Chapter 116: Sword Challenge to Japan
The Hokushin Ittoryu Dojo, located in the core area of Tokyo, is now crowded with a group of children aged 11 or 12, their eyes full of awe and expectation for kendo.
Beichen Ittoryu is recruiting disciples on a large scale today, but in order to join Beichen Ittoryu, one not only needs to pay high tuition fees but also have a certain talent in kendo. They are selecting newcomers who are about to join Beichen Ittoryu, so naturally they want to see how powerful the swordsmanship they are going to learn next is.
In addition to these new young students, there are also many formal students in the hall. They wear samurai swords or bamboo swords on their waists, standing solemnly on both sides of the dojo, observing the training in the field.
The wooden floor of the dojo appears as smooth as a mirror under the sunlight, and each plank shines with a delicate luster, as if telling the long history of this place. Several old scrolls are hung on the surrounding walls, showing the style of kendo masters from past dynasties and bearing the weight of time.
"Our Hokushin Ittoryu is a sword-fighting school founded by Chiba Shusaku in the early 19th century. Although it may not be as old as other schools, our strength is by no means comparable to those old antique schools." Takamatsu Jiichiro straightened his body, his voice was deep and powerful, echoing throughout the dojo, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, always scanning the young men in front of him who were full of curiosity.
There is a special kind of silence in the air in the dojo, as if every breath is condensed with strength and determination. Takamatsu Jiichiro is the youngest instructor of Hokushin Ittoryu. At the age of thirty, he has already obtained the qualification to teach the secrets.
As the youngest instructor in the dojo, he is full of confidence in himself, especially in front of young students, he wants to show the unique swordsmanship style of Beichen Ittoryu.
Takamatsu Jiichiro stood in front of the straw mat, took a deep breath, and gently grasped the hilt of the knife. The air around him seemed to become tense in an instant, and all the children held their breath, watching his every move. The friction between the sword and the hilt sounded in the silence, and a sharp blade with a cold glow was about to break through the air.
"Hokushin Ittoryu is known for its simple, direct and extremely powerful swordsmanship style. Our style was developed based on Ittoryu, emphasizing attack speed and precise strikes, with special emphasis on attacks on the center line, knocking down the opponent with the least moves. Watch my moves!" His voice was low but full of power.
After being soaked in water, the straw mat becomes similar in density to human muscle, so it is considered a good material for evaluating the sharpness of a knife and the user's skills. By cutting at different angles, the quality of the blade and the user's control over the knife can be evaluated.
Takamatsu Jiichiro held his breath and concentrated, his body slightly sinking, and he instantly entered a state of extreme concentration.
"Ha!" With a low shout, the blade jumped out from the waist like a silver light, cutting through the air, and the speed of this instant was as fast as lightning. In the flash of the blade, the rolled straw mat was split into two without any suspense.
"Oh!!!" The children around immediately exclaimed in surprise, with admiration in their eyes. In the previous moment, they could hardly see the movement, they only saw the silver light flash by, and the rolled straw mat had been cut off.
Takamatsu Jiichiro slowly sheathed his sword. The sound of the blade being sheathed was like the sound of a gentle wind, echoing in the quiet dojo. His movements were smooth and flowing, appearing extremely elegant.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a proud smile. This was not only the result of his years of hard training, but also his confidence as a master of Beichen Ittoryu.
He glanced at the children around him and noticed that their admiring eyes were mixed with a hint of awe. Many of the children's parents were also watching outside the dojo. As the elites and wealthy people in society, they were more concerned about the strength of the dojo. Takamatsu Jiichiro knew that every action today might determine the future source of students and reputation.
Just as he was about to continue demonstrating swordsmanship, suddenly, a commotion outside the door interrupted his thoughts. A formal student hurried in, his white kendo robe swaying slightly as he ran, and he looked a little embarrassed.
"Teacher's School! Outside... there are people outside who want to challenge us, and they've brought a cameraman with them!" the student said breathlessly, his tone full of shock.
Takamatsu Jiichiro's face darkened instantly. Challenging the gym? And on the most important day for recruiting disciples for the Beichen Ittoryu? This was simply a naked insult to the entire gym.
His sharp eyes followed the student's instructions and looked towards the door. A young figure slowly walked in. The man was no more than twenty years old, wearing a black-patterned hakama and holding two wooden swords in his hands.
This person exudes a cold and steady aura, especially his eyes, which are dark and deep, as if containing an unfathomable abyss.
The young man walked steadily and gracefully, yet with a hint of imperceptible pressure. Every step he took on the wooden floor made a steady "dong dong" sound, which aroused an invisible echo in the gym.
"Kick the gym." He spoke lightly. His voice was not loud, but it was so cold that the air in the entire gym seemed to be frozen in an instant.
Takamatsu Jiichiro was shocked at first, then he quickly glanced at the entrance of the gym, where several cameramen were setting up cameras, obviously ready to record everything.
Anger immediately surged in his heart. This was a humiliation that Beichen Ittoryu had never experienced before! Bringing a cameraman to challenge the club was simply an attempt to destroy their reputation.
