Chapter Twenty-Six: Hokushin Ittō-ryū and Nitoryū

After defeating the third generation of the Kirielord, Yue Longze paid no heed to the victorious team members and quietly slipped back to his grandmother’s house. Now that Abubas was dead, Redel would not linger on Earth. After bidding farewell to Yue Longze and his grandmother, Redel transformed into a flash of crimson light and soared into the sky, leaving Earth behind.

“Come visit us again!”

Grandmother gazed longingly in the direction where Redel vanished, murmuring softly.

“We’ll definitely meet Redel again, Grandma!” Yue Longze said, steadying his grandmother as she trembled.

In the night sky, a star twinkled a few times. Seeing this, grandmother seemed satisfied and smiled gently.

The next morning, the sunlight awakened Yue Longze from his dreams. He rose lazily, dressed quickly, washed up, ate a hasty meal, and, after greeting his already-awake grandmother, took up the Cloud Sword and stepped out the door.

Every morning, Yue Longze practiced swordsmanship in the park, techniques taught by Idaten Idoryu.

Zhongshan Park was not far from his grandmother’s house. With his stride, it took less than ten minutes to reach. In the southwest corner of the park was a fountain, behind which lay a patch of wildflowers. Few people came here, making it tranquil—Yue Longze always preferred to practice swordsmanship in this spot.

Today, Yue Longze’s practice was unfocused, errors frequent.

“I wonder how the Land of Light is faring now.”

Wiping sweat from his brow, Yue Longze looked up at the sky, his deep gaze seeming to pierce through realms, reaching the Land of Light, seeing Zero, and Little Xiang.

In the distance, a flock of gray pigeons beat their wings and took flight, feathers scattering to the ground.

Nearby, an eight or nine-year-old boy with a small braid sat dejectedly on a bench. Yue Longze had long noticed this little fellow; every time he practiced swordsmanship, the boy would watch him, wide-eyed and fascinated. Today, however, the boy’s head drooped, his expression forlorn.

Blue sky, white clouds, birdsong, and blooming flowers.

Yue Longze sheathed the Cloud Sword and, wearing a gentle smile, walked toward the boy.

“You’re not usually like this!” Yue Longze leaned in, his dark eyes fixed on the boy.

“Huh?”

The boy looked up, meeting Yue Longze’s profound gaze.

“Is something troubling you?”

Yue Longze sat down beside the boy on the park bench, curiosity in his voice. The boy didn’t answer, lowering his head further.

“Hey, lift your head. Let your big brother show you something!”

Yue Longze drew the Cloud Sword and spun it through the air a few times.

“Watch closely!”

The boy looked up, eyes wide.

From the large tree behind the bench, several leaves drifted down. Each leaf was neatly cut into four equal pieces by a cross-shaped slice.

“Amazing!”

The boy’s worries seemed forgotten, his face full of astonishment. Yue Longze’s swordsmanship was beyond belief. His father was the head of the Hokushin Itto-ryu Sword Dojo, and even he doubted his father could achieve such a feat.

For ordinary people, this level of skill would require decades of arduous practice.

But Yue Longze was different.

First, he had undergone Zero’s training and was strengthened by light particles, so his physique surpassed ordinary human limits.

Second, he inherited the true techniques of the legendary demon-slaying swordsman, Idaten Kotaro Idoryu, who himself had said Yue Longze possessed extraordinary talent, well-suited for swordsmanship.

Most importantly, Yue Longze wielded the divine sword that had slain countless demons—the Heavenly Cloud Sword!

“Well? Impressive, isn’t it?”

Yue Longze sheathed the sword and flashed the boy a smug smile.

Impressed by Yue Longze’s remarkable swordsmanship, the boy finally began to speak to him.

...

“So your dojo is about to close, is that right?” Yue Longze asked, frowning.

“Yeah, it’s really bleak at the dojo now, not doing well at all...” Chiba Taiyo replied, head hung in defeat.

Through their conversation, Yue Longze learned that the little boy with the braid was named Chiba Taiyo, nine years old.

Taiyo’s father was the head of the nearby Hokushin Itto-ryu Dojo. With the reputation of Hokushin Itto-ryu and his father Chiba Masao’s formidable swordsmanship, the dojo had gained local fame years ago. Many children and youths from the area came to learn swordsmanship there, and their finances were stable.

But in recent days, a new dojo named Nitoryu had opened directly across the street.

Nitoryu, as the name suggested, specialized in dual-sword combat. In the world of swordsmanship, few swordsmen understood or could wield two swords, and many doubted the value of such a style, considering it a heretical practice. Thus, very few people sought to learn dual-sword techniques.

Objectively, dual-sword combat relied on single-handed strikes, naturally weaker than the two-handed swings of Itto-ryu. Moreover, dual-sword fighting made it easy to lose focus—any lapse in a life-or-death duel could be fatal.

So, for swordsmen who hadn’t mastered Nitoryu, dual-sword style seemed reckless, defying all logic.

Yet the head of Nitoryu Dojo had forcefully defeated Chiba Masao using dual swords, then began recruiting students en masse.

Thus, using Hokushin Itto-ryu Dojo as a stepping stone, the Nitoryu Dojo rose rapidly. Even the former students and instructors of Hokushin Itto-ryu switched to Nitoryu, leaving only a few steadfast older students and a single remaining coach.

Yue Longze’s curiosity was piqued. Though he had learned swordsmanship, he had never truly sparred with others.

He wanted to challenge various sword masters to hone his skills and strengthen himself.

“Can you take me to see that Nitoryu Dojo?” Yue Longze gently ruffled Taiyo’s hair.

“Are you thinking of studying swordsmanship at that dojo too, Mr. Ze?”

Taiyo blinked uncertainly at Yue Longze. He knew this young man’s swordsmanship seemed formidable, but still believed the Nitoryu master was stronger, so he instinctively assumed Yue Longze wished to learn there.

“Don’t be silly!”

Yue Longze laughed and shook his head. With the inheritance of Idaten Idoryu’s sword techniques—already diverse in themselves—he had no need to learn other styles.

He stood, straightened his wrinkled trousers, and gazed up at the blue sky.

“I just want to meet different masters and refine myself.”

Taiyo nodded, half understanding, feeling that it sounded impressive.

Yue Longze took Taiyo’s small hand, and under the boy’s guidance, they walked toward the dojo.