The demon fox did not retreat even half a step. She suddenly brought her arms together, trapping the frail Okita Sōji between them.
"You did well! You did so well." Hebe cupped Okita Sōji's face in both hands, staring intensely at her sickly flushed complexion. "Miss Sōji, just how did you unleash that Secret Sword?"
After being passed down for a thousand years, through the rise and fall of countless schools, the inheritance of Secret Swords could no longer rely purely on drawing cards with one's insight.
It had to be something that could be learned systematically!
Hebe's face drew closer and closer, while Okita Sōji's chest heaved more and more violently.
At last, she began moving her lips as if she wanted to speak, but all she spat out was a mouthful of blood.
Hebe was greatly alarmed. Had she squeezed Okita Sōji to death?
The Shinsengumi members who had come to visit Okita Sōji were also greatly alarmed. They had thought she was merely seriously ill, but now they were going straight to her funeral.
Seeing this, Kondō Isami's blood surged to his head. Unable to catch his breath, he fainted and collapsed on the spot.
Without another word, Hebe pulled out a panacea from her sleeve and poured it into Okita Sōji's mouth.
Though it was a spiritual medicine conjured by illusion, its effects were still outstanding.
The moment Okita Sōji opened her eyes, she was about to recite a death haiku.
Hebe reacted quickly, immediately punching Okita Sōji in the chest and abdomen, knocking the breath out of the young swordswoman.
"What are you doing?" Hebe was very displeased. "I worked so hard to save you, and you want to go and die right away?"
The young swordswoman's eyes were wide open—not because she had any