I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

He was now panting heavily and exhausted.

On the other hand, Nishino and my grandson... because they took a shortcut, they still retain a considerable amount of physical strength.

Even if the boar-faced man tries to escape again, given the shift in their stamina, it's only a matter of time before he's caught up.

"...Why are you all chasing after me so relentlessly?"

The boar-faced man took a deep breath and pretended to be calm.

"I didn't steal, I didn't rob, and I didn't kill anyone, so why are you chasing me all over the streets with such murderous intent?"

My grandson grinned when he heard this:

"Instead, I'd like to ask you: since you're an innocent person who hasn't done anything wrong, why did you turn around and run away without hesitation when you saw the two of us approaching?"

"I was just scared."

The boar-faced man answered without hesitation.

"Anyone would be startled to suddenly see officials rushing towards them, right?"

"Enough, shut up!"

Nishino interrupted the boar-faced man's argument with an impatient tone.

"Let's talk about everything once we get to the magistrate's office. If you are truly innocent, we will clear your name."

"..."

As Nishino finished speaking, the boar-faced man's expression became extremely ugly and solemn.

He glanced at Nishino with a fierce look in his eyes, then at my grandson.

He didn't say anything.

He silently reached for his waist and drew his sword.

The wild boar-faced man's thoughts were crystal clear.

"...I advise you not to do that."

As Nishino spoke calmly, he raised his left hand and pressed it against the scabbard opening, his thumb pointing upwards to hold the tsuba (handguard). He pushed forward, and with a "click," a silver-white blade about the width of a finger sprang out from the scabbard.

"Hmph~ You actually dared to draw your sword against the officials, quite courageous indeed~~"

"But unfortunately, you've misplaced your courage."

"Here's a piece of advice: quickly throw away what you're holding, then kneel down and surrender."

"Otherwise, swords have no eyes!"

"If we wait until war breaks out, we won't have another chance to surrender!"

Although my grandson has a verbal tic of "drawing out the last syllable when he speaks," he can still speak properly when he puts aside his carefree and lazy attitude and adopts a serious demeanor.

My grandson's persuasion to surrender just now was undeniably stirring.

His voice was strong and resonant.

However, the very next moment after my grandson triumphantly handed over this proclamation of surrender—

“...My grandson, Jun.”

"Hmm? Nishino-kun, what's wrong?"

"I have no problem with your attempt to sway the thieves' will with words, striving to 'subdue the enemy without fighting.' But when you're spouting these harsh words, could you please stop hiding behind me?"

After saying that, Nishino turned his head to the side and looked at his grandson, who was hiding most of his body behind him, with a look that was tinged with helplessness.

You were the one shouting the loudest, and you were also the one hiding the best.

"Nishino-kun, I'm the 'strategist'~~"

My grandson, in a tone that was half serious and half joking, said quietly:

"You can't expect the 'strategist' to lead the charge, can you?"

"...Fine, whatever. Since you're not good at martial arts, then step back, step back as far as you can."

After speaking, Nishino deftly pulled the bamboo stick from his waist with a "whoosh".

The clanging sound of the sword being drawn echoed throughout the heavens and earth for a long time.

Judging from the current situation, my grandson's attempts to persuade him to surrender have undoubtedly had very little effect... no, it should be said that they have had no effect at all.

The wild boar's face remained completely unmoved.

He spread his legs apart, pointing the tip of his sword, which he had raised from the middle of, at Nishino's face. He didn't look like he was planning to abandon his sword and surrender.

"Nishino-kun, although I'm not good at martial arts, I can still provide some simple combat support."

Just remember to protect yourself.

Nishino answered casually.

Although there was no need to observe samurai etiquette with the "target of arrest," based on his simple samurai sentiments, Nishino still dutifully and loudly announced his home address:

"Hokushin Ittō-ryū,"

"Nishino Hosejiro!"

The wild boar-faced man was stunned.

