Such a great opportunity to get up close and personal with Kuronaga and to curry favor with him would not be missed by the high-ranking officials in the domain.
After learning that Kurunaga had come to watch the competition, these people immediately rushed to Hachiman Shrine one by one like cats that smelled a fishy smell.
Of course, these high-ranking officials who were able to come to Hachiman Shrine were all people who had successfully adjusted their schedule for this morning.
Some people who couldn't put down this morning's work could only regret letting this great opportunity to curry favor with Kuranagi slip through his fingers.
The competition venue has been surrounded by white curtains.
The people from the Sakakihara Kenkan stood in the easternmost part of the competition venue.
The people from the Ishikawa Kenkan stood in the far west of the competition venue.
As for the spectators who came to watch the game, they all stood or sat in the northernmost part of the venue.
The audience has almost arrived.
The people who came to watch the battle this time were basically senior officials at all levels within the domain.
They were sitting on small stools, chatting and laughing, waiting for the competition to begin.
At the same time, they are also waiting for Kurunaga's arrival.
The biggest spectator of this god-sacrifice competition has not yet arrived.
There is less than one stick of incense left before the competition officially begins.
However, at this critical moment when there was not much time left before the start of the competition, something happened at the Ishikawa Sword Hall.
…
…
Hirose Domain, Hachiman Shrine, the westernmost part of the competition venue——
"Master! Why?!"
Yuan Shan was already fully dressed at this time, his cuffs had been tied early, and he also had a protective iron piece on his forehead.
He is ready to play at any time.
But at this moment, his master Ishikawa Hyōma suddenly told him that he didn't need to play anymore.
He has arranged for a senior fellow from Yuanshan to replace Yuanshan.
Yuan Shan, who didn't understand why his master did this, naturally roared at the soldiers and horses, asking them why they did this.
Facing the roar of the distant mountains, the soldiers and horses just said in a calm tone:
"Yuanshan, you think I can't see it? You are so full of murderous intent that you can hardly stop it!"
"What do you want to do? Kill Ogata Issei in the God Sacrifice Competition?"
"I would rather lose the God Sacrifice Competition than let my disciples kill people in the God Sacrifice Competition!"
"Master..." Toyama clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "Are you worried that after I kill Ogata Issei in public, it will cause trouble for our sword hall...?!"
"..." The soldiers and horses remained silent, not responding to Yuan Shan's answer.
But his silent reaction was equivalent to answering Yuan Shan's question.
"Master! Please let me go on the field!" Toyama's face was full of unwillingness, "I'm really not willing to let me go on the field to compete with Ogata Issei!"
"If I can't tell you, I'm not sure!" Ishikawa Hyōma rejected Toyama without hesitation in a much harsher tone than before, "Today you just stay out of the field honestly! I won't do anything no matter what.
I’ll let you play!”
"Master..." Yuan Shan gritted his teeth tighter.
Just as Toyama was racking his brains, thinking about what he should do to convince Ishikawa Hyōma to let him play, a strange voice suddenly sounded from beside him and Hyōma:
"Ishikawa-kun, let him play!"
This sound is quite unfamiliar to distant mountains.
But for Ishikawa Hyōma, this voice was very familiar.
Because he just heard this voice yesterday.
After hurriedly checking the sound and confirming that the person who came was indeed that person, Ishikawa immediately knelt on the ground and shouted in a respectful tone:
"My lord!"
This person is none other than the patriarch of their Hirose Domain—Kuraagazaemon.
Kuronaga walked slowly toward the soldiers and others alone.
After the soldiers and horses knelt on the ground and shouted "Master", Toyama and the other Ishikawa Kenkan disciples also knelt on the ground and respectfully saluted Kuronaga.
After walking up to Bingma and the others, Kuronaga repeated what he just said in a calm tone:
"Ishikawa-kun, let your disciple come on stage."
"My lord!" Ishikawa Bingma said anxiously, "Why..."
Before Ishikawa Hyōma finished speaking, Kuranaga spoke up again, interrupting Hyōma:
"Ishikawa-kun, I don't want to say more. In short, let your disciple come on stage."
Kuronaga's tone was very calm, but his tone was very tough.
There was no room for maneuver on this matter.
Ishikawa Hyōma's face was quite complicated at this time.
The complex expression on his face revealed his inner struggle.
After struggling fiercely in his heart for a while, Ishikawa Bingma sighed softly as if he had given up resistance.
"...Yes...I understand..."
Compared to Ishikawa Hyōma's complex expression, Toyama's expression at this time was much simpler.
Yuan Shan's face at this moment was filled with pure joy.
…
…
The most eastern location of the competition venue——
Almost all the disciples of Sakakihara Sword Hall are gathered here at this time.
Even Makino, whose injuries were not completely healed, still managed to come here to cheer up Ogata.
Ogata has already tied his cuffs and put on a protective iron plate on his forehead.
His two sabers were temporarily handed over to Makino's care.
The incense stick placed in a corner of the venue for the countdown was almost burning out.
Ogata's fellow apprentices came forward one by one, sent blessings to Ogata, and encouraged Ogata.
The last person to walk up to Ogata was Hanbei Sakakihara.
However - Sakakihara Hanbei, who came up to Ogata, did not say inspiring words to cheer up Ogata like others.
Instead, he said in a deep voice:
"Ogata...you can't play!"
"Master?" After hearing Hanbei's words, Ogata raised his eyebrows, and then cast a doubtful look at Hanbei, "I can't play? What do you mean?"
The other brothers and sisters surrounding him all looked at each other, confused by Hanbei's words just now.
"I just took a sneak peek at Toyama Renichiro. That Toyama... was full of murderous intent."
Speaking of this, Yuan Shan's expression became more solemn.
"It's too dangerous to compete with such a person..."
"Ogata, stay here and don't move."
"I'm going to try to see if I can cancel today's God Sacrifice Competition."
"...Master. Thank you for your kindness." Ogata was stunned for a moment, then put a smile on his face, "But - I will definitely play."
"You can't escape if you keep hiding."
"Even if you can hide today, there is no way to guarantee that you can hide forever in the future, right?"
"Since you can't escape by hiding, let's settle the grudge between me and Yuan Shan in one breath today!"
After saying that, Ogata looked at the incense stick used as a countdown.
This incense, used as a countdown, had just burned out at this time.
Ogata picked up the wooden sword and walked slowly towards the competition venue.
"Ogata! Wait a minute!" Hanbei shouted as he stepped forward, trying to stop Ogata.
However, a figure stepped in front of Hanbei and separated him from Ogata.
"Master..." Mikami said in a deep voice, "Ogata-kun is right...instead of constantly evading like this, it is better to take advantage of today and settle the grudge between the two in one breath..."
"You..." Hanbei's beard stood up in anger.
But - because Mikami stopped Hanbei, Hanbei had missed the best opportunity to stop Ogata.
At this time, Ogata and Toyama had already walked to the center of the competition venue at almost the same time.