Chapter 46: Miyamoto Isshin

Few people in Cassel College ever earned the praise of Miyamoto Isshin. In his eyes, the Student Union's president was a fine piece of timber, inherently gifted yet lazy and lacking in diligent practice, while the Lionheart Society's president was a solid log meticulously carved into a fine tool.

To put it simply, in his view, the current leaders of the college's two major factions both fell short: one was somewhat talented but neglected hard work, while the other lacked innate talent but at least barely made up for it through sheer diligence.

If anyone else had made such a remark, they would inevitably have faced a barrage of criticism. But the speaker was Miyamoto Isshin, the head of the Student Union's Kendo Club. He spoke his mind and stood firmly here today, a testament to the fact that his praises or criticisms were weighty enough to be elevated as benchmark evaluations.

All of this was rooted in Miyamoto Isshin's background.

Miyamoto Isshin was an exchange student sent from the distant Japan Branch to the main campus. His initial connection with the main campus began when he and the current Student Union president collaborated in Japan to crack a massive case involving hybrid gangs illegally manufacturing and trading alchemical drugs. They brought down hundreds of rogue, dangerous hybrids lingering in Japan's underworld streets and seized tons of alchemical products. Judging by the devastation at the scene, it was no less intense than a small-scale military engagement fought by the Self-Defense Forces at the ports.

In the files of Cassel College's Executioner Bureau, the rating for that mission was "AA," just a hair's breadth away from "S." Furthermore, that operation had been completed almost entirely by the Student Union president and Miyamoto Isshin on their own, without relying on any external field agents or help from the Japan Branch, and they had emerged completely unscathed.

It was precisely because of that mission that Miyamoto Isshin came into the main campus's radar. Because of his youth, the authorities deemed him worthy of cultivation with generous resources, and preparations were soon made for him to study abroad at the main campus of Cassel College. Thus, he officially established diplomatic ties with the Student Union—with whom he shared a bond forged in battle—and on his very first day at the main campus, he accepted the Student Union president's invitation to join the organization.

Yet, in the eyes of Miyamoto Isshin, who was born and raised in the Japan Branch, Cassel College was a failed breeding ground for venomous insects.

In the *Zuo Zhuan*, under the first year of Duke Zhao, when Zhao Meng asked the physician of Qin, "What is a *gu*?", the physician replied, "It is that which is born of indulgence, obsession, and confusion."

*Gu* was born from infatuation coupled with bewilderment and chaos.

To Miyamoto Isshin, Cassel College was precisely such a place: encircling without fighting, showing sternness without real ferocity, nurturing without refinement. Everything was trapped in a chaotic and inefficient vicious circle, running completely counter to the Japan Branch's creed that strength reigned supreme.

As time passed, however, Miyamoto Isshin gradually came to understand the ultimate goal of the elite-driven paradise upheld by Hildebrand von Olgier: to cultivate a single supreme *gu* king.

Only one who could end the confusion and guide all living beings could prevail; yet apart from that ultimate *gu* king, all who remained were failed dregs.

Therefore, Miyamoto Isshin sought an audience with Principal Olgier. He wanted to test whether he possessed the qualifications to catch the principal's eye.

Regrettably, Olgier did not give him a direct answer, but the answer was already glaringly obvious.

Miyamoto Isshin saw this clearly, and so he established the Kendo Club. Any club that dared to rival it was challenged and disbanded. He wanted to see whether, in this pure breeding ground for *gu*, there truly existed a talent with the aptitude to "end confusion and guide all living beings."

At that moment, the world-anticipated "S"-rank student appeared, shining like a star illuminating the night sky of the college. Tonight, harboring expectations once more, Miyamoto Isshin had come to this banquet solely to see what this talent, so heavily favored by the college, was truly like.

Right now, the rising new star stood before him. For a brief moment, Miyamoto Isshin felt as though he saw clearly—this might very well be the person the principal was waiting for. If it truly was him, then countless halos of glory, responsibility, and expectation would weigh heavily upon this young boy. Could he truly bear everything that was about to come?

Miyamoto Isshin did not know, but he decided to find the answer for himself.

He smiled as he looked at the boy standing before him, who was easily three full years younger than him. From the crown of his skull down to his neck, his arms, his chest, his waist, his thighs, and finally his feet, his gaze swept over him like an inkjet printer, unashamedly splashing unabashed admiration onto the other's person.

If Lin Nian was a blank sheet of paper, Miyamoto Isshin had already painted a masterpiece of the rising sun over the sea upon him. In his homeland of Japan, this was the highest form of respect. During the Showa era, every Japanese man would hang a painting of the rising sun on his chest or tie it around his forehead, symbolizing cutting-edge vigor and a bright future for the youth.

In Miyamoto Isshin's eyes, the boy before him was none other than that rising future.

"He's practically a wildman," Miyamoto Isshin muttered softly in admiration after finishing his self-introduction, observing the boy closely.

Formidable, sturdy, and untamed, reacting with razor-sharp keenness when facing danger—a wildman indeed. What wildmen lacked had never been physical prowess or innate talent; compared to modern men, wildmen possessed an overwhelming physical advantage in every aspect. The only thing lacking was "technique." With just a little bit of expert carving and polishing, he could become a true grandmaster.

"Freshman, Lin... what did you say?" Lin Nian snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Miyamoto Isshin's murmurs as he returned the greeting, lifting his head.

"I am deeply sorry." Miyamoto Isshin suddenly turned solemn, took a large step back, and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. His momentum was as majestic as a falling heavy blade, kicking up a sharp whistle of wind. "I was impolite earlier, Lin Nian-kun."

