Koji Fights The World - Chapter 36 Trading Blows With The King

Koji was fairly perceptive. He saw the looks of discomfort from his father-in-law and his brother-in-law when they examined his writing pad. Koji couldn’t understand their reaction because both men had reached much higher proficiency with the Saber compared to him. Thus, Koji worried that he entered the wrong path in terms of his comprehension of the book. And he assumed that the king would discuss those notes and disprove them after dinner.

During the meal, Daethix raised her voice. “Little Zelea, we need to talk. Let’s have tea in the Tea Room after dinner,” she invited.

Zelea raised her head from her plate and looked across the table. “Okay, big sister,” she agreed. She remembered her husband’s desire for Zelea to leave Koji by himself. Zelea looked at her adopted father and gave him a pointed look.

King Aphraphus nodded subtly and confirmed that he would ensure the young man’s safe return to his room.

Soon, the two sisters departed together. Prince Cyreas excused himself next. Finally, Prince Heretrios gave his father a lingering look before leaving, too.

Queen Herecia turned to her husband and said, “I’m in the mood for some music tonight. I will play my zither under the tree. Don’t keep Koji up too late, dear.”

“I won’t, honey,” King Aphraphus promised. “Let’s go, Koji!” he said and stood up.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Koji said and followed his father-in-law out of the banquet hall. The young man remembered to take his writing pad and his saber from under his seat.

The guards standing in the hallway saluted the king while another batch of elite guardsmen followed him and Koji. They stopped in front of the small practice courtyard in the back of the palace and stood to watch over the entrance.

King Aphraphus looked at what Koji held in his hand. “Leave that stuff on the side. You won’t be needing them for our training session,” the older man ordered.

The son-in-law placed his book and weapon on top of a slab of rock near the exit. He turned around and approached the king.

Aphraphus chuckled at the puzzled face of his son-in-law. “When I looked over your notes on Fighting with Grace: Saber Edition, I was very impressed with your level of comprehension. The author of that treatise, Wang Yupeng, uses the ‘soft approach’ to fighting, whereas I prefer the ‘hard approach,’” he began to explain.

Koji held up a hand to interrupt him. “In other words, you think fighting with grace is for wimps,” he said and grinned.

The father-in-law was shocked at his words. How did Aphraphus give that impression? “Um, I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is that Sifu Wang’s style of saber fighting is very different from mine and Heretrios’. Thus, as long as you are comfortable with his soft approach, you will be better off studying on your own. If I try to make you adapt to my hard approach, then you will lose your comprehension in the weapon, and your skill proficiency could drop. That’s an outcome that we must avoid at all costs!” King Aphraphus shouted with his hands clenched into fists.

“Yes, father-in-law!” Koji agreed immediately. He saw how passionate the king felt on this issue and decided not to contradict the man. Frankly, Koji wouldn’t mind learning the hard approach to saber fighting. But he appreciated the fact that both King Aphraphus and Heretrios were concerned for Koji’s advancement in saber proficiency. Thus, Koji resolved to practice hard on his own.

However, Koji didn’t understand why the king brought him to the private courtyard if the older man won’t teach him another saber technique. “If you won’t train me in saber fighting, then what will you teach me tonight?” he asked.

King Aphraphus smiled broadly. “I’m glad you asked, young man! According to your menu report, you already reached Tier 5 in Body Refinement. That is very impressive for a person your age. My specialization is Body Refinement, and I’m a Master in this skill. So it makes sense for me to train you in this ability,” he explained. “Now, take off your shirt. I wouldn’t want your blood to get all over it,” he remarked casually.

Koji had a sinking feeling but obeyed the king and took off his shirt and tang jacket. He folded them neatly and laid them on top of his saber.

His father-in-law approached and ordered, “Stand still.” Without warning, King Aphraphus pressed his palm over Koji’s heart and sent his Yang Qi into the son-in-law’s body.

Koji felt the invasion of the powerful but foreign Qi. He used his Indomitable Spirit to suppress the urge to expel the powerful energy circulating through his meridian channels.

The elder closed his eyes as his mind’s eyes followed his internal Qi’s journey through Koji’s body. A few minutes later, he exhaled a deep breath and removed his hand from his son-in-law’s chest. “I had my suspicion, but I confirmed that you had opened all three dantians completely and the seals are gone. No wonder your growth has accelerated recently,” he praised with a look of wonderment.

