I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 836: Instant Kill of Prajna's Otakemaru! [5000]

Choshu, Songxiason School——

Looking up, I saw a dead and gloomy atmosphere everywhere.

Back then, this was where Yoshida Shoin taught.

Takasugi Shinsaku, Kusaka Genzui, Katsura Kogoro, Yoshida Minoruma... These now famous figures were once students of this village school.

After the Ansei Great Prison under Ii Naosuke, Yoshida Shoin was arrested and beheaded because of his numerous criminal records.

With the death of Yoshida Shoin, the former classmates of Matsushita Sonjuku gradually fell apart due to different beliefs.

Over time, this once extremely bustling village school gradually became deserted.

Although it still looks the same as before, it is deserted and looks like a haunted house.

Only occasionally would the students who once studied together under this roof come back here to reminisce or... quarrel.

At this moment, waves of melodious music came from the village school.

Takasugi Shinsaku held a shamisen in his arms, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and played the music casually.

Opposite him was Katsura Kogoro who was sitting upright.

Katsura Kogoro had a stern face and a bad expression.

  He stared at Takasugi Shinsaku and squeezed out the following words:

"Mr. Gaoshan, why didn't you say anything just now?"

Discussing the Eastern Expedition - this happened an hour ago.

Despite being outnumbered, Katsura Kogoro still argued his case and tried to prevent the war from happening.

His point of view is very clear: even if there has to be a war with the pro-shogunate faction, it will definitely not be now!

No matter from which angle we look at it, the conditions are not right now for a decisive battle with the pro-shogunate faction.

Choshu still bears the stigma of being the "enemy of the court".

Choshu could only make up its own excuses to fight the pro-shogunate faction.

The shogunate faction did not need to go through so much trouble to attack Choshu. They only needed to raise the banner of "suppressing the enemies of the court."

Once the banner of "suppressing the enemies of the court" is raised, many daimyos will definitely come to respond.

Although most of them only know how to work but do not put in any effort, they still have the courage to send some troops to strengthen their morale and show their loyalty, and their courage is very strong.

The pro-shogunate faction had the moral advantage - this alone was enough to make Choshu unable to resist.

Katsura Kogoro was almost kneeling on the ground to beg Kusaka Genzui.

Even so, Kusaka Genzui remained unmoved and resolutely issued the order to "issue a mobilization order and prepare for the eastern expedition."

"That's it, lord." Mori Yoshichika was as indecisive as ever. He agreed to whatever his ministers said and took the approach of giving up to the extreme.

  At this point, the decision has been made - march east to the capital! Defeat Qin Huisa!

Those who advocated "Eastern Expedition", "Eliminate Qin Huisa" and "Heavenly Punishment of Ju Qingdeng" were all delighted.

The battle hasn't even started yet, but everyone seems to be returning victorious.

On the other hand, Katsura Kogoro looked like he had lost his soul.

He stood there frozen with an expressionless face.

Even though the meeting was over and Mori Yoshichika, Kusaka Genzui and others had left, he still sat there motionless.

Just when Takasugi Shinsaku was about to leave, he finally made a move.

  He quickly went up to Takasugi Shinsaku, who had been silent in the meeting, and said coldly: Come to Songxia Sonjuku!

This is how the scene of "the two meeting at Songxia Village School" came about.

"Takasugi-kun, I really don't understand you!"

Katsura Kogoro became more and more excited as he spoke.

He raised his upper body, supported himself on the tatami with his arms, and leaned his head forward, his breath almost spraying on the other person's face.

"Takasugi-kun, if you had expressed your opinion just now, you might have been able to dissuade Hisaka-kun!"

The music stopped at the same moment Katsura Kogoro finished speaking.

Takasugi Shinsaku stopped playing, raised his eyes, and their eyes met.

The look in his eyes was half contemptuous and half self-mocking.

"'Dissuade Kusaka-kun'? Me?"

"Kuei, you think too highly of me and underestimate Hisaka."

"Kusaka and I broke up a long time ago."

"No matter how deep our friendship was before, it cannot change the fact that he and I are now disgusted with each other."

