Chapter 566: Chapter 372 National Sword Dao Competition (2)
Hongo Taikou had participated in several Sword Dao tournaments and was quite experienced.
In this second round, he originally intended to first explore Uesugi Sakura’s style and then counter the moves.
But before he could think further, Uesugi Sakura attacked right after facing him.
"Attacking first?"
Hongo Taikou raised his hand to parry, Uesugi Sakura’s strength was surprisingly immense, despite being taller than him by a head, nearly 2 meters tall, he was still being pushed back.
The opponent was clever, even with considerable strength, he chose not to attack head-on; his swings tilted more to the left, attacking from the side, reducing risk while trapping his opponent’s sword.
Hongo Taikou understood.
This was one of the Three Killings Technique in Sword Dao, the Kill Sword.
During the attack, he deliberately let the opponent strike the last three inches of the bamboo sword’s tail to suppress, forcing the defense to open from right, left, or push aside, never letting the opponent’s bamboo sword stay in the center.
Failing to keep the bamboo sword centered results in being overwhelmed by defending on both sides, losing all initiative in attack.
Even when attacking, Hongo Taikou could not seize the midline under Uesugi Sakura’s killing sword technique, always seeming sticky and relentless.
He now realized how troublesome this young man was.
Downward bamboo sword strike!
Clap—!
A sharp sound.
Hongo Taikou held the bamboo sword to his chest, took a step back while defending against Uesugi Sakura’s strike.
His teammates from his hometown were sitting cross-legged at the edge of the field watching the match.
In front was the square competition field.
Three judges were constantly moving with the actions of the two players.
On the opposite side sat the Bushin Dojo’s participants.
It’s common in the competition for brothers from the same style to form a team.
As long as they are old enough and have competition experience, a team of five can compete.
Fellow sect members invite fellow sect members, colleagues invite colleagues.
The police are an undeniable force in the Kendo World.
Hongo Taikou’s disadvantage in the match seemed unfathomable to these few policemen from Ehime Prefecture.
After all, on normal days, Hongo Taikou was always the one overpowering them.
He was a criminal police officer and the captain, his strength was indisputable.
"Captain... why isn’t he attacking?"
"It’s not that he’s not attacking... but... I... this... it’s hard to say."
"Yumi-san, did you see anything? Our Captain..."
The black-haired policeman named Shibata Yumi sat upright, with a serious expression.
He was the deputy general of the team and deputy captain of the criminal police team in Ehime Prefecture Police Headquarters.
Faced with inquiries from a colleague and friend in the team, he shook his head.
This scene was very bizarre, their captain was actually being overwhelmed by an eighteen-year-old young man.
One had to know that swordsmen of his age were still in the novice stage.
Many who encountered Sword Dao for the first time instinctively and respectfully bowed to seniors, humbly seeking guidance.
Now...
The junior is overpowering the senior...?
Where could a senior’s dignity be placed?
No matter what, Hongo Taikou was also a police academy graduate, practicing Police Style for more than ten years, with rich practical experience.
On usual tasks, no ordinary people or even groups of thugs could take him on.
Though it was a competition, with rules in place as restrictions.
But speaking purely in terms of Sword Dao, it was not supposed to be so ridiculous.
It’s absurd for juniors to overpower seniors like this.
This was a national tournament, and they were teams selected and recommended by the local Sword Dao association.
Their victory represented the honor of their region.
Below the competition scoreboard under the player’s name, they would write their affiliated region and identity.
For example, Uesugi Sakura’s name was followed by small words in parentheses: "Chiyoda District One-Mind One-Sword Style disciple, third rank".
For Hongo Taikou, the small words were: "Ehime Prefecture Police Headquarters officer, Sixth Rank."
As the captain and general, he was the first to go on the stage, a man in his forties.
Facing an eighteen-year-old, he lost a point in the first round and was being overpowered in the second round.
If the media spread this and allowed the whole nation to see, they’d take the chance to mock them, saying their police were an incompetent bunch, living off the people’s taxes, unable to defeat even a young boy fresh out of the cradle.
Shibata Yumi didn’t want to hear, didn’t want to see such remarks.
The Captain was a full-blooded officer, having undertaken dozens of missions.
As a captain, he was very responsible. Up until now, Shibata Yumi had never been injured while working under him.
All thanks to the Captain’s care.
Suddenly, Shibata Yumi’s eyes brightened.
In the match, Hongo Taikou shouted loudly, found the right moment, swung the bamboo sword from the high stance three times consecutively.
The Police Style’s attacks were full of intensity, pressing forward with loud shouts.
But they were all parried by Uesugi Sakura with a counter-cut defense, his face changed color but he remained unmoved by the resounding shout.
Like a turtle shell!
Watching intently from the sidelines, Shibata Yumi clenched his fists.
The One-Mind One-Sword Style was the champion of the previous national game; whether it’s the famous master in the style or the participating disciples, their team had strength.
But the most formidable part was their general in the past two years.
Because of that general... last year, their team left a very deep impression on him.
Thought the general was replaced this year with a newcomer and wouldn’t be too powerful, but unexpectedly...
Still as challenging as ever!
A surge of exciting heat ran through Shibata Yumi, making him want to replace their captain in the match.
But there was no way... a match is a match, the match had already started, there’s no way to stop it.