Yesterday I helped you guys by acting as a henchman for the Chen family, and that little girl Tang Xin actually tried to trick me with the Heart Sword Technique, something that can cause you to go berserk... Hmph, it's only right that you spend some money.
When Ito Kyo saw Chen Xiao change into a Tang suit, a strange look flashed in his eyes, but he concealed it very well and then continued to laugh and talk as usual.
Chen Xiao was determined to rip off a sucker, so he had Ito Kyo take him around and bought a lot of things. At noon, they found an extremely expensive Japanese royal restaurant and had a big meal.
It seems the Shangchen family is really rich. Ito Kyo didn't even frown at the expense of half a day. Chen Xiao knew that he was just being childish, so he smiled and let it go.
However, when he returned to Sekiryu-gu at noon, he had to take a car to Kyoto. He had a plan in mind: after finding Zhang Xiaotao, he would immediately return to China and would never pay attention to these Japanese kendo schools again.
He's currently in Japan. There's no rush to turn hostile. They're talking about inner-hall disciples, so be it. And if they want him to participate in some sword-testing tournament under the name of the Shangchen family, he might as well agree. Once he returns to China, what chance do they have of kidnapping him?
However, upon returning to the entrance of Quanliu Palace, they found several cars parked there. At the palace gate, numerous disciples of the Shangchen family stood on either side as if facing a formidable enemy, all carrying bamboo swords and exuding a murderous aura.
"What happened again?" Chen Xiao had just gotten out of the car when he saw this scene. He glanced at Ito Kyo, who looked completely bewildered, as if she didn't know what was going on either.
As Chen Xiao and Ito Kyo entered the gate, a young disciple of the Shangchen family rushed over. He paused for a moment upon seeing Chen Xiao in his Tang suit, then quickly said a few words to Ito Kyo.
Ito Kyo was also somewhat surprised. Looking at Chen Xiao, he smiled and said, "It's getting lively. We just drove away three challengers yesterday, and today someone else comes knocking on our door. It seems we can't stay idle." He looked at Chen Xiao and said leisurely, "Mr. Nohara Shinnosuke, as a disciple of the inner hall, let's go up the mountain together to see the Heart Sword."
He called Chen Xiao "Nohara Shinnosuke," and Chen Xiao understood his meaning.
Chen Xiao didn't refuse, and said with a faint smile, "Let's go up the mountain."
After taking a couple of steps, he turned back and glanced at Ito Kyo: "Brother Ito. You and I both know the name Nohara Shinnosuke, but it was just something I made up yesterday to tease those people, so there's no need to mention it. Just call me Chen Xiao."
Ito Kyo smiled, but his eyes looked a little unnatural. He didn't say anything more and followed Chen Xiao up the mountain.
Unlike yesterday, not all of the Eight Heroes of the Upper Hour were present in the inner courtyard of the Heart Sword Sect. Even Ito Daio did not show up. Only Tang Xin sat in his seat in the inner hall, while in the courtyard below, only Jingu Heihachiro and three other second-generation sword masters were sitting there.
In the middle of the courtyard stood several people dressed in white samurai robes, presumably those who had come to challenge the dojo.
What puzzled Chen Xiao slightly was that the robes worn by those men in samurai robes were clearly not Japanese kimonos. Although the styles were somewhat similar, there were subtle differences, almost as if...
One of the tall men had the most serious expression. He kept whispering something to his attendants beside him.
Upon hearing this person speak, it seemed that seven or eight out of ten sentences contained the word "smidda," and Chen Xiao, who had watched many Korean dramas, immediately understood.
The person who came to challenge us is actually Korean?!
The guy next to me seemed to be a translator, and quickly translated what the Korean man was saying into Japanese.
Chen Xiao naturally couldn't understand, but he swaggered in with Ito Kyo, went straight to the inner hall, and sat down on the side.
