Mitsuyuki was stunned for a moment,
Then he couldn’t hold it in and laughed.
This was truly an unexpected surprise for Mitsuyuki.
Originally, Mitsuyuki thought the second simulation was simply starting over, optimizing and adjusting choices from the previous simulation to find a perfect start.
He never expected that the memories and knowledge from the previous run could actually be carried over into the second run!
In this way, Mitsuyuki essentially started with the foundation of a Sword Hero and also possessed all the swordsmanship of Tennen Rishin-ryū taught by Kondo Shusuke.
With such a foundation, Mitsuyuki could reach top-tier combat power even faster in this simulation.
Thus gaining the possibility of personally slaying the evil of this world, Shishio Makoto.
“In that case, my initial plan…
can actually be redone.”
Slowly recovering from the surprise, Mitsuyuki thought to himself.
This afternoon, the reason he had Matou Shinji find books on relevant historical records was actually because of Shishio Makoto.
After all, in the battle of that simulation, Mitsuyuki had personally intervened.
Therefore, he understood very well how large the gap in strength was between himself and this final evil of the world at the end of the last simulation.
So Mitsuyuki originally wanted to fully exploit the advantage of multiple simulations to slay this person before he became a Great Yokai, or find his weakest moment.
As a result, Mitsuyuki helplessly discovered that according to later records, this person already possessed the combat power of a Great Swordsman when he was born as Watanabe Mitsuyuki in the simulation.
Furthermore, the way he became a Great Yokai was actually by first dying in a volley of musketry and fire, and then crawling out from a pile of corpses.
“At first, I wanted to follow the plot and seek the hand of that fellow Great Swordsman, Himura Kenshin, to change fate, but now…”
Mitsuyuki narrowed his eyes slightly.
Seeking help from others was actually a move of desperation.
After all, one who swings a sword should have a clear mind and harmonious spirit; only then will the sword swung not be stained with dust and be able to charge forward…
setting reality aside.
If it were reality, Mitsuyuki would naturally be happy to seek help.
But in this simulation, Mitsuyuki always felt that a big boss like Shishio Makoto should be personally slain by his own hand.
Besides, the guy had cut off his head; how could he not avenge that grudge?
Originally, Mitsuyuki thought this would be extremely difficult, but now…
Mitsuyuki could almost see the image of himself swinging his sword and severing Shishio Makoto’s neck years later!
Then, returning to his senses, Mitsuyuki found Kondo Shusuke among the various swordsmanship sect masters projected before him and thought of that girl as dazzling as cherry blossoms.
The corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up again as he said, “Sorry, Souji, in this life…
it seems you won’t have a chance to catch up to me again!”
With those words, just as Mitsuyuki was about to choose a master to apprentice under.
His hand stopped again.
Then his brow furrowed once more.
“No, I don’t seem to have a need to choose Teacher Kondo in this life…
In the previous run, the reason I chose him was because I knew Souji became famous by learning his swordsmanship.”
“And since I inherited Souji’s talent, to ensure that talent would be useful, I chose Teacher Kondo.”
“Furthermore, in the last simulation, although I didn’t receive the final menkyo kaiden from Teacher Kondo’s hand due to my Sword Intent.”
“But in fact, I later found my own Sword Intent and became a Sword Hero.”
“It was just that before I could visit Teacher, I encountered Shishio Makoto…”
Thinking of this, Mitsuyuki couldn’t help but fall silent.
He looked at Kondo Shusuke with hesitation.
To be honest, out of personal feeling, Mitsuyuki really wanted to choose him again.
Even though it was just a simulation and memories from a projection.
But those ten-plus years in the training hall still left deep memories in Mitsuyuki’s mind.
Especially when he used to practice the sword with Souji, chasing after each other.
If he hadn’t developed feelings, how could Mitsuyuki have chosen to personally intervene back then in what was essentially a suicide mission?
Insisting on biting a piece of meat off Shishio Makoto even while knowing he was going to his death!
But…
“System, I choose to…
personally intervene this time.”
Mitsuyuki was not an indecisive person.
…
…
Kyoto.
Within the Watanabe swordsmanship manor.
