end of training

The End of Training

After nine grueling months of training under Master Shinza, I had finally built up the courage to ask him something that had been weighing on my mind. Every single day had been a challenge—running five hours at a time, dodging sticks, getting hit in the head, and listening to this old man call me a brat. But despite all that, I knew I had learned a lot. My punches were sharper, my footwork was smoother, and my endurance was leagues beyond where I had started.

Yet, something still felt incomplete.

As I wiped sweat off my face after another exhausting session, I turned to Master Shinza, who was casually sipping his tea as if he hadn't just spent the last hour smacking me with a stick.

"Master Shinza, can I ask you something?" I said, panting.

The old man raised an eyebrow but didn't look at me. "What is it, brat? If you ask me for a day off, I'll hit you twice as hard tomorrow."

"No, it's not that," I quickly replied, knowing full well he wasn't joking. "It's been nine months since you started teaching me how to fight. I've trained hard, followed everything you said, and endured all of it. But do you have any final tips? Something specific I need to focus on?"

Master Shinza finally turned to look at me. He took another long sip of tea, smacked his lips, and then sighed.

"No," he said bluntly.

My eye twitched. "What do you mean no? You're my teacher!"

He shook his head and chuckled. "Brat, do you think wisdom comes in a nice little package, all wrapped up with a neat little bow? You want me to give you one last piece of advice so that everything suddenly clicks? That's not how this works."

I frowned. "Then… what was all this for?"

Shinza sighed and stood up, stretching his back like an old cat before cracking his knuckles. "You want the truth? Listen carefully, because I'll only say it once."

I straightened up immediately.

"There is no 'final tip,' no 'ultimate lesson,' no 'secret technique' that will make you the best. What I have given you is time. Time to struggle, time to adapt, time to grow stronger. You think because you trained for nine months, you should suddenly feel complete? No, brat. Training doesn't end. It never ends."

He tapped his chest. "Fighting is not just about how hard you punch or how fast you dodge. It's about understanding yourself. Every time you step forward, every time you move your fists, you're not just throwing a punch—you're proving something to yourself. That's why I told you to run. That's why I made you dodge a stick. That's why I made you stretch your body until you thought it would break. Because if you want to be strong, truly strong, you must be able to endure. Not just in fights, but in life."

I let his words sink in.

"Then… what do I do now?" I asked.

Master Shinza gave me a rare, small smile. "Keep doing what I taught you. Your body is still not as skilled as I imagined it could be. You have the foundation, but you are still far from mastering it. So, if you have school, train. If you have free time, train. If you wake up in the morning, stretch. If you eat, eat like someone who wants to be strong. Train until you don't have to think about training anymore. That is how you reach the next level."

He then smirked. "And most importantly, stop getting distracted by pretty girls during training. If I catch you staring at another woman instead of dodging my attacks, I'll make you run ten hours a day next time."

I coughed and looked away, suddenly feeling very exposed. "I-I wasn't looking at—"

Shinza whacked me on the head. "Liar."

I rubbed the new bump on my head and groaned. "Fine, fine! I get it. I'll keep training."

Master Shinza nodded. "Good. Now, get lost, brat. I have an important appointment."

I blinked. "With what?"

He grinned mischievously. "A fresh shipment of magazines just arrived."

I gagged. "You are a terrible role model."

He shrugged. "And yet, you still listen to me."

As I walked away, I thought about his words. Training doesn't end. I had come a long way, but I still had further to go.

And for the first time in months, I felt excited about it.