Chapter 533

The distribution of muscle tension, the change in breathing rhythm, the dangerous flicker deep in the eyes... all turned into a stream of information.

He knew the opponent was going to get serious, perhaps even carrying malice.

But Natsume Chikage's expression under the mask did not change at all.

Horie Kenichi moved!

This time it was an unreserved frontal assault!

His feet stomped on the floor, erupting with speed far more fierce than the first time, pressing in a straight line!

The bamboo sword changed direction at the last moment, drawing a sharp arc, slashing straight at Natsume Chikage's right hand guard!

Fast! Fierce! Accurate!

However, in Natsume Chikage's eyes, this trajectory was still traceable.

The ankle rope restricted his large-scale evasion.

But he didn't need large-scale evasion either.

Just as the bamboo sword was about to hit the hand guard, Natsume Chikage moved.

With the smallest body sway amplitude restricted by the rope, combined with exquisite waist and leg power, the bamboo sword arrived first despite being launched later.

"Clack—!!!"

A crisper and louder hit sound!

Natsume Chikage's bamboo sword took a half-step lead, precisely hitting the front-middle part of Horie Kenichi's bamboo sword.

This was a clever "deflection strike," which deflected the thunderous blow just right, using force against force, causing Horie Kenichi's body to lose balance and his offensive to collapse.

The old force was spent, and the new force had not yet been born!

The flaw was exposed!

Natsume Chikage did not stop at all; his bound feet erupted with astonishing agility, following up with a small, swift step.

The bamboo sword was raised again, slashing down with a more condensed and smooth sense of power!

"Men—!!!"

The shout and the sword light erupted simultaneously!

The bamboo sword turned into white lightning, again precisely slashing at the same position on Horie Kenichi's face mask!

"Bang!!"

A heavy, muffled impact sound!

Horie Kenichi was slashed into a staggering retreat, finally falling to one knee.

His mind was blank, and his ears were buzzing.

It actually... ended just like that?

How could he... be so strong?

"Se... second point!" Arai Kotaro's dry, hoarse voice sounded, "The duel is over, A-kun wins!"

The dojo was dead silent.

Horie Kenichi knelt on the ground, lost and dejected, forgetting to take off his face mask.

His face was pale, and his eyes were unfocused.

Two strikes.

In just two strikes, he was completely crushed by a novice who had just entered the dojo today, in the most basic way.

His self-confidence and pride completely collapsed.

Kojima Yoshinobu stared blankly at Natsume Chikage, who stood with his sword sheathed and breathing steadily, and then at his disciple kneeling on the ground.

There were stormy waves in his heart.

Kenichi was a Tamaryu Flag champion!

Even if he held back, he shouldn't have been defeated so quickly, cleanly, and pathetically.

No! He must have gone easy on him!

Otherwise, how could he lose so quickly?

Kenichi must have been worried about the Yutang family background, and the psychological pressure was too great, causing him to be unable to perform.

It must be that.

Arai Kotaro also stood stunned on the side, his eyes full of amazement, but instinctively also suspected—Kenichi definitely went easy on him.

Otherwise, how could Kenichi, who always crushed other novice disciples, be like this?

On the sidelines.

Konoe Hitomi sat still like an ice sculpture, her eyes blinking imperceptibly.

The result was somewhat unexpected...

She fell into deep thought.

Perhaps it was the presence of herself and the black-clad attendants that put too much pressure on the three people in the dojo, causing them to "act" and go easy?

That must be it.

After all, Horie Kenichi was a Tamaryu Flag winner; losing so easily to someone who had just come into contact with kendo was really too unreasonable.

Konoe Hitomi turned her head and whispered instructions to the black-clad person beside her.

The black-clad person nodded, walked quickly to the center of the dojo, and conveyed to Kojima Yoshinobu and the other two:

"Lord Konoe hopes that you will put aside unnecessary concerns and stop going easy. Please be sure to bring out your true strength to guide him, otherwise, the original intention of improving A-kun's kendo level cannot be achieved."

Horie Kenichi heard this, and his originally pale face instantly flushed red!

He wanted to show his strength in front of the person he admired, but was thought to be deliberately going easy?

But he really didn't go easy!

Kojima Yoshinobu's face looked ugly.

He understood that Lord Konoe Hitomi was dissatisfied and suspicious of their "guidance."

No wonder.

A-kun had practiced for less than an hour and "defeated" the Tamaryu Flag champion.

Who would believe he didn't go easy?

This "going easy" was too obvious and too clumsy!

Kojima Yoshinobu took a deep breath, turned to Horie Kenichi, his voice stern:

"Kenichi! Duel with A-kun one more time! This time, you must not hold back because of any external factors! You must bring out 120% of your true strength!"

Arai Kotaro also approached and whispered a reminder:

"Kenichi, Senior Brother understands your concerns. But this is teaching guidance, no need to carry unnecessary pressure. We will handle the Yutang family side."

"So for this round, you must bring out all your skills, do you know?"

Horie Kenichi's face under the mask was burning red, and shame and embarrassment almost drowned him.

He had really tried his best the second time, he didn't go easy!

No... this might also be an opportunity!

Anyway, he also felt that his state was not right just now, perhaps it was underestimating the enemy.

Taking the excuse of "being misunderstood as going easy," it was just right to fight with full strength again and wash away the shame!

He forcibly suppressed his emotions, stood firm, and his eyes ignited with fighting spirit:

"Since Master and Senior Brother both require it, I will definitely use 120% of my strength this time!"

Kojima Yoshinobu and Arai Kotaro looked at each other, seeing unprecedented seriousness in Horie Kenichi's tone and eyes, felt slightly relieved, and nodded.

"Go."

"A-kun, prepare yourself, and have another duel with Kenichi."

Natsume Chikage nodded calmly.

Soon, the duel started again.

The process and result, however, were exactly the same as the last time.

Horie Kenichi was still quickly defeated in a very short time, in almost the same way.

Natsume Chikage walked up and reached out to pull up Horie Kenichi, who was still in a trance of shock and sitting on the ground.

He felt that Horie Kenichi's strength seemed "mediocre," guessing that he might be an "ordinary disciple" or sparring partner called by the two masters in the dojo to demonstrate for the novice.

Since he had won against him, out of politeness and to ease the atmosphere, he found a topic.

"Your movements were very smooth just now; have you been practicing kendo for a long time? Or... like me, are you also a beginner?"

Horie Kenichi heard this, and his trance-like mind was instantly awakened by the sting.