Bear School Astartes

Using the gauntlet on the back of the fist to deflect the blade, this move is not particularly difficult, but it does require a high quality of armor.

However, if you integrate the technique of [Iwami Style: Climbing Carp] into this deflection... the nature of it changes completely!

In the system of Eastern martial arts, weapons and unarmed combat are complementary, but the difficulty of transformation between them. How should I put it?

Xingyi Fist originated from the Song Dynasty Yue Family Spear, evolving from spear to fist.

It took systematic refinement, improvement, and the introduction of new concepts over tens of generations to finally establish a mature framework for Xingyi Fist in the Qing Dynasty.

Counting from the time Iwami Yixin created Iwami Style, it hasn’t even been fifty years of development!

Of course, Lann is far from achieving the unarmed practice of [Iwami Style], but within less than half a month of practice, even temporarily breaking the constraints of the samurai sword with the technique of [Climbing Carp] is not something any normal person could achieve.

Iwami Yixin, observing from the side, suddenly hooked the corner of his mouth after seeing Lann’s technique, his smile revealing a sharp impression.

Even the two calm-as-dead ninjas couldn’t help but frown a bit.

However you put it, Lann’s talent is somewhat shockingly exceptional.

”Yixin...” Lady Butterfly’s head tilted slightly in the direction of her old friend.

”How many hours does that kid practice every day?”

The [Sword Saint]’s single eye was fixed immovably on the Demon Hunter in the ring, shining frighteningly bright.

”If you’re asking this... tsk, aside from the four hours he spends with you, he spends about sixteen hours on [Iwami Style].”

This time, even Lady Butterfly, usually as calm as still water, couldn’t help but turn her head and look at her old friend with surprised eyes.

She didn’t recall Iwami Yixin being the kind of person eager for quick success when teaching others.

Four hours learning [Light Body Skill], was inherently an exercise with tremendous load. Among past ninja apprentices, many couldn’t withstand the breathing methods or the exertion of force, resulting in injuries, disabilities, and even death.

But Lann, after four hours of ninja training... rests for only four hours a day?!

Do you take him for an iron man?!

”So, his current swordsmanship isn’t just due to talent but also diligent practice. No iron man could endure so much...”

Iwami Yixin’s hand constantly rubbed the sword hilt at his waist, looking eager to try.

”His body is unusual, if my senses are correct... he has two hearts.”

”Two hearts?” Lady Butterfly immediately understood.

If he indeed has two hearts in his body, such extraordinary vitality makes sense.

She wasn’t overly surprised either; in Iwami, stranger things happen than ’a person having two hearts’.

”Those two hearts give him exceptional vitality and recovery. This is also why he mastered the [Iwami Cross Slash] so quickly. For ordinary people, each practice without mastering the routine or familiarizing oneself with the exertion is a floodgate of physical exhaustion.”

”When teaching at Iwami Castle, I require them to first complete a day’s foundational work before attempting [Iwami Cross Slash]. Usually, after this attempt, they’re incapable of intense exercise for the rest of the day. But Lann... he practices [Iwami Cross Slash] at least ten times a day.”

”Even with two hearts, this level of physical recovery seems exaggerated. But no matter, he manages to do it.”

The extraordinary vitality led to extraordinary training duration.

In Iwami Yixin’s eyes, less than half a month of training for Lann’s swordsmanship equals about half a year for an average person, in terms of total training volume.

With his swordsmanship foundation and talent, mastering a technique of the extraordinary level like [Iwami Cross Slash] is only natural.

Just like how he can now unleash [Iwami Style] with his fists, is equally natural.

After the initial shock and panic, Yamai Diansan quickly forced himself to calm down.

Being able to strike [Climbing Carp] with his hand didn’t scare him; instead, his attacking rhythm became faster and more relentless.

”Can’t let him draw the sword... can’t give him time to draw the sword!”

Being able to unleash [Climbing Carp] with just his hands, even if Lann only specializes in this move, he would be unstoppable after drawing the weapon!

Yamai Diansan realized this instantly after the panic and formulated his combat tempo based on it.

——No matter what, Lann must not be allowed to draw his sword!

Based on this tactical thought, Yamai Diansan ceased wide and open slashes, opting instead for more compact, rapid short-distance slashes.

Yet each of his slashes sparked against Lann’s clenched right fist, instantly deflected aside.

His posture, amidst these repeated dense attacks, gradually incorporated more ’sand’.

The advantage of having significantly higher hard power is apparent here.

If the opponent lets him draw his sword, the fight would end swiftly.

If the opponent uses speedy slashes to prevent him from drawing... they’d likewise end up having their stance broken by [Iwami Style].

Finally, as Yamai Diansan gritted his teeth and roared out his final strike, Lann smoothly raised his hand like flowing water, and the incoming blade was elegantly repelled.

The blade seemed like a carp leaping out of water, with the exploding sparks resembling splashing water.

The Samurai General’s sword stance completely collapsed, pitching his body uncontrollably backward, arms wide open, exposing his center.

Lann, whose expression remained calm throughout, then lifted his knee, making a front kick that seemed at odds with his heavy armor.

Boots and legs clad in plated armor were raised high to the waist and abdomen, like a drawn bow waiting to release its arrow.

”Is that...?” Lady Butterfly and the Wolf exchanged a glance simultaneously.

Having fought the Inner Mansion ninjas for many years, they recognized this stance at a glance.

[Lonely Shadow Group Ninja Technique Manual: Spear Kick]!

The Japanese-style shin guards of bamboo, iron, and leather worn by Yamai Diansan were powerless against Lann’s steel-plated boots.

The straight shinbone was kicked into an inverted V-shape.

”Ugh ah!!!”

The Samurai General fell sideways to the ground, crying out in agony.

The pain in his shinbone was beyond imagination. He could barely hold his sword now.

Lann looked at the defeated warrior, shook his head, and turned to leave.

But originally voicing his pain loudly, Yamai Diansan became enraged upon seeing this, seemingly forgetting his pain.

”Come back! Finish me! Are you mocking me?! This is a deathmatch! Will you not even grant me a warrior’s end, bastard?!”

The man’s shout carried sorrow and anger that briefly overwhelmed his pain.

Lann didn’t even turn his head.

”I’m not a warrior; I don’t understand your way. To be honest, ’Bushido’ seems ridiculous and stubborn to me. After all, even if you want to keep this so-called ’warrior’s dignity’ in death, in the past, you could turn a blind eye to the inhumane studies of the Immortal Peak Temple... shouldn’t ’dignity’ respect oneself and others as well? Are you all a bunch of split personalities?”