I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh...

Thud, thud... The two broken blades that had been slashed away finally fell back to the ground.

Aoto and Takasugi Shinsaku sat close together, their upper bodies touching, and with a slight tilt of their heads, they could rest their chins on each other's shoulders.

Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip... a little bit of blood flowed down from between them.

First, it was just drops of blood, which quickly turned into a torrent of blood.

Qing Deng maintained his thrusting stance.

And Takasugi Shinsaku...

"..."

He let out a silent groan, his body went limp, and he clung to Qingdeng.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the broken blade in Qing Deng's hand was plunged into Takasugi Shinsaku's abdomen, all the way to the hilt.

On the other hand, Takasugi Shinsaku... the broken half of the blade in his hand was about half an inch away from Aoto's waist and abdomen.

This tiny half-inch distance symbolizes an obvious gap in strength.

A slight difference can lead to a huge error – that is the essence of martial arts.

Anyone who has been stabbed frequently knows that when a sharp blade enters the body, the body will produce an extremely strong stress response! All the strength in the body will disappear instantly, and you won't even be able to cry out, let alone fight back.

Even Takasugi Shinsaku, who possesses the talent of a "Berserker," could not withstand the damage caused by being stabbed in the abdomen.

Snap... Qing Deng twisted the broken blade in his hand, parrying the muscles clamping the blade, and then swiftly pulled the broken blade back to his hand.

Splash! Instantly, blood gushed out of his wound like a fountain.

After swaying a few times, Takasugi Shinsaku knelt heavily on the ground.

However, he quickly adjusted his posture, changing from a disheveled kneeling to a serious sitting position, with his hands naturally placed on his legs, head held high and chest out, his pale face expressionless.

There was neither sorrow nor regret, only peace.

"Ju Qing Deng... Do it...!"

He said.

Without saying a word, Qing Deng quietly moved to his right side, raised his sword in the Eight Pairs Stance, and then slashed down diagonally! It struck Takasugi Shinsaku squarely on the back of the neck.

A flash of light, and the severed head, with only a sliver of flesh remaining, slid down and fell into his arms.

"Holding the head" is the most technically sophisticated form of decapitation, and also the highest-level decapitation.

*******

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Happy New Year! The new year is here! Here's a leopard belly-slapping performance for everyone! (slap slap slap slap slap slap slap slap.jpg) After the belly slap, it's time for the usual vote request!

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: Poor Shinsaku Takasugi, poor Sadakijin, didn't live to see 2025.

Chapter 940 Great Victory at Sekigahara! Hijikata Toshizo Entrusts His Son to His Father!

Seeing Takasugi Shinsaku fight to the very last moment despite knowing he was going to die, Aoto said nothing.

He gazed deeply at the body, then silently tore off his light blue haori and gently covered it.

In terms of stance, he and the other side are irreconcilable enemies.

In terms of friendship, the two were completely unfamiliar with each other and had only met a few times from beginning to end.

Nevertheless, Qing Deng did not dislike this formidable opponent—he deserved Qing Deng's courtesy.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from behind Qingdeng.

Suddenly, covered in blood, Toudou Heisuke pushed aside the bushes and slipped into the clearing marked by the battle.

Upon spotting Qingdeng, he hurriedly called out:

"Mr. Orange, you're here!"

Qingdeng turned to look at him, skipping the pleasantries, and asked directly:

"Heisuke, how's the battle going?"

Toudo Heisuke said quickly without thinking:

"Our army has gained an overwhelming advantage! However... the enemy's resistance is extremely fierce! They advance wave after wave, fighting and retreating! Every step we take forward comes at a certain cost!"

Qing Deng nodded calmly, seemingly unsurprised by the situation.

He walked to the side, picked up the broken blade used to suppress ghosts and spirits, carefully put it away, and then turned and headed east.

"Heisuke, let's go, let's deliver the final blow to the enemy!"

"Yes!"

……

……

The air was filled with the stench of blood and the acrid smell of burning gunpowder.