"If I had spoken up just now, I'm afraid that not only would I not be able to dissuade Hisaka, but it would further deepen the conflict and worsen the situation."

"Besides, I'm not a good speaker. I don't have the eloquence to convince Hisaka."

"Kusaka is not the kind of person who would easily change his mind or will because of a few words from others."

"To be frank, Kusaka has become possessed by a demon."

"Do you have any way to persuade a gambler who has gone crazy to stop gambling and stop in time?"

"Even if Hisaka wants to leave the gambling table, the people behind him, such as Kurushima Matabei and Maki Yasuomi, will not let him do so!"

After speaking these words in one breath like a machine gun, Takasugi Shinsaku took several deep breaths, with excitement on his cheeks.

Katsura Kogoro pursed his lips tightly.

He seemed to want to say something to refute the other party.

The mouth can be opened and closed several times.

It's not hard to see that he was at a loss for words... Even if he wanted to refute the other party, he couldn't think of the right words.

Before he could say anything, Takasugi Shinsaku continued quietly:

"Gui, now that things have come to this, I will speak frankly."

"Honestly, I think the 'Eastern Expedition' is not entirely a bad thing."

"You should also know the proverb in Tangtu - 'A blessing in disguise.'"

"'Blessing' and 'misfortune' are twins."

"It may seem like a disaster, but it may actually be a blessing."

Speaking of this, Takasugi Shinsaku lowered his head slightly.

A dark shadow cleverly concealed his face, making it impossible to see the changes in his expression.

"Radical elements led by Hisaka have taken control of the feudal state."

"Changzhou today has fallen into a situation where it must be destroyed before it can be rebuilt."

"The timing is not yet ripe. It is far from the time to fight to the death with the pro-shogunate faction."

"If we rashly march east now, we will most likely be defeated and run away with nothing."

"Although there will be heavy casualties, but... this may make Kusaka and the others wake up completely."

"In this way, Changzhou can be reborn! Get rid of the current outrageous and unjust situation!"

"Or, to put it more directly... if all of Kusaka and the others died in this Eastern Expedition, it would have the same effect!"

“Maybe the effect will be even better!”

Before Takasugi Shinsaku could finish his words, Katsura Kogoro's eyes widened.

His eyes were as big as copper bells, and his eyeballs seemed like they would fall out of their sockets at any time.

His mouth was slightly open, his face turned pale, and his expression was full of disbelief - he couldn't believe that these words would come from the mouth of his classmate!

Before Takasugi Shinsaku could finish his words, Katsura Kogoro leaped out like a tiger, pounced on the other party, grabbed him by the collar, and pinned him to the ground.

With a thud, Takasugi Shinsaku's back made intimate contact with the tatami, and the shamisen in his hand was released and rolled to the side.

"Takasugi Shinsaku! Are you crazy?!"

Katsura Kogoro raised his eyebrows and called him by his name, his expression dominated by strong excitement and resentment.

"Why can you say such a thing so lightly?!"

"Isn't Kusaka our companion?!"

"He is not only our companion who has been with us through thick and thin, but also our former classmate!"

"Have you forgotten the time we studied together under Mr. Yoshida?!"

"Are you going to watch him die?!"

"We studied and practiced swordsmanship together, is it just for the infighting today?!"

Katsura Kogoro's voice gradually became higher.

At the end, he almost shouted out loud.

Takasugi Shinsaku, who was pinned down, looked at Katsura Kogoro coldly without even frowning.

After Katsura Kogoro finished speaking, he said slowly:

"Gui, you speak so beautifully..."

"Then tell me, what other methods are there to save the friendship between classmates and the lives of Kusaka and the others, and get Choshu out of the current predicament?!"

Just this one question made Katsura Kogoro feel like he was choked.

Takasugi Shinsaku continued speaking:

"Also, stop talking about classmates and different classmates!"

"You consider Kusaka Genzui, Yoshida Minoru and others as your classmates, but do they take you seriously?!"

"I don't think I need to elaborate on how they treated you that night at Ikeda House, right?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Katsura Kogoro's expression changed several times.

