While Zhang Heng was observing Shinsaku Takasugi's whereabouts from the roof of the house, Okita Soki did not get to rest for long because the remaining members of the tea house were chasing after him.
Okita Soki leaned his back against the wall, and he only had time to catch his breath before he turned over and threw himself back into the battle. The Tachi in his hand whistled, ushering in a new wave of blood.
Zhang Heng jumped down from the roof, slashed left and right, and killed two people in one breath. He helped Okita Soki out of his predicament, and at the same time, he told him what he saw from above.
"What should we do? Do we split up?" Okita Soki asked.
"No, I already know which team Shinsaku Takasugi is in," Zhang Heng said.
Although he could not see the faces of the two teams clearly at night, no matter what happened, Kirino Toshiaki would never leave Shinsaku Takasugi's side. He was taller than ordinary people, and it was easy to recognize him. That was why Zhang Heng could quickly determine Shinsaku Takasugi's location.
"Great! Let's go!" Okita Soki's eyes were stinging, and he knew that it was sweat that flowed into his eyes. Other than that, he also felt as if his throat was blocked by something. It was a little uncomfortable, so he coughed twice.
In this bloody and fiery night, Okita Soki did not notice the bloody taste in his mouth.
…
Shinsaku Takasugi had to admit that he had underestimated the Shinsengumi this time. It wasn't just because of their amazing combat power. The most important thing was that he misunderstood Zhang Heng's identity. He thought that the latter was also a secret agent of the Shinsengumi. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain where Zhang Heng's martial arts skills came from, and why the Shinsengumi's men attacked him as soon as the tea house's people attacked him.
The French businessman was also among the escaping team. He even swapped clothes with a samurai from the Choshu Domain. However, the samurai's haori looked a little funny on him, especially since there was a big difference in their body sizes. At best, the French businessman could only wear the haori. As he ran, he wiped the sweat off his forehead helplessly.
He was the one who brought the samurai here. His translator, who had been working with him, fell ill and stayed in Osaka. This was an unexpected situation, and it was impossible for the Shinsengumi to arrange someone to lurk around him in advance. Besides, Gabriel was a cautious man. Before he hired Zhang Heng, he had observed Zhang Heng for a period of time. He saw Zhang Heng talking to other Western businessmen before he finally chose him. Initially, he wanted to use Zhang Heng as a disposable tool. He did not expect the disastrous consequences.
In short, whether it was Shinsaku Takasugi or Gabriel, both of them now believed that Zhang Heng was a member of the Shinsengumi, or at least the shogunate. Even if they were ten thousand times more imaginative, they probably wouldn't have guessed that Zhang Heng came here for a katana tonight.
Shinsaku Takasugi was the first to run. Due to his special identity, when Okita Soki reported his name outside, he was ready to evacuate, regardless of whether the Shinsengumi's reinforcements came back or not. However, his health was indeed a big problem. When he walked into the house and chatted with Gabriel, he looked like he was fine. Now, he could no longer hide the fact that he was running. After a few steps, he began to pant.
However, Shinsaku Takasugi refused the suggestion of others to help him up. He gritted his teeth and insisted on running for some distance. Suddenly, he stumbled and fell to the ground. His arms and palms were scratched, and blood flowed freely. He looked a little embarrassed. No one would have thought that a year ago, when he faced the shogunate's long guns and cannons, he could still command the battle with a smile. Now, he was in such a sorry state.
Everyone who witnessed this scene could not help but think that this was the end of a hero.
A rare look of worry appeared on Kirino Toshiaki's square face. He said to a Choshu Domain samurai next to him, "We have to find a palanquin."
Gion was a famous place in Kyoto. It was lively every night, and many high-ranking officials and nobles came and went. It was not difficult to find a palanquin. However, in order to confuse the other party, the Tobaku decided to split into two groups. That was why Shinsaku Takasugi did not choose to leave in a palanquin.
But now, his physical strength had obviously reached its limit. There was no point in being obsessed with exposing himself. Otherwise, with their current speed, the other party could even kill the other team first and then come back to them.
At this time, someone was still hoping for a fluke. "Could it be that those two guys have been killed by our people?"
Kirino Toshiaki looked back in Yukichi's direction, shook his head, and said, "If those two are dead, someone should put out the fire."
But the reality was that the fire in the tea house was getting bigger and bigger. It even alarmed the neighboring houses.
Two samurai drew their swords and forced a man who came to drink to roll out of the palanquin. After that, they carried Shinsaku Takasugi, who looked like he was in a bad situation, onto the palanquin.
"Get out of here quickly!" Kirino Toshiaki ordered the palanquin bearers.
His unusually tall stature and the imposing aura he exuded made the palanquin bearers afraid to resist. They obediently lifted the palanquin and trotted in the direction he instructed. Kirino Toshiaki was about to follow, but the next moment, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and saw the young man appearing on the other side of the street.
The latter looked terrible. There were several knife wounds on his arms and calves, and the haori on his body was almost soaked in blood, sticking to his chest. However, his eyes were bright as if they were about to burn.
"Follow the lord. Leave this to me," Kirino Toshiaki said to the remaining people around him.
Several samurai, including Takeuchi, looked at each other. Without saying anything, they immediately turned around and chased after Shinsaku Takasugi's palanquin.
Kirino Toshiaki was standing alone in the middle of the street, but he was like a tiger or a dragon, with thousands of men and horses at his command.
He raised his head at the newcomer, and his tone remained the same. "Okita Soki?"
"Heh." Okita Soki responded and drew the Tachi from his waist. Because he had killed too many people tonight, even the scabbard was stained with blood. Beads of blood dripped from the tip of the Tachi to the ground, staining his handsome face with a touch of murderous intent. "No matter who you are, those who stand in my way tonight will die!"
"That depends on whether you're still alive to claim it." Kirino Toshiaki said indifferently, his right palm finally moving to the Juzumaru on his waist.
But at this moment, a voice came from the roof in front of him on the right. "Your opponent tonight is me."
After that, Zhang Heng turned his head and said to Okita Soki, "Go after Shinsaku Takasugi. Leave him to me, and the cooperation we discussed before is complete."
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