Chapter 143: Jikishinkage-ryu

Watanabe No finally appeared!

Standing six feet tall, he wore a crisp white shirt, his hair cut in a neat, short style, and his eyes burned with a piercing intensity. As he walked toward the summit of Cuihuan Mountain, the cheers were constant and deafening. It wasn't just his supporters who were shouting; even those backing Qin Xuan joined in, for Watanabe’s arrival meant the duel was about to begin.

"No! No!"

The Watanabe cheering squad nearby went wild. Their leader, Luo Yinghua, twisted her waist frantically as she and several other girls unfurled a banner even larger than the one Shen Yina had displayed. It read in eight bold characters: *No Will Triumph, Qin Xuan is Trash!*

A banner of that size would have cost a hundred or two to commission at a professional shop. The words "Qin Xuan is Trash" left everyone on the field stunned. Shen Yina was the first to react; she was furious, and the consequences would be severe.

But before she could act, she saw Qin Xuan offer a faint smile. With a light tap of his feet, his elegant figure vanished toward a nearby rockery. A silver longsword, catching the pale moonlight, flashed as it left its scabbard and swung horizontally.

Not far away, Watanabe No curled his lips into a smirk, drew the bamboo sword hanging at his waist, and lunged toward the rockery with a swift, sliding step. The rockery was precisely where Luo Yinghua was directing the girls to hold the banner.

Luo Yinghua and her group were caught completely off guard. They saw only a flash of silver sword light and heard the sharp crack of steel meeting wood.

*Clang!*

In a mere heartbeat, Qin Xuan and Watanabe No had engaged for the first time—right at the spot where the banner read "Qin Xuan is Trash." With a fluid motion, Qin Xuan sliced through the right half of the banner, then flicked his Taiqing sword, shredding a quarter of the fabric into confetti.

Watanabe, acting with reflexive speed, brought his bamboo sword down in a heavy strike. Though it was only bamboo, his body contained a faint trace of true energy, which he channeled into the blade to shred the remaining quarter of the banner.

The words "Qin Xuan is Trash" vanished in an instant.

Finally, Qin Xuan’s longsword pointed upward and Watanabe’s bamboo sword pointed downward, clashing together with a clear, ringing chime.

"Haha!"

Watanabe laughed aloud and retreated, gripping his bamboo sword. Qin Xuan drew his Taiqing sword back to his side with a faint smile. That single exchange had been enough for him to gauge Watanabe’s foundation.

Jikishinkage-ryu—a highly renowned school of Japanese swordsmanship. Legend had it that over two hundred years ago, its most famous practitioner, Otani Seiichiro, was hailed as a "Sword Saint," sweeping aside all masters of the era and becoming a legendary figure in the Japanese cultivation world.

Japanese swordsmanship had long ago originated from China, later evolving into a different form through the refinements of certain Japanese masters. To the average person, it was merely the "play" of people in protective gear wielding bamboo swords. Little did they know, true practitioners in the Japanese cultivation world were formidable. Their training was notoriously strict; only those who had successfully forged a "Sword Heart" were granted a real blade, while all others were required to use bamboo.

Qin Xuan’s knowledge of Japanese swordsmanship came only from his master, Liu Wuya; he had never personally experienced it. Yet, upon their first contact, he felt a heavy, imposing aura. The hallmark of Jikishinkage-ryu was its weight and density; if one could project an unstoppable momentum, it was a terrifying combat style.

Unfortunately, Watanabe’s cultivation level was far too low. He hadn't even forged a Sword Heart, making his Jikishinkage-ryu look like child's play in front of Qin Xuan. Qin Xuan decided to defeat him using only the most basic sword techniques; only then would he truly demonstrate the profound and ancient depth of Chinese swordsmanship.

As the two separated, only half of the banner remained in Luo Yinghua’s hands, reading simply: *No Will Triumph.* The "Qin Xuan is Trash" portion had been shredded into nothingness by their combined efforts.

"Hahaha! The most important thing in a duel is respecting one's opponent. Qin Xuan-kun, you possess the strength to fight me, and I will not allow anyone to insult you," Watanabe laughed heartily.

"I, of course, will not tolerate anyone insulting me either," Qin Xuan replied with a calm smile.

If the banner had been held by a Japanese person, Qin Xuan would not have intervened, as it would only reflect poorly on their own character. But the fact that it was Chinese people holding it angered him. Was this not the same nature as Li Shihao’s behavior? Setting aside national identity, such a banner had no right to exist. Even in business, fair competition was the rule. Maliciously slandering a competitor to promote one’s own product was illegal and would surely lose in court. In a duel, such conduct was even more taboo.

This wasn't about Qin Xuan’s ego. Even if someone had hung a "Watanabe No is Trash" banner, Qin Xuan would have shredded it just the same. It was a lack of respect for the opponent and provided an opening for mockery.

"Qin Xuan is so cool!" Shen Yina couldn't help but cheer. She had been about to step forward to confront the girls when she saw the silver flash and the banner being shredded. Qin Xuan’s graceful, effortless movements caused her heart to flutter uncontrollably.

Ignoring her, Qin Xuan looked at the bamboo sword in Watanabe’s hand and narrowed his eyes. "You use a bamboo sword, so I shall use my scabbard. That way, no one can claim it is unfair."

He sheathed the Taiqing sword. The hilt, adorned with a mysterious Taiji pattern, shimmered with a dazzling silver light that was strikingly clear in the darkness.

"Haha! Qin Xuan-kun, I admire you. Now, let us begin."

Watanabe laughed, lunging forward with his bamboo sword, bringing a fierce, heavy momentum toward Qin Xuan.

"Hmph. Let me show you the refinement of Chinese swordsmanship."

Facing the Jikishinkage-ryu, Qin Xuan smiled faintly. He swung his sheathed sword in a slow, half-circle. It appeared soft and powerless, yet when it met Watanabe’s blade, it effortlessly deflected the bamboo sword, sending the strike into the empty air.

Watanabe’s expression shifted. He retracted his sword and swung it diagonally. Qin Xuan noticed that this strike contained a trace of true energy and a deeper understanding of the Jikishinkage-ryu’s essence; its power had increased significantly.

"Qin Xuan-kun, see how you handle this!" Watanabe shouted. His bamboo sword underwent a sudden change, emitting faint specks of red light.

*Red light?*

Qin Xuan narrowed his eyes. He sensed something strange.