Chapter 124: [Four Extremities Breathing Method], The True Sword Match Seven Days Later (7.4k)

How big.

This is……

So white.

This…… right, is it right?

Both big and white.

No no!

The dazed Uesugi Toru was stunned for a good while by this suddenly appearing snow mountain wonder, before he felt the Corona Qi circulating whirringly inside his body, discovering he surprisingly wasn't dreaming.

Lightly sniffing the thick mint tobacco scent lingering at his nose tip, Uesugi Toru carefully used his fingers to pick up the buttons before him again, placing them on the tie drooping on the hospital bed surface.

He slightly shifted his gaze, and upon seeing the incomparably familiar furnishings and scenery confirmed this was indeed the hospital room inside the Special Affairs Division.

Except for this door not having been remodeled into a prison's appearance, everything else seemed replicated one-to-one.

"Are Special Affairs Division hospital rooms all cast from the same mold…… even the artificial flowers placed on the window sill are the same kind."

Uesugi Toru complained slightly in his heart, then touched his chest, feeling the intact, realistic sensation.

He then slightly lifted the clean white quilt, shook his pair of feet which transmitted not a shred of abnormal sensation.

These two locations of severe injuries caused by Tohin Yakou, now had already healed without leaving half a shred of aftereffects, and moreover completely without any prostheses or steel pins or such things installed internally.

Not that it needs saying, but the Special Affairs Division's medical level is beyond reproach.

After confirming his body had no further problems, Uesugi Toru held his breath and turned his head, looking at Nanjo Ai who was currently lying prone on the hospital bed breathing evenly.

Those two majestic snow mountains even continuously changed their altitude with her breathing, slowly inhaling and exhaling the pitch-black tie mountain ridge.

However Uesugi Toru didn't pay particular attention to this area.

He stared for a while at Nanjo Ai's peaceful tranquil face, discovering that the woman who normally appeared cold and restrained outside, and became very uninhibited after drinking, could actually show such an expression.

Total feeling of a serious sense of violation…… not inferior to Tokugawa Ririko's front armor thickened tenfold.

Uesugi Toru blinked, discovering a pile of documents only flipped halfway through, unsigned, scattered beside Nanjo Ai's hand.

Even between her right hand's index finger and middle finger was clipped a narrow fountain pen, ink dripping from the pen tip, already staining a small patch of white bedding.

Actually handling official business while accompanying me by the hospital bed huh, Nanjo Sister, you guy……

Uesugi Toru sighed, silently reached out his hand, wanting to extract the fountain pen from Nanjo Ai's hand without startling her.

Click, Uesugi Toru gripped the pen body, wanting to extract it at lightning speed.

Corona Qi silently surged to his fingertips, Uesugi Toru exerted force with five fingers, yet discovered that ordinary black fountain pen remained immovable.

A gaze cold to the marrow suddenly filled the entire hospital room, making Uesugi Toru's spine involuntarily chill.

But the next moment, that fountain pen was "pop" pulled out by Uesugi Toru, a lazy voice following: "I thought who it was…… Uesugi-kun, you're awake ah……"

Nanjo Ai drowsily rubbed her eyes, comfortably sat up straight, her shirt already burst apart by the huge pressure's binding slid uncontrollably towards both sides.

The middle snow mountain trembled as it stood erect, transforming from the winding Alps into the towering Mount Everest, almost giving a premonition of imminent emergence.

"Cough, Nanjo Sister, pay a little attention to image."

Uesugi Toru averted his gaze, staring at the vase on the window sill, earnestly admonished: "Weather's cold, pay attention to clothing, don't catch cold."

"Hm?"

Nanjo Ai was still in the confused just-woken state, she half-opened her eyes, aimlessly turned her head several times, before finally using her fingers to pick up the buttons burst onto the bedding.

She displeasedly tsked,

"Had I known earlier I should've been diligent and changed to a larger size, now I have to buy a new one, even more troublesome."

Nanjo Ai lowered her head for a good while again, then tapped her head top with her finger, reacting to what this was about.

She lightly curled her lip corner, didn't button the loose suit draped over her, instead put hands behind her back and curiously leaned her body forward toward Uesugi Toru,

"Uesugi-kun, shy?"

