CHAPTER 479: CHAPTER 332 DOJO SWORD DAO_2

He leaned against the wall, drinking a chilled Coke he got from his cheap master.

"You’re Vice Master Uesugi... right?"

Uesugi Sakura looked up, seeing a young man slightly older than him standing in front.

He didn’t know this person, but earlier, he seemed to be standing next to the captain of the Yamanaka Budokan.

He adjusted his sitting posture.

"Just call me Uesugi."

"Uesugi," the young man showed no particular expression, "I wonder if I could spar with you?"

"There’s no need," Uesugi Sakura dismissed casually, looking at the armor-clad disciples in the dojo, "I’m sure there are many people here willing to engage with you."

"Is Uesugi-san interested in this national qualifier?"

"I’ll be going."

The young man laughed, seemingly happy, but it wasn’t the usual kind of happiness; it looked strange, "Then we are rivals."

Uesugi Sakura noticed the change in his expression and asked, "Do we know each other?"

"Not really, technically, I know you, but you might not know me."

"Then where did you hear about me?"

"I’ve known about you for a long time. Since Uesugi-san is unwilling to spar with me now, I look forward to meeting you in two weeks."

"So sure I am your opponent?" Uesugi Sakura detected a hint of challenge in his words.

"You could interpret it that way, Uesugi-san."

The young man left abruptly, heading to the other side of the dojo. Uesugi Sakura watched his subsequent actions from the resting area. Sakuraya Hotaru seemed to respect him a lot, wanting to talk to him even when both families’ three groups of disciples were about to duel.

He was not a participating disciple either, just like Uesugi Sakura, watching from the other side.

A teacher?

Or senior?

He was quite handsome, but of course not as handsome as me, Uesugi.

Uesugi Sakura was still unsure of his skill level in Sword Dao, but in terms of looks, he was confident he could surpass him.

Skills could often be underestimated because of being too handsome which overshadowed the skill in Sword Dao.

Yet this person dared to challenge him the first time he came, claiming he must meet him after two weeks.

What does this mean?

And how does he know me?

Uesugi Sakura thought carefully...

Forget it!

Too lazy to think about it.

He hasn’t met him, so it doesn’t matter whether he challenges him or not.

The national qualifiers, just get the spot to participate in the national event and earn the money, that’s all.

That’s Uesugi’s pursuit in Sword Dao.

Following this, it’s time for Uesugi Sakura to drink Coke and watch them spar.

Uesugi Shio sat beside him, she also had no intention of participating in the sparring.

"Ah, Sakura, why did you suddenly decide to come today? Is your illness okay?"

"It’s fine, it can be treated."

Uesugi Shio assumed he was saying words to reassure her. She had already learned during his illness that his condition couldn’t be completely cured.

"The Hanamaru family seems to have an opinion about your illness, Sakura."

"Sister Shio is concerned about me?" Uesugi Sakura sipped from his straw.

"I’m your sister, of course, I should care about you. Besides, Hanabi-chan has practically grown up under my watch. I hope you two childhood sweethearts stay together."

"Thank you." Uesugi Sakura recognized that Sister Shio genuinely cared about him. During the time he was sick, she even took time off her competitions to fly back from Capital City.

"Sakura, you don’t think I’m being nosy, do you?"

"How could I, you’re my cousin after all, the sister who used to sneak tangerines to me."

Unable to resist, Uesugi Shio reached to pat his head, "You understand, good."

Uesugi Sakura dodged accordingly, unlike Hanabi, he didn’t like to be patted on the head,

He’s been like this since childhood, even more so as he matured.

"What style is the Yamanaka Budokan?" He looked toward the dojo.

"Kenji Style."

"I see."

"Aren’t you going to ask more? Aren’t you participating in the competition? These people could become your opponents."

"Knowing their names is enough, I don’t want to get a reputation for being too arrogant, not even knowing the opponent’s style name during the competition." Uesugi Sakura looked at the young man who had approached him earlier.

