After leading the way, the priest bowed slightly to the two guests, then bowed to the rear hall before leaving the grove.
"Come in," came an aged voice from the back hall.
What keen hearing!
After Duanmu Ci and his entourage left the main hall, the journey was completely silent, save for the soft rustling of their wooden clogs crunching on fallen leaves. The sound was not faint, and the old man was clearly not young; yet, he still managed to hear the visitors' footsteps. This clearly demonstrated that the old man's cultivation was extraordinary!
Without a doubt, the old man in the rear hall was Terashima Moriyoshi, whom they were about to visit.
Duanmu Ci and Wei Yue exchanged a glance, then took off their wooden clogs in front of the hall, wearing only white socks, and came to the screen. Duanmu Ci knelt down on the tatami, placed his hands on his knees, and bowed slightly. "I am Duanmu Ci, and I greet Senior Terashima."
Using honorifics to people much younger than himself was something Duanmu Ci had done countless times throughout his long career; he was already used to it. There was nothing he could do about it; after all, he had a face that was completely out of proportion to his age.
Wei Yue did the same action, but said something different: "Student Wei Yue greets teacher."
teacher?
Duanmu Ci was taken aback, then realized that the "Hokushin Ittō-ryū" style of kendo that Wei Yue practiced must have been taught by the very man standing before him, Terashima Moriyoshi. But thinking about it, it made sense. Apart from the old man in front of him, there probably wouldn't be another person in all of Japan who was qualified to be Wei Yue's kendo teacher as the heir of the Minamoto family.
At least that's the case within the "Hokushin Ittō-ryū" school.
Terashima Moriyoshi slowly opened his eyes, as if a sharp blade had been drawn from its sheath. "Hmm, so Gen-kun is here too?" The Japanese word "kun" is not only used between peers and elders, but also between superiors and inferiors.
Wei Yue prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "I have left the country due to some business and cannot serve you often, teacher. It is my fault, and I hope you will forgive me!"
Terashima Moriyoshi shook his head. "This has nothing to do with me. How could a teacher be someone who covets offerings from students? But are you really determined to give up your engagement to the royal family?"
Wei Yue lowered his head and remained silent.
Terashima Moriyoshi knew the student's intentions and said no more, only asking, "What brings you to my shrine today?"
Wei Yue said, "I have come to visit you, teacher, for two reasons. First, I have just returned to my country and it is only right and proper for me to pay my respects. Second, my friend Duanmu Ci has long admired your reputation and would like to visit you to learn from you and exchange sword skills with you."
Wei Yue originally wanted to ask for guidance, but then she thought that Duanmu Ci's swordsmanship was unfathomable and that using the word "ask for guidance" would be inappropriate, so she changed her words to "spar".
Terashima Moriyoshi was not about to miss such an obvious change of heart. The shrewd old man instantly understood Wei Yue's implied meaning and unspoken thoughts. He couldn't help but turn his gaze to Duanmu Ci, who had been silent all along, wanting to see what kind of ability he had that made his arrogant student so highly regarded.
He first glanced at Duanmu Ci's face. He was young and handsome. His extraordinary appearance didn't bother Terashima Moriyoshi. After all, he was used to seeing Wei Yue. He just felt that no matter how talented a swordsman was at this age, he wouldn't be able to match him, unless he was a peerless swordsman like Miyamoto Musashi, who appeared only once every few centuries.
Then he turned his gaze to Duanmu Ci's sitting posture, which was upright and imposing, with an air of calm composure, which pleased him greatly.
Finally, his gaze fell on Duanmu Ci's hand resting on his knee, and then he frowned deeply.
These hands are absolutely gorgeous!
A pair of hands that wield a sword year-round shouldn't be this beautiful; no matter how meticulously they're maintained, they'll always leave their mark. For example, even someone as skilled in swordsmanship and meticulous about appearance as Wei Yue inevitably develops large knuckles, calluses, and chafing. And this young man's hands, Terashima Moriyoshi looked at them from every angle, and couldn't see them as suitable for wielding a sword.
However, Wei Yue is unlikely to lie.
Terashima Moriyoshi maintained a calm expression, but doubts arose in his heart.
Wei Yue was the first to stand up, took a wooden practice sword from the sword rack in the corner of the hall, and bowed, saying, "Please instruct me, teacher!"
Terashima Moriyoshi also stood up, picked up the practice sword in front of him, and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen Gen-kun. I wonder if your skills have improved. Let's test them out!"
The master and disciple entered the hall, each holding a practice sword in one hand. Their eyes met, and they began to spar. Although Terashima Moriyoshi was old, he was not frail; his hands gripping the sword were as steady as a rock, and he maintained the upper hand throughout. However, since it was a contest between master and disciple, there was no need to determine a winner. After exchanging twenty or thirty blows, Terashima Moriyoshi sheathed his sword and leaped out of the fighting circle first.
"Not bad!" Terashima Moriyoshi finally smiled. "Your swordsmanship has improved a lot. It seems that you did not forget to train even after going to China. That's good. Your teacher is very happy."
Wei Yue sheathed her sword and lowered her head, saying, "This is all thanks to your excellent guidance, Master!"
Terashima Moriyoshi shook his head. "What does this have to do with me? I've taught you almost everything I can. The rest depends on your own comprehension and diligence. If you're not going to amount to anything, what's the point of me giving you any more guidance?"
As he spoke, he turned to Duanmu Ci and said, "Young man, you should come too. My students say your swordsmanship is very good and quite unique, unlike any other existing school. I'd love to see it for myself."
Duanmu Ci stood up. "Please enlighten me!"
He also took a practice sword from the sword rack and stood in the same spot as the original Weiyue, facing off against Terashima Moriyoshi with his sword drawn.
Outside the palace, the wind rises, and the curtains flutter.
Terashima Moriyoshi raised his white eyebrows and launched the first attack.
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