As time passed, an onlooker appeared in the courtyard.
The training progressed steadily, and Suō Tsukasa looked as if he had just been pulled out of the water. Sweat constantly dripped from his hair and jawline, soaking into the dust at his feet, creating dark spots that coalesced into circles.
"He's been swinging continuously for four hours now... Is he a monster?"
"Are people with spiritual power aptitude... all this incredible?"
"It's a good thing that person didn't suddenly snap and kill me back then. If anyone asks for credit again... I'll definitely give them credit!"
Ms. Terada sat not far away, propping her head up with a bent arm. As she watched Suō Tsukasa's training, her thoughts started to drift.
She was a light sleeper, and she had woken up soon after Suō Tsukasa started training.
After waking up, she didn't disturb his training. She quietly washed up, tiptoed to the kitchen, found the breakfast he had kept warm in the pot, ate it, and then returned to the courtyard to sit on a stone stool and continue watching him sweat profusely.
After completing ten thousand swings, Suō Tsukasa rested his sword and closed his eyes, feeling an unprecedented clarity in his mind. He lingered, savoring the sublimation of his body and spirit.
"Is he finally finished!?"
Seeing Suō Tsukasa stop moving and close his eyes to rest, Ms. Terada, who had assumed he would be like a never-stopping mechanical pendulum, patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't completely exceeded the concept of a human being yet.
"Ms. Terada, good morning."
Opening his eyes, he noticed Ms. Terada nearby. A cheerful smile bloomed on his face, and he waved hello.
He immediately realized his disheveled appearance, soaked in sweat, and subtly checked his stride, retracting the foot he had stepped forward with.
He stood still and gave an embarrassed smile.
"Tsukasa-kun, good morning."
"Are you really alright...?"
Ms. Terada didn't mind his current appearance. She walked closer and asked with some concern.
Although Suō Tsukasa's eyes were clear and bright, and he stood perfectly straight, his skin was pale with hints of crimson, and the heat constantly steaming off his body looked genuinely frightening.
"I'm fine. I'm in excellent condition right now."
Seeing her worry, Suō Tsukasa replied with a nod, his voice showing no fatigue from the high-intensity training. He clenched his fist tightly, feeling the energy surging from his body.
"I'm just a little... hungry."
As he spoke, a clear grumbling sound came from his stomach.
He scratched his head, a little embarrassed. There was nothing he could do; the energy supplemented by the first meal of the morning was consumed too quickly.
"Heh... if you're still hungry, then you're truly alright."
"There's still a good amount of the breakfast you prepared for me left in the kitchen that I haven't touched. Hurry up and eat."
Seeing this, Ms. Terada's lips curved into a noticeable arc, and she covered her mouth as she chuckled.
Eating was merely a habit and hobby for her. She had only selected some delicate-looking dim sum and hadn't eaten much.
Especially the meatier items—she barely glanced at them, and almost all were left untouched in the pot.
"Okay."
Without unnecessary pleasantries, Suō Tsukasa turned and returned to the kitchen as instructed.
As soon as he pushed open the sliding door, the warm, rich aroma of food wafted over him.
A few rows of bamboo steam baskets were warming over a low flame on the stove. White steam rose gently, diffusing into a soft, white mist in the light.
He usually woke up very early, so he had specially prepared these Cantonese style dim sum for breakfast, which could stay warm for a long time.
The fire in the stove hadn't gone out, and the water in the pot hadn't dried up, likely because the thoughtful Ms. Terada had helped to replenish it.
As soon as he got close, his stomach growled even louder.
He retrieved a clean towel from the wall, quickly cleaned himself by the sink, then took a serving tray and steadily lifted all the rows of steam baskets.
...
Returning to the main hall, he found a spacious area and lined up the dim sum one by one.
His chopsticks moved rapidly. With every mouthful of food swallowed, Suō Tsukasa felt his body gradually filling with energy.
Just as he was fully engaged in this "battle," Ms. Terada walked over with a pot of warm tea, placed a teacup next to his hand, and poured the amber tea.
"Eat slower; you might choke."
She looked at his manner of devouring the food, expressing her concern with a hint of reproach.
"Mm, thank you."
Hearing this, Suō Tsukasa slowed his movements slightly. Swallowing the food in his mouth, he picked up the teacup, blew on it, and took a small sip.
Ms. Terada sat across from him and poured a cup for herself. The scene before her was endlessly entertaining.
Human nature is the same in every world.
Watching someone wholeheartedly enjoy food always seems to evoke a certain pure sense of satisfaction deep within the observer. This might be why some mukbang streamers always capture people's attention.
"Phew..."
Swallowing the last bite, Suō Tsukasa let out a satisfied breath. The feeling of fullness in his stomach made him comfortable all over.
"The dim sum today, both in taste and appearance, is exceptionally unique. I've never heard of or seen any of it before."
Seeing that he had finished eating, Ms. Terada gently stroked the rim of her cup, her gaze falling on the empty steam baskets on the table, and asked with curiosity.
She had already discovered Suō Tsukasa's excellent cooking skills during his trial period, but she hadn't expected him to have another, more impressive skill.
Shrimp dumplings with skin as thin as silk, revealing pink filling; siumai blossoming like golden clouds; and crystal-clear sweet zongzi wrapped in emerald green bamboo leaves, which sparkled when unwrapped.
Each item opened her eyes and surpassed her knowledge.
However, there was one thing that surprised her. She had been curious about what was being steamed in the row that smelled the meatiest.
When she opened the lid and saw the sauce-brown chicken feet, she subconsciously covered the basket again, and her curiosity instantly vanished.
"I'm glad you like it. These are famous dishes from my hometown."
"I don't have much I can give back to Ms. Terada right now, so I just thought of making something tasty to make you happy."
Having received praise, Suō Tsukasa felt a bit smug and replied with a smile.
He was originally a food enthusiast who enjoyed watching cooking tutorials in his spare time.
As his spiritual power cultivation deepened, his memories became increasingly clear. Every frame in his memory transformed into resources for him.
The process of making these dim sum was itself a form of cultivation.
The strength in his wrist when kneading the dough and the movements of his fingertips when shaping the food all honed his control over his body.
He had felt inspired yesterday and even tried to turn all the theories in his mind into practice.
With a bit of a show-off flair, he replicated the dim sum from his memory. Unfortunately, the ingredients and seasonings in the Rukongai were somewhat limited, so some types of dim sum couldn't be made.
He had also made a variety of items because he wasn't sure of Ms. Terada's preferences.
However, from the contents of the steam baskets he had laid out just now, he already knew which flavors suited her taste.
"Mm."
"Are you going to train like this every day from now on?"
Ms. Terada had already understood Suō Tsukasa's intention to give a food report this morning.
Her gaze fell on his collar, which was still not completely dry after being soaked in sweat. She paused, seeming to search for the right words.
"Yes. Is something the matter?"
"Did it affect your rest?"
The sudden question made Suō Tsukasa momentarily stunned. He put down his teacup and said seriously.
He wasn't very familiar with her daily routine. His training started too early, and the movements were quite loud. Perhaps it had disturbed her.