it steadily formed a slicked-back hairstyle.
Suiko observed in awe.
Only when she met Aokiji's gaze did she realize how impolite it was to stare at someone's face like that. She blushed slightly in embarrassment and looked away.
"Let's keep going. Like this, I won't be recognized by fans."
Aokiji gestured with a wave.
"Continuing the previous topic, abilities only give martial arts more room for expression, they don't improve martial arts itself."
"It's like climbing a mountain, and this mountain has already reached its height limit. You can only extend and build a platform at the summit; you can't keep stacking it higher."
"Abilities can increase the [breadth] of martial arts, but right now, they can't increase the [height]."
"Right now?" Suiko keenly seized the key point.
"So it's possible in the future!"
Her face was full of curious inquiry as she leaned in a little closer.
There was no soft, cloying perfume scent.
Only the smell of sun-dried clothes, mixed with a faint soapy fragrance, blending with her own to form a clean, vibrant, and transparent scent.
"Don't ask so much. Aiming too high and taking too big a stride will... ahem... just steadily improve step by step. When you have the chance to approach the Peak in the future, it won't be too late to tell you then."
"Alright..."
Suiko could only suppress her desire to probe and responded sullenly.
Ha... ah... I still really want to know though.
Suiko's attitude towards martial arts was completely different from Water Dragon's.
The latter was somewhat like Bang in his youth.
Treating martial arts as a tool to enjoy life.
And because of his talent, finding no rivals his age, he viewed martial arts as a game, a form of entertainment.
But Suiko had a pure love for the martial path.
She regarded the pinnacle of the martial way as the goal of her life's pursuit.
She was immensely interested in the martial Peak Aokiji had reached and the higher Realm faintly hinted at in his words.
Although she couldn't learn about the subsequent Realm, having this chance for a one-on-one exchange with Aokiji.
She also very skillfully began discussing Training problems she encountered with Aokiji.
Aokiji hadn't studied theory much.
Relying on practical experience and his ability to improvise convincingly on the spot, he managed to keep the conversation going.
He even proposed many methods Suiko had never considered.
The journey time passed in the back-and-forth of questions and answers.
Aokiji's disguise was fairly successful.
People on the road glanced at his current appearance, at most remarking on the slight resemblance to S-Class Rank 1, but no one came up to disturb them.
"Way too many people secretly glancing at you on the road," Suiko couldn't hold back a Make complaints. "And this is after the disguise."
"If the news that you're attending the opening ceremony leaks out, I'm afraid my family's new Dojo will be trampled flat by your fans."
"I'll have to remind Grandfather to maintain secrecy later."
She didn't even dare say these words out loud on the street, fearing someone might catch on.
Only after reaching the foot of the mountain did she finally speak them.
Aokiji looked up at the high mountain in silence.
"Do you martial artists always have to build Dojos on mountains?"
How on earth do you find so many undeveloped high mountains within the city limits?
"Uh, it's the location Grandfather picked. I don't see a problem with it?" Suiko scratched her head.
Can't reason with you ascetic types.
Aokiji sighed helplessly. His usual Training intensity was quite high, but he'd never go out of his way to make travel inconvenient for himself.
"Hop on."
flame clouds drifted, lifting the two of them upward.
Suiko couldn't resist pinching the soft, fluffy flame cloud again.
In the short time spent with Aokiji, the novel experiences she'd gone through already surpassed those of the past decade-plus of her life.
So interesting!
Suiko kneaded the flame cloud, trying to shape it into a tiger.
The outside world is much more fun than the mountains!
Or rather... Aokiji is more interesting.
(T/N: Catch em)