I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Their expressions already revealed who had won their argument.

Kondo led the sullen Okita back to Aoto and the others.

"As you all just heard, Ah Sui got into a fight and was injured. I'm going to Tama to see him."

Kondo was unaware that Aoto had just learned who Hijikata Toshizo was through Suzuki's words, so he specifically explained to Aoto:

“A-Sui is one of our disciples at the Examination Hall, and also my close friend. He got into a fight and was injured, and I can’t just ignore him.”

"I won't be back until tomorrow at the earliest."

"Until I return, the Shieikan will be temporarily entrusted to the General's care and management."

Out of the corner of his eye, Qing Deng suddenly noticed that after Kondo finished speaking, Suzuki and the others' expressions changed slightly, and a bitter look appeared on their faces.

"Sōji." Kondo then turned his gaze to Okita. "I'll leave the Shieikan to you for now. I'll be back as soon as possible."

“I still want to go see Mr. Hijikata with you…” Okita smacked his lips.

"Sōji," Kondo said sternly, "Don't be willful."

"……understood."

……

……

After explaining some matters to Okita, Aoto, and others, Kondo hurriedly slung his sword over his shoulder and left the Shieikan with the burly man named Koroku.

As he watched Kondo leave, a faint look of regret flickered in Aoto's eyes.

He had planned to have a good match with Kondo today to see if he could copy any talent from him, but unexpectedly, this happened.

The more capable a person is, the greater the likelihood that they possess special talents.

Aoto believes that compared to ordinary people, Kondo, who is already the instructor of a sword-making school at a young age, is undoubtedly much more likely to possess special talents.

There's nothing we can do.

Qingdeng tried to comfort himself.

—I can only wait until next time I come to the Shieikan to practice swordsmanship to have a proper match with Kondo-kun. I hope that Kondo-kun won't happen to be away from the swordsmanship hall for some reason again...

As Qing Deng muttered these thoughts to himself, he saw Okita pouting and looking in the direction Kondo had left with a resentful gaze.

After a long while, Okita slowly withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to Qing Deng and the others.

"You all heard what Kondo-san said just now, didn't you?"

Okita put his hands behind his back; his small stature made this gesture look strangely comical.

"I am currently in charge of managing the Shiwei Hall."

"In other words—I will be instructing you all until Kondo returns!"

"Well then, let's not delay any longer and begin today's practice!"

"Ugh..." Suzuki, wearing a sour expression, twitched his lips and muttered, "Should Okita-kun be the one to guide us...?"

Suzuki's voice was very low, and Okita did not hear his murmur.

But Aoto, who was standing next to Suzuki, heard it.

"Is Okita-kun's teaching ability not good?" Qing Deng asked in a low voice. "Why did your expressions change when you heard that Okita-kun would be temporarily in charge of Shieikan?"

“No…it’s not that Okita-kun’s teaching is bad,” Suzuki replied softly. “It’s quite the opposite; he’s a very good teacher. It’s just that…in his swordsmanship instruction, he’s a bit…too strict…”

"Was that too harsh?"

"Well... you'll find out what I meant by 'too harsh' in a bit..."

Just as Suzuki finished speaking—

“铃木君！”

"Yes!" Suzuki quickly stopped speaking and stood up straight.

“After watching your fight with Tachibana-kun, I noticed that you have many areas that need improvement,” Okita said matter-of-factly. “For example, your sword-wielding stance.”

"You still haven't mastered the basic sword-holding stance of the Natural Rishin-ryu style—the Hira-Seigan."

"So today you will mainly practice the Pingqing Eye technique."

"Go and get the sword. And while you're at it, get me a bamboo sword too."

"Yes!" Suzuki quickly took two bamboo swords from the sword rack next to him, handed one to Okita, and kept the other for himself.

"Now show me your flat eyes."

"Yes!" Suzuki immediately complied, picked up the bamboo sword in his hand, and assumed a rather peculiar sword-wielding stance.

"Don't stomp so hard with your right foot! And don't grip the sword so tightly! Relax your grip a bit!"

"Yes!"

