SGB Chapter 278

## Chapter 278: Ashina Swordsmanship (4K4)

**London, Bayswater District, 36 Lancaster Gate.**

Arthur held a cup of tea in his left hand, his right hand engrossed in a thick, ancient, and yellowed book.

Perhaps due to his intense focus, Arthur remained in this posture for an unknown period, so engrossed he didn’t even take a sip of his tea, even as the steam rising from the cup dissipated.

“Hmm…”

Arthur furrowed his brow, taking a gulp of the now ice-cold tea. He then set down the porcelain cup and looked up at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.

The Red Devil, who was busy perusing fan mail, couldn’t help but notice Arthur’s expression. He adjusted his spectacles and inquired, “What’s wrong with you? Did you eat something bad for lunch? Constipated? If so, I recommend using the intestinal therapy device advertised in the newspaper. I’ve got that tube stored right next to the kitchen.”

“Next to the kitchen?”

Arthur’s hand, reaching for the fruit bowl, paused. He said, “Agareus, can you please keep that thing far away? I don’t want to taste anyone’s gut flora.”

The Red Devil leaned back, taking a swig of the ale on the table. He wiped the foam from his lips and let out a satisfied burp, “I can’t control everything. Besides, I haven’t eaten anything from the kitchen lately.”

Arthur merely glanced at the beer and remarked, “Oh, so you think the beer you’re drinking is clean?”

Agareus nonchalantly nodded, “Of course it is. The taste, it’s potent!”

“Alright, since you’re so adamant, I won’t elaborate on its production environment. I can only hope they didn’t add any unexpected surprises beyond the hops during production.”

Arthur resumed reading the book, but his frown deepened with each page.

Seeing his state, Agareus finally couldn’t resist asking, “What’s got you so bothered? Is there something special about this book? It’s just a plain old manual on swordsmanship, right?”

Arthur shook his finger, “This is no ordinary swordsmanship manual. It’s an ancient text Lionel specifically sourced for me.”

Arthur tapped the leather cover, “See? ‘The Paradox of Swordsmanship’. Its author is the renowned 16th century British swordsmanship master, George Silver. You, being the learned devil, must have heard of the Silver Flow Swordsmanship.”

“Oh, that guy. I know him. He was a notorious naysayer in the 16th century. I remember this guy hated the Rapier, didn’t he? The Italian swordsmanship you practice is a prime example of what he severely criticized.”

The Red Devil casually tossed the fan mail back into the box and continued, “But with a war looming, why aren’t you reviewing your Fiore dei Liberi style? Instead, you’re reading about your local Silver Flow Swordsmanship? To be honest, Silver Flow is far less fierce and stylish than Fiore dei Liberi. Its strengths lie in its solid foundation and ease of learning.”

Arthur placed the book on the table, warming his hands with the teacup, “Actually, I didn’t intend to change my style initially. But Lionel told me they’re using promotional slogans like ‘Hundred Years’ War’, ‘Wellington vs. Napoleon’, all heavily emphasizing Anglo-French elements for this swordsmanship competition. So, he hoped I could utilize more traditional British martial arts when facing the Paris Sword Saint, François Bertrand. That’s why he went to such lengths to find me an original copy of ‘The Paradox of Swordsmanship’.”

The Red Devil stroked his chin, “It seems this little Jew is quite keen on making money. But why are you shaking your head at the book?”

Arthur explained, “Because, as you said, Master George Silver was indeed a formidable British critic. While half of the book introduces his swordsmanship philosophy and techniques, the other half is essentially dedicated to criticizing the Rapier, which originated in Italy, and praising the English Short Sword.”

Agareus was intrigued, “What does he say in the book?”

Arthur flipped to the page he had marked, listing the points for the Red Devil with a hint of helplessness.

“He mainly raises these points:

Firstly, can the Rapier pierce armor?

Secondly, can the Rapier save Rome?

Thirdly, can the Rapier help us win the Hundred Years’ War?

Fourthly, can the Rapier cut through a spear on the battlefield, with a mindset of death before surrender?