Soon after escaping from Ikeda and returning to Choshu, Katsura Kogoro learned the truth. It turned out that all this was a trap carefully set for him by Miyabe Teizo, Yoshida Minoru and others.

They deliberately tricked him into coming to Ikedaya for a meeting in order to delay him and buy time for "burning Kyoto and kidnapping the emperor."

If the Shinsengumi had not arrived in time and crushed their conspiracy, a human tragedy would have happened right under Katsura Kogoro's nose.

Whenever he thought of this, Katsura Kogoro couldn't help but feel grateful to the Shinsengumi.

Whether Kusaka Genzui was involved in this plot... is hard to say.

After knowing the truth, Katsura Kogoro said nothing, locked himself in the room, and did not come out for a long time...

Looking at the change in Katsura Kogoro's expression, Takasugi Shinsaku showed a look of pity on his face.

  After a few seconds of silence, he gritted his teeth and continued:

"Gui, I don't want to say this too harshly...but you better wake up!"

"Mr. Shoin is dead!"

"This village school is abandoned!"

"Kusaka has parted ways with us!"

"The time we spent studying together as classmates will never come back!"

After Takasugi Shinsaku finished yelling, silence so quiet that one could hear a pin drop suddenly fell between the two of them.

"..."

Katsura Kogoro said nothing, but just lowered his head silently with his head hanging on his chest.

About 10 seconds later, he silently loosened Takasugi Shinsaku's collar, stood up, turned around and left without a word.

While straightening his tangled collar, Takasugi Shinsaku looked coldly at Katsura Kogoro who was walking out of the school.

When his figure was about to disappear from his sight, a low, lost voice came faintly:

"...After all this time, it turns out that I am the only one left who still cares about our friendship..."

After leaving these words, Katsura Kogoro quickened his pace slightly.

His soft and weak steps... seemed to be floating.

……

……

Changzhou, a certain forest——

  Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

The sound of metal hitting each other was endless.

The criss-crossing slashes cut off the mountain wind.

Prajna held a knife in his hand and looked left and right.

I saw two figures moving around him at high speed, some were approaching, some were swaying to deceive.

These two people are not others, they are Umibozu and Sukuna!

Prajna snorted coldly and took the initiative to attack.

In a blink of an eye, the three of them fought together.

Umibozu swung the large sword in his hand and chopped it at Prajna's head - Prajna raised the sword to block and deflect it.

Sukuna stretched out his arms, and the two swords cut out silver rays in the air, weaving a large silver net - Prajna shattered this "silver net" with just one strike.

In a flash, Prajna lowered her upper body and pounced on Umibozu like a whirlwind.

Umibozu subconsciously raised the large sword in his hand and chopped it off with all his might, trying to force back Prajna.

Unexpectedly, Prajna did not retreat but advanced. When the blade was about to hit his crown, he twisted his body nimbly, dodging it neither more nor less. Then he continued to move forward and approached Kaibouzu in one breath.

He raised his right arm, lifted the tip of his left elbow, aimed at Kaibouzu's belly, and suddenly elbowed him.

"Elbow strike" is one of the most brutal and powerful means of attack that the human body can use.

Therefore, after receiving this blow, Kaibouzu cried out in pain, his legs went limp, and his body bent like a shrimp.

In order to make himself feel better, he had to turn over and lie on his side.

After dealing with Umibozu, Prajna immediately turned around and pounced on Sukuna who was not far away.

Sukuna lowered his face, raised the two swords in his hands like a praying mantis, and got ready.

With a wave of Prajna's hand, the blade drew a thrilling arc in the air and swept towards Sukuna.

The blade seemed to have hit Sukuna's body directly, but in fact it only hit his afterimage - the opponent used exquisite footwork, dodged to the side and rear of Prajna, and launched a fierce attack.

Prajna launched the attack calmly.

The four legs slid quickly, stirring up clouds of dust.

In the smoke and dust, the flashing of swords and sabers is both dazzling and overwhelming.

After a while, the smoke and dust gradually dissipated - at the same time, the sound of fighting stopped.

