There are too many rumors about Genichi Kinoshita that are either true or false.

The only certain thing about this person is that such a number one person does exist, and his swordsmanship is indeed extremely strong.

Rarely does big news come out as frequently as Ogata Issei, just like a hermit... Therefore, people later gave Gen Kinoshita a title: The Hidden Sword Master.

As soon as Qingden finished murmuring, Sanako on the side suddenly interrupted:

"This is just a rumor that I don't know whether it's true or not."

Sanako put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hands and continued in a calm tone:

"'Ogata Ittōsai is the master of Kondo Uchizosuke'—there is indeed such a saying...but the truth of this matter can no longer be tested."

"The name of Ogata Ittousai is so famous. Therefore, over the past 70 years, there have been a lot of anecdotes related to Ogata Ittousai that are not true or false and have been spread across the country."

"'Ogata Ittosai once passed by this place and wiped out all the bandit dens nearby'..."

"'Ogata Ittosai once gave me swordsmanship instruction'..."

"'I was once rescued by Ogata Ittosai'..."

"There are so many kinds of rumors and so many names that it's impossible to tell which of these anecdotes are true and which are false."

"I think Mr. Kondo and the others also felt that it was difficult to tell whether it was true or false that 'Ogata Ittousai is closely related to the Natural Rishin-ryu', so they didn't tell you juniors."

After Qingden listened carefully to Sanako's words, he nodded slightly:

"I see... that makes sense. Hahaha, speaking of the 'Two Sages of Yiyuan'... A Wu, the hidden swordsman who is as famous as Ogata Ittosai has the same surname as you."

With a smile on his lips, Qingto cast a teasing look at Mai Kinoshita and continued in a joking tone:

"Isn't that Kinoshita Genichi your ancestor?"

"how could it be possible!"

As soon as Qingden finished speaking, Kinoshita Mai said angrily:

"Aoden, do you know how many people in this country have the surname 'Kinoshita'?"

"'Kinoshita' is not a unique surname that is only held by a certain family."

"There are countless people with the surname 'Kinoshita' all over the country. It's impossible for everyone to be a descendant of Kinoshita Genichi, right?"

Qingdeng laughed and repeatedly said that he was just joking.

As Mai Kinoshita said just now, "Kinoshita" is a very popular and common surname.

Aoto made such a harmless little joke with Mai Kinoshita just to liven up the atmosphere around him.

Sato Hikoro suddenly stood up and started telling anecdotes about natural Rishin-ryu and Ogata Isei - everyone regarded this as a trivial incident.

After a while, everyone started doing what they were supposed to do.

Those who are not full continue to eat.

For those who want to toast Kondo and Matsui Tsune, continue the toast.

Those who want to sing and dance to their heart's content should continue singing and dancing.

Those who want to "fight" continue to "fight"...

Kinoshita Mai quietly raised her vigilant gaze again, as if facing a formidable enemy.

However, she was doing two things at the moment.

Not only did he focus on Sanako, he also turned his attention from time to time... to Souji, who was sleeping in a deep sleep.

Sanako once again keenly noticed Kinoshita Mai's gaze...and once again adopted a "cold" and "ignoring" attitude.

Even though Kinoshita Mai acted very covertly... But at this time, Qingto finally noticed her little moves belatedly.

In fact, Sanako had just said to Mai Kinoshita in a neither sad nor happy tone: "It seems that Miss Kinoshita, you are not good at drinking. You don't even have the smell of alcohol on your body, and you are already drunk."

, Qingdeng could already smell the faint smell of gunpowder permeating the relationship between the two women...

Why did Sanako go against Mai Kinoshita? Aomori didn't know if this had anything to do with him. After all, he couldn't decide whether Sanako viewed him as a "very close friend"... or in some other capacity.

But Kinoshita Mai is different.

Even a third party like Kiryu can see what kind of feelings Kinoshita Mai has for Aoto... Let alone Aoto, a person with normal business relationships?

