I formed the strongest swordsman group

"Miss Sanako, I finally found you..."

Qingdeng smiled helplessly, and walked slowly towards Sanazi.

"Mr. Ju?" Zuo Nazi looked surprised, "Why are you here?"

Perhaps because she felt that it was impolite to show her thighs in front of outsiders, Sanako lifted her straight thighs, which were so tender and bluish-white under the moonlight, from the river, took out the pocket paper, and wiped the skin on her feet and legs. Then put on the white socks, tighten the clogs, straighten the hem of the hakama with one hand, and stand up with the other hand supporting the ground.

"I just saw Shigetaro-san and Chiba Tomon Shirō-kun at the Ryogoku Bridge, and learned from Shigetaro-san that you have been missing since this afternoon."

"Although you left a letter declaring you safe, Shigetaro-san... and Chiba Tamonshirō-kun and I are all worried about you, so we don't care about swordsmanship or martial arts."

"We split up and went to the places you often go to find you."

"This morning, you told me that this river bank is your 'secret treasure land', so I wondered if you would be in this place... I'm so lucky, I didn't expect to find you here gone."

When he finished speaking, Qing Deng happened to walk up to Zuo Nazi.

"Meet my elder brother and fourth cousin at Liangliangqiao? Swordsmanship and martial arts?" Zuo Nazi raised his chin slightly, and gave Qingdeng a puzzled look.

"Huh?" Qing Deng, who noticed the change in Sanako's eyes, tilted his head, "Miss Sanako, didn't Mr. Shigetaro tell you? I will also participate in the swordsmanship demonstration at Ryogoyo Bridge tonight."

Sanako really doesn't know.

Chiba Shigetaro originally planned to confess to Sanako the fact that "Qingdeng will also come to perform swordsmanship together tonight" this afternoon.

However, Sanako has been down all day today, except for the moment when he just got up and went back home briefly at noon, he has never met Chiba Shigetaro again, so Chiba Shigetaro has not been able to discuss this matter for a long time. Tell Sanako.

"?!" In Sanako's beautiful eyes, there was a light of surprise.

Immediately afterwards, as if she wanted to understand something, her slightly lowered eyelids showed a faint arc of helplessness.

"Brother... so it's like this..."

After whispering in a soft voice like breathing, Sanako closed his eyes, raised his head, took a deep breath, and then turned around, facing the silver glow of countless moonlight on it. The dancing river, with its back to Qingdeng.

"...Mr. Ju, I'm sorry, I'm so ashamed that I bothered you to find me."

"Although it's impolite to say that...but can you please avoid it for a while?"

"Now...I want to watch the moon here alone for a while."

"Please go back and tell your brother and four cousins: don't worry about me, don't look for me anymore, I will go home before the moon rises to the highest altitude."

Qingdeng: "..."

After Sanako's voice fell, Qingdeng's face, which had been relaxed just now because he successfully found Sanako, tensed up again.

Is it a lighting problem? Or is it a matter of perspective...?

Qingdeng always feels that the back of Sanazi at this moment... is much thinner than usual...

He opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to say something to Sanako, but he couldn't utter half a word.

I have nothing to say... my head is blank... although I have racked my brains desperately, I still can't think of a word that applies to the situation at hand.

The difficulties faced by Zuo Nazi are much harsher and crueler than those faced by the chief executive now.

No, what Sanako is facing cannot be summed up as "difficulties"...it should be more accurately described as "desperate situation".

The boss is just that her sister doesn't allow her to practice martial arts anymore, and Sanako is directly sentenced to death for her future martial arts achievements...

Qingdeng also knows what kind of feelings Sanako has for Bu Dao.

Abandoned by things that he had fought for most of his life... To be honest, it was hard for Qingdeng to say that he felt empathy for the situation that Zenazi was currently facing.

After all, he is not like Sanako, who has such a fierce passion for martial arts.

"Martial arts achievements stop here"... This kind of thing will not happen to Qingdeng for a long time in the foreseeable future.

If it is difficult to empathize with others' feelings, any comforting words spoken will lose their strength.

Say to those who value "results" "Don't take results so seriously, cheer up"... This kind of casual kindness is often more heartbreaking than pure malice.

