Chapter 169 Chapter 22

Whether it is at Chijian Pass, Mosi Pass, or Xiaocang Castle, there are fewer travelers these days, but more stays. Every hotel is almost full, and the horse posts in front of the hotel are also full of horses. Signs are hung everywhere. Regardless of the pier, crossroads or notice square, many travelers stop here to watch. "The thirteenth day is the day after tomorrow." "I heard that some people came all the way to watch the battle. Shall we stay and watch?" "Stupid, the island where the competition is held is still a mile away from the shore, so you can't see it at all."

"No, if you climb Mount Fengshi, you can see the pine trees on the beach of Funashima. Even if you can't see clearly, you can see the camp of the sailors in the Tenman clan. On both sides of Buzen Nagato, it's good just to watch the excitement!" "It would be nice if it was sunny." "Don't worry, it won't rain these days." There are so many discussions in the streets and alleys. Pleasure boats and other sea traffic must be stopped at the moment of the hour.Therefore, the shipowner was very disappointed, but the passengers were eagerly looking forward to watching the excitement.

Noon on the eleventh. There is a small restaurant at the entrance of the city from Mojiguan to Xiaocang, and a woman is comforting a child in front of the restaurant. A while ago, Youba was surprised to see this woman by the Osaka River, and finally caught up with her.She is Zhu Shi. The child cries incessantly. "Are you sleepy? Sleep well! Oh mom, pat..." She nursed the baby, tapped her feet and sang songs.She doesn't care about her appearance at all, she has no makeup on her face, and she only has children in her eyes. People change—people who knew Zhu Shi before must think so.But for her, there is nothing unnatural about this lifestyle.

"Is the baby asleep? Are you still crying? Hey! Zhu Shi." It was Matahachi who came out of the restaurant. He has only recently returned to vulgarity.His shaved hair hadn't grown out yet, and he was wrapped in a scarf, and he was wearing a rough-dyed vest.After he caught up with Zhu Shi, the two married and left Osaka.In order to earn money on the road, he hung a sugar bag on his shoulder and peddled along the way.In order for his wife to have enough milk to feed their children, he worked hard and saved money bit by bit until he finally came to Xiaocang today. "It's my turn to hold you! You go to eat quickly. It will be bad if you don't have enough milk. Eat more, eat more."

Youba took the child in his arms and went outside, humming a lullaby. A traveler dressed as a country samurai passed by. "what?" When he saw another eight, he folded back again. Matahachi, who was holding the child, looked at the returning samurai. "Oh?" He doesn't remember the samurai, or where he met him?I just feel familiar. "A few years ago, I met you in the pine forest in Kujo, Kyoto. I am Genhachi Ichinomiya! At that time, I was still a member of the six departments, so it's no wonder you can't remember." said the country warrior. Even so, Matachi couldn't remember.Yiguan Yuanba said again:

"At that time, you used the name of Kojiro to cheat everywhere, but I believed that you were the real Sasaki Kojiro..." "Ah! You were from that time..." And eight remembered, and said aloud.The country warrior immediately interfaced: "That's right, I was the Sixth Division at that time." "Oh! Long time no see." Youba bowed to him, and the child who had finally fallen asleep woke up again and began to cry. "Oh! Be good, don't cry, don't cry." The topic was interrupted, Yiguan Yuanba hurried on his way, and asked: "I heard that Mr. Sasaki lives on the edge of the city, do you know where it is?"

"No, I don't know. I just moved here too." "So, you also came to see his fight with Musashi?" "No... not just for that." At this time, two people happened to come out of the small restaurant. After hearing the conversation between Matahachi and the others, they said to Genpachi: "Mr. Yanliu's mansion is by the Zichuan River, on the same path as my master's mansion. If you want to go, we can go together." "Oh! That's great... Youba, see you next time." Genpachi immediately left with those two people. You Ba looked at his dusty back.

"Could he be from far upstate?" It can be seen that the acquired martial arts contest has spread all over the world. Think back to many years ago—— Holding the certificates and catalogs of Nakajo Ryu that Genhachi had been looking for, I used the name of Kojiro to bluff around. Thinking of my appearance at that time, I really regretted it. I hated why I was so superficial and lazy, and my heart was extremely painful. think carefully-- Compared with before, I have indeed made progress now. Even an ordinary person like me, as long as he is determined to reform himself, he will gradually get better.

Zhu Shi was eating in a restaurant, and ran out quickly when he heard the cry of the child. "I'm sorry. I'll carry it, and put the child on my back." "Don't you need to breastfeed anymore?" "Maybe I'm sleepy, I'll sleep after coaxing it." "Really?...Come on." And Ba carried the child on Zhu Shi's back.Then hang a sugar bag on the chest. This candy seller couple has a deep affection, and passers-by look at them with envy.Most people are dissatisfied with themselves, so they are envious when they see such a scene on the side of the road.