Although it was just Qingto's speculation... but he felt that it was almost the same - the reason why Mai Kinoshita was staring at Sanako with such a nervous and vigilant gaze at this moment was because of him.

At the fireworks display a few days ago...

Qingden lowered his head and looked at the bowls and chopsticks in his hands.

At this moment, Qingdeng felt that the sounds around him were all moving away from him - he was thinking intently. With such high concentration, Qingdeng felt that the small space with himself as the center and one step as the radius seemed to be completely separated from the world.

Cut away.

——Don’t hesitate...!

After thinking this secretly in his heart, Qingdeng took a deep breath:

"My hands are stained by the sauce. I'm going to wash them."

After saying these words, without waiting for Sanako and Kinoshita Mai to respond, Qingto hurriedly put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hands, stood up with a groan, and walked quickly outside the banquet hall.

Qingdeng didn't go to the toilet or the well in the yard - he ran straight to the stairs leading to the second floor without stopping.

After going up to the second floor, Aomori took the familiar route and turned into the room where he, Saito, Nagakura and others lived together: between the diners.

Qingdeng dug out pen, ink, paper and inkstone from the locker where his clothes and daily necessities were stored.

Laying out paper, grinding ink, and meditating - after completing this series of preparations, Qingdeng took up his pen and wrote something on the paper with a solemn expression...

…

…

Trial Guard Hall, somewhere——

Kiryu held his hands on the window frame in front of him, looking through the open window at the distant scenery.

At this time, a magnetic middle-aged male voice called from behind Kiryu:

"Mamiya-kun. Sorry for keeping you waiting."

"You are finally here..."

Kiryu let out a sigh of relief, then turned around and faced back - the Komaki couple strode towards him side by side.

"I thought you two didn't understand my code."

"Suddenly he said that he wanted to relieve himself, and when he stood up to leave, he quietly reached out and touched the shoulders of A-Machi and I - I am not old enough to even understand such a code." Komaki Goro smiled.

Kiryu laughed:

"Gu Mu..."

"Mamiya-kun, there are no other people here." Goro Komaki interrupted Kiryu's words, "There is no need to pretend anymore."

"Ha...that's right."

Kiryu adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Well...even though I have already told you 'Long time no see', I just called you by your pseudonym...so I'll just say it again."

Kiryu whispered softly.

Then, he showed a nostalgic smile.

"Long time no see...Ogata-kun."

"Yes." Komaki Goro...or Ogata, stretched out his hand and patted Kiryu's shoulder familiarly, "Mamiya-kun, you are well."

"We haven't seen each other in almost 3 years... or 4 years, right?"

"Really? I can't remember." Ogata shrugged, "Since I turned seventy, I have become less and less sensitive to time."

"Hahaha, this is also a common problem among the elderly. To me, the day when you and Lord Gendai dueled at Tianwang Mountain still seems like yesterday..."

"To each other. The scenes of me and Uchizo Suke wandering around together are still before my eyes... In the blink of an eye, the future head of the Fourth Generation of Natural Rishin-ryu got married."

Ogata walked slowly to Kiryu's side, and Amachi followed closely.

The three of them stood side by side in front of the large window, facing the blue sky outside the window.

"I won't go into the unnecessary opening remarks and pleasantries."

Kiryu said.

"I know that you two have many questions that you want to ask me, so I specially asked you to come out and meet alone with a secret code."

"Now, if you have any questions, just ask me."

As soon as Kiryu finished speaking, Atachi impatiently made a nervous voice:

"Mamiya-kun, what is the relationship between that 'nioh' and Wu? He, are they that kind of relationship?"

Kiryu seemed to have expected that Ogata and Atachi would definitely ask this question first, and said calmly and calmly:

"You two actually know about 'Nioh'... This surprises me a little. Has Tachibana-kun's name spread to Kinki?"
To be continued...