The battle between Zhou Ming and Hirakawa Taisho quickly spread among the upper echelons of Kyoto with the help of interested people.
The name of Hirakawa Taisho is not known to the people of Kyoto, but among the upper-class nobles, no one dares to ignore it.
The personal bodyguard around Nohara Momonosuke has always been favored by Nohara Momonosuke. Although his official position is not high, his influence is first-class. I don’t know how many dignitaries want to find opportunities to have a relationship with him, but they can’t even get one.
There is no way.
As the person who personally protects Nohara Momonosuke, Hirakawa Taisho's military power is also unquestionable. No matter any killer assassin appears in front of him, no one will be able to leave the palace alive.
Although there is no such title as "The No. 1 Master of Ouchi" in this world, there is no doubt that everyone thinks that Hirakawa Taisho is this person.
And now, when a person who defeated Hirakawa Taisho appears, this person instantly becomes a hot topic among the upper echelons.
Especially as the World's Best Samurai Tournament approaches, and news comes from the palace that the king's health is getting worse, many famous figures arrive in Kyoto one after another.
The feeling that the storm is coming fills the hearts of every upper class person in Kyoto.
A powerful samurai, and the daimyo he represents is most likely the heir to the throne!
Once the succession to the throne is completed, where these "old ministers" will go depends on their performance.
For example, you should "place a bet" now or earlier! Support a daimyo who you think is most likely to become the leader of the country.
If you win the bet, you will achieve the feat of following the dragon, and your status will naturally be improved.
Lose in gambling? Gamblers never think about the word lose.
Tokugawa Dojo.
Tokugawa Saru was kneeling on the tatami. Opposite him was a middle-aged man who seemed to be about the same age as him, making tea.
The scalding boiling water was poured into the cup, and the aroma of tea overflowed. The middle-aged man pushed the green bamboo cup in front of Tokugawa Zoro.
"Please use it, my place is no better than your house, there is no good tea." The middle-aged man said calmly.
"Teacher, please stop laughing at me."
Tokugawa Saru smiled bitterly, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and tasted it carefully. After feeling the bitterness, a slight sweetness lingered between his lips and teeth.
"How is he, Oishi-kun?" Tokugawa Zoro asked softly, putting down the tea cup.
"He's progressing very quickly, faster than he ever has before when he was here with me."
The middle-aged man held the teacup and looked out the window: "Hatred, although it is the best fuel for progress, can easily set oneself on fire and burn oneself out!"
Tokugawa Zoro was silent, lowered his head and said: "Sorry, teacher!"
"You shouldn't say sorry to me." The middle-aged man looked at Tokugawa Zoro with a solemn expression.
"You are on your way to success. Only when you fail should you say sorry."
"Hey!" Tokugawa Zoro shouted.
"Let's have tea." the middle-aged man said.
Tokugawa Zoro picked up the tea cup again, and the two of them sipped the tea in silence.
After a while, the middle-aged man spoke again: "What do you think of the warrior named Zhou Ming who defeated Hirakawa Taisho?"
Tokugawa Zoro's lowered eyelids flashed with light, and he raised his head.
"He's very strong."
"How strong?"
"Very strong."
"Hmm." The middle-aged man nodded and understood.
"I heard that in the past few days, people have been challenging him. There are assassins, dead warriors, wandering warriors, and famous masters."
"That's right, and...all the people who challenged him are dead. Basically, no one can survive ten moves in his hands before being killed by him. After killing him for the past few days, the people who dare to challenge him have already
Very few.”
"Very decisive." The middle-aged man nodded approvingly, "lurking, assassinating, poisoning, ambushing, what he has to face is not just simple challenges on the surface. If he wants to reduce the number of fights, he must work harder.
Go kill."
"That's what the teacher said."
"So, among those people, are there any people you sent?"
The middle-aged man's sudden question made Tokugawa Zoro's breath hitch.
"Teacher, I..." Tokugawa Zoro paused, and then said calmly: "Yes, and there are many."
"Okay." The middle-aged man nodded, also very calm.
"It seems that he is indeed a very powerful opponent." The middle-aged man poured a cup of tea for Tokugawa Zoro again.
"It's time for this old bone of mine to burn out the last bit of its glory."
"Teacher, you..." Tokugawa Zoro opened his eyes wide.
"Why are you so surprised?" The middle-aged man looked at him indifferently, "Are you going to say that you came to me just to drink tea?"
Tokugawa Zoro lowered his head again and picked up the tea cup.
"Then, everything will be as the teacher said."
The middle-aged man laughed, his smile a little complicated, but also a little relieved. He asked: "When?"
"The day after tomorrow, he has already decreed that a banquet will be held in the palace the day after tomorrow, and all the daimyo will attend. After that, the meeting of the best warriors in the world will begin."
"good."
The middle-aged man nodded.
"Teacher, I will fully cooperate with you when the time comes." Tokugawa Zoro said again.
"Yeah." The middle-aged man nodded again, and his words suddenly became extremely concise.
"I'm going to see Dashi Chong, you can do it yourself."
After that, the middle-aged man stood up and walked out on his own.
"Teacher..." Tokugawa Zoro looked at his back and shouted in a somewhat astringent tone.
The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then continued walking out without stopping.
Tokugawa Zoro just watched the middle-aged man walk out, turned a corner, his back disappeared from his eyes, and the footsteps gradually faded away.
He put down the tea cup in his hand, looked at the mist still rising inside, and let out a long sigh.
His teacher, Tokugawa Yamato, who is also his uncle, looks like a middle-aged man, but is actually over sixty years old.
Because he has practiced martial arts all year round and is proficient in the secrets of health preservation, he still maintains considerable physical strength even when civilians have died of old age.
Oishi Takashi was a wandering samurai whom Tokugawa Zoro met by chance a year ago. Seeing his outstanding talent, he took him to the Tokugawa Gym and introduced him to Tokugawa Yamato as his disciple.
As expected, it didn't take long for Oishi Takashi to show his extraordinary talent, and even Tokugawa Yamato was impressed by his progress in martial arts.
Tokugawa Zoro himself also became a disciple of his uncle Tokugawa Yamato when he was young.
At that time, Tokugawa Yamato was just like Oishi Takashi today. He had amazing talent and excellent swordsmanship. He became a blockbuster in Kyoto, and then quickly rose up, challenging various major halls, without any defeat, and was unstoppable.
When he was thirty years old, Tokugawa Yamato had already become famous all over the world and his status was stable. No one dared to challenge him, and he became a living legend.
At that time, Tokugawa Yamato was invincible in the world!
