Chapter 284: How Annoying!
Kaioh—
A title of supreme mastery granted only to those who have conquered the trials of the Kenpo world. The methods of achieving this rank vary; word is that the lineage of Retsu Xiaozhou—Retsu Kaioh—is particularly grueling, though the man himself rarely discusses the specifics.
The man who had appeared in the dark alleyway called himself Jaku Kaioh.
He was powerfully built, dressed in plain, unpretentious clothes, and sported a bald head with a thick, bushy beard. Behind his full-framed glasses, his eyes were remarkably gentle.
"..."
Ren Shiroki's mental archives hummed with data.
Jaku Kaioh was a public figure, a regular on lecture circuits, television talk shows, and public martial arts demonstrations. In terms of "Surface World" fame and prestige, Jaku was a much bigger name than Retsu. He was a face seen across the internet, radio, and news broadcasts.
His style was known as "Ku-ken-do" (The Way of the Empty Fist). He specialized in high-level joint locks and pressure-point grappling. He boasted over twenty-four thousand disciples, and the industry evaluated his style as a perfect "Harmony of Hard and Soft."
Fusui Kure leaned in to provide the local context. "Jaku Kaioh has been in Kure Village recently for a technical exchange. Grandpa allowed it since it benefits the Clan's development."
"But," Fusui whispered, "this celebrity master is a bit... unusual. He actually had the balls to invite my big brother to a lecture and tried to preach to him about 'discipline'."
"Raian didn't go nuclear because Grandpa told him to be polite, but he couldn't stand the talking. He kicked the door off its hinges and walked out halfway through."
"..."
Ren Shiroki listened, recalling his recent encounter with the "Devil." Raian had indeed complained about a "bearded old man with eyebrows talking sappy bullshit." It all clicked now.
Ren couldn't help but chuckle. A master who dares to lecture the 'Devil'? That's a hell of an obsession with education.
—Or just a death wish.
Jaku Kaioh overheard the name and immediately perked up. "Excuse me, young lady... did you say your brother is—"
"Raian Kure," Fusui answered flatly.
"Aha! I knew it!"
Jaku beamed with maternal-like enthusiasm. "Your brother is magnificent! He possesses the raw potential to lead the entire next generation of warriors! Please, tell him he is welcome at my lectures anytime! My door is always open—"
The bearded man launched into a high-speed monologue about the youth and the future of Budo.
Fusui stared at him with a dry, awkward smile. "Uh... no, I mean... wait—"
The girl wasn't shy by nature, but she was being physically pushed back by the sheer volume of Jaku's hospitality. She eventually retreated to Ren's side, standing on her tiptoes to whisper: "Ren-chin, I can't handle this guy. My skin is crawling."
Ren: "..."
Before he could offer any comfort, Jaku's focus pivoted toward him. The master stepped forward and seized Ren's hand in a firm grip. Then, as if afraid Ren would escape, he clamped his other hand over the top.
Slap!
A three-hand sandwich.
Jaku studied Ren, his smile radiant. "What powerful hands! Your posture and your physique are truly beautiful! Tell me, young man... have you heard of the Kaioh's 'Way of the Empty Fist'?"
Ren: "..."
After a long pause, Ren managed a polite response. "Retsu Kaioh is a friend of mine."
"Oho! Splendid!"
Jaku looked genuinely delighted. "Retsu-dono is currently staying in Tokyo. I made a special trip to pay my respects to him. He mentioned a certain [Soul Combatant] who caught his eye... that would be you, wouldn't it?!"
"My, my! What a stroke of luck to find you here!"
Jaku continued his barrage of warm greetings, his grin never wavering.
"..."
Fusui blinked her black-and-white eyes, looking utterly baffled. Even though it was rude, she couldn't help but murmur, "He has the same title as Retsu-san, but... the personalities couldn't be further apart."
Jaku didn't take offense. He waved a hand dismissively, admitting his stance with total honesty. "I am indeed quite different from Retsu-dono. For instance, I place great value on the title of 'Kaioh' because it is... very convenient for marketing."
Ren blinked. "Marketing?"
"Exactly! I am using the name to spread the gospel of Kenpo Goshinjutsu (Self-Defense)!"
Jaku tightened a meaty fist. "I want to popularize absolute self-defense to guide the lost youth of this generation! And please, don't compare me to Retsu-dono. I'd be too embarrassed."
"Though we are both Kaiohs, I could never hope to match him in a duel."
Jaku scratched his head, his tone becoming remarkably frank. "A man capable of truly defeating Retsu Kaioh... you could search the entire planet and likely find no one!"
With that, Jaku returned to his fussing, asking them if they were staying warm and eating enough. Both Ren and Fusui felt their toes curling in their shoes from the sheer social awkwardness.
He's so annoying! they both thought simultaneously.
While Jaku was yapping, the two Guardians Ren had floored were struggling to breathe, their white suits stained with blood.
However, three more Guardians had arrived from the shadows of the alley. One of them had successfully secured Akio Kono, the President of NENTEN.
But due to the geography of the alley, if they wanted to bypass the Kure perimeter and reach their extraction vehicle, they had to walk directly past the trio: Jaku, Ren, and Fusui.
The youth and the girl look dangerous... but that talkative bearded guy might be the weak link!
The three hitmen shared a silent look and made their move. One of them reversed his grip on a tactical dagger and charged at Jaku's back, intending to shove him aside while driving the blade into his kidney.
Zip!
Ren was about to call out a warning, but he saw Jaku's eyes shift.
The next heartbeat—WHOOSH!
