Chapter 245: Finals End, District Champion! Chisa’s Little Cow Horse Deck, Prelim List, Powerhouses Gather!
【Moon Sand Sauce: Understood.jpg】
Shangshan Che said nothing, sent a salute emoji package, then clicked to accept the file and turned off the screen.
—This list could be viewed anytime, even on the way back to Arakawa Ward.
But the seed battle divisional finals right in front of them were about to begin, and Ryūgen Jun was about to take the stage.
Which was more important, Shangshan Che didn’t need to say much.
“Coming, coming!”
Tamamo poked Shangshan Che with her elbow, making him turn his gaze back.
Accompanied by a rhythmic and pressurizing sound, the lights in the entire venue suddenly dimmed, with only the path to the central arena illuminated by dim, cold white lights.
First to take the stage was Yagyu Oshi’s opponent.
The commentator’s slightly hoarse and thick voice echoed through the venue via expensive speakers.
“Shaking his opponent’s courage with roars, shattering all obstacles with the nodachi in his hand! Who can stop him from claiming the title of Shizuoka Prefecture Champion!”
“First, please welcome—the competitor from Nodachi Jigen-ryū, Kawakami Ryōto!”
As the words fell, the passage on the right was illuminated by pure white glaring lights, paving a starry path to the center of the arena.
Immediately, a burst of high-spirited cheers came from directly across from Shangshan Che and Tamamo, the cheerers mostly wearing the same dōgi, probably fellow disciples from the same dojo.
“Gotta say, this atmosphere is pretty good.”
Under Shangshan Che’s gaze, the heavy automatic door slowly opened.
From the darkness behind the door emerged a boy carrying a nodachi nearly six feet long on his back, fists tightly clenched, cheeks flushed red, clearly unable to suppress his excitement.
—Nodachi Jigen-ryū, another name is “Pill Jigen-ryū”, and on modern networks, it’s also called “Ghost Shout Style”.
Unlike Natural Reason School or Ryūgen Shinkage-ryū, which emphasize techniques, footwork, and delving into details of various sword skills, this ancient swordsmanship school focuses on bold, sweeping movements and charging straight ahead.
To put it bluntly, it’s all about great strength, high stats, and mindless charging.
First raising the nodachi at least one point five meters long high, then roaring and charging forward with a bellow, splitting one enemy’s head if there’s one in front, ten if there are ten.
It’s all about overwhelming momentum.
However… this boy named Kawakami Ryōto didn’t look like a wild man at all.
Tamamo beside him let out a surprised “oh”,
“So it’s Kawakami who made it to the finals.”
Shangshan Che raised an eyebrow: “You know him?”
“Ran into him once on a mission with Yagyu before, he’s a nice guy, just a bit naive.”
Tamamo rubbed her chin, posing like a high monk: “I thought he’d be eliminated in the quarterfinals.”
She squatted down, opened her mobile phone and scrolled, then realized: “Oh, Yagyu and three other competitors I favored were grouped together, turning it into a death group.”
What she meant was that this Kawakami from Nodachi Jigen-ryū was lucky.
Shangshan Che didn’t think so.
Under the Eye of Interpretation’s detailed observation, Shangshan Che thought this Kawakami was not particularly strong, but still a cut above Akiyama Mei, who went with him to the City of Disorder.
In other words, on “paper stats,” he barely reached the level of Hojo Clan’s white gear and black gear.
But stats are stats; true victory isn’t decided by such things alone.
Once Kawakami reached the center of the arena, the commentator’s voice rang out again,
“Blade like surging fierce fire, heart like eternal cold ice! No situation can shake his willpower—!”
“Next, please welcome—the competitor from Ryūgen Shinkage-ryū, Yagyu Oshi!”
Under the reflection of scarlet lights, Yagyu Oshi, hand lightly on the sword hilt, face calm, stared straight ahead and walked unhurriedly onto the arena.
He didn’t even notice Tamamo and Shangshan Che waving from the audience seats.
Taking in both their states, Shangshan Che made a judgment,
“Probably, Ryūgen Jun is going to win.”
“Huh?” Tamamo was stunned, “The match hasn’t even started, how do you know the result, Shangshan high monk? Is this blind monk prediction?”
Shangshan Che was speechless; Tamamo surfed the net every day, churning out rotten memes endlessly.
“Simple, just look at their mental states.”
He pointed: “Kawakami is very excited, even his hands are shaking.”
“—While Ryūgen Jun hasn’t even noticed us, meaning he’s already entered flow state, or zone, before entering.”
“Ryūgen Jun wants victory more than anyone.”
Shangshan Che stated calmly: “When their strengths are close, I don’t need to say what the result will be.”
Tamamo blinked, then grinned,
“So Yagyu wasn’t deliberately pretending not to see us to act cool.”