Especially Qingdeng still remembers that a few days ago...that is, when he singled out the heroes of the Little Chiba Sword Gym, he once said to Zanako, with your ability, one day you will be able to win in the martial arts and let everyone An achievement that everyone agrees with.

At this moment, looking back on this statement, I only feel full of irony...

The time in this space seems to be frozen at this moment.

Sanako, who was quietly looking at the river, said nothing.

Qingdeng, who didn't know what to say or what to say now, tried repeatedly to say something, but until now he couldn't utter a single sentence.

It's strange to say... Looking at the soft and weak figure of Sanazi, who felt like it would be broken in two with a light fold, Qingdeng could only feel something "something" rising from the depths of his heart—— — a strong emotion.

Qingdeng knew what this emotion was called.

As long as they are normal human beings, they should all know the name of this emotion.

This is the emotion called "sadness".

Why do you feel sad when you see Sanako's delicate back at this moment? Qingdeng has no time to think about this question at the moment.

Everything is good, I want to do something for Sanazi—driven by this strong impulse that gushed out of his mind, Qingdeng has no spare energy to pay more attention to himself and the outside world except for this "impulse". of any thing.

At this moment, Night Breeze sent a series of uproarious sounds.

This series of sounds is very soft, vaguely absent...but it was still keenly captured by Qingdeng, who has a "wind sensor" - this is the unique sound of drinking five and six when people gather noise.

This "secret treasure land" of Sanako happens to be on a small high ground where you can overlook Edo from a commanding height.

Turning his head in Qingdeng following the noise, he saw dense lights in the distance.

That's the Ryogoku Bridge...that is, the direction where the fireworks display will be held.

"..."

Qingdeng opened his eyes slightly, and pursed his lips as if realizing something.

"...Miss Sanako."

Then, he turned his attention back to Sanako.

"Come with me, please. I'll show you something nice."

Zuo Nazi turned his face silently, and looked at Qingdeng with puzzled eyes.

Before she could say anything, she felt the bright wrist of her left hand being clamped by an iron tongs——Qingdeng unceremoniously raised his big hand, grabbed Sanazi's left wrist, and then pulled her directly without saying a word I strode towards Edo.

"Huh? Wait, wait a minute!"

Qingdeng's sudden and strange behavior caused a trace of panic to flash across Sanako's cheeks unconsciously.

"Where are you taking me?"

Sanako subconsciously leaned back, trying to resist Qingdeng's pull.

But in terms of strength, how can she be the opponent of Qingdeng who is both male and full of muscles?

After struggling for a while, there was nothing but pain in my wrist.

"Where to...Leave it a secret for now."

Qingdeng, who had no intention of letting go, turned his head and smiled slightly at Sanazi.

"When you reach your destination, you will know where you are going. The place I want to take you to is not too far from here, and you will be there soon."

After a while, Qingdeng dragged Sanako back to Edo, and came to a street where pedestrians gradually appeared.

A young samurai dragged a beautiful woman and galloped along the street... Such a spectacle can be said to have attracted a lot of strange eyes.

Sanako, as Yamato Nadeko who attaches great importance to etiquette and image, how can she stand the attention of others like this?

"I see."

Sanako hurriedly said to Qingdeng.

"I'll just go with you, don't hold my hand anymore."

Seeing that Zuo Nazi seemed to have no intention of running away when he let go of his hand, Qingdeng nodded, and let go of Zuo Nazi's wrist.

Sanako lightly rubbed his wrist, which had finally regained his freedom a few times, then raised his gaze, frowned slightly, and looked at Qingdeng's back.

"Mr. Ju, seriously... where are you taking me?"

Zuo Nazi walked a few steps faster and walked side by side with Qingdeng.

"I've said it all, let's keep it a secret for now." Qingdeng smiled mysteriously, "When you get to the destination, you will know where I'm going to take you."

"...Don't take me to any strange place."

"No. The place I want you to go to is serious. It's a place where men, women and children can pass freely."

While talking with Qing Deng, Zuo Nazi suddenly heard the voices of people in front of him.

Listening to the noise that became louder as she and Qingdeng gradually moved forward, and looked at the surrounding neighborhood... Zonazi suddenly seemed to have guessed the purpose of her and Qingdeng's trip A clear expression of where the land is.

"We're here." Suddenly, Qing Deng said with a smile.

