Chapter 19

The next morning, Himura Kenshin tidied his clothes and went to the Amano Tofu Shop with Sano.

"Kenshin, what do you remember about your master?" Sano was also very curious about what kind of person Kenshin's master was, after all, the master of the legendary strongest swordsman of the Bakumatsu era was now selling tofu in a small shop, and he was also someone Sano often freeloaded from.

"Master Seijuro is a good person (Xin Xin: ... I actually got a card, and it was given by Kenshin (＞﹏＜。)...), his skills are even stronger than my prime. His Yuki no Ame Kenjutsu is unparalleled, and his cooking is also very good, but..."

"But?"

"Master Seijuro always seemed to be overshadowed by Master Hiko. It seems they had a competition in the past, and Master Seijuro lost to Master Hiko. So when teaching me, Master Hiko took most of the daytime, leaving only the evening and night for Master Seijuro. And Master Seijuro's personality is really peculiar; I lived with him for many years but never really understood his thoughts."

Before Kenshin and Sano could get close to the Amano Tofu Shop, Xin Xin had already detected their approach through his ki waves. He changed the sign at the door to "Closed" and began to emit a sword aura in their direction...

"Hmm?" Sano and Kenshin also felt the overwhelming aura rising from the Amano Tofu Shop. It was a crushing aura, and seeing that the passersby around them were unaffected, they knew this aura was directed at them.

"It seems Uncle Xin Xin is really your master, what a powerful aura." Xin Xin wouldn't make things difficult for the two; he just used the aura to let them know his location. After the aura disappeared, Sano and Kenshin quickly arrived at the Amano Tofu Shop.

It was still the same old appearance, a light blue long coat with a large black "Yuki" character clearly visible on the back. He wore light blue pants and red hard-soled leather shoes. Seeing the familiar back that hadn't changed, Kenshin didn't rush to hug him but instead had Sano step back a bit. He approached Xin Xin and suddenly launched a sword draw.

The blue figure in front of him wasn't carrying a sword. Kenshin thought his master would definitely dodge this move, but to his surprise, Xin Xin didn't make any attempt to avoid it. By the time Kenshin realized it was too late to stop, a voice reached his ears.

"Stupid disciple, you've been slacking off." Xin Xin turned around, his right hand meeting Kenshin's reverse blade, "No-sword style, blade stop." The reverse blade was deflected and firmly gripped by Xin Xin's hand, and he used his knuckles to tap Kenshin's forehead.

"Ow..." Kenshin was dazed, and Sano quickly supported him.

"Let's go inside and talk, Kenshin, and Sano." ...

Xin Xin was being cute...

Inside the Amano Tofu Shop, Kenshin, Sano, and Xin Xin sat around a table. Kenshin and Xin Xin first talked about their experiences over the years, then they returned to the main topic, the issue with Tsuburaya Rinji.

"Tsuburaya Rinji's level, I could take him down in a few strikes." Xin Xin took a sip of sake and continued, "But seeing how much your skills have declined compared to before, I think you should handle the Tsuburaya Rinji issue yourself. Show your former strength, and dealing with this kind of opponent will be a piece of cake. I have faith in you."

Kenshin looked at Xin Xin with a black line: "Actually, it's just that Master is too lazy to go out, right..."

"Bang!!!" Poor Kenshin was hit again by Xin Xin.

"Clearly, this is a problem you caused as a disciple. Do you expect me to solve it for you? Besides, even with your current skills, you won't lose. Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and Yuki no Ame Kenjutsu are both top-tier sword arts. Dealing with Tsuburaya Rinji should be easy. I think you're wasting time here when you should be protecting the safety of those around you. If Rinji finds them and uses them as leverage, you'll be in a very disadvantageous position..."

Hearing this, Kenshin, who clearly understood Rinji's intentions, was also worried about the safety of the Kamiya Dojo. He bid farewell to Xin Xin and rushed back to the Kamiya Dojo.

In the evening, after closing the shop, Xin Xin didn't idle. His ki waves never stopped, and the larger the range, the less precise the perception. Now, within 100 meters, he could precisely sense any movement. Within 500 meters, he could accurately determine the position, strength, and weapons of people. Within 500 to 2000 meters, he could sense if someone was present. Beyond 2000 meters... let's spare Xin Xin.

