Both Zhang Heng and Okita Souji looked seriously injured, but in fact they were not serious.
After lying in bed for three days, Zhang Heng was basically able to move around freely. After another two weeks, his physical and mental state returned to its peak. I have to say that the battle with Nakamura Hanjiro brought him more benefits than before. He was older when he challenged various dojos before, and Zhang Heng is also working hard to digest and absorb these experiences during this time.
Small bosses like this that can add a lot of experience points are rare even in the Bakumatsu era, but there is another one beside Zhang Heng.
After waiting for another week, Zhang Heng estimated that Okita Souji was almost recovered, so he went to compete with the latter as agreed.
However, no one was seen at Okita's residence. Zhang Heng inquired and found out that after the Sono incident, Kondo Isamu gave Okita a long vacation to let him rest. However, the latter did not lie in bed obediently. He always had a big day every day. He went out early in the morning and came back after sunset, and no one knew where he went.
Zhang Heng had nothing to do anyway, so he didn't wait here, but decided to try his luck to see if he could meet Souji Okita outside.
He asked several people who lived with Okita where Okita often went. However, he could not see Souji Okita after looking around. So Zhang Heng thought about it and came to the garden again. The two met that night. place.
Zhang Heng remembered that there seemed to be a tea stall on the right, and sure enough he found Souji Okita there.
Zhang Heng didn't know how long he sat here, just looking at the house across the street, but the door there was always closed.
"Bring a pot of tea." Zhang Heng said to the boss, and then sat next to Okita Souji.
Okita forced a smile and wanted to say something, but even though his lips moved, he still couldn't.
"Have you been here recently?" Zhang Heng asked.
Okita Souji nodded, and finally reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the door opposite, lowered his head, and looked at the plate of rice cakes in front of him that had gone cold without even touching a single chopstick.
"You two can't be together." Zhang Heng originally wanted to persuade Okita slowly, but when he saw his appearance, he simply said bluntly.
"I know," Okita Souji's eyes dimmed, "I don't have the extravagant hope of getting her forgiveness. I just want to come here and see her from a distance, just one glance."
"If you persist in a fruitless relationship, it will only increase your troubles. You still have a long way to go in life, and you will encounter again in the future..." Zhang Heng paused when he said this. He almost forgot about Mr. Okita in history. Si will pass away in May next year. In other words, the cheerful and straightforward young man in front of him actually only has about a year left to live.
So this relationship is very likely to be the last relationship in his life.
Okita Souji coughed twice, "Deputy Director Hijikata told me the same thing, but...it's different," the young man said stubbornly, "Every relationship is different, even if I meet someone I like again in the future. , she can’t completely replace Miss Xiaoye’s place in my heart.”
The words that Soji Okita blurted out also touched something in Zhang Heng's heart, causing the latter to fall into silence.
At this time, the boss brought the tea, and Okita seemed to be aware of his willfulness, and said a little embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kondo has told me many times that I am too emotional."
"There's nothing wrong with being emotional. If you hadn't been emotional, I would have had to find a way to escape that night." Zhang Heng said, pouring tea for General Okita and himself, "I heard that your director gave you a holiday. ?”
Okita Souji took the tea and thanked him, and then said, "Well, I killed Takasugi Shinsaku, but it is said that the current situation is a little different. The people above are considering cooperating with the guys from the overthrow faction, so this matter has not been disclosed to the outside world. Zhang Yang, the director said that I should write down my credit first and then calculate it later, but I actually don’t care about the credit or lack thereof, so I asked him for a long vacation.”
Then Okita seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, by the way, you are here to compete with me, right? I happen to be free now. Where should we go, the small mountain dojo?"
"No need." Zhang Heng said unexpectedly, "The person I want to fight is the top master of the Shinsengumi, the man known as the Bakumatsu Heavenly Sword, not a sad person trapped in love and frustrated. In this state, you are worthless to me."
"Sorry," Souji Okita said apologetically, "I really don't have any thoughts of going under the knife right now."
"Please come back to me at the hill dojo when you regain your composure." Zhang Heng finished drinking the tea, stood up, and left ten copper coins on the table.
"Okay, I will definitely not miss the appointment again." Souji Okita said seriously.
…………
However, Zhang Heng still underestimated the impact of this incident on Okita. It is said that because he was worried about the retaliation from the Shinsengumi, the owner of the house soon gave his daughter to a family in his hometown, Okita Souji. I learned the news three days later, and Xiaoye had already left Kyoto by that time.
That day, Souji Okita sat in front of the small tea stall from morning to night. When the boss finished work and went home, he didn't dare to take back the stool he was sitting on. Until the moon came to an end, Souji Okita was still glaring at everyone. His eyes were bloodshot, and he refused to get up and leave.
Another month later, Zhang Heng heard the news that Okita Souji was seriously ill. When he went to visit him again, Okita had lost a lot of weight. In some places, only skin and bones were left, and his cough seemed to be getting worse. , he was still having a low fever. When Zhang Heng saw him, he was sitting in the yard, looking at an orchid in the corner.
Li Chongtian didn't even notice when Zhang Heng walked into the courtyard.
This is almost impossible for a top player.
Zhang Heng sighed secretly in his heart. He could see that Souji Okita's body was deteriorating rapidly. Okita himself had tuberculosis and cough, and coupled with the stimulation of love and injury, his life might even be shorter than in history.
However, he seemed to be in good spirits at the moment. When Zhang Heng put down the pork in his hand, Souji Okita finally noticed him and said, "You are a rare guest here."
"There happened to be something happening nearby. I thought of you and came over."
"Are you still challenging the dojo in Kyoto? Mr. Abe is also a weirdo." Okita Souji said with a smile, "Now there are legends about you circulating in the streets and alleys of Kyoto. I heard that because of you, the small mountain dojo has also changed. He is very famous and has many disciples."