Shangshan Che rolled his eyes and said no more.
In the venue, after the entrances, all lights came back on, but the arena remained much brighter than surroundings for clear viewing.
After Yagyu Oshi and Kawakami Ryōto bumped fists, the commentator roared passionately.
—After this, the commentator’s voice was only audible on the online platform.
“I announce, Eastern Region Seed Battle·Shizuoka Prefecture Divisional Match—begins now!”
The entire venue fell silent instantly; Yagyu Oshi’s blade-drawing sound was clearly audible.
……
Tamamo held her breath in concentration.
She found that after the match started, the situation in the arena was exactly as Shangshan Che had described.
Kawakami Ryōto gained the upper hand at first due to his school’s style, but soon flagged from overaggressive swinging.
Then, having read his opponent, Yagyu Oshi implemented slow suppression, gradually tightening the net, forcing Kawakami Ryōto into a corner where he couldn’t even swing his blade.
The match lost suspense halfway through.
Yet Yagyu Oshi remained steady, showing no openings until his opponent was knocked unconscious on the ground.
The Eastern Region Seed Battle Shizuoka Prefecture finals ended in the seventeenth minute.
“Yay! Yagyu really won!” After the referee announced victory, Tamamo raised her hands in cheer, “Shangshan high monk’s prediction was spot on!”
On the arena, Yagyu Oshi, face covered in blood color, gave a slight bow to Kawakami Ryōto on the ground, then sheathed his blade with a long exhale.
But Yagyu Oshi’s face remained calm, showing no joy befitting gaining the Shizuoka Prefecture Champion title.
As if he hadn’t won.
Shangshan Che looked around and saw that after the referee announced the result, only a small portion of swordsmanship or kendo practitioners and disciples cheered.
—They were thrilled by the details and advances/retreats in the clash, many had recorded videos to study later.
Shangshan Che also picked up a few small techniques from it.
Even disciples of Nodachi Jigen-ryū showed convinced expressions.
But most ordinary audience members sighed in disappointment, finding it boring.
The whole match, aside from Kawakami’s initial roaring charge, was mostly just silent clanging blade clashes.
—Parry and swing? I can do that in Sekiro too!
“This fighting style is practical but low on spectacle.”
Shangshan Che thought, watching Yagyu Oshi determinedly lift the heavy trophy silently, bathing in a shower of golden confetti.
At this moment, an audience member below voiced dissatisfaction: “What Shizuoka Prefecture finals, hyped so much—better to watch a good Wu University flick…”
Someone agreed: “Yeah, if that cool and handsome ‘Shangshan Che’ were here, he could easily beat both even together!”
Mentioning Shangshan Che lit up the audience seats.
Those who came here were at least ordinary people interested in sword techniques and supernatural matters, likely having seen the viral Shangshan Che clips.
Below, they chattered that if Shangshan Che came, he’d win easily and spectacularly, making the afternoon totally worth it.
“I disagree.”
Amid the buzz, Shangshan Che spoke faintly: “Who wins or loses, you have to actually fight to know.”
His clear, bright voice reached everyone’s ears below.
The heatedly discussing audience below all froze.
A young audience member looked up, saw the black mask and sunglasses, and raised an eyebrow: “Who are you, bro? Daring to question Shangshan Che, who can be mentioned alongside those legendary great family geniuses?”
Hearing this, Shangshan Che was slightly stunned.
He was already ranked with Minamoto Shizuka and Kyuuketsuin Kin?
When did that happen?
Why didn’t he know?
Another scoff came from below: “Shangshan Che might not beat this Yagyu and Kawakami—you here to joke?”
“—Anyway, who are you? Daring to question Shangshan Che?”
Such words came from below.
Shangshan Che glanced at Tamamo beside him, who was covering her mouth with both hands, barely holding back laughter, and felt puzzled.
In just two days, his popularity among the public had risen this high?
Though not fully understanding, amid the challenging gazes, Shangshan Che removed his disguise mask and sunglasses, then hung the Hannya Mask on his waist.
Meeting eyes from stunned to incredulous to stupor, he raised an eyebrow: “I am Shangshan Che.”
His mostly restrained aura slightly pressing down.
“What, can’t I question?”
The noisy chatter below vanished instantly; the audience seats fell quiet.
No one spoke again.
Tamamo finally couldn’t hold it, bursting into laughter: “I really regret not recording that just now…”
“Just dissatisfied they hyped me too much.” Shangshan Che stowed the mask, shrugged, “The internet is good at making gods.”
Witnessing Yagyu Oshi say “Next goal, reach the top thirty-two in the entire Eastern Region Seed Battle,” the Apprentice Master satisfiedly withdrew his gaze.