As a responsible master, Xin Xin was very concerned about Kenshin's safety. According to the original story, Kenshin and Rinji would have a duel at a place called Inari Shrine. But... Xin Xin didn't care if there was a shrine nearby. Who would a non-believer bother to find out the location of a shrine? Now Xin Xin had to make an effort to find the shrine's location.

Yuki no Ame Kenjutsu is a sword art that combines killing, counter-killing, detection, and health maintenance. Soon, three people appeared within Xin Xin's ki wave detection range. According to the feedback from the ki waves, two of them had considerable strength. Xin Xin used Shin Speed, a speed beyond superhuman, and rushed to the scene at a speed that was hard to see with the naked eye.

When Xin Xin arrived, the battle between Kenshin and Rinji had just begun. Kenshin was already partially in his Battousai state, his speed slightly increased. Rinji's strength wasn't bad, but compared to Kenshin, who had learned Yuki, he was still lacking. After about ten sword clashes, Rinji was struck by Kenshin and sent flying. In mid-air, Rinji released Shin no Ichi, trying to affect Kenshin's speed.

However, facing an already enraged Kenshin, this level of sword ki hypnosis couldn't even approach his body, let alone affect his actions.

"Rinji, don't you know that Shin no Ichi has no effect on me?"

A quick and fierce strike, and Tsuburaya Rinji was pushed back by Kenshin again. In the following rounds, neither Kenshin nor Tsuburaya Rinji could find a weakness in the other, so Kenshin began to read his opponent's moves. After predicting a few strikes, Kenshin decisively read that Rinji would use a downward slash and preemptively used the metal end of the hilt to deflect Rinji's sword.

However, Kenshin didn't read Rinji's next move and rashly rushed forward to finish the fight. Rinji used the momentum from the previous strike to release his sword from behind and catch it in his left hand, then thrust it into Kenshin's shoulder.

"This is the Battousai's move reading? Indeed impressive, but you still couldn't read my backhand strike. You are far from the Battousai of the Bakumatsu era."

Feeling that the Battousai in front of him didn't deserve the name, Rinji increased the control of Shin no Ichi on the bound Kamiya Kaoru, causing her lungs to become paralyzed.

"Now this girl has only five minutes left. If you can't defeat me, she will suffocate to death. What will you do, Battousai?"

Before Tsuburaya Rinji could finish speaking, Kenshin suddenly disappeared from Rinji's sight. Before Rinji could react, a pale red sword ki struck his abdomen. The pain made Rinji's body lean forward slightly, and a white light bloomed on his face as Kenshin struck him heavily, sending him flying.

Tsuburaya Rinji's nose spurted a large amount of blood. "Now... I can't even see the trajectory of the sword, let alone the figure. This is Shin Speed, this is the Battousai who cuts people."

Hearing Tsuburaya Rinji's words, Kenshin showed no expression, only a killing aura that could summon spirits spread around him.

"I don't have time, come over and let me cut you."

After learning Yuki, Kenshin's killing aura in the Battousai state was almost visible to the naked eye. The hellish aura that gathered around Kenshin made even a man-slayer like Tsuburaya Rinji feel fear. "Truly worthy of being the Battousai, the killing aura is astonishing. Then I..."

Tsuburaya Rinji's Shin no Ichi is a hypnotic technique that can also be used on himself.

"I am, undefeated."

"I am, invincible."

"I am, the strongest."

Using the reflection of the blade to hypnotize himself, making himself believe he is the strongest in the world to enhance his abilities. Now, Rinji was much more robust, and to demonstrate his strength, he casually cut the nearby green stones into several pieces.

Kenshin simply sheathed his sword, "Use whatever technique you think is suitable. But since you want to kill me, your death is absolute."

The final showdown began. As Tsuburaya Rinji had planned, the reverse blade would slow down Kenshin's speed. As long as he could dodge this strike, he would win. Indeed, Kenshin's sword draw didn't hit Rinji, only cutting off a few strands of his hair. Rinji felt confident and struck at Kenshin's head. "I win, Battousai... huh..."