Sanako raised his eyes and looked forward.

The complex and colorful bustling scene unfolded in front of Sanako in such a compelling manner that it was hard to look away.

What you see in your eyes is the sea of ​​bright lights in Xinghan; row upon row of shops and vendors; and the bustling crowd like mountains and seas.

What I hear in my ears are all kinds of accents from all over the world;

What you smell in front of your nose is the mouth-watering aroma of food and wine; the sour and unpleasant smell of body sweat; the pungent and pungent smell of gunpowder.

It is the scene of the fireworks display.

"Mr. Ju, you...do you want to take me to watch the fireworks display?" Sanako asked hesitantly.

"Yes." Qingdeng nodded without hesitation, then lowered his head, and said to Zuo Nazi, "This annual grand ceremony...wouldn't it be a disadvantage if you don't come and have a good time?"

"...Mr. Ju." Zuo Nazi looked at the bustling scene beside him, then at Qingdeng in front of him, his red lips slightly flattened, "I..."

"Miss Sanako."

Qingdeng seemed to have anticipated what Sanazi would say, and interrupted him just when he was in time to say "I":

"Just now... when Shigetaro said that you were missing, I told Mr. Shigetaro and Chiba Tamon Shirou-kun that you suddenly came to me for a discussion this morning."

"After learning about your whereabouts this morning, Mr. Shigetaro showed a worried expression."

"I met Chiba Domon Shiro-kun and asked him if he knew anything."

"Then... he gave Chiba Tadomonshirō-kun a rough summary of his conversation with your father last night, and the whole story that you may have heard the conversation between the two of them."

"!" Sanako's pupils shrank slightly, and her beautiful eyes, which were widened a little, shone with a complex brilliance mainly of astonishment.

Qingdeng pretended not to see the change in Sanazi's expression, and continued to speak on his own:

"Honestly speaking, incidents of this level are beyond the limits of meddling by outsiders like me."

"But even so, even a little bit, I want to do what I can for you."

"Even if it's just to make you feel better, I'm content."

"Your second cousin... Chiba Eijiro once said to me: When you are confused and don't know what to do, you might as well try to change your mood."

"Try a life you've never experienced before."

"Go to places that you seldom go to, or places you have never been to."

"As long as the mood improves, then maybe many problems can be solved naturally."

"I think Chiba Eijirou-kun's theory is very reasonable."

Speaking of this, Qingdeng paused, and then showed a peaceful smile to Sanazi.

"This year's fireworks display, only tonight and tomorrow night are left."

"If you miss these two days, you will have to wait until next year to experience such a lively celebration again."

"Miss Sanako, tonight, let's get out of that 'secret treasure land' you're used to."

"Tonight, just enjoy this annual summer celebration without thinking of anything else."

As if hearing something unexpected, Sanako looked at Qingdeng with an expression full of elusive emotions.

After a while, she seemed to be amused by Qingdeng's words just now, and a half-smile appeared on her cheeks.

"Bringing me to a fireworks display just to cheer me up..." She changed her tone half-joking, "What if instead of being happier, I become even more depressed?"

"Well, this..."

Qingdeng gently scratched the hair on the back of his head, then laughed as if embarrassed, and subconsciously blurted out:

"I dare not speak boldly and say that what I did tonight will definitely make you feel better."

"But I can at least assure you that I'll be with you tonight until you're willing to smile."

Sanako's body trembled lightly... with a dumbfounded look on his face, his vacillating eyes looked at Qingdeng's face and chest, his hands folded in front of him, and the ground in front of his toes repeatedly swayed.

Not only Sanako stayed.

Qingdeng also showed a dazed expression at this moment.

——What was I talking about just now...? !

At this moment, Qingdeng's heart was churning with turbulent waves.

What he said just now... was basically completely out of his mind!

They were all words that blurted out unconsciously as soon as they took shape in their minds.

It wasn't until the words were finished that Qingdeng realized that he seemed to have said some ambiguous words to Zuo Nazi that were not qualified for the current relationship between the two of them...

At this moment, Qingdeng recalled Kinoshita Mai's pretty face...

A strange sense of guilt climbed into Qingdeng's heart...

The two of them who were stunned at the same time fell silent... However, before the atmosphere around the two of them became strange, Sanako, who had been standing motionless by Qingdeng's side since just now, suddenly moved.

