Inner City Honmaru Minami Square. The topography of Edo Castle, which is high in the north and low in the south, is particularly obvious here. The stands specially built for the generals and distinguished guests are at the top. There is a wooden staircase on the north side. The platform is surrounded on three sides by the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Only the south side of the San Ye Kui family crest formation screen is left open for viewing the competition in the audience.
The competition ground was carefully paved with a layer of soft white sand, and surrounded by neat wooden fences and battle screens half waist high. It seemed that the shogunate had put a lot of thought into this competition.
At this time, many nobles, samurai, wealthy businessmen, and monks who were qualified to visit Japan's top swordsman competition had already come in sparsely. Except for the heavily guarded stands and the gates entering and exiting the Honmaru, the shogunate did not pay any attention to them.
These people put a lot of restrictions. So people who were familiar with each other gathered around in twos and threes and discussed in low voices this trial match before the emperor, which was quite abnormal no matter how you looked at it.
Everyone was a well-informed person in Edo City, and their political acumen was far beyond that of the civilians in the castle town. However, it was a martial arts flourishing that could only be seen in a century. Although there was something fishy everywhere, no one wanted to miss it.
In the corner where Shinto Muken-ryu is located, Saito Yakuro, who has not been seen for a long time, also appears here. He is similar in age to Chiba Shusaku, with a slimmer figure, a black shrunken cotton haori on his upper body, and a black wax sheath on his waist.
Carrying a large and small sword, wearing white bamboo leather sandals, and wearing a pair of fashionable glasses on his face, he looked more like a civilian warrior than a world-famous swordsman.
He stroked his gray temples and thoughtfully answered his son Shintaro Saito's questions.
"The outcome of this battle is actually quite obvious. If I go by your description, I'm afraid Sorayama Kazuha is at the peak of a swordsman in terms of realm, moves, and body. Chiba Shusaku must also understand that he has no chance of winning."
"Father, if that's the case, why do you still agree to the shogunate's request for a trial? With his status, whether he is claiming to be ill or trying to shirk the matter, the shogunate should not be able to do anything to him."
Saito Yakuro smiled bitterly, "Of course the shogunate can't do anything to him, but if you want to cause trouble with Beichen Ittoryu Xuanbukan, the Chiba family has no choice. What's more, Chiba Shusaku is different from me, he is a pure
Swordsman, the swordsmanship he has practiced does not allow him to fight timidly, but unfortunately... Alas, I thought it was a great blessing that Japan had a sword master who only happens once in two hundred years, but the princes of the shogunate obviously did not
He didn’t attach too much importance to them, but instead used these two top figures as tools for factional conquest. Is it true that the Tokugawa shogunate is about to reach its peak as... said?"
"Father, if it were you, what would you do if you wanted to win Sorayama Kazuyo?" Shintaro Saito didn't care about the important content that was obscured. He asked a question that almost everyone would pay attention to. The Shinto Wu Nian flow around him
The internal disciples also gathered around and wanted to hear the master's words.
"Quick fight, one move to win, there is no other way!" Yakuro Saito said firmly, then glanced at the empty stands, and said pointedly: "I just don't know if this will happen.
Are the adults satisfied? I hope they don’t stain the white sand with blood..."
After entering the Honmaru, Kazuyo Sorayama and Shusaku Chiba and their group went to the seats reserved for them. Unlike Shusaku Chiba who was waiting quietly to enter, Kazuyo Sorayama was slowly looking around.
"Sure enough, as Kogoro said, the defense is really very tight! Although everyone's martial arts is even worse than the two masters of Sorayama Ryu, the discipline of these flags raising their hands and feet, and the faint murderous intention, are...
You can tell by looking at them that they are the elites directly under the shogunate. Once they get entangled with them, even I will have trouble getting away." Kazuyo Sorayama's heart tightened slightly. Facing an unprecedented crisis, it was inevitable for him to feel anxious even with his cultivation level.
But this emotion only lasted for a moment before he regained his composure. All of this had already been expected by him, and his lack of vigilance would only make him more uneasy. "Tokugawa Ieki, I hope you won't force me to go on a killing spree!"
A faint murderous aura hit the surroundings like a wave. Blocked by a thin layer of formation curtain, the crowd around them all felt that the backs inside seemed like a source of ice. The instinctive coldness in their hearts and the sultry heat on their skins were constantly washing away.
, even those swordsmen with a little skill gradually couldn't bear it, and they scattered in a large circle, but they all looked respectful. The only sword master in Japan really deserves his reputation!
As the last moment approached, the shogunate bosses surrounded General Tokugawa Ieki and took his seat in the stands. This nominally number one man in the world seemed to be in a state of mental malaise for a long time. Against the backdrop of a pure black dress
, his face looked even paler and weaker. He gently waved the folding fan in his hand to signal the start of the trial.
There was no question in front of the emperor, which was obviously unreasonable, but looking at the sweat on his face, it seemed that he would faint directly in this summer afternoon if he stayed for a moment longer. It was obvious that no one of the surrounding shogunate bosses wanted to come forward at this time.
Moreover, in their opinion, the two people who were about to compete in the audience were not worth the risk of angering the general. Therefore, this much-anticipated trial in front of the emperor was finally about to begin.
The clear sky was blue, with a few clouds motionless and not a breath of wind blowing. The square fell into complete silence, not even a cough could be heard. At the urging of the herald, Ichiyo Sora slowly entered from the east side.
In the competition arena, Chiba Shusaku on the opposite side also stepped on the white sand with serious steps.
"Senior Chiba, the shogunate issued a death order to me, are you aware of this?" Sorayama Kazuyo barely opened his mouth, his voice was deeper than a lover's midnight whisper, but he was also a swordsman with extremely keen senses.
, Chiba Shusaku instantly understood what the other party said, but other than his expression becoming more serious, he had no reaction at all.
He also twitched his lips: "Don't worry about it, Kongshan-san. My death is a good thing for everyone. Being able to die under your sword in the spotlight may be the best destination for me."
Kazuyo Sorayama nodded, and it was already clear in his heart: Chiba Shusaku came to the competition this time with the intention of dying. Facing such an opponent, we cannot underestimate him! The previous competition had already made it clear to Kazuyo Sorayama that the opponent
The gap between him and his own swordsmanship level is negligible. After all, he is not a true swordsman. He only relies on his talent and body. Once this swordsman gives up everything just to make the strongest sword, with the opponent's swordsmanship, he wants to
Winning without hurting the opponent is simply seeking death.
And you must fight quickly and not waste your energy. What you have to do is not just draw your sword and fight, every ounce of energy must not be wasted. What should you do? If it really doesn’t work, Chiba-senpai, you may have to lose
One arm...
Seeing that Kazuha Sorayama still didn't show any fighting spirit, Chiba Shuzuo sighed, and then shouted sternly: "Draw your sword! It's hard to find an opponent when your cultivation level reaches the level of you and me. Don't let me down!"
The sunlight that gradually turned to gentle reflected on the blade of Qianye Zhou's sword. Sorayama Kazuyo looked at it carefully, and suddenly felt happy in his heart. He then firmly grasped the hilt of the sword of the captain and drew out the sword. He said silently: Old man, this time I want to do it.