Under the influence of the reaction force, Kinoshita Mai took several steps back in one breath before stopping her body.

What a coincidence - Kinoshita Mai, who had retreated quickly due to Kamamita's kick just now, happened to retreat to Aoto who was still leaning on the tree trunk and lying on his back.

——So strong...

While Mai Kinoshita massaged her swollen arms, she stared at Kamitachi opposite her with complex eyes filled with annoyance, unwillingness, melancholy and other emotions.

At this time, Kamitachi still had that smile full of ridicule and joking on his face.

He was like a hunter playing with his prey, not in a hurry to immediately swing his butcher knife at the prey under his control.

While holding the sword and flower in his arm, he walked towards Qingnobo and Kinoshita Mai gracefully.

"How about it? Do you still have the strength to stand up? Is there any way to fight again?"

Because the difficulty of the battle turned out to be much easier than he expected, Kamaitachi was in a good mood now. - These two people... especially that man, must be in despair now.

Kamitachi sighed proudly in his heart.

——After finally defeating that Kamino, I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief, but suddenly a person who was far stronger than Kamino was killed.

——Humph, if it were me, I would feel desperate.

Driven by the comfortable feeling of "having a winning chance and teasing these two preys", he now really wanted to see what Qingdeng's expression looked like now.

It's a pity... Qingdeng's face was currently obscured by the shadow of the trees, and even his facial features could not be seen clearly, let alone his expression.

--what to do……?

Kinoshita Mai bit her lower lip, glanced slightly sideways, and glanced at Qingden next to her. - Tachibana-kun... there should be no way to fight anymore. - I can't defeat this one by myself.

Guy...

——I can only try to escape...

——If I was determined to run away, this guy wouldn’t be able to catch up with me. ——But Tachibana-kun...

Kinoshita Mai turned her head slightly again and glanced at Aoden's bruised and exhausted body.

With Qingteng's current body, he definitely can't escape from Kamitachi's grasp... In other words, if he wants Qingto to successfully escape from here, the only way he can choose is to try to hold Kamitachi back.

Do you want to escape by yourself, or do you want to block the Kamitachi for Qingteng and buy time for Qingteng to escape?

Such an option...for Kinoshita Mai, it is not a problem that needs to be considered at all.

There was almost no hesitation.

In less than a moment, Kinoshita Mai made up her mind. "...Tachibana-kun."

Kinoshita Mai lowered her body's center of gravity slightly and spoke softly at a volume that only she and Aoto could hear clearly:

"Do you still have the strength to run?"

"This man is really too strong. Now we... are no match for him." "If you still have the strength to run, leave here quickly." "I'll buy you some time."

When she said the words "buy you time", Kinoshita Mai's eyes flashed with determination.

This shy girl, who did not even dare to speak loudly to strangers, continued to speak forcefully and sonorously in a firm tone:

"Although I can't beat this guy, I can hold him back for about a stick of incense, which is more than enough."

Speaking of this, Kinoshita Mai paused. "...Don't worry about my safety."...

Kinoshita Mai turned her face slightly to the side and showed Qingden a smile that was completely incompatible with the space that was filled with solemnity and a touch of sadness.

Her smile conveyed a comforting message to Qingdeng, "Don't worry, I'll be fine." "I'll run away as soon as you're almost far away."

"You also know my speed, and escaping in a town full of houses is my strong point. If I want to run away, this guy will never be able to catch up with me."

The strong girl seemed to want to say something more. But a strange voice interrupted her words - "...Haha, hahaha..."

"Tachibana-kun...?" Kinoshita Mai looked at Qingto in shock, who suddenly let out a deep laugh.

At this time, Kamitachi also paused. The mocking smile on his face froze slightly, and he cast a confused look at Qingto, who was still lying on the ground.

Under the gaze of two eyes with different emotions... Qingto stood up quietly.

He supported the ground with his left hand and slowly raised his upper body. At the same time, he raised his right hand and swept away all the leaves falling on his body.

The clear moonlight hit Qingden's face as he sat up and escaped from the dark shadow of the trees.

At this time, Kamitachi, who had been thinking about seeing what Qingto looked like now, finally got what he wanted.

He saw Qingdeng's expression now.

At this moment, the sarcastic smile on Kamamitachi's face faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, and his eyes slowly opened wide due to the shocking emotion.

Qingdeng... did not show a look of despair as he had guessed. Rather, it would be better to say - there was no negative emotion on his face at all.

He showed neither despair nor unwillingness or annoyance... He even... smiled. There was a faint smile on the slightly raised corners of Qingden's mouth.

