Chapter 23

Cangzi was the first to launch an attack on Kenshin, and the speed of his kodachi was indeed very fast, even surprising Kenshin. Kenshin drew his sword to block the attack, but he overlooked Cangzi's punches and kicks. Relying on the impenetrable defense formed by his kodachi, Cangzi used his fist techniques to attack Kenshin after blocking Kenshin's attack. Moreover, Cangzi, being Banya's master, had punches and kicks that were far more powerful and swift than Banya's.

After more than ten exchanges, Kenshin had already been hit by Cangzi's punches and kicks seven or eight times. However, due to the extensive training that Shishio had given the young Kenshin, the current Kenshin was much stronger physically than the Kenshin in the original story. Even after being hit by Cangzi's attacks, Kenshin's movements were not significantly affected.

During the fight, Cangzi told Kenshin that he felt aggrieved by the shogunate's defeat without a fight and wanted to take the title of the strongest from Kenshin. "If we, the Oniwabanshu, had participated in the battle, we could have set fire to Kyoto and taken advantage of the chaos to kill Saigo and Okubo, securing our ultimate victory."

Of course, this idea was naive. Not only was Kenshin in his Battousai state at the time, but even the second-rate members of the Shinsengumi, who were around fourteen years old like Cangzi, would have been no match for the top-tier experts. Kenshin did not care about the Battousai title, but Cangzi's disregard for human life infuriated him.

"You speak of arson and murder as if they were child's play. Whether I am a reformer or a wanderer, I cannot stand by and let you act this way."

Kenshin's figure disappeared from Cangzi's sight and reappeared above him, delivering a powerful Dragon Hammer Slash. Even though Cangzi blocked the attack with his kodachi, Kenshin's strike forced him to kneel. Cangzi pushed Kenshin away and launched another Air Blade Slash, a pale blue blade of energy over a meter long. Cangzi barely managed to dodge, but his clothes were still cut.

"Battousai, you truly live up to your reputation as the strongest man of the Bakumatsu. If I don't use my ultimate technique, it would be impolite."

Cangzi then used his unique technique, the Flowing Water Body Movement. As the name suggests, it was a movement that mimicked flowing water, making it impossible to catch. For the current Kenshin, hitting Cangzi while he was using the Flowing Water Body Movement was quite difficult. Additionally, Cangzi used the Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance, a technique that involved high-speed spinning to attack the opponent using centrifugal force. Although the Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance was fast, it did not exceed Kenshin's reaction speed. Kenshin instantly raised his right hand to block two strikes with his reverse-blade sword and used his left hand to block the third strike with the sheath. However, Kenshin did not expect the power of Cangzi's Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance, which even cut through his iron sheath, causing him some minor injuries.

"Truly worthy of the Battousai, to react and block my Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance in an instant. But..."

Cangzi entered the Flowing Water Body Movement again, and this time, his figure was even harder to catch.

"In front of my Flowing Water Body Movement, you can only keep receiving my attacks. You are already covered in wounds, your reaction speed has slowed, and how can you possibly deal with my Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance?"

Cangzi used the Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance again, but this time Kenshin saw through the flaw in the Flowing Water Body Movement. At the moment the Flowing Water Body Movement transitioned into the Heaven's Revolving Sword Dance, Kenshin's hands clamped down on the kodachi, preventing it from being used.

"Mugetsu-ryu Zan, one of the techniques of the Mugetsu-ryu that Master taught me these past few days. I didn't expect to use it today. Cangzi, if you really want the title of the strongest, I can give it to you, but such a title means nothing to me. To me, the people I want to save and those waiting for me to return home are far more important than any title."

Kenshin applied force with both hands, and the kodachi was immediately knocked out of Cangzi's right hand and struck his throat. Even a highly trained expert like Cangzi could not withstand a direct hit to the throat. In the end, Cangzi used his last strength to punch Kenshin away and fainted in frustration.

Kenshin was also dazed by Cangzi's final punch, but his body recovered quickly. Yahiko rushed to support Kenshin, who stood up and looked at the unconscious Cangzi, sighing helplessly.

"The reason he lost in the end was his obsession with being the strongest. If he hadn't forced that last attack, he might have been able to stand. But the severe impact to his throat, followed by his forced deep breath to launch the final attack, caused him to lose consciousness due to the pain and breathing paralysis." As he spoke, Cangzi managed to stand up.

"Did I faint?"

"Yes, for about ten seconds. Your recovery ability is indeed remarkable."

"Why didn't you take the opportunity to kill me..."

"I am just a wanderer now, not the Battousai. If you want to challenge me again, Cangzi, don't involve others." Just then, a voice came from the door.

"Quite a sorry sight, Cangzi, boasting so much and still losing." It was Takeda Karyu, and he was holding a white cloth-wrapped object.

"Perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for you." Although Kenshin was unarmed, taking down Takeda Karyu would not be a problem.

"Is that so? Let me show you the power of money." Takeda Karyu unveiled the white cloth, revealing a new Gatling gun, a weapon capable of firing two hundred rounds per minute. Karyu continuously operated the gun's crank, and bullets rained down, forming a deadly metal storm. Kenshin and Cangzi had to move at high speed to avoid being torn apart by the bullets.

