I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 866: "Transparent Realm" and "Harmony between Man and Nature" [End]

  The middle-aged man... that is, Komaki Goro, smiled slightly:

"You're welcome. It's just a piece of cake for me."

Boss Kiryu turned his head and gave Goro Komaki a "see-through" look.

"Ogata-kun, if I'm not mistaken, the lord must have said something to you, right?"

There was no confusion in his tone, only solid conviction.

  Komaki Goro did not deny it. He shrugged and confessed openly:

"Not long ago, Xiaolin suddenly came to me and asked me to help you."

"You are also clear about Xiaolin's character."

"She has always been proud and rarely lowers herself to ask for help."

"No matter what, she and I are considered as senior and junior sisters."

"Since Senior Sister has said this, if I don't nod and agree, let alone other things, just the reproachful look from Ah-Ming will make me so uncomfortable that I won't be able to eat."

Boss Kiryu sighed silently, with a guilty look on his face:

"First it was the Lord, then it was Tachibana-kun, and finally it was you... I really caused trouble for a lot of people this time..."

  Komaki Goro smiled carefreely:

"Miya, we have known each other for more than seventy years, so please stop saying such nagging words."

"If you really want to say 'trouble', I don't know how much trouble Ating and I have caused you."

His words made the guilt on the other person's face lessen a lot.

  After taking a deep breath and calming down, Mr. Kiryu changed the subject:

"Ogata-kun, I'm really curious, how did you find me and Tachibana-kun?"

"It's not surprising that Tachibana-kun was able to find me and Katsumi."

"After all, he was fighting the Choshu army near Arashiyama."

"As for you, I really can't imagine how you were able to find me and Ju Jun so accurately and in time in the vast mountains and forests."

  Facing Kiryu's question, Komaki Goro chuckled a few times, then changed his tone to something meaningful:

"Nothing, the 'wind' told me."

As he spoke, he raised his eyes and looked towards the invisible mountain wind above his head.

"By the way, just now, the 'wind' told me that it's going to rain soon, so we'd better go home early."

If someone else heard what Komaki Goro said, they would most likely think that he was a lunatic, talking nonsense so early in the morning.

However, Boss Kiryu did not give him a "caring for the mentally retarded" look, but instead laughed dryly as if nothing had happened:

"'Harmony between man and nature' is such a puzzling state..."

  Komu Goro smiled, then continued:

"I was already near you long before Tachibana-kun arrived."

"I know you definitely don't want outsiders to interrupt your duel with Keji, so I lurked on a tree trunk not far away, waiting quietly."

"When Katsumi raised his knife, ready to cut off your arm, I was ready to fight, thinking whether to kill Katsumi directly or leave him half alive."

"Just then, I suddenly sensed the aura of Ju Jun."

"Since Ju-kun arrived, I gave the honor of 'heroic rescue' to him."

Having said this, Komaki Goro paused for a moment.

  After a moment, he changed his tone to one of admiration:

"The battle between Tachibana Aoto and Katsumi... was truly spectacular."

"The collision of 'selflessness' and 'selflessness'... Such a scene is really rare."

"To realize the 'selflessness' in battle... Tachibana-kun and Katsumi are both rare geniuses."

"What a pity, self-denial has gone astray."

"Otherwise, he might be able to try to reach the highest level."

After hearing this, Boss Kiryu's eyes flashed with regret.

But at the same time, after hearing the other party praising Qing Deng as a genius, he couldn't help but show a look of relief and pride.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, frowned slightly, and hesitated.

After a moment, he spoke as if he had made up his mind:

"Ogata-kun, speaking of Tachibana-kun... I have a request."

  Komugi Goro waved his hand generously:

"Mamiya, don't be shy, just say whatever you want to say."

Since the other party said so, Boss Kiryu won't be polite.

  He took a deep breath, and then said seriously, word by word:

"Ogata-kun, could you give Tachibana-kun some pointers?"

Suddenly, a look of surprise fell on Boss Kiryu.

"'Give me some pointers'? What? Could it be that Ju-kun has encountered some martial arts problems that even you can't solve?"

Boss Kiryu smiled wryly:

"Yes, that's exactly it."

After sighing, he sorted out his words a little and said slowly:

"In fact, just a few days ago, Ju Jun came to me and shared with me a wonderful experience he had recently experienced."

"On the first day of the Kyoto Summer Campaign, when he was attacking the remnant of the Choshu army that had retreated to Mount Tenwang, he suddenly entered a very strange state..."

