>>5529145 >>5529195 >>5529202 >>5529558 >>5530226<span class="mu-i">That is acceptable. Perhaps Grandfather Hops then?</span>
「But you aren't my grandpa.」 <span class="mu-i">Is grandfather not a generic form of address used towards close, older figures?</span> 「Are you old?」 <span class="mu-i">The answer to that question depends. If you are inquiring about how long I have lived and been aware of my surroundings, the answer is likely several hundred years. As for how long since I was born, it has been at minimum some millions of years.</span>
Kinzou doesn't really know how to respond to that. 「Huh. That's really really really old. I guess you're a grandpa then.」 A lull in the conversation. 「You're supposed to show me how to become a cultivator, right?」 <span class="mu-i">Yes. When you turn ten you will begin cultivating.</span> 「Why not now?」 <span class="mu-i">Because ten years is said to be the ideal age for cultivating.</span> 「Why?」 <span class="mu-i">I have not verified the facts behind why. Likely due to decreased life force and a difficulty in processing spiritual energy among older humans, as well as extremely young humans not having achieved sufficient growth to avoid being harmed by the absorption of spiritual energy.</span>
「...I don't get it. Come on, teach me how to cultivate.」 <span class="mu-i">No.</span> 「Please Grandpa Hops?」 <span class="mu-i">No.</span> After a few hours of annoyed begging the repeated 'no's sink in and Kinzou gives up.
During the start of the year, Kinzou doesn't do much. Eat, sleep, play in the woods. You take to educating him in writing during this time, as well as attempting to teach him in how to transmit information across your mental link. Progress in the former is a bit slow, but fortunately he is more adept at mental communication. While you miss Takigi's relative proficiency at the task, after a couple of months Kinzou is at least getting basic statements across mentally. They are a bit fractured, but it's certainly better than nothing.
As winter draws to a close and the snow begins to thaw, the citizenry's normal jobs begins. For Takigi this makes no difference, as he works for Kanekatsu year round. But for Kinzou, this means resuming his apprenticeship under Wang, the melted snow making the commute acceptable once more.
"It's been a while. The Emperor's blessing to you this year too, kid." Kinzou nods. "You too mister. What should I do?" Wang glances around for a while. "Uh, just help out Suji. Suji, you explain anything to him he doesn't understand." A young man with a perpetual frown turns towards the two. "Alright."
For several hours you observe Kinzou assist Suji in treating and filing down dried lumber into wooden planks. <span class="mu-i">Do you like carpentry?</span> Kinzou pauses what he's doing for a second. 「No. Boring. Super boring.」 Well, that's understandable. Your current role requires an excess of patience, but you're a bit bored of carpentry yourself at this point. It is still more interesting than observing Takigi cut wood at least.
