My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 65: Chapter 47: Gained Talent: [Eagle Eye]!

”Father, do you want to step in personally?”

Whether it’s Kondo or the other apprentices sitting around the edge of the dojo, they all looked surprised when Zhouzhu raised the bamboo sword towards Aoto.

”Hohoho... I haven’t really moved around in a long time.” Zhouzhu twisted his shoulders, ”Recently, I accompanied your mother back to her family home, it exhausted me to death; my shoulders and waist are still stiff even now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhouzhu immediately seemed to realize something, quickly looking around.

After confirming he didn’t see his wife’s figure, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then continued to speak:

”Right now, in the sword dojo, there happens to be a new apprentice whose swordsmanship I’ve yet to witness myself.”

”So, it’s just the right chance for a double win—testing the newcomer’s strength while working out this stiff shoulder and waist of mine.”

Saying this, Zhouzhu raised his eyebrows at Aoto.

”Mr. Tachibana, you’ve just finished a match with Kondo, do you want to rest now or start right away?”

Aoto was taken aback, then quickly replied without hesitation, ”I can start now!”

Face off against Kondo Shuuzo?

It was precisely to Aoto’s liking!

Still filled with jubilant joy from gaining new powerful talents, Aoto couldn’t wait to see if this third-generation leader of the Natural Reason Heart School also harbored some extraordinary talent.

Zhouzhu has already stated he wants to personally test Aoto’s skills, so Kondo and the others as sons and apprentices naturally have no ability or room to object or argue.

Kondo obediently retreated to the edge of the dojo, making enough space for Aoto and Zhouzhu.

”Hmm?” Aoto then realized neither he nor Zhouzhu wore protective gear, ”Master, aren’t we wearing armor?”

”Hohoho, wearing armor and such is too troublesome, not worth the hassle; this will do! Rest assured, I’m very resilient, come aggressively, don’t worry about injuring me, nor need to fear getting injured by me. As someone who came from the ’no armor era’, I’m best at not hurting people.”

Since Zhouzhu said so, Aoto didn’t say more.

With Zhouzhu squatting at the left and right sides of the dojo, they bowed to each other in greeting. Aoto and Zhouzhu simulating Iaijutsu drew the bamboo sword strapped at their left waist and slowly stood up.

In the next instant as Aoto stood—

Whish!

A slender shadow arced towards Aoto’s legs!

Thunk!

Aoto felt a burst of pain radiating from his left thigh.

After delivering a horizontal slash to Aoto’s left thigh, Zhouzhu swiftly retreated three steps, expanding the distance between them.

Seeing Zhouzhu three steps away, Aoto’s pupils shrunk sharply.

—I’ve been hit...?

The timing and trajectory of Zhouzhu’s sword, Aoto couldn’t see clearly!

”Hohoho, Mr. Tachibana, focus.” Zhouzhu slowly lowered the sword, switching to a lower stance, ”Without focusing, you won’t strike well.”

Saying this, Zhouzhu stepped forward again, approaching Aoto.

Upon seeing this, Aoto took a deep breath, focusing all his mind and attention.

Even though Aoto tightened his nerves, widened his eyes, staring hard at Zhouzhu’s hand movements and sword trajectory.

Yet even so, he couldn’t see Zhouzhu’s sword clearly.

Zhouzhu’s bamboo sword, like raindrops, fell all over Aoto’s body.

Often, Zhouzhu’s bamboo sword had already struck Aoto’s body before he realized: Ah, his sword targeted there?

Zhouzhu indeed was as he said—very skilled at not hurting people.

Although Aoto had now ”suffered dozens of strikes,” every hit only hurt a little before the pain quickly subsided.

Completely suppressed, let alone countering, even organizing proper defense was difficult.

Despite the overwhelmingly adverse battle situation, Aoto’s face didn’t show any distress or discouragement.

Instead... it was quite the opposite.

Never judge a book by its cover... someone who becomes the leader of a swordsmanship school, indeed couldn’t be weak.

The opponent before him was so powerful, completely overwhelming him, yet Aoto felt no fear or retreat.

Aoto only felt his heart racing faster.

As his heartbeat accelerated, Aoto felt his state seemingly improving, feeling increasingly spirited!

Feeling the changes in his body, Aoto was initially startled, but he quickly realized—this should be the activation effect of ”Lone Brave!”

In fact, it was true.

Within the talent list, the newly acquired talent ”Lone Brave” had been shining brilliantly since a moment ago!

Meanwhile, ”Sword Genius” burst brightly right after ”Lone Brave!”

—Kondo Shuuzo’s main attack direction... is my legs...

—In that case... lowering the sword a bit...

—Hold the sword lighter... might make it easier to defend...

Utilizing the gap between Zhouzhu’s attacks, Aoto quickly lowered the sword.

Swordsmanship talent amplified by 50 times... The effect brought by ”Sword Genius” is not just letting Aoto train at a much faster pace than normal.

The effect it brings also includes—having an exceptionally high sensitivity to ”changes and forms of the sword” during battles!

