Volume 2 The Executioner Chapter 73 Banquet
Ogata was stunned when he heard Hanbei's words.
Then he smiled with a :
"Master... I thought you would hate what I said..."
"Hmm? Why do you say that?"
"Because... I always feel that you, Master, are a person who doesn't like violence, so I think you would be very disgusted by what I said..."
"How could that be?" Hanbei smiled. "It's true that I hate violence. I always teach you that violence can't solve any problems."
"But have you forgotten? When I teach you this principle, I always add a sentence at the end - 'Don't use violence unless it is absolutely necessary'."
Ogata recalled.
He found that it was just as Hanbei said - when Hanbei had talked to him about this before, he sometimes added this sentence at the end, but sometimes he didn't.
"When the last resort comes, I am more violent than anyone else."
Hearing Hanbei's words, Ogata thought to himself:
——Master, what is his definition of "last resort"...
——In the previous festival competition, Yuanshan and I were ready to fight, but Master still wanted to stop me and not let me go...
——Could it be that in the eyes of the master, the situation in the previous festival competition was not considered a last resort...
And Hanbei continued at this time.
"In a life-or-death fight, the most important thing is to win and stay alive."
"As long as you can win in a fight to the death, any move you make is justified. There is no such thing as mean."
"For someone who doesn't understand this, even if he practices every sword technique of Sakakibara Ittoryu to perfection, I will not give him the Menkyo Kaiden certificate."
As soon as Hanbei finished speaking, a disciple in the arena suddenly said loudly in a joking tone:
"Master! I understand this truth now! When I fight someone to the death in the future, I will do whatever it takes! Could you please give me a copy of the certificate for passing on the Mianxu Jiechuan?"
"You?" Hanbei realized that the disciple was only joking, so he changed his tone to a joking one, "You have only met the second condition for obtaining the Menkyo Kaiden Certificate. Have you met the first condition? Have you mastered any sword techniques?"
As soon as Hanbei finished speaking, there was immediate laughter.
Thanks to the disciple's antics just now, the atmosphere in the dojo became a lot more relaxed.
After everyone finished laughing, Hanbei looked at Ogata with a serious look again.
"Ogata, there is no need to refuse any more. Just accept the certificate of Menkyo Kaiden with peace of mind."
Ogata shifted his gaze from Hanbei in front of him to the scroll in his hand.
Looking at the four big Chinese characters "Menxu Kaiden" on the scroll, Ogata pursed his lips.
"...Master, I understand. I accept the certificate of Mian Xu Jie Chuan."
"Yes." Hanbei nodded gently, "I hope you won't do anything that will bring disgrace upon your master in the future ."
"yes!"
"Alright." Hanbei stood up, "Everyone can continue sword practice."
As Hanbei finished his words, the other disciples who were kneeling behind Ogata immediately stood up and "rushed" towards Ogata.
"Wow! Is this the certificate for passing the imperial examination?"
"It's all possible... I'm so envious."
"Ogata-senpai, can you show us your certificate?"
"Congratulations, Ogata-kun!"
…
When the crowd saw the certificate of no-permission for the first time, they immediately surrounded Ogata in three layers inside and three layers outside.
Many people even reached out to borrow Ogata's certificate of no-kyoukaiden to take a look.
Ogata naturally agreed to these people's requests generously, and then readily handed over his certificate of no-kyo kaiden for everyone to circulate.
Just as everyone was excitedly passing around Ogata's certificate of no-kyo kaiden, Mikami suddenly shouted:
"Everyone! Please listen to me!"
Mikami's shout immediately attracted everyone's attention, including Hanbei who had not yet left the dojo.
"I have a suggestion!"
Mikami said with a smile on his face.
"To celebrate the fact that Ogata-kun's injury is about to heal, and also to celebrate the fact that Ogata-kun is the first person in our Sakakibara Sword Hall to obtain the Menkyo Kaiden certificate! How about we hold a banquet?"
Sakakibara Sword School is a "young sword school" that was established not long ago. Ogata is indeed the first disciple to obtain the Menkyo Kaiden certificate since the establishment of Sakakibara Sword School.
"banquet?"
"That sounds good."
"I haven't had a good drink in a long time."
When Ogata heard Mikami's proposal, he was stunned for a moment.
Holding a banquet to celebrate his upcoming recovery and obtaining the Menkyo Kaiden certificate - it would be a lie if Ogata didn't feel happy in his heart when he heard Mikami's proposal.
…
As everyone was quietly discussing Mikami's proposal, Mikami added:
“I hope everyone can attend!”
"Master." Mikami turned his head and looked at Hanbei, "I hope you can come too!"
"I can certainly come and join you," Hanbei said softly, "but - where are you planning to hold the banquet?"
San showed an awkward smile and pointed downwards with his right index finger.
To be precise, he pointed to the dojo floor beneath his feet.
"No!" Hanbei refused without thinking, "The dojo is a place for sword training! Not a place for banquets!"
"Master!" Mikami put his palms together, "Please be more accommodating! To hold a banquet here, we only need to prepare drinks and food! If we hold a banquet at an izakaya or restaurant outside, it will cost a lot more money!"
As soon as Mikami finished speaking, the other disciples all echoed:
"Master! Please!"
"Please be more accommodating!"
"We'll clean it up afterwards!"
…
There are quite a few people who want to hold a banquet... or rather, want to drink with their fellow disciples.
Therefore, the voices of appeal for mercy from Hanbei were quite powerful.
Looking at the disciples who kept begging him for mercy, Hanbei gave a helpless smile.
"...Okay, I'll lend you this dojo for now."
As soon as Hanbei finished speaking, cheers rang out in the dojo.
"Senior Mikami!" A disciple asked Mikami hesitantly, "So - should we split the money for the banquet equally?"
As soon as the disciple finished speaking, many people immediately focused their attention on Mikami.
The disciples of Sakakibara Sword Hall have different daily jobs, so their incomes are also different.
Some disciples lived a not-so-decent life because of their low salaries.
If the money for the banquet is divided equally, those who live in more financially constrained circumstances will be hesitant to attend.
"No!" Mikami patted his chest, "I'll pay for all the banquets!"
Mikami's words immediately caused many people present to exclaim in surprise.
Including Ogata.
"Mikami-senpai!" Ogata said anxiously, "How can I let you spend so much money!"
"It's not a big expense." Mikami smiled heartily, "I still have a little savings, more than enough to hold a banquet."
If someone else said this, there is a need to doubt the authenticity of this statement.
But if it was Mikami who said this, there would be no need to doubt it.
Because Mikami was one of the disciples with the highest salary among all the disciples in Sakakibara Sword Hall.
However, at this moment, Hanbei suddenly spoke up:
"Mikami, you don't need to spend any money. I'll pay for the banquet."