Folding her hands in front of her body, she moved lightly with lotus steps towards the front, towards the dense flow of people ahead, towards the world surrounded by candlelight.

Qingdeng, who was still standing in place, stared blankly at this beautiful figure that gradually melted into the sea of ​​lights.

"……What's wrong?"

Sanako stopped, turned his upper body slightly sideways, and looked at Qingdeng with the left side of his face.

The clear Xiaohui and flickering candlelight shone from behind her.

The dazzling light kept Sanako's figure in relative darkness, but it also perfectly outlined Sanako's extraordinary body curves.

"Didn't you say you would stay with me until I am happy?"

Although Sanako's face was in the shadows, and because she only showed half of her face to Qingdeng, Qingdeng couldn't quite see the changes in her facial expression.

But he vaguely saw a look of embarrassment and reproach on Sanako's cheeks.

The legs suddenly "moved by themselves".

Qingdeng took two quick steps, closely following Zuo Nazi's pace.

The two walked slowly...the backs of one big and one small, accompanied by the moonlight and candlelight, were coated with a hazy film of light.

...

...

Going out with Sanako... is the first time.

He was already quite familiar with Sanazi, but now he couldn't explain why, and he didn't know what to talk to Sanazi beside him.

It was the same with Sanazi, she didn't say a word the whole time, just quietly accompanied Qingdeng's side all the time.

The two of them remained silent the whole time, chattering aimlessly in the venue of the fireworks display.

But not boring and dull.

Although he had prepared himself psychologically, Sanako's popularity far exceeded Qingdeng's expectations.

...

"Hey, look at that woman, she's so beautiful."

"Huh? Isn't this Chiba Sanako?"

"Chiba Sanako? Is that 'Chiba's Oni Komachi'?"

"Oh, it's really her. Oh, I never get tired of seeing her face."

...

No matter where they go, there are a lot of sights concentrated on them from all directions.

Most of the owners of these gazes don't actually know who the beautiful woman in front of them is, and they don't care who this person is. They just want to admire the beauty with their shy eyes.

In comparison, Qingdeng, the "King of Ren", has received much less attention. Regardless of men and women, they all just went to see Sanako.

Forced by the popularity of Sanazi, Qingdeng couldn't help murmuring: "It's going to be hard to move forward..."

Although so far, no one has come forward to harass them, but being surrounded by people like animals in a zoo will make people feel very uncomfortable after all.

"I'll go buy a mask to hide my face." Although Zuo Nazi has long been used to being surrounded by people, the current situation of being watched by a dozen or dozens of people is beyond her tolerance.

Qingdeng turned his face, and looked at Sanazi carefully from head to toe.

"...Miss Sanako, I think you should change your clothes."

"Huh?" Zuo Nazi blinked his eyes a few times in confusion.

"Your kendo uniform is too conspicuous. Even if you cover your face with a mask, there will definitely be many people looking at us curiously."

Hearing what Qingdeng said, Zuo Nazi raised his head and looked around.

Everywhere you can see, the girls are all wearing colorful and fancy bathrobes.

Indeed, as Qingdeng said, wearing a women's kendo uniform, she looked extremely out of place here.

At this time, Qing Deng suddenly noticed that there was a Wu clothing shop not far ahead.

This Wufu shop has a large banner at the store door, with a big word written on the banner: Bathrobes for rent.

"... Miss Sanako." Qingdeng smiled at Zuozi, "Shall we rent a bathrobe?"

...

...

Waiting for Sanazi to change into his bathrobe in the Wufu shop, Qingdeng folded his hands on the scabbard of Ding Guishen, and quickly tapped the knife with the index finger of his right hand, making a "knock, knock" sound .

It's hard to say...Qingdeng feels very anxious now.

Because he was in a hurry to see Sanako in her yukata.

He had never seen Sanako in a yukata before.

Sanako, who is so serious that she is a little stuffy, dresses quite dignifiedly on weekdays, and never wears casual clothes like yukatas.

In fact, just now, Qingdeng also used the excuse of "if we don't change our clothes, we will be too conspicuous", Xiaozhi finally persuaded Zuo Nazi to go to this Wu clothing store to rent a pair of clothes. bathrobe.

