Dragon Ball: Saiyan's Gourmet Journey

Chapter 591 One win and one loss, the situation is stable!
"Of course not. Since Miss Imano is interested, I'll practice with you for a match first!"

Involving the conflict between the Yin-Yang Way and the Cursed Way, Mei Isayama prioritized his sparring with Setsuna Imano, setting aside his sparring with his cousin whom he didn't particularly like.

"Hey, what about me?"

Isayama Yomi quickly asked, as she didn't want to spar with Isayama Mei when he wasn't in top form; even if she won, it would feel like an unfair victory.

"Heh, I wouldn't mind if the two of you teamed up against me."

Setsuna Kino pushed up his glasses, looking as if he could easily take on two opponents at once, which made people a little angry.

"Is Miss Imano someone who likes to boast? Be careful, or you might bite the hand that feeds you."

"Isayama Mei said with a bit of a sharp tongue."

"In actual combat, it's not a problem to have more people than others, but it's just sparring, so it shouldn't be like that."

Isayama Yomi shook his head.

"To be fair, how about we draw lots to decide who plays against whom first? After that, we can rest for a bit and then play against other people. Each win counts as one point, and we'll see who has the highest score at the end. What do you think?"

The girl suggested.

"Your suggestion is good, let's do it that way."

The other two thought for a moment and then nodded. Being fair is better for everyone, so that even if they win, people won't think it was an unfair victory.

"So, if one is long and the other is short, the two who draw the short one will fight first, and then the winner will fight the one who draws the long one."

Isayama Yomi took a piece of white paper, tore it into strips, and held it in his hand.

She didn't choose; she let the other two choose.

Mei Isayama casually picked up the slip of paper on the left, while Setsuna Imano's eyes flickered slightly before she chose the slip of paper on the right in Yomi Isayama's hand.

Unsurprisingly, both the slip of paper that Mei Isayama drew and the slips that were left behind were short, while she herself drew a long slip of paper.

The Isayama sisters had no objection to this situation, and Setsuna Imano was also at ease with it. Her Bodhi Eye could remind her to make a choice that was beneficial to herself, but she didn't make a choice first?
Letting Mei Isayama choose first was already a concession; if the other party didn't get the best choice, they can't blame themselves.

"Sister Ming, it's my luck to be able to fight you first. Next, I will show you the results of my cultivation over the years."

Isayama Yomi walked up to the white-haired girl, and it was clear that she was eager to prove that she hadn't slacked off all these years, but had actually been working hard.

"Is that so? Then I'll have to see for myself."

Mei Isayama's reaction was rather indifferent. After all, when it comes to hard work, she had never slacked off since her father entrusted her with the mission of exorcising demons for the Isayama family.
Compared to someone of legitimate Isayama blood, how could a mere cousin from outside the family with no blood relation be more outstanding than herself?
Let's do a little verification here today.

"Sparring, begin!"

After Kagura Tsuchimiya, acting as the referee for the sparring session, announced the start of the actual combat sparring, two girls, one holding a bamboo sword and the other holding a naginata with thick strips of cloth wrapped around its blade, approached each other, gripping their respective weapons.

"Ha~"

As Isayama Yomi entered the naginata's attack range, Isayama Mei, wielding the naginata, did not hesitate to swing it at the girl.

"Snapped!"

The bamboo sword easily blocked the naginata, but the force carried by the naginata caused Isayama Yomi to shift her feet to the side. However, she only shifted one step to the side and managed to withstand the attack.

Just as she stepped forward, preparing to bring her white-haired cousin into the range of her bamboo sword attack, the girl opposite her quickly retreated and continued to swing her naginata at her.

Broly watched from the sidelines. The difference between Mei Isayama's combat skills and Yomi Isayama's was not significant, but Mei's long weapon had the advantage. Moreover, she seemed to be well aware of the weakness of using her long weapon to deal with close-range enemies.

Despite retreating while attacking and choosing to play to her strengths and avoid her weaknesses, Isayama Yomi was managed to be suppressed by her opponent and put in a disadvantageous position.

However, as long as Isayama Yomi chooses to play it safe and steady, the girl's physical abilities, which are slightly better than her cousin's, can become a crucial factor in the final victory.

Unfortunately, it was too rushed.

Isayama Yomi was eager to prove herself to Isayama Mei, so she chose to launch a fierce attack in battle, while Isayama Mei responded calmly and methodically.

Forced into a corner, seemingly with nowhere to retreat, but actually feigning an opening to lure Isayama Yomi into launching a decisive attack, Isayama Mei immediately crouched down and charged in front of her cousin. To Isayama Yomi's astonished expression, she unleashed a set of close-quarters combat punches.