Tang Xin was taken aback when she saw Chen Xiao in his Tang suit. Then, a knowing smile appeared on her face. She didn't say anything, but leaned closer and whispered, "Chen Xiao, guess what this Korean guy said?"
Chen Xiao shook his head: "I don't understand. I can't understand either Korean or Japanese."
Tang Xin said, "The man in the middle is a famous swordsman from South Korea, a master of the renowned Tianmen sect. He has come to my Shangchen family to learn about the swordsmanship of the Shangchen family."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao said calmly, "Very well, then you can fight him. Doesn't he want to experience the swordsmanship of the Shangchen family?"
The Korean martial artist below saw Chen Xiao dressed in a Tang suit sitting in a seat in the inner hall and couldn't help but feel a little strange, so he just frowned and looked at Chen Xiao.
Tang Xin snorted and said indifferently, "Although my Shangchen family is not a forbidden place, we are not the kind of family that just anyone can come and challenge us. Otherwise, if any Tom, Dick, or Harry came to our door, then the people of the Shangchen family would have nothing to do every day."
Chen Xiao remained indifferent: "If you don't want to fight, just kick them out. It's your Shangchen family's territory anyway."
Tang Xin noticed Chen Xiao's change in attitude and simply smiled: "I did not want to accept this competition, but they gave me a reason that I could not refuse."
"Oh?" Chen Xiao asked curiously, "What reason?"
Tang Xin did not answer directly, but stood up and addressed the Korean martial arts practitioners below in Chinese: "Sir, the person next to me is a Chinese master who has a long history with my Shangchen family. With him present, may we communicate in Chinese?"
The Korean martial artist hesitated for a moment, then surprisingly spoke in broken Chinese, "Okay!"
Chen Xiao knew that the influence of Han culture in South Korea was even greater than in Japan. To this day, people in South Korean high society still take pride in being able to write Chinese characters, and being able to recite standard classical Chinese poems is practically a symbol of nobility.
Tang Xin slowly said, "Although you have come from afar, my Shangchen family does not like to fight with others. We originally did not want to accept this duel..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Korean martial artist shouted, "It's not a martial arts competition, just a friendly exchange! Besides, our sect's ancestors once fought against the Shangchen family's seniors. I'm here today to carry on their legacy!"
As he spoke, the Korean man loudly proclaimed, "I am Jeon Seung-hoon! I am Jeon Seok-woong, a renowned figure in South Korea. I request the guidance of the Chen family's experts!"
Tang Xin said coldly, "What if we don't accept?"
Tian Shengxun snorted and waved his hand. One of the people beside him quickly took out an antique-looking long box and slowly opened it.
Inside, there was a section of withered and dried-out ground vine!
"These are the battle records left behind by my master Tianmen in Japan! If your Shangchen family doesn't dare to fight, then admit defeat in front of this cane and acknowledge that your Shangchen family is inferior to my renowned Tianmen!"
When Chen Xiao saw the rattan in the box, his eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but ask, "Huh? What's the meaning of this rattan?"
Tian Shengxun smiled proudly: "Among my Tian family ancestors was a master known as General Tian, a former expert of my Tian family! In the past, this master once used this rattan cane to sweep away Japanese swordsmen! This rattan cane is the witness!"
Chen Xiao was stunned, completely stunned.
He swallowed hard: "You mean... that General Tian who swept across Japan back then was a Korean?"
"Of course! General Tian was a martial ancestor of our Great Han! Our Tian family is a powerful clan in Gyeonggi Province, Korea! We have the title of general! That senior called himself General Tian precisely because of this!"
Chen Xiao was so angry that he almost lost his mind.
He sighed, letting out a low, bitter laugh: Just as expected, they were Koreans! Typical Koreans! In their mouths, General Tian had become a martial arts master in Korea…
He looked at Tang Xin and sighed, "To be honest, I didn't want to take action, but now it seems that I can't live with myself if I don't teach this shameless Korean a lesson."
Chapter 200 of the main text [China]