Kanru And Chiyuen

“Ahh.”

Shunlin let out a disappointed sound with a disappointed look on her face. Kanru was looking at me with a serious expression. He should be observing Chiyuen, not me after I lost.

“Why is he still an outer disciple?”

Kanru asked Shunlin.

“I heard he didn’t have the money to take the inner disciple test.”

“It’s only eight gold coins.”

“Only those born into wealthy families can say that.”

I could hear Shunlin and Kanru talking. Elder Min came over beside me with a delighted expression.

“Even if you lost, your skill is nothing to be ashamed of even as an inner disciple.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Come to think of it, you went to get the beaks of Blue-Feather Crows, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m thinking of making a spare weapon.”

“I see. In that case, shall I make it into a weapon for you?”

“Huh? But I don’t have enough leeway to pay an elder.”

“Of course it will be free. You are a promising talent after all, and I want you to become an inner disciple.”

So, using the beaks of the Blue-Feather Crows, I decided to have Elder Min make me a short blade with a blade length of about thirty centimeters. I asked for a weapon that could also be used for dismantling yōma, and since it was shortened, for the blade to be made thick and sturdy.

“I see. If it’s that kind of short blade, then if you attach a long handle, it looks like it could serve in place of a broadsword.”

“Yes, I’ve been thinking about that as well.”

I asked Elder Min if I could watch when she made the short blade out of blacksteel.

“That will be fine. Before that, let’s watch for a bit.”

I wondered what she meant by watch, but Elder Tsuen and Elder Chiu were talking about having Kanru and Chiyuen fight a mock battle.

“You want to see it too, don’t you?”

“Yes, I’m interested. I especially want to see Kanru-shixiong’s Dragon Qi Sword Art.”

Elder Min stared hard at my face.

“What is it?”

“When I talk with you, Kou, I feel like I’m talking with someone much older.”

I gave a wry smile. At this point, I could not suddenly speak in a way appropriate for my age. I just had to keep pushing on like this.

While I was thinking that, Kanru and Chiyuen stepped into the center of the training ground holding practice swords.

“Elder Min, what is the name of the dao art Chiyuen-dono uses?”

“That is Dragon Fang Dao. It is said to rival Dragon Qi Sword Art.”

Apparently Dragon Fang Dao used something called “vibration qi,” which was made by giving qi a unique transformation. When Chiyuen changed the quality of his qi while fighting me, that had probably been vibration qi.

Shunlin came to stand beside me and began watching the mock battle. Right after that, Kanru and Chiyuen began to fight. The two of them struck with practice swords while moving about at high speed. Their slashes were so sharp that under normal circumstances it seemed impossible to defend against them.

Both of them were probably sharpening their senses and reflexes in the same way as Moment of Foam. Otherwise, they would not be able to react to attacks like these.

Kanru’s practice sword came down diagonally from above, trying to slash from Chiyuen’s shoulder to his chest. Chiyuen twisted his upper body to avoid that slash, then thrust out his practice sword.

Kanru dodged that attack by leaping to the side, then stepped in and swept his practice sword sideways. Chiyuen deflected it with his own practice sword. At that moment, the sound of wood scraping against wood rang out. I thought it was amazing that exchanges like this unfolded within the span of a single breath.

“They’re amazing.”

Shunlin said it almost like she was talking to herself.

“As expected of the best among the younger generation. But Chiyuen of Goyou Cave is not losing either.”

Elder Min said that while staring at the mock battle. For the moment it looked like an even match, but it seemed to me that Kanru was gradually being cornered.

“What’s wrong? Your attacks are getting repetitive.”

When he heard Chiyuen’s words, Kanru made a displeased face.

“Shut up. I’ll finish it with the next move.”

Kanru jumped backward to open the distance. Then he raised his practice sword high, strengthened the dragon qi of Dragon Qi Sword Art, and rushed forward as if flying. Just before entering striking range, Kanru swung down his practice sword and sent something flying.

I thought Kanru had won. But Chiyuen’s body blurred like a mirage, and by the time I noticed what had happened, Chiyuen’s practice sword had struck Kanru’s shoulder.

“That’s enough. Kanru loses.”

Elder Tsuen’s voice rang across the training ground. Unlike when I fought, an irritated expression had appeared on his face.

Chiyuen went over to Elder Chiu with a satisfied expression, and in his place Elder Tsuen approached Kanru.

“You fool! Why would you panic and throw out the big technique Dragon Wing?”

Kanru was being scolded by Elder Tsuen and told to go relearn from the basics under Elder Shanshi. In my case, losing had been only natural, but Kanru and Chiyuen had been considered evenly matched opponents. So it seemed the shock of losing was greater for Kanru.

“What was that technique just now?”

Shunlin asked Elder Min.

“Kanru used Dragon Wing of Dragon Qi Sword Art to send out a flying slash, and Chiyuen used Oboro of Dragon Fang Dao.”

Both were martial arts with the character “dragon” in their names, but today Dragon Fang Dao had won out. Still, it did not seem that Dragon Qi Sword Art was inferior to Dragon Fang Dao. A major reason for the loss was probably that Kanru had panicked.

As for what caused Kanru to panic, maybe he had wanted to show the elders what he could do, or maybe being told his attacks were “repetitive” by Chiyuen had cornered him psychologically. Either way, Kanru had lost.

“That was something interesting to watch. Shall we go to the Treasure Tool Workshop?”

I headed to the Treasure Tool Workshop together with Elder Min.

“Kou, what did you think of that mock battle just now?”

“I think the two of them are not very different in skill. I believe Chiyuen-dono was only a little better at tactical maneuvering.”

“I see. You’re sharp, Kou.”