Chapter 27: Masters Cross Blades

Leaving Zhongshan Park, the two walked through one bustling street after another. In the bright morning sunlight, many people were out exercising.

Yue Longze and Chiba Tai'o stood below the Two-Sword Style dojo. On the black wooden square signboard, the three characters for "Two-Sword Style" gleamed as if bathed in golden light, representing the most formidable swordsmanship.

Standing outside the door, one could hear the synchronized shouts of the trainees and the stern admonitions of the coach within.

A girl clad in a martial arts uniform walked out from inside, about eighteen or nineteen years old, tall and slender, with fair skin, an oval face, willow-shaped eyebrows, and beads of sweat still clinging to her forehead. The loose fit of her uniform made the proud curves of her chest faintly visible. She seemed to have just finished practicing swordsmanship.

“What a pair of Mount Everests!”

Yue Longze stared at the girl's chest as she passed by, unable to help swallowing hard. As they brushed past each other, the girl glanced at him with disdain.

“Pervert!”

The girl thought with contempt.

But Yue Longze merely looked; after all, he was a man with a woman of his own. Though his own Xiaoxiang's modest buns could not compare to these twin peaks, the small buns had their own charm.

The girl hurried away, leaving behind a faint, fragrant breeze. Yue Longze shook his head, suddenly thinking again of Xiaoxiang, who was still waiting for him.

“Are you here to study the Two-Sword Style?”

Behind them, a middle-aged man dressed simply with a cropped haircut asked, his expression blank. His voice, like a specter in the darkness, sent a chill through their hearts.

“Ah, may I ask who you are?”

Yue Longze and Tai'o were startled by the ghostly voice that had come suddenly from behind.

“I am Miyamoto Tetsuo.”

Miyamoto Tetsuo’s face was pale, almost sickly white, and his frame gaunt as if he were little more than a skeleton.

“We’re simply here out of admiration to take a look, with no other plans for now,” Yue Longze replied with a smile.

“Is that so?”

Miyamoto Tetsuo squinted at the sword in Yue Longze’s hand. He sensed that the sword was no ordinary blade, and the man holding it, even less so.

Tai'o hid behind Yue Longze, fear in his eyes, his small hand nervously clutching the hem of Yue Longze’s coat.

Feeling Tai'o’s unease, Yue Longze frowned and took the boy’s hand in his own.

“Let's go.”

This emaciated man gave Yue Longze a sense of danger, and considering Tai'o’s feelings, Yue Longze turned to leave, taking Tai'o with him.

“Wait!”

Yue Longze turned, his gaze calm as he looked at Miyamoto Tetsuo.

“You practice swordsmanship, don’t you?”

Though phrased as a question, Miyamoto Tetsuo’s tone carried a certainty, as if he had already seen through Yue Longze’s identity as a swordsman—indeed, a powerful one.

“Is there a problem?” Yue Longze responded unhurriedly.

“Mr. Azawa, he... he is the master of the dojo...”

Tai'o, who had remained silent, now whispered cautiously to Yue Longze. He had been present when Miyamoto Tetsuo defeated his father; the master’s bizarre twin-sword technique was impossible to guard against.

“Oh?”

Yue Longze narrowed his eyes, studying Miyamoto Tetsuo carefully. The calluses on the man’s hands spoke of years of sword practice.

“Mr. Miyamoto, would you be interested in a friendly spar?”

Yue Longze saw this as a fine opportunity to hone his skills. To face a true expert would surely be rewarding. It would also reveal just how strong modern swordsmanship could be.

Miyamoto Tetsuo was clearly taken aback, then offered an inscrutable smile.

“Interesting fellow. Very well, let us begin.”

That eerie voice still made Tai'o behind Yue Longze shiver.

Without further words, the two men strode into the dojo.

“Good morning, Master!”

The trainees who had been diligently practicing stopped immediately, bowing ninety degrees in unison to Miyamoto Tetsuo. The coaches followed suit. Their eyes shone with admiration—fanatic respect for a master.

“That’s enough training for today.”

Miyamoto Tetsuo stood with his hands clasped behind his back, like a figure of authority.

“Yes, sir!”

The group replied in perfect harmony.

The dojo emptied swiftly, without a trace of hesitation, leaving only the sweat stains on the floor as evidence of their training. Clearly, these students were well-disciplined.

“Mr. Azawa, please be careful!”

Chiba Tai'o, still cautious, worried for Yue Longze, his small fists clenched tightly.

Inside the Two-Sword Style dojo, the bright, scorching lights illuminated the entire arena, filling it with a silent, unsettling tension.

“Do you need protective gear?”

Miyamoto Tetsuo took two sets of gear from the storage cabinet and asked Yue Longze.

“I don’t think I’ll need it.”

Yue Longze answered quietly, stroking his beloved sword.

The reason Yue Longze refused protective gear was simple. He wanted the spar to be as close to real combat as possible, and wearing gear would make him reckless. Without it, he could focus more intently.

“Catch.”

Miyamoto Tetsuo tossed him a wooden sword, standard for training.

Yue Longze caught the sword effortlessly with his left hand.

“Tai'o, take care of my sword, make sure you hold it well!”

Yue Longze smiled as he handed the Cloud Sword to Tai'o, who cradled it carefully and nodded with determination.

The two men took up their training swords, bowed ceremoniously, and assumed their stances. Miyamoto Tetsuo likewise wore no protective gear.

Bang!

Bang, bang!

The wooden swords collided fiercely, and if they were made of steel, such strikes would surely have produced sparks.

The shadows of swords danced through the air, the clashing sounds unceasing. Tai'o watched, barely able to keep up with their speed.

“Go, Mr. Azawa!”

Chiba Tai'o silently cheered for Yue Longze.

Yue Longze’s sword technique was astonishingly swift, forcing Miyamoto Tetsuo onto the defensive.

Though Miyamoto Tetsuo seemed to be struggling, he managed to parry every attack.

“Is my strength still lacking?”

Yue Longze wondered as he attacked. Miyamoto Tetsuo’s seemingly frail frame actually concealed immense power. Yue Longze could not understand how such a weak-looking body could wield such force.

Miyamoto Tetsuo remained expressionless, but inside, he was shocked by Yue Longze’s speed and strength.

He knew his own power well, yet this opponent forced him to use ninety percent of his strength to withstand the blows. Even more surprising was Yue Longze’s rapid strikes.

It seemed clear that without using both swords, victory would be impossible.