"Ogata Issei..." Gennai Matsudaira said softly, "What? Nanahara, do you know this person?"
"No." Qiyuan shook his head, "I don't know this person, I just heard his name."
"It is said that he has the highest swordsmanship among the disciples of Sakakihara Kenkan."
"A few days ago, I also got the Sakakibara Itto-ryu Free of Charge."
"Maybe it will be passed down to everyone...then Ogata Issei's swordsmanship seems to be quite good..."
As soon as Matsudaira Gennai finished speaking, Nanabao sneered.
"Lord, you have misunderstood."
"Whether your swordsmanship is superb or your strength is strong does not depend on whether you have immunity."
"As long as you get the master's approval, you can get a title that is passed down to everyone."
"Such rules breed too many scumbags."
"To please one's master, or to bribe one's master, to get a certificate from the master that is not allowed to be passed on, and then use it to defraud - I have seen many such people."
"Perhaps this Ogata Isei got the title of "Unrequited Master" by trying to please his master.
Matsudaira Gennai had no interest in swordsmanship.
After hearing this big introduction from Qi Yuan, he just said "oh" softly, then turned back and continued to admire the scene of hell in front of him.
After looking at the incense for nearly a full time, Matsudaira Gennai seemed to be satisfied, took a deep breath, and then stood up.
"I feel really good. Let's go back to the city."
"Master." Qi Yuan asked, "How to deal with these corpses?"
"Just leave it here. Didn't you say that a disciple of the Sakakihara Sword Hall named Ogata is not here? He will always come to the sword hall, so let him clean up this place slowly."
"What about these people?" Qi Yuan nuzzled at a corpse at his feet.
This corpse is that of one of Matsudaira Gennai's guards.
Matsudaira Gennai glanced sideways at the corpse.
"Leave it here too. Let Ogata help clean it up. He can clean it up if he likes. It doesn't matter if he doesn't."
"Yes!" After a respectful response, Qi Yuan shouted to the guards who were still alive, "Hurry up and pave a road for the Lord to walk!"
Following Qi Yuan's order, the still-living guards hurriedly lay down on the ground covered with corpses and pools of blood.
With his own flesh and blood, he paved a "road" directly to the gate of the sword hall, paving a "road" that would not stain Matsudaira Gennai's socks...
Matsudaira Gennai stepped on the bodies of his guards and left the bloody dojo in a swagger.
…
…
Hirose Domain, Kuranaga's mansion, gate——
"Ogata-kun." Kuronaga said to Ogata who was in front of him and was ready to leave, "Let me give you a ride."
"My lord, it's no need." Ogata smiled politely at Kurunaga, "I can do it by myself."
"No." Kuronaga shook his head, "I semi-forced you to come to my mansion tonight, and I have an obligation to give you a ride. Ogata-kun, you don't need to say more."
Seeing that he could not convince Kuronaga, Ogata had no choice but to agree to Kuronaga and ask Kuronaga and Tobiru to give him a ride.
Ogata and Kurunaga walked side by side, while Tobiru walked in front of them, holding a lantern for lighting.
The soft light emitted from the lantern dispelled the darkness in front of the three people.
Looking at the darkness ahead that was constantly being dispersed by light, Ogata said coldly to Kuranag beside him:
"My lord, I didn't expect that you would actually let me go back and think about it for a few days..."
Just now, in that room, Kuronaga asked Ogata a straightforward question: Would you like to help him assassinate Matsudaira Gennai?
As for Kuronaga's question, Ogata's answer was - can you let me go back and think about it for a few days?
Ogata originally thought that Kuranagi would refuse his request.
Unexpectedly, Kurunaga agreed happily.
After hearing Ogata's words, a faint smile appeared on Kuranagi's face.
"Ogata-kun, let me tell you the truth - when I heard you said you wanted to go back and think about it for a few days, I was actually relieved."
"Why?" Ogata asked doubtfully.
"Assassinating the lord - this kind of thing must be done by people who are already aware of it."
"In a moment of enthusiasm, you promise to take on an arduous task, but when the critical moment comes, you back down - I hate this kind of loser the most."
"So I hope that the people who decide to help me will think carefully about the pros and cons and are fully prepared and aware."
"Rather than a reckless man who agreed to my invitation out of passion."
"My lord," Ogata smiled, "Aren't you afraid that I will leak your shocking plan after I return?"
There was a hint of meaning in Kurunaga's smile at this time.
"Ogata-kun, if I was worried that you would leak my plan, I wouldn't invite you into the house tonight."
Having said this, Kurunaga paused.
After a moment of silence, he said softly:
"Ogata-kun... Now is a rare opportunity. Let me confess something to you."
"More than a month ago, the reason why I wanted to hold the God Sacrifice Competition in advance and agreed that you and that Yuanshan use real swords was actually to test your strength as soon as possible."
"Let's see if your strength is worthy of my win over."
Ogata was stunned.
"...I see." Ogata smiled bitterly, "My lord, after you said this, many problems have been solved... Let me guess - no one from the Ishikawa Sword Hall has been here for more than a month.
To seek revenge on me, did you also send someone to protect me secretly?"
Kuronaga didn't answer.
He just nodded silently.
"And the reason why you sent Dr. Xuan'an to give me free treatment is to avoid anything happening to my precious combat power. Right?"
Kuronaga continued to nod.
"...Ogata, I'm sorry..." Kurunaga sighed softly, "Please forgive me for my willfulness..."
"My lord, there is no need to apologize to me." Oofang shrugged helplessly, "I don't mean to blame you."
"Anyway, regardless of whether you interfere with it or not, Yuanshan and I will have a fight to the death in which only one person can survive. It's just a matter of sooner or later."
"From a certain perspective, I have to thank my boss."
"Thanks to your decision to advance the God Sacrifice Competition, the grudge between me and Yuanshan has come to an end in advance."
"My lord, I promise you - I will make a decision as soon as possible and then give you my answer."
"And I also promise you that I will not reveal your plan."
"Yes." Kuronaga's smile became gentle, "Ogata-kun, I believe you. But - I hope you can promise me one more thing."
"I hope you can promise me that if you agree to live and die with me, you must be ready to wake up."
Speaking of this, Kuronaga changed into a half-joking tone.
"Don't wait until you are about to take action, then suddenly regret it and then run away."