Boss Kiryu tells the story.

Komaki Goro listened quietly.

The "transparent world" of that day, the divine help of that day, and the madness of that day, always concern Qingdeng's heart.

As soon as the war was over and he had time and energy, he immediately began to study the matter.

The only person around him who has the highest attainments in martial arts and can answer his questions is Boss Kiryu.

So, he took some time out and took the opportunity to visit Boss Kiryu to tell him everything he had experienced that day, trying to get some guidance.

  After Mr. Kiryu finished speaking, Komaki Goro asked directly:

"…So, did you say anything to him?"

  Boss Kiryu shook his head bitterly:

"What else can I say except 'I have no idea'?"

"'Transparent World'... This is beyond my ability to explain... No, this is beyond my ability to understand."

"Although I have never set foot in this area, but... this is the 'transparent realm', right?"

Komugi Goro nodded slightly:

"Since you feel that the world in front of you has become transparent, and at the same time you feel that there is an endless amount of power flowing out of your body, and you are intoxicated by it without noticing... then there is no doubt that this is the 'transparent state'."

"Only those who are at the 'transparent level' will show such performance."

At the end of his words, he deliberately changed his tone to one of confidence.

"I didn't expect that you've already experienced 'transparency' at such a young age."

"Back then, I also suddenly entered the 'transparent state' during the fierce battle."

"However, I didn't indulge in it at the time and quickly regained my sanity."

As he spoke, his eyelids drooped and his facial expression became solemn.

Then he lowered his head and looked at his charred right hand, his eyes flashing with thought.

  At this time, Boss Kiryu sighed:

"I have practiced swordplay all my life, and now I am old enough to be buried in the dirt, but I still haven't been able to get a glimpse of the mystery of the 'transparent realm'."

"As for the 'unity of man and nature' after completely realizing the 'transparent realm', I can't even imagine it."

"Therefore, I dare not say a word to Mr. Ju, for fear of misleading the students."

"Now, Tachibana-kun has grown into a formidable swordsman that even I can only look up to."

"I can't teach him anything anymore."

"You are the only one who can give him guidance now."

"Ogata-kun, can you do me a favor?"

"Just give him some pointers as best you can."

After saying this, he cast an earnest look at Komaki Goro.

  Facing the enthusiastic eyes of Kiryu boss, Komaki Goro did not agree generously, but showed a look of deep emotion:

"...Mamiya, your request is too difficult for me."

"As you can see, I have become a hermit."

"If I were to be born casually, wouldn't that go against my principle of 'not caring about worldly affairs'?"

"I am ready to spend the rest of my life with A-Ming in peace."

  Upon hearing this, Boss Kiryu couldn't help but smile helplessly:

"Ogata-kun, your remaining life is still long, right?"

"But... you're right."

"You have fought all your life, all over the country, and finally you can live a peaceful life."

"Even today, there are still villains who covet your 'power'."

"It's my fault for disturbing you."

"I'm sorry, I was so abrupt. I didn't say anything just now..."

Before Kiryu Boss could finish his words, Komaki Goro interrupted him:

"Mamiya, you misunderstood."

"Although your request is indeed very difficult for me, but did you hear me refuse?"

"Jujun's talent is so high that it's astonishing."

"This kind of genius is truly rare to come across in a century."

"To be honest, if possible, I also want to train Tachibana-kun and see with my own eyes how far he can grow in the future."

Boss Kiryu was stunned at first, then looked surprised.

  However, before he could be pleasantly surprised for long, he was poured a bucket of cold water:

"It's just that I really can't give any advice to Tachibana-kun."

"Mamiya, 'transparency' and 'selflessness' are two completely different states."

"You can try to give some pointers on the latter."

"But the former can do nothing."

"The 'transparent state'... and the 'unity of man and nature' that comes after thoroughly realizing the 'transparent state', are truly 'something that can only be understood, not described'."

"You won't achieve anything by just talking or demonstrating with your actions."

"The more I say and do, the easier it will be for Qingdeng to lose his way."

"So, there is really nothing else we can do except wait and see what happens."

"From now on, you have to let Ju Jun walk the road by himself."

“Try hard to feel, try hard to experience, rack your brains to understand.”

“Only in this way can we truly master ‘transparency’ and then ‘harmony between man and nature’.”

"In the meantime, I'll try to help him."

"When the time comes, I will help him break through in my own way."

When talking about the words "in his own way", Goro Komaki emphasized the tone and put on a strange and meaningful expression.

