Makimura's loud voice shook the dust on the beams above his head as if it would fall down at any moment.
Kiryu seemed to have expected that Makimura would have an appointment with Aoto. He said nothing and sighed helplessly.
Kinoshita Mai was startled for a moment, then opened her red lips anxiously, as if she wanted to say something, but after hesitating for a while, she chose to slowly close her mouth and turned to look at Qingden silently.
This action of course means "Qingdeng, what do you think?"
"...You asked me to bring my sword...are you planning to compete directly with a real thing?"
Qingdeng asked.
"certainly!"
Makimura grinned widely.
"Holding bamboo swords, wooden knives, and wearing thick protective gear... What's the fun in sparring like this, which is not close to actual combat at all?"
"Mr. Makimura, do you want to compete with Aitobo with a real sword?"
Kinoshita Mai screamed uncontrollably. She was about to say something else, but was stopped by Qingden beside her.
Qingdeng made a gesture to her, "Ah Wu, don't get excited."
"Young Master, don't worry."
Makimura said with relief.
"No matter what, I will not let the young master's lover have any chance of being disliked and hated by the young master. This is more uncomfortable for me than killing me. Don't worry, we won't use blades.
Tachibana and I fight with the back of our swords."
After hearing what Makimura said, Kinoshita Mai finally showed an expression of relief.
Makimura shifted his gaze back to Qingto.
"Orange, what do you think? If you want to fight or not, it's up to you. I won't force you. However, if you can defeat me, or if your performance satisfies me, in the future you can ask the lord... ah, that is, to the lord..."
When the young master's grandma proposes marriage, I can help you say some good words."
"..." Qingdeng did not answer immediately.
After a moment of silence, he grabbed the half-empty bottle he had just opened and drank it all in one go.
"Let's go to the courtyard."
Qingdeng put down the empty bottle and stood up.
"Oh? Not bad! So generous! Hahaha! I like cheerful people like you!"
Qingdeng smiled and said nothing.
The conditions Makimura just proposed were certainly tempting, but what prompted Aonto to nod so readily... was the classic and simple reason.
For this kind of martial arts competition that is expected to replicate new talents, Qingden has always been open to anyone who comes.
…
…
Qianshiwu, courtyard——
At this time, the snow outside just stopped.
There was a neither deep nor shallow layer of snow in the courtyard of Thousand Houses.
After putting on his snow boots, Qingdeng stepped on the snow - clatter - and the whole area below the ankle sank in.
Although he wore thick snow-proof boots, the biting cold still penetrated the boots and was continuously transmitted to Qingdeng's feet.
Qingden shivered.
It was cold, but thanks to this layer of chill, Qingdeng felt refreshed. His consciousness, which had become a little lazy after living in a warm environment for a long time, became sharp again.
"Do I need to clear the snow in the yard first?"
As Kiryu asked this, he handed Makimura an Odachi sword with a total length of nearly 1.8 meters.
Makimura thought for a while, raised his head, and shouted to Qingto opposite:
"Um...Hey! Tachibana! Do you think we need to clear the snow from the yard first?"
Qingden blinked thoughtfully, then shook his head.
"Haha! I don't think so! This level of snow will not affect my movements!"
After saying that, Makimura raised his big palm like a leaf fan and took the Odachi sword from Kiryu's hand.
"Okay. Young Master, Kiryu, stand back!"
Click, click, click!
Makimura shrugged his shoulders vigorously twice, and a tooth-aching sound of joint movement erupted from his shoulders.
"...Makimura, let me remind you: you must never underestimate my proud disciple."
The corners of Kiryu's mouth turned up in a meaningful arc.
"Although his current strength still has many shortcomings, it is only compared to me. So don't be careless, and...be mentally prepared for defeat."
"Hahaha, Kiryu, who do you think you are talking to?" Makimura laughed a few times, "Don't you understand me yet? Even if I am fighting a three-year-old child, I will not be careless and underestimate the enemy!"
"...That's right."
Kiryu smiled lightly.
Then, he pulled Kinoshita Mai back to the edge of the courtyard.
"I accidentally chatted with Kiryu for a while. Sorry, Tachibana, for keeping you waiting."
Makimura bowed apologetically to Qingto opposite him.
In the next breath, he lifted the sheath with his left hand, held the handle with his right hand, and with a "choking" sound, the sharp blade was unsheathed!
"Now... let's get started!"
The breath of the blade, the coldness of iron - the Odachi in Makimura's palm exudes a cold light like the cold winter sun, which dazzles people.
Qingdeng calmly pulled out the Dingguishen from his waist, held the knife in both hands, and raised his stance from the middle.
"Natural Rishin-ryu, Tachibana Aoden!"
"Oh~~The momentum is good!"
As Makimura spoke, he quietly prepared the knife, and then announced his door in the same loud voice:
"I flow, Makimura Yahachi!"
In an instant, the air in the courtyard changed.
Makimura, who had been smiling playfully until just now, suddenly fell silent and only concentrated on one thing - paying full attention to Aomori in front of him.
The same is true for Qingdeng.
Before loudly announcing his departure from the house... no, earlier, his "Gathering of God" had already entered the active state!
His eyes didn't even blink, staring straight at Makimura opposite him. Currently, only Makimura was left in his world...and the sage ghost in his hand.
The scene was filled with a sense of tension that made people gasp.
The only two spectators: Kiryu and Mai Kinoshita, performed well the duty of a spectator: keeping quiet and not causing any interference to the test.
——Odachi?
The entry "Lonely" in the talent list does not shine with golden light... This shows that Makimura is not stronger than Aonto.
But even so, Qingdeng did not dare to be careless in the slightest.
Roughly speaking, Qingden has dealt with many opponents who used the dachi.
Of all the "Odachi swordsmen" Aonto has ever dealt with, none is as... unfathomable as Makimura!
Makimura's posture is the upper one, with a sword length of 1.8 meters and his giant-like body... It is difficult to describe the sense of oppression emanating from Makimura's body at this moment using only the word "horror"!
The whole person was ready to go, as if if he touched his body even slightly, lava would erupt.
Qingdeng felt like he was pressing down on him like a mountain rising straight into the sky.
There was no need to fight. Just by looking at it with his eyes, Qingdeng had already concluded that today, he would have to fight hard for the first time in a long time.
To be continued...