Kougetsu Mansion.
In the backyard, Kougetsu Momonosuke was wielding a wooden sword, diligently learning swordsmanship in a proper manner.
Kougetsu Toki sat on the side, fanning Kougetsu Hiyori who had fallen asleep, and watched Kougetsu Momonosuke learning swordsmanship, a gentle smile on her face.
However, beneath these bright eyes, there was a hint of sorrow.
At the same time, Hyogoro, who was sitting on the ground in the shade, wrinkled his nose, and his expression immediately became solemn.
Hyogoro, with extreme speed, approached Kougetsu Momonosuke, picked him up, and then unleashed a palm strike.
*Bang!*
A powerful force collided instantly, and the suddenly appearing black-clad assailant was sent flying.
Hyogoro retreated, and though small, he was incredibly agile, dodging several sneak attacks.
"Waaah!"
Kougetsu Hiyori's cries rang out. Hyogoro's expression changed drastically. He looked back and saw three black-clad figures surrounding Kougetsu Toki.
Kougetsu Hiyori cried because Kougetsu Toki picked her up, disturbing her rest.
This also served as a reminder to Hyogoro.
Hyogoro narrowed his eyes. In an instant, a dagger appeared from his sleeve and was grasped in his hand.
Three mini sword energies arrived in an instant.
Hyogoro's sword energies were very precise and extremely powerful.
The three black-clad figures, who were about to attack Kougetsu Toki, abandoned her upon facing the incoming sword energies and drew their swords to block.
Hyogoro's strength, recognized by the title of 'Kenhou' (Sword Saint), was evident just from the black dagger in his hand.
"Lady Toki," Hyogoro said, approaching Kougetsu Toki, his voice filled with caution.
Kougetsu Toki did not panic. Instead, she appeared somewhat aloof, as if such assassinations were a common occurrence for her.
"I am unharmed, Hyogoro!" Kougetsu Toki replied calmly, with a touch of coldness.
"Waaah waah!"
Kougetsu Momonosuke, held in Hyogoro's arms, reacted after a moment and understood that he had been targeted.
At this moment, Kougetsu Momonosuke showed the behavior of a five-year-old child.
Kougetsu Toki reached out, took Kougetsu Momonosuke from Hyogoro's arms, and comforted him, saying, "Don't be afraid, Momonosuke."
"You are a man, and men do not shed tears."
Tears streaming down his face, Kougetsu Momonosuke continued to wail in Kougetsu Toki's arms.
In contrast, Kougetsu Hiyori, watching her wailing brother, sucked on her fingers with curiosity.
"Hanagoro, as the boss of the yakuza, to willingly serve as a personal bodyguard to a woman."
"Shameful!"
A voice echoed as someone pushed the door open and entered, staring at Hyogoro and saying,
Hyogoro narrowed his eyes, looking at the black-clad figure before him, scanning him up and down, and finally his gaze landed on the snake sword in the man's hand. He sneered, "I wondered who it was."
"So it's you, Kengyo."
"Disappeared for so many years, you've become a killer for Kurozumi Orochi?"
"That explains the assassinated samurai."
The samurai who followed Kougetsu Oden gradually lost respect and trust after Oden compromised and danced in public.
Many powerful samurai among them were assassinated in the subsequent period.
The wounds, Hyogoro felt, were familiar.
Yet, he couldn't recall who it was.
After all, Kengyo, who had assassinated him back then, should have been killed by him and his body disposed of in the sea by his subordinates, never to be seen alive again.
But now, Kengyo had appeared before him.
However, his voice seemed to have changed.
The man called Kengyo removed his mask, revealing a hideous face.
Two knife wounds.
One slashes diagonally downwards from the left eye, a very gruesome scar.
The other was at Kengyo's neck.
Such a wound should have been fatal for anyone.
Yet, Kengyo survived and became even stronger, which was truly miraculous.
"Are you surprised?"
"That I'm still alive."
Kengyo narrowed his eyes, looking at Hyogoro with a ferocious grin and sneering.
Hyogoro replied calmly, "Indeed, it is surprising."
Holding his dagger, Hyogoro said calmly, "However, since you've encountered this old man and attempted to assassinate Lady Toki, I can only kill you once more."
Kengyo chuckled lightly, his form seeming to vanish as he suddenly appeared before Hyogoro, slashing his long sword downwards.
Hyogoro snorted, his black dagger swinging.
*Clang!*
Sparks flew, and powerful forces impacted the surroundings, creating a gust of wind.
Kougetsu Toki stood behind Hyogoro. Facing the approaching gale, surprisingly, a faint ripple appeared before her, like a still lake with a pebble dropped into it.
The gale caused no harm to Kougetsu Toki or her two children.
Kengyo's one remaining eye, not blinded, swept towards Kougetsu Toki.
Kougetsu Toki met his gaze calmly, showing no fear despite his monstrous face.
"Die!"
Hyogoro did not expect Kengyo to attack so aggressively. He snorted, and with immense power, he sent Kengyo flying back.
Simultaneously, Hyogoro, with extreme speed, attacked the two closest assassins.
A flash of sword light, and before the two could react, they were instantly killed.
After killing the two, Hyogoro swiftly moved towards another direction.
Three figures blocked his path with their swords. Although they did not unleash sword energies, their swords were instantly covered in Armament Haki.
*Clang!*
Hyogoro's dagger sliced through with incredible speed.
The three men's swords shattered instantly, and sword energies cut towards their bodies.
In an instant, screams erupted, and blood splattered.
Kengyo was taken aback that Hyogoro didn't even bother to spare him a glance. After merely forcing him back, Hyogoro immediately went on to kill his subordinates, five of them.
With a cold glint in his eyes, Kengyo's long sword appeared before Kougetsu Toki in an instant.
Kougetsu Toki's bright eyes flickered, and a ripple surged before her.
Kengyo's attack, in an instant, seemed to be frozen, unable to advance.
Kengyo was greatly alarmed, then increased his strength.
Kengyo was very surprised, and at the same time, he confirmed a suspicion in his heart.
After all, during his confrontation with Hyogoro, such a gale could not have left Kougetsu Toki, a seemingly frail woman, completely unharmed.
Yet, the result was that Kougetsu Toki was completely unaffected.
"Die!"
Kengyo's body underwent a change, with patches of fur appearing, resembling a leopard.
The power in his sword-wielding arm increased tenfold.
*Slash!*
This time, his long sword pierced through the ripple and instantly pierced Kougetsu Toki's body.