[Ding! Use the Wuwo Two Swords Style · Flow to defeat the enemy]
[Gained 110 personal experience points, and 120 sword skills experience points for "Nuguu Nidao Liu"]
[Current personal level: Lv33 (125/5000)]
[My dual swordsmanship level: 10th stage (6290/10000)]
…
[Ding! Use the Wuwo Two Swords Style · Flow to defeat the enemy]
[Gained 100 personal experience points, and 110 swordsmanship "Two Swords of Mutual Self" experience points]
[Current personal level: Lv33 (225/5000)]
[Mutual Dual Blade Level: 10th Stage (6400/10000)]
…
…
The Great Shiten and Great Freedom in his hands cut out two streaks of sword light. As the two streaks of sword light fell, the system prompt sound related to the Selfless Two-Sword Style rang in Ogata's mind for the first time in a long time.
Ever since he killed the gang of fire thieves who were trying to steal his credit a few days ago, Obe has not fought with anyone else. His personal level and the experience bar of Sakakibara Ittoryu have remained unchanged.
Not to mention the dual sword style.
Since entering Edo, he has not encountered any situation where he needs to use Muga Nito-ryu, and he also wants to avoid letting Genichi's enemies, who might be standing nearby, recognize that the swordsmanship he uses is Muga Nito-ryu.
Ogata has always used Sakakibara Ittoryu to fight the enemy, and the experience bar for Muga Nitoryu has not changed since Ogata entered Edo.
Now, hearing the system sound with the words "Muga Nissō-ryu" in his mind, Ogata couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "It's been a long time since I last saw this."
Of the six people who rushed up, two were chopped down by Ogata in the blink of an eye, instantly reducing one third of their combat power.
Upon seeing this scene, the remaining four people froze in shock and fear.
The original forward momentum came to a sudden halt.
The momentum in his body also weakened.
The more life-and-death fights he experienced, the more he realized the importance of momentum.
Although when fighting with others, the most dominant factor in winning or losing is the various data on the physical level.
When everyone is observing martial ethics and not using any dirty tricks, if you are not as tall or strong as others, and your sword swinging power and speed are not as good as theirs, then you will not be able to beat them.
However, although the data on the physical level are the most dominant factors in determining victory or defeat, some factors on the idealistic level can also have a certain impact on the battle situation.
In a battle where both sides are evenly matched, the one with greater momentum and higher morale will have the advantage.
If you don't even have the momentum of "definitely defeating the opponent", then you may not be able to display the full strength that you could have displayed.
Seeing that the remaining four people had lost their momentum, Xu Fang knew that these people had no power to fight back.
Although the momentum of these four people has declined, they still retain a certain will to fight.
The expressions of astonishment and fear only stayed on their faces for a moment before they suppressed these negative emotions. They gritted their teeth, clenched the knives in their hands, and rushed towards Ogata while shouting again.
It is not difficult to tell from the actions of these people - they are not the kind of people who only wield the "Dojo Sword".
They have real experience in life-and-death combat with others.
But this is probably their only advantage.
No matter their movements or footsteps, they were all filled with a "wild" aura, and it was obvious at a glance that they had not received any professional sword training.
Ogata and others are now on an uninhabited path that is not too wide but not too narrow.
There is no need to worry about someone witnessing a "Tengu" or a "white fox" killing people.
This not-so-narrow space also allowed Ogata to move around easily.
Ogata first used a step to dodge a straight stab from the "Enemy 1" closest to him, and then dodged behind "Enemy 1" and in front of "Enemy 2".
Ogata attacked directly from behind them, which scared "Enemy 2". In panic, "Enemy 2" subconsciously slashed horizontally at Ogata in front of him.
clang!
With a crisp sound of metal clashing, the sword of "Enemy 2" was blocked by Ogata using Dajizai.
Because the sword was blocked by Ogata with Daishizai, the middle gate of "Enemy 2" was wide open. Ogata swung Daishiten and easily killed "Enemy 2".
After killing "Enemy 2", Ogata used pad steps to quickly escape from his original position without any hesitation, as if it was a conditioned reflex.