Uesugi Toru stared at the vase, eyes not glancing sideways: "Just season change, don't hope Nanjo Sister catches cold affecting work, that's all."

Nanjo Ai rarely revealed a trace of amusement, stood up from the regulation low horse stool, rubbed her buttocks numb from sitting too long, raised both hands and stretched a straight lazy waist,

"Rarely not staying under the same roof with those guys who might hinder my career, you also let me relax a bit, breathe more fresh air."

The woman laughed lightly: "Moreover, just this degree is completely whatever right…… this isn't a situation you intentionally caused, Uesugi-kun you also aren't some married man."

Nanjo Ai shrugged at him, amid the earth-shaking said in a whatever tone,

"So if you want to be loyal to your thoughts, just looking a few more times won't cause trouble…… I'm not a bad boss who'd grab some little handle, then use 'you also don't want others to know you did this kind of thing' to order people around."

She took out a cigarette from her pocket, shook it before Uesugi Toru's eyes then clamped it in her mouth, lit it: "On this boss thing, I pride myself on doing a pretty good job."

Uesugi Toru shifted his gaze from the window sill's vase to Kaga Kiyomitsu leaning against the wall, took a deep breath, then calmly said,

"Still that sentence, Nanjo Sister, catching cold will affect work efficiency, then work piling up more and more won't be good."

Nanjo Ai glanced at the screen showing 26° air conditioner, smiled,

"Then let's try to talk work."

Slightly organizing the documents scattered on the bed, Nanjo Ai stood to the side and spent three cigarettes' worth of time resolving them.

In the process, listening to Nanjo Ai's hummed little tune, Uesugi Toru understood, this was his current nominal superior's very relaxed posture.

Although Uesugi Toru didn't quite understand why Nanjo Ai, who would maintain reasonable social distance before the vast majority of people, would specifically relax into this appearance before him.

But this is a good thing.

Nanjo Ai now not only has to continuously process piled-up official documents, but also travels on business trips daily, negotiating with Ghost God Level figures nationwide…… calling it ultimate version 007 is no exaggeration.

No matter who, if strung too tight for a long time, that string in the heart will one day snap or lose its original elasticity.

Regardless of what method, and regardless of where, people all need to relax from time to time, to better assist mental recovery.

Tap tap.

The sound of thick documents knocking on the wooden tabletop sounded, Nanjo Ai picked up another blank document, plopped down beside Uesugi Toru's thigh.

Uesugi Toru blanked for a moment.

"Since you said you want to talk about work, let's first go through the formalities and record everything related to that Three-Star Demon."

Rituna Minami said, filling in the basic information on the document in two or three strokes.

It was only after that black fountain pen swayed back and forth several times in front of Uesugi Toru that he suddenly snapped back to his senses.

Then, under Rituna Minami's subtle gaze, he began to speak about matters related to the Ten Hina Night Parade's Main Deity as if nothing had happened.

Uesugi Toru felt it was nothing much.

If a natural wonder like an earthquake or an avalanche suddenly happened right before one's eyes, staring blankly for a few seconds was perfectly normal; it could only be said to be human nature.

After a while.

"That is to say, the only remaining hidden danger is that 【Goto Bathhouse】 in Yuhara River Town."

Rituna Minami propped her elbow against her waist, gazing at the upper half of the document in her hand.

"Theoretically, that's true," Uesugi Toru thought for a moment and continued, "but I feel that the two Earth-bound Spirits, who are probably Goto Yazi's parents, aren't very aggressive."

—Just because those two Earth-bound Spirits could understand the meaning of his words in a short time and let him go, Uesugi Toru thought it was worth saying a few kind words to them.

Otherwise, once he subdued that Earth-bound Spirit with home-field advantage and extremely strong vitality, it was hard to say whether that large group of monks from Hongan-ji would even be alive.

"I understand."

Rituna Minami nodded, added a sentence at the end of the file, sealed it with Yin-Yang Technique, stood up, and stuffed it into what seemed to be a specially made cowhide bag.