"What a cute kid, how old is it... Oh! He smiled." An elegant old woman walked behind, teasing the child on Zhu Shi's back.The old woman seemed to like children very much, and even asked the accompanying footman to come and see the cute smiling face of the child. Youba and Zhu Shi were about to turn to the back street, looking for a cheap inn. "Where are you going?" The elegant old woman walking behind said goodbye to them with a smile, and was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something. "It seems that you are also outsiders, do you know where Sasaki Kojiro lives?"

Youba told her that a samurai was going there just now, and it was said that it was by the Zichuan River. The old woman said softly: "Thank you!" After speaking, he walked away with the servant. Another eight eyes sent her away. "Ah! What is the matter with my mother now?" Youba expressed his feelings and muttered to himself. You only know your parents' kindness when you raise a child, and Youba has only recently gradually understood the feelings of being a parent. "Let's go!" Zhu Shi shook the child on his back and waited behind Youba.However, Youba watched the old woman leave blankly. Both Taka and Kojiro are at home today.The courtyard was filled with guests who had been visiting since the evening.No wonder neither the owner nor the eagle can go out. "It's really comforting." "From now on, Master Yanliu's reputation will be established." "It is indeed worth celebrating." "Of course. He's going to be famous all over the world." "But, the other party is Musashi. Be careful." The main door and side door are full of guests' straw sandals. Some came from Kyoto and Osaka, some came from China, and some even came from Joyoji Village in Echizen. Kojiro's servants were short of staff, so Kakubei Iwama's servants also came to help greet the guests.In addition, all the samurai and Yanliu's apprentices in the domain gathered here, waiting for the day after tomorrow—that is, the thirteenth day. "Although it's the day after tomorrow, there's only one day left for tomorrow." Judging from the expressions of the relatives and disciples gathered here, it seemed that everyone was hostile to Musashi, whether they knew the character of Musashi or not. In addition, Yoshioka's disciples are spread all over the country, and there are a large number of them, and there must still be resentment for the defeat of Kazujo Tera Matsutoki in their hearts. In addition, Musashi has unknowingly made many enemies over the past ten years.Some of them took this opportunity to join Kojiro to deal with Musashi. "There's a visitor from upstate." A young attendant leads a guest into the drawing room. "My name is Ichikan Genhachi." The guest dressed plainly and greeted everyone with a cautious attitude. "From upstate?" Everyone was moved to look at Genpachi when they heard that they came from such a far away place. Yuanba claimed to have obtained an amulet from Baiyun Mountain in Shangzhou, and asked the disciples to enshrine it on the divine case. "He even specially went to pray!" Genpachi's special kindness strengthened everyone's confidence even more. "It will be sunny on the thirteenth!" Everyone looked up at the sky from the wing room.It was the dusk of the eleventh day, and the sky was dyed red by the sunset glow. One of the large crowd in the living room spoke. "Mr. Yiguan Yuanpachi from Shangzhou went all the way to pray for Master Yanliu. What a strange move! What is your relationship with Master?" After hearing this, Yuanpachi replied: "I am a retainer of the Caoxiong family in Xiarentian, Shangzhou. Tiangui, the dead master of the Caoxie family, is the nephew of Zhong Juan Zizhai's master. He has known Kojiro since childhood." "Ah! I heard that Master Yanliu was with Zhongjuan Zizhai of Zhongjoliu when he was a boy." "He and Yagoro Itosai are brothers from the same school. I heard that Kojiro's sword skills are even better than Yagoro's." Genpachi also said that Kojiro rejected the Yinke catalog of his teacher Zizhai and created his own genre. It can be said that he has developed an unyielding personality since he was young. "Where is Master?... Isn't Master here?" At this time, a samurai guarding the gate came to Kojiro.Finding that Kojiro is not here, and was about to go to another place to look for it, the guests immediately asked him: "What's the matter?" The warrior at the gate replied: "There is an old woman who claims to be from Iwakuni, hoping to meet Kojiro, and she is waiting at the door." After the concierge finished speaking, he went to each room to look for Kojiro. "Strange, not in the room." Ah Guang happened to be cleaning the room, so he told him: "Master is in the eagle's cabin." The house is full of guests.Yanliu took the opportunity to go to the eagle's hut, fed it, trimmed its feathers, and played with it on its arm. "Master." "Who?" "I'm the concierge. Just now there was an old woman who claimed to be from Iwakuni and wanted to meet you." "Old woman? Strange, my mother has been dead for many years, is it my mother's sister, my aunt?" "Where am I taking her?" "I don't want to see anyone at this time... If it's my aunt, it's another matter. Bring her to my room." As soon as the concierge left, Kojiro called out: "Tatsunosuke." Chenosuke is Kojiro's close disciple. "Yes. What are your orders?" Tatsunosuke entered the hut and knelt