"Sigh..." Kyūbē’s face showed a trace of bitterness, "It’s true what they say... but I just feel so upset..."
Thump thump thump thump thump...
At this mont, chaotic footsteps ca from outside the hall.
Hearing the footsteps, Aoto hurriedly opened his eyes, then tidied up his clothes.
Saito, who was sitting in the corner daydreaming, also quickly grabbed his sword and, together with Kyūbē, swiftly walked to Aoto’s side, politely kneeling on the ground.
The hall door was pulled open—the recently separated Zhōuzhu, Abi, Kondo, and Chokata filed in through the opened door.
After the four entered, Aoto couldn’t help but glance at Abi a few more tis.
This night was the first ti Aoto saw Kondo’s foster mother.
For Kondo’s foster mother, Aoto had long admired her reputation.
During his first visit to Shiwei Hall, he heard from that Suzuki about her titles: "Head of the Five Great Vajras of Shiwei Hall" and "The Most Troubleso Person of Shiwei Hall."
Abi had the kind of appearance that made one feel she wasn’t soone to ss with just by looking at her.
Sharp eyes, thin lips, a fierce face shape, and features... a visage of severity.
Zhōuzhu and the others seated themselves in front of Aoto and his companions, with Zhōuzhu at the forefront, Abi to her rear right, and Kondo and Chokata at the back.
"Mr. Tachibana, I have already heard about your situation from Yong."
Zhōuzhu slowly said to Aoto with composure.
He first routinely said a few platitudes to Aoto, sothing like "I am sorry for what you experienced tonight."
After these pleasantries fell, Zhōuzhu cleared his throat and straightened his back even more.
"Our disciples at Shiwei Hall have encountered trouble, and we cannot stand idly by."
"Mr. Tachibana, we have all unanimously agreed—until you regain stable lodging, please stay at our Shiwei Hall for as long as you need!"
Upon hearing Zhōuzhu say this, Kyūbē behind Aoto showed a gleeful expression.
Saito, he... well, he pulled out a very characteristic expression of his: no expression at all.
"I can’t thank you enough." Aoto lowered his body, bowing in gratitude to Zhōuzhu and the others, "This kindness moves deeply."
"Once my salary and allowances are issued, I will be sure to settle the rent and expenses for our temporary stay here."
"Hahahaha, no need, no need." Zhōuzhu cheerfully laughed a few tis, "Having you stay with us won’t cost much... ah!"
Zhōuzhu suddenly let out a cry, drawing puzzled looks from Aoto, Kondo, and others.
"Ah, it’s nothing... just that my leg went a bit numb from sitting." He brushed it off towards Aoto and the others, while secretly casting a resentful glance at Abi, who had, with subtle movents, pinched a small bit of flesh on his lower back with the thumb and forefinger of her left hand and twisted it 180 degrees...
Abi pretended not to notice Zhōuzhu’s glance, staring expressionlessly forward.
...
...
After concluding talks with Zhōuzhu and the others and leaving the hall, Kondo and Chokata began coordinating tasks.
Kondo went to prepare bedding and other necessities for Aoto and his companions.
anwhile, Chokata was responsible for showing Aoto and the others to the room they would be staying in for the foreseeable future and giving them a brief tour of the ho attached to the dojo.
Shiwei Hall, second floor—
"Mr. Tachibana, here will be your room from now on."
Leading Aoto, Saito, and Kyūbē to the second floor of Shiwei Hall, Chokata pointed to two sliding paper doors in the corner.
Opening the door and glancing inside—this was a very spacious, open room.
Catching sight of the room, Aoto couldn’t help but click his tongue, "This room is huge..."
It was a large room covering an area of about 30 square ters.
If squeezed, not only three people but even ten could easily fit.
"This room was originally intended for patrons to live in," said Chokata.
"Patrons?" Aoto asked in return.
"Yes," Chokata nodded and continued, "When the master was building this Shiwei Hall, he considered that the dojo might, in the future, attract so patrons, so he specially built this spacious room to accommodate them."
"However..." Chokata showed a helpless, wry smile on his face, "as you can see... since our Shiwei Hall was established, we have never successfully attracted any patrons, leaving this ’Dining Room’ always abandoned..."
In the Edo period, sword dojos had a tradition of attracting patrons.
So of the wealthier dojo masters would often invite skilled swordsn to their dojos, providing food and drink, supporting them—these people were called patrons.
Their nature was the sa as those patrons kept by aristocrats in the mansions of China’s Spring and Autumn and Warring States Era—idle when there’s nothing to do, helping with matter when there is, joining a quarrel, aiding in fights.
Initially, sword dojos attracted patrons purely as a precaution against those who ca to challenge the dojo.
If so challengers successfully disgraced the dojo, losing face was a small matter, but harming the dojo’s reputation was significant.
Thus, to prevent this kind of scenario, powerful patrons would be kept specifically to deal with the challengers.
The practice of keeping patrons spread from this.
Today, the reasons for dojo masters keeping patrons have beco quite varied.
So do it to bolster the dojo’s prestige, making it seem as though there are more people involved.
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