"Yamanaka." Aoto lowered the bamboo sword he was holding, grinning at Yamanaka, "Indeed, it’s been a long ti since I’ve seen you."
Aoto turned back, pondering carefully—since the day after traveling to this era, after consulting Yamanaka Keisuke, who happened to be studying at the Little Chiba Sword Dojo, about whether Shiwei Hall indeed had a close relationship with Xuanwu Hall and Little Chiba Sword Dojo, he had been too busy with various reasons that kept him from eting Yamanaka again.
"Yes." Yamanaka replied, "That’s why I specially ca to et and greet you now."
With his usual graceful smile, Yamanaka walked up to Aoto and noticed Chokata standing slightly behind Aoto.
Being soone constantly interacting with Shiwei Hall as part of Little Chiba Sword Dojo, it was natural that Yamanaka recognized Chokata, one of the renowned figures of Shiwei Hall.
"Mr. Chokata." Yamanaka elegantly bowed slightly to Chokata, exchanging greetings.
Yamanaka’s graceful gesture involuntarily reminded Aoto of the equally graceful Miss Sazanoko.
But the elegance of these two people was vastly different.
Miss Sazanoko possessed the kind of "Miss"-like elegance; her deanor naturally made one conclude that she must have received rigorous "Yamato Nadeshiko" education.
Whereas Yamanaka’s elegance was more of a "cultured and well-read" kind of elegance.
To put it crudely, Yamanaka was the type who appeared very knowledgeable and cultured.
Chokata looked at Aoto in surprise and then at Yamanaka, monts later revealing an expression of sudden realization.
"Oh right... Almost forgot, Mr. Tachibana, you ntioned before that you are friends with Yamanaka Keisuke from the Little Chiba Sword Dojo."
He forgot exactly which day, but during a casual chat with Kondo and Chokata, Aoto had ntioned his relationship with Yamanaka.
With the long-unseen friend specifically dropping by to greet him, Aoto could not afford to be too impolite.
He initiated a conversation with Yamanaka.
After their brief exchange, Yamanaka suddenly sighed at Aoto with faint helplessness and surprise.
"Mr. Tachibana... You’ve truly made understand what ’n should be given a fresh regard after three days’ ans."
"In less than two months, you’ve changed so much that I barely recognize you."
"Upon hearing the na ’Tachibana Aoto’ associated with solving a major case in an extrely short ti; defeating over two hundred ’Radical Anti-foreigner Faction’ rioters with a few; I could hardly believe my ears."
Yamanaka’s praise for Aoto contained no negative emotions such as resentnt or jealousy.
It was purely full of joy and congratulations.
Facing Yamanaka’s complint, Aoto smiled and modestly replied, asking:
"Yamanaka, since you’re appearing here... Are you planning to participate in the tournant too?"
"Yes." Yamanaka nodded, "It’s a great honor to be chosen by the master to participate in today’s tournant."
"Ha." Aoto chuckled, "That ans... We’ll soon be clashing with each other."
Yamanaka laughed softly, then jokingly said: "Well, I won’t hold back later."
As a "contestant" who would be on stage soon, Yamanaka needed to allocate so ti to check the bamboo sword and other gear and warm up, with little ti to chat further with Aoto.
Thus, after a brief conversation, Yamanaka quickly stepped away and returned to the "Main Array" of their Little Chiba Sword Dojo.
As Yamanaka left, Chokata hoisted the bamboo sword onto his shoulder, looking at Yamanaka Keisuke’s gradually receding figure, he said wistfully:
"That Yamanaka Keisuke is participating in today’s tournant too. All three masters from the Little Chiba Sword Dojo are here today..."
"The three masters of Little Chiba Sword Dojo?" Aoto turned his head, throwing Chokata a puzzled look for suddenly ntioning a title he had never heard before.
"Ah, it’s a na I personally made up." Chokata laughed, "As a friend of Yamanaka Keisuke, you should know his swordsmanship is excellent, right?"
Aoto nodded; he knew Yamanaka’s swordsmanship was excellent, but he wasn’t clear about its exact skill level, as he had never sparred with Yamanaka.
"Many, including Brother Kondo, believe that apart from Mr. Shigetarou and Miss Sazanoko, so others in Little Chiba Sword Dojo have swordsmanship skills above Yamanaka Keisuke’s."
"But I personally always believe that throughout all the apprentices at Little Chiba Sword Dojo, Yamanaka Keisuke’s strength is only second to Mr. Shigetarou and Miss Sazanoko."
"Hence I’ve collectively referred to Mr. Shigetarou, Miss Sazanoko, and Yamanaka Keisuke as ’the three masters of Little Chiba Sword Dojo’... Hmm?"
Chokata’s words were just halfway through when he suddenly widened his eyes as if seeing sothing incredible, pointing northwest with his hand.
"Mr. Tachibana, weren’t you looking for Mr. Dingji just now? That’s Mr. Dingji right there!"
Listening to Chokata say this, Aoto was montarily stunned, then quickly directed his gaze to follow the direction Chokata’s finger was pointing—
Now, if soone unfamiliar with Mr. Dingji, who had only heard his na, saw him here, they would be quite surprised upon witnessing Mr. Dingji’s appearance.
Aoto was a perfect example.
He’s now quite surprised.
"...Mr. Chokata, is that really Mr. Dingji?"
"Yes." Chokata nodded vigorously.
—That person... is Mr. Dingji?
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