Chapter 287 The world of 'Rurouni Kenshin' ends! [6000-word chapter]
"Bigu. There will come an era when swordsmen will disappear, and swordsmanship will become a sport that pleases people like geisha dancing. Except for the blood stains on the sword when you accidentally hurt yourself, it will be fresher than the snowflakes on the branch. If it is
You, would you be willing to live in that kind of world?" Ichiyo Sora's voice, as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing against glass, conveyed a rare desolation.
The mountain was covered with heavy snow, and everything that came into view was a sheet of silvery white. The two of them walked aimlessly along the mountain path, and Bigu's huge wine bottle was passed between the two of them. At this time, they had finished drinking more than half of it.
Higu looked deeply at Kazuyo Sorayama and said, "You are not a sentimental person. However, there must be no war in such a world, and my idiot apprentice would probably like it."
Kazuyo Sorayama shook his head and gave a wry smile: "War will not disappear as long as there are people, but the method of killing is no longer with swords."
"Iron cannon? That's right, your iron cannon skills seem to be inferior to your swordsmanship..."
"You haven't answered me yet. If it were a world like that, would you be willing to live in it?" Kazuyo Sorayama stopped and looked into Higu's eyes and asked seriously.
Bigu took the flask and took a sip, "Maybe...it's just...it would be too sad if swordsmanship really became a tool to please people like a geisha." He shook his head, patted the sword on his waist and said
: "I will not be willing to do it for you."
Sorayama Ichiyo breathed out gently, yes, he was unwilling to give in! Before he came to these several worlds, he had never complained deep down in his heart. Whenever he stood wearing full body protective gear, waving wooden swords and bamboo knives,
Being observed and applauded like a monkey in the arena, he would have a kind of anger and sadness that could not be diffused. He had fantasized more than once about what it would be like if he were allowed to go back to the era when he could dominate the world with swordsmanship.
?
It's just that although that existence seemed to make his dream come true, there was no sense of gratitude in Kazuyo Sorayama's heart, but only endless hatred, because, although he got the life he dreamed of, he lost a lot of things forever again and again.
People who can’t be saved—it’s the same this time.
Although the mysterious voice did not give any hint, the world called "Rurouni Kenshin" should be coming to an end soon. This feeling is getting stronger day by day, and it has become more obvious since Hiko Seijuro appeared.
If there is anyone in this world who can understand Kazuyo Sorayama, this person is not Sana who gets along day and night, but Hiko in front of me. Seeing the ever-changing expression on Kazuyo Sorayama's face, and thinking about what he just said, Hiko seems to
After understanding something, he murmured softly: "Do you want to... go to a world like that? Or... go back... further than the United States in the horizon?"
Sorayama Kazuha was stunned and did not answer. Instead, he took steps again. After walking a certain distance, he saw Higu who was still staying in the same place. He finally shook his head and sighed: "Hiku, if you have a loved one who is in danger,
When the earth is about to give birth to your child, what circumstances will allow you to leave?"
"With your bastard character, I'm afraid you won't leave even if the sky falls!" Higu walked up and patted Sorayama Kazuyo on the shoulder, "You don't have to say anything, I will take good care of them. If your child is
If the boy is willing to learn swordsmanship again, I will accept him as my disciple and teach him my flying sword skills!"
Sorayama Kazuyo nodded, and said in a serious tone as if he was explaining the aftermath: "If you dare to teach him swordsmanship, Higu, then you'd better pray that I won't come back, otherwise the first thing I will do is to burn your Feitian Yu.
The mountain gate of Jianliu!"
Higu Seijuro's forehead was throbbing with veins: "What? Sorayama Kazuha, you bastard, you think anyone can be so lucky to become my disciple, Higu!"
"Humph, it's not just you. Sanai and I also said that even if he dies, he can't be allowed to learn swordsmanship!" Kazuyo Sorayama said matter-of-factly: "We plan to let him learn medicine."
"Study medicine?"
"Yes, I have killed too many people in this world... It is reasonable to ask him to save more people." Sorayama Kazuyo explained casually, but he did not tell Hiko his true thoughts...
