My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 561: Chapter 183: Final Showdown! Aoto vs. Shinno [9000]_4

”Wait, Miss Kinoshita. Don’t go this way, I know a shortcut that can take us to the front of Kamino Tatsugorou!”

At this moment, Aoto suddenly realized—this district is one of the areas he is responsible for in his daily patrols as a Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin.

The various memories of the buildings’ layout and road conditions in this district quickly surfaced in Aoto’s mind.

After stopping Mukiwa, he called for her to quickly follow and led her by turning left into a small path covered with fallen leaves.

...

...

With those three subordinates voluntarily staying behind... Shinno was now completely alone.

With no subordinates left around, Shinno moved alone as inconspicuously as possible within a small alley.

Clatter, clatter, clatter.....

Suddenly, the sound of flowing water reached his ears.

The surrounding light began to gradually brighten... a pale blue light shone from the alley’s exit ahead.

Charging out of the alley in one go, Shinno immediately felt a sense of openness.

Outside the alley, wide streets stretched on both sides, and directly ahead was a short, narrow wooden bridge spanning an unknown river.

The moonlight, river, and bridge—these three elements formed a scene full of charm, but Shinno had no mood to appreciate this natural scenery.

Daring not to pause for a moment, he headed straight onto the narrow wooden bridge, which creaked with every step.

Just as Shinno stepped onto the bridge, something happened.

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak...

Shinno heard the sound of footsteps on the bridge ahead... and there were two sets.

His expression immediately stiffened, and he looked up.

The view was quite blurry in the night haze... but he vaguely made out two figures, one large and one small, heading straight for him at the other end of the bridge.

These two figures were tinged with red for very different reasons.

One was clad in a bright red yukata.

The other... was splattered with a fresh coat of blood that had yet to congeal.

Shinno silently halted his steps, stopping his stride.

Simultaneously, Aoto did the same.

The dark clouds in the night sky had just dispersed.

The soft blue moonlight, free of cloud cover, poured down, illuminating the bridge and the shoulders of the two swordsmen.

Under the moonlight, in the night, the two swordsmen met head-on on this wooden bridge!

Neither said a word, silently observing each other.

The only sound in this space was the quiet flow of the river below the bridge, bubbling with foam.

Reflected in the moonlight, the bridge seemed wrapped in a tranquil stillness, as if submerged in the ocean’s depths.

”...No words are needed now.” Shinno’s suddenly calm voice, void of joy or sorrow, pierced the serenity on the bridge.

As if affirming Shinno’s words, a faint smile appeared on Aoto’s lips.

”...Ah, you’re absolutely right.”

Clack—Shinno’s left hand touched the scabbard of his sword, his thumb pivoting to clear its mouth.

Shiiing... as the blade was unsheathed inch by inch, it gleamed distinctly blue under the moonlight.

”Miss Kinoshita.”

Aoto bent his left arm, using the crook to clasp the root of his Ghost-Slaying blade, drawing it from the Kamigen to its tip, wiping the blade clean with the fabric of his kimono sleeve.

”Stand back a little, and... try to stay as far from me as you can later.”

Mukiwa offered no objection to Aoto’s request.

She gave Aoto a deep look, then nodded lightly, stepping back with agility, leaving enough space on the bridge for the two swordmasters.

Those wishing to flee now have no path to retreat.

Those in pursuit have caught up with their target.

Neither side has room for maneuver.

Yes! In this situation, words are no longer necessary!

In the face of inevitable cruelty, the only authentic sound is the drawing of swords!

”Mirror Heart Mingzhi School,”

”Kamino Tatsugorou!”

Shinno assumed the Mirror Heart Mingzhi posture, loudly declaring his lineage, transmitting a powerful resolve of ”Let us fight to the death!”

Aoto raised his sword before him.

”Natural Reasoning Heart Stream.”

”Tachibana Aoto!”

Bring it on!—Flames flickered in Aoto’s eyes as he replied fiercely!

The next moment, both swordsmen forcefully stomped the bridge, launching from their places toward a future where only one could survive!

Sparks flew.

Two swords clashed violently in mid-air, numerous sparks bursting forth.

The surging Sword Qi shattered the moonlight!

Glaring fiercely at each other through the crossed swords, his fiery gaze met up close with Shinno’s own.

Clang!

Aoto exerted strength in his waist, ”Clang,” deflecting Shinno’s blade, then swung down with an overhead slash aimed at Shinno’s face.

Shinno snorted coldly, retrieving the deflected sword swiftly to intercept this cut mid-air just as it descended.

In the next instant, their roles reversed.

Now Shinno launched his attack, sweeping upward from the lower rank toward Aoto’s lower body, but Aoto timely intercepted it mid-air.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang...

Two Silver Snakes twisted and bit into the air.

The gentle moonlight was disrupted by the sharp shadows of their swords.

Their clashing blades threw a shower of sparks, like fireflies in a summer night.

The reason Aoto had Mukiwa step back, opting to face Shinno alone, was simple—there wasn’t enough space on the bridge for both of them to freely unleash their skills and fight the enemy together; they would only end up hindering one another.