Chapter 73: Tsugikuni Michikatsu's gaze.
The moonlight gradually dimmed.
The horizon was showing a fish-belly white, although it was still very dim.
In the forest.
Tanjuro's eyes were somewhat blank.
Every word that Tadaichiro said, Tanjuro understood, but when put together, he couldn't understand what he was saying at all.
Helplessly, Tanjuro could only look to the side at Rengoku Shinjuro, who was leaning against a tree, resting with his eyes closed.
——Shinjuro came with Muichiro and the others, so he should know something, right?
Who knew.
"...What are you talking about?"
Rengoku Shinjuro's reaction was the same as Tanjuro's, he almost immediately came to Tadaichiro's side, his expression shocked:
"Moving Tree?" Shinjuro pointed to Hantengu, who had just been chopped into ashes by Tanjuro:
"You're saying this is a tree?"
Tokito Tadaichiro was taken aback, he looked at the bewildered Shinjuro, and nodded in confusion:
"Yes." He seemed to be startled by Shinjuro's sudden loud voice, his brain crashed, and he subconsciously answered:
"I'm a woodcutter, I make a living by selling firewood."
Rengoku Shinjuro was taken aback, his face of surprise became even more intense.
He seemed somewhat incredulous, he gestured with his hand, hesitated in his tone, and confirmed again:
"The one you chopped... that is... tree?"
Tokito Tadaichiro once again affirmed with a nod.
The tree——was what Tsugikuni-san told him.
But honestly, besides the tree——Tadaichiro didn't know what to call this thing.
It can grow back after being cut down, and its appearance is rough and bumpy.
Tadaichiro now thinks that the term tree is quite appropriate.
"No, no no no." Shinjuro shook his head repeatedly.
"Something's wrong." Shinjuro suddenly scratched his head, he frowned, touched his chin with his hand, and looked at the Tokito father and son in a bewildered manner.
——It's too strange...
How could a woodcutter...hold a sword?
Numerous questions surged in his heart for a moment.
But...
"Thump thump thump!!"
Suddenly, a violent stomping sound came from the direction behind Tanjuro!
Several people turned their heads in astonishment.
Soon.
In the distance of several people, at the end of the road opened by Tanjuro's sprint, they saw a burly figure running wildly.
Dust was raised behind him.
"Namu Amida Butsu!!"
Himejima Gyomei was holding the chain in his hand, reciting the sutras, and was running towards this side without stopping.
The sudden disappearance of Zohakuten gave him a bad feeling.
In addition, after he loudly informed Tanjuro, he did not get a response.
That's why he ran in a hurry.
When he ran to the front of everyone, observed left and right, and swung the Nichirin in his hand twice.
He tilted his head slightly and looked at Tanjuro:
"Kamado-san, Upper Rank Three is now..."
Tanjuro smiled, slowly opened his mouth, and the forgotten exhaled white gas overflowed:
"He's already dead."
Upon hearing this, Himejima stopped the Nichirin in his hand and nodded:
"...I see."
Although he still had doubts, he was not surprised.
The impression of the first meeting has long changed, Himejima has found many unimaginable traits in Tanjuro.
Such as——perception ability.
Himejima was born blind, but by reciting the sutras and perceiving the surroundings, he has cultivated a pair of transparent heart eyes.
But just now, he failed to detect Hantengu's trace several times, but Tanjuro was able to find it for the first time and pursued it relentlessly.
——If tonight, only I and Shinjuro are here.
——I'm afraid, only that pot can be left.
Himejima Gyomei took out the bead, flicked it with one hand, and two lines of clear tears welled up from his eyes.
Now.
Two Upper Ranks have been killed, this is good news.
This news can be brought back, it will definitely boost morale...
Click.
Rengoku Shinjuro, who had been staring at the Tokito father and son for a long time, shook his head, he pursed his lips, with a vicissitudes of life look:
"There might still be residual demons in the village, let's go."
Saying that, Shinjuro also deliberately glanced at Tanjuro.
Just as everyone nodded and was about to leave this area.
Whoosh——
A burst of red and white entangled light rose from the ashes of Hantengu.
And then plunged into Tanjuro's chest.
And——floating in mid-air, a stack of white paper man.
So.
In the puzzled eyes of several people.
"I'll be right back."
Tanjuro suddenly stopped, turned around, and reached out to the air above Hantengu a few times.
——Strange old man.
Yuichiro silently labeled Tanjuro in his heart.
...
Not long after everyone left.
[Battle Memory·Hantengu]
Tanjuro felt the power of resurrection in his body.
The missing one resurrection was replenished, and the resurrection power with a limit of two was completely filled.
The resurrection brought by Hantengu exceeded the limit, spilling out two pieces.
This overflow of resurrection did not disappear directly.
Instead, like battle memories, it turned into substantial physical qualities and slightly merged into Tanjuro's body.
...
At the edge of the forest.
When passing by Gyokko's ashes, Tanjuro repeated the above operation.
The number of resurrections brought by Gyokko was one less than Hantengu.
The paper man stacked up by the two totaled ten.
But at this moment.
Buzz——
Tanjuro, who was always vigilant and kept the transparent world open, suddenly noticed a hidden line of sight.
He looked up towards the depths of the forest.
Deep in the forest.
In the perception, a vague human figure was standing there, and some familiar polished peak human muscles gradually emerged.
Until——Tanjuro saw the six eyeballs on that person's head.
Golden eyes stared straight at this side!
After noticing Tanjuro's gaze, those six eyes even made eye contact with Tanjuro.
!!
Tanjuro's just relaxed heart tightened instantly, he fiercely grasped the Kusabimaru that had cooled and sheathed around his waist, and looked forward cautiously.
——It's Kokushibo!
He clenched the hilt of Kusabimaru and stood in place.
Kokushibo stood deep in the forest, standing still.
The two were far apart, but they were looking at each other.
For a long time.
Kokushibo stared at Tanjuro.
As if showing him.
The upper and lower pairs of eyes gradually closed.
Tanjuro was slightly stunned.
——?
Before Tanjuro could react to understand what this meant.
Perhaps the day was about to dawn, or perhaps for some other reason.
Kokushibo no longer looked at this side, and quickly disappeared in place, far away from Tanjuro's perception range.
Different from last time.
Tanjuro did not perceive any hostility from Kokushibo's gaze.
...
...
Not long after.
Daybreak.
The village of blacksmiths.
"Oh oh!"
Muichiro stood on a hillside, he looked down at the whole look of the blacksmith village, clenched his raised hand, and turned his head to shout at Yuichiro:
"Brother! Look!"
He pointed to the ruins of the blacksmith village:
"There is a village that is so close to our house!" Muichiro's eyes were full of curiousity:
"We didn't know before!"
Yuichiro pretended not to hear, his gaze glanced to the other side.
——What village...
He glanced down slightly.
——This... it's just a ruin, right?
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