I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

"Hiss...ha..."

After taking a few deep breaths, Ogata slowly raised the sword upwards, setting up the upper stance.

Looking at Ogata who was in the upper stance, Toyama's pupils shrank slightly, and he thought to himself:

——The previous stance... what is Ogata going to do...

——Are you going to use "Shuiluo" to deal with me...

--Well……! Then I will take his note of "Water Falling" hard!

Toyama subconsciously thought that Ogata, who was in the upper stance, should be using their Sakakibara's one-handed downward chopping technique - Mizuro.

Yuanshan, who deliberately joined Ogata's "Water Falling", slowly lowered the sword that was originally held high, and put it in a middle posture.

Ogata moved his feet, leaning towards the distant mountain little by little.

And Toyama kept counting the distance between himself and Ogata.

If you want to win in a competition with others, the most important point is to grasp the distance between yourself and your opponent.

Most people lose because they can't grasp the sense of distance between themselves and their opponents.

For example—when the sword in your hand can't hurt the opponent at all, you rush to attack.

Another example—I have already entered the opponent's attack range, and I don't know it yet, and I still pose leisurely there, thinking that it is safe.

Toyama stared at Ogata in front of him, counting the distance between himself and Ogata.

——There are still 4 steps, Ogata's sword can cut me...

- There are... 3 more steps...

——There are... 2 more steps...!

——There is one more step!

call--!

The sound of strong breaking wind rushed towards the distant mountains from top to bottom.

Ogata's wooden sword slashed straight at Toyama's shoulder!

--what!

Yuan Shan exclaimed loudly in his heart, while widening his eyes.

For Ogata's "Water Falling", Yuan Shan was not ready to accept the move at all!

Because according to Toyama's calculations - Ogata should have to go one more step forward before Ogata's sword could touch him!

Toyama didn't expect at all——Ogata's sword was able to attack him with one step away!

Although Yuan Shan was shocked.

But in the next moment, the one who was surprised became Ogata.

Because he saw the sword in Toyama's hand moving at a speed fast enough to dazzle Ogata.

Boom!

The dull sound of wooden swords colliding exploded.

Yuan Shan raised his sword to block Ogata's "Shui Luo" almost at the critical moment.

After the sword in his hand was blocked by Toyama, Ogata immediately stepped back a few steps, opening the distance from Toyama.

And Toyama also retreated almost at the same time as Ogata.

After Toyama stabilized his figure, he immediately looked at Ogata who had just stabilized his figure in front of him.

To be precise——he looked at Ogata's hand holding the sword.

After seeing Ogata's way of holding the sword, Toyama sneered:

"Oh, that's how it is... Ogata, is this the secret to increasing your attack range..."

Ogata's right hand was firmly gripping the bottom of the wooden sword hilt.

Just now, when he was slowly approaching the distant mountain, and there was only one step away from the distant mountain entering his attack range, Ogata quietly lowered his hands holding the sword a little.

Hold the very bottom of the hilt directly with both hands.

Because both hands directly held the bottom of the hilt, when Ogata swung his sword, his attack range was nearly one hilt longer.

This is why when Toyama was only one step away from entering Ogata's attack range just now, Ogata was able to cast "Waterfall" on Toyama and was able to attack him.

If it wasn't for Yuan Shan's quick response and fast enough speed to raise his sword in time to parry Ogata's slash, otherwise Yuan Shan would have been defeated.

"I really almost lost just now... I really didn't expect you, Ogata, to make such a fierce attack."

"To each other." Ogata said in a flat tone, "I didn't expect your speed to be so fast."

Yuan Shan's mood was not calm at this time, because he found that the guy in front of him was far more powerful than he imagined.

Ogata's mood was not calm at this time, because he also found that the guy in front of him was far more powerful than he imagined.

Originally, he had classified Yuan Shan as "a powerful enemy that should not be underestimated".

But Ogata discovered at this time——he seemed to have underestimated Yuan Shan's strength.

Just now, Ogata had the mentality of winning.

He originally thought that Yuan Shan would not be able to take over his surprise attack just now.

But Yuan Shan just caught it.

"Come on." Yuan Shan took a few deep breaths, his eyes became much sharper than before, "Ogata Yishi, the winner is not yet decided, let's continue."

"...Come on." Ogata moved his wrist and re-arranged his middle posture.

However, at this moment, a loud shout suddenly sounded from the periphery of the "battlefield".

"Hey! You guys! What are you doing here!"

The onlookers standing on the west side of the "battlefield" immediately parted to the left and right.

Two samurai wearing black feathers quickly stepped into the "battlefield" where the atmosphere was still tense along the opening where the onlookers separated.

Ogata, Toyama, and everyone who was watching the battle followed the sound and looked at the two samurai.

"Same heart..." Ogata muttered in a deep voice.

Concentric—a lower-level official in charge of general affairs, police and other affairs.

"Private combat is prohibited between warriors! Don't you know?!"

The two concentric leaders yelled aggressively at Ogata, Toyama and the others.

"...Master Tongxin." Looking at the two Tongxins who suddenly arrived, a smile gradually formed on Yuan Shan's face, "We are not fighting, we are just playing with each other."

While talking, Yuan Shan handed the wooden knife in his hand to a junior beside him, and then slowly walked towards the two concentrics.

Before and after walking up to the two concentrics, Yuan Shan took out a small handful of copper coins from his bosom, and then quietly stuffed them into the bosom of the two concentrics in front of him.

"I also ask the two adults to forgive our petty fights."

This Tongxin looked at the copper coins that Wangyuanshan stuffed into his arms.

Then he said in a much softer tone:

"Remember to compete in the dojo in the future! Don't mess around in such a large crowd!"

"Definitely, definitely."

After agreeing with the same name, Yuan Shan turned around and greeted his brothers:

"gone back!"

After saying these words, Toyama turned his head slightly and looked at Ogata with meaningful eyes.

"...Itsuki Ogata, if I remember correctly—the person who wins the first place in the annual summer competition at the Sakakibara Sword Gym must represent the Sakakibara Sword Gym in the July god-sacrificing competition, right?"

"So what?"

"It's nothing, just to make sure. Let me tell you something, the person representing the Ishikawa Sword Gym in this year's competition is still me."

"Oh." Ogata responded flatly with an "oh", "So what?"

"Just to let you know the news in advance."

"Let's save today's unfinished battle until the day of the god sacrifice competition."

"Hmph." The corner of Ogata's mouth twitched, showing a sneer, "You make it seem like I will definitely win the first place in the competition."

Toyama did not respond to Ogata's words.

After looking at Ogata with meaningful eyes for a few times, Toyama stepped forward and led his brothers and sisters away quickly.

At this time, the two Tongxin also almost drove away the onlookers.

--finished……

Looking at the smaller and smaller figures of Toyama and the others, Ogata thought to himself.

——Money is really a good thing... Tongxin was settled easily... Hiss... It hurts...