I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

After all, they had developed "phantom precipitate," which has a strong hallucinogenic effect.

With such amazing biopharmaceutical technology, it's not surprising that they developed a performance-enhancing drug!

After pondering for a moment, Qingdeng posed his second question:

"What do you know about the Fazhu Party? Have you ever seen their leader, Yamata no Orochi?"

Jing Shan Gui shook his head.

"I have never seen the Yamata no Orochi... Only Lord Takasugi and Lord Katsura have seen it."

Qingdeng calmly pressed on with the question:

"What about the 'Three Great Cadres'? Have you ever met Ōtakemaru, Shuten-dōji, and Tamamo-no-Mae?"

"I have never met Ōtakemaru or Tamamo-no-Mae. I have only met Shuten-dōji. He was always with Lord Takasugi and Lord Katsura."

Qing Deng's gaze narrowed slightly:

"Tell me everything you know about Shuten-dōji, without missing a single detail."

A hint of hesitation flashed in Jing Shan Gui's eyes.

"I...I don't know much about Shuten-dōji."

“I never spoke to him, I only glanced at him from afar a few times.”

"He is very young, he looks to be only in his early twenties."

"He's very handsome, just as good-looking as any Kabuki actor!"

"Also, he has a very good temperament, giving people the feeling of a refined scholar."

"As for the others... the others..."

He paused, sweating profusely as he struggled to think.

After a moment, he seemed to recall something, and a strange expression appeared on his face:

"Um... what I'm about to say is all based on hearsay. I can't be sure if it's true or false..."

Heisuke Todo impatiently rebuked:

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Jing Shan Gui trembled in fright and dared not hesitate any longer:

"It is said! It is really just 'said'! Shuten-dōji is an unparalleled genius martial artist! He possesses the ability to freely enter the legendary 'state of no self'!"

*******

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Chapter 938 To die is an honor, to live is no disgrace! [5300]

The next day, early morning—

Nangong Mountain, eastern foothills, the main camp of the surprise attack force—

As dawn broke, the pale yellow sun slowly rose from behind the eastern mountains, laboriously casting its faint light.

The clouds were low and thick, casting dark shadows.

Since last night, the temperature in Sekigahara has plummeted, and you can exhale a semi-transparent cloud of mist with just a breath.

Even the dawn's light couldn't dispel the biting chill.

If nothing unexpected happens, it will most likely snow today.

What's remarkable is that the current terrible weather is quite fitting for the atmosphere in the Special Forces camp.

The camp was eerily quiet, both inside and out…

From officers to ordinary soldiers, everyone wore stiff expressions and looked wooden.

Some stood guard, some patrolled, some wiped their weapons... No one spoke; everyone mechanically went about their tasks.

If you look closely, you'll see that many of them look terribly pale.

They were all people who had taken "Jue Zhan Dian" yesterday.

As it turns out, the more amazing the effects of this pill are, the more terrifying its side effects are!

The duration of the effects of "Jue Zhan Dian" is not fixed; whether it lasts long or short depends entirely on individual constitution.

Regardless of how long the effects last, without exception, all users will experience immense pain after the effects of the drug wear off!

First, there's muscle soreness; it feels like your limbs are filled with lead, and even the slightest movement causes excruciating pain.

Secondly, I felt dizzy and mentally exhausted, as if I hadn't slept for several days.

In short, there was discomfort all over my body, and even after a whole night's rest, I didn't feel any better.

Before distributing the "Decisive Battle Pill," Takasugi Shinsaku did not conceal its side effects, explaining the truth to all the soldiers without omission, and clearly stated that whether or not to take the medicine in battle was entirely up to the individual's will, and that no one would be forced to do so.

Knowing that this would come at a great cost, many people still resolutely swallowed the "Decisive Battle Elixir"! They were determined to fight the Shinsengumi to the end!

After the August 18th coup, the Ikedaya Incident, the Kyoto Summer Siege, and so many other battles, the conflict between the Shinsengumi and the Choshu Domain had long since reached a point of no return.

Many members of the Kiheitai have direct or indirect hatred towards the Shinsengumi.

They would gladly accept even poison as long as it gave them the power to fight the Shinsengumi... It was with this resolve that they swallowed the "Decisive Battle Elixir" without hesitation!

