Volume 1: Kawahara Island Storm Chapter 42: Snowy Duel

  In fact, the person who truly made Iaijutsu flourish was a man named Hayashiya Shinsuke. When Hayashiya Shinsuke was six years old, his father was killed by Sakaue Genshin, a ronin from the same clan.

  At that time, Sakanoue no Taifu was a well-known swordsman, and Hayashiya Shinsuke sought to avenge his father. Although he had studied the art of sword fighting with great diligence, due to the difference in their abilities, if they were to engage in a duel, comparing their skills and techniques over an extended period, it would be highly unlikely that he could emerge victorious.

  Hayashizaki Jinsuke wanted to master the sword quickly and avenge his father as soon as possible, so he had to learn a quick and decisive sword technique that could determine victory or defeat in a short period of time. Therefore, Hayashizaki Jinsuke decided to join the Kashima Shinden Ryu school and study sword techniques under Tsukahara Bokuden.

  At that time, Tsukahara Bokuden was not only the best swordsman in Japan, but also the new style of Kashima's swordsmanship emphasized the pure "one hit kill".

  In the year Hayashizaki Jinsuke felt his swordsmanship had reached its peak, he decided to engage in a one-on-one duel with Saka Uemon. At that time, as a famous swordsman, Saka Uemon looked down on 18-year-old Hayashizaki and didn't even draw his sword, allowing his opponent to make the first move and attack him.

  Hayashiya Shinsuke didn't say a word, suddenly drew his sword and struck, cutting off the head of his enemy Sakagami Morishige with one blow, while Sakagami Morishige had only just grasped the hilt of his own sword at the moment of his death.

  Hayashizaki Jinsuke's sword-drawing art was thus called the revenge sword technique and became famous. Although Hayashizaki Jinsuke never opened a dojo in his lifetime, among his disciples there were outstanding ones who passed down this iaijutsu, which later generations would call the Shinkage-ryū school.

  The life of Iai lies in the moment when lightning flashes and the sword is drawn, this famous saying was also spread along with the transmission of Linzaki Myojin's dream flow, and Iaido was promoted throughout Japan.

  At that time, Hayashizaki Jinsuke had just avenged his father and the name of Iai was not as well known as it would later become. At this point in history, iaijutsu was still considered a part of batto-jutsu. However, many people were already studying batto-jutsu within the Kashima Shinden-ryū tradition.

  While Tsukahara Bokuden's Kashima Shinden ryu, as one of the schools of Katori Shinto-ryu, also has many practitioners practicing batto-jutsu. Li Xiao remembers that when he first met Sensei Ichiwa, his sword cut off the five sojutsu (spear techniques) of Nishimura Heizo's men with a single stroke, which was indeed the kenjutsu of iai-do.

  In fact, the only move in Iaijutsu is a single horizontal cut, called "Yoko-Ittō". The so-called "Iai Niten" later on refers to ten different ways of using sword-drawing techniques in various situations.

  On January 10th, a sudden heavy snowfall hit the entire Nagano Prefecture, and the fields were all white.

  Villagers bundled up against the cold, made their way down snow-covered country roads to Suwa Taisha Shrine in Suwa County to attend the annual New Year's festival. In addition to worshiping at Suwa Daimyojin, they could also take in the spectacle of the Omiwatari.

  When winter is extremely cold, the surface of Lake Suwa freezes completely, but the ice surface in the center of the lake often bursts open due to temperature differences, forming a narrow waterway several tens of kilometers long that connects Kamisuwa and Shimosuwa. This natural phenomenon is called "Onbashira", which is considered by locals as a divine sign left by the male god of Kamisuwa and the female god of Shimosuwa crossing the lake to meet each other. The common people can also use the turtle shell pattern on the ice crack to predict the weather for the coming year, as well as disasters affecting crops.

  Snowflakes fell continuously, the weather getting colder and colder. In a forest five miles outside the high wall of the city, Shi Guang, who had not been seen for three months, was standing alone in the snow at this moment.

