Super Fighting Tokyo.

I want to protect myself, protect my companions, protect this era, and more importantly...

"I will protect you, Mr. Musashi."

The headquarters finally spoke up.

At this moment, he no longer needed to bite his wrists, because Musashi's eyes had rolled back, and he had been completely knocked unconscious and paralyzed by the clenching.

"Sorry……"

The commander murmured softly, "Only today, only at this moment, have I finally caught up with you, finally caught up with your loneliness..."

puff.

Musashi collapsed unconscious, while the main force still had one arm that could move.

The power of life and death over Miyamoto Musashi has fallen into the hands of Honbu Izo.

In other words-

The outcome is decided!

……

……

Meanwhile, on the other side

Bai Mucheng relaxed and sat cross-legged on the ground.

Around him, ink rippled and flowed, outlining the figures of his master, as if they had been waiting for this moment to arrive.

"call……"

Bai Mucheng let out a long sigh.

Without needing to say more, his masters and he already shared a tacit understanding, and thus knew what Bai Mucheng was thinking.

How will Shiraki Shō, who was protected by Honbu Izō, face Miyamoto Musashi, who was also protected by Honbu Izō?

The battle against [Peerless Under Heaven] has already been decided.

Next comes the exploration and questioning of Miyamoto Musashi's "Way".

"..."

Bai Mucheng looked ahead, and saw even more beyond reality, like colorful oil paints exploding and splashing in his eyes.

How beautiful!

And the masters all knew this—

Next, it was the disciple's turn to "ask further questions".

Chapter 688 Turbulence in Various Places

This is an ordinary, quiet street located outside the Tokugawa family residence.

In this place, the ordinary night is illuminated by the dim yellow streetlights.

Main body Izō VS Miyamoto Musashi.

The battle between the two ended with the main body choking Musashi, causing Musashi to lose consciousness and fall unconscious, leaving him lying on the main body's lap, thus bringing the battle to a close.

The outcome is decided!

"...This is an indisputable result!"

Tokugawa's eyes widened, his face covered in sweat from nervousness, and even his voice trembled slightly.

The old man never expected that just a few dozen minutes ago he was thinking about going to bed early tonight, but now he was witnessing such a scene.

So abrupt, so unusual, yet so hard to refute!

Is this what "real combat" is?!

"..."

Meanwhile, the other dozen or so onlookers also paused briefly, then fell into deep thought.

Oh……!

What to do? It really was protected by Izou of the main headquarters...

Speechless.

But then, the people being protected started to applaud.

clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap...

Shiraki Sho, Baki, Wu Lei'an, Jack, Doppo, Shibukawa, Retsu Kaioh...

and many more.

At this moment, they felt a series of sweet feelings, including relief, peace of mind, and gratitude.

At the same time, as "those who were surpassed," they also experienced a series of bitter feelings such as anxiety, regret, and jealousy.

—It was a mixed bag of emotions!

……

……

At this moment, Musashi, who was lying on the lap of the main body, also came to his senses from his unconscious state. His hands trembled, and he sat up with a "whoosh".

"Oh……"

Musashi paused for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening. He turned back to look at headquarters, a look of helplessness rising on his blood-covered face.

Musashi turned and sat cross-legged, his brows furrowed, and with a faint smile, he sighed and admitted, "Headquarters, I have lost."

But the headquarters retorted, "Before the outcome was even decided, I had already been cut down by you several times..."

"Do not."

Musashi shook his head frankly, "Those are 'declarations,' they are announcing 'I'm going to cut someone,' which is completely different from actually taking a knife and cutting someone."

The head of the department feigned nonchalance, saying, "So that means you 'went easy' on many occasions..."

"Yes, I know that too."

The headquarters looked toward Musashi.

"Although you see me as an 'enemy,' you don't consider me a 'powerful foe.'"

"Even if you try to cut me, the blade will only strike my armor, but there are countless 'vital points' that it can actually cut! Like the neck..."

“You’ve been exposed, Mr. Musashi.”

The headquarters sighed helplessly, "There is such a record in your book, *The Book of Five Rings*—"

“A thousand days of practice is the ‘forging’ process, and ten thousand days of practice is the ‘refining’ process.”

"In other words, you are still honing your skills. Even just now, you were still playing a 'practice match,' still training!"

"..."

Hearing the headquarters say this, especially mentioning his own book, Musashi scratched his head shyly, but was actually quite frankly happy.

Headquarters continued, "This duel was a fight for you based on the premise of 'survival,' I just got lucky."

“I have become a threat to your ‘victory,’ but I am not enough to threaten Miyamoto Musashi’s ‘life.’”

At this point, the headquarters paused, both nervous and expectant.

"How about it? Want to try... a real life-or-death struggle?"

"..."

Looking at the headquarters, whose limbs were broken and which could no longer stand up, Musashi's expression returned to calm. He did not answer, but stood up again.

"Headquarters, thank you..."

He reached out and grabbed the knife stuck in the right shoulder of the officer. With a quick lift, he ripped open the officer's shoulder, causing blood to gush out.

"But regardless, you still won this battle."

After saying that, Musashi turned and left, hoisting the bloodstained longsword onto his shoulder, and using his shoulder blade to lift his clothes and wipe the blade clean.

Without turning his head, he walked toward the Tokugawa family residence.

The others were stunned for more than ten seconds before they finally came to their senses and rushed forward to treat the seriously injured Honbu Izo.

……

……

The next day.

Inside a ward at Imperial University Hospital.

After a night of surgery, Honbu Izo was out of danger and was lying in a hospital bed with his feet still in a sling.

Because he was still a little sore, he decided not to sleep and instead looked out the window at the rising sun.

"..."

Bai Mucheng sat on the stool beside the bed.

He was the first to visit headquarters.

After a moment of silence, the head of the unit spoke first, somewhat embarrassed, "I'm sorry, Shiraki-kun."

"……Um?"

Bai Mucheng was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Ah, um... what?"

The commander's expression was somber. "Last night, Miyamoto Musashi was planning to go find you, but I ambushed him on his way."

Bai Mucheng then realized what was happening and grinned, "I see. Then you should apologize to me."

"Not just you, everyone else is too."