I Formed the Strongest Swordsman Group-Chapter 50: Come! Let Me Tie You Up, Quick! (1)

Although Suzu, as the master of Shieikan, was present at the dojo today, he hardly ever participated in teaching the apprentices.
The instruction work was basically all handled by Kondo Isami. Suzu mostly just sat upright in the head position of the dojo watching the disciples practice, only very occasionally stepping down to correct a disciple's movements or assist Kondo in teaching swordsmanship techniques.
This was Aoto's first time receiving instruction from Kondo.
Kondo and Okita, who had been responsible for teaching Aoto last time, were completely two different styles.
Okita's teaching style was "strict." He would tell you in a stern tone how to do things and what should be done. If you didn't perform a movement correctly somewhere, he would directly use his bamboo sword to tap the area where your movement was inadequate—of course, the force was always light and wouldn't injure anyone.
Kondo's teaching style, on the other hand, was "gentle." He would teach you hand-in-hand with a soft tone and movements. Even if you didn't perform a movement correctly somewhere, he wouldn't directly use the bamboo sword to hit you like Okita would. Instead, he would patiently explain which part wasn't done properly, then work with you to slowly correct the imperfect movements.
As the saying goes: "Strict teachers produce outstanding students." At first glance, Kondo's "gentle teaching" might seem unsuitable for training students, but that wasn't actually the case. Kondo was quite skilled at teaching, able to explain complex swordsmanship techniques in very simple terms using just a few words.
Under Kondo's guidance, Aoto finally learned more advanced content today—sword stances, and officially began learning sword techniques!
The basic sword stances mainly consisted of three types: upper, middle, and lower positions.
Upper stance: Holding the sword high above the head, primarily an attacking stance. However, because the sword is raised overhead, it leaves the body wide open, making it a stance with relatively weak defense.
Middle stance: Holding the sword at the middle of the body with the tip angled toward the enemy and the hilt end facing one's own abdomen. This is a versatile stance that can be used for both attack and defense, making it the most commonly used sword position.
Lower stance: Holding the sword even lower, with the tip aimed near the enemy's knees or even toward the ground. This is a defensive stance that excels at evasion but is weaker in attack.
Besides these three basic stances, there were also variant stances like Hasso and Hira Seigan.
Kondo told Aoto: The Tennen Rishin-ryu style mainly practices four stances—upper, middle, lower, and Hira Seigan.
Kondo spent the morning teaching Aoto these four sword stances. By afternoon, he began teaching what Aoto most wanted to learn quickly: sword techniques that could be used to attack enemies!
Since joining Shieikan, Aoto had been looking forward to learning specific sword techniques. After all, one of his purposes in studying at Shieikan was to improve his swordsmanship level and enhance his self-defense capabilities.
The attacks from the "radical Expel the Barbarians faction" could come at any time, so naturally, the sooner he learned "offensive" sword techniques that could effectively counter them and protect himself, the better.
Seeing that Kondo was about to teach him sword techniques, Aoto quickly focused his mind and listened carefully.
Kondo didn't teach Aoto too many techniques at once. Today he only taught Aoto one move—a thrusting technique called "Mumyōken," also known as "Mumyōzuki."
Starting from the middle stance, leveling the sword, then thrusting forward while emitting a kiai—at first glance, this technique's movements seemed very simple, but the simpler a sword technique appeared, the more intricacies it contained.
After teaching Aoto this technique, Kondo had him spend the entire afternoon practicing this "Mumyōken" move.
Finally, he didn't have to practice basic movements like suburi, drawing and sheathing the sword anymore, and could learn actual sword techniques. Aoto's motivation ignited.
Throughout the afternoon, he stood in a corner of the dojo, practicing this "Mumyōken" technique with single-minded devotion and concentration.
While practicing, Aoto didn't forget to copy talents either. Many unfamiliar faces who hadn't sparred with him before came to the dojo today.
Aoto seized the opportunity to invite these newcomers to spar under various pretexts.
His luck was good today—perhaps because of the impressive performance Aoto showed in his matches against Suzu and Kondo, which earned everyone's respect, almost every person Aoto approached today gladly accepted his "sparring invitation."
But unfortunately... after sparring with all the unfamiliar faces one by one, that mechanical system voice never sounded again in Aoto's mind...
...
...
That day, evening—
Hatchobori, Aoto's home—
"Kyūbei! I'm back!"
In high spirits, Aoto hummed a cheerful tune as he forcefully pulled open the door and announced his return to Kyūbei inside.
Like the day before yesterday, Aoto had practiced swordsmanship at Shieikan until the sunset painted the sky with brilliant colors before returning home in the twilight.
Today was another day of returning fully loaded from Shieikan.
Aoto was increasingly feeling that Shieikan seemed to be a place where dragons and tigers hid—a place with many hidden talents.
Although the sword school wasn't large, powerful individuals with strong talents appeared one after another. In just two days of training at Shieikan so far, he had successively acquired three major talents that were very suitable for his current weak state: Sword Prodigy, Lone Courage, and Hawk Eye.
Receiving powerful talents one after another made Aoto feel so pleased that he even felt his physical burden lighten.
However—just as Aoto happily pulled open his home door, entered, and was about to remove his straw sandals, he suddenly froze.
Because he abruptly discovered—there were two unfamiliar pairs of shoes at his doorway...
"Ah, young master, you're back?" Kyūbei hurried out from the inner room holding a tea tray.
"Young master, you've returned just in time! We have visitors!"
Aoto's brows furrowed slightly: "Visitors? Who?"
"It's Arima-sama, and a young man I don't know! They just arrived, saying they're here to see you!"
"Arima-sama and a young man?" Aoto's face showed uncontrollable surprise as he quickly removed his straw sandals and handed the swords at his waist to Kyūbei. "Where are they now?"
"I invited them both into the reception room."
"Good."
Aoto hurried to the reception room, which wasn't far from the entrance.
Pulling open the paper sliding door of the reception room, Arima's figure came into Aoto's view—his neck and waist always at a perfect 90-degree angle to the ground, standing stiffly on the tatami like a statue.
Also entering Aoto's view was an unfamiliar figure sitting cross-legged beside Arima...
"Tachibana-kun, you're back." Arima offered a faint smile to Aoto as he entered through the sliding door.
"Arima-sama, my apologies for making you wait."
"It's fine, we only just arrived a short while ago. Tachibana-kun, I heard from Kyūbei that you went to that sword school you recently joined to practice swordsmanship today. You're quite diligent. How did it go? Is your swordsmanship training progressing well?"
"Well... it's going alright."
While exchanging simple pleasantries with Arima, Aoto slowly walked to the opposite side of his superior and knelt formally on the floor.
"Um... Arima-sama, who is this?" As soon as he was seated and finished exchanging greetings with Arima, Aoto immediately couldn't wait to gesture toward the young man sitting beside Arima.
Aoto didn't recognize this young man at all, who seemed one or two years younger than himself.
When Aoto first entered the reception room, this unfamiliar youth immediately caught his attention.
What drew Aoto's gaze wasn't because the guy had particularly striking appearance.
It was because of his swords.
The youth wore two samurai swords—one long, one short—at his waist, indicating he was a samurai.
Generally, samurai wear their swords on the left side of their waist because that's how right-handed samurai can most easily draw their blades.
But this young man... his swords were worn on his right side...
"Ah, him... Saitō, introduce yourself."
"...Mugai-ryu." The youth said softly in an emotionless, cold tone. "Saitō Hajime."
"Tachibana-kun, this is the bodyguard that Ushiyama, Butagaya and I found specifically to protect you."
"Bodyguard?"