Fifthly, nowadays all the young men in Britain are obsessed with the flashy Rapier techniques, deeply poisoned by the superficiality of the Apennine Peninsula. They’re constantly engaging in duels and honor-driven revenge. A walk through the streets of London is a parade of the maimed and mutilated. How can we build a beautiful England with this going on?

Sixthly, the Rapier emphasizes offense over solid defense, which contradicts the true essence of swordsmanship, which is to kill others to protect yourself. If you lose an arm in a duel, what’s the point of such victory?

Seventhly, the Rapier’s techniques are too complex. Many spend a lifetime mastering only a few. Its technical movements demand too much from the user. We can train countless English Short Sword masters in ten years, but it might take thirty years to cultivate a Fiore dei Liberi master. Even if we spend thirty years nurturing a Fiore dei Liberi Sword Saint, are you going to send a 50-60 year old man, whose strength and speed are declining, to duel?

In short, George Silver essentially means: Rapier? You’re making me laugh. If you want to learn swordsmanship, you should look to our traditional English skills.

From this perspective, if I can defeat François Bertrand using the Silver Flow Short Sword, it could indeed spark cheers from the entire British swordsmanship world and the public.”

At this point, Arthur hesitated, pondering, “But the only problem is, how can I use a Short Sword to defeat the French Rapier? Agareus, after all, when you taught me swordsmanship, you said that in a fair fight with cold weapons, length is the key to victory.

As far as I know, the Rapier François Bertrand uses is 43-45 inches long. If I continue using Fiore dei Liberi and choose a Rapier, my weapon would be 40-51 inches, easily giving me an advantage.

But if I use a Short Sword… I asked several large blacksmith shops in London, and their longest Short Swords are only 27 inches. Even with my reach advantage, I’d still be at a disadvantage against Bertrand.

So, would I have to close the distance and engage in hand-to-hand combat from the very beginning? That’s foolish. How did Master George Silver defeat Fiore dei Liberi masters with a Short Sword?”

Agareus burst into laughter, “Arthur, you’re worried about this? George Silver isn’t as stupid as you think. Didn’t you notice? He emphasizes using the English Short Sword when mentioning his Silver Flow Swordsmanship. And George Silver’s definition of the English Short Sword is that only a sword with a blade longer than 37 inches qualifies.

If you include the guard and hilt, the total length easily reaches 40 inches or more. Or, if you prefer, you could order a 50-inch English Short Sword. Aside from his obsession with the name ‘English Short Sword’, George Silver is usually quite flexible when it comes to length.”

Arthur’s eyelids twitched, his heart finally settling. He crossed his legs and leaned back on the sofa, asking, “If English Short Swords are 50 inches, how long are English Long Swords?”

The Red Devil shrugged, “According to George Silver’s standards, I reckon it’d be close to 90 inches.”

“90 inches?!”

Arthur took a deep breath, muttering to himself, “That’s almost 2.3 meters! Did people in the 16th century duel with a weapon as long as Yao Ming?”

He pressed Agareus, “Who would use a 90-inch sword?”

Agareus adjusted his spectacles and answered solemnly, “Based on my judgment, Goliath, the giant slain by the shepherd David in the Bible, would definitely not be able to wield such a sword. After all, Goliath was only 5 feet tall. But in Cornwall, England, their local legend of the giant Gogmagog stands at 12 feet. A sword like that would be more suitable for him.”

Arthur couldn’t help but clap, “Seems Master George Silver’s ‘The Paradox of Swordsmanship’ is indeed a masterpiece. While I don’t entirely agree with his critique of the Rapier, his disdain for the Long Sword is justified. That length is simply not meant for normal people.”

The Red Devil grinned and pulled a book from his wide robe, tossing it on the table, “Actually, you can still win with a normal Short Sword. But I suggest you read this book before stepping into the duel arena and incorporate some German secret techniques into your Silver Flow Swordsmanship.

Arthur, I wouldn’t usually show this book to anyone. When I taught you swordsmanship, I didn’t present this first because I was afraid you’d get greedy and impatient, straying from the path of learning swordsmanship.”

Arthur glanced at the book. The cover was simple, without any fancy patterns or decorations, just a title and author.