A smile as if he had encountered something very satisfying. "Hahaha..."

After raising his upper body and sitting up, Qingden chuckled a few more times, then raised his hand to rub the back of his head that he had accidentally hit on the tree trunk when he was kicked away by Kamaitachi.

——That change of move just now was really powerful.

——I probably can only use such quick tricks when my body is in good condition and my two talents "Gu Gu" and "Gathering God" are fully activated.

——How did this guy change the knife originally held by the upper section to be held horizontally on his waist at such a fast speed?

——It seems that it does not just rely on the muscle strength of the arms and fingers... but also uses many very delicate techniques.

——What a powerful guy.

After expressing heartfelt praise to Kamitachi in his heart, Qingden grabbed the knife beside him and stood up slowly.

——Okay.—— Defeat him! Qingden raised his eyes and stared at Kamitachi.

The flame-like brilliance that had just appeared in the decisive battle with Kamino was burning in his eyes!

Kamitachi subconsciously looked at Qingto... and then took half a step back with his right foot uncontrollably.

What's going on with this guy?! - Kamaitachi realized that he had taken half a step back unconsciously, and his face suddenly became extremely gloomy.

Is there anything wrong with this guy’s brain?! I’ve already crushed him on one side, do you still want to continue fighting? Do you still think you can win?!

Kamitachi opened his mouth, wanting to say some sarcastic words to Qingden, who was already in such a desperate situation, but yet still showed such a surging fighting spirit without any good intentions...

But after opening his mouth...Kamaitachi couldn't say a word. It wasn't because his tongue and voice couldn't move. It was because his head couldn't think of any mocking words...

It's obvious that this guy who feels like he's having a problem with his head is covered in bruises. It's obvious that no matter how high up his mood this guy is, he can't beat him anymore... But why... why do I see this guy looking like a burning flame at this moment?

After the look in his eyes, there was a trace of... fear in his heart?

Sensing the hint of fear in his heart, Kamitachi suddenly closed his newly opened mouth, and his face suddenly became more gloomy.

Kamitachi's expression went through various changes in this very short period of time... and Mai Kinoshita, who was standing next to Aoto, was no less generous.

Surprised\surprised\confused\stunned... Mai Kinoshita's delicate face flashed through all these emotions, and she blankly squeezed out the unpretentious emotion of surprise towards Qingdeng.

"Tachibana-kun...you\do you want to continue fighting?"

"I can't really let you stay and marry me." Qingdeng smiled and said lightly.

"You don't have to worry about me." Kinoshita Mai said anxiously, "I'm very fast, and the towns and cities full of houses are my best terrain. Even if I stay to break up the rear, as long as I want to escape, this guy will

Definitely pursue..."

"Miss Kinoshita, you can't fool me with such words." Qingto interrupted Kinoshita Mai with a calm voice, "With such an expert as your enemy, even you can't guarantee that you can escape 100% of the time.

?"

"Let's think about things like running away slowly and carefully later."

"Now that you still have the energy to fight... let's focus on thinking about how to defeat your opponent!"

Kinoshita Mai's expression was stunned again. "Tachibana-kun... are you able to win?"

"Yes." Qingdeng replied without hesitation, "Although there are not many opportunities... we are far from being helpless now."

After saying that, Qingden turned his cheek and looked at Mai Kinoshita with a faint smile.

"If you want to defeat this guy, I need your help, Miss Kinoshita. Miss Kinoshita, are you willing to lend a helping hand?"

Qingdeng's eyes... seemed to have some strange magic power.

Kinoshita Mai looked at Ayoto and felt the uneasiness in her heart disappear rapidly.

A strange sense of stability enveloped the whole body, and there was a warm feeling in all the limbs.

This feeling of "the uneasiness was resolved and the mood suddenly became so stable" gave Kinoshita Mai a strong sense of déjà vu... She suddenly remembered: Just tonight, less than 2 hours ago, she learned that

The strong sense of uneasiness that arose after the attack on the settlement was also eliminated in this way.

"..." Kinoshita Mai did not respond to Qingden. She half-closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then he turned around and faced Kamaitachi, spreading his legs with a firm expression on his face and getting into a fighting stance!

Seeing this, Qingto smiled indifferently, then turned around, shoulder to shoulder with Mai Kinoshita, and held Ding Guishen in front of him!

"What do you need me to do?" Kinoshita Mai asked in a low voice.

"Miss Kinoshita, focus on attacking his lower body and try your best to destroy his body's center of gravity." Qingden quietly turned the blade of the sword and set up Kasumi Dan's momentum, "Leave everything else to me..."
To be continued...