Aoto, feeling that his physical condition is continually improving, slowly realizes that he... seems to vaguely see through Shuuzo’s sword path!

Smack!

Aoto swiftly swung his sword horizontally to his right side, deflecting Shuuzo’s bamboo sword aimed at his left waist! For the first time, he blocked Shuuzo’s attack!

”Ho ho...” Watching Aoto suddenly able to fend off his sword, Shuuzo’s squinted eyes slightly widened.

After Aoto’s first successful defense against Shuuzo’s attack, the battle’s momentum gradually began to change.

Shuuzo still fiercely pressured Aoto.

But Aoto was no longer unable to withstand even a single strike from Shuuzo.

The ”Sword Genius” enabled Aoto to adopt the most suitable defense strategy.

”Lone Brave” allowed Aoto’s physical condition to improve drastically.

With the support of these two great talents, Aoto transitioned from being unable to withstand a single strike to barely blocking 1 or 2 strikes, even after Shuuzo swung ten times.

Sitting at the edge of the dojo, many disciples were seeing Aoto for the first time and were unaware that Shiwei Hall had gained another Swordsmanship Genius after Chokata.

Watching Aoto turn from ”unable to defend at all” under Shuuzo’s sword to ”slightly able to block a few moves” in such a short time, they all widened their eyes in astonishment.

As for Kondo, who was already aware of Aoto’s talent, he crossed his arms over his chest and flashed a satisfied smile at Shuuzo.

This expression seemed to say to Shuuzo: See, father, I wasn’t wrong, was I? Mr. Tachibana’s swordsmanship talent indeed rivals Toshisuke!

The smile Kondo showed was destined not to be seen by Shuuzo.

Because Shuuzo’s full focus was now on the Aoto in front of him.

”Ho ho ho... Can you realize so quickly how to defend against my attacks more efficiently...” Shuuzo’s smile grew deeper as he whispered to himself in a voice only he could hear, ”Then... I wonder how your ’sense of smell’ is...”

With a whisper, Shuuzo abruptly stopped his attack on Aoto and swiftly retreated.

He retreated a full five steps away from Aoto before halting.

After stopping, Shuuzo slightly shifted the bamboo sword held in a middle stance in front of him to the right...

The deviation was slight, and if one didn’t look closely, one might not notice that the bamboo sword in Shuuzo’s hand had changed position.

While subtly shifting the bamboo sword to the right, Shuuzo also slightly altered his body’s center of gravity, tilting it slightly to the right.

The change in Shuuzo’s body’s center of gravity was also like his sword—one might miss the change if not observed closely.

At this moment, Aoto, watching Shuuzo standing five steps away with his sword, for some reason... felt as if a jolt of electricity surged through his brain.

He couldn’t quite explain why, but an inexplicable thought quickly flashed through Aoto’s mind—now is the perfect time to counterattack Shuuzo!

As soon as this notion flickered through Aoto’s mind, he instinctively and reflexively responded, body following his heart.

With sliding footsteps, the ground reverberated!

Aoto dashed forward until his sword could reach Shuuzo, raising the bamboo sword high and advancing from the upper route towards Shuuzo!

”Ho ho ho...” Shuuzo lightly chuckled with a tinge of delight at the bamboo sword descending towards his shoulder.

Just a hair’s breadth before Aoto’s bamboo sword was about to strike Shuuzo’s shoulder—

Smack!

Shuuzo’s bamboo sword timely arrived, blocking Aoto’s attack.

Seeing Aoto’s rare counterattack being blocked by Shuuzo, some disciples sitting at the edge of the dojo showed signs of shock, having thought that Aoto’s momentum might have a chance and could perhaps hit Shuuzo.

Unable to effectively funnel his momentum, Aoto surged past Shuuzo, stopping only two steps behind him before turning around.

But as Aoto turned around, a look of surprise immediately emerged on his cheeks.

Because he saw—Shuuzo now painfully gripping his right shoulder with his left hand.

”Father?” Seeing this, Kondo’s face changed instantly, quickly rising to rush towards Shuuzo.

Other disciples hurriedly followed, and gathered around Shuuzo with worried expressions alongside Kondo.

Aoto, unsure of what was happening, lowered his bamboo sword and rushed towards Shuuzo.

”It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” Shuuzo smiled and gestured to Kondo and the others, ”It’s just an old ailment acting up, the right shoulder hurts a bit, just need some rest.”

Reassuring Kondo and the others, Shuuzo smiled and turned his gaze to Aoto standing beside him.

”I originally wanted to spar with you a bit longer.” Shuuzo said in a helpless tone, ”But my right shoulder seems to have been over-exerted already...”

”No choice, the test of your strength will have to stop for now.”

Shuuzo handed the bamboo sword to a nearby disciple, signaling him to put it away properly.

A cold system voice resounded in Aoto’s mind at this moment:

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Eagle Eye”]

[Talent Description: Dynamic vision far exceeds that of ordinary people]

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