As Xia Feng's words fell, control of Zenitsu Agatsuma's body returned to him.
His entire body relaxed, and he almost dropped to his knees.
However, to others, it only looked like he had simply exhausted too much strength earlier.
Under everyone's astonished gaze, Zenitsu slowly sheathed his sword.
Kaigaku stood in place, staring blankly at the blade in his hand.
"I… actually lost to Zenitsu…?"
"Lost to that idiot who only knows one move?"
Hearing Kaigaku's words, Zenitsu showed a bitter smile.
He looked at Kaigaku and finally made up his mind.
"Um… Senior Brother, actually I—"
"SHUT UP!!!"
Kaigaku suddenly roared, cutting him off.
He took a deep breath, his expression twisted.
"Very good… very good. So the old man secretly trained you with a special technique just to ambush me? I knew it! He's been wanting to kick me out of the sect for a long time but didn't have the nerve to say it. Now you're satisfied, aren't you?!"
"It's just Thunder Breathing! If I stop using it, then so be it! I refuse to believe that without Thunder Breathing, I, Kaigaku, can't become strong!"
With that, he clenched his teeth and turned to leave.
At that moment, Xia Feng suddenly spoke calmly.
"Do you still remember the wisteria incense burner you extinguished back then?"
Hearing that, Kaigaku looked at him in confusion.
A few seconds later—
His expression suddenly turned incomparably terrified.
His entire face went pale!
He stared at Xia Feng like he had seen a ghost.
"Y-You… how do you know…? You! What are you trying to do?!"
Seeing his reaction, Xia Feng felt it was utterly ridiculous.
"I won't do anything to you. I was just feeling a bit sentimental."
"A dog really can't stop eating shit."
After saying that, he no longer paid Kaigaku any attention.
Kaigaku's expression flickered uncertainly. After a while, seeing that Xia Feng truly made no move, he hurriedly turned and ran away.
Jigoro Kuwajima asked strangely,
"Xia Feng, what did you mean by that just now?"
Xia Feng shook his head.
"Just a small matter."
He beckoned to Zenitsu.
"Come here. I'll treat your injuries."
Looking at Xia Feng, Zenitsu suddenly remembered what had happened to him earlier.
He couldn't help feeling a little afraid and hesitated to approach.
Xia Feng smiled.
"What? Do you plan to attend the Final Selection with all those injuries? I don't mind, but there's an eighty percent chance you won't come back."
Hearing that, Zenitsu stiffened.
Just imagining that scene made him want to cry!
Since he'd be finished either way, he gritted his teeth and followed Xia Feng into the house.
Kuwajima also walked in.
Looking at Zenitsu, he couldn't help asking,
"Zenitsu, what exactly happened earlier? Why did you…"
Zenitsu looked toward Xia Feng.
"I… I suddenly felt like my body wasn't listening to me. Actually, from the moment Senior Brother used the Second Form, the one fighting there wasn't really me…"
Hearing this, Kuwajima looked at Xia Feng in surprise.
Xia Feng raised his hand and pointed at Zenitsu.
Zenitsu suddenly cried out as his body began dancing uncontrollably under Xia Feng's manipulation!
This time, since he struggled with all his strength—and Xia Feng hadn't used much force to control him—he soon broke free.
"An ability to control another person's body?!" Kuwajima exclaimed.
Xia Feng nodded.
"It's a small special ability of mine. Originally it was a breathing technique used to examine injuries inside the body. But later on it evolved and developed some… new functions."
Kuwajima felt a little speechless.
That "new function" was far more terrifying than the original use!
Zenitsu, meanwhile, looked a little depressed.
"So that means… that whole sword technique just now was actually performed by you, Mr. Xia Feng…"
Xia Feng shook his head.
"Not entirely."
"When I controlled you, only the very first strike was completely executed using my own technique. The situation was urgent, so I used what I was most familiar with."
"After that, every ability you used was your own. I only helped you activate them."
"Kid, your talent and strength are both excellent. You need to believe in yourself. In my opinion, if you train for a few more years, you'll definitely become a Hashira."
Zenitsu stared blankly for quite a while after hearing that.
He turned to Kuwajima.
"Grandpa… can I really become a Hashira?"
Kuwajima grinned.
"Of course, you idiot! Haven't I been telling you that all along? Why do you only believe it when someone else says it?!"
Zenitsu scratched his head awkwardly.
"I always thought you were just encouraging me…"
Veins popped out on Kuwajima's forehead. He really wanted to slap Zenitsu out of the room.
After briefly checking Zenitsu's injuries, Xia Feng placed his hand over the wounds.
White light began to shine.
As the light touched the injuries, Zenitsu's wounds began healing at a visible speed!
Seeing this scene, both Zenitsu and Kuwajima were shocked.
"The healing speed is insane! It's hundreds of times faster than normal!" Kuwajima exclaimed.
Xia Feng laughed.
"So you invited me here without even knowing what level my abilities were at?"
Kuwajima's old face turned red.
He did tend to act a little impulsively…
Zenitsu nervously endured the treatment.
Looking at Xia Feng, he couldn't help feeling emotional.
This man was clearly about the same age as him…
Yet he already held a status equal to a Hashira.
Despite having such a high position, he wasn't arrogant at all.
When he spoke to Zenitsu and treated him, he was completely easygoing.
Could he become someone like Xia Feng one day?
Before he realized it, the person he wanted to become—besides his grandfather—had gained one more.
A system notification sounded beside Xia Feng's ear.
[System Notification: Zenitsu Agatsuma's favorability obtained. Level: Admiration. Reward: One Silver Card Draw.]
Xia Feng froze slightly.
Earlier, when he controlled Zenitsu's body without permission, he thought it would be lucky if Zenitsu didn't resent him.
He never expected not only to gain favorability—
But such a high level.
Could it be that Zenitsu had some hidden masochistic tendencies and actually liked being controlled?
Xia Feng shrugged.
Who knew.
After finishing Zenitsu's treatment, Xia Feng also fulfilled the promise he had made to Kuwajima earlier and checked Zenitsu's brain.
Zenitsu looked at him nervously.
"I-Is there something wrong with me? Is there something extra inside my head?"
Xia Feng withdrew his hand.
"There is indeed something extra…"
Hearing this, Kuwajima also became tense.
Zenitsu sucked in a sharp breath.
Under their watchful eyes, Xia Feng stood up.
"There's a bit too much imagination in there. Stop overthinking useless things and practice your swordsmanship more."
After saying that, he slowly walked out of the room, leaving the old man and the boy behind.
The two looked at each other for a moment—
Then burst out laughing together.
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