  Boss Kiryu seemed to understand the other party's implication. He laughed at first, then thanked him solemnly:

"Ogata-kun, I feel relieved when you say this."

Suddenly, a look of reminiscence appeared on Mr. Kiryu's cheeks, and his facial lines relaxed, and his expression became bright.

"When I think about it...time flies so fast."

"My acquaintance with Ju-kun happened four years ago."

"Four years ago, he was just a little-known Tongxin with mediocre swordsmanship."

"In just four years, he has become the number one swordsman in the shogunate army and has entered the realm of 'transparency'."

“The backs of the younger generations always make me dizzy and I can’t help but look away.”

After hearing this, Komaki Goro immediately laughed and patted his shoulder.

"Mamiya, don't say such gloomy words."

"Don't let age hold you back."

"That day, when you stood behind Tachibana-kun, holding a sword together with him, and assuming the Flowing Light Stance, for a moment, I saw 'Flowing Light Hachiman' reappear in the world."

"Ninety plus is the right age to venture out into the world."

"I'm going to die anyway, so I'll make more noise for a day."

"If you gain something, then you earn money."

"If you gain nothing, it's no loss."

After listening to Goro Komaki's "advice", Mr. Kiryu smiled without commenting.

"Okay, let's go."

"The wind really didn't lie to you. I can already see the dark clouds."

"Go home quickly before it rains."

Boss Kiryu said as he turned back.

Komugi Goro followed, and the two walked side by side.

"This is a rare opportunity, Mamiya, come to my house and eat Japanese sweets. A-Machi hasn't seen you for a long time, she will definitely be very happy if you can come to my house as a guest."

"Well, that's fine too."

The two gradually walked away and entered the winding mountain road.

……

……

Choshu, Hoshu (Shou Province), a certain winding green mountain -

  Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

From time to time, you can hear the chirping of birds in the bushes.

The intermittent chirping of birds makes the forest even more quiet.

Although the mountain scenery is still shrouded in lush green, there is indeed a sense of seasonal change.

Shuten-doji led the way, Takasugi Shinsaku was in the middle, and Katsura Kogoro was at the rear. The three of them formed a column and walked straight into the depths of the mountains.

Under the protection of the special forces, the remaining troops led by Katsura Kogoro finally returned to Choshu safely.

Without caring about their grief, Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro quickly threw themselves into their work.

The first thing they have to do is to meet the Yamata no Orochi!

Shuten-doji didn't keep them waiting for long.

After only two days, he brought the two of them a definite message: Come with me! I will take you to see Lord Snake!

In this way, the three of them came to this nameless mountain not far from Hagi Castle [the capital of Choshu].

Walking under the green trees, Katsura Kogoro turned his head and looked behind him. Thanks to the good weather and excellent vision, he could see the majestic Hagi Castle in the distance. Then he looked up at the sky, but the dense branches blocked his view.

Through the tiny gaps, you can catch a glimpse of the clear blue sky and the bright sun almost reaching its zenith.

"Hey! Shuten-doji! How long do we have to walk?"

Takasugi Shinsaku wiped his sweat and continued to shout unhappily:

"It's just a meeting, is it necessary to make it so tiring?"

Shuten-doji stopped and turned back with a faint smile:

"Mystery is one of the greatest characteristics of our Fazhu Party."

"We have always spared no effort to implement this feature."

"We're almost there, just hold on a little longer."

Having said that, he continued on his way without further ado.

Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro looked at each other, then followed silently.

Climbing up the hill, jumping down the steep slope, pushing aside the bushes... After trekking for an unknown amount of time, suddenly, the sound of gurgling water came from afar.

After a moment, a clear mountain stream appeared in front of the three people.

The stream is very clear, flowing down to the foot of the mountain with a gurgling sound.

  Shuten-doji glanced at the stream and said:

"We are almost there. If you go upstream along the stream, you will find a waterfall. There is a cave behind the waterfall. Lord Snake is in the cave."

  Takasugi Shinsaku smacked his lips:

"Tsk, we're finally here... Hmm? Who is it?"

His eyes suddenly widened and he turned his head to the right.

Almost at the same time, Katsura Kogoro looked up and saw a young man and woman sitting cross-legged with their backs to them by the stream not far away.

The girl was startled by Takasugi Shinsaku's shout.

She screamed "Wow!" and quickly turned her head to cast confused and frightened looks at Katsura Kogoro and others.

In comparison, the young man was much calmer. He just sat there, unmoved.

