I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Swordsmanship?" Kiryu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you quite skilled in swordsmanship?"

"Very skilled!" The young samurai, who called himself "Nagakura Shinpachi," said confidently. "While I wouldn't dare call myself an invincible swordsman, I don't consider myself a weakling either!"

After saying that, Nagakura took off the bundle on his back, rummaged through it and found a scroll, then pulled it open and handed it to Kiryu.

Kiryu took the scroll from Nagakura, glanced at it, and then uttered a low murmur of praise: "Oh? You're actually a holder of the full license for the Shinto Munen-ryu school..."

Upon hearing the phrase "Shinto Munenryu Menkō Kaiden" (神道無念流免许皆传), Aoto, Okita, and Saito all instinctively raised their eyes to look at Nagakura.

Because of the angle, Qingdeng could see exactly what was written on the scroll—it was indeed a certificate of universal access.

This person is actually a holder of the Mandate of Heaven... Qing Deng thought to himself, and couldn't help but glance at Nagakura a few more times.

"How about that? I wasn't bluffing, was I?" Nagakura chuckled. "Alright, hurry up and introduce me to some good jobs! I have the full transmission of the Shinto Munen-ryu lineage, so I should be able to get some pretty good jobs, right?"

Upon hearing Nagakura's words, Kiryu smiled slightly.

“Nagakura-kun, to be able to obtain the full transmission of the Shinto Munen-ryu lineage—that is indeed a remarkable achievement.”

"But a certificate that allows you to work without a license is not enough for me to help you find a good job."

After saying this, Kiryu handed Nagakura's certificate of nobility back to him.

"Huh?" Nagakura's mouth formed an "o" shape.

"Holding a license for all swords only means you've completely mastered the techniques of that school," Kiryu said casually. "It doesn't prove you're an excellent swordsman."

"There are countless people who possess the skills of the Mandate of Heaven, yet their actual combat ability is quite low due to a bad mentality or other reasons when they fight against others."

"Therefore, a single certificate granting you the right to transmit your skills is not enough to prove that you are a swordsman with outstanding swordsmanship."

Looking completely bewildered, Nagakura blinked: "My 'Menkyo Kaiden' can't help me find a job? Then, what should I do?"

Kiryu smiled at Nagakura again.

"If there is any way to best prove a person's actual swordsmanship level, it is undoubtedly through actual combat."

"Nagakura-kun, would you be willing to spar with someone now so I can see your true level of swordsmanship?"

"Sparring with someone?" Nagakura was taken aback. "Well... I don't mind showing off my skills on the spot... but Kiryu-sensei, do you know swordsmanship? Can you tell the strength of a person's swordsmanship?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Kiryu said calmly. "I studied some swordsmanship in Edo before, so I have a certain foundation. I can tell whether someone's swordsmanship is strong or weak."

"I see... Since you've put it that way, Kiryu-sensei—then let's go!" Nagakura smiled nonchalantly. "Anyway, I have plenty of time. If you want me to spar with someone, I'm always ready!"

"But who should I spar with? Mr. Kiryu, you wouldn't want me to spar with you, would you?"

Kiryu smiled, then was about to say something.

But then, as if he had thought of something, he paused.

“...Tachibana-kun”.

After a brief pause, Kiryu smiled and turned to look at Aoto, who had been sitting and watching from the sidelines.

"I wonder if I could ask you for a favor and have a match with this Mr. Nagakura?"

*******

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Wishing all students taking the college entrance examination the best of luck! To wish them all the best, I wrote a little more today, making it another chapter packed with words and information.

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 93: A Hero Saves the Beauty of Edo's Most Beautiful Woman? [7600]

"Hmm?" Aoto cast a surprised look at Kiryu. "Am I going to have a match with Nagakura-kun?"

“In the past, when I encountered customers who wanted to find jobs related to swordsmanship and wanted to test their actual swordsmanship level, I would ask a samurai who lived next door to my shop and was quite skilled in swordsmanship to help me.”

"But now that you're here, I can save the trouble of looking for someone."

"How about it? Can I ask you for a favor?"

Aoto glanced at Kiryu, then at Nagakura: "Well... I'll make a fool of myself then."

Sparring with others... Qing Deng never refuses such opportunities.

Especially for such young talents who possess the ability to pass on their skills to all, Qing Deng would be even more willing to spar with them, perhaps he could even copy some talent from them.

Seeing that Aoto had nodded in agreement, Kiryu thanked him profusely and then slowly stood up from behind the counter.

"Then, please follow me. There is a suitable place for people to practice swordsmanship at the back of our shop. Young master, could you please go to the warehouse and fetch two bamboo swords?"

……

……

Behind the Senjiya (Thousand Things Shop) is a small backyard.

Although the backyard is not large, it is more than enough to accommodate two adults to have a sword fight.

Aoto and Nagakura, carrying the bamboo sword that Kinoshita Mai had just brought over, stood at opposite ends of the small courtyard, while Kiryu, Kinoshita Mai, Okita, and Saito stood at the edge of the courtyard watching the battle.

Nagakura vigorously swung his bamboo sword a few times to make sure it was in good condition, then turned to Kiryu and asked:

"Mr. Kiryu, don't you have any protective gear?"

"I'm sorry," Mr. Kiryu said with an apologetic smile, "Our shop does not provide its own protective gear."

"No protective gear... Oh well, it doesn't matter." Nagakura grinned. "Anyway, it's just a bamboo sword, it won't kill anyone."

