After a night of hustle and bustle, the knife hunt continues, and the battles continue to be staged everywhere in Yoshitaka.
But in some places, it's quiet as usual.
In the courtyard facing the teahouse, under the infusion of water, the sound of deer is heard. Above the white sand, there are plum blossoms falling on the dark rocks.
The slightly old samurai holds the teacup and quietly stares at the distant scenery, comprehending Zen.
His movement pauses for a moment.
He looks at the door of the teahouse.
Behind the paper door, there is a soft sound of footsteps approaching slowly. The visitor stops outside the door and doesn't hide his existence. He just waits respectfully.
After the samurai finishes his tea, the visitor gently knocks on the door and respectfully reports, "Teacher Sato, disciple Yamanaka Furuya boldly asks to see you."
Sato puts down the teacup and asks indifferently, "Why didn't you knock at the beginning?"
The young man outside the door bows his head, "I dare not disturb your elegant interest."
Sato smiles, "So you don't disturb me now?"
The voice behind the door becomes more respectful, "I have so many things on my mind. It's really difficult to be at ease. I'm afraid I have no chance to see you."
"Since you're here, come in."
Sato breathes a sigh of relief and can't help but feel bored.
There are too many students who want to flatter him. It's almost impossible to guard against them.
Especially after he takes the role of the judge of the knife hunt, they become more and more attentive. Even the teahouse where he occasionally takes a break has been visited.
The paper door opens, revealing a handsome young man kneeling outside the door.
He wears the uniform of the dojo and carries a gorgeous long sword, but the scabbard looks too gorgeous. It doesn't look like a murder weapon, but like a work of art.
Although there are traces of holding a sword on his fingers, there are no calluses.
A pompous man with poor martial arts skills.
Sato glances at him and asks, "Since you're here, do you want to drink tea with me?"
"I dare not."
Yamanaka raises his hand, wipes the sweat on his forehead, and picks up a box from beside him, "I just came in and found something. I dare not cherish it. Please examine it, Teacher Sato."
Sato doesn't want to see it. He just wants to wave his hand and let him get out with his things.
However, the young man's movements were swift. He opened the exquisite box and slowly pushed the item in the box forward.
Sato's raised arm paused.
Between the soft brocade, the ancient teapot revealed its true appearance.
The teapot had been forged from black iron, but its design was indescribably delicate and light. The fine, scale-like patterns on its surface contained strands of Origin Substance. A profound and quiet aura wafted out from it, causing one's heart to immediately feel tranquil.
It wasn't some kind of precious relic from the border, but after decades of nurturing by an expert in the Way of Tea, the teapot had already given birth to its own Origin Substance, making it rarer than any other relic from the border.
It was truly a rare and elegant thing.
Although Zuo Teng did not like people who sought personal gain, he could not help but feel happy when such an exquisite teapot was placed in front of him. Now, as the young man Yamanaka moved, the teapot was pushed in front of Sato.
It was close at hand.
Zuo Teng lowered his eyes and looked at the ancient and weathered body of the cauldron. He couldn't help but reach out his hand and gently touch it. He felt a slight chill in his hand and his nose seemed to smell the illusory fragrance of tea.
"This is truly a rare and wonderful thing … …"
After a long silence, Zuo Teng finally raised his eyes, and his expression became serious. "If you give it to an old man like me to appraise, I'm afraid it'll be like a pearl covered in dust, right?"
Yamanaka couldn't help but shake his head and smile.
The young man's smile was so warm and gentle that it left a good impression on him.
"In the end, it's just a teapot." Yamanaka replied without losing his composure. "In the eyes of those who like it, it's naturally precious, but in the eyes of those who don't like it, they'll only see it as trash. It can be seen that there are many fine steeds, but Bo Le is rare. "
"Yes, Bo Le is rare."
When Zuo Teng heard this, he recalled the difficult years of his life and was filled with emotion.
After a long time, his eyes suddenly sharpened as he looked at the disciple in front of him. "But Yamanaka Kun, you compare me to Bo Le, but you're really not a fine steed. What can I teach you?"
The young man lowered his eyes and respectfully replied, "I don't dare ask for too much. I only hope that I can listen to your teachings from time to time."
"I go to the dojo every Friday. If I want to teach, why don't I see you in my class?"
"Of course, I hope that you can see me in a different light."
When he said this, the young man raised his head and let the teacher in front of him look at him with sharp eyes. He hid the trembling of his fingers and wanted to show his backbone.
Zuo Teng was silent for a moment and then laughed softly.
"Very good, Yamanaka Kun." He said, "I'll accept the teapot. I'll see your performance."
"Then, I'll take my leave."
The young man politely said goodbye and took two steps back. Finally, he bowed again and gently closed the door for him.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded away.
In the silence, Zuo Teng looked down at the teapot in the box. After a long time, he took out his phone and dialed his colleague's number.
"This is Teng Ping."
"It's me." Zuo Teng opened his mouth and asked, "I remember that you have a disciple called Yamanaka Furuya?"
"Yamanaka?"
Teng Ping thought for a moment. "There are so many disciples in the dojo. I don't have much of an impression. But I remember that there was a Yamanaka who spent money to donate. His family is from the Honshu Agricultural Association and has plenty of money. He didn't attend many classes, but he mixed in with a group of bad friends. But he has a sense of propriety and hasn't caused any trouble. "
Teng Ping asked, "Is he going to follow your path?"
"Yes."
Zuo Teng said calmly, "If his performance is good, it's not bad to take him in as an official disciple."
Teng Ping on the other side of the phone immediately understood.
"Then you'll have to treat me."
