Akane had no idea what Zhang Heng was going to do that night.
Before he left, he told her, "I'm going to work. You don't have to leave any food for me." He then walked out of the dojo with his katana.
Akane thought it was just an ordinary job because Zhang Heng had gone out to work at night before. Although it wasn't many times, Akane thought it would be no different this time.
In fact, she didn't have time to worry about this kind of thing now. After the trip to Mizuki-dera, when she looked at Zhang Heng again, she felt a little different from before. It was hazy, and Akane herself couldn't tell what was the reason. Perhaps she had vaguely guessed something but was unwilling to admit it.
The girl's thoughts were as unpredictable as the reflection of the full moon in the water.
Other than her relationship with Zhang Heng, she had other worries, the most important of which was the survival and development of Koyama Dojo. Because she couldn't recruit students before, she had to offer free lessons and free lunch to recruit students from poor families. As a result, she was strapped for cash.
Although Zhang Heng later rejected her proposal to waive the rent, it was still not enough to feed the dojo's many mouths. Recently, Akane Koyama had been racking her brains on how to increase her income.
At this moment, a stranger who looked like Xu Ai was sneakily looking at something outside the dojo. In the next moment, a wooden blade was already pointed at his chest.
"Who sent you?" Akane Koyama frowned and shouted.
"Huh?!" The stranger seemed to be startled. He took half a step back, rubbing his nose. "Excuse me, is this Koyama Dojo?"
"Isn't it written clearly on the plaque outside the door?" Akane didn't let down her guard.
"I … I saw it, but I didn't expect the dojo to be so … plain," the stranger said.
"Did you come here to ask for a beating?" Akane didn't expect this shifty-looking guy to have the nerve to complain about the dojo's shabby condition. She couldn't help but get angry.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Seeing that the wooden katana in Akane Koyama's hand was about to slash at him, the man quickly apologized. "I know that true masters don't like to pursue fame and fortune. This place is just the right place. To tell you the truth, I'm actually here to learn from my master," he quickly stated his purpose.
"Hmm?" At the last moment, Akane retracted her katana and looked at the newcomer suspiciously. "Why did you come to Koyama Dojo to be my disciple?"
The guy outside the door was also a little dumbfounded. He didn't expect a dojo to ask such a question. Akane Koyama looked like she didn't believe that someone was here to learn from her.
"Because … I want to become the most powerful swordsman in the world?" the newcomer asked cautiously.
His bold words, coupled with his wretched appearance, sounded ridiculous no matter how one listened to it. Not to mention that he had the desire to become the world's number one swordsman, yet he had come to the impoverished Xiaoshan Dojo to be apprenticed to a master.
At this point, Akane Koyama was certain that the guy in front of her was here to have fun.
Thus, she once again raised the wooden blade in her hand and angrily rebuked, "Audacious fanatic, prepare yourself!"
"Ah?!" The newcomer wanted to cry but had no tears. He had no idea why he would be slashed again if he told the truth. Was this the trial before joining Koyama Myoshinryū? As expected, the people from this sect were all ferocious.
…
On the other hand, Zhang Heng had already met up with the French businessman, Gabriel, at the meeting place. The latter wore a tuxedo today, his hair neatly combed, and he looked refreshed. When he saw Zhang Heng, he waved at him and finally revealed the answer to the mystery. "Hi, Yunta-san, we are going to Gion tonight."
Gion was located to the east of the Yagawa River. It was originally a street in front of the Yasaka Shrine. In 1665, the Edo shogunate allowed tea houses to be opened there, and it gradually developed into a famous red-light district in Kyoto. Now, Gion was at its peak, boasting three thousand geishas. It was a place that all men yearned for.
The person who invited Gabriel tonight set the meeting place there. Apparently, he knew about the French businessman's hobbies.
However, Gabriel didn't seem to be in a hurry. He took Zhang Heng to the roadside to eat something to fill their stomachs. They waited until the sky was completely dark before the two set off, strolling leisurely to Gion. This also confirmed Zhang Heng's previous judgment.
The person that the French businessman wanted to meet tonight was obviously inconvenient to appear in public. That was why the banquet was postponed until now. Under the cover of darkness, they came to Gion to avoid being seen by others.
Could it be Kirino Toshiaki, whom everyone in Kyoto was looking for?
Although Zhang Heng hoped that was the answer, he knew very well that Gabriel, the cunning French businessman, must have contacted the Tobaku supporters to discuss business. On the other hand, Kirino Toshiaki, the executioner, knew nothing about business. Of course, this didn't mean that he wouldn't show up tonight. If he wasn't the host of tonight's banquet and was only a bodyguard, Zhang Heng didn't completely give up hope.
Zhang Heng followed Gabriel into a tea house called Yugi. He could clearly feel that this tea house was different from the others. From the waiters in charge of reception at the entrance, to the dancers passing by in the corridor, to the smiling lady boss, they all seemed to know martial arts.
Zhang Heng realized that his previous thoughts might have been a little off. The reason why the banquet was held here was not to satisfy Gabriel's basic needs as a man, but because this was a secret stronghold of the Tobaku supporters in Kyoto.
Zhang Heng could not help but become more curious about the identity of the banquet's host tonight. To have such secrecy and security measures, the other party must have a powerful background. However, Zhang Heng remained indifferent on the surface.
It wasn't until he passed through a winding corridor and came to the middle of the courtyard that a maid finally stopped him.
The maid bowed respectfully to him and said politely, "Dear guest, Yugi is a place for pleasure. Please remove your sword."
"But I'm not here for pleasure," Zhang Heng said lightly.
The maid smiled and said nothing more. However, she did not move her feet either, standing in the middle of the road. This action was enough to show her stance.
Seeing that the atmosphere had become a little tense, Gabriel quickly asked Zhang Heng about the cause of the incident. "It's okay. Just let them keep the sword. It's just a banquet tonight. There's no danger. Just take it back after dinner."
"This sword is a relic of my ancestor. I dare not leave it." Zhang Heng said. In fact, he had just borrowed this sword the day before yesterday. It was the sharpest and strongest weapon he had, and he brought it with him to deal with the battle that might happen tonight.
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