Chapter 168: Who dares marry such a fierce woman?
Hokusinn Itto-ryu, Mirror Wisdom Flow, Tennen Rishin-ryū, Mugen Shinmyō-ryū, Ryōten-ichiryū, Shireigen-ryū...
Most sword styles in Yingzhou originated from practical combat, and their theoretical combat abilities do not necessarily reflect real combat.
Around ninety percent of disciples join the sword school either for cultivating interests or for physical and mental enhancement.
Real swords no longer exist, and during sparring, lightweight and hollow bamboo swords are used instead of those soaked in camphor oil.
For these people, it isn't suitable to set excessively difficult tests. Generally, several different tests are set. If one simply comes to the dojo to obtain a graduation certificate, they only need to go through ordinary trials, take a few photos with a sword and that's considered as the end.
However, for those who truly inherit a school of swordsmanship, the tests they must undergo will be much more stringent. Although they still cannot use real swords, they must face multiple opponents in combat. The more renowned and ancient a sword style is, the more emphasis is placed on practical combat skills in this aspect.
Because these people essentially are warriors, but have been stripped of the official samurai status in modern times, they still retain the sense of honor from the bygone era. They are highly loyal and have a strong sense of belonging to the banners bestowed by the general. Therefore, they cannot allow their sword styles to deteriorate since they are destined to be the sword experts in the shogunate.
Hokusinn Itto-ryu's Menkyo Kaiden is an extremely challenging certification. It starts with ten people, then twenty, thirty, and finally forty people. It requires successfully defeating four rounds of opponents, totaling one hundred people.
If one passes this trial, they can obtain the highest level Menkyo Kaiden. However, due to its extreme difficulty, generally no one chooses this path. It gradually evolves into a single round, but even in this round, no one can defeat forty people. As a result, the number of opponents decreases gradually. For branch family members, as long as they pass ten or even seven opponents, it is considered as obtaining the Menkyo Kaiden, commonly known as the tenth stage or seventh stage combat.
Every head and elder of the branch families were swordsmen in their youth. Almost without exception, they went through similar trials and obtained the rank of Menkyo Kaiden. They can be regarded as having abundant martial virtues. Therefore, they cannot accept just defeating ten opponents. If they want to inherit the Hokusinn family, they must challenge the even more difficult Hundred-Person Fight. If they can achieve this, as swordsmen, they would never utter a word of objection.
Don't be fooled by the quiet and gentle demeanor of the little girl. Once she enters a state of extreme anger, she can twist open a person's skull with her bare hands.
When Hokusinn Kichyō openly declared that she would fight a hundred people, the meeting room fell silent. It was only after Hokusinn Kichyō left the room that they began whispering among themselves.
“What should we do?”
“She's serious."
“Do you think she can make it through, or perhaps she's just stalling for time?"
“Exactly, how can a little girl possibly achieve a hundred kills?" A young branch family leader expressed doubt.
“Shut up!" An elderly patriarch with graying hair scolded, "What do you know!"
Another elder whispered, "It's so familiar... Just like what happened over twenty years ago."
“Over twenty years ago?”
“Twenty years ago, there was a woman named Hokusinn who also challenged a hundred people. What was it for?"
“For a damn boy named Suzuki Xuanma... He had no power or influence, born mediocre, not even worthy of being a son-in-law."
“Yeah, in order to make him a son-in-law, Hokusinn used a wooden sword to crack open the heads of a hundred people. The scar above my left eye is the result of that, she didn't show any mercy at all. I'm her uncle."
“I even suffered a fracture and lay in bed for a month and a half!”
“Whose fault was it for not wearing protective gear at that time? You loved to show off, huh?"
“Back then, it was for a man. What is it for now?"
“Marital freedom..."
“But who would dare to marry such a powerful woman?"
“Nonsense! Can't she just let the man marry into our family?"
“Wouldn't that be exactly the same as last time?"
“Humans are always repeating the same mistakes.”
“There's nothing new under the sun."
The elders sighed.
"This Suzuki Xuanma, is now the head of the Hokusinn main family." The elderly man rose from his seat and rested his hand on the armrest. "Since Hokusinn Kichyō wants to challenge, then let's prepare as she said. All of you."
