Chapter 318: Shin-Tsubame, Disciple, and False Death
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--- Chapter 315 ---
A white-blue sheath lies on the table. It is mainly blue, with white clouds marking it like the azure sky with heavenly clouds. Besides those, the sheath has brown cords wrapped on the opening side, parting like bird wings.
[Name: Shin-Tsubame (True Swallow)]
[Type: Weapon/Sheath]
[Grade: EX(Entry)]
[1st Power - Spirit Bestowment: Absorb nature's energy and infuse it into the sheathed sword, granting additional effect on the sword based on the surrounding area]
[2nd Power - Fleeting Swallow: Lighten the sense of the sword like that of a swallow's wings, gliding along the wind and increasing attacking speed significantly]
[3rd Power - Avian, Cry of Spirit Bird: Release a domain of crying divine swallow, causing an irresistible weakening effect of physical strength and soul to the enemy][Description: A sheath created by the Legendary Swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who poured everything into his final masterpiece. His wish is to allow his creation to soar alongside Huo Yuhao's sword, like a swallow in the dawn of day]
[Something that native of Tiny World shouldn't make...]
"Shin-Tsubame." Huo Yuhao caressed the sheath gently.
He grabbed Hydrogen and sheathed it, creating a synergy between the dull sword and white-blue sheath. They are Ex-grade respectively and qualified to become a Divine Tool as one.
Shin-Tsubame's first ability allows Hydrogen to absorb natural energy, increasing the effectiveness of the Universal Battery.
Huo Yuhao doesn't know how Kozaburo could know Hydrogen's ability, but this can't be a coincidence. Heck! The second power pair wells with Hydragon's offensive ability.
Everything that this sheath could do enhances the dull sword's performance exponentially.
Aside from the Shin-Tsubame's last ability, that is. Huo Yuhao needs to test it further to know.
Huo Yuhao gazed out the window and saw Koushiro and Kuina paying respect for Kozaburo after burying him beside his wife's grave.
They returned to the dojo, and Kuina's eyes were all red.
Huo Yuhao knew this was an inappropriate moment to ask Kuina to be his disciple, but he had no choice because he was short on time.
He gazed at Koushiro and said, "Besides creating his masterpiece, Old Man has another wish."
"Just tell me, Young Master Huo." Koushiro smiled bitterly.
"If it is my father's wish, I would do anything to fulfill it."
Huo Yuhao shook his head gently, "That should be my words."
"Whatever."
"Kuina-chan, do you want to be my disciple?"
"This..." Koushiro was shocked. He didn't expect his father to trust Huo Yuhao this much.
He knew just how significant Kuina's future was for the Shimotsuki Family and had been teaching her swordsmanship from a young age, but deep inside, he was protective because she was only a little girl.
Leaving Kuina in Huo Yuhao's hand means his father truly believed the blue-haired young man could lead his granddaughter to a better path.
Kuina sobbed and stared at Huo Yuhao, "D-Did Grandpa want me to be your disciple?"
"Yes." Huo Yuhao replied honestly.
"Then, I will become your disciple!" Kuina wiped her tears. She only has two family members, her father and grandfather.
One died today.
She won't let her father die.
She would become the strongest swordsman and protect her family.
Even though Koushiro had harshly said that a woman could never be the strongest swordsman, she wouldn't give up. She will be like her dear grandfather, achieving the impossible.
"Good." Huo Yuhao watched the burning spirit in Kuina's eyes. Those eyes are like Kozaburo's a while ago.
He glanced at Koushiro and commented, "Koushiro-san. If you want the best for my disciple, you won't trample her dream here, right?"
Koushiro puts on a helpless and bitter expression when Huo Yuhao asks this question. What could Koushiro do in this situation? He could only follow the flow and let his daughter away.
It's not like Koushiro could fight Huo Yuhao over this matter because the latter could easily make him bite the dust. The difference in strength is like mud to the sky.
Koushiro sighed, "Kuina, greet your teacher."
"Mm." Kuina walked to Huo Yuhao and kneeled on her knees. "Teacher, please take care of Kuina well."
Huo Yuhao nodded, "I will."
"Now rise."
"Hai, Shishou!"
Kuina stood up and felt Huo Yuhao's warm hand on her head. He rubbed her head a few times, injecting his divinity and immortal qi into her body.
'To be called Shisou by someone, it doesn't feel bad at all.'
'Evo, make the awakening process as painless as possible.'
[Yes, Host]
Kuina suddenly experienced a surreal sensation, and her body jolted as if she had gotten electrocuted. She gasped and made Koushiro worried for a second.
Koushiro stared at Huo Yuhao and saw him shaking his head.
The glasses-wearing man could only grit his teeth and wait.
A few minutes later.
Koushiro's eyes widened because two spirits came from his daughter's body. One is a small blue-tailed swallow, and the other is a small fairy in a purple dress wielding a small hammer.