Immediately after, Uesugi Toru saw Rituna Minami pick up the apple that had long been placed on the bedside table, go into the bathroom to wash it, and come out carrying a small knife.

Rituna Minami sat on the bed with her legs crossed, used Yin-Yang Technique to dry the water droplets on the apple's surface, picked up the small knife, and began to peel the apple little by little.

Uesugi Toru asked puzzledly, "Nanjo Sister, what are you doing?"

"Peeling a big apple, didn't you see?"

Rituna Minami used the sword blade to circle around the apple's skin, from top to bottom.

What are you doing here.

Uesugi Toru was somewhat speechless, but he was soon attracted by Rituna Minami's movements.

—If one looked carefully for a while, one would discover that every ring of apple skin Rituna Minami peeled was exactly the same thickness, and also ensured that not a single bit of excess apple skin remained on it.

The apple skin hung down ring by ring, connecting into a long string.

"Nanjo Sister's hand control is so good?" Uesugi Toru couldn't help but guess, "Did she also practice Breathing Technique?"

But soon, Uesugi Toru discovered that even a super-large, white and tender apple stripped of its outer skin was not as magnificent as the tip of an iceberg.

Amidst the sizzling sound of the blade cutting through the apple skin, Rituna Minami seemed to remember something, and began to shake her feet wrapped in thick black stockings as she spoke:

"When I used to watch anime, I always found that female characters visiting patients in the hospital would bring fruit baskets and peel apples for patients who were about to recover and be discharged; at that moment, the atmosphere would suddenly become warm."

"So I also wanted to try what it feels like to do this."

It seems that really is the case.

Uesugi Toru's interest was piqued, and he asked, "So what does it feel like?"

Crack.

Accompanied by the shifting of the blade, the smooth apple was pinched in Rituna Minami's hand.

She picked up the narrow, winding apple skin wrapped around her finger, raised her head, and swallowed it bite by bite, then chewed while thinking.

After a long while, Rituna Minami turned her head, looked into Uesugi Toru's eyes, and said seriously, "Actually, there's no special feeling."

Crack crack crack, the apple was divided into many pieces at once, falling onto the porcelain plate Rituna Minami took out from who knows where.

She stuck a toothpick into it, then handed it to Uesugi Toru.

So I looked forward to it for nothing.

Uesugi Toru took the fruit plate and said thanks, then began to eat the apples one bite at a time with crunching sounds.

"Uesugi-kun, actually many things in this world are like this."

Rituna Minami gazed at the ceiling: "Rumor spreading, taking things out of context, filter beautification—so before doing a thing, before becoming a certain kind of person, there will always be many unrealistic beautiful fantasies."

"Only when one truly does it will one suddenly discover that things seem not quite like what one imagined."

Uesugi Toru thought to himself that he was just eating an apple, why was he suddenly saying this kind of thing to him.

What does this have to do with apples.

Rituna Minami seemed to see through his thoughts, turned her head, and without ceremony took a piece of apple from the fruit plate: "I just don't want you to become as twisted as me."

"So, Uesugi-kun." Rituna Minami raised the apple flesh between their lines of sight, "Think more before doing things."

"Nanjo Sister."

After nodding, Uesugi Toru suddenly spoke: "How many days have I slept?"

Rituna Minami: "Probably more than two days, your injury is quite serious."

Uesugi Toru nodded in understanding; since Nanjo Sister still hadn't shown her hand yet, then it should be up to him to let Rituna Minami show her hand a bit,

"Then why have you been able to stay with me for more than two days?"

"A superior caring for a subordinate, isn't that a matter of course? Where do so many whys come from?"

Uesugi Toru laughed: "Nanjo Sister, do you really expect me to believe such nonsense? If you have any requests, if you want me to do something, just say it directly; between us, do we still need to beat around the bush? Let's speak plainly."

After speaking, he added another sentence: "If you keep hesitating, I'll go back to Arakawa Ward to cultivate with Shizuku."

Rituna Minami propped both hands on the bed, glancing outward: "Oh, I've been seen through."

"I didn't expect that I would now become the kind of person I used to hate most."