The four-year-old child opened his eyes and looked at the masters of various swordsmanship sects sitting before him, all of whom looked somewhat elderly.
He scanned everyone in the room, particularly lingering for a moment on Kondo Shusuke, before finally speaking in a faint, childish voice.
“I have decided to go to the Hokushin Ittō-ryū training hall in Edo to study!”
That’s right, after careful consideration, Mitsuyuki ultimately chose Hokushin Ittō-ryū, one of the three great training halls of Edo.
Mitsuyuki’s swordsmanship could already be glimpsed in the previous simulation.
Unlike Okita Souji, who was skilled in using the various techniques of Tennen Rishin-ryū and her flexibility as a woman, he pursued a certain victory in a single strike!
The sword is drawn, and it is over!
Therefore, in the last simulation, many people had said—even Kondo Shusuke had advised Mitsuyuki—that he could go to the Hokushin Ittō-ryū training hall to seek guidance.
Simply because the essential secret of Hokushin Ittō-ryū happened to be the instantaneous unity of mind, spirit, and strength, releasing the momentum and Qi of the whole body, which suited Mitsuyuki perfectly.
After Mitsuyuki finally made his choice, no one in the room except for the master of Edo’s Hokushin Ittō-ryū could help but sigh.
After all, the current Mitsuyuki was publicly recognized as a ‘Qilin Child’ who possessed a Sword Heart and could look forward to becoming a Sword Saint, something not seen in centuries.
Terrifying.
In everyone’s heart, Mitsuyuki could only be described as terrifying.
Subsequently, the matter was settled.
Most people left with sighs, except for the masters of the other two great Edo training halls who remained, wanting to persuade Mitsuyuki.
Even Kondo Shusuke shook his head and left the manor gates.
But just as he had walked out of the main gate, a Watanabe servant quickly ran out, stopped him, and invited him back into a room within the manor.
When a puzzled Kondo Shusuke arrived in the room, he found the four-year-old Watanabe Mitsuyuki sitting inside.
And he was the only one there.
Just as he entered and the servant left to close the door, before Kondo Shusuke could speak, he saw Mitsuyuki stand up and perform a very solemn and formal bow!
“You are…”
Kondo Shusuke, his eyes wide with confusion, was naturally at a loss regarding this.
“The moment I saw you, I felt an extraordinary sense of closeness.
Not having become your disciple today leaves me with an inexplicable sense of guilt.”
It wasn’t that Mitsuyuki hadn’t thought about having multiple masters, but although Watanabe was a renowned name in the world of swordsmanship, even they couldn’t support such behavior from Mitsuyuki, so he had given up on the idea.
After bowing, Mitsuyuki looked up and said sincerely in a childish voice, “Therefore, to express my apologies, I have invited you here, Teacher, to show the regret in my heart.”
“You don’t need to worry too much about it, Teacher.
After all, my actions are merely for my own peace of mind.”
Kondo Shusuke was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said to Mitsuyuki, “It’s strange to say, but it’s not just you; I have that feeling as well.”
The day I learned your name, it felt inexplicably familiar, and I felt a great sense of closeness, which is why I didn’t hesitate to come here personally.
Furthermore, when you chose someone else as your teacher, although I felt regret, I also felt that you must have your own reasons.
Thus, I mostly wanted to give you my blessings.”
Mitsuyuki couldn’t help but be stunned upon hearing this.
“Child, I have received your sentiments.
As for my Dojo…
its doors will always be open to you.
If you ever have need, just come find me.”
After speaking, Kondo Shusuke returned the bow to the four-year-old Mitsuyuki standing before him.
Then, he turned and left the room.
And this was the reason Mitsuyuki used one of his precious direct interventions this time…
In reality, he didn’t strictly have to do this.
After all, he still had one more chance for an event simulation.
However, this was a teacher who, in the simulation, had been willing to use his own body to hold back enemies just so his student could escape before he died.
Therefore, Mitsuyuki felt it was worth doing.
As Kondo Shusuke departed and Mitsuyuki was preparing to return, he encountered another familiar face.
It was an elderly man with a very kind smile.
He was also the Old Swordmaster from the clan who had helped Mitsuyuki many times during the simulations.
