In front of the Scripture Repository Hall at Toshodai-ji Temple.
Uesugi Zangetsu dragged her long blade, its black bloodstains already congealed. Without uttering a single unnecessary word, she raised her sword and charged.
Whoosh!
A streak of black light tore across the sky and arrived before Tokugawa Ishimasa in an instant.
Swift as the wind, fierce as fire!
The undisguised killing intent was like a thunderbolt, blasting the minds of the onlookers blank.
Only a handful of passersby with decent dynamic vision could barely catch Uesugi Zangetsu's movements.
Most people merely felt a fierce gust sweep past them, followed by an explosive crash.
Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere!
Tokugawa Ishimasa barely drew his sword from its sheath and blocked the strike, but he could not control his body. The residual force dragged him several meters backward before he barely managed to stabilize his stance.
Two long gray streaks had been gouged into the ground beneath his feet. The soles of his shoes had rubbed against the ground at high speed, giving off a scorched smell.
"So strong!"
Tokugawa Ishimasa, who usually carried himself like a refined young gentleman in this muddied world, had his pupils instantly shrink into dangerous pinpricks after taking that blow. Every hair on his body stood on end, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
Before coming here, he had already rated the woman opposite him as highly as possible.
Although they were both Golden-Eyed Ones, both possessed superhuman cells within their bodies, and both had physical abilities far beyond normal human limits, Tokugawa Ishimasa had always believed that men still held the advantage over women in terms of physical fitness.
Earlier, when Uesugi Zangetsu had gone around challenging dojos and slaughtering long-famous kendo masters, Tokugawa Ishimasa had only thought that this madwoman was relying on her superior stats to crush ordinary people. It was an unfair victory.
A woman, even if she had trained in kendo since childhood, how much could she possibly achieve?
Had there ever been a female Sword Saint in history?
Tokugawa Ishimasa himself came from a prestigious family and had trained in martial arts day after day for years. He believed that neither his talent nor perseverance was inferior to anyone else's.
In fact, before coming here, Tokugawa Ishimasa had watched Uesugi Zangetsu's previous training video diaries as well. He had not thought there was much difference between their fighting techniques.
But now...
After exchanging just one move, Tokugawa Ishimasa instantly lost his nerve.
He couldn't win!
Technique was all bullshit!
His absolute strength and instantaneous speed were both far inferior to hers!
He simply could not understand why this was happening.
Those office drones with Tokyo University PHDs had clearly analyzed it before, saying that his "aptitude" was nearly identical to Uesugi Zangetsu's, and that the proliferation rates of the superhuman cells in their bodies should be evenly matched!
Rather than continue pondering something he could not understand, he simply stopped thinking about it.
There was one thing Tokugawa Ishimasa knew perfectly well.
If this Fierce Battle continued...
He would die!
Uesugi Zangetsu, that madwoman who ought to have been locked in a mental institution, would absolutely not show him mercy!
How could he die in a place like this? How could he tragically die like a clown at the hands of a Golden-Eyed One from his own country?
A new era had only just begun. The future world was vibrant and colorful, with countless heroes and outstanding figures waiting for him to conquer!
He absolutely did not want to die here!
"Run! Run! Run!"
In the blink of an eye, Tokugawa Ishimasa made his decision. His mind held only one thought: survive at all costs.
Reputation did not matter!
As long as he lived, there would be endless possibilities!
He threw aside his chipped treasured sword and its sheath, not caring that it was Japan's famed "Supreme Great Fast Blade, Twelve Works, Swift Sound."
He did not feel even the slightest regret as he turned and ran.
"Don't move! Let me cut you down!"
Uesugi Zangetsu did not hesitate in the slightest and swiftly chased after him.
"Madwoman! What grudge do you have against me? Why are you so determined to kill me?"
"In the entire Yamato people, there are only two Divine Children! After killing me, how will you, all alone, stand against the Divine Children of other nations?"
Tokugawa Ishimasa roared as he fled for his life.
The so-called "Divine Children" was what the people of Japan called Golden-Eyed Ones.
Silver-Eyed Ones were called Divine Attendants in the Island Nation.
The Island Nation claimed to have Eight Million Gods, and its chosen titles suited its cultural traditions quite well.
Though he did not look back, Tokugawa Ishimasa could still sense the almost tangible killing intent behind him drawing closer and closer.
Thirty meters...
Twenty meters...
Ten meters...
Closer, even closer!
If he kept running, only death awaited him!
"What the hell are those idiots in the Self-Defense Forces doing? Why aren't they here to save me yet?"
Tokugawa Ishimasa was nearly furious to death.
In an instant, countless chaotic thoughts flooded his mind.
He cursed the inaction of those in power.
Why had those people not dealt with this madwoman sooner?
Just because she was a Golden-Eyed One, a Child of God?
At that moment, Tokugawa Ishimasa completely forgot about all the preferential treatment and benefits he had received. His heart was filled with nothing but resentment and fury.
