On the way to the metaphysics hall following Fuma, Ogata and Atachi were actually trembling with fear the whole time.
An old man in his seventies was running through the streets and alleys of Kyoto at a speed that would put most young people to shame - Ogata and Atachi were both afraid of Fuuma who was already so old and still running so fast.
My waist may suddenly snap or my feet may twist.
Fortunately - what Fuma told Ogata and Omachi that his legs and feet were in good condition today seemed not to be a lie.
The journey to the Metaphysics Museum went quite smoothly.
He didn't encounter any official officials or bounty hunters, and there were no problems with Feng Mo's waist, legs and feet.
The reason why Ogata and his party were able to do so smoothly was also related to the fact that Fuuma specializes in walking on trails with fewer people.
Ogata and his party were currently hiding in an alley not far from the Metaphysics Museum.
Looking at the magnificent mansion not far away, Ogata thought to himself:
——Is that the Metaphysics Museum...
After Ogata supported Dai Shiten and Dai Zizai on his waist, he said in a deep voice to Atachi and Fuuma beside him:
"Atachi, Fuma-sama, you two stay here."
"Ayi, do you want to go to the Metaphysics Hall by yourself?"
"Well, this is just a sword hall. If too many people go there, it will easily expose their whereabouts. I can just go there by myself. You two can help me guard the outside and help me check if there are any suspicious people coming in or out.
The metaphysics museum."
"...I understand." Ating nodded, "Be careful along the way."
"Don't worry." Ogata smiled, "It's just a sword hall, not a daimyo's castle."
…
…
Ogata spotted the moment when no one was passing by nearby, and took advantage of the night to slowly approach the wall outside the metaphysics hall, then quickly climbed over the wall and sneaked into the metaphysics hall.
After watching Ogata enter the metaphysics hall, Fuuma suddenly leaned on the wall beside him and slowly sat down on the ground.
"Lord Fuma?" Atachi crouched beside Fuma and exclaimed, "What's wrong with you?"
"It's nothing..." Feng Mo smiled, "I just feel a little tired... Sigh... I'm really old... I can't stand it after only two times..."
A-Machi glanced at Fuuma's legs - Fuuma's legs were trembling slightly at this time.
"...I'm sorry, Fuma-sama." Atachi said to Fuma in an apologetic tone, "We have bothered you so much..."
"It's okay, it's okay." Feng Mo waved his hand, "I came here voluntarily to help you, and this level is nothing. Just let me rest for a while."
…
…
The Shiranui-ryu stealth technique learned on Butterfly Island finally has a chance to "work again" at this moment.
Just like what Ogata said to Omachi and Fuma just now - this is just an ordinary sword hall, not a daimyo's castle.
If it were a daimyo's castle, Ogata really didn't have the confidence to successfully sneak into it.
After all, the structure of a daimyo's castle must be quite complex, and there may also be many various mechanisms to prevent ninjas from infiltrating.
But the sword hall is different.
To put it bluntly, the Sword Hall is a teaching institution that specializes in teaching swordsmanship.
How complicated can a teaching institution be? What mechanisms can it have to protect against ninjas?
After entering the metaphysics hall, Ogata easily got into the ceiling of the metaphysics hall.
——Okay... Let's go find the boss of this metaphysics hall...
When he followed Fuma to the Metaphysics Museum just now, Ogata had already learned many things related to the Metaphysics Museum from Fuma's mouth.
Ogata now knows basic information such as the name of the owner of the Metaphysics Hall, Shigemune Inaba, and the fact that the Metaphysics Hall is the most powerful among the six major swordsmanship halls.
According to Fuma - Inaba is a middle-aged man who is no longer young, so Ogata can only focus on finding middle-aged men with extraordinary temperament in the metaphysics hall.
——I hope this Inaba can be in the metaphysics hall now...
While Ogata was praying like this in his heart, he moved slowly on the ceiling, and from time to time he would pull open the ceiling panels under his feet to look at the situation under the ceiling.
Although it is already evening and there is still the annual "Shanboko Parade" tonight, there are still some people who choose to stay in the sword hall to practice swordsmanship at this time.
No matter where Ogata goes, when he looks down, he can always see the disciples of the Metaphysics Hall running through the sword hall.