…
Bigu nodded, accepted his friend's statement, and tapped his chest with his thumb: "Actually, uncle, I am also an excellent pottery master..."
"never mind."
"What?"
"I'm afraid he'll starve himself to death."
"Asshole! Kongshan, draw your sword! There must be a winner today!"
"Hmph, idiot. As long as you can catch up with me."
The birds in the forest were frightened by the two invisible figures and flew away. From time to time, loud shouts and curses, hoarse sneers and sarcastic voices could be heard from the mountains. Higurashi Seijuro and Sorayama Kazuha, two contemporary masters of swordsmanship,
Running in the mountains chasing and escaping, it's almost like playing, like a teenager...
Kenshin dragged his heavy body back to the hut where he had lived with Yukiyoba for half a year, lying on the mat where he slept with the woman last night, caressing his chest and tossing and turning. Killing several ninjas did not cost him much.
However, every time he recalled the details of his time with Xuedaba, he couldn't control his breathing, sometimes softly, sometimes heavily.
He once wanted to kill the enemy as quickly as possible and then chase Yukiyoba. However, every time he recalled the hatred that was about to overflow when Yukiyomoto, Yukiyoba's younger brother, looked at him, and then thought about Yukiyoba's pain that could hardly be relieved. He saw his beloved.
What can he do if he has a woman with him? And now he has to complete the great cause of repelling the foreigners! If he keeps a woman by his side, his life will be in danger at any time.
Is it really necessary for Yukiyoba to wait until the end of the revolution where he doesn’t know when he will succeed and whether he will still be alive after the success? Kenshin’s heart is in confusion.
I don't know how long it took, but the door was suddenly blocked by a shadow. Kenshin immediately grabbed the sword beside him and stood up and shouted: "Who! Come out!"
A figure wearing a bamboo hat raised his head, revealing the face that made Kenshin think about it day and night - "Mr. Gui!" Kenshin shouted in surprise.
Katsura Kogoro took off his hat and shoes and sat next to Kenshin. He first looked around at the surrounding environment. Seeing all kinds of vegetables and various small and exquisite supplies neatly arranged, Katsura Kogoro smiled and said:
"It seems like you're doing pretty well these days."
"Um... that..." Kenshin was a little shy, lowering his head and not daring to look at Katsura Kogoro. In his mind, all the reformers, including the leader, were risking their lives fighting on the front line, while he was hiding in the gentle village with his beloved woman.
You cannot be forgiven for enjoying yourself without thinking about Shu...
As if sensing Kenshin's thoughts, Katsura Kogoro waved his hand: "Don't worry, I arranged for you to hide temporarily. In fact, I haven't done anything useful these days. Alas, the feudal power is fighting for power, and the shogunate's army
The situation is under pressure, the Shinsengumi are madly hunting down the martyrs, there is nothing I can do to stop these things."
"Mr. Gui, I have no problem, I can continue fighting!" Kenshin said eagerly.
"Well, that's why I came here this time." Seeing Kenshin's surprised expression, Katsura Kogoro added: "I already know about you and Yukiyoba, Iizuka... although he is a traitor , but the information about you was not hidden from me."
"What?! Iizuka is a traitor!" Kenshin was shocked.
"Yes, Pianbei and I began to suspect him when you were assassinated. However, he was cautious and did not reveal any flaws. If Pianbei hadn't paid the price with his life, I still wouldn't be sure that he was the traitor." Gui Xiao Goro sighed deeply, "Many people died because of him, but even at the moment when Iizuka was executed, he still had no intention of repenting at all, just for a mere amount of money..."
"Forget it, let's not talk about him." Katsura Kogoro calmed down and asked Kenshin gently again: "Yukiyoba must have left."
"Yeah." Kenshin lowered his head and responded softly.
"She is also a poor woman. I once got rid of her and used her as the scabbard of your sword. It seems that I have done it..." Katsura Kogoro sighed: "Actually, before coming here, I was very afraid of seeing her or Your...corpse. I don't see any possibility of cracking this evil plan...Is it Teacher Kongshan? Is he nearby..."
