Chapter 103: Sneaking a Bite of Your Grave Offerings
"Oh no, I'm dead…"
In the first encounter, Hokusinn Kichyō only managed to hold on for three moves.
The powerful and heavy strikes of the Mountain-splitting Saber came crashing down, and holding the Nine-Syllable Blade, she couldn't withstand even three moves. Though her weapon remained intact, her right hand was already broken.
Her right hand was broken, making it difficult for her to move.
She switched to gripping the weapon with her left hand, but her left hand also broke quickly. Then, she clenched the weapon with her teeth, narrowly avoiding the attack. The blade grazed the skin of the White Ape Demon, managing to make it bleed just a drop. Moments later, the Mountain-splitting Saber came swinging.
"Head, head, my head is still here… Phew, that's great…"
Hokusinn Kichyō touched her neck, afraid that she might be missing some parts.
She woke up in the shrine, and a half mirror behind her emitted a faint shimmer, although it seemed slightly dimmer than the last time.
A blood-red number 'one' appeared in the mirror.
"Are there any limitations on the number of attempts? How could I possibly defeat such an inhuman monster? I am not a swordsman from ancient times who could effortlessly wield a greatsword with one hand…" Hokusinn Kichyō bit her lip, unable to think of a way to overcome the gigantic white ape for the time being.
Outside the shrine, Yagyū Simozi stood in front of Saizō, furrowing her brow as she appeared deep in thought.
"Have you also finished?"
"Um." She absentmindedly responded.
"What are you looking at?"
"Shopping list."
Yagyū Simozi made a decision and said to Saizō, "Let's use this move."
Saizō nodded gently, holding an old-fashioned sword in his hand. He tapped it on the ground, and suddenly, he drew out his sharp blade. The sword gleamed as it swiftly moved, as fast as lightning. The two girls standing nearby were caught off guard and couldn't react in time.
Yagyū Simozi, who was now known as Yagyū Simozi, was struck by a powerful sword slash. She fell backwards onto the ground, her clothes torn and a deep wound gushing with blood.
Hokusinn Kichyō held the Nine-Syllable Blade tightly, feeling cautious. She was afraid that Saizō might strike her with his sword.
But the old man simply sheathed his sword. The next moment, Yagyū Simozi climbed back up from the ground and her wounds miraculously healed at an astonishing speed.
"Do you remember?" Saizō asked.
"Maybe about seventy percent…" Yagyū Simozi held her chest, "This strike hurts so much."
"The fastest way to remember this move is by using your body. I don't have time to teach you slowly."
Yagyū Simozi endured the pain and it gradually faded away.
Hokusinn Kichyō hurriedly walked over and curiously asked, "What was that earlier with the sword and you mentioning remembering? What are you talking about?"
"I just learned a new move."
"I see that you were clearly just cut with a sword."
"Then why don't you give it a try and see for yourself?"
Yagyū Simozi, while her hands still remembered the movements, decisively used Hokusinn Kichyō as a practice partner. The sword flashed brightly as it swiftly targeted Kichyō's waist and abdomen.
Hokusinn, who had already been prepared, lifted her sword and defended herself. She countered with her blade, but when the swords collided, she realized that the feeling was very delicate.
Suddenly, the Tengu Cut slipped right out of her hand and landed in Yagyū Simozi's palm. It spun around three or four times on the Nine-Syllable Blade and the tip of the sword grazed her temple.
Hokusinn Kichyō raised an eyebrow, surprised that she would play such a fancy move.
Her whole body trembled with true energy, releasing a burst of power. The techniques of Hokusinn Itto-ryu were practical, straightforward, and easy to understand. Combining her experience from countless battles, she had developed her own understanding. In her view, Hokusinn Itto-ryu should be fast and powerful. With a single swift stroke, she cleaved towards Yagyū Simozi, paying no attention to the other blade spinning on her sword.
Clang… The twin blades locked at a fixed angle. Hokusinn Kichyō seized the opportunity and swiftly thrust one blade while slicing with the other. The sword light moved up and down, as she exerted a double-strength attack, aiming the blades towards Yagyū's lower abdomen.