"You're still using too much force with your hands, relax a little!"

"Yes!"

"Why did you suddenly lift your left foot?" Okita swung his bamboo sword and lightly tapped Suzuki's left shin. "Lower it, lower it! I told you to lower it!"

Snapped!

Okita swung his sword again and slashed at Suzuki's left calf, this time with slightly more force than before.

"Yes!"

"Why did the bamboo sword lower down when the left foot was lowered?"

"Yes! I'm sorry!"

……

……

The three apprentices who had come with Suzuki to practice swordsmanship seemed to be used to such scenes, casting somewhat sympathetic glances at Suzuki, who was being "trained" by Okita.

Aoto, who was seeing this scene for the first time, couldn't help but stare in astonishment at Okita, who was completely different from before.

The Okita we just saw was a cheerful and handsome young man with a bright smile on his face.

And Okita now...

For some reason, looking at Okita now reminded Aoto of his driving instructor from his past life, the one with the gold chain around his neck and who always wore sunglasses...

(You stupid idiot, can you please stop touching the handbrake with your stupid hands?! That's right! Release the handbrake! Seriously! Don't you have a brain?)

Even now that I've traveled through time, the bald coach's heartfelt words of instruction, spoken in standard Cantonese, still resonate in my ears...

The only difference between Okita now and the bald coach is probably that Okita doesn't swear.

At this moment, Qing Deng recalled what Suzuki had just told him—

(Anyway, you'll find out what I meant by 'too harsh' in a bit.)

*******

*******

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[Japanese History Mini-Lesson Begins!]

Many readers who have watched a lot of Japanese anime might mistakenly think that "Hira Seigan" is a very powerful sword technique, such as "Hira Seigan Triple Thrust".

But let me, the author, provide some background information here—

"Ping Qingyan" is not a single technique.

"Hirōgan" is a classic sword stance in Japanese swordsmanship, and it is taught in many sword styles.

It can basically be understood as a mid-level stance with a rather unique posture.

[Mid-level stance: Holding the knife with both hands, holding it in front of the body, with the hilt pointing towards the abdomen and the tip pointing diagonally towards the enemy's face]

The so-called "Ping Qing Yan Three-Stage Thrust" refers to starting with the Ping Qing Yan stance and then launching three thrusts at the enemy, not that the move is called "Ping Qing Yan".

Chapter 17 Exceptional Talent Means Doing Whatever You Want (Part 2)

Okita corrected Suzuki's movements little by little, "torturing" him for nearly 10 minutes before he finally nodded gently.

It's not hard to see that Okita must have gotten very used to being a swordsmanship instructor.

Both his words and actions were full of confidence and were quite professional.

Suzuki and the others seemed to have long been used to being instructed by Okita, doing whatever Okita said without daring to utter a single word.

"Hmm...not bad, the posture is finally starting to look a little better. Just hold this position for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, so that your body can firmly remember this movement."

"Two incense sticks?" Suzuki's eyes widened. "Okita-kun, isn't this... a bit too long? Didn't we always only have to endure one incense stick before?"

"That was then. Your skill level wasn't as high back then, so naturally we didn't have such high expectations for you. Don't lower the sword; it's too low now!"

"Yes Yes!"

Suzuki hurriedly raised the sword in his hand slightly.

"Hmm, very good. Keep it up like that. The time it takes for two incense sticks to burn will pass quickly." With that, Okita turned and walked towards another apprentice.

"Uehara!"

"exist!"

"Go and fetch the bamboo sword now, so I can see if your skill has improved."

"Yes!"

[Note: Suzhen: Basic movement training in Japanese swordsmanship. Simply put, it involves swinging a sword at the air in front of you. The movements may seem simple, but there are many intricacies involved.]

The apprentice, known as Uehara, quickly retrieved the bamboo sword and then demonstrated the full katana in front of Okita.

"No, no, no! Suzhen's correct way of practicing is to focus your mind, exert your greatest strength, and swing your most powerful sword forward. 1000 weak slashes are not as good as one serious and powerful slash. Now, use all your strength this time!"

"Yes!"