As the girl turned her head, Katsura Kogoro was able to see her face clearly.

She is about 20 years old, wearing an orange yukata, with a petite figure, delicate features and a pretty face, worthy of the title of "beauty".

At first, the girl's pretty face was full of vigilance, but she relaxed only after she saw Shuten-doji.

"What? It's wine..."

Shuten-doji shrugged.

"A Ling, what are you afraid of? With your brother here, who has the ability to hurt you?"

In response to Shuten-doji's complaints, the girl called "A-ling" made a playful face, then turned around and shouted to the boy next to her:

"Brother, Jiu is back!"

It was only at this time that the young man finally reacted and took action.

He slowly turned his head and looked at Katsura Kogoro and others with an expressionless face.

Katsura Kogoro took the opportunity to look at the other person.

He was about 23 or 4 years old, dressed in samurai attire, quite tall, with fair skin, neither ugly nor handsome, with a gorgeous ancient sword hanging from his waist, but no wakizashi.

At first glance, he looks like an ordinary person who was thrown into the crowd and can't be found anymore.

However, somehow, this person gave Katsura Kogoro an... indescribable strange feeling.

At this moment, Shuten-doji's words interrupted his thoughts:

"Mr. Takasugi, Mr. Katsura, let me introduce you."

Shuten-doji stood on one side and on the other side so that the two sides could face each other.

"This is Otakemaru, the top fighter of our Law-Extermination Party."

"This is Otakemaru's younger sister, Ling."

"Otakemaru, Aling, this is Takasugi Shinsaku, and this is Katsura Kogoro."

As soon as Shuten-doji finished collecting the food, Ah Ling stood up straight, bowed slightly, and said sternly:

"Nice to meet you, my dear Aling! I have heard your names for a long time, and it is a great honor to meet you today!"

He was reasonable and restrained, neither humble nor arrogant, showing the demeanor of a great man.

Otakemaru: “…”

The young man... Otakemaru, said nothing and just looked at the two of them expressionlessly.

In fact, Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro didn't hear the second half of Shuten-doji's words or Aling's self-introduction at all.

After hearing the name "Otakemaru", their entire attention was taken away.

At this moment, the two of them stared at the young man with wide eyes, looking at him in astonishment, and asked the same question in their hearts:

——He is Otakemaru? !

Katsura Kogoro couldn't control his shock.

He just couldn't equate this ordinary-looking young man, who had neither a strong physique nor an awe-inspiring and domineering aura, with the "highest combat power of the Fazhu Party."

Shuten-doji watched all this with a smile.

It is not difficult to see that he had already guessed what the two would react to when they saw Otakemaru.

It took them about 5 seconds to recover.

Although it is shocking, we still have to observe the necessary courtesy.

Katsura Kogoro straightened his back and cleared his throat:

"Excuse me. I am a Choshu patriot, Katsura Kogoro."

Takasugi Shinsaku followed closely behind:

"A fellow patriot from Changzhou, Takasugi Jinzuo."

Otakemaru: “…”

Otakemaru still looked the same, expressionless and silent, looking like a puppet.

——How can this person be so rude? He doesn't even give his name?

Just as Katsura Kogoro was secretly dissatisfied, Shuten-doji smiled and explained:

"Please forgive me, Otakemaru is not ignorant of etiquette, he just can't hear."

He raised his finger and pointed at his ear.

"He was born deaf, so he can neither hear nor speak."

As soon as these words were spoken, the look of shock that had just dissipated appeared on their faces again.

"He can't hear?!"

Katsura Kogoro asked in a daze.

  Shuten-doji nodded:

"Yes, if you don't believe me, you can light firecrackers next to his ears and he won't react at all."

"Only Lord Orochi and Ling can communicate with him through eye contact, facial expressions, and special hand gestures."

Katsura Kogoro opened his mouth and wanted to say something else.

But the extremely strong shock made his brain a mess, and he didn't know what to say for a while.

After a while, Takasugi Shinsaku took over the conversation:

"A deaf person can become your top fighter?"

Deaf man - this name made Ah Ling puff up her cheeks and look unhappy.

"Mr. Takasugi, this is absurd."

  Shuten-doji chuckled, and his tone became intriguing.

"It is precisely because he was born deaf and could not hear the sounds of the secular world since birth that he was able to hear the 'sounds' that we cannot hear, and thus set foot in areas that we mortals cannot reach."

His words left the two of them confused.

Katsura Kogoro tried his best to imagine how a deaf-mute person could learn swordsmanship.