Kenshin nodded, and told Katsura Kogoro in detail the night at Ikedaya, including his experiences with Sorayama Kazuha's family in the past six months.
Finally, he looked at the other party firmly and said: "Mr. Gui, there is nothing worth my nostalgia here. I want to leave with you! But when the new era comes..."
"You're going to put down your sword, aren't you."
"I don't know, but by then I hope I won't kill anyone again, I don't like the smell of blood." Kenshin touched the scar on his face that seemed to have completely healed, and stared at Katsura Kogoro with bright eyes, but something suddenly happened in his heart. Passing by the arrogant figure with gray hair on the temples...
"Is that so...have you decided yet?"
"Hi!"
"Okay... now that you have decided, although the new era still needs your sword to protect it,... I promise you..."
When the coughing Sorayama Kazuha and the steaming Hiko returned to the house, they were greeted by Sana's resentful eyes. Sorayama Kazuha touched his hair and explained awkwardly: "It's not a martial arts competition, it's just exercise. I exercised a bit.”
Higurashi folded his arms and looked up, rolled his eyes, and said without hesitation: "Well, there was no martial arts competition, just a comparison of body skills. And...his lungs have not fully recovered, so he shouldn't drink alcohol, Zonai, You have to supervise at all times.”
Wuzi wore a sweat scarf on his head, showing a small face and asked curiously: "Kongshan, you won, it must be so!"
"Tch! In another half-quarter of an hour at most, the winner will be me, Uncle Bigu!" Bigu shook his cloak proudly, "But I don't bully patients or the elderly, so I stopped on my own initiative."
Wuzi looked suspicious, as if to say: When did you win against Kongshan?
Bigu shouted: "Hey, little girl, what's your expression? Although Uncle Bigu has never won before, he has never lost either, and it is even less likely to lose now!"
Kazuyo Sorayama calmed down his breathing. He was just about to continue to ridicule this tough-tongued old rival, but suddenly he sensed something. He turned around and said to Sana: "A guest is coming. Well... it should be Higu's stupid apprentice and... Katsura Kogoro ."
The two figures wearing bamboo hats in the distance gradually became clearer. When they saw the familiar white cloak in the courtyard, the short figure seemed to shake uncontrollably...
"Teacher, senior Bigu, long time no see." Katsura Kogoro walked up and took the lead in saluting.
"Master..." Kenshin didn't dare to look up at Higu's face.
"Hmph, I don't have a disciple like you!" Hiko Seijuro said coldly.
Kazuyo Sorayama stepped forward and asked curiously: "Why are you here? Are you here to see this boy?"
"Yes, the current situation is not good for the reform, and we are in urgent need of expert support. I would also like to thank the teacher for rescuing Kenshin many times..."
"No need to thank me, I will settle the favor with his master for saving this stupid boy." Sorayama Kazuyo said calmly.
Hiko's face was filled with black lines and he said angrily: "Asshole! I told you that this kid is not my apprentice. Himura Kenshin has died long ago, and the one who is alive is the executioner named Battousai."
Kenshin's face darkened and his lips trembled a few times, but he still held back the tears in his eyes. In this day, not only did he lose his lover, but now he also lost his master? He always knew that his master would not forgive him easily,
But I never expected that Seijuro Hiko, who was more like a father than a master, would be so decisive.
Katsura Kogoro said with a solemn expression: "Senior Bigu, I know you resent me and blame Kenshin, but Kenshin's choice is not wrong! Isn't saving the suffering people of the world a common act for every person with a righteous heart?
Is it? Kenshin possesses peerless swordsmanship and gives up his stable life, even if he narrowly escapes death many times, not for himself, but for this country, and for the countless people living on this land. His sword is not a killing sword.
But the sword of salvation!”
In terms of swordsmanship, the ten Katsura Kogoro were no match for Hiko, but when it came to talking about the general trend of the world and debating with others, the situation was exactly the opposite. Hiko pointed at Katsura Kogoro's nose and was so angry that he didn't know how to refute.
Sorayama Yiye snorted coldly: "Okay, I've seen you, you can go."