"Karyu, why do you have such a weapon?" Cangzi shouted at Karyu, who unexpectedly aimed the gun at Cangzi.

"Call me Lord Karyu." Despite Cangzi's quick reaction, he was still grazed by a bullet on his right leg, losing a large chunk of flesh and falling to one knee in pain.

"See? This is the power of money. You and that useless Cangzi must have trained for countless years to reach your current level, but with money, I instantly gained power surpassing yours, and without any cost. Money is the symbol of power, and I am the strongest."

At that moment, Shiki, Banya, and Sajuro entered the room, just in time to see Cangzi hit by a bullet and fall to the ground. Shiki rushed to Cangzi, managing to shield him from Karyu's bullets, which turned his back into a bloody mess.

"Shiki, Shiki."

Cangzi was deeply shaken by Shiki's sacrifice, feeling as if he had been drained of all energy.

"Leader, don't look so down. Being able to have such a strong body through drugs is already satisfying. And now, this body can serve as a shield to block bullets. Leader, in the past, warriors held a shield in their left hand and a sword in their right. Can you hold a sword in your left hand after losing this shield?" Unfortunately, Cangzi didn't have time to respond, as Shiki had already lost his life.

With the side door breaking, Ugly Man charged at Karyu. "Don't attack recklessly, or you might set off the oil in my stomach and cause an explosion."

"Shut up, just aim for your head." Karyu raised the gun's muzzle, and a bullet took half of Ugly Man's head. As Ugly Man fell, the barrel behind him broke, and Akuma jumped out, holding a poisoned shuriken. Before he could throw it, he was hit by Karyu's bullets, and the shuriken missed its target.

"Sorry, Leader, we are just minor players, but you treated us as members of the Oniwabanshu, and we always wanted to repay you. But in the end, we couldn't be of much use..."

At that moment, Banya secretly told Kenshin, "Battousai, go pick up your sword. I'll buy you some time." The Gatling gun's firepower was intense, and as Kenshin picked up his reverse-blade sword, Banya was hit by bullets and bloodied.

"Battousai, you're cold-hearted, using their deaths to buy time to pick up your sword. But it's over, die." Karyu continued to operate the crank, firing bullets at Kenshin. After a few shots, Karyu found the crank jammed. The sacrifices of the Oniwabanshu had finally paid off, as Akuma's shuriken had jammed the bullet chain. As Karyu tried to remove the shuriken, Kenshin struck. Kenshin flipped his reverse-blade sword, and a thin blade of energy shot out, cutting from between Karyu's index and middle fingers to his elbow. Karyu didn't feel the pain at first, but when he moved his hand, blood gushed out, and he retreated in pain.

"Help, help me."

"Want to live? Let your beloved money save you." Kenshin flipped his sword and struck Karyu's face, knocking him unconscious. Ironically, Karyu's last words were "Help... me."

Shishio arrived on the second floor, having been delayed by the private soldiers downstairs, partly due to his practice with them and forgetting about the Gatling gun. Seeing the four Oniwabanshu members lying on the ground, Shishio was speechless.

If Shishio had arrived earlier, this tragedy might have been avoided. They then rushed to the third floor, where they found the door locked. Shishio decisively cut the lock with his cane sword. After rescuing Takasugi Kei, the police arrived. With Kenshin and the others vouching for her, Kei was not taken away, but Cangzi left with the four Oniwabanshu members' bodies through a secret passage. The group followed the secret passage and found Cangzi standing on the wall, holding four bloody heads.

Understanding Cangzi's state, Kenshin stepped forward.

"Cangzi, if you truly cannot forgive yourself, challenge me again. Defeat me, and use the title of the strongest as a tribute to them."

"…Battousai, your life is mine. Do not lose to anyone until I return." With that, Cangzi jumped off the wall and disappeared into the night.

"My foolish disciple seems to have found himself another trouble." Shishio placed his hand on Kenshin's shoulder, "But well done, Kenshin."

"Master..."

Shishio's grip tightened, and Kenshin winced in pain. "When Cangzi returns, his strength will have greatly increased. To ensure you don't die at his hands, I will train you properly."

"~~o(>_<)o~~ No, Master..."

Physical Condition:

Heart Coins: 1080 (200 Heart Coins obtained from Level 2 Compassion)

World: Rurouni Kenshin

Name: Tenshi Shishio

Gender: Male

Physical Attributes:

Physical strength approximately nine times that of a normal person.

Detailed Attributes:

Strength: 91 (10) - Affects burst strength, pure strength, and strength beyond limits.

Agility: 100 (10) - Affects speed, reaction time, and intuition.

Endurance: 95 (10) - Affects stamina, recovery speed, and the ability to withstand certain techniques.

Skills: Swordsmanship - Gekkiken-ryu

Mugetsu-ryu (10 Heart Coins for unarmed combat against weapons)

Mastery of all cold weapons (200 Heart Coins)

Mastery of all firearms (200 Heart Coins)

Mastery of combat (10 Heart Coins)

Obtained Heart Powers:

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

Compassion Heart Level 2: Compassion is a necessary trait for a strong person, has resistance to certain illusions, and gains minor recovery from helping others.

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

Other powers not yet activated.

PS: Requesting recommendations, reviews, and collections.

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