Ever since witnessing the remarkable feat at the Aizu Marquis Swordsmanship Competition several months ago, where Aoto "released his momentum after learning swordsmanship for less than half a year," Saito Mijuro developed a keen interest in Aoto.
It wasn’t until yesterday evening that Saito Mijuro learned that Shiwei Hall and Xuanwu Hall would jointly hold the "Red and White Battle" today.
Upon learning that Aoto would also participate in the competition, Saito Mijuro decided without hesitation to attend and watch the event.
As it was a spontaneous decision, Saito Mijuro initially intended to go alone.
But when the current Deputy Master of the Training Hall, his beloved disciple, Gui learned of his plan for the day, he enthusiastically said to him, "Master! I have long heard of the famed ’Niō’! I’ve always regretted not having the chance to see him in person. Could you take me to watch the competition?"
Since bringing one more person along would not be a problem, Saito Mijuro nodding agreed without much thought.
"The title ’Niō’ is truly not unearned..." Gui murmured, "Even a strong figure like Chiba Domon Shiro has no way to deal with him."
"Hehehe. Although this Shiwei Hall is small, it hides many talents indeed."
Saito Mijuro chuckled, tugging at his long beard.
"Gui, do you see that child with the purple ribbon tying up the hair high at the back of his head?"
Gui followed the direction Saito Mijuro pointed... The "child" Saito Mijuro referred to was indeed Toshisuke.
"That child is also quite formidable..." Saito Mijuro murmured, "Obviously neither tall nor robust, yet possessing astonishing strength and speed... Truly a good seed for sword training. I wonder how long he has been practicing the sword..."
On the other side of the "audience seating"
"Hey, Zhouzhu."
Abi, with a furrowed brow, anxiously asked Zhouzhu beside him:
"This kind of fighting style... is it really possible to defeat Xuanwu Hall?"
Abi’s hands, resting on his legs, had been subconsciously gripping tightly out of nervousness since earlier.
Zhouzhu, caught off guard by the question, briefly scratched his chin with a wry smile.
"Well... in this world, there is no ’sure win method’ that guarantees victory over an opponent."
"However, Yong and the others’ approach of ’saving Chiba Daisaburo for last’ is correct."
"As for whether they will succeed... it depends on Yong and the others’ performance."
On the competition field—
"... I see."
Chiba Daisaburo shifted his eyes, scanning the circle of Toshisuke and the others surrounding him from four directions, his usually silent face showing a slight smile.
"Do you think you can defeat us with this method..."
He instantly saw through the intentions of Toshisuke and the others.
As he finished speaking, Chiba Daisaburo raised his tachi, the shadow of his naturally lowered right arm blurred—
The sword blade, thrust upward from below, fiercely attacked Inoue standing at his right!
Inoue grunted, raised his sword in defense, and deflected the blow.
Standing beside Inoue, Hijikata seized the moment when "Chiba Daisaburo used his right-hand sword to attack Inoue" and took a large stride forward.
Along with the sound of a firm step, came the swooshing sound of Hijikata swinging his sword.
Being greedy, Hijikata took a reverse Kasaya Slash with the sword edge, whistling straight toward the porcelain bowl on Chiba Daisaburo’s forehead!
At the same time, facing Chiba Daisaburo head-on, Toshisuke also began to act.
Arriving slightly later than Hijikata, her target of attack was Chiba Daisaburo’s lower body.
Two swords attacked up and down, the angles tricky, both strength and speed in ample supply, but unfortunately, no results were obtained.
Chiba Daisaburo retreated a step to the side, and quickly swung the wakizashi in his left hand, striking at Hijikata’s bamboo sword.
His backward steps avoided Toshisuke’s sweeping attack.
The upward swinging wakizashi accurately blocked Hijikata’s sword tip in mid-air.
At this moment, a deep Qi Union sound accompanied by the imposing aura reminiscent of a "great mountain" emanated from behind Chiba Daisaburo.
The robust Kondo, like a moving meat mountain, stomped with powerful and resonant steps, ramming both his sword and his body towards Chiba Daisaburo.
Chiba Daisaburo unhurriedly adjusted his stance, turning his body sideways, lifting both the tachi in his right hand and the wakizashi in his left to his chest, forming an "X" shaped cross-block.
The sword shadows flashed by.
In an instant, the three swords of Kondo and Chiba Daisaburo tangled together.
And then in the next instant, accompanied by the sound of "kala-lalala" like nails scraping bamboo, Chiba Daisaburo’s twin swords slid aside, deftly redirecting Kondo’s attack to one side while the wakizashi in his left hand thrust through the air! Aiming diagonally at the porcelain bowl on Kondo’s forehead!
Kondo hurriedly sidestepped, then forcefully jumped back, putting some distance between himself and Chiba Daisaburo.
The retreating Kondo landed right beside Hijikata.
"Asheng." Hijikata, expressionless, vigorously twisted his right wrist holding the sword, "Holding off Chiba Daisaburo... this task seems to be much more difficult than we anticipated."
"No matter how hard, we have to tough it out." A confident smile bloomed on Kondo’s cheeks, "Asui, you don’t like the feeling of losing either, do you?"
"Heh..." Hijikata grinned, not speaking.
Seven days ago, afternoon—
Shiwei Hall, the dojo—
"Gentlemen, I won’t say anything too complicated!"
Kondo’s sonorous voice echoed through every corner of the dojo.
Gathering all the disciples representing Shiwei Hall in the upcoming competition, they were currently assembled in the dojo, listening to Kondo’s "motivational speech".

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