Natural Swordmaster 92

Title: A Clear Mirror in the Heart, Unable to Reflect Shinnosuke’s Figure

‘The martial uncle of the master, it seems I should call him grand-uncle? This relationship is really complicated.’

“You are Nohara Shinnosuke? I will take today’s test seriously, unleash your full power.”

Today, many people from the kendo world had come; it was impossible for Munen to lose deliberately. If he really lost, everyone would immediately notice.

And he also wanted to see Shinnosuke’s true strength.

‘Wearing such luxurious samurai attire, the katana at his waist also looks extraordinary. I hope he’s not just a man who relies on women.’

“Remember, in a kendo match, you must stop in time. This test is only to assess Shinnosuke’s strength.”

After reminding his junior disciple, Geiken turned to everyone.

“This is the successor of Musashi Dojo, Nohara Shinnosuke.”

“In that case, this test will begin immediately!”

Shinnosuke, who had been practicing kendo with Kenta since the age of five, was the rightful successor of Musashi Dojo.

There wasn’t much small talk. After all, everyone had been waiting for a long time. Geiken directly announced the start of the test.

After Shinnosuke and Munen bowed to each other, Geiken announced that the official test had begun.

Regarding this junior disciple, Geiken was very confident. After all, he was a kendo practitioner who had received menkyo kaiden (full transmission license) from the Kyōshin Meichi-ryū style. His continuous research into kendo for decades meant his strength was beyond doubt.

How strong Shinnosuke’s kendo ability was, Geiken wasn’t actually sure.

But from the incident that day when he could directly cut a bokken, Shinnosuke’s talent and kendo strength definitely far surpassed ordinary people. It was precisely because of this that this test was held.

If Munen underestimated Shinnosuke, he would definitely suffer.

Munen’s sword was a very standard tachi, slightly longer than Shinnosuke’s Holy Sword Fubuki. Although well-maintained, it was also evident that the sword was frequently used.

“You attack first.”

According to statistics, whether ancient kendo or modern kendo, the first attack had a great advantage. Kendo itself emphasized and pursued a single fatal blow. As long as the strength wasn’t too different, the first attack meant gaining a point and victory.

Clearly, Munen was very confident in his strength.

Shinnosuke nodded, not refusing.

Munen’s strength definitely far surpassed Saeko’s, and he was the strongest kendo practitioner Shinnosuke had ever faced. However, Shinnosuke didn’t consider his opponent his equal.

*WHOOSH!*

*SWISH!*

Controlling his speed and power well, Shinnosuke attacked with a single slash, which was easily parried by Munen.

*BANG!*

But the force coming from the sword made Munen’s expression change drastically. A little more, and the sword in his hand would have been knocked away!

This was completely unacceptable for a swordsman!

Looking through the clashing sword blades, Munen realized that Shinnosuke’s gaze was conveying a message to him.

If you’re not serious, you could die.

Shinnosuke hoped he would unleash his full power, and Munen was forced to unleash his full power.

Twisting his sword and slashing downwards, avoiding the Holy Sword Fubuki, Munen used one of the three secret techniques of Kyōshin Meichi-ryū, Meimyō-zan (clear eye slash), trying to use his positional advantage to slash diagonally from the blind spot of vision.

*BANG!*

But the sword was only halfway there, already parried by Shinnosuke. It was clearly a slash from the blind spot of vision, but he reacted in an instant, hitting the sword blade with the side of his sword and bouncing the sword back into Munen’s hand.

*SWISH!*

Then with a slight friction, the sword blade was already pointing at Munen’s throat, and a trace of blood immediately appeared.

Suikyō Munen lost!

Kendo matches often happen in the blink of an eye. It was precisely because of this that the concept of judgment existed. Assuming stopping in time, kendo matches would be held multiple times to determine the winner.

But in this brief fight, even Kazama, who didn’t understand kendo, could see that Shinnosuke’s strength far surpassed that seemingly very strong Munen.

When the Holy Sword Fubuki was drawn from its scabbard by Shinnosuke, his aura changed, making Kazama feel a little unfamiliar.

He didn’t expect Shinnosuke’s kendo talent to be so strong; no wonder he was so persistent in kendo.

Munen, who directly faced Shinnosuke, felt even greater pressure than the spectators. Although it didn’t reach the point of destruction, in the fight just now, he could feel that the other party hadn’t used his full strength.

“Now it’s your turn to attack first.”

Shinnosuke more or less understood Munen’s strength. Both in technique and understanding of kendo, Munen was not weak at all. If Munen attacked first, perhaps it could make him feel a little pressure.

Munen didn’t dare to underestimate him and no longer had the mentality of a senior guiding a junior. He began to regulate his breathing and seek the best condition.

The goal of Kyōshin Meichi-ryū was an absolute fatal blow, capable of ignoring useless defenses, and at the same time, during combat, it was adept at observing the opponent’s breathing and movements to predict the next step.

Secondly, Kyōshin Meichi-ryū also demanded to always feel the rhythm and breath of the katana in hand, believing that “the sword is a living being.”

But Munen currently felt that the sword in his hand was trembling slightly.

Was the sword afraid?

But a kendo practitioner, no matter how strong the enemy he faced, must have the courage to swing his sword! He gripped tightly his old companion who had been with him for decades.

Secret Tradition · Meikyō Shisui – Zangetsu! (Clear Mirror Still Water – Crescent Moon!)

*SWISH!*

The sword’s brilliance was like a full moon in the water. Munen unleashed all his strength, even slightly exceeding his limits.

The symbol of Kyōshin Meichi-ryū was a mirror, symbolizing the unity between reflecting the enemy and slashing the enemy. But the clear mirror in Munen’s heart was unable to reflect Shinnosuke’s figure.

Facing the opponent’s powerful slash, Shinnosuke remained a step ahead and easily parried it.

*BANG!*

The two swords clashed, emitting a clear ringing sound.

As long as Shinnosuke wanted, he could cut the tachi in his opponent’s hand at any time, but that was meaningless.

This was truly a destruction of pure numbers. For Shinnosuke, the opponent’s technique had some reference value, but not much.

Munen didn’t dare to stop, immediately changing the angle and slashing again.

*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*

Whether it was a thrust or a slash, Shinnosuke could easily parry it. It seemed that the two were evenly matched, but in Munen’s heart, there was no longer any desire to continue.

When Shinnosuke once again parried his slash, Munen finally couldn’t hold onto the tachi in his hand anymore.

*BANG!*

A clear ringing sound was heard as the tachi fell to the ground and bounced, jolting the spectators awake.

Unconsciously, the representatives from various styles stood up with their mouths agape, staring at the fight between the two people in the center of the field in astonishment.

Munen’s strength was recognized by everyone, and he was one of the few remaining kendo masters of the Kyōshin Meichi-ryū style, who had won many kendo championships.

Most of the people present were not sure they could defeat Munen.

But this young man who had never appeared in the kendo world could actually easily defeat Munen. No wonder Geiken had invited them all to attend this test.

Geiken wanted to show his strength! To let them know that the revival of Musashi Dojo was inevitable!

At the same time, everyone also saw that although Shinnosuke was very strong, there was no trace of any particular style in his movements, like a perfect piece of jade.

Why could such a genius meet with the Kyōshin Meichi-ryū style?