My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 334: Chapter 134: Aoto and Mukiwa vs. the Arson and Theft Magistrate

Only... Ichitaro remained standing in place, not fleeing.

Originally, when he saw Aoto’s strength far surpassing theirs, a look of terror emerged on Ichitaro’s face.

But after seeing his brother struck down by Aoto in one blow, that terror on his face swiftly turned into shock and anger.

With eyes burning red, Ichitaro roared and swung the Great Tachi in his hands like a windmill, as if gone mad.

Mukiwa looked at Ichitaro, who wanted to avenge his brother, then at the fleeing Ugly Man and Tora Goro, hesitating, unsure whether to help Aoto deal with the now berserk Ichitaro or to chase down the fleeing Ugly Man and Tora Goro.

But at this moment, Aoto timely voiced a warning to Mukiwa with a false voice:

”Go after the ones running away! Leave this guy to me!”

It wasn’t because Aoto feared Mukiwa would get hurt or for any other reason that he didn’t want Mukiwa to help him deal with Ichitaro.

Just now, while Mukiwa was distracted watching Aoto’s fight, Aoto also diverted some of his attention to observe Mukiwa’s fight.

Setting aside their previous brief encounter where he managed to replicate the ”Milk” talent, this was the first time Aoto witnessed the famous Cat Monk engage in battle with someone.

Mukiwa’s Hand-to-Hand Combat Skills were, as expected by Aoto—quite exquisite.

The Hand-to-Hand Combat Skills Mukiwa used were somewhat reminiscent of Jujutsu, but slightly different from the Jujutsu Aoto remembered, with Mukiwa’s Jujutsu being more aggressive.

However—despite Mukiwa’s Hand-to-Hand Combat Skills being commendable as ”exquisite,” when facing an armed enemy, especially one wielding a Great Tachi with such a wide attack range, its limitations were still too great.

Even if Mukiwa came to assist him against Ichitaro, ”short-handed” Mukiwa would struggle to provide effective support to him.

If so, it would be better to let Mukiwa capitalize on her speed expertise to the fullest.

Upon hearing this command from Aoto, Mukiwa hesitated for a moment, then nodded vigorously.

”Be careful,” Aoto shouted to Mukiwa.

Mukiwa, already pursuing the nearest Tora Goro, turned her head upon hearing Aoto’s ”be careful” and flashed a smile at Aoto—unfortunately, due to the face mask Mukiwa wore, Aoto missed seeing this smile.

After watching Mukiwa for a moment with the corner of his eye, Aoto refocused his attention entirely on Ichitaro standing before him.

”Huff...! Huff...! Huff...! Huff...!” Standing seven steps away from Aoto, Ichitaro dragged his Great Tachi on the ground in a Lower Rank stance, his chest heaving rapidly like a bellows.

Perhaps due to the frenzy of slashing just now, having vented his inner anger thoroughly, Ichitaro’s pupils cleared up a bit.

However, the gaze he directed toward Aoto still held a deep-seated hatred and anger.

Ignoring that his breathing hadn’t completely stabilized, Ichitaro gritted his teeth and raised the Great Tachi high above his head into an Upper Rank position. His feet dug into the ground vigorously, exuding a Qi Field reminiscent of solid rock from his body.

Seeing Ichitaro readying his attack stance once more, Aoto parted his lips, exhaling all the impure air in his lungs, then spread his feet apart, right foot forward, left foot back, gripping the handle of Orange Water with both hands to prepare his usual offensive Upper Rank stance—Xia Gou.

Sensing the momentum emanating from each other, in that instant, a common thought simultaneously emerged in Aoto and Ichitaro’s minds—the next strike would decide victory!

The wind around seemed to have come to a halt at this moment.

The clouds above appeared to no longer flow.

Ichitaro’s Upper Rank, capable of maximizing the destructive force of a slash.

Aoto’s Xia Gou, specifically for strong attacking Upper Rank.

Their mute confrontational standoff plunged the surrounding heaven and earth into an entirely silent state, maintaining this for a few seconds... the tension peaked during these few short seconds!

At the very moment a sudden breeze fluttered at their hems—

”Haah—!”

Like a thunderclap from the sky, Ichitaro let out a terrifying cry, marching forward in large strides, rushing straight toward Aoto!

At that same moment, Aoto kicked off his back foot forcefully, leaping towards Ichitaro!

Like two cannonballs shot from a gun, the two swordsmen crashed into each other, shaking the atmosphere!

Ichitaro’s internal power erupted like magma, with an angry shout that could hurt one’s eardrums, pouring out all his strength through the Great Tachi in his hands.

Ichitaro’s Great Tachi traced a straight, perfect vertical line.

However, Aoto had already vanished from where his blade was about to strike.

Ichitaro’s strike hit nothing but air.

At the critical moment when his blade was about to cleave Aoto’s forehead, Aoto swiftly crouched and sidestepped, dodging the fatal blow while slipping into Ichitaro’s blind spot.

——Damn it!

Ichitaro stomped the ground furiously to halt his forward momentum, then craned his neck with such force as if his eyeballs would pop out, searching for Aoto, who had just slipped into his blind spot.

At that moment—

Slash!

Flesh burst open... A massive gash suddenly appeared on Ichitaro’s left side abdomen, spewing blood in an instant.

Aoto, now maintaining his attacking posture, stood two steps behind Ichitaro.