Volume 4: Ouyang's Counterattack Chapter 11: Dragon and Tiger Fight (Four)

  Takeshita Nobuo's face still smiled warmly and comforted Watanabe Shōshō, saying: "Watanabe-kun, I see you finally used the Clear Water Flow technique to its fullest extent, reaching a level where your will controls the sword. This is already at the level of a 9th dan expert. Congratulations, you'll soon be Japan's third 9th dan swordsman!"

  "What's the use of that? I just grasped the essence of controlling swords with my mind, but didn't expect to lose in the first battle!" Watanabe Shinobu's will was somewhat disheartened!

  "Watanabe, winning and losing are common occurrences in martial arts! You've lost your composure, the ordinary mind of a swordsman. From now on, it will be difficult for you to make progress! Don't you realize that yet?!" shouted Takeishi Shin'ichi suddenly.

  Watanabe Nobumasa suddenly enlightened, bowed and said: "Thank you, Takezoe-kun, for pointing it out to me. I understand now!" His face quickly returned to calm, not showing any dissatisfaction with Takezoe's rebuke at all. This kind of magnanimity is also very rare.

  Takeda Shinobu nodded in satisfaction, walking slowly into the arena with a warm smile on his face. "I didn't expect it," he praised, "but Watanabe's incredible strength was still defeated by Mr. Ouyang! It seems I've come at the right time today, and it's rare to have such a formidable opponent like Mr. Ouyang!"

  Ouyang Xuan intuitively felt that Takechi Shingen was more difficult to deal with than Watanabe Shinobu, and his scalp slightly numbed, but his face didn't show anything, and he smiled slightly: "I just want to see what the Japanese Kendo 9th dan master is like, I hope it won't disappoint me!"

  "I've got this confidence!" Takenaka Shin'ichi smiled warmly, his voice extremely confident: "Oh, right, the sword I use is also a famous sword from the Warring States period - Muramasa! However, I don't like that 'maru' character, so let's just call it Murasame! Mr. Ouyang isn't using any weapons yet?"

  While saying so, Takeeda Shin'ichi slowly drew out his battle sword from his waist.

  Muramasa is a very shiny tachi, with the entire blade emitting a wave-like luster similar to water, and seems to be as gentle as Takehisa's personality!

  Ou Yang Xuan's special ability was not something he dared to use lightly, as it would shock and astonish the world, causing a lot of unnecessary trouble. After some thought, Ou Yang Xuan shook his head and said, "When the time comes, I will naturally bring it out!"

  The dignified Takeo Shinno was also not angry about this, and smiled slightly: "Alright! But before the duel can I ask Mr. Ouyang a few questions?"

  Ouyang Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said, "Ask away!"

  "Mr. Ouyang is so young, yet he has already entered the hall of top martial arts masters. It's truly rare. However, Mr. Ouyang, have you ever thought about what the ultimate meaning of practicing martial arts is?" Takezaki Shinobu said slowly, his face unusually calm and serene.

  "Hmm—" Ouyang Xuan pondered for a moment, thinking to himself: "If I say I was forced into it, that would be too embarrassing!" After some thought, he said: "It should still be the normal way of thinking for us Chinese people, cultivate one's character and nurture one's nature, protect our families and defend our country!"

  Takeshita Nobuo laughed and shook his head slightly.

  "What's wrong?" Ou Yang Xuan was puzzled.

  "Ouyang Jun, may I address you as such? What did you see right before your eyes?" Zhuxia Xinnan slightly raised his head.

  Ouyang Xuan looked up at the sky with a puzzled expression: The maple leaves were drifting down in the cool autumn breeze, crimson as blood, and picturesque!

  "Maple leaves, so many fallen maple leaves!" Ouyang Xuan suddenly said.

  "The true meaning of martial arts lies in transcending one's limits and pursuing the meaning of life! These maple leaves are also alive, when you can feel their breath, feel the gentle breeze, the cool water, only then have you truly grasped the essence of martial arts: not killing, not competing for gain, but simply experiencing life, experiencing nature!"

  Ouyang Xuan fell silent, his brow furrowed in thought. Suddenly he spoke up: "Since Master Zhuxia has such a clear understanding of martial arts, why did you still come to fight me today? Isn't this just about seeking gain?"

  Takehisa Shinobu smiled: "Hehe, so-called honor has no meaning to me! I accepted Tanaka's invitation to come to China simply because I wanted to try out with Mr. Ouyang and see if he can give me some inspiration in martial arts! After all, Chinese martial arts have a long history, there should be many things worth learning."

