"Qingshui-kun, your swordsmanship is very solid, and your methods are quite unique. I know you definitely have other tricks up your sleeve, but if this continues, I'm afraid I'll have to use my killing moves. If I can't hold back then, it might be difficult to deal with the consequences."
Haragiri steadily sheathed Tiger Soul and spoke to Qingshui.
"Alright."
Hearing this, Qingshui also put away his black steel sword and deactivated Black Samurai.
"Senior Haragiri, how much strength did you use just now?"
"A bit over seventy percent, I'd say. Qingshui-kun, your swordsmanship is already at a high level. It's just that your power is still a bit lacking. Otherwise, even joining the Sword Saint Association would barely qualify you."
Haragiri clasped his hands behind his back, looking at Qingshui with a hint of surprise.
Qingshui's swordsmanship was even better than he had imagined.
It was just that his physical fitness was a bit inferior. Even with high-tech battle armor, his basic physical attributes were still a tier below Haragiri's.
The path of the sword doesn't just involve swordsmanship; it also includes the tempering of the body. Without strong enough physical fitness, one cannot wield powerful swordsmanship. Whether it's the speed or power of a swing, or the agility of footwork, one would be outmatched by an opponent.
No wonder the Tsugikuni Style Swordplay, despite being passed down for over three hundred years, wasn't very famous.
The technique was indeed superb; Haragiri felt it might not be much worse than his own swordsmanship. However, the accompanying physical training and body strengthening were too ordinary.
It seemed that his purpose in coming here for exchange, besides sparring in swordsmanship, was also to make up for the shortcomings in his family's inherited swordsmanship in this regard.
Haragiri made a judgment about Qingshui's intentions and then invited him upstairs to continue their discussion.
He didn't want anyone to surpass him, and Qingshui's swordsmanship was already very close to his. If Qingshui's physical fitness also reached a comparable level, it might not be impossible for him to surpass Haragiri.
After all, the other party was young, while he was already over sixty. Although his experience and methods were more seasoned, his physical fitness was still somewhat inferior compared to his youth.
For the sake of Tiger Soul, Haragiri was willing to share some sword techniques and even some secret body-strengthening methods. However, he would absolutely not pass on the most core part.
If it were a genius like Superalloy Darkshine, who was exceptionally gifted in the physical domain, perhaps only a certain amount of body-refining knowledge would be needed to temper their body to be thousands of times stronger than steel. But Haragiri felt that Qingshui clearly didn't have that talent. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been studying his family's inherited swordsmanship since childhood only to have such physical strength even in his thirties.
Even if two sword technique manuals could make him stronger, Haragiri clearly believed he could still easily overpower Qingshui.
He had no idea that the young man opposite him had only spent a little over a month transforming from an ordinary person into someone who could fight him to a standstill when he used seventy percent of his strength. As for the so-called inherited family swordsmanship, it was all completely fabricated.
And so, two sword technique manuals for advanced students of the Haragiri Sword Dojo, along with a book annotated by Haragiri himself, ended up in Qingshui's hands.
"In that case, thank you very much, Senior Haragiri."
"No problem. By the way, Qingshui-kun, are you interested in becoming an instructor at the Haragiri Sword Dojo?"
"This… thank you for your kind offer, Senior Haragiri, but I'm afraid I don't have the time."
Qingshui took the two sword technique manuals and shook his head at Haragiri.
What benefits could there be from being a coach in your small dojo?
In a bit more time, you, Haragiri, might not even be stronger than me.
"No, Qingshui-kun misunderstood me. My idea is that Qingshui-kun can simply list your name here and help me promote the dojo. You can come and teach a class whenever you're free, and it's fine if you don't. As long as you don't deny that you've studied swordsmanship at the Haragiri Sword Dojo, the price is negotiable. I can offer you this much."
Haragiri held up one finger to Qingshui.
He thought highly of Qingshui.
Someone who could make him use over seventy percent of his skill would, without a doubt, at least become a top-ranking A-Class Hero, like Atomic Samurai's three disciples.
That would be a living advertisement.
As for inviting an S-Class Hero to endorse him, that would not only be expensive, but it was also another question whether they would even be willing.
But now, while Qingshui was still only a B-Class Hero, signing him on at a lower cost would be a big achievement for a small investment.
Qingshui looked at Haragiri's hand gesture and lowered his head slightly, thinking for a few seconds.
