The southern end of the Western Regions

Calangrola State

Arbor City

It is a medium-sized city, and this city is famous for the large area of cherry blossom trees in the mountains. Cherry blossoms are trees with pale purplish-brown branchlets and glabrous. It stands to reason that the climate here is cold and not suitable for cherry blossoms, but the Arbor Castle is affected by the coastal currents, and the climate is mild and there is no strong wind, so the cherry blossom trees that like sunlight and warmth take root here.

In the beginning, there were also trees in Arbor Castle, but there were no cherry trees. With the Hua Xi family bringing this noble and pure tree species from the far Eastern Realm, the city lived up to its name.

It's the beginning of April, and the cherry blossoms are already blooming, and the single and double petals of the cherry blossoms are floating in the air like dancing elves. In the midst of the cherry blossom forest, there is a circular platform with a diameter of 50 meters, on which stands a girl wearing a kendo uniform and a high ponytail is habitually touching the hilt of her sword, waiting for her opponent to come to the stage.

The girl who is 1.7 meters tall has fair skin, willow eyebrows and a straight nose, and a delicate melon seed face that makes people unable to find flaws.

The girl's fingers were not fast, and she didn't look around, just quietly looked at the cherry blossoms in front of her, and her fingers couldn't help but touch them. In her hometown, there are cherry blossom trees. But because of the coup d'état in their hometown, their family could only escape from the closed country of Yamato and arrived here.

But it's also good here, she comforts herself because her relatives are all around, and she has a few good friends who can have fun.

"Henai, my daughter, are you ready?"

Sitting under the round platform was He's father, a bald man with a peaceful face who often squinted. Beside him were Jack, the old city lord of Arbor City, and David, the deputy city lord.

Behind their solid wood seats, there were nearly 200 spectators, and today was He's coming-of-age ceremony. According to the rules of the Yamato Kingdom, girls should dress up and go to the guild hall to participate in elegant ceremonies. But He Nai doesn't like that, she doesn't want to be dominated by others just because she is a girl, so she chooses to congratulate herself on becoming an adult in this form.

Defeating her opponent is the most satisfying thing for her!

"That's it!"

He Nai hurriedly concentrated, and the previous cherry blossoms attracted her attention.

Zhengguan exhaled, and opposite Henai, a man with a height of one meter eight walked up. This man is very rough, he is the chief disciple of the Hanashi Sword Pavilion, and he is also the strongest disciple under Hanaxi Ichiro. But the big man was now as shy as a little girl. He actually didn't want to come up, he was a big man, and he was competing with He Nai at this time, so he didn't feel comfortable about it.

"What's wrong, David?"

"Teacher!"

David's first salute, the etiquette of the Yamato Kingdom, all say that the locals follow the customs, but Hanaxi Ichiro has the strength to get a place in Arbor City, and he also has the ability to get the respect he deserves here.

"I watched Sister He Nai grow up, and I can't do it!"

"David, how did I teach you?"

Hanaki Ichiro's tone was relatively calm, and no one would be intimidated by his tone, but David clearly respected his teacher. After all, he was the man who could summon the power of two star gods!

I still remember that ten years ago, Hanaxi Ichiro brought his family to this arbor city near the sea, but the city lord was unwilling to take in this down-and-out man who looked weak. In a fit of rage, Hanashi Ichiro slashed the mountain peak at his feet with a knife, and only then did he stay here.

A real man will recognize the reality and flee to a different place with infamy on his back under humiliation. But when he is angry, everything in the world will give way.

"Treat the competition as a real battle, from the moment you draw the sword, you never leave your hand until the opponent admits defeat or has the ability to resist. ”

"It's good to know, let's get started!"

Ichiro smiled and waved his hand.

"Sister Henai, I'll be heavy in a while, you can't blame me!"

"Okay! Brother David's hand is good. ”

He Nai bloomed with a smile like a pure flower.

Although Jack, who was sitting next to Ichiro, sat in the main seat, he had a strong pressure, fortunately they had become friends over the years, otherwise he would not have come to this coming-of-age ceremony.

"Ichiro, is He Nai's strength already so strong?"

"Well, I'm confident that she can beat David!"

