The Place Was Too Small for So Many People

Half a month later, in the southeastern borderlands of the Land of Iron, Red Armor City.

Red Armor City was a famous major city in the southeastern part of the Land of Iron. It controlled the main transportation route leading inland, boasted thriving commerce, and was especially renowned for its smithing industry.

What drew even more attention was that the city was jointly guarded by a Swordsaint and a major general.

The so-called Swordsaint was a formal title, but one belonging to the civilian sphere. It was usually bestowed upon top-tier swordsmen whose swordsmanship had reached the pinnacle, who had founded or mastered a particular school, and who had earned widespread respect through pure martial skill.

The so-called major general was also a formal title, but it placed greater emphasis on military strategy, command, and contributions made to the nation. Anyone who received this honor had surely led great armies on the battlefield and achieved outstanding military victories, or made exceptional contributions in national defense and strategy.

Though the two titles had different focuses, there was no absolute distinction in status between them. A major general might also possess the martial skill of a Swordsaint, while a Swordsaint outside the government might eventually enter official service and become a major general.

This was tied to the Land of Iron's unique culture and power structure.

This nation had no shinobi, and not even a Daimyo in the traditional sense. Its people revered the most classical spirit of bushido and practiced various martial disciplines centered around swordsmanship.

Warriors who trained in martial arts but did not hold public office were called "swordsmen," while those who entered government service and joined the power structure were called "warriors."

The nation's entire bureaucracy was built by these warriors.

At the very top of the warriors stood the nation's leader—the "General," the supreme head of all warriors.

The General was not hereditary. Instead, the position was held by a warrior whose strength was exceptional and whose virtue and prestige were sufficient to command the obedience of all.

The current General of the Land of Iron was none other than Mifune, the legendary figure who had bravely led the warriors in resisting the invasion of the demigod Salamander Hanzō during the Second Shinobi World War.

Not long after the Second Shinobi World War ended, he was elected General because of his outstanding achievements and lofty reputation.

barring any accidents, the Land of Iron would move forward under his leadership for the next twenty years.

On this day, within the Lord's Mansion of Red Armor City, the city's lord, Major General Takeda Nobutsuna, placed a briefing before Soichiro Yagyu, president of the Red Armor City Swordsmanship Association and Swordsaint of the Shinkishin Meichi School.

"Where did this ignorant hothead come from? Doesn't he know the rules?" Soichiro Yagyu put down the briefing, his brows immediately furrowing.

The contents of the briefing were simple. In short, a young swordsman calling himself "Isshin" had been challenging people everywhere recently, seemingly tireless. Starting from Forging Town, he had traveled north through Rock Echo, Blue Stream, Black Feather, and White Falls... More than twenty dojos across eight towns had already been visited by him for sparring.

Now, his trail was leading straight toward Red Armor City.

"What is the background of this hothead called Isshin? What school does he come from? Who taught him to be so reckless?" Soichiro Yagyu asked in a low voice, his tone clearly displeased.

Such high-profile, consecutive dojo challenges were extremely rare and discourteous in the swordsmanship world of the Land of Iron, where etiquette and lineage were highly valued.

City Lord Takeda Nobutsuna shook his head. "His background is unknown. We only know that he claims to use the Ashina Style."

"The Ashina Style?" Soichiro Yagyu searched his memories and confirmed that he had never heard of such a lineage in the Land of Iron. His brows furrowed even more deeply. "His origins are unknown?"

"Indeed, we haven't been able to trace his roots." Takeda Nobutsuna analyzed the matter relatively calmly. "However, the swordsmanship he uses is certainly the orthodox swordsmanship of our warriors. His foundation is solid, and he is by no means some wild fighter. Perhaps he was taken in as a disciple by a warrior while traveling abroad, or perhaps he inherited the teachings of some old recluse who had lived in seclusion for many years. Such things have happened before."

Soichiro Yagyu's expression eased somewhat at this, but the doubt in his eyes did not completely fade.