It is even harder to imagine how he could become the strongest fighting force above Shuten Douji and Prajna.

Shuten-doji continued to speak:

"I'll talk to you guys about the details later when I have a chance."

"Now let's go see Lord Orochi first."

"Don't keep him waiting."

Having said that, he turned to look at Otakemaru and Aling.

"By the way, A-Ling, what are you two doing here?"

Ah Ling sighed and said:

"Do you think I want to bask in the sun here? It's all because my brother suddenly said he wanted to go for a walk, so I had no choice but to accompany him."

Shuten-doji:

"Is that so... Then you guys go ahead. I'll take Mr. Takasugi and Mr. Katsura to see Lord Orochi first."

"okay."

Shuten-doji led the two of them back on the road.

When they parted, A Ling did not forget to cast a vicious look at Takasugi Shinsaku who had just said the word "deaf".

In a short while, only the brother and sister were left there.

Suddenly, Otakemaru raised his eyes and looked straight at the sky in the north.

  Seeing this, Ah Ling immediately asked:

"Hmm? Brother, what's wrong?"

Otakemaru: “…”

"The wind tells you: 'It's going to rain soon'...Ah! Brother, wait for me!"

Ah Ling took two quick steps and hurried to catch up with Otakemaru who was walking away on his own.

……

……

Walking upstream along the mountain stream, we soon heard the gurgling sound of a waterfall ahead, interspersed with bursts of roars from time to time.

"Here we are."

Shuten-doji raised his chin towards the cave behind the waterfall.

"Master Orochi is right there."

Upon hearing this, the two of them swallowed their saliva at the same time, with solemn expressions on their faces.

The leader of the Law-Slaying Party, Yamata-no-Orochi...I'm finally meeting him!

When they thought of this, their heartbeats quickened.

They had heard various rumors about this man long ago.

Some say he is a handsome man with a graceful figure.

Some say he is a great swordsman with unparalleled swordsmanship.

Some say he was a sharpshooter who was adept with two revolvers.

There are so many rumors, so many different ones, it’s dizzying and I don’t know which one to believe.

  Shuten-doji saw through the two's thoughts and smiled slightly:

"Don't be nervous. Lord Orochi is not a scary person. He is much kinder than you think. Don't just stand there like an idiot. Follow me."

Shuten-doji walked towards the cave.

The two followed closely side by side.

The group of three walked through the water curtain and entered the cave... The cave was very cool and not very large.

"Xiaojiu, you guys are here..."

An old voice.

The speaker was an old woman in her sixties sitting upright on a stone.

Shuten-doji smiled:

"Ms. Tamamonomae, long time no see. Where's Lord Orochi?"

  ——Tamamonomae?!

Two pairs of astonished eyes immediately turned to the old woman.

After the revelation that "Otakemaru is a deaf man", the truth that "Tamamonomae is an old woman" once again shocked the two to the point of being speechless.

The old woman... Tamamonomae ignored the two people's gazes and said calmly:

"The big snake is behind. Big snake! Xiaojiu is back!"

At the same time as he finished shouting, the sound of unhurried footsteps was heard from the back of the cave.

Not having time to pay attention to Tamamonomae, Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro both turned their eyes away and stared at the direction where the footsteps came from.

Who exactly is Yamata no Orochi?

With this question in mind, the two of them didn't even dare to blink.

After only a few breaths, the footsteps finally approached them.

The stomach arrives before the person.

A fat middle-aged man with a big belly, holding on to the wall and taking unsteady steps, slowly appeared in front of everyone.

  Shuten-doji said in a half-joking tone:

"Lord Orochi, is it my illusion? You seem to have gained some weight."

"Hahahaha! It's not your illusion, I have gained weight again! Alas, once people get older, it's easy to gain weight."

  The fat middle-aged man said this and turned to look at Takasugi Shinsaku and Katsura Kogoro who were standing there in a daze:

"I guess you two are Mr. Takasugi and Mr. Katsura? Nice to meet you!"

"I am the leader of the Law-Slaying Party, Yamata no Orochi!"

……

……

Volume 4: "Running to Ikeda House" - The End!

  *******

*******

Volume 5: "The Place Where the World is Divided into Two", so stay tuned!

The postscript of Volume 5 will probably be released tomorrow. This postscript is quite long, so be sure to read it! (crying leopard head.jpg)

PS: You can review Chapter 2 of Volume 248, where Otakemaru and Aling first appeared.