Hasegawa was naturally unwilling to let the "Buddha's Enemy" run away.
Under Hasegawa's order, the officials of the Hufu Thieves Kaigai dispersed throughout Matsucho to search for traces of the "Buddha Enemy".
However, after a long search, the result was - nothing.
"hateful!"
Imai punched the wall beside him heavily.
"I finally ran into the 'Buddha Enemy', but he ran away like that!"
Compared to Imai's resentment, Hasegawa's state is much calmer.
"Okay, Imai." Hasegawa said softly, "It's useless to feel aggrieved here. Shouldn't you and I have been mentally prepared for how difficult the 'Buddha Enemy' is?"
"Not only is he superb in swordsmanship, he is also extremely agile. When he is determined to escape, whether we catch him or not depends largely on our luck."
Tachibana was standing next to Hasegawa and Imai at this time.
After Imai and Hasegawa finished speaking, Tachibana murmured:
"Is he... the 'enemy of Buddha'..."
"That's right..." Imai turned his head and smiled bitterly at Tachibana, "The guy with the black knife just now is the 'Buddha Enemy'. What do you think? Do you realize how tricky he is?"
"Hmm..." Tachibana nodded lightly.
Before "Buddha's Enemy" ran away, Tachibana and "Buddha's Enemy" exchanged moves.
Although it was just a single correct move, Tachibana could feel with just this one move - there was an extremely huge gap in swordsmanship between him and the "Buddha Enemy".
If Hasegawa hadn't intervened in time just now, Tachibana was sure that he wouldn't have been able to survive three moves in front of that "Buddha enemy".
"'Buddha Enemy' is the toughest and most mysterious thief I have ever seen in Hasegawa's life."
At this time, Hasegawa on the side answered.
"I don't know his voice, I don't know his appearance, I don't know his age, I don't know what style of swordsmanship he uses."
"The only thing I know is that he is a left-handed swordsman and uses the sword he stole from Honjoji Temple two years ago - 'Enma'."
"'Yama'...?" Tachibana chewed on the word, "Is it the black knife that 'Buddha Enemy' used just now?"
"That's right." Hasegawa nodded, "Two years ago, the 'Buddha Enemies' attacked and burned down the largest temple in Nara, Honjoji Temple. They burned Honjoji Temple into a sea of flames and stole all the items in Honjoji Temple.
The most precious treasure that has been enshrined in Xiang Temple for more than 200 years - the sword 'Yama'."
"Because of his heinous deeds of burning temples and stealing treasures, people in the Buddhist community derogatorily called him the 'Reincarnation of Oda Nobunaga,' so they called him the 'enemy of Buddhism.'"
"For the sake of convenience, we have always called him 'Buddha's Enemy' and 'Buddha's Enemy'."
"This guy not only set fire but also stole treasures. The place where he set fire was the sacred Hongxiang Temple, and the treasures he stole were among the few treasures. He is considered the mortal enemy of our bandits."
As soon as Hasegawa finished speaking, Imai sighed deeply:
"What a pity, it took 2 years? Still can't bring him to justice..."
"Imai? Take your time." Hasegawa raised his hand and patted Imai on the shoulder. "One day? We will definitely be able to arrest the 'Buddha Enemy' and all his subordinates!"
Now that the "Buddha Enemy" had escaped? Hasegawa had no choice but to accept this fact and issued the order to close the team.
Hasegawa's order to close the team had just been issued. Tachibana, who had been hesitant from the beginning, finally mustered up the courage to ask Hasegawa:
"Hasegawa-sama! Then...what about the samurai wearing a light green haori and the glasses samurai who ran away?"
"Huh? Oh, those two people. Those two people should also take their time."
"I think - we can catch those two people soon."
Speaking of this, Hasegawa showed an intriguing smile on his face.
"To deal with those two guys? I'm ready for my next move."
…
…
Outside Matsucho? In a certain forest.
The "Expert of Demonstration Style" was sitting under a big tree holding his sword.
Sand, sand, sand, sand, sand...
"Expert of Demonstration Style" heard the sound of stepping on the snow beside him.
Looking around, he saw a familiar figure running towards him.
"Lord!"
"Exhibition Master" shouted as he took off the bamboo hat on his head, revealing a handsome face.
"Asai."
The "Buddha Enemy" who had just escaped from the siege of Hasegawa and others said to the "Master of Demonstration Style".
"Sorry, I'm late."
"Lord? Are you injured?"
"No. The terrain like Castle Town is very beneficial to me. I was not injured and I successfully got rid of Onipira."
"Lord..."
"Master of the Impression Style" - or rather, Asai showed a wry smile to the "Buddha Enemy" in front of him.
"Please don't do such dangerous things again in the future..."
"Don't you believe that I can successfully wean you off?"
"No." Asai shook his head. "I'm not talking about that. What I'm talking about is don't risk your life to help a stranger again."
"We are not related to that 'Executioner Ittosai', so why would we do such a dangerous thing just to cover his escape?"
"No matter what, the Huo Fu Thieves are an extremely dangerous group of people to us."
"We were able to successfully escape from the fire thief Kai this time? But we might not be able to escape next time."
"To do this to help a stranger who is not a relative but a stranger... Lord? I don't think it's worth it."
"...Asai."
"Buddha Enemy" said softly after being silent for a while.
But his tone was as cold as ever, seemingly without any emotion.
"Mamiya is very interested in Ogata Ittosai."
"And I—actually I am also very interested in Ogata Ittousai."
"It would be too boring if Ogata Ittosai fell into the hands of 'Kibira' like this."
"Asai, if you are disgusted with helping strangers, then I may consider not letting you do similar tasks in the future."
"Lord..." Asai gave a wry smile that seemed like he was about to cry, "I don't have a problem with you, it's just..."
"Okay, I was just joking. Asai, let's go and find something to eat. I just had a fight with 'Onipira' and then ran for so long, I'm hungry.
"
"Yes... Lord, we have put in so much effort, what if that Ogata Ittosai is still caught?"
"There is nothing we can do - let that Ogata Ittousai wish for his own good. We have done our best."
Having said this, "Buddha's Enemy" paused.
As if he remembered something, after a long pause, he continued:
"But - even if Ogata Ittosai is caught now, it won't matter."
"Now even if you are caught by Onihei, you will neither die nor be tortured."