**’100 Techniques of Swordsmanship’**

**Author: Michael Hunter.**

Agareus asked with a playful smile, “Arthur, have you heard of him before?”

Arthur stared at the book for a while, stroking his chin, “Not familiar with the name.”

The Red Devil coughed, “The regular parts, I think, are useless for you now. So, I suggest you start reading from the 90th technique.”

Arthur, with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity, flipped open the book. The initial techniques, while seemingly strange, were still somewhat acceptable.

But when he reached the 94th technique, his entire body involuntarily jolted.

**Hunter Flow, 94th Technique**

Sometimes, due to security issues, a person may be attacked by multiple assailants at night. The attackers are usually four, five, or more. Some individuals, not only lose their belongings in such incidents, but also lose their lives and limbs.

If you are attacked by a large group of enemies on your way home, please use your two fists to grip your rapier tightly and throw it forcefully at the attackers. Then, use your sharp eyes to quickly assess where you can seek further protection. Finally, run with all your might.

Arthur thought this was already beyond his comprehension of swordsmanship. But as his eyes fell upon the 98th technique, he realized the gap between his wisdom and that of a true sword master.

**Hunter Flow, 98th Technique**

Sometimes, when a person leaves a dinner party and is about to return home, they may encounter unfortunate attacks. This is especially common at universities, where a person may have a disagreement or unpleasant incident at a club event.

Therefore, your enemies at the club may seek to take your life as you return home in the evening. If this happens, do not hesitate. Please grip your sword with your fist and throw your cloak over your left arm. Your primary task is to protect your body and head. Then, shout for help, calling out to your brothers in times of danger.

If you are well-liked or if the friends you made at the club haven’t left yet, you will surely achieve a glorious victory. Incidentally, this technique requires exceptional social skills.

Arthur took a deep breath. He thought this must be the limit of the Hunter Flow, but then, the 99th technique instantly broadened his perspective.

**Hunter Flow, 99th Technique**

In a duel between swordsmen, it often happens that due to their intense desire for the honor of victory, they give their all. But victory and defeat are common in duels. Do not be overly aggressive after defeating your opponent. We should watch him get back on his feet, rather than pursuing him and striking him down, for everyone should cherish their life and limbs, as God has bestowed them upon each person so that he can protect his honor. Therefore, it is not something to be ashamed of when you are defeated, to cry out in surrender.

Agareus saw Arthur’s stunned and almost rigid expression, unable to contain his laughter. The Red Devil said, “Arthur, those techniques you’ve seen are irrelevant for now. For your duel with François Bertrand, I still recommend you refer to the 100th technique.”

Arthur’s gaze shifted downwards. But this time, he could no longer sit still.

He simply muttered, “Unbelievable. Did someone comprehend the true essence of swordsmanship so early on?”

**Hunter Flow, 100th Technique**

This technique is sometimes very useful. When agile individuals stand together, regardless of whether they are nobles, driven by hatred, or the disparity in weapons used in the duel, they will quickly meet their end through thrusts or slashes. This is the case in many places now. I’ve also heard that in some places, one person may have a rapier and a dagger, while the other has a rapier and a blunderbuss.

If someone insists on using a dagger and doesn’t know anything, you’re in luck: ditch the dagger and grab a blunderbuss. This is a backup option in those situations where you don’t have to use the same weapon as your opponent but need a secondary weapon in an emergency. Because then everything is on the line, it’s the most dangerous moment in the world.

You are fortunate. Pay close attention to all my techniques, including footwork and flanking. Fortunately, each technique is effective in defeating the enemy. Thus, your luck, honor, and virtue will protect your life and limbs. Gentlemen, the times have changed. Do not live in the past.

Grab your blunderbuss, my friend. God bless you with victory in your next duel.

Agareus chuckled, “Arthur, what do you think? Do you find Mr. Hunter’s writings insightful?”

Arthur closed the book and looked at the author’s name, shaking his head, “If you didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have believed this book was written by Michael Hunter.”

“Who do you think wrote it then?”

Arthur helplessly raised the book, emphasizing, “If you hadn’t told me, I would have thought it was written by Isshin Ashina.”

(End of Chapter)