behind Kojiro. "Today is the 11th, and the day after tomorrow will arrive soon." "Yes, almost there." "I haven't been to the city for a long time, I want to see the master tomorrow, and then wait quietly for the night." "There are too many guests now, and there is chaos. Tomorrow must stop seeing guests, so that you can sleep peacefully and soundly." "I hope so." "The living room was packed, it was a sea of ​​people." "Don't complain. These people come from far and near to support me. But victory or defeat depends on luck—although it is not entirely luck, but it is the same as the rise and fall of military strategists. Two suicide notes. One for Lord Iwama and one for Aguang, please pass it on to them." "Why write a suicide note?..." "This is the spirit of a samurai. It's a matter of course. In addition, if you allow a follower to go with you that morning, you can accompany me to the ship island, okay?" "It's my honor." "Tiangong will also go together." He looked at the eagle standing on the log. "Let the eagle rest on your arm and take it to the island of the boat. During the sea trip, you can also relax!" "I see." "Now go say hello to Auntie Iwakuni!" Yanliu came out of the house.But at this moment he was not in the mood to see her. The aunt from Iwakuni is already sitting on the top seat. The clouds at dusk gradually dimmed like iron gray, and the lights in the room were already lit. "Hey! You're here." Yanliu sat in the last seat and bowed his head in salute.Since the death of her mother, she has been raised by this aunt almost. Mother sometimes spoils herself, but this aunt is strict with herself.One is because he is her nephew, and the other is because he bears the reputation of the Sasaki family, and this aunt is the only relative who will witness his future success. "Kojiro, this time you will face the biggest test of your life. In my hometown of Iwakuni, everyone tells each other. I couldn't resist coming to see you. Now I am very happy to see you so strong and successful. " Kojiro left his hometown when he was a boy, carrying a family sword on his back.Now it has the bearing of a dignified family.Therefore, the aunt compared the difference between the present and the past, and was filled with emotion. Yanliu lowered his head and said: "I haven't heard from you in the past ten years. Please forgive me. In the eyes of others, I seem to have succeeded. However, Kojiro has great ambitions and is not satisfied with this matter. Therefore, I have not contacted my hometown." "Oh! What do you say, even if you don't write, your news will follow the wind." "Did I receive such criticism in Iwakuni?" "Not only that. Everyone in my hometown is talking about this game. They say that if you lose to Musashi, it will be a shame to Iwakuni and a shame to the Sasaki family. For this reason, many people from my hometown will come to support you, even the Yoshikawa clan. The guests are divided into pieces, Boqi Shou Jiuan, Lord Jiuan also led a group of disciples to Xiaocang to support you." "Are you here to see the contest?" "That's right. But the notice board announced that all boats will be banned from going to sea the day after tomorrow. I think many people will be disappointed by this... Oh! I was too busy talking, and I forgot one thing. Kojiro, this is a local product I brought from my hometown , please accept it." Auntie unpacked the luggage and took out a folded underwear.It was a white cotton garment with the name of Hachiman Bodhisattva Malizhitian written on it.On the other two sleeves, the words "must win" are written in Sanskrit, and the underwear is carefully sewn by a hundred needles. "Thank you very much!" After accepting it, Kojiro said: "Auntie, you must be tired too. There are many guests at home, so please rest in this room." Yanliu took this opportunity to bid farewell to his aunt and went to another room.The guests there saw Kojiro and immediately said: "This is the amulet of Nanshan Bafan, please wear it on your body that day." Some people sent amulets, some even sent witch hazel clothes, and some people brought food and wine to the kitchen, so piled up everywhere that there was almost no place to walk in the rock stream. These supporters are looking forward to his victory.Nine out of ten people firmly believe that victory must belong to Yanliu, and look forward to Yanliu's support when he holds an important position in the future. If I'm just a rogue. Yanliu suddenly felt lonely.But the reason why he is full of confidence is not due to these supporters, but himself. Victory must be mine. he thought so.Although he knew deep down in his heart that this kind of thinking would hinder the competition, he couldn't restrain this expectation. I must win, I must win. Although others couldn't see what was going on in his mind—no, it should be said that Kojiro himself didn't realize that tiny waves were constantly emerging in the depths of his heart. In the evening, someone went out to inquire about the news, and came back to report to the crowd gathered in the square for drinking and eating: "I heard that Musashi has arrived today." "I heard that he closed the boat at Moji and has reached the edge of the city." "He may end up at Nagaoka Sado's mansion. Send someone there to inquire about it later." Everyone secretly sent news, which caused a commotion, as if the contest was about to happen tonight.