These smells, mixed with snow fog and billowing dust, permeated the foothills, making it difficult to breathe.

The piercing shouts of battle lingered for a long time, almost numbing people's eardrums.

In terms of troop size, this battle... namely the Second Battle of Sekigahara, was far from being a large-scale battle.

The total strength of both sides was less than 8,000 men, which could not be compared with the First Battle of Sekigahara, where the total strength of both sides exceeded 150,000 men.

However, in terms of intensity, the former is even more intense than the latter!

The cold glint of swords and blades was flashing.

The gun was spitting fire.

The fighting continued.

The death continues!

Feet pounded fiercely on the snow and the hard ground.

One person fell, and more surged forward!

This is a battle in which neither side can afford to retreat; it is a true bloodbath.

In the lush forest, there was hacking, shooting, chasing, and retreating everywhere.

On the pristine white snow, here lay the red of blood, there the black of gunpowder.

The swordsmen hacked through the spear formation.

The gunmen pulled the triggers, shooting down the swordsmen who were charging at them.

Before the gunmen could reload, the swarming swordsmen ended their lives.

On the snow-covered mountainside, the dripping blood, resembling crimson waves, became a striking embellishment.

The soldiers of both armies were tightly entangled, locked in a fierce struggle for every inch of ground beneath their feet, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating; sometimes scattering, sometimes gathering... The ever-changing battlefield situation was breathtaking.

Although the surprise troops were brave, their huge numerical disadvantage gradually put them at a disadvantage.

Under the repeated attacks of the Shinsengumi, the Kiheitai's lines gradually crumbled, revealing more and more weaknesses.

In the midst of this continuous fierce battle, the one who seized the credit for "capturing the flag" was Kondo Isami!

"Ooooooooooo!"

Kondo Isami spread his arms wide and swung the Nagasone Kotetsu in his hand like a windmill.

Where the blade passed, sprays of blood mist, and severed limbs dance wildly.

Squads of enemy soldiers surged forward from all directions, but none could stop his advance!

Kondo Isami fought with increasing ferocity, constantly uttering roars like a ferocious beast.

He seemed to be in three or five places at once, charging to the right, running to the left, lunging forward, and retreating backward, flexibly changing his steps and postures, thus dissolving the enemy's encirclement invisibly.

While dodging and defending, he seized every opportunity to deliver a fatal blow.

Every time Nagasone Kotetsu swings his sword, one or even more enemy soldiers will fall!

Before long, the enemy soldiers who had rushed forward fell down one after another like weeds.

The brilliance of Aoto, Souji, and others was so dazzling that many people forgot that Kondo Isami was the fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu main family!

In terms of individual strength alone, he is undoubtedly one of the strongest swordsmen in the Shinsengumi!

Today, Kondo Isami is exceptionally brave—his inner "unwillingness" greatly fuels his fighting prowess!

Hijikata Toshizo personally went to Hachioji to lead a thousand men in resisting the combined forces of the Faki.

The commander was exhausted from yesterday's battle.

His two closest family members made great contributions and made considerable sacrifices in this battle.

And what about yourself?

Upon realizing this, Kondo Isami couldn't help but feel his cheeks burning.

Although they are not related by blood, he has always been considered the elder brother of Hijikata Toshizo and Souji.

As their eldest brother, how could he fall behind his younger brothers and sisters?

Driven by this "unwillingness," he tirelessly and regardless of the pain wielded Nagasone Kotetsu.

Just then, as he was cutting down another group of enemy soldiers, he suddenly caught sight of a huge flag with three stars and one character.

Looking at the extremely conspicuous flag and the tents scattered around, he belatedly realized that he had already breached the main camp of the surprise attack force!

He immediately perked up and shouted without turning his head:

"This is the enemy's main camp! Victory is within reach! Follow me closely! Clear away all obstacles in our path! Cut down their flags!"

The soldiers following closely behind him responded with a shout.

Under the leadership of Kondo Isami, they swept through the enemy lines with unstoppable momentum.