Yagyū Simozi had just caught the Tengu Cut that was thrown at her. She was defenseless against this attack and was taken by surprise once again. Instead of gripping the sword, she exerted even more force as she spun the Tengu Cut. The long blade started rotating in her hand, forming a seamless circular motion.
The round Tengu Cut and the Nine-Syllable Blade collided, creating a loud explosion sound of metal and iron.
Hokusinn Kichyō, who thought she could easily cut through her opponent, was actually parried by the sword. She stumbled backward, her movements becoming stiff, and quietly exclaimed, "Oh no, this is not good!"
But she noticed that Yagyū Simozi didn't chase after her sword. Instead, she reversed her grip and held onto the Tengu Cut, deep in thought, as she continued to spin the blade in her palm.
Hokusinn Kichyō took a deep breath and said, "Throwing the sword is a difficult technique to master. It belongs to the level of circus tricks, and I don't recommend you delve too deeply into it."
Yagyū Simozi shook her head and said, "This is no ordinary throwing technique… The secret lies right here."
She suddenly felt a change in the Tengu Cut. Without hesitation, she shook her wrist, causing the blade to swiftly spin just an inch away from her palm. It was as if the Tengu Cut came alive, moving and leaping like a nimble snake, all without any visible exertion on her part.
After exchanging blows several times, Hokusinn Kichyō started to believe something that wasn't true – it felt as if Yagyū Simozi was not wielding a sword, but a whip.
Even though she swung her sword and managed to fend off the swirling blades, it was difficult for her to get close because that sword would always come flying back from unseen angles.
With a wave of Yagyū Simozi's hand, the Tengu Cut always managed to find its way back into her left or right hand. It appeared as if she had no weapon in her hands, but in reality, her sword could reach any hidden corner within a three-meter range.
A long sword danced gracefully, swift and commanding, which seemed a bit exaggerated no matter how you looked at it.
Both sides didn't stop and continued to engage in the fight, going back and forth for about fifty exchanges. Hokusinn Kichyō received a slash on her back, but she abandoned the evasive maneuvers and charged forward, raising her sword and crashing into Yagyū Simozi, both her and the blade colliding. However, immediately after, that spinning sword circled around and landed on the back of her neck, slicing into the flesh.
She quickly lowered her head, narrowly avoiding the sharp edge of the Tengu Cut grazing against her skin. It sliced through her hairdo, scattering strands of her dark hair over her shoulders and back. Changing her approach from charging forward, she now rolled and moved gracefully with her blade. The Nine-Syllable Blade swept across the ground, striking it with great force, sending a spray of dust into the air.
Yagyū Simozi, also known as Yagyū Simozi, skillfully leaped backward and managed to avoid the slash aimed at her with great peril.
"I didn't say that I absolutely had to stand still, did I?"
"…"
Hokusinn Kichyō clenched her teeth, feeling a sense of urgency.
After so many rounds of fighting, the opponent stood motionless, while Hokusinn Kichyō found herself becoming more and more disheveled with every strike. The opponent, however, remained composed, adopting a relaxed posture and moving with confidence. It was clear from this that the two sides had decidedly different levels of skill.
But Hokusinn Kichyō could not help but feel a surge of anger within her.
…How could I possibly lose to her now?!
…It was just a move, and as long as I had enough strength, I could defeat her.
…Yes, just like the white ape before, one swing of the sword was enough to break through her attack.
With these thoughts in mind, she focused only on channeling strength into her arm. Unbeknownst to her, translucent white scales began to appear on her arm beneath her sleeve. A surge of immense power erupted from within her body, boundless and unstoppable. She lifted the sword high above her head, pointing the blade upwards, even pressing the back of the blade against her own back.
In the world of Hokusinn Itto-ryu, there was a powerful move called "Falling Slice," which was both simple and explosive. With this technique, Hokusinn unleashed all her strength, reaching maximum speed the moment her blade reached high above her head. The usually straightforward Falling Slice now surged with an incredibly mighty force. The Nine-Syllable Blade glistened with a layer of pure white cloud-like energy. As she swung her sword down, a radiant white glow enveloped the blade, almost cleaving through mountains and seas.