Having said that, Yongcang forcefully swung the bamboo sword in his hand towards the air to his side, creating gusts of wind, then spread his legs and assumed a mid-stance towards Qingdeng: "Are you ready?"

Qingdeng, who had just finished inspecting the bamboo sword, nodded and placed it in front of him: "I'm ready to teach you anytime."

Thanks to his exceptional talent in swordsmanship, Qing Deng's swordsmanship has improved by leaps and bounds, and he has now also developed some discernment.

As soon as Nagakura raised his bamboo sword and assumed a fighting stance, Seido immediately realized that this man was no ordinary person.

His posture, center of gravity, and the angle at which he held the sword were all impeccable.

If Aoto could see that Nagakura was quite strong, then it goes without saying that Okita and Saito, who were currently standing at the edge of the yard watching the battle with Kiryu and Kinoshita Mai, were even more aware of it.

"Wow..." Okita let out a sound of praise that only he could hear, "It seems this person really does have the ability to become a fully-fledged master..."

Both Aoto and Nagakura were in a mid-range stance, facing each other in a tense standoff, staring intently at one another.

The standoff between the two lasted only two seconds before being broken by a series of rapid footsteps.

Nagakura took the first step forward and initiated a close-range attack on Aoto!

Yongcang was tall with long arms and legs, so his attack range was naturally very wide. He only needed to take one step forward to get close enough for his bamboo sword to hit Qingdeng.

Then, Yongcang swung his bamboo sword horizontally from left to right, delivering a horizontal slash towards Qingdeng's chest.

Qingdeng's pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly took a step back.

The tip of the Nagakura bamboo sword grazed past Aoto's chest, and Aoto felt a burning sensation on his chest.

After narrowly dodging Yongcang's slash, Qingdeng quickly regained his footing and launched a counterattack.

Qingdeng's bamboo sword drew an arc that was closing in on Yongcang's right shoulder.

After glancing at Qing Deng's retaliatory sword strike, Yongcang lowered his center of gravity slightly, and the bamboo sword in his right hand drew an arc, crossing the air and striking Qing Deng's bamboo sword, thus deflecting Qing Deng's attack.

"Hahhhhh—!" Yongcang roared like a wild beast, quickly retracting the bamboo sword that had parried Qingdeng's attack. He then switched to the upper stance and delivered a powerful "Splitting Mount Hua" strike to Qingdeng's right arm holding the sword.

With just a glance, Qing Deng immediately judged that he could not withstand Yongcang's attack.

Therefore, Qingdeng had no choice but to jump backward, leaping out of Yongcang's attack range and widening the distance between them.

Qingdeng jumped back and landed steadily on the ground, adjusting his stance while silently chanting to himself:

—As expected of the holder of the Shinto Munen-ryu license, every attack is imbued with the style of Shinto Munen-ryu…

Shinto Munen-ryu is a sword style that follows a "powerful" approach.

The swordsmanship style of the Shinto Munenryu swordsmen is to crush their enemies with a torrential downpour of attacks.

As soon as Qingdeng stepped back to create some distance between himself and Yongcang, Yongcang immediately rushed towards Qingdeng like a whirlwind.

This Nagakura Shinpachi is very strong. In terms of strength, Aoto felt that this Nagakura Shinpachi was much stronger than Suehiro Moritoyo, whom he had dealt with before. But Aoto was not surprised or panicked by this.

At the very beginning of the sparring match, after seeing the flawless stance that Nagakura Shinpachi had adopted, Aoto had already anticipated that this young man was no ordinary opponent.

Qingdeng, who was mentally prepared, let out a breath of stale air.

The heart rate and blood flow rate began to surge.

Feeling these changes within his body, Qingdeng knew: his "lone wolf" technique was beginning to take effect!

Qingdeng raised his bamboo sword to meet Yongcang, who was charging at him again!

The Shinto Munenryu school follows a "fierce" approach... what a coincidence.

Qingdeng's Natural Reasoning School is also a school that takes a "fierce" approach.

Waaah—!

Qingdeng thrust his sword at Yongcang, producing a series of whistling sounds that vibrated the air.

Yongcang quickly turned his body to the side, and as he watched Qingdeng's sword whiz past him, Yongcang's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

He clearly sensed that Qing Deng's strength... had suddenly become much stronger than before.

Nagakura's gaze sharpened slightly as he gripped the bamboo sword in his hand...

The two, both employing a "fierce" style of swordsmanship, rapidly exchanged attacks and defenses within this small courtyard.

Even with the added advantage of "lone courage," Qing Deng's strength was still far inferior to Yong Cang's.

The difference in their strength is roughly "20/80". Aoto is second, Nagakura is eighth. Nagakura completely overwhelms Aoto.

Thanks to Qingdeng's "eagle eyes," his incredibly sharp dynamic vision allowed him to keenly see through Yongcang's attacks and dodge in time.

Without "HawkEye," Qing Deng might have been knocked to the ground by Nagakura long ago.

Qing Deng knew that if he were to engage in a "head-on confrontation" with Yongcang, he would definitely not be a match for him.

So, relying on his "eagle eye," he adopted the tactic best suited to his current disadvantageous position: "guerrilla warfare."

He constantly dodged Yongcang's attacks, then seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Yongcang and deliver a fatal blow.

Even though he was at a complete disadvantage, and even if he fought a guerrilla war, the chance of defeating Yongcang was very slim, Qingdeng did not show any negative emotions. He calmly fought a guerrilla war with Yongcang and calmly looked for an opportunity to turn the tide of the battle.