Jaku's left hand snapped backward, his fingers clamping around the hitman's wrist with the precision of a trap. In the same motion, he twisted his entire body to the right, his superhuman flexibility allowing him to clear the path of the charge while firing a reverse-hand back-fist.
BANG!
The back-fist caught the Guardian flush on the jaw, launching him into the air. He hit the floor on his back, unconscious before he touched the ground.
"HYAH!"
Jaku let out a sharp roar. He tightened his fists, dropping into a side-bladed stance. He beckoned the remaining two hitmen with a curled finger.
The two Guardians drew a tactical baton and a pair of brass knuckles, launching a pincer attack.
Feeling the surge of malice, Jaku looked a bit nervous, yet he didn't retreat. He performed a sliding lateral dash, using the alley wall to protect his left flank.
Zip!
Jaku dropped low, his left hand snapping out to seize a Guardian's ankle. With a violent yank, he upended the man. Using the momentum of the trip as cover, his right elbow fired forward.
CLACK!
He seized the second Guardian's wrist, applying a high-torque pressure point lock that forced the man to drop his baton.
Clatter!
The baton hit the bricks. Jaku spun into the man's personal space, his free hand seizing the Guardian's elbow. He drove his weight downward, locking the entire arm behind the man's back while his knee pinned the hitman's lower spine against the pavement.
THUD!
A textbook display of master-level grappling.
"If I couldn't handle two thugs, I couldn't call this 'Self-Defense'!"
Jaku remained in a half-kneeling pin, looking down at the struggling Guardian with an expression of genuine sorrow.
"With your skills, you could be protecting people... teaching others... instead of walking in the dark doing such filthy work..."
The Guardian responded with a desperate struggle and a string of curses.
Jaku let out a weary sigh. "Sigh... stay here and reflect on your life."
CRACK!
He exerted a sudden burst of force, snapping the hitman's humerus. The agony sent the man into an immediate shock-coma.
This left only one Guardian—the one Jaku had tripped earlier. Seeing his squad neutralized, he panicked. He bolted toward Akio Kono to use him as a human shield, only to run straight into Ren Shiroki.
Ren's hand clamped around the man's arm.
"SHINK!"
Ren used the hitman's own momentum as a fulcrum. He hoisted the man onto his shoulders and, with a guttural roar, performed a massive forward slam.
[RYU'S SHOULDER THROW]!
BOOM!
The Guardian slammed into the bricks, a spiderweb of cracks appearing in the masonry. He vomited blood and went limp.
Compared to Jaku's clinical pressure-locks, Ren's throw was jagged, aggressive, and carried the unmistakable "Striking" flavor of the Hub.
"Magnificent!"
Jaku clapped his hands repeatedly. He walked over to the cowering Haruo Kono.
This time, he calculated the angle perfectly. He took a deep breath and, with a massive heave, hauled the 315kg youth to his feet. He even reached out to dust the sand off the giant's backside.
Meanwhile, Akio Kono, seeing his captors defeated, prepared to bolt. But he was stopped by Jaku's booming voice.
"Wait right there! I'm not done with you!"
Jaku marched up to the flat-headed businessman, looking down at him with a scowl.
"YOU MORON!"
The refined, gentle master suddenly exploded in a flurry of curses. He was vibrating with rage, his teeth grinding. He pointed a shaking finger at Haruo.
"I saw the tapes of your match yesterday!"
"This boy was a youth of immense promise! But you... you blinded him with your 'Desire-based Education.' You drowned him in 'Lethal Poison'!"
"Your pedagogy is a disaster! To take a handsome, noble warrior and turn him into... this?! You are a shameless disgrace to the title of Educator!"
"You should go back to kindergarten and start your own life over from scratch!!"
"..."
Akio Kono was drenched in sweat, his knees knocking together. He began bowing frantically, stammering apologies.
Jaku finally relented, his expression returning to its gentle baseline. He turned back to Haruo, offering a warm, encouraging smile. "Fatty-kun... keep fighting. As long as you entrust your soul to the Martial Way, you can purge the 'Poison' from your system. You can find the man you were meant to be!"
Haruo looked lost. The 242cm giant wrung his fingers together, whispering in a shaky, high-pitched voice, "But... I don't know how to change. I'm afraid to fight anymore..."
Jaku stomped his foot in frustration.
After a few seconds of internal debate, he seemed to make a decision. His voice dropped into a deep, serious baritone. "Fine. I understand!"
"Watch closely, kid! Behold the one thing the Martial Way can give any man—the courage to ignite his own soul!"
He suddenly turned on his heel and walked straight toward Ren Shiroki.
Ren was currently busy talking to Fusui, planning to head to the next street to find that bakery they had smelled earlier.
Jaku Kaioh stopped in front of Ren and took a deep, focused breath. He bowed slightly, his voice a heavy rumble. "Shiroki-san. Please... grant me a duel! Do you accept?"
"..."
The moment the challenge was issued, Jaku felt the atmosphere shift. It was a physical pressure, as if a storm had just rolled into the alley.
Before he could even look up, he heard Fusui Kure let out a giggle.
The girl winked, her eyes crinkling. "Jaku-san... when it comes to Ren-chin, you didn't even need to ask that last part."
Jaku blinked in confusion.
But then, Ren Shiroki's aura slammed into him. The pressure warped the air around them, a wave of combat energy like grease hitting a fire.
Ren's lips pulled back into a wide, shark-like grin. Faint trails of heat radiated from his knuckles. His voice was a low, hungry whisper.
"Nice. That's perfect!"
Looking at that face, Jaku Kaioh felt his scalp go numb. He stood in a long, paralyzed silence.
Jaku: "..."
Jaku: "..."
Jaku: "Haha... Holy mother of god..."
(End of Chapter)
☆☆☆
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