My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 345 - 136: The Three Heroes of Edo’s Three Great Sword Dojos

"That’s just a rumor." Chiba Dingji waved his hand, "As for whether the ’Hero’ Mashima Wurang really fought a bear, opinions still vary."

Chiba Dingji wasn’t particularly concerned about the feat that ’Chiba Eijiro repelled a black bear with only a sword.’

After briefly mentioning it, Chiba Dingji put down the teacup he had been holding and exhaled with a relieved expression:

"From your description... Eisuke, you indeed entered the ’State of No-Self’ at that time!"

"Your father and I have both experienced that ’all things are void’ state."

"Eisuke, have you tried to recreate the ’State of No-Self’ afterward?"

Chiba Eijiro nodded:

"After battling the Big Black Bear, I tried to enter the ’State of No-Self’ again."

"But unfortunately... no matter how I tried, I ended in failure, never returning to that state of complete mental clarity."

"Well, that’s normal." Chiba Dingji nodded, "’State of No-Self,’ as the ultimate in Martial Arts, is inherently elusive."

"Eisuke, take your time, don’t rush."

Chiba Dingji grinned and showed an encouraging smile to Chiba Eijiro.

"You reached the ’State of No-Self’ at such a young age... it’s an incredible achievement."

"Your father and I only touched this supreme state, one that countless martial artists strive lifelong to glimpse, in our thirties... Hmm! Ow!"

Before Chiba Dingji could finish, he suddenly let out a low cry of pain.

"Uncle Dingji?" Chiba Eijiro was startled and quickly stood up, supporting Chiba Dingji, "What’s wrong?"

"Ah, nothing, nothing." Chiba Dingji smiled wryly and waved his hand, "It’s just my waist acting up again..."

"Last night, my old back problem suddenly flared up, and no matter how I rested, it’s not getting better... Alas..."

"Uncle Dingji, do you need me to massage it for you? After joining the Mito Domain, I learned a technique from a colleague that effectively relieves joint pain."

"No need, no need." Chiba Dingji waved his hand again, "I’ve already sent Shigetarou to get me some medicine."

"The medicine Shigetarou is getting for me is very effective. Once it’s applied to my back, the pain will quickly ease."

"By the time, Shigetarou should be back with the medicine."

...

...

Edo, Oke-machi, somewhere—

"Oh? Mr. Shigetarou? What a coincidence, good afternoon." An elderly lady holding a basket of vegetables greeted Chiba Shigetarou as he approached her.

"Ah, Granny Le, good afternoon." Chiba Shigetarou responded enthusiastically to the elderly lady.

This elderly lady, whom Chiba Shigetarou called "Granny Le," was the owner of a yaoya in Oke-machi.

A yaoya is a vegetable store.

In the early Edo Era, vegetable vendors initially divided into "front vegetable stalls" selling only one or two types like eggplant or leafy greens and "yaoya" selling various vegetables.

Over time, the distinction disappeared, and all vegetable-selling shops came to be called "yaoya."

Granny Le’s yaoya was adjacent to Little Chiba Sword Dojo, so Chiba Shigetarou’s family were regulars there.

Thus, they developed quite a bond.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Granny Le, she cast a curious glance at the large paper bag Shigetarou was holding.

"Mr. Shigetarou, what’s in that paper bag you’re carrying?"

"Oh, this." Shigetarou glanced at the paper bag in his right hand with a helpless smile, "It’s the medicine I just picked up for my father."

"Medicine?" Granny Le was slightly taken aback but quickly asked with concern, "Mr. Shigetarou, is your father alright?"

"No need to worry, it’s nothing serious." Shigetarou replied, "It’s just his back pain acting up again."

"Since last night, his waist suddenly started hurting."

"We thought resting a bit would relieve the pain, but it persisted till noon today."

"So we had no choice but to get him this medicine to effectively treat his back injury."

"Mr. Dingji’s back problem flaring up again..." Granny Le looked worried, "Is it serious?"

"Not serious, not serious." Shigetarou put away his smile and waved his hand, "Granny Le, you know it’s my father’s old issue."

"His back aches every so often."

Chiba Shigetarou shook the large paper bag containing the medicine.

"Once he applies this medicine and rests quietly in bed for 1 or 2 hours, his problem can be subdued again."

After saying this, Chiba Shigetarou looked up at the sky and, with an apologetic smile, said to Granny Le:

"Granny Le, I need to hurry back and apply the medicine to my father, so I must leave now."

"Alright, go." Granny Le nodded forcefully, "Quickly go home, and send my regards to your father and Miss Sazanoko."

"Sure." Chiba Shigetarou grinned, "I will."

After waving goodbye to Granny Le, Chiba Shigetarou tightened the bag of medicine in his hand and continued on his way back to Little Chiba Sword Dojo.

However, suddenly—a slightly shrill young voice sounded beside Chiba Shigetarou: