Kuranaga will be here to watch today.

Such a great opportunity to get close to Kuraga and make friends with Kuraga will not be missed by the high-ranking officials in the domain.

After learning that Kuranaga had also come to watch the god worship competition, these people immediately rushed to Hachiman Jingu one after another like cats that smelled fish.

Of course, these high-ranking officials who were able to make it to Hachiman Jingu were the ones who had successfully adjusted their itinerary for this morning.

Some people who couldn't put off this morning's work could only let this great opportunity slip through his fingers with hatred.

The competition venue has been surrounded by white curtains.

The people of the Sakakiwara Sword Hall stood in the easternmost part of the competition venue.

The people of the Ishikawa Kenkan stood in the westernmost part of the competition venue.

As for the spectators who came to watch the game, they all stood or sat in the northernmost part of the field.

The audience is almost there.

The people who came to watch the battle this time were basically high-ranking officials at all levels in the domain.

They sat on small stools, chatting and laughing, waiting for the competition to begin.

At the same time, they are also waiting for Kuranaga's arrival.

The spectators of the biggest card in this god worship competition have not yet arrived.

Before the official start of the competition, there is less than a pillar of incense left.

However, at this critical moment when there was not much time left before the start of the competition, something happened on the side of the Ishikawa Sword Hall.

……

……

Hirose Domain, Hachiman Jingu, the westernmost part of the test venue-

"Master! Why?! ”

Yuanshan was already dressed neatly at this time, the cuff had been tied early, and the protective iron plate was also worn on his forehead.

He's ready to play at any time.

But at this moment, his master Ishikawa Hyoma suddenly told him that he didn't have to play.

He has already arranged for a senior brother from Yuanshan to replace Yuanshan on the field.

Yuan Shan, who didn't understand why the master did this, naturally roared at the soldiers and horses, asking why the soldiers and horses did this.

In the face of the roar of the distant mountains, the soldiers and horses just said in a flat tone:

"Yuanshan, you think I can't see it? You can't stop the murderous aura in your body! ”

"What do you want to do? Did you kill Ogata Yoshii in the god sacrifice competition? ”

"I'd rather lose the God Sacrifice Contest than let my disciples kill people in the God Sacrifice Competition!"

"Master......" Toyama clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "Are you worried that after I kill Ogata Yishi in public, I will cause trouble for our sword hall......?!" ”

"......" The soldiers and horses were silent, not responding to Yuanshan's answer.

But his silent reaction was equivalent to answering Yuanshan's question.

"Master! Please let me play! Toyama's face was already covered with unwillingness, "I'm really unwilling to let me compete with Ogata Yisei if I don't play!" ”

"If I can't say it, I can't say it!" Ishikawa Bingma replied to Yuan Shan without hesitation in a much harsher tone than just now, "Today, you will be honest for me to stay on the field!" I won't let you play anyway! ”

"Master......" Yuan Shan's teeth clenched a little tighter.

Just as Toyama was racking his brains, thinking about what he should do to convince Ishikawa Terama to let him play, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from his and Bingma's side:

"Ishikawa-kun, just let him play!"

This voice was quite unfamiliar to the distant mountains.

But for Ishikawa Terama, the sound was familiar.

Because he had just heard it yesterday.

After hurriedly following the prestige and confirming that the person who came was indeed that person, Ishikawa immediately knelt on the ground, and then shouted in a respectful tone:

"My lord!"

This person is none other than the patriarch of their Hirose Domain, Kuranaga Saemon.

Kuraga walked slowly towards the soldiers and horses and the others alone.

After the soldiers and horses knelt on the ground and shouted "Elder Family", Toyama and the rest of the Ishikawa Kenkan disciples also knelt on the ground and respectfully saluted Kuranaga.

Before and after walking up to the soldiers and horses, Kuranaga repeated what he had just said in a calm tone:

"Ishikawa-kun, let this disciple of yours play."

"My lord!" Ishikawa Terama said urgently, "Why ......?"

Before Ishikawa Terama's words were finished, Kuranaga spoke up again and interrupted Terama's words:

"Ishikawa-kun, I don't want to say anything superfluous. Anyway - just let this disciple of yours play. ”

Kuranaga's tone was flat, but his tone was very tough.

There was no room for manoeuvre in the matter.

Ishikawa Hyoma's face was quite complicated at this time.

The complicated face proclaimed his inner struggle.

After struggling fiercely for a while, Ishikawa sighed lightly as if he had given up resistance.

“…… Be...... I see......"

Compared with Ishikawa's complicated face, Toyama's face at this time was much simpler.

Yuanshan's face at this time was only pure ecstasy.

……

……

The most oriental test venue -

Almost all the disciples of the Sakakibara Sword Pavilion gathered here at this time.

Even Makino, whose injuries were not completely healed, came here to cheer and cheer for Ogata.

Ogata has already fastened the cuff. He also wore a protective iron plate on his forehead.

His two swords were temporarily placed in Makino's care.

The incense used to count down in a corner of the venue is about to burn out.

One by one, Ogata's brothers and sisters stepped forward to send blessings and cheer for Ogata.

The last person to walk up to Ogata was Sakakihara Hanbei.

However, the Sakakiwara Hanbei, who walked up to Ogata, did not say the words of encouragement to cheer up Ogata like the others.

Instead, he said in a deep voice:

Ogata ...... You can't play! ”

"Master?" After hearing Hanbei's words, Ogata raised his eyebrows, and then cast a puzzled look at Hanbei, "I can't play?" What do you mean? ”

The rest of the brothers and sisters around also looked at each other, confused by what the half-soldier guard said just now.

"I just stole a glance at that Toyama Renjiro. That distant mountain...... His body was full of murderous aura. ”

Speaking of this, Yuanshan's face became even more solemn.

"Compete with people like that...... It's so dangerous! ”

"Ogata, stay here and don't move."

"I'll try to see if I can cancel today's god worship competition."

“…… Master. Thank you for your kindness. Ogata was stunned for a moment, then a smile hung over his face, "But—I'll definitely play." ”

"If you keep hiding, you can't hide."

"Even if you can hide today, there's no way to guarantee that you can hide forever in the future, right?"

"Since you can't hide, then simply settle the grievances between me and the distant mountains in one breath today!"

With that, Ogata looked at the incense that was used as a countdown.

This incense, which served as a countdown, just burned out at this time.

Ogata picked up the wooden knife and walked slowly towards the test site.

"Ogata! Wait a minute! The half-guard shouted as he stepped forward, trying to stop Ogata.

However, a figure preemptively stopped in front of the half-guard, separating the half-guard from Ogata.

"Master......" Mikami said in a deep voice, "Ogata-kun, he's right...... Instead of constantly escaping like this, it is better to take advantage of today to end the grievances between the two in one go......"

"You ......" the half-guard stood on end in anger.

But—because Mikami had stopped the half-guard, the half-guard had missed the best opportunity to stop Ogata.

At this time, Ogata had already walked to the center of the test field at about the same time as Toyama.