If those rulers had thrown Uesugi Zangetsu into prison earlier and kept her under strict watch, none of this would have happened today, right?
As thoughts churned through his mind, Tokugawa Ishimasa rushed into the crowd, a vicious light flashing in his brilliant golden eyes.
I once read a Chinese book that had a good saying—better a fellow cultivator dies than I do.
For me, for the future of the Yamato people, help me stop this madwoman!
Yet an apologetic expression appeared on his face as he shouted, "Sorry! Please move aside! Everyone, hurry and get out of the way!"
Half a second later...
The sound of blades piercing flesh rang out behind Tokugawa Ishimasa.
Bones, muscles, and internal organs could not stop the absurdly long, sinister demonic blade in Uesugi Zangetsu's hand.
Often, a single slash was enough for her to instantly kill several people blocking her path.
Screams rose and fell one after another, and cries of misery filled the temple grounds.
"Not enough! Weaklings like these are unworthy of serving as nourishment for my sword!"
Uesugi Zangetsu charged forward wildly with disheveled hair and sword in hand. Her shattered-gold eyes swayed slightly. "Their blood does not even qualify as sword-maintenance oil!"
Her hoarse voice was like the howl of a demon from the depths of hell. "Tokugawa Ishimasa, stop running. As a descendant of Great General Who Conquers the Barbarians Tokugawa Ieyasu, how can you abandon a warrior's honor?"
Tokugawa Ishimasa kept his head down and ran madly, wind gathering beneath his feet. Even his flowing hair had been pulled straight by his continual acceleration.
He could not be bothered with the lunatic behind him.
Precisely because he was a descendant of the Great General Who Conquers the Barbarians, he could flee without hesitation!
How patient and enduring had his ancestor Tokugawa Ieyasu been back then?
To prove his loyalty to Sixth Heaven Demon King Oda Nobunaga, his ancestor had personally slaughtered his own wife and children!
Endure for a moment, and the winds would calm; take a step back, and the sea and sky would open wide.
Without that, how could his ancestor have risen step by step from an ordinary, weak daimyo of Mikawa to become the ruler of the Edo Shogunate?
If Tokugawa Ishimasa did not understand even that much, how could he deserve the name "Tokugawa"?
Only by bearing heavy burdens through life could one go far.
Forbearance was the true wisdom passed down by the shogunate's great generals!
Squelch!
A cold gust struck from behind his head.
Tokugawa Ishimasa instinctively twisted his body.
Black light flashed past his side, and his entire right arm flew into the air!
Hiss...
Blood sprayed from the cross-section of his severed arm like a high-pressure water gun.
The massive blood loss in such a short time instantly robbed Tokugawa Ishimasa of the strength to flee.
"Ah!"
Intense pain surged into his mind. Tokugawa Ishimasa let out a miserable cry, his knees buckled, his legs went weak, and he fell to his knees with a deathly pale face.
"I'll be gentler..."
Uesugi Zangetsu's hoarse voice sounded beside his ear. "Endure it. It won't hurt for long."
Beneath the Radiant Sun, the girl held her enormous blade and prepared to strike...
Bang bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
A rapid barrage of gunshots landed at Uesugi Zangetsu's feet.
The girl expressionlessly stepped half a pace back, not even glancing at the Self-Defense Forces who had rushed over after receiving the news.
Indeed, she could slash away a small number of bullets, or even slaughter all these mortals armed with firearms while taking injuries herself.
But...
Who said firearms represented the ultimate power of modern weaponry?
Uesugi Zangetsu was obsessed with swords, not an idiot.
At present, she was still very weak.
Confronting Japan's armed state forces was not wise.
"I'll leave your head on your shoulders for now."
Uesugi Zangetsu dragged the two-meter-long pitch-black treasured blade across the ground. Looking down at Tokugawa Ishimasa, her demeanor was mysterious, while her formerly hoarse voice now seemed especially melodious. "You should understand now, shouldn't you?"
"The sword itself is what truly matters."
"The sheath... is insignificant."
"For people like you and me, the only meaning of existing as sheaths is to find more Sword Grinding Stones and make it sharper."
China, Beijing, Zhaofu Well Secret Base.
"Japan still likes to confuse swords and blades."
Yan Anqing shook his head and closed the news page. "Tokugawa Ishimasa... I underestimated him."
Someone capable of enduring humiliation had the potential to accomplish great things.
He was ruthless enough to use civilians to block blades for him and buy time, yet not so arrogant that he refused to wear the mask of a hypocrite.
Perhaps many people could see through Tokugawa Ishimasa's true nature, but that could not affect his foundation. Most people would still believe that he was kind and instinctively make excuses for him.
Within the consciousness database, Yan Anqing pulled up a photo of Tokugawa Ishimasa and changed the character rating from the same "Heroic" rating as Kira Wolma's to "Bold."
After finishing this, Yan Anqing's gaze fell upon the two experimental papers on the desk.
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