This small town located in the southeast of Kyoto is adjacent to Lake Biwa and only half a day's journey from Kyoto. It has always been an important transit point from Edo to Kyoto. Therefore, merchants, ronin, and monks come and go incessantly every day. In the countryside, with Mount Hiei as the center,
There are many small and remote villages dotted among the many well-known temples including Enryakuji Temple, and they lead a quiet and self-sufficient life.
A slightly old big house stands alone at the foot of the mountain. The structure is mainly made of mud and bamboo, with a thick layer of thatch on the top. It looks no different from the many farmhouses scattered in the mountains. Even if there is a
The sound of the wooden swords clashing would be thought by the mountain people passing by occasionally to be the owner chopping firewood, and would not arouse any suspicion.
Kenshin picked up the wooden sword, rubbed his sore wrist, and shouted stubbornly to Kazuyo Sorayama opposite him: "Senior, why? Why do you have to trap me here, and why do you care so much about my life?"
At this time, it had been more than a month since Kazuyo Sorayama and his party fled Kyoto. Everyone was living in this country farmhouse with the nature of a "safe house" that Sanai had already taken care of. In the process of battling wits and courage with the shogunate over the years,
Zonai has long been accustomed to fully considering his retreat wherever he goes, even if he is ridiculed by Kiriko countless times and ignores it, this time it finally came in handy.
Although he has enough food and a worry-free life, how can Kenshin, who has recovered from his injuries, live in peace of mind? The lives of leaders such as Katsura Kogoro and Katagai are unknown. The contact person Iizuka has also lost contact since that day. After Ikedaya gathered in Kyoto
What is the status of the anti-barbarian patriots, the movements of the Choshu Domain, and whether the Tenchu mission he is carrying out has changed... all Kenshin desperately wants to know.
However, Ichiyo Sorayama's words stopped him from taking action. At this time, Sorayama Kazuyo said those words again: "I said, if you beat me, I will let you go and give you a chance every day." Then he was free.
He took the warm towel handed by Wuzi and wiped his hands: "There has been some progress today, please work hard, kid."
Kenshin continued loudly: "Senior, if I can't pass the test for the rest of my life, will I be trapped for the rest of my life?!"
"Haha", Kazuyo Sorayama sneered, "Stop being so sentimental, I'm not that idiot like Hiko."
Kenshin's face turned red from the stimulation. He also understood Sorayama Kazuha's plan. Now the war in Kyoto was about to break out and the shogunate's army gathered. With such obvious characteristics, he would have a narrow escape if he went back. If he was forced to stay here for even a year, the shogunate and the shogunate would be together.
The winner of the Shu Domain has already been decided, and it is far safer to return to Kyoto or directly to the Choshu Domain than it is now.
But if Kenshin was greedy for comfort, why did he go down the mountain in the first place? In his eyes, the more critical the situation becomes, the more the anti-barbarian patriots need the support of his top combat force. Once the war is over, what is the point of going back.
"I beg you, senior, to let me go to Kyoto to find out the news. I can return on the same day based on my journey. I promise to you, senior, that I will not risk my life. I beg you, senior, to return the sword to me." Kenshin's words were sincere, but what he said might not even bother him.
Don't believe it either.
"Boy, do you know how the shogunate arrested me? Anyone who carries a sword will lift his hat and check his identity certificate one by one. The famous Battosai is not an ordinary ronin. If you enter the city like this, you will be dead." Sorayama.
Kazuye sneered, unmoved at all.
"But...Senior, please let me no matter what..."
"Kiroko, keep an eye on him." Sorayama Kazuyo took the wine glass in Kiroko's hand and took a comfortable sip. He had no interest in arguing with Kenshin, and Yunyun said: "I said, you can leave at any time, as long as you are confident
You can escape my pursuit."
Wuzi added with a smile: "Don't forget, Xiao Jianxin, the price for being captured is to break a leg. You know Kongshan. He has always been a hard-hearted person, and he always does what he says. If Xiao Jianxin
If I am lame on one leg, I will become Battousai on crutches. How pitiful..."
Kenshin threw down his wooden sword in despair. He felt that Kazuyo Sorayama's agreement to win or lose was just a pretense to frame him. How could he win Kazuyo Sorayama? In fact, they competed seven times in total, and were defeated easily every time.
He could hardly see where the upper limit of Sorayama Kazuha's swordsmanship was. Regardless of physical fitness, swordsmanship attainment, and even enemy experience, it was far beyond him, especially since his own reading skills were basically useless.
There is an important step before each swordsman makes a move: pre-reading.
In fact, even ordinary people who chop firewood need to understand the material, diameter, texture, and angle of the cut... Only in this way can they decide which method to use in the final chop - how can chopsticks be the same as chopsticks!
Then there are too many things that need to be analyzed when facing a real enemy. In terms of body shape alone, opponents with tall and thin bodies have high faces and are difficult to attack, and their trunks are more exposed, so they should focus on attacking; tall opponents should avoid facing them head-on and need to
Attack its side, look for opportunities to damage its limbs, and kill the enemy with one strike when they lose their composure.
For another example, the upward trend of the enemy's knife tip indicates that the opponent wants to rush forward, while the downward trend of the knife tip indicates that the opponent wants to distance himself; an enemy who moves with large steps must have strong defense, but lacks agility. An enemy with small steps is basically good at long-distance leap attacks, but
Defense is mostly based on dodge, and the blocking effect is not good... There are also other issues such as how to choose favorable terrain when facing group battles, and how to choose a more honorable death method when facing death.
When a swordsman can read all this in advance, he is already invincible. The "reading move", known as the strongest secret of Feitian Yujian style, is the pinnacle of pre-reading skills, and all subsequent moves are also based on it.
This is the basis for taking the most correct response measures for different situations.
With reading moves, you can often get stronger as the battle progresses, because the more information your opponent exposes, the greater the possibility of failure. But Sorayama Kazuyo not only knows the various mysteries of the Hiten Sword Style, but also his own swordsmanship and understanding.
How many levels stronger than Kenshin at this time? The answer Kenshin gets every time when reading moves is: invulnerable.
Even if you really can't stand it in the end, it's like when you forcefully activated the dragon hammer to jump into the air during the first challenge, but as soon as your feet left the ground, a stick from the sky was slammed into your head. It was like watching the stick helplessly.
Kenshin's head is getting bigger and bigger, and he doesn't want to try it a second time in his life...
"Hmph, there's no future. It's a pity that the Hiten sword-fighting school only stopped at the thirteenth generation. The title of Executioner Battosai is suitable for you. You are not qualified to inherit the title of Ko Seijuro." Seeing Kenshin throw down the wooden sword.
, a leaf in the empty mountain suddenly changed color, turned around and left.
Kenshin smiled bitterly, looked at Kazuyo Sorayama's back and muttered dejectedly: "Senior, I am an executioner, and I am no longer the heir to the Flying Sword Style. This is my fate..."
In the distance, a hawker dressed as a medicine man was looking at the big house with narrowed eyes. The man hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and walked towards the big house. The half of his face exposed under the bamboo hat was the one that had disappeared for a long time. Contact person Iizuka.