My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 437: Chapter 157: The Power of Eternal Talent

While Aoto was still engrossed in studying his new talent, suddenly—Mukiwa, who sat across from him and had been focused on massaging her right leg, stood up while supporting herself against the alley wall and stomped her foot forcefully.

"Hmm... finally recovered." Mukiwa glanced at her right leg, which no longer felt sore or numb no matter how she tiptoed, and with a self-talking tone, she smiled wryly, "Tonight has been full of surprises... that guy in the brown robe, who is he really...?"

Aoto, pulled back to reality by Mukiwa’s murmured reflection, smiled helplessly and echoed, "Who knows... Is your leg okay? Any other injuries?"

"I’m fine." Mukiwa stretched her arms out on either side of her body and tiptoed a few times, using her actions to signal Aoto that she was intact. "And you? How’s the spot where you got hit by that guy’s branch?"

As she spoke, Mukiwa changed to a worried tone.

"Did it bleed? Is it serious?"

"No bleeding, just minor injuries." Aoto raised his hand to touch the areas that the mysterious person’s branch had struck just moments ago.

"...Let me see your wounds." Mukiwa said.

"Huh?" Aoto was taken aback.

"Let me see your wounds." With a determined gaze, Mukiwa looked into Aoto’s eyes, repeating her previous words word by word.

"It’s not necessary." Aoto quickly waved his hand, "They’re just minor injuries that didn’t even bleed."

"No way." Mukiwa shook her head firmly, "That guy’s branch struck you so hard, it cracked with a pop when it hit. I can’t believe it’s just minor injuries. Let me see your wounds."

This was the first time Aoto saw this forceful side of Mukiwa... No matter what he said or explained, Mukiwa wouldn’t back down.

Unable to resist Mukiwa, Aoto could only sigh softly and slowly took off his upper garment.

Until the battle ended, the mysterious man only greeted Aoto with his branch, totaling seven strikes, all concentrating on the upper part of Aoto’s body.

Indeed, Aoto wasn’t lying; the crisscrossing wounds on his body didn’t bleed, but the appearance of the wounds was quite frightening.

The longest wound was four inches, the shortest two inches.

Each wound was an undeniable blood mark, with skin cracked apart, shockingly red, and a few wounds even seeping tiny droplets of blood.

The alley where Aoto and Mukiwa were hiding was flanked by rather tall buildings. Under the wide eaves of these buildings, the light in the alley was exceptionally dim, making it impossible to see one’s fingers.

Hence, to get a better view of the injuries on Aoto’s body, Mukiwa unconsciously took half a step forward, stood in front of Aoto, and brought her face close to his bare upper body.

Seeing Mukiwa’s nose almost touching him, Aoto couldn’t help but be startled.

Baring his upper body before a young woman who isn’t kin or a medical professional and letting her examine his wounds up close... this was a first.

For some reason, Aoto felt a tickling sensation in his heart at this moment.

His eyes unconsciously turned away from Mukiwa, and the muscles on his face seemed to lose control, making his expression awkward.

Mukiwa seemed completely unaware that she and Aoto were now in a rather ambiguous situation.

Only after thoroughly and meticulously examining every wound on Aoto’s upper body, did Mukiwa finally show a "sigh of relief" expression.

"Fortunately, the wounds aren’t too severe."

Mukiwa straightened up, hands on her hips, and solemnly continued:

"When you get back, be sure to apply medication in time."

"Otherwise, there’s still a high chance these wounds will leave scars... Hmm? Mr. Tachibana, what’s wrong? Why do you have a strange expression?"

It was only now that Mukiwa belatedly noticed Aoto’s odd expression.

"Ah... nothing..." Aoto awkwardly laughed a few times and raised his hand to rub his nose, "I just think... Miss Kinoshita, you’re rather bold sometimes."

Still maintaining the hands-on-hips posture, Mukiwa, upon hearing Aoto’s remark, first froze slightly, then she seemed to realize something, and her expression changed.

"I-I’m sorry..." Mukiwa hastily lowered her head, directing the crown of her head at Aoto while reaching out both hands to pull up and tighten the mask on her face, covering her face tightly, "I just... wanted to check if your injuries were serious or not..."

The girl in front of him returned to the Mukiwa he was familiar with.

The awkward atmosphere stirred between the two, who were both silent...

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The author has discovered that a small portion of readers really love to criticize the martial arts like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms in Wuxia novels for being unreasonable and how it’s impossible to unleash palm strikes in real life... Honestly, whenever I see these comments, I don’t know what expression to put on...