"Who is that person?" Huai Shi asked quietly.
"They say, he’s from the Dojo," Tobio replied thoughtfully, "and I’ve heard he’s a named disciple, likely quite formidable."
"Dojo? Which Dojo?" Huai Shi asked, puzzled.
Tobio shook his head, "It’s just nonsense... in all of Yingzhou, what other Dojo except for Shangquan Sword Saint’s Dojo could qualify as a dojo?"
Huai Shi gasped at intake, then again and again.
Continually, taking deep breaths.
The central air in Arakawa’s space was about to be sucked dry by him, and he couldn’t stop.
Holy crap, why does this feel like it’s doomed this time?
Shangquan Sword Saint, the notorious veteran among Yingzhou Sublimators, recognized as ’The Best in the World’ in Yingzhou for fifty years, with unfathomable skills.
Underlings and disciples too many; in both the Duke’s and the Wu Family’s circles, countless have benefited from his guidance.
His swordsmanship is divine.
Huai Shi’s attainment in Yingzhou Sword Art was only the base level [LV5] taught by Luo Lao in the general weapon tutorial class, and he merely used it as a stick.
While the swordsmanship level of Shangquan Sword Saint, at least above LV25.
Refined to god-like precision, ultimate mastery... even invincible under the heavens.
Such exaggerated terms are just meant to describe these exceedingly rare talented, experienced, diligent, and focused strong individuals.
It is even said that if it weren’t for the Sword Saint’s quirky and odd personality, and his disinterest in participating in Current Circumstances struggles, the disputes between the Duke and the Wu Family might have long been resolved.
Huai Shi once tried to instigate Luo Lao by asking: Old man, who’d win if you fought the Sword Saint?
But he ended up being beaten thoroughly by Luo Lao, barely breathing, almost landing in the ICU.
Later, after hearing about Luo Lao’s road being cut off, he sincerely thanked him for sparing his life.
For that muscle-bound old man, perhaps the greatest regret in martial arts in this lifetime is that he can no longer have such a heartfelt duel with such opponents?
Back then, with one punch, he knocked his ancestor into the Abyss, severing both grievances and the path forward. Even now, the Heretic King is unmatched in the Abyss, thriving like a fish in water in the Golden Dawn. Just looking at that battle on the Group Star, you’d know the old man fought four at once and even dismantled a mecha with his bare hands, as if playing, ferocious to the extreme.
If Luo Lao were in full form, he would probably be fighting all over the world for fun by now.
How could it be the turn for the senior sister?
Now, he, who only took ten trial lessons in a Orchard Gym and learned three moves, is going to compete purely in swordsmanship against an in-registered disciple of the Sword Saint Door...
Just thinking about it makes him feel a lack of prospects.
"Where do you get such confidence in me?" Huai Shi felt genuine bewilderment towards Old Man Tobio’s choice.
"Of course, it’s because Lihua thinks you’re amazing."
Tobio said seriously, "I’ll tell you, that child Lihua has a good eye... she said you can do it, so of course, I think you can do it!"
Huai Shi turned back in a daze to look at the arena, and Lihua smiled back at him, gesturing a thumbs-up to encourage him.
Huai Shi felt like he was going crazy.
"How about it? Do you feel old man’s earnest trust in you?"
Tobio smiled as he comforted, "Don’t be nervous, maybe it won’t be your turn, Jiechuan and White Butterfly are both top-notch fighters... Besides, this time the rule is ’one win decides’, maybe with luck, if you secure ’one win’, you win."
Before he finished speaking, a solemn announcement echoed from the field.
"—Little hand!"
Instantly, there was a deathly silence, followed by the sound of metal grinding, and the referee’s voice sounded: "Victory is decided!"
The entire process lasted less than a second, and when Huai Shi looked back, he only saw the man called White Butterfly stumbling back, collapsing to the ground.
Blood gushed like a fountain.
The longsword fell to the ground, along with both hands that held the sword.
Along with the sword blade, armor, flesh, and even bones cut cleanly and sharply by a single sword strike.
At the opening moment, without even finishing a round, Xiangqu Yilang, representing the Arakawa, scored first!
Huai Shi froze in place.
The dull and stiff man, after drawing his sword, became fiercely intimidating, his eyes blazing with aggressive fire, arrogantly unbeatable.
Ignoring Arakawa’s laughing praise beside him, he lifted his eyes to look over, like a beast snarling.
"Next one..."
Grinding teeth and sucking blood, impatient.
On the sidelines, Jiechuan, who was donning armor, stiffened for a moment, his expression becoming heavy, as he put on his mask without any expression.
This is likewise a favor from the opponent.
If not wearing armor, regardless of life-threatening risks, facing Xiangqu Yilang, you would be utterly defenseless. Even the ’one win decides’ rule is accommodating to you.
This is what Arakawa said.
It turns out, he was right...