When facing multiple enemies, one must move and constantly create one-on-one opportunities - this is the truth that Ogata realized long before he cut Matsudaira Gennai into pieces.
After killing "Enemy 2", Ogata used a stepping step to dodge to the side of "Enemy 3" and "Enemy 4", and at the same time swung Daishikten and Daijizai to chop down both of them.
Finally, he turned around and slashed the throat of "Enemy 1" who had just been ignored by Ogata and had dodged behind him.
4 people, 4 knives, clean and neat.
Each slash of the sword was a fatal blow. When the throat of "Enemy 1" was cut by Ogata, "Enemy 2" who was hit first by Ogata's sword had not yet completely fallen to the ground.
It only took a few seconds for these four people to go from being full of energy to being killed by Ogata.
The system prompt sound in my mind rang four times in a row.
Before the system sound completely faded, when Ogata turned around to look at the leader of this group named "Baoji", he suddenly heard a shout:
"Genichi Kinoshita! Your death is coming!"
Looking at the thing that Baoji was holding in his hand, a look of surprise flashed across Ogata's face.
The thing in Baoji's hand was also something very familiar to Ogata - a musket.
However, the musket that Baoji is holding in his hand is not the most advanced musket of this era, but a matchlock gun that is already behind the times but is still in use by the Edo Shogunate.
Although compared with contemporary Western countries, this matchlock gun is already a "grandfather-generation weapon" that can be put in a museum, it is still one of the "high-end weapons" in Japan, which is still in the Edo period.
Without some connections and money, you can't get a matchlock gun.
--I see……
Ogata thought to himself.
——So the thing he was carrying on his back just now was a matchlock gun...
Just now, when Baoji ordered his six subordinates to step forward, Ogata vaguely heard him shout "buy time for me", and he made a move to take off the long pole wrapped in thick cloth on his back.
At this moment, the musket in Baoji's hand was ready to fire.
The rotatable metal hook on the gun had already clamped the burning fuse.
As long as Baosheng wanted, he could push the metal hook into the firing port at any time, so that the fuse would ignite the gunpowder and then fire the bullet in the barrel.
The operation of the arquebus was quite complicated, and less than half a minute had passed from the time Baoji took the arquebus off his back to the time he completed the preparations for firing the arquebus.
To prepare the musket for firing in less than half a minute - without long hours of practice, this would be impossible.
With Baoji's hand speed, he is able to serve as an elite musketeer.
All six of his men were killed, but when Baoji saw this, he did not show any hatred or sadness.
He just stared at Yuan Yi who was not far away with a ferocious face.
"Genichi Kinoshita! Ever since you destroyed my village eight years ago, I have been thinking about revenge all the time!"
"I'm always thinking about how to defeat you!"
"And this thing! It's the killing weapon I prepared specifically for you!"
After saying that, Baoji clenched the matchlock in his hand.
"It took me a lot of time and effort to get this treasure!"
"In order to complete the shooting preparation as quickly as possible, I practiced day and night !"
"Genichi Kinoshita! Times have changed! This is no longer the age of swords!"
A sinister smile slowly appeared on Baoji's face.
"Even someone like me with average swordsmanship can kill the 'Sword Saint' with the help of the iron cannon!"
Genichi listened quietly to Baoji's roars one after another.
Only after Baoji finished speaking did Genichi speak in a tone so calm that it seemed as if there was no color mixed in it:
"I see. No wonder you dared to come to Edo to find me with only a few subordinates."
"So it's relying on the power of the cannon."
Because Genichi was wearing a Tengu mask that only revealed a pair of eyes, Ogata couldn't see Genichi's expression.
At this moment, Ogata didn't have the time to look at Genichi's expression.
His eyes were fixed on Baoji not far away, measuring the distance between them, and estimating whether he could use Kasumi to kill Baoji with one shot at this distance.
Kasumagami is now one of Ogata's major trump cards, and she might be able to produce miraculous results or even save his life at a critical moment.
So when Ogata goes out now, he always carries the Kasumagagi given to him by Atachi in his arms. The chamber of Kasumagagi's gun is always full of bullets.