Rituna Minami sighed, then continued: "Seven days from now, the Special Affairs Division has an important Shinken Shiai at the ancient dojo 'Oboro Moon Hall' in Yokohama and the local area."

"I've already negotiated with them, so this match decides whether the Special Affairs Division in Arakawa Ward can continue to expand its influence throughout Yokohama City and promote the system."

Rituna Minami: "Oboro Moon Hall actually doesn't care about the distinction between new era and old era, and is indifferent to whether supernatural knowledge will circulate; for them—as long as they can slay ghosts, that's enough."

She continued,

"And what we have to do is to prove to these Ghost-Slayers that, as fellow members of the new generation, the geniuses cultivated by our Special Affairs Division system are simply stronger than their geniuses."

"In that case, Oboro Moon Hall won't just fail to hinder our 'leading students astray' — they'll actually stand on our side and become de facto allies."

Shinken Shiai.

As the name implies, it is a contest where both sides use live-edged real swords rather than wooden swords or bamboo swords with weaker lethality, so it is extremely likely to cause death and injury.

Even if both sides have agreed to stop at the point, if even one of them harbors ulterior intentions, it will lead to an outcome identical to a genuine life-and-death struggle.

And even if both sides intend to stop at the point, it is entirely possible that, due to closely matched strength, one will inadvertently kill the other.

By the time one remembers the need to pull back the blade, it is already too late.

Uesugi Toru rubbed his hands together, feeling his palms itch again: "Then why didn't you say so earlier."

"—Because I was afraid that if I told you, you would then, for this reason or that, ignore your own objective conditions and forcibly enter this Shinken Shiai."

"—Originally, having you participate in the Seed Tournament a month from now, and then the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament after that, has already seriously disrupted your personal cultivation, Uesugi-kun."

Nanjo Ai held up a finger before her lips: "In short, it is 'for your own good' that I didn't want to tell you this sort of thing."

—Nanjo Sister, are you my mom or something.

That very thought leaped into Uesugi Toru's mind once more after a long absence; he rubbed his temples, feeling a touch of vexation.

Nanjo Ai actually wanted to conceal the Shinken Shiai matter over such a trivial worry — did she still think he was a child who hadn't grown up, incapable of weighing the pros and cons of participating or not on his own?

Though she herself seems to have some awareness of this, which is why she said what she just said.

Too indecisive, Nanjo Sister.

But—

Uesugi Toru mused: "Since it's a contest of swordsmanship, wouldn't calling over Ririko, whose swordsmanship attainment far surpasses mine, make it an easy win? She has now grasped the ultimate technique — Sword Domain — which is said to be possessed only by Ancient Sword Saints."

"I've said it all, it's 【Shinken Shiai】."

Nanjo Ai said: "The kind where people die... There's also no explicit restriction on participants' strength, as long as it's not obviously an older generation beating a younger one."

So that's how it is.

Then Ririko alone indeed won't work.

Because although Ririko's swordsmanship and mental state level are higher than the vast majority of her peers.

But if we speak of true combat power, Ririko, who has only been in contact with the Supernatural Realm for a few days, is still far inferior to many cultivators by comparison.

There is a possibility of being crushed by pure numerical values.

"Moreover." Nanjo Ai stood up, rummaged around, and tossed him a document, "The rules state that aside from prohibiting hot weapons there are no other taboos; heaven knows how many strange and bizarre methods the other side's dispatched people might have."

"—Although I personally believe Oboro Moon Hall has no need to deliberately use so-called cheating methods, what if those methods are utterly conventional in their eyes."

Nanjo Ai spread her hands: "Furthermore, even new-type hot weapons — they've prepared a dedicated test site to measure their power. Those Ghost-Slayers truly care about nothing beyond Ghost-Slaying."

Uesugi Toru understood.

Because aside from practicing swordsmanship and Breathing Technique, he also dabbled in Yin-Yang Technique, had contracted Shikigami, and had once single-handedly slain a Three-Star Demon, chasing a Two-Star Half Nue to its death...

Such illustrious achievements, compared to the newcomers and students the Special Affairs Division only fished out from the sea of people and cultivated after the Wave Coming, the gap is simply immeasurable.

