I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

After catching his breath, Qing Deng took a deep breath and solemnly thanked Ogata:

"Mr. Ogata, thank you for your guidance!"

Ogata smiled and slowly put away the Great Buddha in his palm.

"You're welcome, it was just a small favor."

He looked up at the sky as he spoke.

"It's almost noon, let's have lunch."

……

……

The two sat side by side on a flat, large rock and opened the bento box that A-Machi had given them.

Atachi's homemade bento was even more luxurious than Aoto had imagined.

Glistening rice, plump sea bream, juicy fried tofu, refreshing pickled radish... For an ordinary family in the Edo period, this was already a rare feast.

Moreover, affected by the Soshin-saku movement and war, Kyoto's economic situation in recent years has been lackluster.

Preparing such a grand meal in Kyoto these days is no easy feat.

Of course, it is questionable whether this couple can be considered an ordinary family.

Folk tales like "Ogata Suppresses Bandits" and "Ogata Eliminates Evil People" are found throughout Japan.

The income from "licking bags" alone is already quite substantial.

This couple is unlikely to be poor; they probably have a considerable amount of savings.

Not only were there exquisite dishes, but Atachi also thoughtfully provided a pair of chopsticks so that Aoto wouldn't have to eat with his bare hands.

The intense battle just now had already exhausted Qing Deng's energy.

Hunger burned the walls of his stomach, constantly and fiercely protesting against Qingdeng.

Qingdeng picked up his chopsticks and wolfed down the food in the lunchbox with the speed of a whirlwind.

Ogata wasn't exaggerating; his wife's cooking skills were indeed impressive.

Every dish deserves the title of "delicious food," leaving a lingering fragrance in your mouth after eating.

In contrast, Qingdeng's wives are generally not good at cooking.

Sanako and Tenshōin are young ladies from prestigious families, and they never lift a finger to do housework.

Ah Wu knows how to make some simple dishes.

Only Souji can cook such good food.

During her time studying at Shie-gwan University, she often helped out in the kitchen, and over time, she developed excellent cooking skills.

However, since moving to Luoyang, she has basically had no time to cook, so her cooking skills must have deteriorated considerably.

While enjoying Atachi's cooking, Qing Deng suddenly remembered her words of advice to him before he left:

(Orange, you absolutely have to eat this!)

—I see…So that’s what it means.

Qingdeng chuckled to himself.

At that moment, he keenly sensed that there seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words.

Now he finally understands its deeper meaning.

Atachi's implication was that she hoped he could withstand Ogata's challenge, without getting hurt or dying, and safely finish her bento!

Halfway through the duel, Aoto realized that Ogata was actually using the guise of a "duel" to carefully instruct him, his junior.

However, it would be a grave mistake to think that Ogata would go easy on them without harming their lives.

In the previous duel, Qing Deng repeatedly brushed past death.

Although Ogata consciously controlled his strength, he only managed to reduce it from "definitely will kill Aoto" to "may kill Aoto".

If he were to let his guard down, he would surely die a horrible death at the hands of his opponent!

Watching Aoto devour his food, practically flicking his chopsticks through the air, Ogata asked with a proud tone:

"How is it? My wife's cooking is pretty good, isn't it?"

Qingdeng nodded without hesitation and sincerely praised:

"Mmm, it's delicious. This cooking skill is good enough to open a shop."

“We did actually run a restaurant, about 40 years ago, we opened a restaurant in Nagasaki.”

"Mr. Ogata, do you and your husband start a new life in a new place every now and then?"

"Pretty much. We moved around a lot, traveling all over the five provinces and seven provinces. We even lived in Ezo for seven years. Thanks to this valuable experience, I not only learned the Ainu language, but also how to hunt."

The two chatted idly, their conversation seemingly going on and on.

Communicating with the "Eternal Sword Saint"... this is an extremely valuable experience, and Qing Deng is unwilling to waste it.

In no time, the lunchboxes in their hands were emptied, not even a single grain of rice was left.

After filling his stomach and regaining his energy, Qing Deng let out a long sigh of relief, and then eagerly asked Ogata:

"Mr. Ogata, please forgive my bluntness, but what is that 'transparent world'? And what are those 'air currents'? I would appreciate your guidance!"

Ever since he saw that strange "airflow," he had been extremely curious about it and wanted to find out the truth.

Aoto tried asking the well-informed Kiryu, the boss. However, even someone as learned as him didn't know what this "airflow" was.

Based on Ogata's words and actions just now, it's not hard to see that he understands this "transparent world" and is clear about the "airflow".

The opportunity to clear up years of confusion is right in front of you!

Qingdeng secretly resolved: He must take advantage of this precious opportunity to properly learn from the "Eternal Sword Saint"!

Ogata waved his hand, signaling Aoto to relax.

"Tachibana-kun, don't worry."

"We have plenty of time; we can talk at our own pace."

"Tell me first, roughly when did you first see that 'airflow'?"

Qingdeng answered solemnly:

"To be honest, I saw those 'air currents' a long time ago."

Ogata raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Oh? Tell me more about it."

……

……

Qingdeng recounted the whole story in detail.

After hearing this, Ogata clicked his tongue:

"So you saw the 'airflow' so early... That's really surprising."

"Mr. Ogata, is there a problem?"

"This is a huge problem."

Ogata shrugged.

"Logically speaking, only top-tier martial artists whose skills have reached the pinnacle should have the opportunity to see 'qi flow'. But you were able to see 'qi flow' even when your strength was still very weak, and you could see it very clearly..."

At this point, Ogata paused, appearing deep in thought.

After a moment, he adopted a tone that was half teasing and half serious, and said quietly:

"Maybe this is your talent."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng's expression changed slightly.

"My...talent..."

As the owner of the "Talent System", he is very sensitive to the word "talent".

While Aoto was still stunned, Ogata continued the conversation:

"Alright, without further ado, I'll answer your question now."

"Being able to see the 'transparent world' and the 'flow' of all things in the universe means that you have touched the threshold of a new realm."

"This is a higher level than the 'state of no-self'."

“I call it—the realm of perfect clarity!”

Qingdeng blinked and repeated the new term "transcendent realm" as if chewing on it.

“I know that the martial arts world is now claiming that the ‘selflessness’ is the highest level.”

"In fact, this is a complete fallacy."

"To put it bluntly, the 'state of selflessness' is just the limit of 'human beings'."

"Discard all distractions and focus your mind to achieve the best physical and mental state, thereby exceeding your usual performance."

"If you want to transcend the state of 'no-self,' you must break free from the shackles of 'humanity' and separate your consciousness from 'self.'"

"No longer pursue speed or slowness, strength or weakness, but focus on the essence of martial arts and comprehend the universe and all living beings."

"One of the prerequisites for entering the 'Transparent Realm' is to hone one's martial arts skills to the limit."

"It's like filling a bottle with water. When it's full, it will naturally overflow—of course, it also depends on the circumstances."

"Some people, due to a lack of talent, are unable to reach the 'Transcendent Realm' even if they are extremely strong."

"That's exactly how it is with Kuro (the owner of Kiryu).

"In terms of strength, Jiulang in his youth overwhelmed all others."

"For a long time, he was the 'greatest swordsman in Japan' besides me."

"However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not glimpse the mystery of the 'realm of enlightenment'."