novelraw Chapter 53: Never Seen Someone Like You Before
Chapter 53: Never Seen Someone Like You Before
The legendary Old Lady, the mighty who had taught countless heroes,
how shocking her appearance must be when she showed up!
Beihai compared his height to the old woman standing before him; she only reached about his chest—quite a short granny. Her face looked a little sullen, not someone to mess with, and she held a staff far longer than she was tall.
What the heck, I thought she’d be the purple-haired old woman. At least she wouldn’t look so ancient and frail—how did she end up like this? She looks pathetic, so short, so weak.
She looks so fragile a gust of wind could knock her over; could she really teach martial arts? Don’t fall over before you even start.
Beihai had come with fantasies about Scáthach. In his imagination she was a young, beautiful, purple-haired old woman who wielded the spear with masterful skill.
Beihai’s head got knocked by the old woman’s wooden staff. The blow stunned him but didn’t injure his brain.
“I keep feeling like you’re thinking something extremely rude. And what’s with that look in your eyes?”
The old woman was a bit displeased—well, to be precise, Scáthach looked a little annoyed. You went through so much trouble to come here and you’re laughing at this old woman? Are you sick?
“No, no, it’s just not what I imagined. Also, I’m here to learn martial arts.”Beihai’s true purpose was to grow stronger. He considered himself talented; under the kingdom’s chief sword instructor he had finished training in five years.
But that training was padded—facing Cú Chulainn and Ferdiad he had no defense. If it weren’t for his physical strength being far superior to the two of them, forget being friends or sworn brothers, charging at them would just get you used as cannon fodder.
This time would be no different. The unnamed were still too weak compared to those legendary figures.
Scáthach glanced up and down at Beihai, taking in his clear, foolish look and the single-minded abdominal strength trapped beneath a layer of armor.
Muscles weak, comprehension lacking, body not flexible enough, and at that size—he’d long passed his prime.
If he learned slowly, it would be the classic case of old age hampering youthful fists.
“You? I can’t teach you. I don’t think you’re cut out for it.”
Scáthach refused him while shaking her head. Although meeting was fate, it depended on whether Beihai could handle it.
For example, if a teacher rejects someone because of poor talent, the student must show willpower far beyond others to prove that although his talent is lacking, his will is extraordinary.
He must train harder than everyone else and take more punishment.
Beihai, however, was straightforward and blurted out his case.
“Old woman, I think I am cut out for it. Actually I’m a hidden genius. I’m very strong.”
“You don’t look it at all. Strength alone won’t cut it. How strong are you, can you contend with giants?”
Scáthach couldn’t help but scoff—how much could strength really be worth?
“Not impossible.”
“What did you say?!
Tell me, were you blessed somehow? Did you drink some mysterious spring water?
Did you eat some special fruit? Or were you born with divine strength? I’ve heard legends in small towns.
There was a boy who kept growing taller after birth—taller than houses. One swing of his ax could fell an entire forest and easily divert a river.”
Scáthach’s implication was simple: either blessed later in life, or born with innate special ability.
“That explanation would be complicated. I wasn’t blessed. If you insist, call it late-blooming greatness.”
To verify Beihai wasn’t lying, Scáthach led him to the training ground for a fight.
Although she was an old woman, her fame was widespread. Beihai dared not slack off, so he attacked with seventy percent of his power. One punch sent the old woman into the foggy forest, using her body like a lumberjack would use a log, driving her into a wall so hard she was stuck there and couldn’t be dislodged.
Elsa watched beside them, eyes wide in disbelief. That hit was too brutal. If she couldn’t even take one punch, then was this rumored Queen of the Land of Shadow a fraud?
The thought gave Elsa a headache—an actual pain—because Scáthach had knocked her head with the staff.
“Ahem, ahem, don’t imagine wild things.”
Scáthach returned. After all, this territory was her domain, though now she looked a bit dusty and her robe was torn.
“You’re still alive.”
“You, knight, what are you saying? Didn’t you come to comfort this old woman a bit?”
Given Beihai’s innate strength, Scáthach believed he was a malleable talent. Martial prodigies weren’t always born with divine strength, but most with divine strength were far from useless.
Such a talent could make her reputation skyrocket again. Beihai knelt on one knee, acknowledging Scáthach as a makeshift master—after all she’d lived countless years and was one of the most powerful people of legend.
Then, regret set in: he couldn’t be taught!
One second she taught a move, the next he perfectly replicated it, and by the last minute he’d forgotten it entirely.
Scáthach was incredulous. After repeated tests she confirmed one thing: “Are you from the mermaid kingdom of the sea?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because fish have three-second memories. You’ve perhaps evolved toward a human form, so memory might have improved a bit—possible.”
Scáthach was furious—she’d never taught such a poor student. Basics like horse stance didn’t even need teaching; Beihai’s monstrous strength destabilized his stance when he swung a leg.
He had the body control to learn techniques, but his brain didn’t cooperate—learn one move, forget one move. Did he think this was like studying from a book?
When the teacher finishes instructing, you hand it right back. I don’t want this!
Scáthach regretted taking him on. If word got out, her reputation would suffer.
Finally, in a burst of anger after much teaching, she realized martial arts training required not just the mind to remember, but the body to remember as well.
The body must be honed to internalize moves. Beihai’s flesh simply didn’t get injured, so systematic training couldn’t take root and he couldn’t feel true growth.
“I’ve never seen a case like yours.”
“Then, teacher, do you think I still have hope?”
“Not impossible. I have a magic spear. I’ll cast an enhancement curse on it, then I’ll use that thing to ambush you every day.”
“Ambush me?”
“Whether you’re eating or sleeping, I’ll attack you about fifty thousand times.
Your task is to block its attacks. When you can do that, you’ll graduate.
I think you really like blocking moves—using your word, you call it parrying. As for your offensive technique, forget it. No need to learn intricate tricks. One slap and it’s gone for you.”