Let alone a mere Arakawa Ward that currently has only him as a Seed.

The so-called S-Rank is a mixed bag; among them are swordsmen like Ririko who are not weak, and equally there are ultimate rookies like Kitano Runa who are hardly any different from ordinary people.

—Hence, if they are to take the field, then Uesugi Toru will most likely have to shoulder the vast majority of the pressure.

"Besides that."

Nanjo Ai suddenly spoke: "Tokugawa Miss may not be able to take the field and show her face either; if trouble arises then, it won't be easy to handle."

Trouble?

Uesugi Toru pondered briefly — is Ririko some kind of public figure?

In a moment, he recalled that chameleon dog named "Tokugawa Haruhiko" by the roadside he had encountered earlier at the Special Affairs Division doorway.

Uesugi Toru probed: "Tokugawa Family?"

Nanjo Ai found nothing strange about him knowing these three words.

She nodded, propping her chin with her wrist and speaking gravely: "The Tokugawa Family, which grasps one of the 【Four Extremities Breathing Technique】, standing at the pinnacle of all Breathing Techniques, of all Samurai."

"Aside from possessing vast wealth capable of stirring financial giant waves, they equally possess the power to firmly safeguard that wealth for hundreds of years."

Uesugi Toru was slightly stunned.

Why does it sound so formidable?

Ririko is actually a member of such a colossal big shot family.

Before meeting Tokugawa Haruhiko, he had thought Ririko merely shared the surname by coincidence.

Otherwise, how could Ririko have remained so ordinary until now, only learning Breathing Technique for the first time upon meeting Kondo Tomoya and then advancing by leaps and bounds.

She had even nearly been taken down by a mere Half-Star Fox Dog Raccoon before.

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but ask: "Then Ririko..."

"—I don't know the internal situation of the Tokugawa Family."

Uesugi Toru's words hadn't finished before they were cut off.

Nanjo Ai exhaled: "Who knows why the Tokugawa Family would casually discard such a world-shaking swordsmanship prodigy outside; maybe it's because her bloodline isn't pure? Who knows... I'm not too clear, and I don't want to care about this sort of thing."

She said indifferently: "As long as Tokugawa Miss's heart isn't turned that way, that's enough; I can tell."

—After that, he'll find a chance to ask Ririko himself.

Having received her guidance for so long, if the other party has suffering she can't voice, then he should do what he can to help Ririko.

Having decided, Uesugi Toru smiled again.

No wonder Nanjo Ai didn't want to tell him about the Shinken Shiai before.

Because if even Ririko can't take the field, it's practically equivalent to Uesugi Toru alone having to knock down all the opponents' players.

But are such absurd things rare in society or the workplace?

One can only say, this superior Nanjo Ai is still too conscientious.

"However, I personally have no objections."

Uesugi Toru licked his lips and muttered to himself, rubbing his hands together with some eagerness.

There were still a full seven days until the start of the Shinken Shiai; even now, he might not have much grasp on facing those Ghost-Slayers with equally illustrious battle records on the data alone.

But seven days.

In seven days, how much would his proficiency increase, and how many skills would break through their shackles to reach new levels...

Not only that, the four-tailed fox's promotion would be complete, Kisaragi Station would most likely be solved, and he would draw new weapon equipment; he might even draw the Hundred-Eyed Demon from the new gacha pool.

It could be said that the Uesugi Toru seven days later would undergo a qualitative change compared to the current Uesugi Toru.

And aside from Shizuku, that same kind of unreasonable fellow who breaks through randomly anywhere, who else could barely keep up with this cheat-like speed of becoming stronger?

Uesugi Toru showed Rituna Minami a kind and sunny smile: "Nanjo Sister, please make sure to sign me up for the Shinken Shiai."

Seeing the other party nod, Uesugi Toru couldn't help but grin happily in his heart.

—I really am, very much looking forward to how much proficiency those little guys' experience packages can bring me in seven days, and what surprises beyond that.

After finishing the topic of the "heaviest" Shinken Shiai, Rituna Minami also returned to that slightly lazy, relaxed appearance.

"If there's nothing else, it's about time to return to Arakawa Ward."