Even if his lineage had some connection to an established tradition, his conduct was still far too ostentatious.

He looked at the name Isshin on the briefing, as well as the list of dojos he had defeated, and lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop.

"It seems he wants to step on other people's reputations to make a name for himself." Soichiro Yagyu's voice turned colder. "Since this hothead is nearly at Red Armor City, then according to the rules, someone ought to teach him what swordsmanship is and what it means to show reverence."

Takeda Nobutsuna smiled instead. "He certainly needs to be taught some proper manners. However, Soichiro..."

His tone suddenly shifted. "According to the reports from the dojos along the way, although this boy acts recklessly, he is indeed young, and both his talent and strength are exceptional. It would be a pity if such fine material were merely disciplined and then left to wander, or if we ended up making an enemy of him."

He lightly tapped the briefing with one finger and continued, "What I mean is, after he has been taught a lesson and understands that there are always greater heights and deeper depths, we might try recruiting him. If he is willing to follow the rules, then with his skills, he would be perfect to represent Red Armor City in the next National Swordsmanship Tournament."

"Hmph. He'll have to get past this old man first." Soichiro Yagyu's voice brooked no argument, carrying the unique arrogance of a Swordsaint. "Rules are rules. Since he chose the wildest path, he must be prepared to receive the harshest lesson. As for whether he can be put to use afterward and how, that can be decided later."

He raised his hand slightly, as though gripping an invisible object, and the air around him abruptly grew heavy and taut. "This old man's iron staff will make sure that hothead learns exactly what it means to calm his mind and gain wisdom."

Although Soichiro Yagyu enjoyed the reputation of a Swordsaint, his primary weapon was neither a sword nor a blade, but an extraordinarily heavy, specially made iron staff.

The so-called Shinkishin Meichi School referred to the act of bringing enlightenment to one's opponent with a single blow of his staff.

Whether it could truly lead someone to enlightenment was hard to say, but its ability to make people's eyes see stars and instantly "calm their minds and gain wisdom" was universally acknowledged as immediate and effective. That was how the Shinkishin Meichi School had gotten its name.

"Very well." Takeda Nobutsuna shook his head with a smile. "Then let us first see whether this young swordsman of the Ashina Style can withstand your staff and gain enlightenment."

Several days later, Red Armor City.

The midday sunlight spilled over the towering city gates and the streets paved with bluestone, casting a warm hue over this major stronghold famed for its smithing.

A figure going against the flow of people stopped at the city gate.

It was an exceptionally tall and powerfully built youth, his back straight as a pine. It was Isshin, who had traveled north all the way from the southern border.

As usual, he planned to first find a tavern or a marketplace and ask around about who was the strongest fighter here.

However, just as he stepped into the shadow of the passage beneath the city gate, before he could even take in the sights of the city, a large group of people came surging down the main street ahead.

They were all dressed in neat, dark dojo robes. They moved swiftly, and their eyes were hostile. Clearly, they had been waiting for him for quite some time.

They quickly spread out in a semicircle, blocking Isshin's path forward. The lean, capable disciple at the front took another step forward, raised his chin slightly, and spoke with undisguised arrogance:

"You're Isshin, right? My teacher wants to see you!"

Isshin's gaze swept over the dojo members, whose unfriendly intentions were obvious, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely asked calmly, "Who is your teacher?"

The disciple thrust out his chest, his voice ringing like a bell:

"The greatest staff wielder in the southeastern Land of Iron! The president of the Red Armor City Swordsmanship Association! The founder of the Shinkishin Meichi School! He once drove back a flash flood with a single staff strike and held Dragon's Break Gorge alone! The recipient of the General's personal title of Iron Guts! The Swordsaint whose fame shakes the southeast..."

"Enough!"

Isshin made a stopping gesture and pointed at the street on the inner side of the city gate, which was not particularly spacious.

"There isn't room for so many people to stand here."