Volume 1: Stormy Weather in Kawahara Island Chapter 20: The Sword Master's Challenge

  Li Xiao carefully sized up his opponent, who was about thirty years old, with a mustache on the edge of his mouth, sharp eyes, and his left hand lightly grasping the hilt of his waist sword.

  "Ronin." The word suddenly flashed through Li Xiao's mind. In Japan's Warring States period, just like the history created by warriors eager to stand out, ronin were also one of the legends of this era. When Li Xiao played Taikou Risshi Den before, apart from warriors, he liked to choose the profession of swordmaster, traveling from place to place, killing people, challenging various masters, and finally participating in the martial arts tournament to win the title of Japan's number one.

  Li Xiao never thought that this scene would fall on his own head today, and he became the one being challenged. No matter where you are, if someone challenges you and you avoid fighting, it's very shameful, especially since Li Xiao still has the reputation of being a master of Takeda Shingen's gun technique.

  Alright, if we're going to fight, we should at least know each other's names. Of course, if the opponent is someone like Yagyu Munenori or Maeda Keiji, I'd definitely decline. Li Xiao assessed his current opponent's strength and then said in a low voice, "When challenging others, one should always report their own name first, as a sign of respect for the opponent."

  The other person's mouth corner revealed a hint of a smile and briefly said: "I am Shi Gong Yiyu."

  The name sounds familiar, as if I've seen it during the Taigu era. Li Xiao tried to recall while considering whether to accept the challenge. Just as Li Xiao had not yet decided whether to respond, Nishimura Heizo, the samurai in charge of law and order for the Takeda clan, could no longer bear it.

  Whether it was the idea of having to curry favor with Takeda Shingen's attendants or the same awareness as a working stiff in the Takeda household, Nishimura Heizo had already decided that intervention was necessary. "How dare you!" he bellowed. "Who gave you permission to challenge him? I find your behavior suspicious - you look like an Uesugi spy to me. Take him away first."

  Wow!

  The Takeda troops responded in unison, but at that moment, the enemy suddenly took action.

  The swordsman named Shioka Ichiu drew the samurai sword at his waist, along with its scabbard, and slammed the hilt into the waist of a nearby ashigaru, instantly rendering him unable to fight. In an instant, he closed in on another ashigaru warrior who was about to thrust his spear, and struck him in the face with the tail end of the scabbard, knocking him unconscious.

  His movements were neat and efficient, using only one move, in the blink of an eye he had already knocked down three more lightly armed soldiers.

  "Hurry up and protect Lord Jōshu as he retreats to the outside of the castle!" shouted Nishimura Heizō.

  Li Xiao took a glance at this person, and the eyesight of this Xi Village Ping San was quite good. He saw that Shi Guan Yi Yu was skilled in short-range close combat, but during travel, the long gun swung inconveniently, so even if there were more people, they could only be beaten.

  Takeda Shōryū and Yamamoto Kansuke were surrounded by ashigaru soldiers and retreated to the gate of their lodgings.

  Shi Gang took a big step back and didn't pursue, his feet moving in what seemed like small, quick steps, but the speed and frequency of his movement were very fast, his shoulders not shaking or swaying, his left hand holding the warrior's knife as he quickly stepped out of the inn.

  "Up."

  Just as the opponent stepped out of the gate, Nishimura Heizo shouted loudly, and five ashigaru simultaneously thrust their guns forward, trying to take advantage of the opportunity that the opponent was blocked at the door and could not dodge, and kill him in one fell swoop.

  At this time, Li Xiao saw a hint of sarcastic smile on the corner of Shi Guang's mouth, and his powerful right hand, as black as iron, grasped towards the scabbard on his left side. Everyone only saw a flash of white light, his movements were incredibly fast, everything seemed to have happened in an instant, the action of drawing the sword out of the scabbard and putting it back was like it had occurred and ended at the same moment.

  Five light-footed gun tips were cut off by the opponent in an instant.

