As a member of the Chiba family, renowned for their powerful genetics and exceptional swordsmanship talent, Chiba Domon Shiro indeed possesses formidable swordsmanship skills.
Facing Aoto head-on, he managed to spar with Aoto evenly without falling behind at all.
The detailed account of Aoto and Chiba Domon Shiro’s battle process makes it seem as though their fight lasted a while. In fact, everything happened in a flash.
Aoto and Chiba Domon Shiro skidded a few steps apart and as he turned around, kneeling on one knee, Aoto re-positioned his bamboo sword in front of his body, maintaining a flawless stance.
Aoto was eager to continue the fight with Chiba Domon Shiro until a victor was determined, but things didn’t go as he wished. Aoto sensed a presence approaching from behind.
Aoto wasn’t arrogant enough to think he could handle the encirclement by the swordsmen of the Xuanwu Hall with ease.
In a flash—Aoto started to sprint straight towards his right side.
Chiba Domon Shiro and the other swordsmen from Xuanwu Hall immediately set off in pursuit, but as soon as they started, Aoto had already gained a considerable lead.
With the leg explosive power conferred by "Take the Lead," Aoto had an "acceleration" and "start-up speed" that ordinary people without special training couldn’t match.
At that moment, Aoto suddenly noticed the light in front of him darken—two tall, burly men blocked his path from the left and right.
Aoto scanned his surroundings and confirmed that there was no one on his left or right sides, and Chiba Domon Shiro still needed a few seconds to catch up. Breathing deeply with a "ha,"
The sound that replaced Aoto’s inhale was the bamboo sword in his hand.
Aoto slightly lowered his waist, initiating from the middle rank, and swung a horizontal strike fiercely at the enemy on his right.
He felt the impact of a solid hit... The man attacked by Aoto couldn’t dodge in time, and his left shoulder fully took the brunt of Aoto’s strike, his facial features contorting instantly in pain.
The enemy on Aoto’s left hand seized the moment and swung his sword to slash.
But Aoto retracted his sword to the front with greater speed, parrying this person’s sword tip.
With Chiba Domon Shiro and others about to arrive, Aoto didn’t linger in the fight but withdrew timely, and continued to dash towards the weak points of Xuanwu Hall’s defenses, looking for isolated opponents.
Witnessing Aoto retreat after each strike, never staying too long in any place and giving no chance for the Xuanwu Hall’s swordsmen to surround him, Chiba Domon Shiro couldn’t help but click his tongue in frustration.
Suddenly, Chiba Domon Shiro’s eyes widened as he suddenly remembered something.
Aoto’s vigor and his conspicuous Array Feather Robe, which represented the status of the Grand General, had inadvertently drawn all of Chiba Domon Shiro’s attention, subconsciously ignoring Chokata Toshisuke, Kondo Isami, and a few others...
Although Chiba Domon Shiro had always looked down on Shiwei Hall, he had consistently acknowledged the strength of Toshisuke, Kondo, Hijikata, and Inoue highly.
Realizing he had overlooked these individuals, Chiba Domon Shiro immediately halted and lifted his head and eyes, searching for Toshisuke and the others.
Even though the arena had turned into a chaotic situation due to the outbreak of the battle, Chiba Domon Shiro quickly located Toshisuke and the others—they were gathered together at that moment.
"What...?" A low exclamation escaped from Chiba Domon Shiro’s lips.
At this moment, Toshisuke, Kondo, Hijikata, and Inoue were surrounding their Grand General from four directions... surrounding Chiba Daisaburo!
Aoto took advantage of the opportunity to turn his face and looked into the distance towards the "Toshisuke quartet vs. Chiba Daisaburo" battleground.
"Guys... don’t lose..."
The "spectator seats" on the north side of the arena—
"Hehehe, indeed... Shiwei Hall wouldn’t just attack recklessly like this; they indeed have a strategy."
Saito Mijuro... also known as the current Hall Master of the Training Hall, one of the "Edo’s Three Great Dojos," and famed as the "Powerful Saito," was laughing with a hand tugging at his snow-white long beard.
Although there was quite an unpleasant incident where Chiba Eijiro crushed Saito Mijuro’s second son, Saito Kanosuke, leaving him with a severe psychological shadow, Saito Mijuro and Xuanwu Hall’s personal relationship had always been quite good.
Maintaining close relations with a family that caused his son to have a severe psychological shadow... such an unfathomable thing, however, seemed perfectly normal when it came to the extraordinary Saito Mijuro.
This 62-year-old elder was a renowned legendary figure in Edo, and his lively and vibrant life made countless people admire and envy him.
Saito Mijuro was born into a poor subordinate samurai family and had to work at an oil factory at the age of 13 to alleviate his family’s poverty.
After living a mundane life until 15, he suddenly got the notion, from who knows where, to pursue becoming a great scholar.
He acted on this thought without delay, running away from home and making a living carrying luggage for people along the way. He finally settled in Edo, where he balanced working during the day and fervently studying through the nights.

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