When everyone was in embarrassment, Sanai rolled his eyes at Sorayama Kazuha and said softly: "Kogoro, Kenshin, come in and have a cup of tea. Lunch will be ready soon. You can eat before leaving. There has been no one for a long time.
Have tried our signature craftsmanship.”
Katsura Kogoro bowed and said, "Thank you, no need. We have to rush back to Kyoto before dark, but I'm sure the shogunate won't be able to hold on for a few more years! By then, teacher, and Hiko-senpai, we will definitely be able to
Stay together for a long time."
After saying that, he bowed again and left.
Sanai spoke again: "Kenshin, Yukiyoba came here early in the morning." Kenshin was startled and asked eagerly: "Sonai sister, what did Yukiyoba say?"
"She didn't say anything, but as a woman, I know that she must love you deeply!" Sanai looked at the increasingly excited Kenshin and continued: "If you really complete the mission of saving the world one day,
After you no longer need to kill, go to her hometown to find her, she is a good woman and will always be waiting for you."
Kenshin stood there blankly for a while before coming back to his senses, bowed deeply to everyone, and turned around to leave.
"Hey!" Seeing Kenshin's figure getting further and further away, Higu finally couldn't hold it back and shouted at Kenshin: "Don't die!"
Kenshin suddenly froze his body, turned around and knelt down on all fours in the snow, and then no longer missed him. As Katsura Kogoro gradually disappeared into the wind and snow, he said goodbye and did not know how long it would take to see each other again...
"Impolite brat." Bigu muttered, "I didn't expect that he already has a woman at such a young age. It's really disgusting!"
"Oh? Are you envious? You are a bachelor who is destined to be miserable and single all your life." Sorayama Kazuyo joked.
"Bah!" Bigu was furious, "This stupid boy still has two most important sword skills that he hasn't completed yet. He originally planned to teach them to him when he grows up, but he didn't expect... With a wife and a family, how can he understand that he must die?
The reborn ultimate sword! Is the Feitian sword style really going to cut off its inheritance?"
After saying that, he glanced at Sanai's swollen belly vaguely...
Time passes like this day by day.
Heavy snow has closed the mountains, and there are very few people on the mountain roads. Only the snow paths trodden by some unknown animals bring a touch of life to this snow-white world.
The full moon hung high, and a figure walked in the knee-deep snow. Kazuyo Sorayama didn't tell anyone about his outing. He had no excuses to deceive his beloved wife and best friends, and he didn't even know how to face them.
Three days ago, he finally heard the still cold mechanical voice - the world of "Rurouni Kenshin" was temporarily ended, and he was forced to leave in three days!
Just like Kazuyo Souyama chose to fight in the world of "Seven Samurai", this time he chose to fight alone. However, he did not try to stay awake like last time, but he had vaguely sensed that only three days later would happen.
The irresistible power of time and space is his ultimate opponent. Before that, he needs to maintain the best condition to face this day, not for whether he can stay in this world, but for the sake of letting an existence know head-on even if he fights to the death.
——I, Kazuyo Sorayama, am definitely not a puppet who is willing to be played with!
On the top of the mountain, there is a rugged place only ten feet away. Ichiyo Sora is standing on the highest rock, which is only three feet. His legs are slightly bent, his right hand is pressed on the handle of his left hand, and his eyes are
Slightly.
It was obviously a deathly silent night, but Kazuyo Sorayama couldn't help but recall the scene when the Ii family faced the explosion. If there was no Zana to protect, maybe he wouldn't be able to swing such a sword...
…
The next moment when Hiko held Sana and was pushed out by Kazuyo Sorayama with all his strength, small fires began to connect together. Hiko and Sana, who were flying in the air, watched helplessly as Kazuyo Sorayama was hit by an earth-shattering explosion.
Completely covered.
But before the two of them roared with swollen throats, they could only see the center of the explosion. Even if the red light was so intense that it could blind people's eyes, it could not cover up the faint light emanating from it. In the light, there was an empty mountain.
Yiye closed his eyes tightly, his legs slightly bent and frozen in place, seemingly motionless.