"Who is he?"

"A genius."

Uesugi Sakura went, "Oh~", with a hint of curiosity.

"How much of a genius?"

"Just know he’s quite capable."

"Compared to Sister Shio’s skills?"

A few years ago, Uesugi Shio was ranked first in the Kantou District, and last year she led her team to a second place, defeating the General of the opposing team in the finals, though unfortunately, her team was slightly outmatched, missing a point.

She is certainly powerful, having defeated the General of the best team in the country, could she not be remarkable?

"I’m not sure, I’ve never fought him. Why, Sakura, are you interested in that genius at the Yamanaka Budokan?"

"Not interested," said Uesugi Sakura, "but he came over earlier to talk to me and said we’d definitely meet in the competition."

"Then it means he’s coming for revenge," said Uesugi Shio.

"Revenge? I hardly know him."

"Some grudges don’t require you to know them," seeing his thoughtful expression, Uesugi Shio smiled, "just kidding. Maybe he found out you’re the Vice Master of Bushin Hall and took an interest in you."

"Is that so?"

"Most likely. By the way, Sakura, how strong are you now?"

Uesugi Sakura sipping the iced Coke loudly, staring at the logo on the cup, replied, "I’m not sure."

....

By evening, Uesugi Sakura witnessed the sweat-drenched efforts of Bushin Hall and Yamanaka Budokan.

Win or lose?

You could say there’s winning and losing.

Kenji Style is not some crude method; it’s of notable descent, passed down from the Southern and Northern Dynasties period’s Nian Ami Jien.

It’s just that they haven’t won a championship in recent years.

Because of this, today they appeared particularly earnest in their pursuit of the title.

Today’s visit to Bushin Hall was just a part of their journey, and in the next two weeks, they’ll be visiting various martial arts halls.

Uesugi Sakura didn’t care about these.

The Sakihara Family’s courtyard.

Beside a pond filled with green bamboo.

"Today, my disciple, what did you learn?"

"Uncle, your Coke is tasty." Uesugi Sakura placed the Coke cup on the table beside Sakihara Yishin, there being no trash can in the dojo, he casually set it here.

The whole afternoon, uncle was napping in the shadows of the bamboo.

"I’m asking about Sword Dao knowledge."

Uesugi Sakura didn’t answer.

"My disciple, learning is endless!"

"Alright, master, stop teasing me, how about the evening barbecue?"

Uncle Sakihara laughed, "Your senior sister is preparing it, just ask Hanabi to come over."

Uesugi Sakura settled beside uncle, listened to the rustling bamboo overhead; the weather wasn’t very dusky yet the golden clouds made the sky extraordinarily beautiful.

"Why has Master always wanted me to win the championship?"

"Back then, it was a grudge, you know, long ago I lost to that brat Hanamaru Hiroki."

"Uncle, isn’t he a year older than you?"

"I don’t care; he’s just a brat."

"..."

"Also, this time you mustn’t use Jigen Style!"

"Alright, what about now?"

"What now?"

"You said before it was a grudge, what now?"

"My disciple, the moonlight is truly beautiful."

The moon on the horizon only had a slightly round shape, a kind of silhouette.

"It’s dusk now."

Uesugi Sakura knew uncle was changing the subject, as was his own frequent strategy.

"Then why does Master roam everywhere? Sister Ju said that many times you don’t return home for months."

Uncle Sakihara said, "I remember, didn’t I tell you before? I’m looking for something."

Uesugi Sakura:"The last time I returned home, master, when you were camping on the mountain was also to find something?"

"What else? That time in Ehime Prefecture... I’m not sure if I found it, somewhat perceived it, but it also seemed like not."

"Master, aren’t you a Tokyo native?"

"Yes, and no, not born in Tokyo, but grew up here. Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity."

"A little less curiosity is best, otherwise one day, your curiosity might touch upon past memories best left untouched."