After taking several deep breaths, Ogata slowly raised the sword and assumed the upper stance.
Looking at Ogata who was in the upper position, Toyama's pupils shrank slightly and he thought to himself:
——The posture above...what Ogata is going to do...
——Are you going to use "Shui Luo" to deal with me...
——Okay then...! Then I will catch his "water drop"!
Toyama subconsciously thought that Ogata, who was in the upper stance, was going to use the downward slashing technique of their Sakakibara Itto style - water drop.
Toyama, who intended to catch Ogata's "Waterfall" forcefully, slowly lowered the sword he had raised high into a mid-position stance.
Ogata moved his feet and leaned toward the distant mountain little by little.
And Toyama was also constantly counting the distance between himself and Ogata.
If you want to win when competing with others, the most important thing is to grasp the distance between yourself and your opponent.
Most people lose because they fail to grasp the distance between themselves and their opponents.
For example - when the sword in your hand cannot hurt the opponent at all, you launch an attack rashly.
Another example - you have already entered the attack range of your opponent, and without knowing it, you are still posing leisurely there, thinking you are safe.
Toyama stared at Ogata in front of him, counting the distance between him and Ogata.
——With 4 steps left, Ogata's sword can cut me...
——And... 3 steps...
——And...2 steps...!
——One more step!
call--!
The sound of strong breaking wind was rushing from top to bottom toward the distant mountains.
The blade of Ogata's wooden sword struck straight towards Toyama's shoulder!
--What!
Yuan Shan exclaimed loudly in his heart while his eyes widened.
Regarding Ogata's "water fall", Toyama was not prepared at all to receive it!
Because according to Toyama's calculations - Ogata should have to take one more step forward before Ogata's sword can touch him!
Toyama didn't expect at all - Ogata's sword could actually hit him even though he was still one step away!
Although Yuan Shan was shocked.
But in the next moment, the person who was shocked became Ogata.
Because he saw the sword in Toyama's hand moving at a speed that was fast enough to dazzle Ogata.
Bang!
The dull sound of the wooden sword clashing exploded.
Almost at the critical moment, Yuanshan raised his sword and blocked Ogata's "water fall".
After Toyama blocked the sword in his hand, Ogata immediately took a few steps back, widening the distance between him and Toyama.
And Toyama also retreated almost at the same time as Ogata.
After Toyama stabilized his body, he immediately looked in front of him at Ogata, who had also just stabilized his body.
To be precise - looking at Ogata's hand holding the sword.
After seeing the way Ogata held the sword, Toyama sneered:
"Oh, I see...Ogata, is this your secret to increasing your attack range..."
Ogata's right hand was now firmly holding the bottom of the hilt of the wooden sword.
Just now, when he was slowly approaching the distant mountain and only one step away from the distant mountain within his attack range, Ogata quietly held the sword with both hands downward.
Hold the bottom of the sword hilt directly with both hands.
Because both hands directly hold the bottom of the sword hilt, when Ogata swings the sword, his attack range is nearly one hilt longer.
This is why when Toyama was only one step away from entering Ogata's attack range, Ogata was able to use "Water Fall" on Toyama and attack him.
If Toyama hadn't reacted quickly and quickly enough to block Ogata's slash with his sword in time, Toyama would have been defeated.
"I really almost lost just now... I didn't expect you, Ogata, to be able to use such a powerful attack."
"Both each other." Ogata said in a calm tone, "I didn't expect you to be so fast."
Yuan Shan was not in a calm mood at this time, because he found that the guy in front of him was far more powerful than he imagined.
Ogata was not in a calm mood at this time, because he also found that the guy in front of him was far more powerful than he imagined.
Originally, he had classified Yuanshan as a "strong enemy that cannot be underestimated".
But Ogata discovered at this time - he seemed to have underestimated Toyama's strength.
Just now, Ogata had a winning mentality.
He originally thought that it was impossible for Yuanshan to take on the surprise attack he just made.
But Yuanshan caught it.
"Come on." Toyama took a few deep breaths, and his eyes became much sharper than before, "Ogata is gaining momentum, the outcome is not decided yet, let's continue."
"...Come on." Ogata moved his wrist and repositioned his mid-section posture.
However, at this moment, a loud shout suddenly sounded from the periphery of the "battlefield".
"Hey! You guys! What are you doing here!"
The crowd of onlookers standing on the west side of the "battlefield" immediately opened a gap to the left and right.
Two samurai wearing black feathers followed the opening where the onlookers separated and quickly entered the "battlefield" where the atmosphere was still tense.
Ogata, Toyama, and everyone watching the battle all followed the sound and looked at the two samurai.
"Together..." Ogata muttered in a deep voice.
Tongxin - a lower-level official responsible for general affairs, police and other affairs.
"Private fighting between samurai is prohibited! Don't you know?!"
The two leaders, who were of the same mind, roared aggressively towards Ogata, Toyama and the others.
"...Lord Tongxin." Looking at the two Tongxins who suddenly arrived, a smile gradually appeared on Yuanshan's face, "We are not fighting, we are just competing for fun."
As Yuan Shan spoke, he handed the wooden sword in his hand to a junior brother beside him, and then slowly walked towards the two concentrics.
After walking up to the two Tongxins, Yuanshan took out a small handful of copper coins from his arms and then quietly stuffed them into the Tongxins' arms in front of him.
"Please forgive us for our petty quarrel."
This colleague looked at the copper coins that Mang Yuanshan stuffed into his arms.
Then he said in a much softer tone:
"Remember to spar in the dojo from now on! Don't mess around in such a public place!"
"Definitely, definitely."
After echoing this colleague, Yuanshan turned back and greeted his brothers and sisters:
"gone back!"
After saying these words, Toyama turned his head slightly and looked at Ogata with a meaningful look.
"... Ogata Issei, if I remember correctly - the person who wins the top spot in your Sakakibara Sword Hall's annual summer competition must represent the Sakakibara Sword Hall in the July God Festival, right?"
"So what?"
"It's nothing, just a confirmation. Let me tell you some news. The person who will represent the Ishikawa Sword Hall in the God Sacrifice Competition this year is still me."
"Oh." Ogata responded with a flat "Oh", "So what?"
"I'm just informing you of the news in advance."
"Let's save today's unfinished battle until the day of the God Sacrifice Competition."
"Hmph." Ogata twitched the corner of his mouth and revealed a sneer, "You make it sound like I will definitely win the first place in the competition in the museum."
Toyama did not answer Ogata's words.
After looking at Ogata with meaningful eyes for a few times, Toyama stepped forward and led his brothers to leave the place quickly.
At this time, the two colleagues also drove away the onlookers.
--finished……
Looking at their increasingly smaller figures in the distant mountains, Ogata thought to himself.
——Money is indeed a good thing... I settled the relationship easily... Hiss... it hurts...