Volume 1: The Stormy Island in the River Chapter 41: Iai Sword Path

  Yamamoto Kansuke's swordsmanship is like an immovable mountain?

  Li Xiao listened to Yamamoto's words and was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at his crippled right leg. Ah, yes, the physically disabled but mentally tough Yamamoto classmate, I guess he can't do "swift as wind, slow as forest, invading like fire" these three points, only "still as mountain" is left.

  Suddenly, Li Xiao remembered that Hojo Masayoshi had mentioned earlier that Yamamoto Kansuke had studied swordsmanship under Tsukahara Bokuden and was praised by this current number one swordsman in Japan as the best of the Takeda family's swordsmanship. Li Xiao knew that what Tsukahara Bokuden said about Yamamoto Kansuke being the first in swordsmanship did not refer to his actual combat ability, but rather his understanding and application of the way of the sword.

  In Japan at the time, it was commonly believed that gunpo (military science) was a part of kendo (the way of the sword), and the two were inseparable; an outstanding master of kenjutsu (Japanese sword fighting) was also a military strategist, with the two being one and the same.

  In "The Book of Five Rings" written by Miyamoto Musashi, there is a sentence that says the technique to defeat one person and to defeat ten thousand people are not different. A military strategist can see the big in the small, just like how a large Buddha statue can be carved from a small wooden model only an inch high.

  So a person who only understands fencing but not military tactics can only become a swordsman, and cannot be called a master. It's just like the three major Japanese sword schools Niten Ichi Ryu, Shindō Munen-ryū, and Kage-ryū, which are also known as the three great sources of military tactics.

  Tsukahara Bokuden, Miyamoto Musashi and others were swordsmen who became military strategists. The students of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna, the founder of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, such as Yagyu Munenori and his descendants later became martial arts instructors for the Tokugawa shogunate.

  Like Yamamoto Kansuke, a master of military strategy and tactics, he also incorporated his understanding and application of the art of war into his own swordsmanship.

  "To comprehend the essence of Iai in Kenjutsu, one must grasp the truth behind 'immobility like a mountain.' Lord Li Xiao, you may now attack me with the spear in your hand." Yamamoto Kansuke spoke calmly.

  Li Xiaochi hesitated for a moment and said: "Mr. Yamamoto, knives and guns are blind, why don't we exchange them for wooden ones?"

  Yamamoto Kansuke shook his head and said, "Only in a life-or-death struggle, when one's life hangs by a thread, can a warrior truly grasp the way of the sword. Lord Li Xiao, if you cannot even avoid my attack and lose your life here, then the outcome of your duel with Shioka Ikkaku will be the same, for his skill is superior to mine."

  Li Xiao listened and his gaze was fixed on Yamamoto Kansuke, at this moment he finally understood a little what Iaijutsu was.

  Li Xiao held his spear horizontally, while Yamamoto Kanetsugu grasped the hilt of his sword, still not drawing it from its scabbard. Li Xiao thrust his spear straight forward, and Yamamoto Kanetsugu didn't move, using the scabbard to deflect Li Xiao's attack. Li Xiao wouldn't use all his strength to stab Yamamoto Kanetsugu to death with one spear thrust; he had to understand what Iaijutsu was through this trial, in order to increase his chances of winning against Sakaki Ichimonji.

  So Li Xiao kept a safe distance of over two meters from Yamamoto Kanetsugu, constantly staring at his right hand holding the knife and the samurai sword hidden in its scabbard.

  After the shot, Li Xiao felt that Yamamoto Kanosuke's chest rose and fell, as if he had taken a deep breath in an extremely short period of time and held it in his chest. After completing this process of building up momentum, suddenly, Yamamoto Kanosuke took two steps forward with his right foot at an extremely fast speed, making it hard to believe that he was actually lame.

  The distance between the two narrowed instantly, Yamamoto Kanetsugu lowered his body slightly to avoid Li Xiao's gun, while his left thumb pushed up on the scabbard, and his right hand steadily and forcefully pulled out the hilt upwards.