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes at the swallow and spirit, "Old Man's spirit really lives alongside her, huh?"
"Azure-tailed Swallow and Clear Sky Fairy."
"Twin Martial Souls."
"Martial Soul?" Kuina breathed unevenly, feeling newfound strength in her body.
Huo Yuhao smiled and explained, "Martial Soul is the reflection of your spirit. It is usually hereditary, but yours most likely strong variants."
"Oh, yeah. It is actually from another world."
"Wait, you mean you're not from this world?" Koushiro was speechless.
"I never said I was..." Huo Yuhao shrugged casually.
"My world is called Douluo Dalu World, and we are a higher dimensional plane than this world, or should I say this Tiny World."
"As for my position in the Douluo Dalu World... Let's say Kuina won't have to be afraid of anything besides training."
"This is hard to swallow," Koushiro responded helplessly. "Young Master Huo is actually such a figure."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand, "Do you want me to awaken your Martial Soul as well?"
"I'd love to." The marvel of another world, how could Koushiro reject it?
Huo Yuhao nodded and walked to Koushiro, patting his shoulders. "Leave Kuina to me." He whispered simultaneously.
"Please..." Koushiro chuckled, knowing Huo Yuhao wouldn't treat his daughter horribly.
A young man his father approved won't be a terrible person.
"This will shock you a little." Huo Yuhao awakened Koushiro's Martial Soul, and the glass-wearing sword master shrieked in pain.
"T-There is nothing little about that..." Koushiro replied painfully. He felt his body hit by a giant beast and then electrocuted by a lightning strike.
"A small price compared to what you can get." Huo Yuhao chuckled and saw a small sparrow with a stern look appearing on Koushiro's other shoulder.
"Wind Speech Sparrow."
"Not a bad Martial Soul."
"Here is a method of refining Spirit Energy and some Rune Stones to advance your cultivation while we are gone."
Koushiro received new knowledge and a handful of Rune Stones with many colors.
"The yellow is easiest to absorb."
"The purple one is a bit harder, but I recommend you absorb it for your first spirit ring."
"The black is difficult because it possesses the remnant will of the spirit beast. Still, I think you can try absorbing after becoming Spirit Elder."
"As for the red one... Only absorb it when you're ready to die, and challenge with life on the line."
Huo Yuhao glanced at Kuina, "Kuina, our time is short, so we should leave right away."
Kuina reluctantly stared at her father and said, "Before that, Master. Can I say goodbye to my friend?"
"Zoro?"
"Yes, him."
"Go, then. I will be waiting with your father here." Huo Yuhao allowed Kuina to go.
Watching the girl walk away, Huo Yuhao glanced at Koushiro and commented, "Zoro is your disciple, right?"
"Mm," Koushiro replied calmly.
"Let's make a bet."
"What bet?"
"Which disciple would be stronger in the future? Although it would be unfair, so we only compete in swordsmanship."
"I see... Then, I don't see why I wouldn't accept."
Thirty minutes later, Kuina returned with a stream of tears.
"Are you okay?" Koushiro asked, and Kuina nodded.
"Teacher, I can go with you now." Kuina looked at Huo Yuhao with pure determination.
Huo Yuhao snapped his finger, and his divine aura enveloped the village, entering everyone's mind. He doesn't want to change the plot too much, so Kuina still has to die, a false one.
Koushiro already agreed to this, believing it could motivate Zoro.
"Hmm, you don't bring Wado Ichimonji with you?" Koushiro was confused because he couldn't find a white-sheathed katana in his daughter's hand.
Kuina smiled, "I gave it to Zoro."
"I want to make my own Katana and forge a legend like Grandfather."
"Haha, you truly like him." Koushiro couldn't help but chuckle.
"See you later, my dear daughter."
"Father will miss you."
"Mhm, me too." Kuina hugged her father.
Then, Huo Yuhao brought Kuina to the sea cliff.
"Kuina, meet your senior, Huang Qiu'er."
"Qiu'er, met your junior, Shimotsuki Kuina."
After the introduction, Huang Qiu'er and Kuina stared at each other silently before giving a nod.
[Host, I will start teleporting...] Evo notified Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao activated the Ancestral Eyes of Heavenly Dao and wiped the memory of his existence in the Shimotsuki Village. The only exceptions are Koushiro and Zoro.
The green-haired brat's memory was 'specifically' sealed by Huo Yuhao.
On top of that, Huo Yuhao also erased every trace he left behind in this timeline.
"Goodbye, Zoro." Kuina stared at the Shimotsuki Dojo in the distance.
"Let's meet again in the future."
ZZZT!
Huo Yuhao, Huang Qiu'er, and Kuina disappeared from the sea cliff.
...
...
The next day, Zoro woke up with a searing headache.
When he saw Kuina's cold body and her face covered with white clothes, his eyes couldn't help but tear up.
That day, Roronoa Zoro vowed to become the Strongest Swordsman, not because of himself but because he inherited Kuina's will and dream.