Ogata moved on the ceiling bit by bit like this, and Ogata finally moved to a certain room in the sword hall.
Pulling open a certain panel of the ceiling of this room and looking down - I saw that this room seemed to be a living room.
There was only one middle-aged man in the clean living room.
This middle-aged man was sitting by the window in the living room, seemingly staring at the scenery outside the window in a daze.
He seemed to be thinking about something.
Looking at this middle-aged man, Ogata narrowed his eyes slightly.
He noticed that this middle-aged man was covered with calluses - calluses that only those who used swords all year round would have.
Ogata was convinced in his heart that this person should be Inaba Shigemune, the owner of the Metaphysics Museum.
Ogata pulled apart the ceiling panels under his feet and jumped down quickly.
While leaping down from the ceiling, Ogata pulled out Daishiten.
Ogata didn't jump around randomly.
He aimed in the right direction: at Inaba's side.
The moment his feet touched the tatami, Ogata put his hand on Inaba's neck.
Inaba doesn't seem to have this kind of experience in dealing with ninjas who suddenly jump from the ceiling - but this is normal, the world has been peaceful for a long time, and in such peaceful times, ordinary people will never see a few ninjas in their lifetime.
It wasn't until Ogata put Daishiten on his neck that Inaba realized what had happened and put his hand on the wakizashi at his waist.
Because he was at home now, Inaba did not bring his katana with him, but placed it on the knife rest a few steps away.
"Inaba-sama." Ogata said softly, "Please don't say anything. I don't have any ill intentions. I just have some questions to ask you."
Inaba's eyes widened and he looked at Ogata's face carefully.
"Excuse me..." Inaba asked Ogata in a cautious tone, "Are you Ogata Ittosai?"
Although Inaba's words sounded like he was asking Ogata, there was actually no question in his tone.
Inaba had seen the wanted notice of Ogata Ittousai, so he recognized this person at a glance as Ogata Ittousai.
"That's right." Ogata admitted straightforwardly, "I am the executioner Ittosai. I came to your mansion this time just to ask you a question."
Ogata told Inaba what he had just heard from Dieyin about the disciples of the Metaphysics Hall.
"A disciple of our metaphysics hall actually said such a thing...?" Inaba murmured, "I'm sorry...I don't know..."
Seeing that he couldn't get anything valuable out of Inaba's mouth, a look of disappointment appeared on Ogata's face uncontrollably.
At this moment, Inaba suddenly looked a little excited and lowered his voice and said in a deep voice to Ogata:
"Master Ittousai, please... help me...!"
"Um?"
If the emotion of doubt was in a liquid state, then the emotion of "doubt" would have almost flowed down Ogata's face.
I just wanted to ask a question, why did I become the one being asked for help?
"...What happened? Please tell me in detail."
…
…
After listening carefully to Inaba's plea for help, Ogata finally understood what had happened.
About half a month ago, Inaba's wife and daughter were kidnapped by unknown persons.
The kidnappers didn't want any ransom, but only one request: for Inaba to obey their instructions.
There are few people in this world who can remain indifferent after their wife and daughter were kidnapped.
Inaba had no choice but to agree to them.
Half a month after his wife and daughter were kidnapped - today, this group of unknown people finally gave Inaba their first instruction:
He summoned the masters of the other five sword masters of the six major sword masters and proposed to them that they call on all their disciples to assist the officials in capturing Ogata Ittosai.
Although Inaba didn't know the reason for doing this, he didn't dare to ask those people why, so he could only obey.
Just now, Inaba's mission was successfully completed: his proposal was approved by the other five swords hall masters.
At this moment, the disciples of the six major sword schools took to the streets, aggressively looking for Ogata Ittosai.
With so many fellow apprentices being killed, most of the disciples in the Six Great Sword Halls were already extremely sad and angry.
In this era, people are generally taught that honor is the most important, and one must defend one's honor at all costs.
The brothers in the sword hall were killed - this behavior was equivalent to a provocation to their sword hall and to the rest of the people in the sword hall.
Most of the disciples in the six major sword halls are in their prime of life, and few can stand such a provocation.
Therefore, after the call was launched, the disciples of the six major sword halls responded in large numbers.
