The Dojo Tour

Cai Kang was confused at her statement.

What does she mean that she's not hard of hearing? She's wearing hearing aids. He thought.

"Um, Saeko?"

Saeko stopped what she was doing and looked at Cai Kang.

"Why is Kazuha wearing hearing aids? Is she hard of hearing?"

Saeko shook her head lightly. "I'm afraid not, Cai Kang. Quite the contrary, Kazuha has quite sharp hearing. The hearing aids are to protect her ears from sensory overload."

It took a moment for him to process. "Is it her potential?"

Saeko smiled softly and nodded surprising Cai Kang.

"Wait, really?! She has an unlocked potential?!" He banged his hands on the table, almost shouting.

"The barrier around the residence is to cancel out her ability so that she wouldn't have to wear those hearing aids at home."

Cai Kang is surprised, almost to the point of excitement. In Qiyuan, it is known as a meta-ability but in Shenmi, it is formally called a hidden potential. A power unique only to the individual and not by blood and it keeps evolving at a steady rate. Difficult to understand, almost impossible to unlock. Very few people unlock their hidden potential especially when they are young. It is said that only the most trained and powerful martial artists can obtain one but that is just a myth because he knew a person who unlocked his potential the moment he was born.

Even though Cai Kang is a strong martial artist in his generation, he never manages to unlock his very own potential. As much as it bothers him that he is unable to unlock his own potential, it doesn't hinder him from being strong and better than anyone else. He has met and beaten different people with potentials as proof.

After eating his breakfast, he visited the training hall and started to admire the weapons display. Since all of them are Japanese, some of them are quite unknown to him yet familiar. He took what he believes is a kunai knife and started balancing the knife before throwing it at a nearby target. It hit the bullseye, right and center. He walked back to get the kunai knife but realized something strange about it.

"What the?" The knife is nowhere to be found. Even the mark made on the target is gone.

It turns invisible upon contact. He thought and touched where the knife should be.

"It's not invisible. Look at the display."

Cai Kang turned around to see Yae. She is dressed in her business suit. He then went to the display where the knife is and is shocked to see it there.

"That kunai knife was property of one of the previous grandmasters in the clan. It was used to make a quick assassination attempt without having to easily become a culprit. It disappears upon impact and any blemishes or stains on it instantly disappear. This knife hasn't been made in centuries and is one of the few left in the world now." She said.

"Teleportation properties? That is rare even in our world." He commented.

"Yes, it is. Now, I am here to tell you that the master has permitted you to tour the Dojo. Of course, since the engagement is unofficial, no one knows who you are yet so it should stay that way." She said in monotone.

Cai Kang follows Yae to a garage where he sees a car. He was already excited to go see the Dojo but he had never been in a car, let alone gone anywhere in one. He hopped in the front seat next to Yae, who had already started to turn the keys and started driving.

Cai Kang is ecstatic and his eyes roam the interior and the outside view as it keeps driving. The interior looks clean and leathery. He knows almost nothing of a car since they don't exist in Shenmi but was told it was a metal, self-moving, and expensive carriage.

"By the way, where are we going?" He asked Yae.

"The Dojo is far from the Shiratori home here in the non-mystic world so we are going to where the Dojo is from here."

After driving a bit more, he sees a nearby mountain. The car drives up the mountain road until it stops at a large blot of land. Yae stopped the car at a nearby parking lot and left the car which Cai Kang follows. He follows her to a nearby shrine and turns the head of a bodhisattva statue to the back. Suddenly the room starts to turn and the body of the tiny statue starts turning too with only the head of the statue staying put. After the room stops moving, the statue and the head are back in place.

"Welcome to the Dojo," Yae said. Both left the shrine and he finds the place completely different. Cai Kang looked behind the Shrine and saw the rest of the mountain tops as a huge fortress. It is gorgeous, taking his breath away.

Both walked up the stairs where they saw a large gate and twin pillars with Shishi on top of them. Already wary of Cai Kang, the moment they laid eyes on them and growled, ready to attack the intruder.