Looking toward Shangshan Che, who had just finished griping with Tamamo.
The Apprentice Master spoke leisurely: “Yagyu has grown, but still far off… young friend Shangshan.”
He paused, then said meaningfully,
“The seed battle, I leave it to you.”
Shangshan Che naturally knew the Apprentice Master wanted him to go all out, so he nodded.
“The great era is rising; the current gap is temporary.”
Watching Yagyu Oshi bow thanks to the audience before slowly leaving, Shangshan Che smiled: “Elites like Ryūgen Jun will surely achieve great things in the future.”
The Apprentice Master raised his brows: “Well said.”
“Lord Saionji, I need to head back to Tokyo soon.”
Shangshan Che spoke,
“Preliminaries are only three or four days away; I need to settle in.”
The Apprentice Master pondered: “For preliminaries, aren’t you just going through the motions, young friend?”
“Always stay hungry to not be eliminated by this era.”
Shangshan Che replied.
—If just passing preliminaries, even sending Little Jia alone would do.
After all, the condition for passing preliminaries—or seed battle qualifiers—was simply slaying a puppet at two-and-a-half star peak strength.
Unlike most competitors, selected “seeds” entered elimination tournaments directly after slaying the puppet.
Without joining the complex Swiss rounds in between.
The Apprentice Master smiled: “Then, old man looks forward to your clash with that Minamoto Family little fellow.”
“Won’t disappoint Lord Saionji.”
Shangshan Che cupped his hands.
After a simple farewell, he put on the mask and sunglasses again and left the venue.
……
Still on the free Special Affairs Office shuttle.
“I get Ryūgen Jun coming, since he’s registering in Tokyo first—but what are you here for?”
On the soft seat, Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes at Tamamo, now in vacation mode with a big sun hat and dress.
She hugged her chest, chuckling,
“Yagyu’s first time in a big city like Tokyo for a match—how could I not watch?”
Shangshan Che sneered: “I think you’re just using it as an excuse to play in Tokyo.”
“How can a scholar’s matters be called an excuse…”
Tamamo argued haphazardly, then fell silent upon seeing it ineffective.
Taken as tacit agreement.
Play if playing—after half a year of intense work, can’t she rest a bit?
“Shangshan Jun.” Yagyu Oshi took a slight breath, met his eyes, extended his left hand, “In the seed battle, please advise.”
“I should be the one saying that.”
Shangshan Che shook hands lightly, smiling: “I’ve got nothing in the seed battle yet.”
Tamamo in the middle stuck out her tongue: “Nyah nyah, you two acting all big bad wolves in front of me.”
“Ouch, that counts as acting?”
After shaking hands, Yagyu Oshi closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat, seemingly quite drained.
Shangshan Che occasionally bantered with the otherwise idle Tamamo, then opened Line.
【Sister Nanjo: Picture.jpg】
In the picture, Chisa in Special Affairs Office uniform was squatting to hug a pile of documents nearly half her leg height.
Sweat glistened on the girl’s forehead; she looked strained, as if working for a while.
【Sister Nanjo: Ding dong! Acquired one Chisa-brand little workhorse!】
【Moon Sand Sauce: ?】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Sister Nanjo, you know exploiting an elementary schooler like this seriously violates《child labor laws》?】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Also, I didn’t send her to learn skills from you—just to move files? Sweaty soybean.jpg】
【Sister Nanjo: She volunteered, what can I do? Shrug.jpg】
Shangshan Che fell silent.
Given Chisa’s personality, if she saw Shizuma Manatsu sweating buckets, she’d indeed offer to help with what she could.
【Sister Nanjo: Actually, you’d make a better master for little Chisa.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Me? I doubt she’d want that…】
【Sister Nanjo: ?】
【Sister Nanjo: I mean, little Chisa wants you as her master.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: Me as master? I’m not even one-tenth as strong as you, Sister Nanjo?】
【Sister Nanjo: Being a master has nothing to do with strength essentially. She likes you—that’s the key.】
Shangshan Che knew what kind of “like” Sister Nanjo meant.
He had vaguely sensed such signs, but hadn’t paid attention or confirmed before.
【Moon Sand Sauce: Kinda makes sense.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: But I’m not good at teaching.】
【Sister Nanjo: Just toss her two books to study on her own; she can ask if stuck.】
【Moon Sand Sauce: …】
Whatever, it’ll sort itself out.
After telling Sister Nanjo he’d arrive that evening, Shangshan Che started reviewing the earlier list.
After spinning a bit, the Excel sheet loaded.
On it were names and surnames of people Shangshan Che had seen or famous ones he hadn’t!
【Saito Ryuichi, Takizawa Kai, Minamoto Shizuka, Tsuchimikado Ran, Tokugawa Haruhiko…】