“Nishino Hosojiro…you’re the Nishino Hosojiro from the North Station…”

Clearly, the boar-faced man had heard of Nishino's great reputation.

Perhaps intimidated by Nishino's reputation, the boar-faced man's expression changed drastically in an instant.

It wasn't until quite a while later that he came to his senses and shouted at a volume no less than Nishino's:

"Shinto Wu Nian Liu,"

"Etaro Komatsu!"

Nishino: "..."

Xiaosong: "..."

Thump—The brief silence was broken by a loud stomping sound.

Nishino concentrated his power on the toes of his hind foot, then pushed off the ground and charged forward.

As he ran, he raised the bamboo in his hand high, striking a high-flying pose.

For Nishino, the goal of this battle was to capture Komatsu alive, not to kill him.

Therefore, his knife was not aimed at Komatsu's vital points, but rather at Komatsu's blade.

He planned to disarm Komatsu directly.

The instant Nishino's body entered Komatsu's attack range, a "silver snake" bit into Nishino's chest from below, with ferocious force.

Nishino dared not be careless and quickly changed his move, transforming "Disarming Strike" into "Defensive Parry" in the blink of an eye.

clang!

Zhenzhu and Xiaosong's swords became entangled in mid-air.

The blades clashed, sparks flying.

As if scalded by boiling water, Komatsu hurriedly stepped back.

The backward steps may seem casual at first glance, but the center of gravity of the lower body and the posture of the upper body remain completely still.

Upon seeing this, Nishino instantly understood: the person opposite him was quite skilled and not an ordinary person.

Upon realizing this, Nishino immediately roused himself and focused all his attention on the bamboo in his hand and the battle situation before him.

Strictly speaking, Nishino's swordsmanship was not particularly outstanding.

Although he has studied the Hokushin Itto-ryu style since childhood, his ambition lies elsewhere, so to this day he only holds the qualification of the Hokushin Itto-ryu catalog.

However, there is no strong correlation between combat strength and swordsmanship level.

Nishino's swordsmanship was indeed mediocre, but he possessed something that countless veteran martial artists lacked: rich practical experience.

Nishino loosened his grip slightly, giving the sword a light, rhythmic movement. The tip of the blade twitched slightly, like the tail of a wagtail, and the cold glint at its tip resembled a firefly, dancing nimbly up and down.

This is the signature stance of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school: slightly twitching the tip of the blade to prevent it from freezing, increasing the flexibility of the attack while making it difficult for the opponent to discern one's intentions.

The next instant, a fierce wave of attacks swept over Komatsu's entire body.

*******

*******

The leopard is back!

I took four days of sick leave... This is the first time I've taken such a long leave since I started writing novels. It's no wonder that I haven't been able to write for so long due to COVID-4 (I'm dead.jpg). I've even forgotten where I left off in the previous chapters.

Because I just got out of bed, my writing isn't in the best condition. Sitting in a chair for too long makes me feel like my body is floating, so this chapter is a little short. I'm very sorry! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 399 Witness the profound secrets of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū! (Group Battle) [5700]

The air between the two of them vibrated repeatedly.

Swords flashed and shadows danced.

The sharp blade cuts through the air.

Pushing the snow away with my heels.

Komatsu swung his sword at Nishino, but missed.

Nishino swung his sword backhand, and although the cold blade that attacked from above did not hit its intended target, it successfully sliced ​​off the kimono fabric on Komatsu's left shoulder, just a hair's breadth away from injuring Komatsu's shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, Nishino gave a silent shout and swiftly delivered a second strike, using the action of sheathing his sword to transform the "sheathing" into a "reverse strike"!

Komatsu had no time to dodge and could only grip the hilt of his sword tightly, raising it to parry Nishino's attack.

clang!

The powerful reaction force emanating from the blade bounced Nishino and Komatsu away like a shockwave.

Nishino took three steps back, and as he stomped his left foot on the ground to steady himself, he suddenly felt a chilling aura rushing straight toward his face.