Mentioning Arakawa Ward, Rituna Minami thought of the pitch-dark work.

She sighed heavily, causing her white shirt to shake and rise and fall: "Uesugi-kun, your injuries should be fully recovered by now, right?"

"There's one more thing I'm curious about."

Uesugi Toru asked seriously: "The Four Extremities Breathing Technique held by the Tokugawa Family mentioned earlier — how is this breathing technique different from other breathing techniques?"

"Naturally."

Rituna Minami seemed tired of sitting; she waved her hand signaling Uesugi Toru to shrink back, then lay her whole body at the foot of the bed, blocking her eyes with her hand, and slowly spoke:

"Just like Yin-Yang Techniques, breathing techniques also have their own ranks, or you could say class divisions — in short, you just need to understand this meaning."

"—Defective, Complete, Secret Realm, Four Extremities. These are the four ranks of breathing techniques."

Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes; this sudden spread of a large patch of reflective white was so bright he could barely keep his eyes open.

He heard Rituna Minami speak in a low voice, conserving effort: "For example, the Corona Breathing Technique you cultivate is a 【Complete】 rank breathing technique; the vast majority of breathing techniques stored in the Onmyoryo or Special Affairs Division are also this rank."

"And 【Four Extremities】, as the name implies, are the four types that sit at the very top among all breathing techniques — not that they were so from the start, but historical fact has proven their power."

"Therefore, those who grasp the Four Extremities Breathing Techniques have always been only the Three Great Families."

Isn't it often said the Four Heavenly Kings have five, how come there's one less here?

Uesugi Toru: "Three Great Families?"

"—Tokugawa, Kujouin, Oda."

When Rituna Minami spoke here, she deliberately paused; she moved her hand away, and in her deep pupils seemed to reflect a blurry human figure: "And a Sword Saint passed down generation after generation."

"I imagine you've had doubts before, wondering what exactly the 【Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament】 is."

"Very simple." Rituna Minami said.

"A 【Negotiation Table】 that lets everyone, whether hidden Onmyoji Families, the Three Great Families including Tokugawa, and even us Special Affairs Division, Onmyoryo, and all other forces with reputation, sit down and negotiate."

Uesugi Toru doubted: "Since the Tokugawa Family has both money and fists, why do they still have to sit at this negotiation table? Would they be willing?"

In Uesugi Toru's view, the contradiction between this ancient family that has already clearly shown its attitude and the Special Affairs Division is completely irreconcilable.

Let alone sitting down to talk.

What can they talk about? Talk about how to shoot bullets into each other's skulls?

Dealing with this kind of stubborn, unchanging old fossil, there can be no more hesitation and pointless negotiation; heavy fists must be used!

"—The Sword Saint will make them willing."

Rituna Minami said calmly, as if stating that the sun will rise tomorrow, a matter of course.

Sword Saint, Sword Saint.

Instinct told Uesugi Toru that these two words he heard from Rituna Minami's mouth seemed not quite the same as that previous kind of common, dime-a-dozen Sword Saint.

According to what Rituna Minami said before, the tradition of the Imperial Precedent Grand Tournament has already continued for a very, very long time.

And before the Wave Coming, the Great Onmyoji who stood almost at the pinnacle of humanity all had roughly similar strength.

Then, just how powerful is the Sword Saint's power, to be able to make all Onmyoji and Samurai lower their heads obediently and sit amiably at a table to negotiate, by that one person's power alone?

Beep beep beep.

Rituna Minami's mobile phone suddenly rang.

She put the phone to her ear, answered a few times, then sat up.

Rituna Minami converged the off-key expressions on her face, used spirit power to fasten her open shirt, pulled out the collar corner sunk into it, and then buttoned her suit buttons one by one into their corresponding gaps.

"Uesugi-kun, it's time to go."

"Rest time is over." She turned back indifferently, "Someone is waiting for us."

"Good."

Uesugi Toru nodded, jumped down from the bed, and grabbed Kaga Kiyomitsu leaning against the wall.

Then, an indescribable feeling surfaced in his heart, and a large number of prompts appeared before Uesugi Toru's eyes.

(End of Chapter)