Chapter 248: Chapter 111: Aoto vs Cat Monk! Copy Talent: [Milk]

As the black-clad figure dashed around the corridor corner, their silhouette running along the corridor appeared clearly in Aoto’s vision.

This slightly slender black-clad person was dressed in an outfit entirely black from head to toe.

The somewhat loose black clothes and hakama made it difficult to discern their build, while both hands were covered in black cloth gloves that encased all ten fingers.

A black scarf and mask were tied to cover all hair and everything below the eyes.

Throughout Edo, perhaps 9 out of 10 thieves were dressed from head to toe in this manner. Upon seeing this black-clad figure, Aoto instinctively determined that this person was a thief daring to steal from the Magistrate’s Office.

"What’s happening?"

"It’s Lord Tachibana’s voice!"

"Go! Quickly, let’s check it out!"

...

In the distance, the voices of Nishino and his subordinates could be heard.

Aoto’s earlier shout of "There’s a thief!" successfully alerted Nishino and his men.

He had already heard the footsteps of Nishino and the others approaching him.

The feet of the black-clad figure, covered in black tabi, moved at a speed that left Aoto astounded.

Despite Aoto giving his all to chase, the distance between him and the black-clad figure continued to widen.

Though currently still urgently needing relief, Aoto’s speed was slightly compromised. Nonetheless, he felt that even at his peak, he couldn’t keep up with this black-clad figure.

However—Aoto noticed: the black-clad figure seemed unfamiliar with the layout inside the Magistrate’s Office.

After passing through the long corridor, the black-clad figure turned right.

And to the right... it was a dead end.

Seeing the black-clad figure choose a dead end, Aoto secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This fellow has nowhere to go—Aoto thought to himself.

Aoto, closely following, also turned right, entering the dead end.

Still unaware they were in a dead end, the black-clad figure continued to sprint.

Finally, they saw the solid wall blocking their path.

They immediately leaned back, kicked the ground, swiftly halting their body.

The black-clad figure stared at the wall obstructing them for a moment—then suddenly, they spun 180 degrees! Rushing towards Aoto who was right behind them!

The black-clad figure’s speed was astonishing; they lowered their center of gravity so much that their upper body almost seemed to cling to the floor, resembling a feline predator pouncing on its prey.

Seeing the black-clad figure charge at him, Aoto believed they intended to forcibly break through his defense and escape from the dead end.

So, Aoto focused his gaze and drew the Ghost-Slaying from his waist.

Even as a "Three Times" Dōshin, drawing a blade to kill was not done lightly. If he killed someone whose crime didn’t warrant death, not only could it cause massive trouble, but Aoto couldn’t clear the hurdle of his "conscience" either.

Therefore, after drawing the Ghost-Slaying, Aoto turned the blade, intending to use the non-lethal side to subdue the black-clad figure.

Holding his breath and concentrating, he kept his eyes on the black-clad figure’s movements.

Once the black-clad figure entered his attack range, Aoto didn’t hesitate to slash down, aiming for the black-clad figure’s shoulder.

The black-clad figure was like a leaf drifting in the wind.

He "gently" sidestepped to the right, dodging Aoto’s strike.

Seemingly uninterested in tangling with Aoto, after evading Aoto’s strike, the black-clad figure continued sprinting directly, intending to brush past Aoto.

As the black-clad figure was about to pass by Aoto’s left side, Aoto promptly reached out his left hand, grabbing the black-clad figure’s left shoulder.

Successfully caught this guy—Aoto thought of subduing the black-clad figure in one go.

However... just as Aoto’s left palm grasped the black-clad figure’s left shoulder, the figure suddenly lowered, raised, and twisted their left shoulder!

A fierce force instantly surged towards Aoto’s left hand like a raging tide.

Under the impact of this immense force, even with the "Skillful Hands" talent, Aoto felt his left hand slip off as though gripping a slippery eel from the black-clad figure’s left shoulder!

To outsiders, it may seem unclear what the black-clad figure did just now.

But Aoto, with notable skills in Hand-to-Hand Combat, saw clearly: this black-clad figure had just used a highly skilled Force-Relieving Technique to shake off his left hand!

Probably believing that finding a way to shake off Aoto’s pursuit was necessary for a smooth escape, after breaking free from Aoto’s grasp, the black-clad figure swiftly turned their upper body, faced Aoto, raised their right hand, with the right palm fingers together, aimed at Aoto’s left shoulder, and slammed it down!

Despite being so petite, the power of the black-clad figure’s palm strike was extremely frightening!

The "whoosh" sound of the wind breaking... didn’t seem like an attack such a physique could produce.

Before there was time to marvel at the force of the black-clad figure’s attack, Aoto swiftly sidestepped, bent his left forearm down, flipped his left elbow up, the elbow tip targeting the black-clad figure’s palm.

Utilizing the moment before the black-clad figure’s palm strike reached, before their palm accelerated to maximum speed, he proactively pushed his left elbow tip out!

This is precisely the classic "Vertical Elbow Defense" in Hand-to-Hand Combat, combined with "staying close to the opponent, shortening the opponent’s punching distance, making it hard for them to exert force."

The right palm of the black-clad figure and Aoto’s left elbow tip collided heavily.

The left elbow tip’s bone was thick and hard. Ever since emulating Nagakura Shinpachi’s "Steel Bone" talent, the hardness of Aoto’s bones had further increased.