"Stand down. He is a distinguished guest that the Grandmaster is expecting." The Shishi stood their ground but still growled and let them pass. The gates have opened, letting them both in.

Cai Kang looked to see how crowded it was. Many martial artists are practicing their stances, students hurrying to their classes, and mock battles being performed.

Both hurried inside where Cai Kang observes the interior until they got to their destination.

"The Grandmaster is currently at a meeting so please wait inside until he returns," Yae said and opens the door revealing a large beautiful folding screen with silver colored carvings. In the direction of his sight, he sees a small table-like desk, a chair, and a shelf of books in the walls. The room is naturally bright despite no signs of windows and he cannot figure out the light source.

Cai Kang saw something peculiar about the folding screen. The images show a beach with a large family on it. Looking closely, they resemble the Shiratori family. Before he could count and identify the individuals, the screen door behind him opened and in came Shoraku. Cai Kang scrambled to his original spot.

"You arrived a little early behind schedule. How was the school so far?" He asked.

"It's quite amazing sir. It's huge and you have plenty of students." He said.

"It wasn't always like that. It was because of my father's legacy that this school has become so prosperous in the first place."

"Still, it must've been hard. Even my school isn't this big and the Sen students are mostly those of the lower class. The nobility and the upper classes do not think my school's art is even close to suitable or fitting of their status. I am now starting to realize the gravity of my words when I said that I will take my school to the top on my own." He said sadly.

"Do you truly believe this is why your father wanted you engaged?" Shoraku asked.

"I am beginning to think so." Cai Kang replied.

Shoraku pat him on the shoulder.

"While marriage is a way to make connections. It isn't always the answer. The school isn't built or grown exactly how you would envision it. People believed that this school has grown because of the previous clan head's integrity, hard work, and power. But he is possibly the greediest man you would ever know. He built everything from the ground up and has destroy and built every bridge based on opportunity alone. He is not a decent human being yet he is respected even after he died with a legacy that hard work conquers all hardship." He said. "Starting from a humble background with a determined heart is a step forward. With it, you might be just like the previous clan head, hopefully not with his mindset." He said then smirked humorously for such a stoic man, "Besides, if he desires such a marriage, he could get married himself."

Cai Kang feels much better hearing that and looked straight into his eyes. He is strict but has a kind expression whenever he shows it.

"Let us tour around the Dojo. By the time we finish, we will be able to make it to lunch and then you can probably test the area on your own on one of the training grounds. Most of the older students will be gone on a trip soon." He said.

Both left the room and Cai Kang looked at the folding screen before the door closed completely.

"I notice that there are preparations for something on the way here." Cai Kang said. "What's that about?" He asked.

"They are preparing for the Himiko tournament. The largest and biggest contest between all the schools in Japan."

"A tournament? Is it a martial arts tournament?" He asked curiously.

"Not quite. It is similar to your country's Eight Pillars tournament. However, it has one key difference. There are two different divisions based on age. The junior level and the senior level. The junior levels are for the younger students at the ages of twelve to fourteen and the senior division's minimal age is eighteen."

"Did any of your kids join?"

"Kazuha won the junior division martial arts competitions three times in a row which is how she managed to gain more recognition as the successor of the clan as well as in the school. She will qualify for the competition again when she turns eighteen."

Cai Kang is surprised. "Is your daughter that strong? You seem to dote on her a lot."

"Out of all my children, she is the best martial artist. I am surprised she didn't tell you herself. She is even stronger than most adults."

"How is that possible? She's a prodigy?"

"She also mastered the Yin-Yang transition like you did which contributes to her strength. That is how she can perform Kyo level martial arts."

"Kyo?"

"The Japanese term for Xia." He said.

"It must be difficult."

"It took her four years to fully master it while it took me nearly six."