"No, it's fine. If it's just about the lobster, you really don't have to go this far." Lin Nian took half a step back, feeling his bangs flutter from the sudden gust stirred up by the bow. Still failing to comprehend the situation, this strange Japanese man had suddenly shown him such grand courtesy.

"Please forgive me, and by all means, join the Kendo Club, Lin Nian-kun. This is my heartfelt wish as Miyamoto Isshin from this day forth." Miyamoto Isshin did not raise his head, maintaining the bowing posture as he extended his right hand.

"Ah, I..." Lin Nian instinctively reached out his hand, but froze for a few seconds. Coming to his senses, he abruptly yanked his hand back, thinking with a start: *Good grief, you crafty Japanese devil. With such cunning and slyness, why weren't you reincarnated to bomb Pearl Harbor in World War II? You're using all your dirty tricks on me.*

Lin Nian had almost fallen for Miyamoto Isshin's trap. When he heard the word "forgive," his hand had almost reached out to shake. Only when the second half of the sentence spilled out did the true, malicious intent of this young man with a sword-tail ponytail reveal itself. People closer to the dining table had already turned their heads, their attention drawn by Miyamoto Isshin's voice. If he had actually grabbed his hand in this situation, what would people have thought?

"It's fine, just a lobster. There are so many lobsters here that we can't possibly finish them all... But as for joining the Kendo Club, please allow me to consider it." Lin Nian placed his hands behind his back and gave a slight, polite bow, smooth and courteous.

"What a shame, truly." Miyamoto Isshin slowly withdrew his hand, straightened up, and sighed as he looked at Lin Nian. "An unpolished gem like you, if left uncarved and unpolished by a master's own hands, would simply be a monstrous waste of natural talent. I truly cannot reconcile myself to it."

Lin Nian thought to himself: *How long have we even known each other? Coming right out of the gate to praise me as an unpolished gem is a bit too eager for quick results, isn't it? Surely I'm not a rare structural pillar of society just because my hand was slightly faster than yours in grabbing a lobster claw?*

"Upon our very first meeting just now, you beat me once. That was something I never expected before coming here today." Miyamoto Isshin glanced at the lobster missing a claw on the nearby table.

"If you insist on counting that as a win or loss..." Lin Nian finally understood why his coach at the youth palace used to get a headache whenever Japanese people were mentioned. It wasn't about historical baggage or national sentiment; it was simply that Japanese people took everything far too seriously, rigid as if stamped out from a mold with the word "rules" engraved on the inner walls.

"I made the first move. On a battlefield, that would be considered a sneak attack, and yet I still missed." Miyamoto Isshin said, "In kendo, missing means a missed strike. Surely Lin Nian-kun, having studied kendo for many years, can understand my meaning."

"You said earlier that you're the head of the Student Union's Kendo Club?" Lin Nian decided to change the subject. Continuing to debate an un-clawed lobster was far too childish and didn't fit the decorum of the present occasion.

"To be precise, there is only one kendo club in the entire college, so Lin Nian-kun can drop the Student Union affiliation." Miyamoto Isshin smiled faintly. "I want to make one thing clear: I am not recruiting you for the Student Union, but rather extending an olive branch to you in my capacity as the head of the Cassel College Kendo Club. A talent like yours is precisely what the Kendo Club needs."

"Is there a difference?"

"I believe I am the only one in all of Cassel College who can teach you kendo," Miyamoto Isshin said.

"I can easily go to other kendo clubs," Lin Nian shook his head, disliking Miyamoto Isshin's absolute tone.

"No, Lin Nian-kun, as I said before, there is only one kendo club in Cassel College," Miyamoto Isshin said calmly.

Had Lin Nian been enrolled in the college for long, he would have understood that Miyamoto Isshin was not lying. There truly was only one kendo club at Cassel College. It wasn't that the college forbade clubs with duplicate names—rival organizations like the Lionheart Society and the Student Union both had hobby clubs centered around shared interests. The only reason the Kendo Club had no counterparts was simply because Miyamoto Isshin, its head, refused to allow a second kendo club to exist.

"Among all the students at Cassel College, when it comes to the sword, I am the strongest." Miyamoto Isshin's expression was serene, as if stating a plain fact.

Lin Nian raised his head to look straight into the man's eyes. He was familiar with this routine. Back when he worked part-time at the youth palace, instructors at every kendo and jujitsu training class would claim to be the strongest in the entire facility. If anyone questioned them, the instructors would say, "If you don't believe me, go ask outside." But who was standing outside? Just plants hired by the instructor; no matter who you asked, they would give you a thumbs-up and praise: *Musashi Kendo Training Class, top-notch!*

Clearly, Lin Nian had already categorized Miyamoto Isshin as the type who would boast of his own wares, elevate himself to staggering heights, and then feign humility just to rope him into his grasp.

"And you, Lin Nian-kun, if you study kendo with me, you can become the strongest after me. You possess this aptitude!" Miyamoto Isshin stared intently at Lin Nian, speaking with utmost seriousness.

"The strongest?"

Sensing Lin Nian's dismissive attitude, Miyamoto Isshin shook his head and said, "This is a universally acknowledged fact. No doubt Lin Nian-kun is also a master who has deeply immersed himself in kendo, but forgive my bluntness, you can't learn anything in a place like a youth palace. If Lin Nian-kun were to follow me and learn—"

"Take back what you said."

Before Miyamoto Isshin could finish, Lin Nian interrupted him. His tone was exceedingly calm, yet it radiated an unquestionable, resolute will—take back those words, or I will make you take them back.