"That's good." Qingto returned the empty bowl to the sweet water stall owner, and then continued in a joking tone, "Okita-kun, you are the absolute main force of our trial gym. If you are too nervous and cause

If you don't perform properly, you'll be in trouble."

"...Actually, no matter what my current state is, there will be no difference in the result - we will definitely not be able to defeat Xiao Qianba Sword Hall today. All we can do today is to lean in

We are just trying our best to show the power of our natural Rishin-ryu to the onlookers around us.”

Qingden was startled, then turned to look at Okita who was pressing his lips tightly.

"The two main players in our trial defense hall: Uncle Minamoto and Mr. Hijikata are not here today."

Uncle Minamoto and Mr. Hijikata... After Qingto thought for a moment, he remembered that these two people Okita said were important members of the Imperial Guard Hall that he had never met until now: Genzaburo Inoue and Toshizo Hijikata.

"The only two games we faced against the Chiba Kenkan were the only ones we won, and they were barely won by all the main players from our trial gym."

"Uncle Minamoto and Mr. Hijikata are both absent today. No matter how you think about it, our chance of winning today at the Imperial Guard Hall is slim..."

At this point, Okita stopped abruptly, then shook his head vigorously, causing his slender ponytail to fly in all directions.

"No, no, no, no, no, how can you talk about these unlucky things before the game has even started..."

Okita raised his hands and rubbed his cheeks vigorously.

After he put down his hands, his expression returned to his bright smile.

"Okay, Mr. Tachibana, let's go back! If I go back too late, Brother Kondo will definitely scold me again."

"……Um."

Okita walked in front, leading Qingto back along the original path.

At this time, without any expectation, a set of conversations came from not far away, making Qingto and Okita pause in their tracks.

…

"Tsk... I'm so nervous... It's my first time to compete with someone in swordsmanship in front of so many people..."

"Me too... Look, I'm so nervous now that my whole hand is shaking."

"I feel pretty good. As soon as I thought that today's opponent is the trial court and today's 'red and white battle' will be a very easy match, I immediately felt less nervous."

"Ha... I don't know who gave the Shoeikan the courage to compete with us in the swordsmanship competition at the Plum Blossom Festival. In the past, their four main players were Kondo Isamu, Okita Souji, Hijikata Toshizo, and Inoue Genzaburo.

, are no match for us. Today, their Hijikata Toshizo and Inoue Genzaburo are both absent, what are they going to do to fight us?"

"Oh, I'm most tired of fighting the 'red and white battle' with the Imperial Guard Hall. There's no point in competing with them in swordsmanship. There are only four of them, Kondo, Okita, Hijikata, and Inoue, who are very strong. The rest...

…Ah."

"With so many people watching...if they were defeated before even a stick of incense arrived like they did in a certain competition half a year ago...ha, that would really make people laugh."

"I guess they never thought about winning from the beginning. I guess they just wanted to take this opportunity to show off their natural flow. As long as they play hard enough and play the game of 'It's honorable to lose'

The momentum can more or less convey their natural psychology."

"It's possible. I also think they didn't think about winning, they just wanted to take the opportunity to promote the natural flow."

"Okay, stop chatting. Have you finished eating? It's almost time to go back. Let's go."

…

The speakers were six young men standing in front of a grilled squid stall.

These six young men...Qingdeng all looked very familiar.

Just now, I saw these 6 people at the "main formation" of the Little Chiba Sword Hall. All 6 of them are today's contestants of the Little Chiba Sword Hall.

They probably wanted to eat something at the grilled squid stall to replenish their energy before the game started.

After enjoying the grilled squid, they began to talk about the trial court and the game that was about to start.

Because they were too focused on chatting, and also because of their position, angle of view, etc., they didn't notice until they strode away that their previous conversations had been overheard by Qingto and Okita.

"Ah, haha. Although what they said didn't sound very nice, they didn't say anything wrong."

Okita turned his head and smiled at Qingden pretending not to care.

"The current strength of our Imperial Guard Hall is indeed far inferior to that of their Little Chiba Sword Hall."

"They also correctly guessed our trial defense hall's intention to participate in this competition. The reason why we participated in the competition is indeed to promote natural rational flow. We never expected to defeat Chiba-chan without the main force.

Sword Hall."

"But it doesn't matter. Although we can't compare to the Little Chiba Sword Hall today, our Trial Guard Hall will be able to become stronger one day sooner or later."

"Look, we now have a reliable combatant like you, Ju-kun."

"The current strength of our trial defense hall is steadily increasing."

"One day, we will definitely make everyone look at our trial gym with admiration."

Okita probably didn't want Aonto to worry, so even though he was a little disappointed, he still smiled.

"Okay, let's go, Mr. Tachibana. If we don't go back soon, Brother Kondo will really scold us."

After saying that, Okita looked away and continued to stride towards the competition venue along the way he came.

However... as soon as he took a few steps, he discovered that Qingdeng, who was behind him, did not move with him...

I saw him standing there with no expression on his face, looking thoughtfully at the direction in which the six contestants from the Little Chiba Sword Hall left just now.

"Tangerine-kun?"

"...Okita-kun."

Qingdeng said suddenly.

"Let me confirm: in all the previous competitions between our Shiwei Hall and Little Chiba Sword Hall, Little Chiba Sword Hall will definitely send Mr. Jutaro and Miss Sanako to deal with you, right?"

"Huh?" Although he didn't know why Aoto suddenly mentioned this, Okita nodded quickly, "Well, every time there is a competition, Mr. Shigetaro and Miss Sanako will be sent to the Little Chiba Sword Hall to take care of me.

Delay me and prevent me from supporting others."

After finishing speaking, Okita smiled confidently.

"After all, if they don't send Mr. Jutaro and Miss Sanako to deal with me at the same time, they will have no other means to suppress me."

"...Okita-kun, can you do me a little favor later?"

"A small favor? What kind of favor?"

"Please accompany me later to ask Brother Kondo to let me be the general general of our trial defense hall in this game. If you can help me, my chances of persuading Brother Kondo will be more or less increased."

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Chapter completed!