There was about 10 steps between Ogata and Hokichi.
Anyone who has used a pistol knows how difficult it is to accurately hit a target with a pistol.
A distance of 10 steps - for Ogata, who had never practiced shooting, this was a distance where he could not necessarily hit the target accurately, even though the target was a large living person.
Baoji seemed to have noticed Ogata's sharp gaze. After glancing at Ogata, he said in a deep voice:
"Kinoshita Genichi, the swordsmanship this kid just used is your Muga Nito-ryu, right?"
"Is this boy your apprentice?"
Although Ogata was wearing a white fox mask that only revealed his eyes, the skin on his neck, hands and other parts of his body was still exposed.
It was through the exposed skin that Baosheng could tell that the guy wearing the "white fox" mask must be very young.
"Disciple?" Yuan Yi raised his hand and scratched his hair. "Although I have not taught him a single move so far, the swordsmanship he uses is indeed my Muga Nito-ryu. He can be considered as half of my successor."
"Forget it, it doesn't matter who he is to you!" The madness and ferocity in Baoji's eyes became more and more intense, "My target from the beginning to the end is only you!"
"As long as I can drag you down to hell, I can die with my eyes closed!"
"...It seems that you are very confident in the cannon in your hand."
After saying that, Genichi took a step forward and walked slowly towards Baoji in front of him.
Genichi's appearance and steps exuded a sense of ease from the inside out.
It's like taking a walk in your own back garden.
"Ogata-kun, please step back."
Yuan Yi raised his left hand, pressed the sheath of the Yangshen on his left waist, and pushed his left thumb forward.
With a slight "click" sound, Yang Shen's blade popped out about an inch from the sheath.
"I'll kill him."
Clang clang clang...
Yang Shen's blade was pulled out of the sheath inch by inch.
The cold light reflected by the blade under the moonlight illuminated the Tengu mask on Genichi's face.
Looking at Genichi walking towards him slowly with his sword drawn, Baoji's face turned pale and he swallowed subconsciously to moisten his dry throat.
Although he simply drew his sword, Baoji felt that Genichir's entire aura had changed.
At this moment, Baoji felt like a mountain was slowly approaching him.
Baoji gripped the musket, which was already tightly held, even tighter.
Now only by holding the rifle tightly can he feel a little safe.
Genichi's action of walking slowly forward with a sword in hand not only made Baoji look surprised, but also made Ogata raise his eyebrows in surprise and curiosity.
Ogata now feels that he is in a very strange mood.
Even though Genichi was making a crazy move by slowly approaching the musketeer, Ogata was not worried about him.
However, Ogata did not put down his half-raised right hand, still maintaining the posture ready to take out Kasumagari from his arms and shoot at any time.
"Baoji, even though we are mortal enemies, I still have a suggestion."
Genichi's tone remained calm.
"Just because you have a cannon in your hand, you think you can handle any opponent - this is a mistake that you must never have."
Although Genichi gave Baoji a suggestion in a leisurely manner, Baoji did not hear clearly what Genichi said because he was too nervous and highly concentrated.
Baoji now only focused all his attention on measuring the distance between himself and Genichi.
Although he had no idea how Genichi was going to deal with him, who was holding a musket, as he was walking towards him at a leisurely pace, Baoji knew that Genichi's shortening of the distance between them would only increase his hit rate.
After Genichi shortened the distance between them to 6 steps, the ferocity and excitement on Baoji's face reached its peak.
At this distance, Baoji is sure to hit the target.
The next moment when the ferocity and excitement on his face reached its peak, Baoji pulled the trigger with a roar.
The hot bullet ejected from the barrel.
Then... the scene that appeared in front of Baoji immediately made Baoji's expression and look change from ferocious and joy to shock and disbelief in an instant.
The moment before Baoji pulled the trigger, Genichi leaned forward as if he had seen through when Baoji was going to shoot.
This scorching hot, high-speed projectile just passed through Genichi's side.
The bullet instinctively and accurately hit Genichi's chest - of course, that is, if Genichi didn't dodge.
