[What do you mean he’s learning?,] Hurricroak asked Razorstella. The former was a fully formed kaijin right from the get-go, while the latter was initially a proto as well. As such, any insight Razorstella could provide was going to be helpful to the other kaijin.
Especially since Logos and Pathos weren’t being as informative as they usually were, as of this moment.
As far as the kaijin could tell as to why the duo weren’t answering like they usually do, it was around this time that they went into more in-depth lessons with Jasper and Janice. This ranged from arithmetic to literature, but it always something that the duo deemed necessary to the point they shut out all communications...that or they were busy with something weird.
[Well...around the time I started getting close to completing my own core, I started questioning things, er, well...I guess started being more perceptive?]
[I mean...I could start begin to ask "why" and "how" and...actualky, I think it’ll just be easier for you guy to just watch Spring Brawler do his thing.]
[You sure you’re not just pawning this question off to him so you don’t have to answer us?]
[Maybe, but you’ll never know for sure.]
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For the sake of simplicity, and a reason to be revealed at the end of the chapter, "Sawyer" will be replaced with "Spring".
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"I asked, why not?," Spring repeated, "I mean...ya live with them. There’s no physical barrier or distance that prevents ya from just...talking to them. So...why not?"
Zhen Shi was rather taken aback by the question being asked of him. Not because the question was complicated mind you, it was just the answer he had to give for it was rather complicated.
At least, it was supposed to be complicated.
"I have spent far too long trying to minimize my connection with the rest of the family after the death of my wife, as such, it is nearly impossible for me to try and connect with them on a more emotional level. At most, I can connect with them on the basis of it all being for clan related affairs as a whole."
This was what his initial answer was going to be for Spring’s question, and this was something that felt accurate to what he felt in his heart.
He may have trusted his sons to run the family businesses and clan affairs, but that’s because he could trust them to be competent at their jobs.
He may have trusted three of his grandkids to help organize an escape route if shit went south in Roaring Tide, but that’s because he knew them to be talented and resourceful.
In essence, he trusted his family to do what was right for the clan and not screw everyone over for the sake of selfishness or short term gains.
However, the longer he thought about this answer, the more he realized that it wasn’t nearly impossible. In fact, it was very possible.
’Why... couldn’t I just do that? I mean... I’ve already done several things that I thought were impossible before over these past few months...what’s stopping me now?,’ Zhen Shi thought to himself.
Zhen Shi had once thought it would be impossible for his clan to defeat the Wolfe Family and kick them out of Stone Claw City due to how deeply ingrained the former was with the latter’s history.
Zhen Shi had believed he would never be able to hear his wife’s voice again, see her face and finally be able to say goodbye.
He had thought it would be impossible for himself to breakthrough to the Aether Lord rank after decades of stagnation and frustration.
It might have taken some help, but he did it.
For years and years and he had even thought that he would never return to Roaring Tide ever again, never thought he would ever bring his family there and never thought he would try and make amends with the main branch clan that he had essentially screwed over all those years ago.
But here he was, on a boat that had undergone an impossible transformation, travelling back to the continent that he had left behind for the sake of love, all while accompanied by his clan’s most ruthless killer who was now going to help him make amends.
If anybody had told him this was going to be his future, he would have declared them insane, a charlatan and a fraud all at once.
As all of these realizations hit him one after the other, Zhen Shi answer had changed literally just as it was about to exit his throat.
Granted, it wasn’t anything like one long, elaborate answer being replaced with an equally elaborate answer of a completely different meaning.
Instead, his entire answer condensed down and changed into a single word, a single answer: huh.
"Huh? What do you mean by huh?"
"Nothing, it’s just...no, it’s not nothing," Zhen Shi began to explain, "it’s just that I’m now realizing just how...correct you actually were in that statement...thank you."
"Uh... you’re welcome?"
Immediately after this exchange of gratitude, Zhen Shi immediately started to walk away from the railing and from Spring with a look of assuredness in his eyes.
However, he did make sure to say goodbye first, it was the proper thing to do.
"I need to go and do something now. Try not to get pulled under again. Farewell."
Spring Brawler watched Zhen Shi as he left the fishing area, the former’s eyes physically focusing on the man’s retreating back. Granted, his true attention was not directed towards him.
[Well...that got unusually personal,] Hurricroaked commented.
[A bit, but it felt necessary,] Nepherage added.
[Feels... lighter...,] Frosttusk observed.
[Spring, you feeling okay?,] Razorstella asked with concern.
As soon as Zhen Shi had left, the other kaijin came out of their hiding spot, still in their little figure states though.
However, Spring Brawler did not redirect his gaze towards his fellow kaijin that came out of hiding, instead, it was directed towards the other end of the hallway, the one opposite to the exit that Zhen Shi just left through.
The others were just about to ask as well, curious as to what grabbed their proto-kaijin counterpart when all of sudden, he asked another question.
"What do you think, ringmaster? Do you think he’ll be able to do that? Reconnect with Hai family on a deeper level?"
As soon as this question was asked, Zhen Liu, who was hiding behind that corridor’s corner stepped out into visibility. Surprisingly, his left hand was balled up as if he was holding something.
"I’m not entirely sure, Spring Brawler, I only managed to catch the tail end of the conversation that you two shared," Zhen Liu lied, "but...grandpa seems to want to."
To prove his point, Zhen Liu lifted up his left hand and opened it up for the kaijin to see.
Floating inside of his palm was a glowing sky-blue colored ball, one that radiated a soft, sad yet happy gentleness.
"And I guess...I want him to able to too."
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Spring Brawler Core Condensation: 95 percent complete...halting.
At the request of proto-kaijin, designation:[Spring Brawler], core condensation will be stalled at this level.
Reason stated: I have come to learn that there is still much to learn...I don’t think I’m ready to mature yet.
In response to this wish, core consolidation of the proto-kaijin [Spring Brawler] will be paused.
|Hidden condition met: Opening new sections of the library.|
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Turning back the clock a bit...
"What the hell did you hook?!"
As the fishing line split in twain, two immediate reactions took place.
On the surface, a pair of mortals had stumbled backwards onto their ship’s deck, hurt but ultimately fine.
Deep below the waves however, a certain being that had gotten a fish hook jammed into it’s cheek was feeling a bit...vengeful.
"Who dares to injure and insult me in this manner? Are they not aware of who owns these waterways?," the creature of the deep began to grumble.
It had already, graciously allowed this strange paddling monstrosity to pass-by unharmed thus far...but this was the last straw!
"Dragging thy hateful hooks, radiate an energy that seems to challenge my existence...if you won’t come down to my level...then I’ll bring you down myself!"
As if hearing his will, the sea began to churn ever so slightly...
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Up on the bridge, a few moments after Zhen Ship’s realization...
"Captain Douglas? Is something the matter?"
"I’m not sure Mister Gibson," Douglas told his first mate, "but I can’t help but feel...that something is brewing..."
"Good or bad, captain?"