Ten million yen, huh?
That's decent. Along with the six million yen I earned yesterday, it should be enough to fully upgrade Black Samurai.
"If it's for a commercial endorsement, similar to Sweet Mask, then I have no objection."
"Great! Qingshui-kun, you can tell me your bank account number right now, and I can transfer one hundred million yen to you on the spot. Then we can draft the contract here. If you're uneasy, Qingshui-kun can also invite a trusted lawyer to draft the contract."
A hundred million!
This old man Haragiri was really quite rich.
Soon, after the contacted lawyer arrived, Qingshui and Haragiri quickly signed the contract, stamped it, and even invited a photographer to take promotional posters.
After finishing the poster shoot and bidding farewell to Haragiri, Qingshui hurried home.
Such a large sum of money was enough for him to fully equip Black Samurai for its current stage.
At that point, the time it would take to be promoted to an S-Class Hero probably wouldn't be long either.
However, Qingshui didn't expect that he would be blocked on his way home.
"Pleasure to meet you. You must be Qingshui, the rookie B-Class Rank 4, hero name Black Whirlwind Samurai, correct?"
A beautiful woman in a dark green dress with medium-length hair and a magnificent chest blocked Qingshui's path. She crossed her arms and looked at Qingshui, asking.
Behind her were Mountain Ape and Eyelashes, dressed in suits like a pair of bodyguards.
Qingshui recognized the beautiful woman in front of him at a glance.
Posters of her were plastered all over his bedroom wall; the original owner might have even used one as material for that kind of spell.
"Miss Hellish Blizzard, please step aside. I'm in a hurry to get back."
"Alright, but you have to join the Blizzard Group first."
Hellish Blizzard tilted her head slightly, gracefully raising her swan-like white neck, looking directly at Qingshui.
Standing 167 cm tall, she wore black high-heeled boots, and the height of the heels meant she was only a few centimeters shorter than Qingshui.
To appear more imposing, Hellish Blizzard often deliberately wore shoes that added height.
"The Blizzard Group? I think I'll pass."
Qingshui shook his head at Hellish Blizzard.
He didn't mind joining some organizations; it was a good way to gain fortune, provided the organization didn't impede his own interests.
For instance, he was willing to join the Hero Association now.
But what level was the Hero Association, and what level was the Blizzard Group?
The former was a supernatural organization with immense influence across the entire supercontinent of the One-Punch Man world, possessing multiple top-tier combatants.
And the Blizzard Group?
It was just a small faction within the Hero Association.
It had no high-ranking association members, no S-Class Heroes representing top-tier combat power. Only Hellish Blizzard herself was barely presentable, and due to her obsession with the so-called "first" rank, she had naturally confined the Blizzard Group to the B-Class category.
What else could it be but a small faction?
It wasn't even as good as the Tanktop Army next door. At least their leader was the S-Class Tanktop Master, and they had Tanktop Vegetarian, an upper-mid A-Class core member. They seemed much more promising than the Blizzard Group.
Anyone who believed they had the ability to ascend to A-Class would never limit themselves to the Blizzard Group.
If Hellish Blizzard were willing to step down and let Qingshui lead the Blizzard Group, Qingshui might still have some interest in guiding it, to see if he could develop the Blizzard Group after becoming an S-Class Hero himself.
As for now…
He'd rather not.
"In the Blizzard Group, every member helps each other. Here, we can help you maintain your position in the top ranks of B-Class. You know, not everyone receives an invitation from the Blizzard Group. The fact that you became B-Class number four so quickly after joining the association shows you're very talented…"
"Thanks, no need, not interested, not joining. So, can you move aside now?"
Qingshui said impatiently.
The original owner had a good impression of Hellish Blizzard, but that wasn't a reason for Hellish Blizzard to be so pushy here.
Otherwise, Qingshui would have already started driving them away.
"Hey, you! Don't get too arrogant! Don't you dare disrespect the Blizzard Group! According to the rules, heroes promoted to B-Class must pay their respects to Lady Hellish Blizzard!"
Eyelashes couldn't help but jump out.
"Hello. Now, can you all get lost?"
Qingshui's gaze grew increasingly unfriendly, and Black Samurai materialized, covering Qingshui's body.
He thoroughly disliked some of the dregs of Japanese workplace culture.
Perhaps others who had grown up in such environments were accustomed to it, but Qingshui was not.