After dodging the projectile, Yuan Yi moved.
If the Genichi just now was like a slowly moving snail, then the Genichi now was like a cheetah that was starting to pounce on its prey.
The speed difference between the front and the back is so great that it makes people feel unreal.
Baoji's face was filled with horror as he looked at Genichi who was rushing towards him at a blinding speed.
But as if out of instinct, he threw the cannon in his hand aside and drew the sword from his waist.
Because Genichi had already rushed into his attack range when he drew his sword, Baoji did not hesitate at all - now he could not afford to waste time hesitating, so he gritted his teeth and swung his sword towards Genichi in front of him with a powerful vertical chop.
Facing Baoji's chopping knife, Yuan Yi stopped his forward steps.
Use your left foot as the axis and rotate clockwise.
This spin of Genichi not only allowed him to dodge Baoji's sword.
While dodging Baoji's attack, he also accumulated strength, using his feet to lead his waist and his waist to lead his arms.
After turning clockwise and facing Baoji again, Genichi used a whip-like movement to "swing" the Yang Shen that had followed his body in a circle and accumulated a wave of power, and swept it towards Baoji's waist and abdomen.
Snap...
Genichi's Yang Shen splashed out a handful of blood, which splattered onto the earthen wall beside him, making a sound like rain.
“Puff…Gu…Gu…”
Large mouthfuls of blood gushed out of Baoji's mouth.
He opened his mouth and seemed to say something, but only some meaningless sounds came out.
His waist and abdomen were completely cut open by Yuan Yi, and all the organs in his abdomen were chopped into pieces. Even if he went to the hospital immediately, there was no possibility of survival.
After glaring at Genichi with a terrifying look as if he wanted to remember Genichi's face forever, the light in his eyes gradually dissipated, and then he fell heavily to the ground, splashing a thin layer of dust.
Only after confirming that Baoji was completely dead did Genichi start the "Blood Vibration" and swung the Yangshen downward heavily, shaking the blood attached to the blade to the ground.
"Master Genichi..."
Ogata carried his Daishakuten and walked slowly towards Genichi.
At this moment, Ogata's face hidden under the mask was filled with deep surprise.
"I thought you were going to chop the bullet with a knife..."
"That would be too tiring." Genichi smiled, "Compared to cutting off the bullets, it's easier to just dodge them."
"As long as you aim at the muzzle of the cannon and the enemy's action of pulling the trigger, and as long as your feet are more flexible, anyone can dodge the bullet."
Ogata wasn't actually that surprised by Genichi's feat of dodging the bullet just now.
The fact that Genichi dared to walk towards the enemy holding a musket so boldly showed that he was confident in dealing with the musket. He could either dodge the bullet directly or smash it to pieces.
Ogata had also faced off against multiple enemies using bows and arrows, and had also tried to dodge and cut off the arrows.
So after seeing Yuan Yi dodge the bullet, he didn't feel that surprised - even though the speed of the bullet was much faster than that of the arrow.
Compared to "dodging bullets", Ogata was more surprised by the trick that Genichi used to kill Baoji just now .
"Master Genichi, what was that move you just used?"
Ogata had been keeping a close eye on Baoji the whole time, ready to support Genichi at any time, so he watched Genichi's move completely and carefully.
After seeing Genichi's move just now, Ogata was simply shocked.
Spinning the body, dodging the enemy's attack and then launching a counterattack - it seems unremarkable at first glance, but Ogata saw quite a lot of tricks.
For example - the "turn" that Genichi just did was not an ordinary turn.
Ogata noticed that while Genichi was turning his body clockwise to avoid Baoji's attack, he was also using special techniques to make his body dodge in a lighter posture and accumulate strength for the subsequent counterattack.
Because of the special techniques involved, Yuan Yi's move just now became a powerful move that could be used for both avoidance and counterattack.
"The move I just used is called 'Flash'."
Genichi took out the tissue paper he had prepared earlier and wiped the blood and grease off the blade with it while he continued to introduce it to Ogata:
“It is one of the masterpieces I have worked on for the past two years.”
