Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

Uesugi Kai dodged it; unlike Hanabi, he didn't like being patted on the head.

It's been like this since I was little, let alone as I've grown up.

"What style of martial arts is the Yamanaka Martial Arts Hall?" he asked, looking into the dojo.

“Reading directly.”

"I see."

"Why don't you ask more questions? Aren't you going to participate in the competition? These people could all become your opponents."

"Knowing the name is enough. I don't want to be known for being too arrogant, not even knowing my opponent's fighting style during the match." Uesugi Kai looked at the young man who had come over to talk to him earlier.

"Who is he?"

"genius."

Kai Uesugi let out an "Oh~".

How talented are they?

"You know you're very capable, that's all."

"How do your skills compare to Sister He tide's?"

Uesugi Shio was the top player in the Kanto region a few years ago, and she won the runner-up in last year's team competition. She defeated the opponent's top player, but unfortunately her teammate was slightly inferior and scored one less point.

They're definitely impressive; they beat the best player from the top team in the country. How could they not be impressive?

"I don't know, I've never fought him. What? Akai, are you interested in that genius from the Yamanaka Martial Arts Hall?"

“I’m not interested,” Uesugi Kai said. “But he just came up to me and said we’ll definitely meet at the match.”

“Then they’ve come seeking revenge,” Uesugi Shio said.

"Seeking revenge? I don't know him."

“Some grudges don’t need you to know them,” Uesugi Shio smiled, noticing his thoughtful expression. “Just kidding. Maybe he found out you’re the head teacher at Wuxin Hall and has become interested in you.”

Is that so?

"That's most likely the case. Speaking of which, A-Zhao, how amazing are you?"

Kai Uesugi sipped his iced cola, which made a sound, then stared at the logo on the cup and said, "I don't know."

.......

As evening fell, Uesugi Kai witnessed the hard work and sweat shed by Mushinkan and Yamanaka Budokan.

Win or lose?

It can only be said that there were both wins and losses.

Nianzhi is not a self-taught practitioner; he has a legitimate lineage, having been taught by Nianami Ci'en from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.

It's just that they haven't been able to win a championship in recent years.

Therefore, they are especially enthusiastic about winning the championship today.

Today's visit to Wuxin Pavilion is just a short stop on their journey. Over the next two weeks, they will be visiting various other temples.

Kai Uesugi didn't care about any of that.

The Sakakibara family's courtyard.

Beside a pond covered with lush bamboo.

"What have you learned today, my dear student?"

"Uncle, your cola is pretty good." Uesugi Kai placed the cola cup on the table next to Sakakibara Isshin. There were no trash cans in the dojo, so he could only take it here.

The uncle spent the entire afternoon sleeping in the shade of the bamboo, avoiding the sun.

"I'm asking about kendo knowledge."

Kai Uesugi did not answer.

"My dear student, there is no end to learning!"

"Alright, Master, stop teasing me. What about the outdoor barbecue tonight?"

Uncle Sakakibara laughed and said, "Tell your senior sister to get ready. You just need to call Hanabi over."

Kai Uesugi sat down next to the older man, feeling the rustling of bamboo above. The weather wasn't quite dusky yet, but the thick golden clouds made the sky exceptionally beautiful.

"Why does Master always want me to win the championship?"

"Before, it was out of spite. You know, a long time ago I lost to that brat Hanamaru Yuuki."

"My uncle seems to be a year older than you, Master!"

"I don't care, he's just a brat."

"..."

"Also, you're not allowed to use the manifestation style in this competition!"

"Okay, so what about now?"

"What now?"

"You said it was out of spite before, but what about now?"

"My dear disciple, the moonlight is beautiful."

Only the moon on the horizon has a round shape and a clear outline.

It is dusk now.

Kai Uesugi knew that the older man was trying to change the subject, which was one of his usual techniques.

"Then why do you keep running around like this, Master? I heard from Senior Sister Ju that you sometimes don't come home for months at a time."

Uncle Sakakibara said, "I remember, didn't I tell you before? I was looking for something."

Uesugi Kai: "When I went back to my hometown before, Master, were you also camping on the mountain to look for something?"

"Otherwise what? That time in Ehime Prefecture... I don't know if I should call it finding it. I have a vague impression, but it's like I didn't find it at all."

"Master, aren't you a native of Tokyo?"

"Yes and no, I wasn't born in Tokyo, but I grew up there. Why are you asking these questions?"

"curious."

"It's best to have less curiosity, otherwise one day your curiosity might hurt some past memories you don't want to recall."

###Chapter 333 The Heart That Is Forever Touched###

Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

The next day, afternoon.

Inside the dojo.

Kai Uesugi is now experiencing the hardship of practicing kendo all over again, which reminds him of the nightly training sessions he used to have with his father-in-law.

Just then, Sakakibara Nanako walked in. "Uesugi, Hanabi-chan is here to see you."

Sweating profusely, Uesugi Kai greeted the disciple he was sparring with, then looked at Sakakibara Nanakuri: "Shall we go over now?"

Ms. Sakakibara smiled and said, "Otherwise what?"

After hanging the wooden sword back on the wall, Uesugi Kai followed Ms. Sakakibara to the courtyard outside the dojo.

The bamboo rustled softly, and the sunlight made the leaves a vibrant green, reflecting in the rippling pond water.

Hanabi Hanamaru, dressed in an elegant white dress, squatted by the pond, scattering feed to the carp.

Kai Uesugi smiled when he saw her squatting by the pond feeding the fish. He lowered his feet and squatted down next to her, looking at the rippling water together.

Hanabi Hanabi was clearly startled when he threw feed into the pond again, and she gripped the bag in her hand tighter.

"Were you frightened?"

"Mm." Hanabi Hanabi looked at him and nodded.

"Why did you suddenly come to see me?" Uesugi Kaiya stared at her face, which shone in the sunlight.

"Hanabi's royalties have arrived... Kai-kun helped with that too."

"Aren't all the royalties your earnings?"

"Kai-kun also helped out at the exhibition, so Kai-kun also got a share."

Kai Uesugi smiled faintly and said, "I'm just a fake assistant."

"But Kai-kun did help too..."

As she spoke softly, Uesugi Kai suddenly noticed her taking a beautifully packaged box out of her small, navy blue waist bag. Her movements were very gentle, and she seemed a little shy.

"A gift?" Uesugi Kai looked at the object that had appeared in front of him.

"Hmm..." Hanabi Hanamaru responded softly.

"It's just a gift, there's nothing to be embarrassed about." Uesugi Kai smiled and took the small black box from her hand.

"What is it?"

"Kai-kun...you'll find out once you open it..."

“A Cartier watch?” Kai Uesugi looked at the mechanical watch face lying quietly in the box.

"Kai-kun's old watch broke, and Hanabi knows he doesn't like expensive things..."

Kai Uesugi took out the watch, its metallic coolness radiating from her palm. Looking at Hanabi Hanabi's cautious expression, she understood that the first thing Hanabi thought of after receiving her salary was to buy herself a gift.

"Thank you."

"Does Kai-kun like it? We've been together for so long... but Hanabi still doesn't really know what Kai-kun likes..."

"I like it, of course I like it."

"Yes, yes, I'm glad you like it, Kai-kun."

The girl in the white dress, who was squatting by the pond, smiled brightly at him again.