……

……

Ōmura Masujirō stood with his hands behind his back, staring expressionlessly at the summit of Nangong Mountain in the distance—or more accurately, at the Chengzi flag planted on the summit.

With the help of the "Decisive Battle of Dian", they finally made it through yesterday.

That would certainly be gratifying, but... what about today?

Even after they used their trump card, "Decisive Battle at the Lake," yesterday, they still couldn't completely defeat the Shinsengumi; they only managed to slow down their advance.

Under the fierce attack of the Shinsengumi, they were forced to abandon the mountaintop and retreat to the eastern foothills.

Reviewing yesterday's battle, it's not hard to see that yesterday was just like the day before! Both times, a promising situation was ruined by someone's extraordinary bravery!

The day before yesterday, we lost the crucial "high wall".

We even lost our home ground yesterday!

The guy who captured both places was the same person!

Thinking of this, Ōmura Masujirō's face darkened, his fists clenched, and he roared inwardly with a heart full of resentment:

—Aoto Tachibana…you monster…!

As a newcomer who had only recently joined the Kiheitai, Masujiro Ōmura's knowledge of Aoto came entirely from word of mouth.

Before the war, he thought to himself, "I have already thought highly of him," and merely categorized Qing Deng as "someone who needs to be closely watched."

Only now, after directly experiencing Qing Deng's terrifying combat power, did he belatedly realize how wrong he had been.

Tachibana no Seito is not someone who "needs to be closely guarded against," but rather someone who "requires a force of a thousand or more to barely hold off!"

Using phrases like "one against a thousand" or "brave as the best in the army" to describe Qingdeng would be too mild and inappropriate.

A swordsman who can turn the tide of battle single-handedly... perhaps only the "Eternal Sword Saint" Ogata Ittosai from 70 years ago could rival him!

Upon realizing this, Ōmura Masujirō felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Despite his frustration, he quickly regained his composure, took several deep breaths to calm himself, and continued to think about tactics and strategies.

In fact, the current situation is quite clear.

To put it bluntly: there's no way to retreat! We have no choice but to fight to the death!

Even if you lose the western slope, you still have the mountaintop; even if you lose the mountaintop, you still have the eastern slope; but if you lose the eastern slope... then you lose everything!

If even the eastern foothills are lost, then they will have no more strategic terrain to rely on in their rear, and the vast Sekigahara will fall entirely into the hands of the Shinsengumi.

At that time, the Shinsengumi's journey eastward to aid Edo will be unimpeded!

We must either hold the eastern foothills or suffer a crushing defeat... In other words, today is the day of the true decisive battle!

The soldiers who took "Decisive Battle Starch" yesterday are all too weak to fight today due to the side effects.

They could barely pick up a weapon, and some couldn't even stand up.

Troops are severely insufficient... The only card they have left is their terrain advantage, which is barely worth mentioning...

Even the most skilled cook can't cook without rice. No matter how clever Ōmura Masujirō was, he was helpless without soldiers or generals.

—Is this the end...?

Just as Ōmura Masujirō was pondering this, a frantic shout suddenly came from behind him:

"Lord Takasugi! Why are you up? Please go back to bed and rest!"

"Stop talking nonsense and move aside."

Ōmura Masujirō turned around and happened to meet Takasugi Shinsaku's gaze.

When Ōmura Masujirō saw Takasugi Shinsaku walking towards him with faltering steps, he was stunned.

"Mr. Takasugi, what brings you here?"

After regaining his senses, he rushed forward to greet him, reaching out to support Takasugi Shinsaku's shoulders.

His body was wrapped in burlap, his face was as pale as paper, and his face was covered with bruises and red patches.

To fight Nioh one-on-one and not die on the spot... Few people in the world have achieved such an accomplishment.

To be honest, after saying goodbye to Shinsaku Takasugi yesterday, Masujiro Ōmura had already mentally prepared himself for the possibility that he would never see Shinsaku Takasugi again in his lifetime.

Unexpectedly, the comrade whom I thought was surely dead came back alive... This was truly an unexpected joy.

At that moment, Ōmura Masujirō was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground.

However, although he did not die, his injuries were quite severe.