“It’s a very useful technique.”
"You can dodge the enemy's attack by spinning your body while charging your energy, and then counterattack the enemy - this is called 'Dodge'."
"Although it sounds easy, there are actually a lot of skills involved. You need to use certain techniques to rotate your body to avoid the attack while accumulating power for your counterattack."
After Genichi sheathed the Yangshen, he grinned at Ogata:
"How about it, Ogata-kun, do you want to learn?"
"If you are willing to teach, I am naturally willing to learn." Ogata responded in a half-joking tone.
"Of course I am willing to teach you. After all, I promised you before that I would teach you some sword-wielding techniques. I am a person who values ​​my promises."
"Let's go, Ogata-kun. Don't stay here too long. If a passerby sees a 'Tengu' and a 'White Fox' standing next to a pile of corpses, it will be difficult to deal with."
"Well, before that..." Ogata used his own paper to wipe the blade of Daishikatsu clean. After sheathing the sword, he quickly walked to Baoji's side and picked up the matchlock gun that fell beside Baoji.
"Oh, that's right." Yuan Yi smiled bitterly, "I almost forgot about this rare thing..."
"This is a good thing." Ogata smiled, "Don't waste it. We can give it to A-Machi. It can also increase our combat power to some extent."
After that, Ogata began to search through Baoji's body, looking for bullets and gunpowder.
Although half of Baoji's body was stained with blood, fortunately, the remaining gunpowder and bullets on his body were not wet or stained by the blood.
"But if you take it back like this, won't the others know that the two of us sneaked out to hunt rats tonight?"
"That's easy." The matchlock gun was tied with a strap, which made it convenient for Ogata to carry it.
As Ogata carried the musket on his back, he continued:
"Let's find someone to hide this cannon tonight."
"Tomorrow night, I will say: I secretly picked up this iron cannon from a man who was causing trouble in Yoshiwara when I arrested him."
"In this way, can't we just take out this cannon with a legitimate reason?"
"I see... there is also this trick..." Genichi sighed softly, then changed his tone to joking, "Ogata-kun, I didn't expect you to have so many tricks up your sleeve."
"This is one of my strengths that I am quite proud of." Ogata smiled and responded in a joking tone.
"Ogata-kun, let's go after we pick up the bullets and gunpowder and see if we can find a few more 'rats' hiding at the Yoshiwara gate."
"Well, let's go."
…
…
at the same time--
Edo, the residence of the elder councilor Matsudaira Sadanobu——
It is now late at night.
There were still flames flickering in Matsudaira Sadanobu's room.
Working until late at night - this has become the norm for Matsudaira Sadanobu recently.
Tonight was no exception. Matsudaira Sadanobu had been working until just now, when he finally put down his pen and the various government affairs that did not need to be dealt with urgently, and prepared to go to bed.
Inside the room, Matsudaira Sadanobu stood upright with his arms raised.
His nickname Tachibana squatted in front of Matsudaira Sadanobu and helped him tighten the belt of his yukata.
When Tachibana was helping Matsudaira Sadanobu to dress, Matsudaira Sadanobu suddenly asked Tachibana:
"Tachibana, remember to be ready to go out tomorrow night."
Before going to bed, he would tell Tachibana about the important things to do the next day - this was one of Matsudaira Sadanobu's habits.
After hearing this familiar "bedtime reminder", Tachibana did not respond with a "yes" as usual.
Instead, after hesitating for a few seconds, he stammered and asked back:
"Master Lao Zhong, are you really planning to go find that person tomorrow night? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
"You should know that I like to act quickly and decisively." Matsudaira Sadanobu answered without hesitation, "I happen to be free tomorrow night. Apart from tomorrow night, I don't have any other free time in the short term."
"...I understand." Tachibana nodded vigorously, "Do you need me to prepare a few more guards tomorrow night?"
"No need." Matsudaira Sadanobu answered without hesitation again, "I plan to go there incognito tomorrow night, and I don't want to make too much noise. All you need is for you to go with me tomorrow night."
"yes!"