  Taking a deep breath, Yamamoto Kanetsugu let out a loud cry, the samurai's sword flashed out of its scabbard, the snow-white blade moved slowly at first, accelerating in mid-air, and by the time the tip was about to leave the fish mouth, the speed of the knife had already become as fleeting as lightning.

  At this moment, Li Xiao saw the determination in Yamamoto Kansuke's eyes, and felt that fierce killing intent. Indeed, as he said, this one knife was to kill himself, without any hesitation or delay. The knife came out swiftly, leaving no room for hesitation, and Yamamoto Kansuke intended to decide victory or defeat with this one knife, either you die or I live.

  The so-called Iai, at that time, was just Batto-jutsu, with its core being one strike to kill.

  In ancient Japan's Nara or early Heian period, when a samurai's spear, halberd, or naginata was broken or knocked away during hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield, they would suddenly draw their waist-mounted tachi and strike down the enemy, turning defeat into victory - a technique known as "tachi-uchi".

  The practice method of Battojutsu is also different from others. Normally, martial artists practice sword techniques in a standing position, while Battojutsu is practiced from start to finish in a kneeling or seated posture.

  It's often seen in Japanese movies that a samurai visits someone's home as a guest, and sits on his knees at the table with the host. As they chat, the two parties disagree on something, and suddenly the samurai draws his sword from its scabbard. Before the host can react, the samurai kills him with one stroke while still in the kneeling position, blood splattering within a five-step radius.

  The so-called sword not leaving the scabbard is to make the opponent unable to estimate the length of the sword, while knowing it in one's own heart. Then, at the first move when the sword leaves the scabbard, gain the upper hand. And in that moment when the sword is drawn, kill the opponent with a single move and decide victory or defeat in an instant.

  At the moment when Yamamoto Kan no Suketsune drew his sword, Li Xiao felt that his back was drenched with sweat, cool and refreshing.

  Under Yamamoto's knife, he really wanted to kill himself without a doubt. At this critical moment of life and death, Li Xiao made a decisive decision, which was to abandon his gun and retreat.

  Yamamoto Kan no suke did not expect Li Xiao to retreat, for a samurai, the sword or gun in his hand is his second life, if he abandons it, he will also lose the honor of being a samurai.

  However, Li Xiao is not a Japanese samurai and has no such concept. He only sees Li Xiao's feet suddenly flash back and forth, barely avoiding Yamamoto Kanetsugu's life-or-death slash. Then Li Xiao followed with a backward jump and rolled in the snow, completely jumping out of Yamamoto Kanetsugu's samurai sword attack range.

  After regaining his footing, Li Xiao simultaneously pulled out the rib difference at his waist and prepared to counter Yamamoto Kansuke's next move. The core of Iaijutsu lies in one-hit kill, Li Xiao understood that although he dodged a bit clumsily, since Yamamoto Kansuke's knife did not kill him, his advantage was also lost.

  However, in fact, Yamamoto Kanetsugu did not pursue, but instead shook his wrist and slowly sheathed his sword, with a composed and unhurried posture.

  Yamamoto Kanosuke looked at Li Xiao and smiled slightly, asking: "Li Xiao, sir, now do you know what is called 'residence combination'?"

  Li Xiao laughed: "Isn't it that when still, one is as stable as a mountain, but when moving, one strike will kill."

  Yamamoto Kansuke nodded and said, "That's right. When ordinary people practice Iaijutsu, they only see the quick draw of the sword from its scabbard, but overlook the accumulation of energy before drawing the sword and the mental concentration within. In a duel, one should stare straight at the opponent's sword with both eyes, for blinking out of fear will shake one's resolve, and one will never reach the state of being as still as a mountain and directly pointing to one's true heart. This is my Yamamoto Kansuke's way of the sword."

  After saying this, Yamamoto Kan no Suketsune replaced the scabbard on the ground and left with a limp.

  Li Xiao remained on the spot, pondering Yamamoto Kansuke's words. This duel was of immeasurable benefit to Li Xiao.

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