  "Oh, I see!" Ou Yang Xuan nodded his head, and in his heart he couldn't help but secretly feel shocked: "This is a true martial arts fanatic, with no desires or aspirations, as calm as still water, only having an ultimate pursuit of the extremes of martial arts. He must be a difficult person to deal with!"

  "Let's begin!" Takezo Nobuo smiled: "I have always admired the martial arts of Zhongtu, I hope Master Ouyang will not disappoint me this time!"

  Takeshi Shinobu stood tall, holding his sword upside down. A cool autumn breeze blew in, causing his white swordsmanship uniform to flutter slightly. His face also seemed to become extremely calm, as if he was deep in thought!

  In an instant, Ouyang Xuan seemed to have an illusion: the Takeda Shinno in front of him seemed to blend perfectly with the scenery in front of him, with a terrifying calmness and serenity.

  Ouyang Xuan's pupils slightly contracted, his fists clenched tightly together, and his palms were instantly filled with sweat. This young man, known as the hundred-year genius of Japan's swordsmanship world, was actually that formidable?

  "Ouyang Jun, I'm here!" Zhuxia Xinnan smiled slightly and somehow his footsteps quickened, and he was already standing in front of Ouyang Xuan.

  A gleam of bright light flashed in mid-air, and Murasame had already come slashing down diagonally.

  Ouyang Xuan found it somewhat strange: Murage's blade momentum wasn't particularly fast, and the killing intent wasn't heavy either, seemingly not difficult to dodge at all. Could a renowned Japanese kendo ninth-dan master really be of this caliber!?

  Ouyang Xuan was shocked and uncertain, cautious him did not easily counterattack, only quickly retreated two steps back!

  Suddenly, something astonishing happened to Ouyang Xuan: the clear village rain in mid-air swept over a half-not-very-fast arc and appeared strangely at Ouyang Xuan's waist.

  If Ou Yang Xuan continued to retreat backwards, he would inevitably end up heavily colliding with the sharp blade of Cun Yu's knife.

  Ouyang Xuan was greatly shocked, his body flashed to the left, and his left leg immediately broke through the air, striking Zhang Xiaoshan's head with a fierce gust of wind.

  A bright arc of light flashed in mid-air, and the village rain battle knife reappeared eerily on the left leg of Ouyang Xuan's attack.

  If Ou Yang Xuan continues his offense, it's equivalent to delivering his left leg to the sharp blade of Murasame.

  Ouyang Xuan's face changed, and he immediately flipped over, withdrew his leg, and retreated again.

  Takeda Nobuo followed closely, and every time Murasame appeared in the position where Ouyang Xuan was about to retreat, he cleverly sealed off all of Ouyang Xuan's counterattack routes, forcing him into a desperate situation: unable to retreat or attack, he could only dodge awkwardly!

  Tanaka Koji at the scene was dazzled and exclaimed: "Bamboo under the gentleman's knife method is so exquisite, Mr. Ouyang didn't even have a chance to fight back!"

  Watanabe Shinobu was also shocked, and sighed: "Bamboo under the gentleman really is Japan's hundred-year rare swordsmanship prodigy, his swordsmanship has reached the realm of returning to simplicity and truth, fundamentally no need to use speed to control the enemy! Tanaka-kun, look, Murasame seems to be able to anticipate the enemy's every move, Ouyang-kun is simply retreating under Murasame's control! Bamboo under the gentleman can now not only control himself, but also control his enemies, this state of mind is invincible!"

  Tanaka nodded and exclaimed: "How did he manage to do that?"

  Watanabe Shinobu smiled and suddenly realized, "It's because of his insight into life! Takezo-sama's senses are extremely sharp, he can feel the slightest changes in the field, from the strength of the wind, the falling leaves, even the subtle vibrations of sound to judge Ouyang-sama's next move! He has perfectly merged with the battlefield - great skill is not artificial, great wisdom is like foolishness. Takezo-sama will become one of Japan's greatest sword gods in a few years!"

  In the midst of Tanaka Kōsuke and Watanabe Nobumasa's fervent praise, ōyama Kengan was already on the verge of vomiting blood: retreating step by step, each time being preempted by the enemy, this dealt a huge blow to ōyama Kengan's psyche.

  Gradually, Ouyang Xuan's momentum was seized, and the situation became more and more passive. It would soon be unbearable!