Beichen Ittoryu is located in the core area of Tokyo, next to a wealthy area. The land alone is worth a fortune, not to mention the huge amount of money earned by recruiting children from wealthy families nearby. Therefore, people often come to kick their club, hoping to snatch these customers and then drive Beichen Ittoryu out completely. However, no one has ever dared to come and mess up the place at Beichen Ittoryu's disciple-recruiting meeting, and even bring a cameraman with them.
"Okay, I've never seen such an arrogant challenger! Videotape all the fights, I will break your limbs, and then let you watch these pictures on the hospital bed, recalling your stupidity!" Takamatsu Jiichiro's voice was low and angry, his muscles tensed, his hands pressed on the hilt of the knife, anger burning in his chest.
"Bring me my bamboo sword!" He shouted at the student next to him, his anger almost overflowing from every word he said.
“No need, just use the real sword. It will be over soon anyway.” Lu Mingfei said calmly, without any ups and downs in his tone, as if what he was facing was just an ordinary sparring rather than a fierce duel.
Takamatsu Jiichiro's face turned red, his patience had been completely worn out, he walked to the center of the dojo without hesitation, drew out his samurai sword, the blade flashed coldly under the light.
"Hokushin Ittoryu, Takamatsu Jiichiro." He said coldly, his voice full of oppression.
Although Takamatsu Jiichiro was very angry, he did not lose his mind. If a swordsman cannot control his emotions, there is no way he can obtain the Menkyo Kaiden. Moreover, this may also be a very good opportunity for us dignitaries and the children next to us to truly experience the power of Hokushin Ittoryu.
“Niten Ichiryu, Gen Yusuke.” Lu Mingfei also got into position, with an indifferent expression, as if the opponent in front of him was not worth mentioning at all.
When Takamatsu Jiichiro heard Lu Mingfei mention Niten Ichiryu, he almost laughed out of anger. Niten Ichiryu is a sword technique created by the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.
Two Swords Ryu is the signature technique of Niten Ichiku, which requires the user to hold both the tachi and the kodachi at the same time. The tachi is used for primary attack, while the kodachi is used for defense or auxiliary attack. By operating two swords at the same time, the warrior can maintain greater flexibility and control in battle, especially when switching between defense and offense.
But Lu Mingfei held a sword in each hand, which was totally out of place.
Without saying anything more, Takamatsu Jiichiro took a sudden step forward, his feet skimming across the floor like the wind, and he rushed towards Lu Mingfei like lightning. The knife in his hand shone like a silver meteor, slashing down straight down - Iai Slash!
Iai Slash was the move he was most proud of. He had practiced it countless times just to make it faster. This move earned him great fame. In many battles, he would often end the fight before his opponent could react.
However, just as the blade was about to touch Lu Mingfei, a wooden sword was casually raised and accurately blocked his attack.
Takamatsu Jiichiro's pupils suddenly shrank. At the moment the sword and the wooden sword intersected, he felt that his all-out attack seemed to have hit an indestructible iron wall. The blade did not move at all, and his strength was completely dissipated.
It’s not that there were people who drew their swords to block his Iai Slash in the past, but he was often able to use his terrifying strength and speed to chop the opponent’s sword aside and then directly hit the opponent’s body.
But this time when he chopped on the wooden sword, it didn't move at all. He felt as if he had chopped on an iron pillar. He quickly drew his sword and stepped back, using a sliding step to distance himself from Lu Mingfei. However, he did not forget the other wooden sword in Lu Mingfei's hand.
He adjusted his breathing again, gripped the hilt tightly, and told himself secretly that this was just a coincidence. He didn't believe that a swordsman who looked so young could have such an overwhelming advantage.
"Front-on cut!" Takamatsu Jiichiro shouted, and rushed towards Lu Mingfei at a faster speed, with the blade chopping straight towards Lu Mingfei's head.
The frontal slash is the basic technique of Beichen Ittoryu, which emphasizes the combination of strength and speed. With this strike, he is absolutely sure that he can end the battle in an instant.
However, Lu Mingfei's reaction was still very relaxed.
The wooden sword was raised again, easily blocking the attack. The understated movement was as natural and smooth as brushing off a fallen leaf. Even Lu Mingfei's expression did not change at all.
Takamatsu Jiichiro was so shocked that his palms began to sweat. His attack was once again easily resolved, and even more easily than before. Lu Mingfei didn't even use the second wooden sword. This reaction speed and strength was beyond his imagination.
“Come again!” He gritted his teeth, suddenly turned sideways, and swept the blade out quickly, aiming directly at Lu Mingfei’s side - a fatal blow!
Dozan is a horizontal attack commonly used in Hokushin Ittoryu. It is extremely precise and focuses on attacking the opponent's weaknesses. Takamatsu Jiichiro has defeated countless opponents with this technique. The perfect combination of speed and strength makes this slash almost invulnerable.
However, the wooden sword once again appeared silently in front of his blade.
"when!"