  Rumbling! Thunder rumbled, Sheng Nong is a hilly area, and there are often short rain showers in the afternoon. At present, the sky above Gaoyuan Town is already overcast with dark clouds, and a heavy rain will fall at any moment.

  Facing the opponent's extraordinary swordsmanship, Takeda Shingen and Yamamoto Kansuke drew their swords, as if facing a great enemy, fully focused on every slight movement of the opponent.

  At this moment, Li Xiao felt a few cold sweat drops on his forehead, and he secretly exclaimed in his heart that this sword technique was really too strong. Li Xiao asked himself to deal with these lightly armored soldiers, even if he took up a large gun, he couldn't do it so effortlessly, and still win with just one move.

  Who is this Shigekane no Iwa anyway? How can he be so strong, Li Xiao racked his brains but still couldn't remember.

  Shi Gang Yiyu raised an eyebrow to glance at the drastically changing weather, stood up straight again, and resumed his posture with his hands clasped behind his back. The wakizashi was still held in his bosom. His opponent opened his mouth to say calmly, "It seems that today is not suitable for a duel, sir. Is my swordsmanship worthy of crossing swords with you, Shi Gang Yiyu?"

  Li Xiao had not yet responded when Yamamoto Kansuke suddenly spoke up and asked, "Is your swordsmanship the new style of Kashima Shinryu?"

  Li Xiao suddenly remembered who this person was, and cursed in his heart, "Damn it, my luck is too good, I've encountered such a great person."

  Shi Gang saw Yamamoto Kan no Suke see through his true nature, and calmly admitted: "Yes, but I just swung one sword, how did you know that I was using the Kashima Shinden Ryu sword technique?"

  Yamamoto Kan no Suketook a glance at his opponent's right hand and replied in a low voice, "From the way you drew your sword just now."

  Shi Gang glanced at Yamamoto Kan no Suké's right hand and suddenly laughed, saying: "Not bad, it turns out you've also learned the new Tōdō-ryū sword technique."

  The conversation between the two people sounded a bit inexplicable to outsiders, but Li Xiao was very clear in her heart. The founder of the Ryūkyū New Flow they mentioned, Tsukahara Bokuden, was the number one swordsman in Japan at this time, undefeated in single combat, and had the title of "Sword Saint".

  And the Morooka Ichiryo who challenged Li Xiao, was a direct disciple of Tsukahara Bokuden. Later on, the Ichiryu style founded by Morooka Ichiryo also became one of the important schools of Japanese swordsmanship. As for Yamamoto Kansuke, he should have received guidance from Tsukahara Bokuden or his disciples, otherwise it would be unlikely that he had time to specialize in swordsmanship with his daily work for the Takeda family.

  The first disciple of Japanese swordsmanship, later became the founder of a school, and only then did I think that this Shioka Ichiba was so strong.

  Whoa! The heavy rain suddenly poured down, and the moisture in the air rushed forth.

  In the heavy rain, Li Xiao was instantly soaked from head to toe. Then his eyes flashed as if he had made up his mind, and afterwards he said loudly: "Alright, I accept your challenge, but the time must be set by me, let's set it three months later, how about that?"

  Shi Gang nodded slightly and said, "Alright then, three months later, we'll have a duel under the city of Gao Yuan."

  In the heavy rain, the shouting of both sides accompanied by thunder and rain, there is a feeling that makes people's hearts feel sorry.

  "Alright, it's settled then. I am Li Xiao, a samurai of the Takeda clan, and I am from Ming country. Remember that?"

  "A warrior from a certain country?" Shi Guang was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "I have come to this world in pursuit of the highest realm of swordsmanship, and I hope that a battle with you can bring me experience."

  Li Xiao laughed and said: "Good, I think so too."

  After they finished speaking, Shigekuni no Genryūsuke nodded at Li Xiao and turned to leave. His figure soon disappeared into the heavy rain.

  ———————————————————————————————