Chapter 12

"Master... Master!!!"

Kenshin looked at the familiar figure behind him and shouted in disbelief.

The person who arrived was none other than the protagonist of this story—Xunxin. Originally, Xunxin had only come to check on Kenshin's condition, but unexpectedly, the number of Shinsengumi members sent to intercept Kenshin was as many as ten. These ten Shinsengumi members had combat capabilities that surpassed the twenty assassins Xunxin encountered the day before. Each member of the Shinsengumi was a renowned swordsman, and their threat was significant even when wearing chainmail.

"It's been a long time, my foolish disciple." Xunxin walked towards Kenshin, "Although I just happened to be passing by, since I see my disciple in trouble, I can only come to help this unworthy student."

"Whoever you are, witness the secret technique of my Hokushin Ittō-ryū." A nameless swordsman from the Shinsengumi tried to kill Xunxin with what he called a secret technique, but before he could get close, Xunxin deflected the attack back with a single stroke.

"Really, it's very impolite to interrupt someone when they're speaking." Xunxin placed his sword on his shoulder, "Also, don't announce your moves before you make them. Do you think you're reminding the opponent that you're about to attack?"

Xunxin's words infuriated the swordsman who had used the so-called secret technique, almost making him charge at Xunxin in a fit of rage. However, the significant gap in strength between them made him hold back his anger. Seeing the swordsman's reaction, Xunxin nodded.

"True to the Shinsengumi who terrorize Kyoto, you do have a certain level of skill, but..." Xunxin positioned his sword for a kesa-giri, and the blue sword aura made the sword emit a menacing aura.

"This is..." Kenshin could not forget this familiar movement, which was the unique secret technique of his second master, Yuki.

"Recently, I've made some breakthroughs with my Yuki technique, so let you taste it first." The kesa-giri was unleashed, and a two-meter-long sword aura with unparalleled power struck the Shinsengumi members standing in the alley. Although the Shinsengumi members had never seen such a technique, their rich combat experience still allowed them to respond—everyone adopted a defensive stance to block the sword aura. In the past, this defensive method might have been able to block the sword aura, but this time, the sword aura was different.

The sword aura in the air suddenly shattered as it approached the Shinsengumi members, and countless small sword auras separated from the original one. This unexpected change caught the ten Shinsengumi members off guard. The chainmail could only protect their bodies, not their necks and limbs. The small sword auras formed a storm that instantly engulfed the Shinsengumi members, and screams of pain filled the air.

A single small sword aura, if it didn't hit a vital point, wouldn't be fatal. But being continuously cut by numerous small sword auras was like being flayed alive, with flesh being continuously cut off. The ten Shinsengumi members were torn to pieces by the storm of sword auras. The more skilled ones could block the small sword auras aimed at vital points with their swords, while the less skilled ones were directly cut through their eyes, windpipes, and other areas, falling to the ground, dead.

The storm of sword auras came and went quickly, lasting only three seconds. However, only five people managed to survive those three seconds, each with different injuries. Despite their severe injuries, these five Shinsengumi members were still alive. "To survive my newly developed storm of sword auras, you must have some skill."

Xunxin sighed, looking at the five barely standing people. He sheathed and then quickly drew his Kikyo Sen no Mikazuki, using the modified God Speed to instantly reach the five people. The speed of the modified God Speed was already beyond the reaction time of these ordinary Shinsengumi members. Before the five Shinsengumi members could raise their swords, Xunxin's blade had already slashed across their bodies. Blood spurted like fountains, and the five people fell to the ground, lifeless. The sharpness and strength of Kikyo Sen no Mikazuki were not something ordinary chainmail could block, let alone the Mino swords used by Kenshin. In front of Kikyo Sen no Mikazuki, ordinary chainmail was no different from tofu.

Seeing Xunxin sheath his sword, Kenshin hurriedly approached, "Master, why are you here?"

Xunxin pointed behind him, and Kenshin followed his finger to see... a cart piled with iron ore. "I came down the mountain these past few days to buy some iron ore for forging practice, but I didn't expect to run into you, my foolish disciple." Xunxin's eyes turned to Tomoe, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, "I didn't expect my foolish disciple to have such good luck with women, finding a partner just half a year after coming down the mountain."

Although Kenshin was still in his Hitokiri state, he was covered in black lines upon hearing Xunxin's words. "Master, don't make such a cruel joke. The relationship between Tomoe and me is not what you think." At this moment, Tomoe also walked to Kenshin's side, "Who is this?"

"This is one of my masters, Xunxin."

"Hey, Kenshin, didn't you forget something?" Seeing that Tomoe seemed to want to chat with him, Xunxin quickly reminded Kenshin. If Kenshin didn't escape Kyoto in time due to his presence, the main mission would be ruined, and he didn't know what would happen to himself.

"Ah, Mr. Katsura and the others are being attacked. Sorry, Master, I have to go save them. I'll take my leave now." Kenshin quickly pulled Tomoe's hand to leave, and Xunxin also pulled the cart's handle.

"Kenshin, don't forget your true self. Also, be careful of the safety of those around you. If you are invincible, then those around you are your weakness. Remember that..." After saying this, Xunxin pushed the cart of iron ore away, and Kenshin quickly headed to Ikedaya...

When Kenshin arrived at Ikedaya, the battle was already over, and the Shinsengumi were cleaning up the battlefield. Kenshin, worried about Katsura Kogorō's safety, planned to charge in, but Tomoe tightly held him back. At this moment, Saitō Hajime's subordinates reported the situation at Ikedaya, and the news that Katsura Kogorō was not present relieved Kenshin. The two quietly left the scene and headed to the rendezvous point...

Regardless of what happened with Kenshin, Xunxin also encountered trouble. After meeting Kenshin, Xunxin planned to leave Kyoto. Since Kyoto was currently in a state of chaos, even Xunxin did not want to be unnecessarily involved. Therefore, he planned to leave at night.

After returning to the inn and settling the accommodation fee, Xunxin immediately chose to leave Kyoto. It probably took some time to settle the bill, and Xunxin had not walked far when he encountered the Shinsengumi's First and Sixth Divisions in a small alley. At that moment, Saitō Hajime was supporting a coughing and unconscious Souji Okita, who had fainted at Ikedaya. Upon seeing Xunxin, Saitō immediately ordered his subordinates to surround Xunxin...

PS: Reviews, recommendations, and collections are greatly appreciated. ＞▽＜

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