The opening created by the decisive blow was completely seized upon by the opponent. Even though Isayama Yomi reacted quickly, changing from an offensive move to a parry, she was still hit in the abdomen. As she staggered back in pain, the naginata wrapped in cloth was placed on her shoulder.

"Cousin Huang Quan, you've lost."

Malice flashed through her mind, but Mei Isayama did nothing further, merely stating the facts and declaring the girl's defeat.

"Yes, I lost."

Isayama Yomi was somewhat unwilling, but she could only admit it. Since she knew that the future position of head of the Isayama family had nothing to do with her, she did not feel any more negative pressure. She just looked at her cousin with admiration, who remained calm and handled everything well despite her fierce attacks, and finally succeeded in counterattacking her.

"Sister Mingtang, you really are an amazing person!"

The girl said sincerely.

Isayama Mei: "..."

Why are you looking at me with such admiration? Aren't we competitors?

Her cousin's bright, admiring gaze made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"You need to train even harder, otherwise you won't be able to shoulder the responsibilities of the Isayama family in the future."

Mei Isayama felt that he was probably sick, because the way he said it was as if he acknowledged that Yomi Isayama was a member of the Isayama family.

[To identify with Isayama Yomi? That's not a funny joke at all...]

Mei Isayama was unaware of her own tsundere nature. If Yomi Isayama were to confront her directly, she would definitely offer subtle, sarcastic remarks with her sharp tongue. However, Yomi Isayama's gentle approach, treating her like a formidable older cousin, made the victorious Mei suddenly unable to utter any harsh words.

"Let's have a second practice match."

This unnatural situation prompted Isayama to immediately shift his attention.

"Sister Ming, don't you need to rest?"

Isayama Huangquan asked in surprise.

"I was just on the defensive, I didn't expend much energy, but you..."

The lecturing and sarcastic words had barely been uttered when she saw her cousin in front of her listening attentively and taking notes, making her feel as if she had punched a cotton ball.

"Forget it, just remember that calm thinking in battle is more important than anything else."

Isayama Mei didn't know what to say, so he waved his hand and said...

"Okay, thank you for your guidance, Sister Ming."

Isayama Yomi nodded earnestly. Gone was her previous competitive mentality for the position of clan head. Now, she was using her natural ability to make friends with others with ease.

The term "cousin" has evolved into a more intimate term for "older sister," and Mei Isayama, who is being addressed this way, doesn't even realize that something is amiss.

But perhaps it was because her cousin's reaction was beyond her expectations that she felt a little unsettled.

“Miss Isayama is very skilled. Now it’s my turn to learn from her.”

Setsuna Imano arrived on the other side.

"Don't you need to take a weapon?"

Seeing that she was unarmed, Izayama Mei couldn't help but ask.

"My weapon is a gun, which isn't really suitable for sparring. As for bamboo swords and such, I'm not used to them, so this is enough." The girl from the Forbidden Path of Curses seemed to be explaining why she wasn't using a weapon, but the underlying message was more like: [To deal with you, I don't need a weapon!]

"In that case, I won't use any weapons."

Isayama Mei frowned and then spoke.

"Personally, I still suggest that you take the weapon you are good at. After all, I am a few years older than you and have more experience in fighting people. But if you insist, I will not refuse."

"No need, fairness is more important, isn't it?"

The two, unarmed, stood at attention, and a new sparring match soon began. This time, Mei Isayama did not passively defend but instead took the initiative to rush towards Setsuna Imano.

The girl's right fist was thrown out as a feint, but in reality, her left fist was already gathering power at her side, waiting for the opponent to block before she could strike.

However, this move was seen through by the opponent. When Isayama Mei's right fist made a feint attack, Setsuna Kino immediately turned around and pressed his back against the opponent.

She grabbed Mei Isayama's arm and executed a daring karate shoulder throw. Mei Isayama looked somewhat surprised as his body was lifted up.

Unless there's a huge difference in skill, how could a normal person retaliate like that? Aren't they afraid she'll react and give them a knee strike?

However, there's no use talking about it now, since my attention was on my left fist and I couldn't change my move in time.

"Clap~"

The over-the-shoulder throw wasn't quite successful, so Mei Isayama demonstrated his core strength by landing on his feet first, grabbing Setsuna Imano's hand, and assuming an arched bridge pose.

"Um?!"

Setsuna Imano looked at the white-haired girl staring at her up close with great interest, and then lunged forward with her knee, but Mei Isayama dodged it by flipping over.

