My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 621: Chapter 1: ”Niō” Tachibana Aoto and ”Asura” Ogata Isseki

”’Yodogiri Jizai’! ’Yodogiri Jizai’! Anyone interested in watching ’Yodogiri Jizai’?”

A few young men in light green feathered robes stood in front of the doors of this Shibai Little House, each waving light green banners with ”Yodogiri Jizai” and ”Qingjiang House” written on them, energetically attracting customers and promoting.

”’Yodogiri Jizai’ huh...”

Chokata smirked slightly.

”It’s been a long time since I watched ’Yodogiri Jizai’.”

Noticing Chokata’s expression, Aoto softly asked:

”Mr. Chokata, do you really like watching ’Yodogiri Jizai’?”

Without hesitation, Chokata nodded several times vigorously, then tilted his head back and showed Aoto a big smile.

”The legend of ’Eternal Sword Saint’ Ogata Isseki is truly exhilarating. ’Yodogiri Jizai’ is the only kabuki play I can really get into.”

”Exhilarating...” Aoto softly repeated the adjective Chokata just used, chuckled softly a few times, ”Indeed, Ogata Isseki’s life is something that’s hard not to find exciting.”

Ogata Isseki—anyone alive in this era knows this name.

Using the word ”legendary” to describe the life of this Two-Sword Style Swordsman even seems to somewhat insult him.

Reviewing his life’s exploits, you might feel as though you’re reading a fantasy novel.

He was active 70 years ago during the Kansei Era, first coming to public attention through a battle where he ”fought a hundred, assassinating a tyrant.”

Ogata Isseki was born in the Hirose Domain of the Western Country. During the Kansei Era, the lord of the Hirose Domain was a merciless and cruel tyrant.

To rid the world of this great menace, Ogata Isseki went alone to assassinate this tyrant, single-handedly defeating over a hundred bodyguards surrounding the tyrant and successfully taking the tyrant’s head.

At that time, Ogata Isseki was only 20 years old.

Having committed the grave sin of slaying his lord, the Hirose Domain was naturally no longer a place for Ogata Isseki.

Therefore, after taking the tyrant’s life, Ogata Isseki resolutely defected, becoming a defector samurai.

Ogata Isseki’s defection was like a fish entering the sea.

That’s when his legend formally began.

The ”Hundred-Man Slaying” was just one of his least remarkable achievements.

Single-handedly breaching Nijo Castle in Kyoto.

Destroying the ”last Ninja Village”: Buzhihuo Village.

In the Ezo Land, personally leading dozens of cavalry to smash seven formations of the Shogunate Army, pushing back a force of 10,000.

Venturing alone into the ”Buddhist Holy Land” Koyasan.

Ogata Isseki accomplished all of the above feats and emerged untouched!

Having achieved so many feats beyond the wildest imagination of ordinary people, in this nation where it’s unbearable not to give famous people grandiose nicknames, Ogata Isseki naturally had his fair share of impressive titles.

Man-Slayer Isseki, Executioner One Slash, Asura...

Unfortunately, after his solo venture into the ”Buddhist Holy Land” Koyasan, Ogata Isseki disappeared from the public eye. Not only did he stop creating any more sensational events, his entire whereabouts became unknown.

All that remained were occasional rumors like ”Ogata Isseki once went to a certain place and did a certain thing,” the truth of which was unverifiable.

Some said Ogata Isseki died after his solo venture into Koyasan.

Some said he moved overseas.

Of course, others said this legendary figure was still alive, living in seclusion somewhere, and every day, like a typical old man, strolling to the street to bask in the sun.

Because Ogata Isseki’s life was so extraordinary, his previous titles like Asura, Man-Slayer Isseki, Executioner One Slash seemed inadequate.

Thus, after Ogata Isseki vanished from the world of swordsmen, people, acknowledging his unparalleled swordsmanship, dubbed him ”Sword Saint.”

Before him, only two people had received the title of ”Sword Saint”: Uekizawa Shingen and Takemura Bocchuan.

Though unlike the two aforementioned who founded new schools or made significant theoretical contributions to Sword Dao, Ogata Isseki’s achievements were too dazzling, accomplishing feats as if he wielded powered exoskeletons or giant robots with just two swords.

Therefore, to signify Ogata Isseki’s strength, and to show that even Uekizawa Shingen and Takemura Bocchuan couldn’t compare to him, people added the prefix ”Eternal” before ”Sword Saint” for him.

Thus, ”Eternal Sword Saint.”

To this day, Ogata Isseki’s title of ”Eternal Sword Saint” has deeply embedded itself into people’s hearts.

With a legendary figure like Ogata Isseki, it’s only natural that many creators have taken his story as inspiration and adapted it into various types of artistic works.

’Yodogiri Jizai’ is one of the representative pieces.

’Yodogiri Jizai’ was created 70 years ago by a playwright named Nishino Norio, adapted from Ogata Isseki’s debut battle: ”fighting a hundred, assassinating his lord.”

”Upholding justice and punishing the tyrant” is one of the most beloved themes among the common people. Coupled with Ogata Isseki’s continued popularity among the populace, ’Yodogiri Jizai’ gained fame rapidly since its inception.

After 70 years of development, ’Yodogiri Jizai’ has become a famed kabuki piece like ’Chushingura,’ spreading across the nation.

Chokata’s fondness for ’Yodogiri Jizai’... Aoto, who learned of this for the first time, wasn’t really surprised.

Being a swordsman himself, just like Ogata Isseki, it’s perfectly normal that Chokata would be attracted to Ogata Isseki’s passionate story.