I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

Cang Yong will come to watch the battle today.

Such a great opportunity to get in close contact with Cang Yong and curry favor with Cang Yong, the senior officials in the domain will not let it go.

After learning that Kurangaga had come to watch the competition, these people immediately rushed to Hachiman Shrine one by one like cats smelling fish.

Of course, these high-ranking officials who were able to come to the Hachiman Shrine were all people who successfully adjusted their itinerary this morning.

Some people who couldn't turn down the work this morning could only let this great opportunity to curry favor with Cang Naga slip through his fingers with resentment.

The test site has been surrounded by white curtains.

People from the Sakakibara Sword Gym stood at the far east of the competition venue.

The people from the Ishikawa Sword Gym stood at the westernmost part of the competition venue.

As for the spectators who came to watch the battle, they all stood or sat at the northernmost part of the venue.

The audience is almost here.

The people who came to watch the battle this time were basically senior officials at all levels in the domain.

They sat on the small stools, chatting and laughing, waiting for the start of the competition.

At the same time, they are also waiting for the arrival of Cang Yong.

The biggest spectator of this god sacrifice competition has not yet arrived.

There was less than one stick of incense left before the official start of the competition.

However, at this critical moment when there was not much time left before the start of the competition, something happened at the Ishikawa Sword Gym.

...

...

Hirose Clan, Hachiman Shrine, the westernmost part of the competition venue——

"Master! Why?!"

Yuan Shan was already fully dressed at this time, the cuffs had been fastened early, and the protective iron plate was also put on his forehead.

He's ready to play anytime.

But at this moment, his master Ishikawa Bingma suddenly told him that he didn't need to play.

He has arranged for a brother from Yuan Shan to replace Yuan Shan.

Yuan Shan, who didn't understand why the master did this, naturally roared at the soldiers and horses, questioning why the soldiers and horses did this.

Facing the roar of Yuanshan, Bingma just said in a flat tone:

"Yuan Shan, do you think I can't see it? Your murderous aura is almost unstoppable!"

"What do you want to do? Did you kill Ogata Yishi in the god sacrifice competition?"

"I'd rather lose the god sacrifice competition than let my disciple kill someone in the god sacrifice competition!"

"Master..." Yuan Shan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "Are you worried that after I kill Ogata Itsuki in public, I will cause trouble for our sword hall...?!"

"..." Bingma remained silent, not responding to Yuan Shan's answer.

But his silent response was equivalent to answering Yuan Shan's question.

"Master! Please let me play!" Yuan Shan's face was full of unwillingness, "I am really not reconciled if I am not allowed to compete with Ogata Yishi!"

"If I'm not sure, I'm not sure!" Ishikawa Bingma rejected Yuan Shan without hesitation in a much harsher tone than before, "Today you just stay on the court honestly! I'll let you play!"

"Master..." Yuan Shan clenched his teeth even tighter.

Just when Yuan Shan was racking his brains, thinking about what he should do to persuade Ishikawa Bingma to let him play, a strange voice suddenly sounded from the side of him and Bingma:

"Ishikawa-kun, let him play!"

This voice was quite unfamiliar to Yuan Shan.

But for Ishikawa Bingma, this voice is very familiar.

Because he just heard this voice yesterday.

After hurriedly following the prestige, after confirming that the person who came was indeed that person, Ishikawa Bingma immediately knelt down on the ground, and then shouted in a respectful tone:

"My lord!"

This person is none other than the elder of their Hirose Clan—Kuranaga Zaemon.

Cang Yong walked slowly towards Bing Ma and the others alone.

After the soldiers and horses knelt down on the ground and shouted "Old Master", Yuan Shan and the rest of the Ishikawa Sword Gym disciples also knelt down on the ground belatedly, respectfully saluting Cang Yong.

Before and after walking to Bingma and the others, Cang Yong repeated what he said just now in a calm tone:

"Ishikawa-kun, let this disciple of yours play."

"My lord!" Ishikawa Bingma said anxiously, "Why..."

Before Ishikawa Bingma finished speaking, Cang Yong spoke again, interrupting Bingma's words:

"Ishikawa-kun, I don't want to say too much. In short - let your disciple play."

Cang Yong's tone is very flat, but his tone is very tough.

There was no room for maneuver in the matter.

Ishikawa Bingma's expression was quite complicated at this time.

The complex expression declared his inner struggle.

After struggling fiercely for a while, Ishikawa Bingma sighed softly as if giving up resistance.

"...Yes... I understand..."

Compared with Ishikawa Bingma's complex expression, Yuan Shan's expression at this time is much simpler.

Yuan Shan's expression at this time was pure ecstasy.

...

...

The most eastern part of the competition venue——

Almost all the disciples of Sakakibara Sword Gym gathered here at this time.

Even Makino, whose injuries were not fully healed, came here to cheer up Ogata.

Ogata had already fastened his cuffs. A protective iron plate was also worn on the forehead.

His two sabers were temporarily handed over to Makino for custody.

The countdown incense that was inserted in the corner of the venue was almost burnt out.

Ogata's brothers and sisters came forward one by one, sending blessings and cheering for Ogata.

The last person to come up to Ogata was Hanbei Sakakibara.

However—Hanbei Sakakibara, who came up to Ogata, did not speak encouraging words like the others to encourage Ogata.

Instead, he said in a deep voice:

"Ogata...you can't play!"

"Master?" After hearing Banbei's words, Ogata raised his eyebrows, then cast a puzzled look at Banbei, "I can't play? What do you mean?"

The rest of the brothers who surrounded them also looked at each other in blank dismay, confused by what Banbingwei said just now.

"I took a sneak peek at Toyama Renrou just now. That Toyama...is full of murderous aura."

Speaking of this, Yuan Shan's expression became more serious.

"It's too dangerous to compete with such a person..."

"Ogata, you stay here and don't move."

"I'm going to try to see if I can cancel today's god sacrifice competition."

"...Master. Thank you for your kindness." After being stunned for a while, Ogata put a smile on his face, "But——I will definitely play."

"Keep hiding, you can't hide."

"Even if you can hide today, there is no way to guarantee that you can hide forever in the future, right?"

"Since you can't hide, you can simply settle the grievances between me and Yuan Shan today!"

After saying that, Ogata looked at the stick of incense used as a countdown.

The incense used as a countdown had just been burned out at this time.

Ogata picked up the wooden knife and walked slowly towards the test field.

"Ogata! Wait a minute!" Hanbei yelled and stepped forward, trying to stop Ogata.

However, a figure was the first to stop Hanbei in front of him, separating Hanbei from Ogata.

"Master..." Mikami said in a deep voice, "Ogata-kun, he's right... Instead of running away like this, it's better to take advantage of today and settle the grievances between the two of you..."

"You..." Banbei bristled with anger.

But—because Mikami stopped Hanbei, Hanbei had already missed the best time to stop Ogata.

At this time, Ogata and Yuanshan had walked to the center of the competition field at almost the same time.