Chapter 53 - Love at first sight Xiao Banai

Everyone in the courtyard was holding their breath and paying attention to the battle taking place in the middle.

Type 1: Shiranui.

Among the Breath of Flames, it is the fastest sword skill to dash forward and also the fastest to slash.

And Purgatory Makijuro has used this move countless times to cleanly cut off the head of Shigetsuki.

Wow——!

The moment Makijuro's wooden sword cut through the air and was about to touch Tanjuro's neck!

"hiss--!"

【Breath of the Sun·Shape of Four·Phantom of the Sun】

Uh-huh!

The wooden knife passed through 'Tanjuro''s neck cleanly.

But the feeling of empty movement in his hand immediately filled Makijuro's face with a surprised expression.

——It didn’t hit.

——The knife... passed through the body? !

Purgatory Makijuro's movements stopped at the last moment when he swung the sword and retracted his strength. He leaned forward, eyes wide open, staring at the phantom of 'Tanjuro' in front of him as if he didn't exist.

He reacted quickly, and the surprised expression on his face turned to surprise.

——It’s an afterimage!

next moment.

Before Purgatory Makijuro could adjust his posture.

【Breath of the sun·Shape of Qi·Yanghuatu】

Uh-huh!

Snap.

A slight white steam escaped from the corner of Tanjuro's mouth, and he appeared behind Makijuro, with the wooden sword in his hand already placed on his neck.

With a slight exertion, the blade of the wooden knife touched Makijuro's aorta:

"It's over." Tanjuro's tone was calm. He was thinking of ending the battle in the least labor-intensive way.

Now he is almost in full condition.

Purgatory Makijuro felt the cold touch on his neck in shock, and he slightly tightened his grip on the handle of the knife.

——No reaction at all.

——Lost in one move.

Ha ha.

Makijuro smiled softly in his heart.

"Yes." The corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he slowly put away the knife and stood:

"…it's over."

With his back to Tanjuro, Purgatory Makijuro slowly straightened his back, raised his head and looked at the clear blue sky.

Take a deep breath.

The annoyance in my heart seemed to completely dissipate at this moment.

The wind blew through the tips of his red hair, swaying slightly and shining golden light in the sun.

"Hahaha…"

Purgatory Makijuro smiled slightly, then raised his head, and his voice became louder and louder:

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Tanjuro was putting away his wooden sword when he heard Makijuro's hearty laughter and was slightly startled.

He looked at Makijuro.

The other party's sudden "nervousness" scared him a little.

But, at one moment.

Tanjuro seems to see the shadow of Anjuro in the current Makijuro...

No, it seems wrong to say that a father is like a son.

Anyway.

Makijuro turned around and looked at Tanjuro.

Tanjuro seemed to see a light called hope in those tired eyes.

"Thank you." Purgatory Makijuro put away his sword and stood up. He nodded to Tanjuro.

beside.

Several people were watching.

"Father!" Hanako raised her little hand high. She was sitting in the arms of the butterfly ninja and waving happily towards this side:

"So awesome! So handsome!"

The Butterfly Ninja's expression was a little surprised, and she didn't even notice Hanako swaying and rolling in her arms.

——Mr. Makijuro...lost.

What surprised her was not this, but.

——It’s so easy to lose.

Butterfly Ninja, who is also a pillar, can clearly feel it.

Purgatory Makijuro's strength has not dropped much compared to before.

She had also heard the rumor that Tanjuro had defeated Kamejo-Ichi before, but she didn't pay much attention to it——

——Because even Tanjuro himself mentioned to her that there was an element of exaggeration in this.

The butterfly ninja himself also has a certain understanding of the strength of the ghost on the string. At least he cannot defeat the ghost on one pillar alone.

However, now it seems——

The butterfly nin looked at Tanjuro.

Tanjuro was smiling and waving to Hanako who was being held by the Butterfly Ninja.

Soon, the powerful emotional control ability allowed Butterfly Ninja to regain his former smile.

"Father!" Purgatory Anjuro's voice came from one side of the courtyard. He was looking at his father with a smile:

"It seems that I haven't practiced swordsmanship for a while."

"Father's sword skills have actually declined!"

Makishuro, who was about to leave, glanced at his son with some confusion:

"You brat, what did you say?"

Xingjulang slightly crossed his arms:

"Ha ha ha ha!"

boom!

Xingjulang had a second bag on his head.

Opposite to several people.

"...Tanjiro-nii." Takeo squatted on the ground. He squinted his eyes and recalled what he had just seen with confusion on his face:

"Did Father really ask us to pay attention to this...?"

He took a deep breath, and then sighed as if he was spitting out bitter water:

"It's completely invisible!"

In Zhuxiong's eyes.

All he saw was that Makijuro and Tanjuro exchanged places.

Then inexplicably, the sparring session ended.

Tanjiro didn't speak. He looked stunned at the moment, as if he was petrified, and looked at his father blankly.

--a year ago.

——I can still see clearly the two axes my father used...

Tanjiro fell into deep self-doubt.

"elder brother…?"

"elder brother?!!"

Seeing Tanjiro's shattered appearance, Takeo quickly shouted anxiously:

"Cheer up! Tanjiro-nii!!"

…

…

the other side.

In the woods.

rustle--

The leaves were swaying, and the girl with three braids was still walking through the woods.

"Cheer up! Mitsuri!"

Kanroji Mitsuri clenched her fists and waved them in front of her chest to cheer herself up. Her tone was dull:

"You can do it for sure!"

But when she looked around and saw the seemingly endless woods, her face dropped.

at this time.

Step, step...

Inaudible footsteps came from the front.

…

…

ahead.

Ihei Xiaobanai was walking on the road.

"Hiss, hiss--" The little white snake wrapped around its neck spat out a bright red letter.

"I know, Dymaru." Iguro Kobane said in a low tone, seeming to be communicating with the snake around his neck:

"Indeed, Yu Xu looks like a stinker all day long."

Just when he wanted to continue along the woods.

"Hey!"

A pink-haired figure with hairy hands and feet, looking a little panicked, jumped out of the grass in front of him.

She stood in front, with her back to Iguro Kobanei, and was stunned for a while, then she said "Eh?" "Eh?" and quickly looked at both sides.

"It's strange... I clearly heard someone talking here..." Kanroji Mitsuri muttered to herself in confusion. She scratched her face:

"Could it be that... I heard it wrong?"

Iguro Kobanai stopped behind Mitsuri of Kanroji Temple.

--who?

He was confused and prepared to take a detour.

He has always been a loner and is not prepared to talk too much with others.

At this time.

"Ah! Found it!"

Kanroji Mitsuri suddenly turned around and was surprised to find Iguro Kobanai who was about to leave. She immediately ran towards this side happily:

"Hello--!"

Under the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

The girl waved her hands and ran towards this side with a cheerful smile. Her pink three-strand braid swayed slightly, and she shouted bluntly:

"Please wait a moment-!"

Creak...

Iguro Kobanei's turning movement froze in place.