Each one brought their own swords and took to the streets to help the officials and bounty hunters search for Ogata.
"...In other words." Ogata smiled bitterly, "In addition to official officials and bounty hunters, my enemies in Kyoto now include disciples from the six major sword halls..."
"I'm very sorry..." Inaba bowed his head apologetically, "I was forced to do this because of threats..."
"No need to apologize." Ogata waved his hand, "I understand your difficulties. Anyway, there are already enough enemies chasing me now. Adding a new enemy is nothing."
"You just said you wanted me to help you - how do you want me to help you?"
"After my wife and daughter were kidnapped, I didn't do anything."
Inaba said sternly.
"After my wife and daughter were taken away, I tried my best to find the place where my wife and daughter were being held."
"I finally found it three days ago."
"My wife and daughter are currently being held in Mikawara, Kyoto."
Inaba rattled off a string of place names quickly.
"My wife and daughter are being held in that place right now."
"I've always wanted to find someone with strong skills to help me rescue my wife and daughter..."
"But I don't dare to report to the official... and with the current moral character of Kyoto Prefecture, it would be better to ask them to ask a bounty hunter."
Ogata now understood what Inaba meant.
"That is to say - you are going to let me help you rescue your wife and daughter, right?"
"That's right." Inaba nodded vigorously.
"...Should I say you are big-hearted, or should I say you are strange..." Ogata gave a helpless smile, "This is the first time we have met, right? I am the notorious executioner Ittousai.
oh."
"When I, a notorious executioner, met me for the first time, he told me all about the threats you had received, and asked me to help you rescue your wife and daughter..."
As soon as Ogata finished speaking, Inaba smiled slightly.
"Because I believe in you, Ittosai-sama."
As soon as Inaba finished speaking, Oubon's eyes widened in shock.
Just now, Inaba always spoke with a strong Kyoto accent.
But when he said the sentence just now, Inaba no longer used the Kyoto accent.
Instead, he used a dialect that was quite familiar to Ogata: the dialect of the Izumo region.
"Master Ittousai, I am also a member of the Izumo Hirose Domain."
Inaba then spoke in Izumo dialect.
"Although I have been away from my hometown for many years, I have never forgotten my hometown."
"In the past, when I saw my colleagues in my hometown writing letters telling me how dark the Hirose Domain was under the rule of Matsudaira Gennai, I was always anxious and didn't know what to do."
"When I learned that Ogata-sama, you raised your sword of justice and killed Matsudaira Gennai, I was so excited that I couldn't be more excited."
"I believe that Ogata Ittosai, who can raise his sword and kill Matsudaira Gennai, is a trustworthy person."
Speaking of this, Inaba paused.
Then he changed to a half-joking tone:
"What's more, we are still fellow villagers."
"In these days, all those who go out to work hard will unconsciously trust their fellow villagers more - this is the experience I gained after working hard outside for many years..."
boom!
Before Inaba could finish speaking, there was a loud bang outside the window.
As the loud noise fell, Inaba let out a terrifying scream, and then fell softly on the tatami.
Ogata's pupils shrank suddenly, and then he turned to look out the window - with his excellent eyesight, Ogata could barely see the window of a 3-story mansion some distance away.
There is a faint smell of gunpowder smoke.
——Sniper!
While remembering where the sniper launched his attack, Ogata dragged Inaba, who was still moaning in pain, under the window.
Ogata took a look at Inaba's injuries - he was shot in the torso, but fortunately it didn't hit any vital points.
However, the amount of bleeding is large and life-threatening if not treated immediately.
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There were dense footsteps in the corridor outside the room - it must be the disciples of the Metaphysics Hall who heard Inaba's screams and came to check on the situation.
Seeing the disciples from the metaphysics hall coming over, Ogata breathed a sigh of relief - Inaba could just leave it to his disciples to take care of him.
After laying the rice leaves flat on the tatami, Ogata jumped out of the window before the disciples of the metaphysics hall entered the room.
As soon as Ogata jumped outside along the window, he saw Ogata and Fuma, who seemed to be attracted by the gunfire just now and ran to not far in front of Ogata.
"Ah-Machi!" Ogata shouted directly to Ah-Machi, "Let's chase him!"