"Yes." Hanbei nodded solemnly, "Ogata, I originally thought that you were just a talented apprentice, and there was still a gap between you and Mikami."
"But your performance and growth recently have surprised me time and time again."
"It forces me to re-evaluate your talent."
"In the recent competition in the gym, after I saw you defeat Mikami with your beautiful skills, I became convinced that you are a talented swordsman genius!"
"Yesterday, your heroic feat of breaking into the Ishikawa Sword Hall alone and escaping unharmed made me firmer in my judgment of your talent."
"Now, I have decided to entrust this book to you, the most talented person in our Sakakibara Sword Hall."
"Ogata, just accept this book."
"If you can understand one and a half of the moves in the book, that would be the best."
"If you can't comprehend it, you don't need to be anxious. I won't blame you or scold you."
"After all, of all the moves recorded in this book, my brother and I have not mastered even one move."
Having said this, Hanbei said no more.
Looked at Ogata quietly.
Waiting for Ogata's response.
Ogata lowered his head and looked at the book in his hand with a complicated expression.
Ogata was actually quite interested in this book that recorded the swordsmanship of the two-sword style called "Mugo Two-sword Style".
But...Ogata is a little afraid to ask for this book...
The reason why I dare not ask for it is very simple.
If an acquaintance like Hanbei gives Ogata some worthless gadgets, Ogata will definitely accept them generously.
But if Ogata was given several thousand taels of gold, Ogata would be a little afraid to accept it...
If I accept it, I always feel that my conscience will be a little uneasy...
The situation Ogata is facing now is similar to this.
The keen Hanbei saw Ogata's concerns from Ogata's expression at this time.
In order for Ogata to accept the book without any worries, Hanbei cleared his throat:
"Ogata, please accept this book with peace of mind."
"To me, this book is like tasteless food, and it is a pity to throw it away."
"I couldn't figure out any of the tricks recorded in this book, so I kept it in the cupboard collecting dust, which only ruined the book."
"So it is better to entrust this book to talented young talents."
"If you could master some of the moves of the 'Wuwo Sword Style', I would be even happier."
Having said this, Hanbei paused as if he remembered something.
After the meeting, he said in a deep voice:
"...And - Ogata, if you can learn some of the moves recorded in this book, maybe you can win a month-long death duel."
After hearing Hanbei's words, Ogata's pupils shrank slightly.
Then he pursed his lips and remained silent.
"Ogata, you should also know, right? You broke into the Ishikawa Sword Hall alone and injured more than ten disciples of the Ishikawa Sword Hall. That Toyama Renichiro will definitely not let you go."
"I can't imagine how that distant mountain will deal with you in the God Sacrifice Competition one month later..."
"How else can you deal with me?" Ogata sneered, "Of course you have to risk your life and have a life-or-death duel with me."
Hanbei looked at Ogata, who was sneering in front of him, and sighed softly:
"Ogata, what exactly is the conflict between you and that distant mountain, and why has the dispute reached such an unending state..."
"I don't know either." Ogata raised his eyes, looked at Hanbei, and replied without hesitation, "I don't know what the conflict between me and that Toyama is, so that Toyama can be like this.
hate me."
"...Ogata, is there any misunderstanding between you and Toyama?" Hanbei said tentatively.
"Who knows?" Ogata shrugged.
"Ogata, I think you should have a good talk with Toyama. If it's really a misunderstanding, then you and Toyama can avoid an avoidable fight to the death."
"Talk? Master, that's not necessary." Ogata smiled, "I'm not a very talkative person. I prefer to use my hands over my words."
"And the relationship between Yuan Shan and I has become so bad that we can no longer see each other."
"If I meet him, the two of us may have already started to cut each other with swords before I even tell me why I'm here."
Seeing that he could not persuade Ogata to negotiate with Toyama, Hanbei sighed as if he had resigned himself to his fate.
Ogata took his eyes away from Hanbei and returned to the book in his hand.
"...Master, I understand."
"I solemnly accepted this book."
After saying that, Ogata put the book in his hand back on the tatami in front of him, then leaned down and bowed solemnly to the Hanbei in front of him.
…
…
Hanbei sent Ogata to the entrance of his house.
"Ogata, since I have asked for a day off for you, you should have a good rest today."
"Yes! Well? Master, do you want to go out too?"
Ogata looked doubtfully at Hanbei, who was tying his straw sandals.
"Yes, I also want to go to the Ishikawa Sword Hall."
"Ishikawa Kenkan?" Ogata raised an eyebrow.
"Ogata, you don't think that the series of riots yesterday are over just like this, do you?"
"I'm going to go to the Ishikawa Sword Hall and have a good talk with that guy from Ishikawa Hyōma on how to put a nice end to yesterday's riot."
"Toyama and others injured a large number of disciples of our Sakakibara Sword Hall."
"And Ogata, you responded harshly to them, injuring a large number of disciples at the Ishikawa Sword Hall."
"We are now evenly matched."
"The Ishikawa Kenkan is even more at a disadvantage."
"The ones who injured our Sakakihara Kenkan disciples were a large group of people from the Ishikawa Kenkan."
"As for the one who injured all the disciples of Ishikawa Sword Hall, you are the only one, Ogata."
"One of our disciples from Sakakibara Sword Hall injured all 12 of their disciples until no one dared to challenge them."
"Being beaten like this by just a young talent makes the Ishikawa Kenkan even more humiliated."
"Although that Ishikawa Hyōma is annoying, he is not an ignorant person."
"Now that both sides have suffered a loss, it will be much easier to negotiate."
"If yesterday's riot is not handled properly, it will not do any good to either of us."
"I don't want to exacerbate the impact of yesterday's riot."
"I believe that the Ishikawa soldiers and horses must be what I think. They will be happy to take a step back with me and let yesterday's riot end in a more dignified way."
"Then - Ogata, I will take the first step. You can go home and have a good rest."
"Yes!" Ogata bowed deeply to Hanbei, "Master, thank you for your hard work!"