A sword sheath was launched from Kenshin's left hand, hitting Rinji's right wrist joint, and the sound of broken bones came from Rinji's elbow. "The two-stage sword draw with the blade and sheath..." Rinji fell to the ground.

Just as Kenshin was about to break his vow and strike a killing blow, Kamiya Kaoru finally broke free from the control of Shin no Ichi, pulling Kenshin out of his Battousai state. They exchanged a few words of concern. At this moment, Rinji stood up with a short sword in his hand.

"Rinji, you have no chance with just that small knife. Surrender peacefully."

"That's not possible, I still have something to do." Tsuburaya Rinji raised the short sword and plunged it into his heart. At this moment, a thin, extremely sharp sword ki blade instantly cut through the tip of the short sword, severing it. Rinji only stabbed himself with the hilt.

"Death is the easiest thing in the world. Giving up your life so easily is very irresponsible to those who died at your hands." Not far away, Xin Xin retracted Kikyo Sen Mikkazuki and slowly walked over.

"Master... you were watching the whole time, weren't you?" Kenshin looked at Xin Xin with a bitter expression.

"Ha ha ha, this is a training for you, Kenshin. Why would I intervene?" Xin Xin turned to Tsuburaya Rinji. "Choosing to commit suicide because you think your life has lost its value? Although this era is still dark, at least it allows people to see the dawn. Killing to prove yourself is not a good idea."

After his sword was severed, Tsuburaya Rinji had lost the will to live. "I could only prove my value by killing in the Bakumatsu era. The Meiji era is not suitable for a killer like me to survive."

"Why not seek a new meaning for your life?" Xin Xin looked at Tsuburaya Rinji, and the aura in his eyes made Rinji feel a sense of fear, which was strange for someone who was determined to die.

"Are you afraid of me?" Xin Xin asked.

"It's strange..." Tsuburaya Rinji said.

"It's not strange. Everyone has a desire to live, and it is precisely because of this that humans can create countless miracles."

Tsuburaya Rinji covered his eyes with his left hand, "Can a killer like me really want to live..."

"If you can't find your own meaning, then stay at my shop for now."

"Master, this..." Kenshin, thinking of the various pressures, quickly reminded Xin Xin.

"Don't worry, Kenshin. I can bribe the authorities to handle it. Besides, I'm short on staff, and I can't just let anyone help. And since Rinji can't use his sword hand, let him reflect at my place for a while..."

The battle ended, and Tsuburaya Rinji was carried back to the Amano Tofu Shop. Kenshin saved Kamiya Kaoru, and Xin Xin gained an employee. It could be said that the ending was quite perfect...

Physical condition:

Number of Heart Coins: 880

Rurouni Kenshin World

Name: Amano Xin Xin

Gender: Male

Physical Attributes:

Physical strength is about nine times that of an average person.

Detailed Attributes:

Strength 89 (10) - Affects burst strength, pure strength, and strength beyond limits.

Agility 96 (10) - Affects speed, reaction, and intuition.

Endurance 92 (10) - Affects stamina, recovery speed, and the ability to withstand certain techniques.

Skills: Yuki no Ame Kenjutsu

No-sword style (consumes 10 Heart Coins)

Mastery of all cold weapons (consumes 200 Heart Coins)

Mastery of all firearms (consumes 200 Heart Coins)

Martial arts master (consumes 10 Heart Coins)

Obtained Heart Powers:

Killing Heart Level 2: Does not waver in most situations when killing others, has some resistance to certain illusions, and gains a small amount of recovery from killing.

Compassion Heart Level 1+: A necessary heart for a strong person, has some resistance to certain illusions, and gains a small amount of recovery from helping others.

Ordinary Heart Level 1: Daily life can cultivate one's character, has some resistance to certain illusions, and can gain the favor of ordinary people.

Other powers not yet activated.

PS: Request for recommendations, favorites, and reviews.

PS2: The second protagonist is tentatively named Fan, and the initial plan is to focus on the technology side. However, it won't be a major focus, only occasionally appearing when the main protagonist explores the world. The first appearance will be in the third chapter or later.

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