Bear School Astartes

Lann had no idea what the swordsmanship in Europe was like in this world, considering his 'Southern Barbarians learned skills' credentials were fabricated.

However, after the spar with Iwami Yixin, he somewhat understood the trajectory of Eastern swordsmanship in this world.

In a normal world, swordsmanship is always inclined towards tactics for practical combat.

Because the basic qualities among people don't have a huge disparity.

If the strategy wins, the battle is basically won.

But in a world where the human physical limit is obviously higher, the development of martial arts in the Eastern cultural sphere reasonably turned into a "stat-monster"!

My draw is not the fastest, my slash is not the fiercest... I feel so insecure!

At this rate, I wouldn't even dare to leave the house, let alone showcase tactical thinking in real combat training!

Thinking about unrealistic combat? Quickly boost your basic stats!

And so there were faster draw techniques, fiercer downward slashes, and breath methods that broke limits...

Summed up... it's all kinds of[Power]!

Who would play so many mind games with you during a sword duel? A little trickery is the limit.

With my one slash plus Qi Blade, I can chop three meters distance! Try blocking that!

If your nerve speed can react, then take the challenge; if you can't even react, then it's your end!

"Oh! You've summarized it quite well, Lann! Seems you're not completely ignorant about Ming Country's martial arts either. Haha!"

Iwami Yixin laughed heartily, apparently the battle just now made him very happy.

"So, the swordsmanship over there truly focuses on tactics and thinking during combat, what an interesting development direction... The Sword Masters there probably can see through what meal the enemy ate before the battle, right? Tactics and logic are really formidable!"

Lann, with a complicated emotion, pursed his lips and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, that's how the Sword Masters there are, heh, haha."

Whatever you say, I've never truly seen the swordsmen from the Southern Barbarians of this world.

You probably won't even get a chance to see one in this lifetime.

Can't expose it, so the truth becomes unshakeable!

Simultaneously, Lann felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

The swordsmanship here really fulfills a man's martial arts fantasy! Definitely both cool and strong!

-----------------

After setting a time to teach Lann, the Demon Hunter was ushered out of the hidden Buddhist Hall.

Lann could tell Iwami Yixin had more to say to Owl but didn't want him to hear it.

He didn't mind much.

Owl had been leading the Iwami Country's ninja crowd for decades; the information in his hands and his position were likely unimaginably important.

This was someone else's family matter, even if it was spoken to Lann, he would naturally cover his ears. To avoid unnecessary trouble.

When he emerged, it was already close to evening.

He walked to the bridge in front of the inner mansion gate, borrowed a rope, and went down to explore the tributary of Longquan River.

To avoid unnecessary talk, he said a valuable item was lost in last night's chaos, and he was here to find it.

Given his current prestige within Hirata Manor, those summoned to help didn't have a word of objection.

Lann effortlessly found two massive koi in the tributary again, acquiring two pieces of treasure koi scales.

Including the treasure koi scales he obtained the night he first met Wolf, it's already enough to exchange for the[God Devourer]pill and[Floating Boat Crossing]scroll at Pot Spring Captain's place.

Lann planned to quickly exchange these two most concerned items today.

By tomorrow, he would likely be involved in[Iwami Style]under Iwami Yixin's guidance, as well as[Light Body Skill]under Lady Butterfly's guidance.

With these two courses scheduled, he expected scarce idle time within the day.

Walking out of Hirata Manor, the riverbank outside the manor had already piled up with tombs made of small stones.

These were the civilians and soldiers massacred by bandits last night.

The mourning was completed in the morning, and the people rushing for livelihood didn't have much time to lament, so it got quiet in the afternoon.

Lann paused for a moment, gently shook his head.

Last night, he had done everything he could.

To the populace, military calamity is akin to natural disaster, even more severe. In such a disaster, being overly demanding of oneself is unrealistic.

Lann felt sorry for these deaths but wouldn't let it cast a shadow in his heart.

According to the customs in East Japan, Lann clapped his hands, placed his palms together, and made a formal bow before leaving.

This time he didn't row a boat out; with night falling, he feared sinking halfway.

Walking along the riverbank, when he again felt a sense of spiritual connection, he swam to the mid-river shallows.

Without much effort, he successfully traded with Pot Spring Captain.

"When you have scales in the future, remember to come find me. I'll fish out quite a lot from Longquan River flowing with Source Water, there'll surely be things you like."

Lann nodded in agreement, these koi were not hard to kill, just hard to find.

Using these scales to trade for peculiar items seemed interesting and worthwhile to Lann.

"What exactly is Source Water? I notice many people in Iwami are talking about it."

The Demon Hunter, while shaking water from his boots, took a moment to ask. Pot Spring Captain must have spent a long time in Longquan River, so Lann felt asking him was appropriate.

Kotaro, when praying with Renqi Balloon, mentioned filling it with Source Water.

The move's book of[Iwami Style]said the inspiration for the swordsmanship was the flow of Source Water.

Source Water seemed quite important in Iwami.

Speaking of this topic, the pot echoed a low, malicious laughter.

"Hohoho, Source Water? Those mortals call ordinary river water of Longquan River Source Water?"

"What? Is this saying incorrect?"

Lann continued to ask nonchalantly.

"Hoho, can't say it's incorrect... Iwami People are generally larger and sturdier than outsiders, you know?"

Lann thought, "I know nothing! I parachuted in."

But on the surface, he nodded very confidently. As if he truly walked from East Japan's coast all the way to this mountainous place.

The expression of deep agreement made Mentos in his mind continuously praise his acting talent. Lann modestly accepted these compliments.

Spring's hands outside the pot gently waved, indicating the conversation was to continue.

"It's all the nurturing of Source Water. Although Source Water is hard to attain for longevity, it's very easy to be physically fit. The more able to absorb Source Water, the larger and stronger they become. Though they're a bunch of short-lived pests, they are certainly good fighters!"

Spring's answer made Lann feel that so-called 'Source Water' seemed like a high-efficiency nutrient.

The taller individuals among the Iwami People were often military leaders.

Seems it's not because they are military aristocrats with excellent family genes, but because they can absorb Source Water more efficiently, thus relying on their physique to become military aristocrats.

Kotaro being 1.5 meters was considered a civilian. Nojima Iizuka at around 1.7 meters was just an ordinary warrior.

Nogami Genji, Yamai Diansan, Iwami Yixin's level was at 1.9 meters.

But height doesn't directly equate to combat prowess.

For instance, the 2.45-meter-tall Owl had little chance of defeating Iwami Yixin. Yamai Diansan likely couldn't survive two minutes against Wolf.

The Inner Mansion could suppress the Iwami People because they had already unified East Japan beyond Iwami.

Now their assembled army were all external heroes, thus in terms of height, they didn't lag behind the Iwami People at all.