I Am Also a Good Person [Seeking Follow-up]

"Their specific identities are unknown; I don't have any matching information on hand."

The tall, thin swordsman wearing a white fox mask shook his head. "However, beggars at the docks witnessed them disembarking from a passing cargo ship the night before the day before yesterday."

"Running into the Sakuraba brat should have just been a coincidence, meant to trick that kid into getting a spot in the tournament."

"An insignificant nobody who doesn't know their place."

The middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothing picked up his coffee cup and gently rubbed its rim. "Then let him enjoy the same treatment as the Sakuraba brat. In his bracket, stuff it with more troublesome opponents."

"Yes, boss."

The line at the registration desk was incredibly long.

While waiting, Xianuo had nothing to do and looked around. After a moment, they suddenly noticed a curved wall on the north side of the plaza.

The emblem patterns of seven dojos were lined up on the wall, but the very center had a large, incongruous blank space.

Looking closely, it seemed to have been repainted.

"Sakuraba's crest should have been painted there before," Xianuo mused.

"Yeah," Junyi nodded sadly. "Actually, two patterns were erased. One was our Sakuraba Dojo's crest, and the other was the Kendo Guild's."

"The Kendo Guild? Was that also founded by your father?"

"Not entirely. To be precise, it was founded with the masters of several other dojos. My father played the leading role, and was then elected by vote to serve as the Guild Master."

Xianuo clicked their tongue. "Sounds like your father had a lot of prestige. You mentioned after he passed away, the Sakuraba Dojo was constantly suppressed and attacked, and I thought he must have angered someone greatly."

"Perhaps they felt that I, who took over as Dojo Master, was unworthy of the position," Junyi said with a bitter smile.

"Hoo, here we go again. I told you not to waste your energy on internal strife and to remember it, kid! ...Oh, right, speaking of which, you mentioned before that your father died in an accident five years ago?"

"Yes, it was a shipwreck."

Junyi nodded, a look of remembrance on his face. "It was a few days before the Kendo Tournament. There was a storm in the sea north of the island, and the Guild received distress signals saying two ships carrying participating swordsmen had capsized."

"My father was working at the Guild that day. He put down his Den Den Mushi and rushed out with people to rescue them. Several senior disciples from the Sakuraba Dojo went with him, but... in the end, none of them returned."

Xianuo fell silent for a moment.

"Your father was a good person," they sighed. "It's a shame that on this vast sea, good people don't always get good outcomes."

"..." Junyi didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Thank you."

Xianuo patted his back.

"Oh, there's something that's quite strange, actually."

Junyi remembered something else and looked at the row of dojo emblems.

"When the Guild was still around, there was a place for everyone to discuss and negotiate. The adults would often argue, and disciples from different dojos would often meet on the street, not respecting each other, and would send challenge letters to compete for ranking."

"Conversely, after the Guild disappeared, the seven major dojos gradually began to act as one, like a family. For example, this new rule about paying to participate in the competition. As soon as the news spread among the people, it was immediately finalized and implemented, without any disputes or opposition heard."

The more he thought about it, the more confused he became, and he patted his head hard in frustration. "Ah~, I feel like my brain cells are about to burn out. In short, it's just very strange, it doesn't make any sense at all..."

Like a family?

Xianuo fell into thought. Suddenly, something jolted their mind, as if they had sensed something. They abruptly turned their head, squinting towards the coffee shop not far away.

The entrance on the first floor was crowded, but the balcony on the second floor was empty.

Their sharp gaze swept up and down, finally locking onto a specific spot—a round table near the balcony railing, where two cups of still-warm coffee were emitting wisps of steam.

"What's wrong?" Junyi asked curiously.

"Nothing."

Xianuo shook their head slightly and withdrew their gaze.

They looked at the line ahead, which had shortened considerably, and smiled.

"Let's not talk about this for now. It's almost our turn for the draw. I hope we don't run into each other too early. How about we both make it to the finals and sweep the championship and runner-up?"

"Okay! Let's do our best together!"

Junyi clenched his fist and waved it. "And! Don't look like you've already won the championship. When we get to the finals stage, you'd better be careful too. I won't be defeated so miserably like last time!"

The results of the draw were announced quickly.

Xianuo was placed in Group B, and Junyi in Group C.

According to the preliminary round rules, they each needed to compete in five rounds against participants from Group A and Group D, respectively. Only those who won all their matches could advance to the top eight first.

"Haha, this way we won't even meet during the entire preliminary round."

Junyi's mood became even more cheerful as he held the draw sheet and whistled.

"Then, Mr. Xianuo, I'll head over to Group C. See you at noon?"

"Mhm, go ahead. I'll finish my matches as quickly as possible and come find you."

After watching Junyi leave, Xianuo glanced at the coffee shop again before heading to their assigned competition area.

Most of the wooden platforms scattered across the plaza already had people on them, with varying degrees of progress.

Some had just begun their duels, while others had already finished and gone down to rest.

After all, there were simply too many swordsmen participating in the preliminary rounds, so this was the most efficient method.

"Preliminary Round Area AB, Seventh Duel! Challenger number 120, Xianuo, versus challenger number 28, Sika!"

A crowd of spectators quickly gathered around the wooden platform in the corner. As the staff member's announcement concluded, both contestants took their positions at opposite ends of the platform.

Sika was a bald, burly man, standing around two meters thirty tall.

The bamboo sword in his hand was noticeably larger, its thickness and length both drawing attention.

Can you choose different models when buying bamboo swords?

Xianuo was slightly surprised.

"You don't even know that? Ha, what an idiot!"

The bald Sika laughed boisterously, "You little fledgling, I don't know where you came from. You're unlucky to run into me, Sika, your great elder, in the first round."

"But don't worry, I won't let you suffer for too long. I, Sika, your great elder, am a kind-hearted person. I'll end your suffering quickly!"

"You two, remember the rules! You can only use bamboo swords for offense against each other. You are not allowed to directly touch your opponent with your hands or feet. Whoever is knocked off the platform loses, and their opponent wins directly and advances to the next round! Do you understand!"

Both sides nodded.

"Good, then I announce!" The referee raised his hand suddenly. "The duel officially begins!"

The moment the words fell.

Bang!

A dull, sharp cracking sound echoed.

Accompanied by a scream, the massive two-meter-plus body was sent flying, crashing onto the ground several meters away with a thud.

"That's a coincidence, I'm a good person too."

A calm voice came from the wooden platform.

The surrounding audience fell silent. The referee's eyes were glazed over, his hand still frozen in mid-air, not yet having waved down.

Xianuo sheathed the bamboo sword at its waist, turned to look at the referee, who had frozen like a statue, and offered a polite smile:

"Excuse me, I'm in a hurry. May I ask if we can proceed directly to the next match?"