Aoto looked toward Kondo and Chokata in the distance.
"Mr. Kondo and Mr. Chokata have a relationship with that Hijikata Toshizo that's as close as blood brothers... No wonder the two of them are arguing about whether Mr. Kondo should visit Hijikata Toshizo alone, or if they should go together..."
"You've already mentioned four of the 'Five Great Vajras,' but what about the last one? Who is the last 'Vajra'?"
"The last 'Vajra'..." Suzuki's face turned bitter, "The last 'Vajra' is the biggest troublemaker in our Shiwei Hall, and at the same time, the most terrifying person."
"That person is our master's wife—Kondo Bi."
[Note: In Japan, women take their husband's surname after marriage. For example, 'Shiranui Mai' would become 'Sō Mai' after marrying 'Shumengshi']
"Master's wife?" Aoto let out a low exclamation.
"Yes. Master's wife's temper is something else entirely."
Suzuki seemed to recall some bitter memories and shivered involuntarily.
"Let me tell you something that is well known in our Shiwei Hall—our master is quite afraid of his wife, even at his age, he is still strictly controlled by her."
"The little master is also afraid of his mother."
"So both father and son often get scolded by the master's wife until they're drenched in sweat, hardly daring to breathe."
"Hence, we often secretly discuss that the real head of Shiwei Hall isn't the master or the little master, but the master's wife."
—Afraid of their wife… As expected, there's always a "wife-fearing" husband, no matter the country or era...
After making this sarcastic remark in his heart, Aoto silently noted the names Hijikata Toshizo and Kondo Bi that Suzuki had just mentioned.
At this moment, Kondo and Chokata finally ended their argument.
Kondo appeared as calm as ever.
While Chokata wore a crestfallen face.
Their expressions clearly announced who had won their argument.
Kondo led the sullen Chokata back to Aoto and the others.
"As you just heard, Asui got into a fight and got injured, so I'm going to Tama to see him."
Kondo did not know that Aoto had already learned about Hijikata Toshizo through Suzuki, so he explained specifically to Aoto:
"Asui is one of our Shiwei Hall disciples and also my close friend. Now that he's been injured in a fight, I can't just ignore him."
"The earliest I can return is by tomorrow."
"Until I return, Shiwei Hall will temporarily be under Toshisuke's management."
Aoto's peripheral vision suddenly caught Suzuki and the others' expressions changing slightly, their faces showing some bitterness, after Kondo's words had ended.
"Toshisuke." Kondo now turned his gaze to Chokata, "Shiwei Hall is temporarily entrusted to you, I'll be back as soon as possible."
"I still want to go with you to see Mr. Hijikata..." Chokata mumbled.
"Toshisuke." Kondo's face turned stern, "Don't be willful."
"... Understood."
...
...
After explaining a few things to Chokata and Aoto, Kondo hurriedly strapped on his sword and, together with a brawny man named Xiaoliu, quickly left Shiwei Hall.
As he watched Kondo leave, Aoto's eyes flickered with a slight sense of regret.
He had planned to spar with Kondo today to see if he could replicate any talents from him, but who knew such an unexpected situation would arise.
The more capable a person is, the greater the possibility of having special talents.
Aoto thought that, compared to ordinary people, Kondo, who became a Deputy Master of a Sword Dojo at a young age, was much more likely to possess special talents.
—No choice then.
Aoto consoled himself in his heart.
—I'll just have to wait for the next sword training session at Shiwei Hall to properly spar with Mr. Kondo, hoping that he won't be absent from the Sword Dojo due to some reason again...
Seeing Chokata constantly pouting and watching Kondo's departing direction with a slightly resentful gaze, Aoto muttered inwardly.
After quite some time, Chokata finally retracted his gaze and turned to Aoto and the others.
"You all heard Brother Kondo's words just now, right?"
Chokata placed his hands behind his back, and his small stature made the action look oddly comical.
"Shiwei Hall is currently under my management."
"In other words—until Brother Kondo returns, I will be guiding all of you!"
"So, without further delay, let's start today's training!"
"Ah ah..." Suzuki pulled a bitter face, twitching his mouth as he mumbled, "Is it really going to be Mr. Chokata guiding us..."
Suzuki's voice was so low that Chokata didn't hear his mutterings.
But Aoto, standing next to Suzuki, did.
"Is Mr. Chokata not good at teaching?" Aoto softly asked back, "Why did your expressions change after hearing that Mr. Chokata would temporarily manage Shiwei Hall?"
"No... It's not that Mr. Chokata isn't good at teaching," Suzuki replied softly. "On the contrary, he is quite skilled at it. However, he is a bit... overly strict when it comes to swordsmanship training..."
"Overly strict?"
"Yes... Well, you'll soon find out what I mean by 'overly strict'..."
Just as Suzuki finished his sentence—
"Mr. Suzuki!"
"Here!" Suzuki quickly clamped his mouth shut and stood straight.
"After watching your match with Mr. Tachibana, I noticed there are many areas you need to improve." Chokata said in a serious tone, "For instance, your sword stance."
"You still haven't mastered the basic sword stance of the Natural Reasoning Heart Stream—Flat Cyan Eye."
"So today you'll mainly practice Flat Cyan Eye."
"Go get a sword. Also, bring me a bamboo sword while you're at it."
"Yes!" Suzuki quickly fetched two bamboo swords from the rack, passing one to Chokata and keeping the other for himself.
"Show me a Flat Cyan Eye stance now."
"Yes!" Suzuki complied immediately, holding up the bamboo sword and assuming a rather unique sword stance.
"Don't plant your right foot so firmly! Don't grip the sword so tightly either! Relax a bit more!"
"Yes!"
"Your hands are still too tense, relax a little more!"
"Yes!"
"Why did your left foot suddenly lift up?" Chokata lightly tapped Suzuki's left calf with the bamboo sword, "Lower it, lower it! I said lower it!"
Slap!
Chokata swung the sword again at Suzuki's left calf, this time with a bit more force than before.
"Yes!"
"How come when your left foot lowered, the bamboo sword lowered too?"
"Yes! Sorry!"
...
...
The three disciples who came with Suzuki to practice swordsmanship all cast sympathetic glances at Suzuki, who was being "coached" by Chokata, as if they were long used to this scene.
Aoto, witnessing this scene for the first time, couldn't help but look at Chokata with a face full of bewilderment.
The Chokata earlier was a bright, cheerful young man with a charming smile.
And now...
For some reason, looking at the current Chokata reminded Aoto of his bald driving instructor from his previous life, who always wore sunglasses and a gold chain...
(You bloody idiot, could you stop using your goddamn hands to touch the handbrake?! That's right! Lower the handbrake! Damn it! Are you brainless?)
Even after crossing over, the heartfelt teachings shouted in perfect Cantonese by the bald instructor still echoed in his ears...
The only difference between the current Chokata and the bald instructor was that—Chokata didn't curse.
At this moment, Aoto recalled what Suzuki had told him earlier—
(You'll soon understand what I mean by 'overly strict')
*******
*******
A new book sets sail!
Asking for monthly votes! Recommendation votes! Collect!