Having emerged from the ninja wars, he only believed in the supremacy of strength.
"It seems you still don't realize what the Blizzard Group means, rookie…"
"If you want to fight, do it quickly. I'm in a hurry."
Qingshui gripped the black steel sword, his tone impatient.
Hellish Blizzard actively took a step back and pointed.
"Go, Mountain Ape, Eyelashes! Show this rookie that the Blizzard Group is not something he can belittle!"
"Yes!"
One tall and one burly figure rushed towards Qingshui in unison.
The latter was well-prepared, having built up his momentum, and unleashed his full power from the start.
Five physical clones instantly flashed out from behind, throwing Chakra-infused Kraken Chains at Mountain Ape and Eyelashes, wrapping around their hands and feet.
Qingshui seized this moment to thrust forward, swinging a bright, mirror-shaped slash from left to right.
Eyelashes and Mountain Ape were decent B-Class Heroes, but only upper-middle tier. They held their positions as B-Class number two and three thanks to Hellish Blizzard's shared achievements. With their strength, they weren't much stronger than Pineapple Man Warrior. Teaming up to deal with a Tiger-level Monster on the level of Runaway Deliveryman, they would probably just barely manage to protect themselves. To defeat the opponent, they'd need another combatant of the same caliber.
Yet, such a Tiger-level Monster couldn't last a minute against Qingshui.
The gap between the two of them and Qingshui spanned more than one magnitude.
His speed and swordsmanship were no less than Haragiri's; the only differences were in physical attributes like strength.
One might ask, if Mountain Ape and Eyelashes faced Haragiri's sword, would they be able to react in time?
The mirror-like slash instantly shattered, revealing Mountain Ape and Eyelashes' disheveled forms—their neat black suits had turned into shredded rags, and streaks of bloody sword marks appeared on their skin.
Qingshui pressed his attack again, and Hellish Blizzard, after her initial surprise, reacted in time, raising her hand to unleash her psychic powers, surging towards Qingshui.
Qingshui, however, had already gotten the jump on her, so how could he not be wary of Hellish Blizzard?
A swift blur, and Qingshui's figure drifted forward like a black specter. His first move was a magnificent sword energy strike that dispersed Hellish Blizzard's psychic power.
At this very moment, his five clones seized the opportunity to intricately trace mystical patterns in the air, launching Five Thunder Talismans towards Mountain Ape and Eyelashes.
The pathetic duo had already suffered significant injuries to their limbs from Qingshui's earlier, swift sword techniques. Now, wounded and immobile, they could only try to withstand the thunder talismans from the five clones.
Since they were all part of the Hero Association, Qingshui couldn't very well kill them. Although he disliked these people, their transgressions didn't warrant death.
However, as long as he didn't kill or cripple them, he could beat them relentlessly, to the point where they'd be psychologically scarred and would detour whenever they saw him next.
Mountain Ape and Eyelashes were not a concern, but Hellish Blizzard truly had some skill.
"Hellish Storm!"
A violent whirlwind was stirred up by her psychic power, and the white cape draped over Hellish Blizzard billowed in the wind.
Countless stones and debris flew up, enveloping Qingshui as if to shatter his flesh and bones.
"Wind Release: Tornado Hurricane!"
Qingshui held his sword in his right hand and formed a single hand seal with his left. He gathered the Chakra within his body, and with a breath, conjured an even swifter and larger whirlwind, though its direction was precisely opposite to Hellish Blizzard's storm.
The opposing forces clashed and canceled each other out, sending shattered stones and tiles raining down chaotically.
The next moment, streaks of wind blades, infused with lightning, struck Hellish Blizzard from all directions.
Hellish Blizzard couldn't help but retreat rapidly using her psychic power, her magnificent chest rising and falling with the movement.
With a lift of both hands, the hem of her dark green dress flared, and the ground before her instantly shattered. A massive rock, reinforced by psychic power, flew up and blocked Hellish Blizzard.
Thunder boomed, and the giant rock shattered.
When Hellish Blizzard came to her senses, her two subordinates lay like dead dogs at Qingshui's feet.
A size 44 glossy black metal boot was currently pressing on Mountain Ape's massive head, while the sharp tip of a sword was pressed against Eyelashes' neck, a trickle of crimson blood dripping from it.
The foreheads of the two Blizzard Group subordinates immediately broke out in cold sweat.
They were well-behaved now.
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