The blade collided with the wooden sword, making a dull metallic impact sound. Takamatsu Jiichiro's face turned pale instantly. He felt a severe numbness in his arm. The opponent's strength seemed to directly penetrate the blade and shock his bone marrow.
This time, he could no longer maintain his attacking posture. He was knocked back several steps by the huge reaction force and could barely stand. Beads of sweat kept dripping from his forehead and his breathing became rapid.
Lu Mingfei, who was standing opposite, still had a calm expression, as if the previous confrontation was just an ordinary test. His eyes were calm and deep, and the wooden sword in his hand did not seem to reveal any real murderous intent, but gave people an invisible sense of oppression.
Beads of sweat began to appear on Jiichiro Takamatsu's forehead. It seemed that his opponent had no weaknesses at all, and every move he made was a perfect way to block his attacks. It felt a bit like when he first entered the Hokushin Ittoryu and faced his master.
But after so many years of training, not even his master could block his attack so easily. Lu Mingfei on the opposite side was still breathing steadily, and he didn't even have the ability to make the other party's breathing heavier.
Takamatsu Jiichiro continued to retreat and keep his distance, and he was relieved that the other party did not pursue him.
"Are these the only moves of Beichen Ittoryu? If so, then it's my turn to attack next." Lu Mingfei said calmly.
Lu Mingfei's arrogant words should have made Takamatsu Jiichiro furious, but at this moment Takamatsu Jiichiro had no energy to be angry. He stared at Lu Mingfei's every move, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
The feeling was different. He felt that the person opposite him seemed to be getting serious, and a vague sense of pressure appeared in his heart.
"Sword force..." Takamatsu Jiichiro felt his throat a little dry. He had only experienced this feeling from his master, the Sword Saint of Hokushin Ittoryu. His master said that only those who could condense this kind of force could be called Sword Saints.
The man opposite moved, so fast that it seemed like teleportation. Takamatsu Jiichiro only felt a flash before his eyes, and alarm bells rang in his heart. He barely raised his sword to block in front of him, but soon a terrifying force hit the samurai sword in his hand.
In ordinary duels, his strength was often described as terrifying, but in the face of such power, his strength was so small, like a baby facing a grown adult.
Takamatsu Jiichiro's sword only blocked the attack for less than seconds before being knocked down. The wooden sword continued to chop him. He felt as if he had been hit by a large truck, and more than a dozen ribs were broken.
Severe pain came from his chest, and Takamatsu Jiichiro curled up on the ground in pain, gasping for breath, and the pain made him almost unable to move. The regular students around him were stunned, with disbelief and shock written all over their faces.
"Teacher!" Several students exclaimed and rushed forward to help Takamatsu Jiichiro up.
"Beichen Ittoryu... is this all you can do?" Lu Mingfei stood in the center of the field, his expression still calm. His voice was like a cold wind, blowing past the ears of every student.
This sentence completely ignited the anger of other students in the dojo.
"I'll do it!" One of the students drew out the long sword from his waist in anger and rushed towards Lu Mingfei. The defeat of the normal school in front of them was tantamount to a great humiliation for them. They could not tolerate the reputation of Beichen Ittoryu being trampled on in front of them.
However, facing the students rushing towards him, Lu Mingfei didn't even raise his eyelids, and didn't even move his blade. He just said calmly: "You all come together."
His tone was full of indifference and fearlessness. In his eyes, the challenges of these students were nothing but insignificant matters.
The completely enraged students drew their swords one after another and rushed towards Lu Mingfei angrily. More than 30 students launched the attack almost at the same time. The blades in their hands flashed sharp cold light in the sunlight, and the air was filled with tension.
But Lu Mingfei remained motionless. He held the wooden sword in both hands, slightly turned sideways, and calmly watched the people rushing towards him.
The next moment, the wooden sword made a loud sound of breaking through the air and drew a graceful arc in the air. There were no fancy movements or unnecessary tricks. It was just a simple swing, but it was as powerful as thunder and instantly shocked everyone's minds.
The blade hasn't arrived yet, but the feeling of oppression is already coming towards you.
"Bam—!"
The wooden sword in Lu Mingfei's hand once again easily blocked all the attacks. With the violent recoil force, the students who rushed up were blown away one after another, falling heavily on the floor of the gym, making a series of dull impact sounds.
The entire dojo fell silent in an instant, leaving only the groans of the fallen students. The air seemed to freeze, and everyone was too shocked to speak.
Lu Mingfei stood in the center of the dojo, gently lowering his wooden sword, his eyes still calm. He slowly turned around and walked towards the door, leaving behind a scene of astonishment and fear.
He didn't say anything else, because there was no need to say anything at this moment.
He has already won this challenge.
"Did you record it?" asked a cameraman outside Lu Mingfei.
This was Lu Mingze's idea. He said that the first thing to do in Japan is to make a name for yourself. Even if you are famous, you will never know how to stay famous. So he sent someone to teach Lu Mingfei Japanese kendo, and then let Lu Mingfei go out to challenge other masters, and then posted the video of the challenge online.
He had already visited three dojos in one morning, and this was the fourth one.
(End of this chapter)