Yagyū Simozi widened her eyes in surprise, afraid to use the parting blade again. Instead, she raised the Tengu Cut, wielding it to defend herself. However, this time, there was not even a sound of clashing swords.
A dazzling white light flashed, leaving behind a deep trench that stretched for five meters on the ground.
Yagyū Simozi plunged the Tengu Cut into the ground, her gaze fixed on the deep trench. She was drenched in cold sweat and whispered, "Did you really want to kill me?"
Hokusinn Kichyō was puzzled, "How did I…?"
The white scales on her arm and neck disappeared, and she tilted her head in confusion. The strong and overwhelming power that had surged through her just moments ago had vanished.
The so-called 'Falling Slice' is not about simply striking with one sword and fighting to the death. Instead, it is about disabling the opponent's fighting ability with a single strike. There is no intention to say "I will kill you with this strike" or "I will chop off your head with this strike." Instead, it involves adapting to the situation and being flexible. It may not always aim for the neck but could target other vulnerable areas like the legs or throat. Therefore, this technique is not like the renowned Hokusinn Itto-ryu that is known for its unpredictable changes. It is more like a 'no second chance for either oneself or the opponent' technique, akin to a crazy dog showing its presence.
Yingzhou was a place steeped in history and legends. Among its renowned swordsmen was the legendary Kenshin Nobunori, who possessed incredible skill with the long spear on the battlefield. He believed that the strength of a weapon lay in its straightforwardness and speed. Those who had studied both mathematics and martial arts understood that in warfare, weapons like the long spear and bow and arrow were truly remarkable.
Therefore, to compensate for the shortcomings of the sword compared to the spear, the local warriors of the Shimazu region opted for a brute force approach. They believed that bigger meant better and that sheer size equaled beauty. They transformed ordinary swords into colossal oversized swords, resembling ship-cutting blades when lifted.
On the battlefield, when engaging in a deadly clash with long spears, the key was to strike with a fearless and forceful vertical swing. Accompanied by intimidating war cries that sent shivers down the enemy's spine, this technique became known as the "savage monkey shout." Once in combat, if you allowed yourself to be overwhelmed by the opponent's presence and chose to defend instead of attacking, the result would often be getting cleaved in two by the powerful force of their large sword, dividing both you and your weapon into separate pieces. This is how the origin of the Satsuma Shian-ryu technique came to be.
Hokusinn Kichyō, having put her sword down, said, "Let's not fight for now. We can't determine who's winning or losing at the moment."
"Let's stop fighting," agreed Yagyū Simozi. "It seems like you have also had some adventures and gained some power. Did you perhaps take some offerings from the shrine?" she asked curiously.
"I didn't steal anything, I just had a taste, cough cough! I'm not really sure where this power comes from, unlike your swordsmanship. It would be great if someone could give me a hint," said Hokusinn Kichyō. She glanced secretly at Saizō, but the old man was just sitting there napping, completely ignoring her subtle hints. He really was an outsider to the situation.
Yagyū Simozi silently sheathed her sword. She had clear expectations of improvement. This new technique was interesting and very useful. By manipulating her qi, she could control the speed and angle of the spinning blade even when it was released from her hand. However, it required extensive experience to ensure she wouldn't harm herself. Currently, this move existed in theory but not in practice. It was effective for distracting enemies, but lacked significant killing power. However, there was still room for further improvement and strengthening. It was like a whole pathway of skills that could be developed.
Yagyū Simozi was particularly interested in the two ultimate secret techniques at the highest level.
[Sword Art: Clear Skies in the Fast Snow]
[Secret Sword: Tengu Falls]
Taking one more look at the prices, each one costs a whopping eighteen thousand, and there are many additional requirements. In total, it would take at least forty to fifty thousand.
"Keep challenging RashoMon!"
Yagyū Simozi walked towards RashoMon without looking back, continuing her arduous adventure into the depths of the abyss.
Hokusinn Kichyō, determined not to fall behind, walked towards the waterside valley, ready to face the challenge of the White Ape demon once again.
Keep trying, keep trying, it's good to keep trying.
