I Was a Swordsman in Ancient Japan

Why did Kuranaga, who is the elder of Hirose clan, treat him so well?

After the god sacrifice competition, Kurangaga once came to Ogata in person, patted Ogata's shoulder with a smile, and praised Ogata's performance in the competition field just now.

Afterwards, not only the doctor Xuan'an, who is one of the best medical skills in their Hirose domain, was sent to Ogata for treatment.

Moreover, he paid all the expenses for Ogata's treatment out of his own pocket.

Not only that, Cang Yong also gave Ogata a paid leave - no need to go to the feudal hall to do his work as a treasury officer during the recuperation period, and during this period of recuperation, Ogata's salary can be taken as it is, and it will not be because of Ogata. Ogata's salary was deducted for not working for a period of time.

Cang Yong took such care of him, which made Ogata puzzled.

Ogata dared to swear with his own life - he had absolutely no intersection with Cang Yong before.

Ogata couldn't figure it out—why Cang Yong, who had never had any contact with him, would show his favor in every possible way?

When Xuan An was treating Xu Fang for the first day, Xu Fang asked Xuan An his question.

However, the only answer Ogata got was Xuan'an's ambiguity.

Afterwards, Ogata kept asking Xuan'an this question either explicitly or implicitly.

But no matter how Ogata asked, Xuan'an kept his mouth tightly shut, refusing to utter a single word.

Ogata's treatment is now over.

For a long period of time in the future, Ogata felt that he would not be able to see Xuan'an anymore.

Ogata hesitated again and again, taking advantage of this last chance, he asked Chao Xuan'an the question that had troubled him for more than a month.

Originally, Ogata was already ready to be perfunctory by Xuan'an again.

But it didn't happen—Xuan'an pursed his lips after hearing this question from Ogata, and fell silent.

And Ogata also quietly followed Xuan'an in silence, waiting for Xuan'an's answer.

After a while, Xuan An opened his lips and said quietly:

"...I actually don't quite understand why Master Cang Yong would show his kindness to you in every possible way."

"but I know--"

Xuan An changed the topic.

"Master Cang Yong is kind to you, there must be a reason. And it is not a common reason."

"Master Cang Yong and I are old acquaintances, so I also have some understanding of his character."

"Master Cang Yong is a very determined person."

"No matter how difficult it is, Cang Yong will bite the bullet and face it."

"At the same time, he is also a...very cruel person."

"He will never waste his time on useless people, people who don't interest him."

When Xuan An reached this point, he clicked to the end and stopped talking.

Although Xuan'an only said so far, the amount of information contained in what he said just now is enough for Ogata to slowly understand and digest.

"...Anyway, I told you everything I know."

Kerala.

Xuan'an opened the door of Xufang's house.

"There will be no future, Ogata-kun."

bump.

The door of Ogata's house was closed.

In the broken and small house, only the silent air remained to accompany Ogata.

"Forget it." Ogata sighed softly, "If all the favors Cang Yong gave me need to be repaid... then we can wait until he comes to ask for a 'debt'..."

...

...

"It's almost time..."

Ogata looked at the sky outside the window and muttered.

At this time, Ogata was fully dressed.

Tonight is going to hold a banquet with the master and fellow apprentices. In order to match this long-awaited banquet, Ogata specially changed into the newest and cleanest clothes in his closet.

Hair, body, etc., also specially washed once.

Looking at the sky outside, Ogata kept hesitating whether to go out now, or later.

At this moment, a strange shout suddenly sounded outside the door:

"Is Ogata Itsuki-kun at home?"

--Um?

Ogata frowned slightly, followed the sound and looked towards his own door.

——Is it someone from the Ishikawa Sword Gym who came to seek revenge on me...

Ogata quickly grabbed the knife beside him, then tiptoed towards the door...

However, the people outside the door seemed to have a pair of clairvoyant eyes that could see what Ogata was doing inside the room, and shouted:

"Ogata Itsushi-kun! Please rest assured! We are not from the Ishikawa Sword Hall!"

——Not the Ishikawa Sword Gym?

Although the people outside the door said so, Ogata still did not relax his vigilance.

Although the people outside the house said so, Ogata would not let his guard down because of the one-sided words of the people outside the house.

Ogata, who was standing 2 steps away from the door, pulled out his sword and inserted the blade into the gap between the door and the door frame.

Because the door of Ogata's house is the most common type of sliding door, the door can be pushed open by pushing to the right.

After inserting the blade into the gap between the door and the door frame, Ogata pushed horizontally to the right and pulled the door open.

The door opened, and two young samurai with extremely strange faces, who had never been seen before, appeared in Ogata's field of vision.

The hands of the two young warriors hung naturally by their sides, and they stood in an ordinary manner without drawing their swords, let alone posing in any fighting posture.

No hostility—this is the state of these two young warriors now.

But Ogata still did not relax his vigilance.

Ogata silently took 2 steps back, opened the distance between himself and the two young samurai, raised the knife in his hand, and separated himself from the two samurai with the sharp blade.

"You are Ogata Itsuki-kun, right?"

The leader of the two young warriors spoke up.

Although the sentence pattern he used is that of interrogative sentences, the tone is that of affirmative sentences.

"That's right... I am. Who are you? Why are you looking for me all of a sudden?"

"We are the elders—Kuranagazaemon's vassals. We have come here this time to invite you to come down to my lord's mansion."

"Kuranaga...Saemon...?"

A look of surprise appeared on Ogata's face uncontrollably.

...

...

Hirose Domain, Sakakibara Sword House.

At this time, the Sakakibara Sword Gym was quite lively.

On the wooden floor of the dojo, there were enough tables for Hanbei and all the disciples of Sakakibara Sword Gym to sit.

Because it was almost time for the agreed banquet to start, half of the people had already arrived at the dojo.

These people who came to the dojo in advance performed their duties.

Some are responsible for placing drinks and food on the table.

Some are responsible for wiping up certain places on the floor that have not been wiped clean.

There are also some people who just gather together and chat, passing the boring time by chatting.

Makino was one of those people who had nothing to do and sat around chatting with other seniors.

Makino chatted about all the topics they could think of with the few brothers who were usually close to each other.

"By the way—" Makino said in a drawn-out tone, "I recently heard a very interesting piece of news from a friend. Are you interested in knowing?"

"News? Senior Makino, what's the news?" The person who spoke was the youngest and also the youngest junior at the Sakakibara Sword Gym—Goro Sawamura, who is only 15 years old this year.