The Yin-Yang transition is one of the most difficult techniques in the mystic world. Only a few dozen people had the ability and patience to master this technique so unless they had spent their time dedicated to mastering it or were a prodigy then it would take forever. Yang is the dominant half of energy for men and Yin is the dominant half of energy for women. Yang energy is crucial in martial arts, giving them more power hence it is unheard of that women would be martial artists because they don't have as much Yang energy to do the same things that their male peers can. The technique can give the user the ability to turn their submissive energy into the dominant energy giving the women the ability to perform their opposite. Cai Kang had mastered the Yin-Yang technique in only two years and he was only a child when he had accomplished it but he's not gonna brag.

Why aren't most women dedicated to learning this technique? Surprisingly enough, Yin energy is higher in demand than Yang. Yin energy is more sought after because it is required to perform magic. While Yang energy has the same effect, Yin energy is much stronger. Shenmi is in higher demand for mages, sorcerers, or any mystic user than martial arts and no one is willing to go through hardship while they can just take an easier route.

Shoraku has shown Cai Kang the Dojo save for a few restricted areas. He saw the classrooms, the training grounds, the library, and the many rooms in the main hall where they accept any guests or visitors. They look around a bit more until they headed to a garden where he could see a table with a large canopy. Other than that, there are flowers everywhere.

"Where are we?" Cai Kang asked.

"This is where I eat," Shoraku replied calmly.

"So many blossoms. It also looks well maintained." He said.

"This particular area is also strong in Yang energy so this place will have flowers bloom all year long."

Then a shikigami appeared with a large tray. It is filled with typical Japanese food and tea. While they ate peacefully, Cai Kang remembered the folding screen.

"By the way, your folding screen has a picture of your family isn't it?"

Shoraku nodded.

"Noriko made that screen for my birthday and I put it at my workplace. The beach where that drawing had originated from was actually at an island very special to my late wife."

The folding screen was intricate and beautifully made and he was stupid to not figure it out sooner. There seem to be more people in it. The deceased mother and the two daughters who aren't around.

"Starting tomorrow, you will start school. Your father thinks it is a good experience for you so you can spend a year here and go back if you decide to. Also, try not to get in trouble. Your father also tells me you are a bit accident-prone as well as slow."

Cai Kang groaned. Of course, the old man had to tell him that. The fact that Cai Kang is slow is not entirely a lie. He is not as good at studying as other children. Because he always drops out around the end, he doesn't get the help he needs to improve ahead of time. Martial arts and battle strategies are his entire life so academics doesn't factor into that at all. As upsetting as it is to go back to school, he won't be afraid to fail since he is not staying in Qiyuan for long.

"You and Kazuha are in the same year and she will be able to tutor you if you need help in anything. Your school is aware of your condition so they would make progress in your education."

Can't fucking wait. Cai Kang groaned internally.

*

Cai Kang was driven home after he tested out the training room for a bit. Shoraku wouldn't come home until late at night. He noticed the time. It was five in the afternoon. Ren noticed Cai Kang and approached him.

"Welcome back, you look tired." He said.

"A bit." He agreed.

"Is it because of school?"

"Yeah," he replied tiredly then looked around. "I haven't seen or sensed your brother or sisters here. Where are they at this time?"

"Nori-nee and Toya-ni are up to their usual tricks. Kazu-nee is with her friends."

"Your siblings are always busy aren't they?" Cai Kang commented.

"You already know about my twin siblings. Kazu-nee also likes to make music, Kono-nee is in America."

"Your sisters all did so much. Why is it that they push themselves?"

"This is how life works here in the non-magic world. Everyone has to work for something instead of being handed life in a silver platter. I am the youngest so I have to work even harder to support my clan."

"You want to be the Clan leader?"

"I used to but not anymore. On the other hand, Kazu-nee doesn't want to be the clan leader. She wants to be a Grandmaster. All I can be is her advisor."

"Hold up. Why? Grandmaster doesn't have as much power as the next Clan head."

Ren shook his head. "I don't know either but I once heard her talking to the grown ups about it last year and they were shocked. Being both grandmaster and clan head at the same time is impossible."

So much ambition in all of these guys. He thought.