"Hmm?" Aoto cast a surprised glance at Kiryu, "Am I going to duel with Mr. Nagakura?"
"In the past, when guests wanted jobs related to swordsmanship and I wanted to test their actual swordsmanship level, I always asked a samurai with quite good skills living next door to help out."
"But now that you’re here, I can save myself the trouble of finding soone."
"How about it? Can I ask you?"
Aoto looked at Kiryu, then at Nagakura: "Well... I will humbly show my skills."
Sparring with Yamato people... Aoto never shies away from such things.
Especially facing a young genius who possesses Master of All Techniques, Aoto is even more eager to spar, hoping to perhaps replicate so talent from them.
Seeing Aoto agree, Kiryu thanked Aoto warmly and stood up from behind the counter, unhurriedly.
"Then, please follow . There is a suitable place for swordsmanship sparring behind my shop. Young Master, could you please go to the warehouse and fetch two bamboo swords?"
...
...
Behind the Thousand Affairs House, there is a quaint courtyard.
The courtyard is not large, but it’s ample for two adults to engage in swordsmanship sparring.
Aoto and Nagakura stood opposite each other at the east and west ends of the courtyard, holding the bamboo swords Mukiwa just brought over. Kiryu, Mukiwa, Chokata, and Saito stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching.
Nagakura swung the bamboo sword a few tis with force to confirm there was no problem, then turned to ask Boss Kiryu:
"Boss Kiryu, are there no protective gears?"
"Sorry." Boss Kiryu smiled apologetically, "Our shop does not have protective gear."
"No protective gear, huh... Oh well, no worries." Nagakura grinned, "After all, it’s bamboo swords; they won’t kill."
With that said, Nagakura wielded the bamboo sword to the side with force, creating a gust of wind, then spread his feet and positioned himself in a middle stance: "Are you ready?"
Having just checked his bamboo sword, Aoto nodded and positioned his sword in front of him: "Ready anyti."
With the talent of a Sword Genius, Aoto’s swordsmanship has rapidly advanced, and he has developed so insight now.
When Nagakura raised his bamboo sword and took stance, Aoto imdiately saw—this person is definitely not ordinary.
Posture, balance, angle of the raised sword... all impeccable.
If Aoto can see Nagakura’s outstanding skills, then certainly Chokata and Saito, standing at the courtyard’s edge with Kiryu and Mukiwa, see it too.
"Oh..." Chokata muttered praise only he could hear, "Looks like this person truly has the Master of All Techniques caliber..."
Aoto and Nagakura, both in middle stances, faced off tensely, watching each other intently.
Their confrontation lasted only 2 seconds before it was broken by a series of swift footsteps.
Nagakura stepped forward first, advancing close to Aoto!
Nagakura was tall, with long arms and legs, thus his attack range was naturally wide enough; a single step forward brought his bamboo sword within striking distance of Aoto.
Nagakura swung his bamboo sword horizontally from left to right aiming a horizontal slash at Aoto’s chest.
Aoto’s pupils shrank slightly and his feet swiftly retreated.
The tip of Nagakura’s bamboo sword brushed past Aoto’s chest, sending a fiery sensation through Aoto’s chest.
Barely dodging Nagakura’s slash, Aoto quickly steadied his stance and launched a counterattack.
Aoto’s bamboo sword traced an arced line toward Nagakura’s right shoulder.
Nagakura glanced at Aoto’s responsive strike, then lowered his center of gravity slightly, and the bamboo sword in his right hand followed an arc, flying through the air and striking Aoto’s bamboo sword, deflecting Aoto’s slash.
"Hah ah ah—!" Nagakura bellowed like a beast, hastily collecting the deflecting bamboo sword and switching to an upper stance, unleashing a "Powerful Split" targeting Aoto’s right arm holding the sword.
With just a glance, Aoto imdiately judged—Nagakura’s attack is not sothing he can fend off.
Thus, Aoto had to leap backward, out of Nagakura’s attack range, putting distance between them.
After leaping back and landing steadily, Aoto adjusted his stance quickly while musing internally:
—As expected of a Shindo Mononoke-ryu nkyo Kaiden holder, every attack embodies the Shindo Mononoke Stream style...
Shindo Mononoke Stream is a swordsmanship style on the "fierce" path.
Using assaults as ferocious as a rainstorm to crush opponents—that is the swordsmanship style of the Shindo Mononoke Stream swordsn.
Just as Aoto paced back to widen the gap from Nagakura, Nagakura swooped like a gale towards Aoto.
This Nagakura Shinpachi is very strong; in terms of power, Aoto feels Nagakura Shinpachi is stronger than the Mogami Shofu he faced before—yet, Aoto feels neither astonished nor anxious about this.
From the start of the spar, witnessing Nagakura Shinpachi’s flawless stance without any errors or weaknesses, Aoto had anticipated this young man wouldn’t be an easy match.
ntally prepared, Aoto exhaled a deep breath.
Heart rate and blood flow began to surge.
Feeling these changes within, Aoto knew: his "Lone Brave" was starting to take effect!
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