The girl braced herself with her hands on the ground and quickly retreated using both hands and feet, worried about her opponent's next move. But when she got up, she found that the girl from the Cursed Dao was calm and collected, watching her like she was watching a monkey show, with a smile on her face as if she was praising her embarrassing performance and hasty retreat.

Isayama Mei: "..."

She clenched her fists, feeling insulted.

"Ms. Imano is very strong."

Isayama Yomi exclaimed in surprise, while Broly frowned.

He, being the strongest among those present, sensed something amiss.

Setsuna Imano's timing was quite precise.

But achieving this is not so easy.

Hmm, let me take another look...

Broly continued watching and saw that Mei Isayama was completely suppressed and his attacks were repeatedly thwarted by Setsuna Imano.

While he couldn't say he was 100% right, Broly guessed that the girl Setsuna Imano probably possessed an ability similar to the Mystic Eyes of Precognition.

That shouldn't be due to a lack of combat experience, but rather because the opponent could always anticipate Isayama Mei's moves, causing Yomi's cousin to suffer setbacks time and time again.

"It seems that the people of Yin-Yang Dao are nothing special after all."

Setsuna Imano laughed and said that she liked the feeling right now. She was hitting the Onmyodo people who had caused her to live in such a quagmire. Although she knew that they were not the culprits who caused her bad life, but just a member of Onmyodo, or even a member who did not represent Onmyodo, it was still refreshing.

"I lost."

No matter how unwilling he was, Mei Isayama had to admit this fact.

"Sister Huang Quan..."

Just as the white-haired girl was unwilling to admit defeat, Broly was whispering secrets to Yomi Isayama.

"I discovered that the woman over there seems to have mind-reading abilities; she predicted all of Sister Mingtang's moves..."

Jianshan Huangquan seemed to be deep in thought.

"Broly, you have a keen eye for observation. Thank you for reminding me."

The girl complimented the boy, and then it was her turn to spar with him.

"The person who defeated you lost to me easily. I never expected you would dare to spar with me?"

Setsuna Kino was somewhat surprised to see the girl walk to the other side.

"I am, after all, a member of the Yin-Yang Dao family, and I cannot back down before the Dao of Curses and Forbidden Laws, can I?"

Isayama Yomi smiled and said.

"The sense of responsibility and mission that comes with the tradition..."

Setsuna Imano said something that sounded a bit annoyed. Just as she was about to quickly finish the second sparring match, she saw Yomi Isayama, who was holding a bamboo sword, rushing over without any attempt to hide her intention to attack.

In the Six-Sided World, the most common way for swordsmen of the Sword God School to deal with opponents with precognitive abilities is to let them foresee the future, and then use a speed that allows them to foresee the future but not react in time to cut them down!

"Clap~"

The mind-reading effect of Setsuna Bodhi Eyes allowed her to anticipate the enemy's moves when dealing with Mei Isayama, but it had the opposite effect when dealing with Yomi Isayama. Her brain had to process and read the girl's attack thoughts, giving her only a fraction of a second to think. By the time she reacted, Yomi Isayama's bamboo sword, which had no tricks up its sleeve, was already slashing at her.

……

"Although I won, I feel it's related to the fact that I had a sword while you were unarmed, so let's call it a draw!"

"No need. I am Setsuna Kino, not someone who can't accept defeat."

The three girls each won one and lost one, so it was impossible to determine who was better.

"I'm so tired, and I'm all sweaty. Want to take a shower together?"

Yomi Isayama extended an invitation to the two of them.

Setsuna Imano was about to refuse when she heard Yomi Isayama say, "You smell bad, and it's not convenient for you to protect us closely, is it?"

As a result, the three of them went into the bathroom together.

Aren't you coming in with me?

Broly looked at the girl next to him and asked.

"The bathtub isn't that big, and I want to practice my sword a little more."

Witnessing the battle between Isayama Yomi and the others firsthand gave Tsuchimiya Kagura a surge of adrenaline.

"Hey, Sister Ming, I didn't expect your kimono bottoms to be so big."

"Ah, Huang Quan, what are you doing? Stop rubbing me~"

From inside the bathroom, behind the glass door, came the sounds of Isayama Yomi acting like a familiar friend.

"However, Miss Imano's seems to be even bigger."

"I'm a few years older than you, so it's natural that I'm more developed than you. However, size isn't the only criterion for evaluation; shape and color also need to be guaranteed."

"Hey, why do I get the feeling that you're just praising yourself?"

Is this self-praise? Of course it is. The three's sparring didn't seem to stop after leaving the dojo; they were still competing in another way.

(End of this chapter)