King Aphraphus shook his head and cleared his throat. “For the rest of this evening, we’re going to temper your body by absorbing body blows!” he announced with a maniacal grin.

Koji blinked his eyes as he tried to comprehend what his father-in-law said. “You want us to trade punches?” he asked meekly.

“That’s right!” the king answered and nodded enthusiastically.

Koji imagined his body turning blue and purple from tonight’s training session. He groaned inwardly.

King Aphraphus noticed the look of dread on his face. “Don’t worry, my son! I will limit my output to 10,000 Power,” he said.

“But you’re still a Master in Body Refinement. It’s not like you can suppress the hardiness of your flesh and bones,” Koji pointed out.

“You’re right about that. Hahahaha!” the king laughed. “But training with a master will help you raise your proficiency much faster than otherwise,” the father-in-law noted. “Now, come! Give me your best shot!” Aphraphus taunted.

Koji sighed. He focused his mind and body. He approached his training partner, channeled his Yang Qi into his fists and arms, and unleashed a flurry of punches! “Wudadadadadada!” He threw a half-dozen straight punches in just one second!

Aphraphus clenched his chest and absorbed the hits. “Can’t you hit harder than that, Koji? That tickled,” he complained.

Koji’s brows furrowed. He took up the horse stance and unleashed another batch of punches. This time, every attack targeted his partner’s heart!

“Better!” King Aphraphus praised. “Now, it’s my turn!”

The young man clenched his chest. BAM! The first punch from his father-in-law knocked Koji back ten paces! “Ugh!” the young man coughed as he spat out blood.

King Aphraphus shook his head. “Koji, you need to channel and circulate all your Yang Qi through your chest. Otherwise, I’m going to break your ribs!” he warned. “Now, come back here, and we’ll start a second round.”

“Yes, Sire!” Koji wiped the blood from his lips. His eyes burned with fury and passion at this unexpected challenge. He bravely stood before the king and circulated his Qi through the chest.

BOOM! This time, the second punch knocked Koji back five paces.

“That’s better!” the king said and smiled. “Come back for the next one!”

Koji stubbornly returned and took his lumps. It took six punches from King Aphraphus before Koji remained rooted in his spot.

“Okay, time for you to retaliate!” the king said with a laugh.

The son-in-law didn’t hesitate. “Wudadadadada!” Koji immediately executed a half-dozen punches to the king’s heart.

The training partners spent the next two hours trading blows in this manner before King Aphraphus stopped. “Let’s go to the bathhouse to relax before we go to bed,” he said.

“Thank you, Sire!” Koji said with a bow from his waist. Despite the soreness all over his body, Koji received valuable insight on tempering his body. He appreciated the king’s willingness to train Koji personally.

The father-in-law patted him lightly on his shoulder. “Koji, you’re my successor as King. I want you to learn everything from me before you take the throne.”

Koji bowed again. He retrieved his clothes, weapon, and book. But since his body was sweaty, Koji declined to put on his shirt and jacket.

King Aphraphus had the same idea. The two men trekked the halls while bare-chested.

The female servants became startled and blushed at the manly figures which burned into their eyes.

The elder laughed jovially and flexed his muscles for the adoring women while strutting before them like a peacock.

Suddenly, Queen Herecia appeared before the two! “Dear, are you done showing off your body?” she asked in a chilly tone of voice.

“No, we weren’t doing that. We’re both hot and sweaty from our training session. Isn’t that right, Koji?” the king asked nervously.

The young man nodded.

“Don’t you dare corrupt my precious son-in-law with your silliness!” Queen Herecia hissed. Her eyes glowed as she released her Yin Qi to execute her Telekinesis. She trapped her husband in an invisible vise and floated his body through the hallway to the bathhouse.

The attendants quickly opened the door for the queen, who entered the building.

“Now, cool off that silly head of yours!” the queen shouted and dunked her husband, head first, into the pool. She kept his head underwater for five seconds before she finally released him, leaving the king gasping for air. Queen Herecias turned to the attendants and ordered, “Clean the Prince Consort properly, or else.”

“Y-yes, Your Highness!” the servant girls stammered meekly and bowed.

“I expect my husband to return our bedroom within the hour,” the queen ordered. With an angry “Hmph!” the lamia slithered out of the bathhouse.