“Gather the outstanding disciples under our sect."
“But it may not be possible to gather them all in a short time. Some are in class, some are not in Edo, dozens of people are not difficult, but over a hundred..."
“Even the branch dojos can be called upon."
“Is that possible? But some dojos follow different styles."
“Idiots! In a hundred-person rotation battle, the first ten are the most important. They must be outstanding disciples! The back lines rely on numbers, not the same style at all. When you see forty people rushing towards you, what's your first reaction?"
“Turn around and run?"
“Kneel down and beg for mercy?"
Sigh...
There's a reason for the decline of the Hokusinn family.
Today, instead of going to the hospital, Bai Wei came to the Yoshino confectionery shop owned by Yamada.
Business gradually picked up, although there were still no customers early in the morning.
Bai Wei found a seat and continued to enjoy the confectionery, while chatting with Yamada.
He saw a half-broken baguette hanging on the wall, with dried blood stains on it.
"Mr. Bai, are you looking for a part-time job?" Yamada heard Bai Wei's question and looked puzzled. "Do you need money?"
"Yes, I do." Bai Wei nodded.
"But what about the Yagyū family..."
"Is my sister's money mine? It's her personal property, even if she gets married, it's pre-marital property."
"But didn't you say before that you have stomach problems and can only live off others?"
"A rabbit doesn't eat from its own burrow, so eating from our own resources isn't considered living off others. It's called relying on family."
"So other young ladies are acceptable?" Yamada poured a cup of hot tea and put it down. "You want me to introduce some prestigious young ladies to you. I've actually found a few good ones. How about arranging a meeting? Finding a wealthy, beautiful, and young girlfriend with your requirements shouldn't be difficult at all."
"Can I just live off others without taking responsibility?" Bai Wei asked.
"Not taking responsibility could get you killed."
"Let's discuss how to find a part-time job instead." Bai Wei spoke seriously.
Yamada looked at Bai Wei with a conflicted and complex expression.
"What kind of expression is that?"
"I just think you're a really eccentric person... Are all principled people like this?"
"Those who don't work shouldn't eat." Bai Wei said seriously.
"Then you can work at a convenience store or some other shop."
"The money comes in too slowly with regular jobs, I can work, but it has to pay well." Bai Wei rested his chin on his hand. "I just want to have a decent job that can make me earn hundreds of thousands in a day. Is that too much to ask?"
"It's not wrong, but it's excessive."
"Everyone thinks like that, but if there were such an easy part-time job... maybe it would only be renting a boyfriend." Yamada shook his head.
"That sounds great!" Bai Wei was eager to try. "Instead of dating, make them feel embarrassed, take the money, and leave them with regret for a lifetime."
"That's not for you." Yamada shook his head.
"Why not?"
"For the sake of the customers' safety, you shouldn't go either." Yamada was concerned about life safety, in all senses of the word.
"Okay... I'll spend more time studying Yingzhou's constitution. Maybe I can find a legitimate way to make money. If you have time, could you help me search if there's a place called 'Dragon Sakura Club' in Edo?"
"It sounds similar..." Yamada was going to speak, suddenly, a young man rushed in.
"Uncle Yamada, give me some wagashi and chilled tea," the young man said as he handed over nine coins.
"Haiyo~" Yamada replied.
"I'm going to put up a notice," the young man said, taking out a big poster from his backpack and sticking it on the bulletin board in the shop. He then sat down, ate three skewers of rice dumplings, drank tea, and left in a few minutes.
Bai Wei looked at the bulletin board and only then noticed that there were already many advertisements and lost and found notices posted on it. Fortunately, there were no ads for finding heirs or unclogging drains.
Sichuan Restaurant hiring stir-fry chefs, daily salary, priority given to people from the Ming Country... XX Construction Team seeking workers, the best brick movers, please choose... The top spiritual medium in Edo, if you have troubles, seek guidance from a reliable and accurate spiritual medium fortune-teller...
The latest one is: Izumi Dojo recruiting students, register quickly, 10% discount available, also recruiting trainees for Dojo instructors, excellent benefits, daily salary possible...
