My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 73: Chapter 55: Two Versus Eight! The First Deathmatch! (Part 2)

”Are they from the Anti-foreigner Faction...” Aoto’s expression darkened slightly, ”They came much faster than I imagined...”

The 8 members of the ”Radical Anti-foreigner Faction” blocking Aoto’s path all wore deep bamboo hats, making it hard to see their faces hidden in shadows.

After cursing Aoto as a ”traitor,” they drew the Tachi from their waists, kicking the snow on the ground, forming a formation of four at the front and four at the back, enclosing both Aoto and Saito.

”Hey!” someone shouted at Saito, ”You tall one! This isn’t your affair! We only want to take the head of the traitor Tachibana Aoto! If you don’t want to die, step aside quickly!”

In response to this ”kind reminder,” Saito glanced emotionlessly at the Radical Anti-foreigner Faction members encircling them.

Then he silently brought his left hand to his mouth, breathed some warm air onto his palm, drew the Tachi hanging at his right waist, and then turned his body to face the four enemies standing behind Aoto, leaning his back against Aoto’s.

With his broad back against Aoto’s, Saito whispered quietly to Aoto, in a volume only they could hear,

”When the fight starts, try to hide behind me.”

With a slight raise of his eyebrow, Aoto glanced at Saito behind him and chuckled softly, ”...Alright, if it really comes to that.”

Seeing that Saito not only ignored their ”kind reminder” but drew his sword instead, the Radical Anti-foreigner Faction members surrounding Aoto and Saito all unsheathed their swords.

”Tachibana Aoto!” sneered a lanky Radical Anti-foreigner Faction member, ”A traitor like you is actually this afraid of dying? Even seeking protection...”

”Shut up.”

The bamboo pole hadn’t finished speaking before being cut off by Aoto in a cold and indifferent tone.

”Since when did you bloodthirsty lunatics become so chatty?”

With Saito back-to-back, Aoto slowly lowered his center of gravity, raised his left hand to press against the guard of the scabbard, straightened his thumb, and pushed forward forcefully, exposing a few inches of the blade from the sheath.

Clang... Clang...

Aoto drew the blade from the scabbard inch by inch, producing a crisp sound like raindrops hitting a stone.

A light reminiscent of a sun halo radiated from the unsheathed blade!

”I have nothing to say to you lunatics who kill for absurd reasons.”

”Though your attack this time came sooner than I expected.”

”But it doesn’t matter.”

”You’d wield your murderous blades against me sooner or later anyway.”

”In that case, the sooner I kill you madmen, the sooner I can have some peace.”

Aoto held the blade in front of him.

”Come on, bring it!”

Aoto’s words completely enraged the ”Radical Anti-foreigner Faction.”

”A mere traitor working for the barbarians, so arrogant!”

”When have we ever killed indiscriminately? Killing scum like you, who work for the barbarians, is our justice!”

”Attack! Kill him! Kill him!”

”Celestial Punishment!”

...

The 8 members of the Radical Anti-foreigner Faction encircling Aoto and Saito moved together.

With their swords raised, they shouted, charging towards the encircled two!

As the Radical Anti-foreigner Faction members moved, Saito moved as well.

Saito took a deep breath, then without a running start, he soared like low-flight gliding towards the four enemies blocking their retreat!

As he leaped, he quickly switched to a two-handed grip, adopting the Upper Stance.

Saito’s attack was incredibly fast and unpredictable.

The person at the front couldn’t even react before his skull was shattered by Saito’s downward strike under the influence of gravity.

Blood, brain matter, and bone fragments scattered everywhere.

A drop of blood mixed with brain matter splattered onto Saito’s cheek, his eyes blinked not once as he swiftly retracted his sword and aimed his cold gaze and blade at the next enemy.

This person was clearly lacking in combat experience; facing Saito’s incoming blade, he clumsily swung his sword at Saito’s chest, trying to force him back.

For this attack aimed at his chest—Saito didn’t even flinch.

Because Saito realized this man’s sword could never reach him.

Saito stood at 180 cm, while this guy was only 150 cm.

The height disparity also meant a significant difference in their arm lengths.

In sword fighting, arm length directly correlates with attack range.

Saito’s sword could easily reach this person, while this person’s sword couldn’t even touch Saito’s vital spots.

The outcome was evident—Saito’s horizontal slash sliced through this person’s throat, with blood spurting from the severed artery like a high-pressure fountain.

There were only 2 living blockers left in Aoto and Saito’s path.

Both were stunned by Saito’s violent, bone-splattering, brain-splattering, blood-gushing attacks.

These 2 had remarkably opposite physiques.

One was exceptionally short, only 140 cm, while the other was taller, at 160 cm.

Watching their two companions swiftly meet their end under Saito’s blade, these 2 reacted differently after a moment of shock.

The short one turned pale, then howled in despair, turning to run...

The tall one, after a moment of stupefaction, did not flee; a fierce glint appeared in his eyes, and he charged at Saito while shouting ”Celestial Punishment.”

As he charged at Saito, the tall one couldn’t help but cast a disdainful glance at his fleeing companion.

Seeing their comrades cut down like vegetables, this tall one still attacked bravely, a testament to his courage.

But courage couldn’t bridge the gap of disparity in strength.

Saito slightly sidestepped, dodging the tall one’s incoming strike.

In the moment of evading, Saito’s body glided forward, swiftly passing by the tall one’s side, the blade in his hand flashing a cold glint through the air, slicing off a chunk of scalp along with the bamboo hat, sending it flying.

The tall one wobbled a few times before collapsing heavily.

From leaping! to taking down these 3—a total of only 5 seconds had passed.

Saito glanced at the fleeing short one—perhaps driven by survival instincts, the short one was running at an unbelievable speed, creating a 10-meter distance in just a few moments...

Saito chose not to pursue the short one.

Firstly, the short one had already put a considerable distance between them, and catching up would take some effort.

Secondly, Saito’s mission wasn’t to eliminate the ”Radical Anti-foreigner Faction” to the last, but to protect Aoto.

After casting a glance at the fleeing short one, Saito quickly turned to assist Aoto.

But just as he turned his gaze to Aoto’s battlefield, he froze.

Because he found—Aoto seemingly no longer needed his assistance there.

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