I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

With a loud clang, he barely managed to block Qing Deng's slash.

However, due to the hasty defense and the fact that his strength was not as good as Qingdeng's, although he managed to block the attack, he was unable to withstand the immense force transmitted through him and stumbled back several steps before falling to the ground with a thud.

"What's wrong? Stand up quickly."

Qing Deng dragged his sword and slowly walked towards Okada Izou, his expression indifferent.

"hateful……!"

Okada Izo cursed under his breath and struggled to sit up.

"Wa ...

It's another manifestation stream.

With overwhelming momentum, he brandished his sword and charged straight at Qingdeng.

Qing Deng first leaped diagonally to dodge the attack, and at the same time, flashed to Okada Izo's side, and with a "whoosh," launched a kick that struck the opponent's abdomen.

"Puwa!"

He screamed and flew backward, then crashed heavily to the ground.

"Ugh... Ugh, vomit, vomit, vomit—!"

He felt his stomach churning, as if his intestines were twisted into a knot.

Before he could even get up, he began to vomit uncontrollably, emptying his stomach of everything, as if he wanted to vomit bile as well.

"The battle isn't over yet, get up!"

The same slow pace continued.

The same indifferent expression.

Okada Izo wiped his mouth angrily, forced himself to stand up, and tried to regroup.

……

Another mid-range kick sent Okada Izou sprawling to the ground once more.

"What's wrong? Can't you handle it? Get up!"

……

Aoto swung his sword diagonally, and Okada Izo was unable to completely dodge it, resulting in a glaring cut on his chest from which blood oozed out like oil.

"Is this all the strongest swordsman of the Tosa Loyalist Party is capable of?"

……

Qing Deng feinted with his sword, and Okada Izo misjudged the situation. When he hastily changed his move, his lower body became severely unstable. After staggering a few times, he collapsed heavily to the ground.

"Can't you even do the most basic thing like stabilizing your stance and getting a firm footing?"

……

The phrase "cat and mouse" perfectly describes the battle between Aoto and Okada Izo.

Qing Deng's moves were incredibly casual.

It could be a simple horizontal or vertical slash, or a straightforward punch or kick.

However, even with such a simple move, Okada Izo was unable to parry it!

He fought back time and time again, only to be beaten to the ground again and again.

During this process, his expression underwent a significant and gradual change.

At first, they were full of fighting spirit.

Then came resentment.

What followed was resentment and frustration.

And now... it's fear and timidity.

His swordsmanship, which he was so proud of, was like a child's circus act in front of Qing Deng...

It was as if Qingdeng was deliberately toying with him. He had countless opportunities to take his life, but he hesitated to act, just teasing, playing with, and manipulating him...

It is difficult to describe with specific words the psychological blow that Okada Izo is currently experiencing.

At this moment, he felt utterly powerless.

His life was in Qing Deng's hands, at his mercy—just like those poor souls he had killed before.

After falling to the ground again, he did not get up.

He lay sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, panting heavily.

The sharp edge of the knife wiping the floor, the silent footsteps... his vision was once again filled with the "heavy" figure slowly walking towards him.

Qingdeng moved to the best attack position, then held the knife in his right hand, raised it overhead, and pointed the tip of the knife to the sky.

Under the sunlight, Vairocana reflects a purple glow.

Looking at the raised blade that seemed poised to strike at any moment, Okada Izo's face was filled with fear.

More accurately, this is not simply a matter of fear.

It was mixed with the despair of having one's self-confidence completely destroyed!

This time, he did not dodge or defend.

"Ah, ah, ahh ...

He first groaned without objection, then screamed, and then instinctively hugged his head, burying his head in the ground like an ostrich, his back arched and his whole body trembling.

It seemed that as long as he hid his head in the darkness, Qing Deng's knife would not be able to cut him.

Seeing this, Qing Deng narrowed his eyes—

hum!

The blade slashed down.

Something broke apart and flew out sideways.

Upon closer inspection—this was not Okada Izo's head, but rather his hair bun.

As the hair bun broke off, Okada Izo's hair fell loose.

His head was completely shaved off with a chonmage, and his hair was loose on both sides of his head... He looked just like a kappa, as disheveled as could be.

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: "Yuan Yang +3"]

[Talent Introduction: Kidneys are less prone to disease, and kidney energy is far more abundant and healthier than average]

[Ding! Detected that the host already possesses a talent of the same type]

[Ding! Initiating talent fusion]

[Ding! "Yuan Yang +4" and "Yuan Yang +3" have begun to merge]

[Please wait, host... Please wait, host...]

[Ding! Talent fusion successful]

[“Yuan Yang +4” Ability Upgrade – “Yuan Yang +7”]

According to Japanese samurai culture, the topknot is a samurai's lifeblood.

Having one's hair cut off is tantamount to having one's head cut off, a disgrace of the highest order. One must either fight back and kill the other to wash away the shame, or commit seppuku in public to preserve one's honor.

"Tie him up."

Qing Deng turned to the team member beside him and said.

"Lord Ren-o, shouldn't you kill him?"

Qingdeng gently shook his head.

"Yamayō Yōdō specifically requested the lives of Takeshi Hanpeita and Okada Izō."

"Since that's the case, let's do a favor."

"Anyway, they won't live much longer after being handed over to Yamanouchi-do."

Qing Deng can now be considered a politician.

Therefore, he clearly understood why Yamanouchi Yodo had specifically requested that Okada Izo be kept alive.

Most likely, it was to interrogate Okada Izo, force him to reveal the truth, and solidify the evidence that Takeshi Hanpeita had "instructed Okada Izo to kill people everywhere"!

*******

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Chapter 753 Aoto's New Name! [Genjuku Netachi Aki no Morihime] [6300]

After Ii Naosuke's murder... that is, since the "Sakuradamon Incident", the pro-imperial faction has tasted the sweetness of "using physical means to eliminate dissidents".

From then on, the Zunrang faction became particularly fond of killing people.

They killed not only their officials but also ordinary people, calling it "divine retribution" or "acting on behalf of Heaven."

During the height of the Reign of the Monarchists movement, Kyoto was once shrouded in bloodshed.

The so-called "Four Great Killers," led by Kawakami Gensai and Okada Izo, gained their fame during this period.

It wasn't until the Shinsengumi moved into Kyoto that this appalling situation of "the Sorority faction killing people indiscriminately" was somewhat alleviated.

At one time, many people in the Shinsengumi suggested to Aoto: Why don't we learn from the pro-expansion faction and use the most direct and violent means to clear away obstacles!

In fact, if Qingdeng were to resort to the same tricks of "sending assassins" and "assassination," it would be an absolute nightmare for those who are hostile to Qingdeng.

After all, Qingdeng possesses the most powerful group of swordsmen in all of Kyoto!