Ichiro squinted his eyes and smiled, but the city lords Jack and David always felt that this man would open his usual squinting eyes in the next moment, like a sharp knife drawn from his scabbard, and once again cut the mountain that had been split in two.

Saluting each other, this special rite of passage has already begun while the hundred people are excitedly silent. He Nai doesn't like her daughter's body, in the Eastern Regions Yamato Country, in her hometown, where girls are bullied by boys, they can only acquiesce. She was also bullied, and at that time she would hide in the arms of her gentle mother and cry.

But not anymore, since she started practicing swords, the white knife at her waist has proven that she has the strength not to be dominated by anyone.

"I'm coming!"

The moment he raised his head, the competition had already begun, and everyone didn't expect that since it was He Nai who shot first.

The bare feet are constantly stepping on the circular platform full of cherry blossoms, and every time they land on their tiptoes, they bring up a few cherry blossoms around the soles of their feet.

He Nai's speed was very fast, and even David didn't expect that He Nai, who usually only kept repeating an action under the tree in the backyard, would have such a fast speed.

"Boom!"

The falling knife stopped above David's head, and He Nai knew that he couldn't hurt him with one move, but he didn't hesitate.

Step to accelerate, back foot to accelerate forward, knife again. Walk out of the footsteps and slash three times in a row. Stroke lightly and twist your waist with your feet open. The white blade is long, and the Japanese knife that reflects the sunlight is like a sharp weapon for killing.

With a knife stop, He Nai's eyes were fixed on David's back, he was only two meters away from the edge of the round platform. But David's body caught the knife under the trend of his strong wrist force, and did not retreat the slightest.

"Sister Henai, it seems that I really can't underestimate you!"

David was surprised, in the Western Regions, men and women are equal, and men will even humble women, David doesn't look down on her like those in He's hometown, so David is also going to attack.

David and Jack in the audience smacked their tongues again and again, and the flowing sword path of He Nai was smooth and unimpeded, and slowly, He Nai was also like a knife, and when the knife came out of the sheath, there was a cold light.

The cherry blossoms are scattered, and sparks are splashing every time the knife collides with each other.

In the hands of David, who is 1.8 meters old, the ordinary white blade and knife without any pattern are like a toy. But in the hands of Henai, it is different.

And the knife has a soul, and all weapons have a soul. He Nai clearly knows the characteristics of the Japanese knife in his hand, which is the knowledge and ability that everyone who uses a weapon must have.

The knife has only one edge, the curvature is elegant and upturned, the elasticity of the cutting edge is excellent, hard and easy to notch, the knife posture is symmetrical, the blade is plain but exquisite, the back part of the knife is thicker, and it is gradually thinner and lower. The handle is shorter, the blade is smaller, but the hand is guarded.

The hand-to-hand combat was the fiercest battle of the white blade, and David and He, who had not yet had a star god, did not have earth-shattering power, but it was definitely enough to shock everyone around.

and the blade of the knife should not be vibrated for a long time, otherwise it will shatter. He Nai, who had been retreating, walked neatly, did not take half a step back, and another knife came above his head, He Nai's two-handed grip changed to a right-hand grip, and the thumb and index finger of his left hand slid along the back of the knife to the end of the blade, and then spread out his palm to resist the impact.

A storm shook the nearest cherry blossom tree, and the cherry blossoms on it scattered like a heavy rain.

He Nai's footsteps under the black hakama retreated to complete the unloading. With his right foot that was withdrawn and stepped forward again, David's knife was slid to the blade by Hena, and only a blade less than the size of his palm blocked the sharp blade.

Grip the handle of the knife again with your left hand, then squat down and slash sideways.

David didn't dare to slack off, when He Nai swung the knife, all the scattered cherry blossoms "made way" for it, and the white blade sliced the pink petals from it, and the subtle juice that was imperceptible to the naked eye bounced on the blade, and finally slashed towards the back of the knife like a passing time.

The sound of metal colliding was still so crisp, and David's suddenly withdrawn and knife blocked He's move again.

He Nai was a girl, and her wrist strength was not as strong as that of a man, which was the most distressing thing for her!

Withdrawing the knife, the knife slashed through the corner of the eye, and the sharp blade showed an arc, like a cold light that demanded life.

"Piercing the heart?"

