Chapter 182: Chapter 96: Aoto, Charge the Formation! Gained Talent: Strong Muscle [9400 Words]

Mukiwa drank the perfectly temperatured tea in one gulp, handed back the cup, and continued to eagerly watch the arena where the "Red and White Battle" was about to start.

Her two hands resting on her legs gripped with a moderate force, showing her extremely joyful mood.

Kiryu quietly took in Mukiwa’s actions and chuckled softly.

"Young Master, your tastes really haven’t changed at all."

"You’ve been like this since you were a child, loving to watch these kinds of fights and competitions, enjoying stories of sword masters who are like one man against a thousand or heroes who draw their swords to help those in distress."

"Perhaps until I grow old and die, I will always love these things," Mukiwa winked playfully at Kiryu.

"Hmm...?" Just then, Zhouzhu, who was watching the commotion around Shiwei Hall’s "Main Array" from afar, suddenly murmured in confusion, "Strange... why haven’t Toshisuke and Mr. Tachibana returned yet..."

Just now, Zhouzhu clearly saw Aoto suddenly team up with Chokata and leave.

Initially, Zhouzhu didn’t pay much attention, but since the two hadn’t returned even now, he couldn’t help but become gradually concerned.

Hearing Zhouzhu’s murmur, both Kiryu and Mukiwa craned their necks to look toward Shiwei Hall’s "Main Array," searching for Aoto and Chokata’s figures.

"Ah." Mukiwa raised her hand and pointed, "There they are, they’ve come back."

...

...

"Tsk..." Kondo smacked his lips while looking up and around, "How come Toshisuke and Mr. Tachibana haven’t come back yet..."

There’s less than ten minutes left until the start of the match.

The witches from Yudashima Tenman Temple had already delivered the headbands and porcelain bowls for the competition, yet Aoto and Chokata, who went for sugar water, hadn’t returned.

As Kondo was anxiously considering whether to send someone to find those two fellows, a certain apprentice beside him suddenly shouted:

"Ah, little master, look, Mr. Tachibana and Mr. Chokata have come back!"

Kondo quickly turned his head to look — Aoto and Chokata were walking toward them briskly, one behind the other, with serious expressions.

"Toshisuke, Mr. Tachibana!"

Kondo was about to reprimand the two who returned so late.

But before he could say anything—

"Everyone! Please listen to me!"

His words were loudly interrupted by Aoto.

...

...

Today’s "Red and White Battle" is a 15-vs-15 match; Shiwei Hall drew the "Red Team," while Little Chiba Sword Dojo drew the "White Team."

All members of Little Chiba Sword Dojo had already put on white headbands to distinguish between friend and foe, and tied a small porcelain bowl on their foreheads.

Chiba Shigetarou beckoned everyone over.

"I’ve said all that I need to say."

Chiba Shigetarou loudly addressed those gathered in a circle around him.

"Shiwei Hall will definitely use their usual ’Fierce Attack’ strategy."

"So we just need to use the old method to meet them — actively close in and clash directly!"

"Everyone must keep your spirits up! Shiwei Hall has added a very powerful newcomer, the one you’ve all likely heard about lately, Tachibana Aoto."

"You should all have heard about his exploits, right?"

"He is a hero who led over twenty samurai to counter and kill more than two hundred ’Radical Anti-foreigner Faction’ thugs."

"So keep your spirits up! Don’t underestimate Shiwei Hall just because Inoue Genzaburō and Hijikata Toshizo aren’t present!"

Just as Chiba Shigetarou finished speaking, a young man standing opposite him curled his lips:

"Mr. Chiba, there’s no need to be on such high alert... can Shiwei Hall really transform just because they have a strong newcomer?"

If Aoto and Chokata were here now, they’d definitely recognize this young man—the young man they encountered along with five others at the grilled squid stall, believing today’s competition would be relatively easy.

Upon hearing the young man’s words, Chiba Shigetarou’s face instantly stiffened.

"Sakurai, have you forgotten the teachings Master constantly reiterated? At no time should you underestimate anyone, anything!"

After being reprimanded by Chiba Shigetarou, the young man immediately shrank back his neck and dared not speak further.

Just then, Yamanaka Keisuke, who was facing Shiwei Hall’s "Main Array," suddenly looked as if he had discovered something incredible, his eyes widening slightly and his face filled with astonishment as he cried out loudly:

"Mr. Chiba! Look quickly!"

"Hmm? What’s the matter?"

Led by Chiba Shigetarou, everyone turned their heads curiously to look toward Shiwei Hall’s direction.

As soon as their sight was directed there, everyone, just like Yamanaka, couldn’t restrain their faces from overflowing with shock.

The swordsmen of Shiwei Hall hadn’t gathered into their usual "Wedge Array" suitable for adopting the "Fierce Attack" strategy.

Instead, they scattered and formed a very peculiar defensive formation.

Six men deployed on the left flank.

Six men deployed on the right flank.

In the middle... one man!

Kondo stood alone in the middle, tightening the red headband on his head with force.

Their number one enemy from Little Chiba Sword Dojo: Chokata Toshisuke was positioned at the far back in the "Main Array."

Aoto stood beside Chokata.

He propped his bamboo sword on the ground in front of him, draped in the red Array Feather Robe symbolizing the Grand General’s status, expressionlessly gazing at Little Chiba Sword Dojo’s position from afar, mighty and imposing.

...

...

Looking at Shiwei Hall’s bizarre formation, not only were the participants of Little Chiba Sword Dojo dumbfounded, but the spectators in the stands were also astonished.