“Little Mitsuyuki, are you finished with your business?”
Pushing the door open and facing Mitsuyuki’s blinking eyes, he smiled and said, “Come with Grandpa.
He led Mitsuyuki to the kamidana within the estate.
A kamidana is a clean, quiet place in a typical Japan household where the tablets of deities are enshrined.
After leading Mitsuyuki to respectfully burn incense, he brought him before an enshrined spirit blade.
As Mitsuyuki looked at the spirit blade, he began to find it inexplicably familiar.
“Little Mitsuyuki, do you know who our family’s ancestor is?…That’s right, it is the legendary Watanabe no Tsuna, who once severed the arm of the great demon Ibaraki-dōji!”
The old man stroked his white beard and said proudly to Mitsuyuki, “And do you know the name of the sword our ancestor used?”
“…onikiri.”
At this moment, Mitsuyuki realized why this enshrined object looked so familiar.
Wasn’t it the very first Holy Relic he had found?!
“You actually know it?
But that makes sense; you must have heard about it at home.”
Smiling and nodding, the old man said to Mitsuyuki again, “Indeed, this blade is the very spirit blade that slew the great demon—onikiri!
It has been placed in our home for a hundred years.
During this time, countless clansmen have yearned to draw it, but we always felt the time wasn’t right, so no one was ever permitted.
But today is different.”
The old man’s expression turned serious as he spoke to Mitsuyuki, “Little Mitsuyuki, you are the most talented person to appear in our family in these several hundred years.
Also, as an apology for our previous behavior of viewing you as a reincarnated demon, the elders of the clan have unanimously decided.
From this day forward, you shall be the master of Onikiri in this era!”
Hearing this, Mitsuyuki couldn’t help but look once more at the Onikiri placed above.
A slight sense of oddity couldn’t help but surface in his heart…
He really hadn’t expected that he and it would have such a fated connection!
Just then, the old man stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the spirit blade, and then took it down and placed it before Mitsuyuki.
“Take it,” the old man said with a smile.
“From today on, it will always be by your side!”
Mitsuyuki glanced at the old man, and after a moment’s hesitation, he stepped forward and received it.
The moment Mitsuyuki took hold of it, the blade actually unsheathed itself, letting out a sharp sound like a cry of joy within the kamidana.
A spirit blade has a soul.
All the more so since it had been enshrined and worshipped by everyone in the Watanabe family kamidana for nearly a hundred years.
“It seems it has already accepted you.” After snapping back to his senses and seeing this scene, the old man couldn’t help but show a look of gratification.
“…Onikiri?”
Mitsuyuki slowly drew it out.
The Onikiri of this time was naturally different from the future one, which was not only broken but covered in rust.
It was exceptionally beautiful now, with a slender blade and engravings of eerie purple flame patterns, brimming with spirituality.
“Don’t worry, in this life…
I will certainly not let you break in my hands!”
…
…
[At age four, holding Onikiri, you began to nurture your sword and traveled to Edo to join the prestigious Hokushin Ittō-ryū school.]
[Your choice made the head of Hokushin Ittō-ryū very excited.
He treated you as his personal disciple, teaching you without reservation.
While you were exposed to a new way of the sword, you were also secretly retraining your Tennen Rishin-ryū techniques.]
[At age seven, you received the Mokuroku certificate from your teacher, representing that you had mastered certain techniques of this school.]
[At age eight, you received the Menkyo certificate from your teacher, giving you the right to tell others the name of your school.]
[At age ten, you received the kaiden from your teacher.
You mastered all the techniques of Hokushin Ittō-ryū and secretly integrated them into your Tennen Rishin-ryū, seeking that absolute strike you pursued.
Because of this, you were delayed for some time.]
[At age thirteen, you drew onikiri for the first time and challenged your teacher, obtaining the menkyo kaiden certificate, which represents the highest honor of this swordsmanship school.]
[In the same year, your strength finally recovered to the level of a Swordmaster.
You became the youngest Swordmaster of the era and loudly announced this to the entire country.]
[You proved to everyone that you were no flash in the pan.
Thus, after nearly ten years of quiet, your name once again shocked all of Japan!]