Every year at this time, there were many disciples who came out to do activities like this. They wanted to find a way to improve themselves or to seek other positions. And the teachers naturally wouldn't be too heartless. If possible, they would often be merciful.
There were too many people in the world. It wasn't rare for everyone to take what they wanted.
Especially disciples like Yamanaka.
He knew propriety and knew when to advance and retreat.
He was generous and respectful to his teachers.
Teaching him would naturally have endless benefits.
But of course, accepting a disciple couldn't be so careless. It was only based on a chance meeting. Naturally, it would take a long time to make sure that the disciple wouldn't cause trouble for himself before being officially considered.
And during this period, it was time for the disciple to perform …
Zuo Teng narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but feel expectant.
And the speed of this cheap disciple, who hadn't even taken any action yet, was much faster than he had imagined.
According to the surveillance video, at four o 'clock in the afternoon, he had already set up his stall at the entrance of the dojo.
Just three minutes before Zuo Teng arrived.
.
.
"Teacher Zuo Teng!"
In front of the dojo's entrance, Zuo Teng didn't even raise his head when he heard a majestic, sonorous, and energetic greeting. He was so shocked that he almost pulled out his sword.
He raised his head and took a glance. Only then did he realize that it was the young man who bowed respectfully in front of the door.
He remembered his name was … Yamanaka's House?
They met again so soon.
That shout was so loud that it attracted the attention of the surrounding people, as well as the disciples passing by inside and outside the dojo. Their eyes were filled with curiosity.
Yamanaka was stunned for a moment. Then, he understood in his heart and couldn't help but smile.
'This little fellow is actually using me to create momentum right now?'
He could see that in the basket behind him, there were hundreds of famous swords scattered around. The number was quite astonishing. He could feel the aura left by the martial artists who had been immersed in them for a long time. There was no doubt that they were all genuine.
He suddenly understood in his heart.
Although he didn't know where he got so many samurai swords and how much he spent, he was afraid that he was also thinking of making a name for himself this time.
Sure enough, he was very thoughtful.
That was why he wanted to do what he liked. If he, as one of the judges of the knife hunt, could give him a push from behind, he would be sure to win this time. In the future, he would be able to become famous among his peers …
Unfortunately, the young man was still a little inexperienced after all.
How could Zuo Teng not see it?
This young man seemed calm and solemn, but his heart and pulse were in a mess. He was already sweating nervously …
Teacher Zuo Teng's expression became serious.
"Yamanaka!"
Suddenly, Yamanaka's House trembled and bowed its head, "Disciple is here!"
Looking at his trembling appearance, Zuo Teng smiled, reached out, and patted him on the shoulder, "Young people should guard against arrogance and impatience. Don't bite off more than you can chew."
Although he didn't intend to ruin things, he still had to give him a warning.
But after the warning, he also had to encourage him more. Otherwise, wouldn't he be doing a favor for free?
In this way, in front of many disciples, Zuo Teng encouraged him, "Do your best, Yamanaka. The future depends on you."
Yamanaka was stunned for a moment, and immediately became ecstatic and responded loudly, "Yes!"
Feeling the longing gaze from beside him, Zuo Teng smiled slightly and turned to walk into the dojo.
Being sensible and polite can make money, especially with ideas …
This future inner disciple of his may have a great future.
He thought so.
Yamanaka's House had been respectfully standing in place and bowing until Master Zuo Teng walked away. Then, he slowly straightened up and felt the subtle gazes from around him.
Some indifference, some mockery, and some hostility …
Seeing a disciple who they had never seen before bring back so many results and even get the praise of the judges, the other disciples' hearts suddenly felt uncomfortable.
A disciple who had just returned from a knife hunt with more than seventy blades slowly walked up with a sneer, "Hey, you look very unfamiliar."
Yamanaka stood in place and withdrew his gaze from the direction where Master Zuo Teng left. His expression changed from a smile to indifference. He glanced at the newcomer and asked, "Do you think I find you familiar?"
The newcomer was suddenly angry.
But before he could do anything, Yamanaka's House picked up the registration board and held a pen in his hand, and impatiently asked, "How many blades?"
"Huh?"
The disciple who was looking for trouble was stunned and didn't understand.
"Are you here to have fun with me, bastard!"
Yamanaka's expression suddenly became angry. The pen in his hand knocked on the board, and he was almost angry, "I asked you how many blades, didn't you go to the knife hunt? Don't make trouble for third-year students! "
The young man patted the table and said unhappily, "I'm here to register —"
"Ah?" The disciple who was looking for trouble was stunned for a long time and finally reacted, "Register? Register what? "
"Of course it's the result of the knife hunt!"
Yamanaka picked his nose, "Everyone stays here to register the number. These days, you guys came back here to report the number, and you lost so many blades. Do you think Master Zuo is the accountant? The gentlemen are already sick of it. Otherwise, why would they ask me to do this job?
Master Zuo just came to inspect the task, didn't you come? "
"I … I …"
"What about me?"
Yamanaka coldly pointed to the big baskets and boxes beside him, "Put the things there and report the number yourself! Don't lie, I have a count here! "
With that, he patted the blackboard behind him, and suddenly the names and the number of blades appeared on it.
He impatiently glanced at the newcomer, waiting for him to answer.
His heart … was in his throat. Under the second-hand dojo uniform he bought, his calves and stomach began to twitch.
He was ready to run away at any time.
"Seven, seventy-one blades …"
The newcomer was shocked by his angry look, and finally seemed to understand. He subconsciously followed his command and put the blades in the box, letting him take them away.
With Master Zuo's testimony, no one doubted the origin of this person.
Anyway, this was the dojo's entrance. No one would be bold enough to play tricks under the Sword Saint's eyes, right?
The answer was there.
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