Chapter 102: On Pretending to Be Impressive, Who Could Rival Me? [Seeking Rewards]

After all, Zoro was now the true top dog among the students of Isshin Dojo, and it was by virtue of his real strength—well, except for Kuina. Tang Shen shot him a look that said, "I've seen through all of this long ago." How could he not know what this guy was scheming? But he had no intention of praising him.

Damn it, after the system updated for three days and inexplicably seven years had passed, his own mindset was completely out of balance. He had worked so hard to maintain his dignity as a master, finally surpassing his own disciple. And now, once again, he had fallen behind for no reason—could anything be more infuriating?

And now, this moss-head was just making things worse for him—wasn’t that just asking for trouble?

Yet, when he faced Kuina, his expression changed completely.

“Don’t be so foolish next time. If you need to go to sea and gain experience, then do it. Delaying your training isn’t good. This time was an accident, but there won’t be a next time,” Tang Shen said gently.

This truly had been an accident. He hadn’t expected that a single system update would take so long.

“Yes, Master,” Kuina replied, a smile on her face.

Zoro: “……”

Another arrow pierced his heart, and both his knees trembled. Damn, it's fine until you compare yourself—once you do, the damage is a critical hit of ten thousand points.

The gap between people is truly vast.

Koshiro, watching from not far away, wanted to flip the table. In seven years, he had never seen Kuina smile. His own daughter had lost her former smile—how could that not pain him?

Now, Kuina’s smile had returned, but he felt even more hurt. She was clearly his own daughter!

Yet, these smiles were never directed at him. This only proved that, as a father, he had truly failed.

See? The moment Tang Shen appeared, Kuina’s smile reemerged.

Indeed, after the comparison, he felt even more wounded.

Koshiro and Zoro, master and disciple, were experiencing similar feelings at that moment.

“When your strength grows to a certain level, hard training alone is no longer enough for further progress. You need to go out, to see the world. Only through combat, through life-and-death experiences, can you continue to advance. These past two years—haven’t you felt as though your progress has stalled?” Tang Shen asked, his expression earnest.

“Yes,” Kuina answered honestly, nodding. In front of Tang Shen, she was as obedient as a child.

In the eyes of others, like Koshiro, she was as stubborn as an ox—no, more than that, like ten oxen couldn’t drag her back. Once she set her mind to something, she stuck to it.

To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it—and that person was Tang Shen.

Koshiro had known this all along, which was why he had always been waiting for Tang Shen to reappear. After all, he didn’t want his daughter’s immense talent to be wasted.

Even if he didn’t believe Kuina could become the world’s greatest swordsman.

“That’s right. If you only face your own sword, all you’ll see is a reflection of your unchanging self,” Tang Shen nodded.

He felt somewhat guilty toward Kuina. What Zoro had just said showed that Koshiro had told Kuina the same thing, but Kuina had clearly been waiting for him and thus had never gone to sea.

A thoughtful look appeared in Kuina’s eyes.

Zoro, too, wore a similar expression. This was the perfect reason to go out and see the world.

Koshiro’s lips twitched as he looked at Tang Shen, jealousy simmering in his heart.

How could this guy, still so young, know so many profound truths—and sum them up so well?

Damn, that line was so impressive—remember it, remember it! He would have to say it to his other disciples in the future.

Somehow, facing Tang Shen, he felt even more like the real teacher than himself.

Yes, that was the most frustrating reason of all.

After all, if he couldn’t even outshine Tang Shen in grandstanding, how could he, this washed-up has-been, not feel like flipping the table? Clearly, his own strength was so great, so formidable, so unparalleled.

Yet, in the end, even his own disciples faded into the background under Tang Shen’s aura.

In the art of putting on airs!

He, Koshiro, was KO’d.

……

Pressure!

Pressure from his own beloved disciple!

That day, Tang Shen held nothing back in training. Last time, he had still underestimated his precious disciple, trying to keep the pace synchronized and under control. But today, he was pushing his own limits.

Seven years had passed—seven years during which Kuina’s body had grown, following his plan, never pausing her training.

Back then, Tang Shen had prepared and left behind many medicinal bath ingredients and ointments for reducing swelling and bruising, and had already taught Kuina how to make them.

Otherwise, Kuina would never have been able to reach her current level.

Under this pressure, Tang Shen didn’t feel defeated. On the contrary, there was an excitement burning in his heart.

Yes—excitement.

His passion for training hadn’t diminished; it had surged even higher.

With comparison comes pressure; with pressure comes motivation; with motivation comes progress.

Stone pillars, eight trigram posts, sword practice in the sea, sword practice beneath the waterfall!

Tang Shen discovered that after seven years, Kuina could already stand beneath the waterfall. Though it wasn’t the heaviest part of the flow—just the outermost layer—it was still remarkable.

Tang Shen divided the waterfall into three sections: the core, the buffer zone, and the outer zone. Kuina was now in the part of the outer zone closest to the buffer zone.

Even so, it was an extraordinary achievement.

If Zoro were to try, even from Tang Shen’s position, he’d be swept away.

Koshiro only allowed Zoro to practice in some parts, mainly focusing on teaching him sword techniques, though he secretly resented such inhuman training. Making Kuina train so desperately—when she first stepped into the waterfall, it almost broke her. But he couldn’t stop it. What he could do was prevent Zoro from undergoing such training.

Over the seven years, Koshiro had tried talking to Kuina several times, suggesting she change her training regimen and study swordsmanship with him again.

He had seen Kuina’s potential rekindled by Tang Shen, far surpassing his own at her age, with endless promise—a truly gifted seedling.

Determined not to let such talent go to waste, he shamelessly…

And then…and then…he got rebuffed!

Yes, rebuffed—by his own daughter!!

And in the most blunt, unceremonious way.

He had never imagined such a thing.

His daughter, Kuina, had always been respectful, even reverent, growing up under his tutelage. Even her dreams had been nurtured by him, and she had never once defied him.

But that time, she pointed right at his nose, even drew the birthday gift he’d given her—her sword—and raised it against him.

So…that time, he backed down!

For the sake of his daughter, and to save his own pride, he found a way to excuse himself. From that day on, Kuina never spoke to him again—not even a greeting as before. She acted as though he didn’t exist, even when they met face to face.