When the smoke and dust had all cleared, Sukuna was seen lying on the ground in a big letter shape, and his two swords flew into the air and fell into the distance.

Prajna stood upright, holding the knife in one hand, with the tip of the knife pointing diagonally at Su Nuo's throat.

If he wanted to, he could take his life immediately by just pushing the knife forward gently.

"Surrender! Surrender!"

Sukuna showed a helpless look on his face and raised his hands in surrender.

Seeing that the other party had raised his hands in surrender, Prajna habitually shook the sword, shook off the non-existent blood on the blade, and then put the sword back into the sheath.

  At this moment, suddenly, a clear male voice came from behind Prajna:

"Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Along with the cheers, there were also sounds of applause and footsteps.

Prajna turned around expressionlessly and looked - Shuten-doji was clapping his hands and walking towards him with big strides.

"Prajna, it's been a while since we last met, and you've become stronger again!"

In the face of Shuten-doji's praise, Prajna's face showed no sadness or joy, and she was unmoved, and didn't even say a word in response.

  Shuten-doji seemed to be accustomed to Prajna's indifference. After simply praising him, he put his hands behind his back and said slowly:

"Prajna, I'm alive again, go get ready."

Prajna frowned slightly.

"What do you want me to do again?"

"As usual, I'll be Katsura Kogoro's bodyguard."

"Ah? Why do I have to be that guy's bodyguard again? Where is that guy going this time?"

"Choshu has decided to launch an expedition to the east, attack the capital, and fight a decisive battle with Qin Huisa. Katsura Kogoro is preparing to follow Kusaka Genzui and others to the east."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present changed.

  Umibozu raised his eyebrows:

"Eastern Expedition? Isn't that too reckless?"

Sukuna took over the conversation:

"Choshu now has no advantage over the pro-shogunate faction. If we rashly attack the capital, I'm afraid it will be disastrous."

Shuten-doji shrugged.

"For Changzhou, this Eastern Expedition is indeed dangerous. But for us, it may be a good thing."

Umibozu and Sukuna looked straight at Shuten-douji - their meaning was very clear, they urged Shuten-douji to continue and explain in detail what this "good thing" meant.

  After Shuten-doji had sorted out his words, he slowly said:

"Radical elements led by Kusaka Genzui firmly controlled the Choshu domain government."

"They are just a bunch of lunatics who don't understand human language. There is absolutely no value in cooperating with them."

"Therefore, I have high hopes for Choshu's expedition to the east. It would be great if Kusaka Genzui and others could survive the expedition without any casualties."

Having said this, Shuten-doji curled up the corners of his mouth.

"In this way, we can take advantage of the situation to force Katsura Kogoro to take the position and make him the actual leader of Choshu."

"In this way, it will be a great benefit to our next 'plan'."

"In summary, Katsura Kogoro is very important. Anyone in Choshu can die, but he cannot make any mistakes."

"So, Prajna, please run another errand for me."

As soon as Shuten-doji finished speaking, Prajna spat forcefully.

"Can't we just change to someone else? I can't get along with that guy, he's too old-fashioned, I like people who are more casual. Frankly speaking, I really don't want to be his bodyguard anymore."

Shuten-doji seemed to have anticipated Prajna's rejection.

  He smiled slightly and changed his tone to something meaningful:

"Well, in order to revitalize you who have lost all motivation, I will give you a small reward. After that, I will ask Otakemaru to compete with you again."

When Prajna heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Is this true?"

Shuten-doji nodded.

"really."

"He won't hold back?"

"I'll make him try his best without killing you."

Having said this, Shuten-doji paused, then changed his tone to one that was half joking, half serious.

"But... let me be frank. Although you have become much stronger than when you first joined us, you are still no match for Otakemaru."

"If you were to face Otakemaru now... let me think about it... you might still be killed instantly by him!"

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PS: This volume is relatively short, and the main content is only the "Ikedaya Incident" and the subsequent "Kinmon Incident". After the "Kinmon Incident" is over, it will enter the next volume. If nothing unexpected happens, this volume should be completed before November.

(End of this chapter)