  Shiokawa Ichihara wore a black haori with a crest, the crest being his family crest. On both sleeves of Shiokawa Ichihara's haori was embroidered the chrysanthemum crest representing the Toki clan (the flag of Akechi Mitsuhide from the same Toki clan also had a chrysanthemum crest).

  He wore a skirt-like garment that hung from his waist to the floor. This is actually called horse-riding hakama, with an inner lining inside. The hakama has five pleats outside, each representing the Confucian ethics of ruler-subject, father-son, husband-wife, elder-younger, and friend-friend relationships, symbolizing benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faithfulness.

  The attire of Shirotae is orthodox Heian period clothing, which was then called Wu clothes or Tang clothes. The reason for this name is naturally due to its origin from China.

  The reason why Shishio wore such formal attire is the solemnity of a swordsman's duel, as well as respect for his opponent. After all, in a duel, it's either life or death, and at least before dying, one should dress properly. In the eyes of Japanese warriors, death is not something to be feared; what they worry about is not being able to die with dignity, losing the honor of being a warrior.

  Now, the samurai stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, his katana and wakizashi both at his waist, and he didn't even open an umbrella. Although he was standing under a tree, snowflakes still fell on his head and shoulders from time to time.

  At this moment, Shi Gang's face was pale and his expression was cold and stern. The reason was that Li Xiao, who had been invited to a duel, was half an hour late compared to the agreed time.

  "This damned Ming countryman." Shoka Ichijou cursed under his breath.

  At this time, the rustling sound of trampling snow came from afar, and Shigeyuki saw two figures holding umbrellas walking towards here, one after the other.

  "We're finally here." Shishou Ichinose brushed off the snow on his body and took a step forward.

  "Sorry, I'm a bit late. Some mundane matters kept me busy." Li Xiao smiled and walked up to Shi Guangyao, stopping about ten meters away. Behind him followed his attendants, including Dao Wenguang, who was holding an umbrella in one hand and carrying a long spear on his shoulder.

  "It doesn't matter."

  Shi Gang Yiyu replied in a low voice, although he said so with his mouth, but in fact, he thought that the duel was the most important thing, and the opponent actually delayed because of worldly reasons. This is indeed disrespectful to the opponent, Shi Gang Yiyu secretly regretted choosing to duel with such a person, and if it were to spread in the future, it would tarnish his reputation.

  It doesn't matter, just don't mention this duel to anyone in the future. Shioka Kazuya thought so and pointed with his hand, opening his mouth to say: "In that case, let's fulfill our promise from three months ago, please."

  Unexpectedly, Li Xiao stretched out his hand and made a stopping gesture, saying: "Hold on, this road has been walking and my hands and feet are all frozen stiff, I need to exercise my muscles, you don't object, do you?"

  Shi Gang's face suddenly turned red with anger, and a look of impatience appeared on his face. However, he still maintained the demeanor of a great master, waving his hand to signal Li Xiao to continue, while also resuming his posture of closing his eyes and meditating with his hands clasped behind his back.

  Li Xiao gave a faint cold smile and slowly began to warm up his muscles.

  After waiting for a long time, Li Xiao saw that Shigekuni was gradually unable to bear it, and only then did he say: "Let's begin."

  Li Xiao finished speaking and took his large gun from Daisho Island, swung it forward, and opened the door and posture. While Shirokane Akira looked at Li Xiao not pulling out the samurai sword from his waist, he turned to use his gun slightly stunned, asking: "Aren't you using a sword? Why did you suddenly switch to a gun?"

  Li Xiao smiled calmly and replied: "Who told you that I used a knife? My true specialty is this spear. Look at the spear!"

  Having said that, Li Xiao rushed forward with swift steps, and Shigeki no Iori saw Li Xiao attacking, also drew out the scabbard and held it horizontally in front of his chest.

  Li Xiao's gun tip dragged in the snow for several meters before suddenly flipping over, kicking up a sky full of snow powder, which covered Shi Gang's entire body.

  At this moment, Li Xiao withdrew his spear and let out a loud roar, swinging forward with the strongest spear he had been preparing for a long time!

  In a life-or-death duel, you still dare to be so arrogant, go die, Shioka Kazuya. Li Xiao said quietly in his heart.

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