David was a little surprised, it looked like there were many flaws in the posture of the knife from the center. But this move is also a move that they can't dodge.

If He Nai hits the left, David can flash to the right, and his clever body and calm brain can make the most correct response in the shortest time after they see how many white blades they have. But attacking from the center represents both the opponent's resoluteness and the need to resist because it is fatal.

Both David and Heno swung their swords in the flowers, each swing of the sword shattered the flowers, and the pace of the sword made it so that there was not a single petal under their bare feet.

When there were petals floating in front of him, David's knife waited obliquely, but then, the knife in He's hand, since it didn't stab out directly.

At this moment, Ichiro was happy.

"My eldest daughter, this is really an adult!"

"Ichiro, it's not that I have any prejudice against you, as a parent, you can't be too cruel to your children. ”

"Yes, this kid has just graduated from school for two years, and he has such an effect of sword training, if he uses too much force, I am afraid that he will hurt his body. ”

Shaking his head, Ichiro still smiled kindly.

"Since the day she arrived in Arbor City, she has been practicing swords every day, it's been ten years, why is there any hurry?"

"It's because we're ignorant! He Nai has a hard personality, so let's go to the state college in the future, and I can further my studies!"

"Think about this!"

Ichiro is a kendo master, and it can be seen that Heno has already won.

"Foil chops up the rain!"

David's strength is not weak, and he can already perceive two star clusters, and he can also make "qi" appear on the sword. Although David didn't know why He Nai would use this false move, the moment he saw He Nai put away his sword, he had already begun to swing his sword violently.

If you wield it lightly, you will have the power of a tomahawk.

The knife rattled in the air, and every wave of air was as cold as a torrential rain, and the strength on it made He Nai a little overwhelmed. But she was still trying her best to resist.

"Ten seconds left!"

Ten!

The arm was injured, and although it was a scratch from the force, the feeling of the white blade cutting through the skin was not pleasant.

Five!

Counting down in his heart, this kind of power swing, even if He Nai didn't see David use this move, he knew that this move would not exceed ten seconds at most.

Ten seconds have passed!

Standing on the edge of the round platform, He Nai smiled at the corner of his mouth, and his body moved forward like a ghost. It is true that girls' wrist strength is not as good as that of men, but girls have better physical flexibility, which is their greatest advantage.

The knife in his hand suddenly appeared out of the corner of David's eye. The hand and the knife were reversed, and when Jack shouted "No", Heno had already slashed out.

"I lost!"

David sighed and shouted as he panicked.

There is a large artery in the neck, and when He Nai slashes, a strong pulling force causes the cherry blossoms on the round platform to fall. David stopped moving, stiffly threw away the knife in his hand, and raised his hands up.

Behind He Nai, her mother Tianmei Meijing and her sister Huaxi Huixuezi walked up quickly with a wooden basin and an ambulance bag.

"Are you alright?"

David has already admitted defeat, this competition is over, the hundreds of spectators in the audience are a little surprised, David's side, there are also disciples from the Huaxi Sword Pavilion who came up, but there is not even a trace of blood on his chest.

"Not ...... before"

"She was slashed with the back of a knife!"

Ichiro said and walked onto the platform with a smile on his face. When the two scars on Heno's hands were being bandaged by her mother, Mijing and Hui Yukiko, Ichiro came over and touched the top of her head. Obviously, he was very satisfied with He Nai's previous trick.

Ichiro stood in front of David and patted him on the shoulder, as if to cheer him up.

"Although you lost this competition, you deserve to be my most proud disciple, your qi is already very strong, and you may be able to rush to the star god in the future. I don't care too much about today, today is also my daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, I hope everyone can enjoy the light tonight, and you can come to the back room of the sword hall to enjoy the flowers and drink!"

"Mom, I want to go with Hui Xuezi to Xing Zeyuan. ”

"Silly boy, the guests are still there! and you haven't even changed your clothes!"

"No matter, sister, let's go!"

Tie a bow on He's arm with a bandage, and eight-year-old Hui Xuezi pulls Heno, who is wearing clogs, and runs down the mountain.

"Be careful!"

Meijing was a little disgusted at their reckless appearance, but she also looked at Happy Ichiro happily.