Chapter 23

Luo En was doing one-armed three-finger push-ups in the back courtyard, beads of sweat dripping from the tip of his nose.

"Luo En."

Koushirou walked over from the corridor, spotted him and said, "Have you seen Kuina?"

"She seems to have gone to the waterfall to practice sword."

Luo En answered.

"Is there something you need her for, Master?"

"It's nothing much, just that some new disciples have arrived at the dojo, and I wanted her to help teach them."

Koushirou said.

Luo En thought for a moment, pushed hard with his fingers, stood up and looked at him: "How about I go instead."

"That would really be a big help."

Koushirou was overjoyed.

Luo En then followed Koushirou to the dojo in the front courtyard; quite a few children around seven or eight years old had already arrived, chattering noisily.

Some had already picked up bamboo swords and started playing and fighting.

Koushirou coughed twice.

Seeing him, some of the children immediately fell quiet and called out in unison:

"Good morning, Master."

The rest of the children looked on with curious faces.

"Hello, everyone."

Koushirou said with a smile, looking at the group of children.

"Some of you are newly arrived disciples. Welcome to this Isshin Dojo. I am the master here, Shimotsuki Koushirou. Here I will be responsible for teaching you swordsmanship, training you into swordsmen with steadfast hearts."

……

While Koushirou was introducing the dojo to the newly arrived disciples.

Several children looked curiously at Luo En standing beside Koushirou.

After Koushirou finished speaking, he smiled at everyone and said, "Next, Luo En will spar with you."

Luo En took a step forward, holding his bamboo sword.

His gaze swept over the children, but he didn't spot that green-algae-headed fellow.

"Not here yet…"

He thought to himself.

"Huh? Isn't it Kuina who's sparring with us?"

One child, hearing this, was taken aback. He looked at Luo En, sizing him up from head to toe, and said with a doubtful look: "You're Luo En, right? I'm Umi, I've been studying at this dojo for two years. How long have you been here?"

"About three months, I guess."

Luo En said.

"Huh? Only three months?!"

The child named Umi opened his mouth wide, his face full of surprise, then he grinned and said, "Only been here three months, and you think you can spar with me?"

The other children also looked at Luo En with doubtful faces.

Luo En, on the other hand, looked perfectly calm.

"How about this, Umi."

Koushirou looked at the child named Umi and said with a smile: "Don't you like my real sword? If you spar with Luo En, and you can force Luo En to take even one step back, I'll give you that sword."

"Really?!"

Umi's face lit up with joy. Seeing Koushirou nod with a smile, he was instantly thrilled, and looked at Luo En full of fighting spirit: "Deal!"

Inside the dojo.

Koushirou and the children sat kneeling on the ground, watching Luo En and Umi inside the ring, each holding a bamboo sword.

Umi stared at the calm-faced Luo En opposite him, and for no reason felt a little nervous, his palms sweating.

He shook his head:

"It's just forcing him back one step, right? This new guy can't possibly be as strong as Kuina."

After pumping himself up.

He let out a great shout, raised his bamboo sword, and charged at Luo En at a quick pace.

The next second.

Crack!

The bamboo sword was knocked flying, and Umi's whole body was sent flying backward.

Umi, who had crashed heavily onto the ground, stared blankly at the ceiling, his face a picture of utter bewilderment.

What happened?

What just happened?

How did I end up flying?

The surrounding children were also full of astonishment.

"What just happened?"

"Did he even draw his sword?"

"No, I couldn't see it at all…"

The smiling Koushirou picked up his tea, took a sip, and thought to himself:

Clean and crisp, truly a beautiful sword stroke.

Speaking of which, hadn't the speed of his sword strikes gotten faster?

"It's not over yet!"

Wumi couldn't accept it. He scrambled up at once, snatched the bamboo sword off the ground, and charged at Luo En.

Smack!

"Ow! N-no, it's not over yet!"

Smack!

……

A moment later.

Wumi, head covered in lumps, lay on the ground spread-eagled, his face full of lingering despair.

"How… could… he be this strong?!"

The other children stared at Luo En, whose clothes weren't even disheveled, their faces full of awe.

"I'm heading back first."

Luo En said to Koshiro.

Koshiro nodded with a cheerful smile.

After he left, Wumi immediately scrambled to his feet and asked Koshiro:

"Master, that guy really only came three months ago?!"

"That's right."

"How old is he?"

"From what he told me, this year he seems to be 9 years old, one year younger than Kuina."

Koshiro thought for a moment and said.

"He's the same age as me…"

Wumi was somewhat despairing.

"Haha, no need to be so dejected."

Koshiro rose and laughed: "After all, even Kuina isn't his match."

Wumi was first stunned, then:

"Eh??? Even Kuina can't beat him?!!"

He gaped so wide his jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

"Mm, when he had just arrived, Kuina had her bamboo sword knocked flying by him in two strikes. Although she's gotten much stronger now, she probably can only take one or two moves from him."

Koshiro said, sipping his tea.

"Nani?!!!!"