But in that light, there seemed to be countless silhouettes of Kazuyama Kazuyo, and it seemed that there was only one Kazuyama Kazuyo traveling through the space, waving a long light, and the space was split open like a mirror! The center of the explosion suddenly seemed extremely quiet.
, it seemed that not even sound could escape from the space that was completely cut into pieces, and the fire and shock waves of those explosions actually poured into those broken spaces like water attracted by dry cracks.
At this moment, Sorayama Kazuyo transformed into a human god, and the space he cut was his most loyal guard, eliminating all dangers for him. Unfortunately, this was too short-lived, and he looked invincible just a second ago.
A leaf in the empty mountain spurted blood all over his body in the next second, and was thrown away by the aftermath of the explosion. As a brick hit his chest heavily, another mouthful of blood spurted out at least a foot away, and he was completely lost in mid-air.
consciousness……
Kazuyo Sorayama didn't know at the time why he slashed in the air with his sword, nor did he know that doing so would save his life, but he seemed to subconsciously want to do something. At that time, he only had one thought - he would not surrender even if he died!
Perhaps it was this kind of will that could not be destroyed by heaven and earth that allowed him to wield a sword that surpassed what he thought was the ultimate level of swordsmanship - the sword master realm, and faintly touched a realm that mortals could not spy on...
Sorayama Kazuyo closed his eyes tightly and walked out of his thoughts. The state of perception that turned the world into a black and white grid was raised to the extreme. Although everything he saw was not blood red like that night, there was something
Unexplainable things seeped into it, causing the world of perception to ripple like water waves.
A scream that was suppressed to the extreme came out from Kushan Yiye's chest and turned into a silent ripple, instantly clearing away the piles of snow on the top of the mountain!
The knife came out, and space cracks appeared again in the night sky, but at some point, not a single leaf in the empty mountain had disappeared...
Hiko Seijuro stood in the courtyard with his sword in hand, staring deeply at the direction where the empty mountain leaves disappeared. His face was calm, but the cracked hardwood handle showed that he was not as calm as he appeared. In fact, he was as calm as he appeared.
With his swordsmanship skills, how could he not know that Kazuyo Sorayama was just around the corner and left, but out of understanding for his friend, he did not show up at that time.
"You bastard Sorayama Kazuha! Can't you have a drink with me before you leave? I'm tired of being around my wife and concubines all day, and let Mr. Higu wander around for a day. It's unforgivable! Since you are so heartless, hey, your child will
It belongs to me. Even if you do appear again one day, can you still take back the swordsmanship I taught you from the child! Besides, who said that swordsmen can't be doctors... It's decided, Kongshan, if you are not willing to do so,
Come back early, I know you will understand my approach!"
Inside the room, Sanai leaned against the wall, with tears in his eyes, but smiled slightly and asked Kiriko, who was hugging his shoulders like a wounded animal next to him: "Did he say anything to you during the day?"
"Didn't you hear the big noise we made?" Wuzi suddenly raised his head and replied through gritted teeth.
Zonai shook his head: "I only heard you talking nonsense, and I didn't hear what your husband said."
When Wuzi heard this, she suddenly collapsed and cried loudly: "Kongshan is gone! He doesn't want Wuzi anymore!" She hugged Sanai's thigh and shook her: "Kongshan, Kongshan said, he never said he loved me, but
He really couldn’t say it out loud, so he asked me to forgive him, and asked me to protect you and take good care of the child... Wuwuwu... Wuzi doesn’t want to protect you, Wuzi wants to be with her husband..."
There were two tears on Sanai's smiling face. She stroked Kiriko's hair and said, "My husband will come back. He asked us to wait for him with peace of mind."
"You, you lied!" Kiriko sobbed, but still looked at Sanai with hope.
Zonai nodded lightly and said, "It's true. He told me what he told me. I believe in my husband. He has never lied." "Then, did he say how long he would take to come back?"
Sanai shook his head. Although Sorayama Kazuyo never said anything to her about coming back, and even just hugged her quietly that night without saying a word. But for some reason, she always had a strong premonition that even if it was five years or ten years,
Years, twenty years, one day I will finally see my husband again!