The five of them were far away when they heard a clanking sound coming from the direction of the Trial Guard Hall.
"This is..." Saito, who was standing at the back, had the keenest sense and caught the sound of swords clashing in an instant, "The sound of fighting?"
Hijikata and Saito looked at each other and said in unison: "It's Okita!"
Then the two of them, together with Inoue Genzaburo and three others behind them, ran away, rushing towards the trial defense hall.
Kondo Shusuke didn't start running. He was old and couldn't run anymore. Although it had only been two years, Kondo Shusuke was already in poor health and now he was even more powerless.
He didn't want to run either.
Although Kondo Shusuke was thin, he still had a strong momentum. He looked at Saito Ichi behind him: "What's wrong, Saito boy, aren't you going to catch up?"
Saito was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head: "Mr. Kondo, do you still not understand Okita's strength?"
"There is no need to worry about that guy being in danger. To put it bluntly, there are very few people in Japan who can compete with Okita in swordsmanship."
"Do you think any of the famous swordsmen in Japan can compete with Okita?" Kondo Shusuke asked with a smile.
"Hmm...that's the question." Saitoichi had a cynical smile on his lips, "I'm one of them, Shinpachi Nagakura from Shinto Muken-ryu is good enough to compete with Okita, and there's ..."
"The person who has disappeared around here for two years." Saitoichi said with a pity in his eyes, "Haguki Slayer, Samura Anno."
His strength has improved very quickly in the past two years. Saitoichi, who has experienced the invisible sword, has this confidence and is not inferior to the likes of Samura Okita and Nagakura.
Kondo Shusuke just smiled and did not speak.
...
The battle between Zuo Cun and Okita has reached a fever pitch.
Okita, who has completely mastered Shukuchi and can release it frequently and quickly, and Samura, who is like a flying bird and can even stand still in the air for several seconds, this battle...
Anyway, Shimazaki Isamu, Hijikata Toshizo and Inoue Genzaburo who came over were dumbfounded.
Okita was dodging back and forth in the air, and Samura just stood in mid-air, constantly parrying the sword that Okita thrust out from nowhere, and then fell to a nearby branch to reorganize his attack.
Zuocun stood on the tree and Okita stood on the ground.
Both men's eyes narrowed and they looked at each other.
One move - decide the outcome!
"Hundred Birds - New Feather Wheel..."
"One step, Yueyin..."
Zuocun completely stopped in mid-air and closed his eyes.
Okita exhaled a breath of white air, his eyes were sharp, and California's clear light was already on the side of his head.
Zuocun opened his eyes and Okita disappeared.
"Two steps without interruption - three steps! Absolute sword!"
"One of the other wings! - Heliu!"
The three people in the distance were too late to stop them, they were too far away!
The eagle's claws and the wolf's sharp teeth clash head-on!
Ding--
Neither of them could avoid it. He He and California Qingguang were like two thunderbolts, colliding together.
But Samura's sword came from top to bottom, and it just stopped Okita's three consecutive flashes.
The blades made contact, and a strong wind blew up around the two of them.
Samura flew backwards involuntarily, and Okita also fell to the ground.
"Uh-" Zuo Cun hit a tree with his back and groaned.
Due to the reaction force, Okita rolled several times on the ground before stopping.
Hehe and California Qingguang also fell aside.
Zuo Cun covered his chest and coughed twice. He jumped down from the tree feeling a little uncomfortable and pulled Okita up.
Okita was a little disgraced and a little exhausted.
At this time, three people from the trial defense hall rushed over.
"Samura, what are you -" Shimazaki Yu recognized Zuocun from afar. There is no other person besides Zuocun who can dance like that.
He was a little confused, how could Samura fight with Okita?
"It's just a discussion. Okita and I both have a sense of proportion." Zuo Cun looked at the two friends he hadn't seen for a long time and was a little scared, but still chose to say hello, "Long time no see... Shimazaki, Hijikata, Inoue.”
What he was afraid of was not these two people, but...a certain possibility.
"Okita and Samura must be competing, I'll just say that." Inoue, a good old man, shook hands with Samura and said, "Long time no see, Samura."
"Where have you been in the past two years?" Although Shimazaki was also happy to see Zuocun, whom he had not seen for a long time, he was even more curious about what Zuocun was doing during these two years of silence, "Because you ran away. Okita feels so uncomfortable."
"Shimazaki!" Okita, who was clearly out of strength, slapped Shimazaki suddenly, making Shimazaki, whose temperament had become calmer, grinning.
Zuo Cun smiled stiffly and looked at Hijikata, who was standing behind the two people and had not spoken a word. He was also the one with whom he had the best relationship.
Hijikata smiled and stretched out a fist. Zuomura was stunned, and also stretched out his fist and touched Hijikata.
Kondo Shusuke had also walked over. He was not surprised by Zuo Cun's arrival. He just said, "If you have anything to do, come in and talk." Then he went into the house alone.
Saito looked very happy when he saw Zuocun, who was a little embarrassed: "Long time no see, Lord Haukizan."
Zuo Cun smiled bitterly: "It's better not to mention the name Yu Guizhan."
Avoiding Okita, Zuocun picked up the crane feather and put it into the scabbard.
Okita's face turned slightly red, he also picked up California Qingguang, and the group went into the house.
...
Kondo Shusuke had no intention of intervening in the affairs of these young people, but Zuomura must visit Kondo Shusuke first.
"Mr. Kondo." Zuo Cun saluted respectfully.
Kondo Shusuke didn't speak, just observed Zuocun.
He sat on it and looked at this young man who was upright but full of worries.
"You could have beaten Okita, so why did you hold back?" Kondo Shusuke's voice sounded a little weaker than in previous years.
Zuocun remained silent.
"Okita may not be able to see clearly during the battle, but... your swordsmanship is too heavy, so heavy that it has lost the elegance that Hyakutori-ryu should have." Kondo Shusuke's eyes were vicious, and he pointed directly to the left village problems.
Zuo Cun didn't know what to say, his eyes were a little dim.
"When you come back this time... you probably have something you want to talk to Hijikata Shimazaki and the others." Kondo Shusuke smiled.
"...Yes." Zuocun let out a long breath.
"Let me guess... it should be, it's a matter of stance and the world, am I right?" Kondo Shusuke continued.
He has experienced hardships and can see many things.
Before Samura could answer, Kondo Shusuke waved his hand.
"Go ahead and say it."
"You young people should shine in this era."
"But, Anno Samura, please remember." Shusuke Kondo's eyes were glaring, "Even if you will become enemies in the future,... don't let both sides lose their dignity."
"The dignity of a warrior!"
Zuo Cun lowered his head and slowly agreed.
"......Understood."