Obviously, I don't have any special preference for clothes like yukata...but for some reason, I just look forward to seeing Sanako wearing a yukata soon.

Thinking that I would see Sanako in a bathrobe later... Qingdeng was anxious, but also felt very looking forward to it.

But...while feeling restless and looking forward to it, a sense of guilt welled up in Qingdeng's heart again...

Kinoshita Mai's pretty face resurfaced in Qingdeng's mind again...

"..." Qingdeng closed his eyes silently, clenched his right fist, and repeatedly tapped his forehead with the face of his fist like knocking on a door.

When I just woke up this morning, I still fantasized about rushing to the Chishiya in one breath, and hugged Kinoshita Mai into my arms. As a result, in less than 12 hours, I began to look forward to seeing Sanako change into a yukata soon.

Qingdeng vaguely felt that what he did was a little immoral...

Just when Qing Deng was falling into a particularly strong self-criticism——

"Ah Mo, do you know? Those patriots who are talking about 'removing the barbarians' have made big moves recently."

"Big move? What big move? Will there be another radical association like the 'Tuyi Group'?"

People with lofty ideals against barbarians... More than two months ago, Qingdeng, who had just fought to the death with a large group of people with lofty ideals against barbarians, was particularly sensitive to this term.

Ignoring any "self-criticism" anymore, Qing Deng hurriedly followed the sound.

The two people who were talking were a pair of young men and women standing side by side under the eaves of a shop not far away, "humming and humming" eating dorayaki that was still steaming.

The man didn't have a saber, and he had a commoner hairstyle.

The woman's appearance is mediocre, whether it is her face or her manners, she exudes the rustic air of a village girl.

Free love is more common among civilians who are less disciplined.

Qingdeng thought to himself, this couple should be taking advantage of this grand ceremony to come on a date together.

There is one thing to say, when he heard that the man used political topics as an introduction to the chat, Qingdeng's expression became weird uncontrollably.

Talking to girls about politics... How is that different from talking to girls about destroyers?

Qingdeng couldn't help but think back to a friend in his previous life: I don't know what was wrong with that person. Whenever he went on a blind date, he would love to chat with his blind date about how aircraft carrier battle groups perform combat missions, why aircraft carriers are the country's national treasures. What is the difference between a heavy weapon, a destroyer and a cruiser...

Qingdeng originally thought that the woman would be less interested in the topic of "people with lofty ideals against barbarians" raised by the man.

But who knows, the woman is actually very interested.

"It's not that there is a new 'dispossessing barbarians' group, but that those guys who keep saying 'reject barbarians' and call themselves 'spirited men' have become smarter...or just become more cunning."

The man talked eloquently.

"Today, the emperor hates the barbarians quite a lot, and has repeatedly urged the shogunate to quickly launch an operation to expel all the barbarians who have landed on our land without leaving a single place."

"Many anti-barbarian patriots saw the emperor's dislike for the barbarians, and on the grounds of 'to share the worries of the sage, it is incumbent' to play the slogan that Duke Huan of Qi once shouted to gather people's hearts when he dominated the Central Plains in the Tang Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period:' Respect the king and fight against the barbarians', and began to call himself 'respect the people with lofty ideals'."

The so-called "Emperor Today" is the honorific title for the current Emperor.

After quietly listening to the man's narration, the woman was puzzled and said:

"It's just that I changed my slogan and called myself... It doesn't seem like a big deal."

"You don't understand." The man grinned, "The difference is huge. Let's put it this way, if the people with lofty ideals in the past were just scattered sand, now with the banner of 'Respecting the King and Fighting the Barbarians' Now, they have the opportunity and ability to gather together to form a mountain. Ah, the dorayaki is finished, and it seems that I am not full, let's go buy some delicious food."

"Well, let's go."

The young couple walked away.

As he was leaving, the man continued to explain to the woman eloquently why the people with lofty ideals who fought against the barbarians would be transformed as if they were completely reborn after chanting the slogan "Respect the King and Fight the Barbarians", while the woman was fascinated by what she heard.

Qing Deng, who silently watched the couple leave, frowned.

——Respect the king and fight against the barbarians...

Qingdeng suddenly realized that his recent life was too comfortable, and he spent every day in four warm places, namely, the test hall, Qianshi house, Xiaoqianba sword hall, and Ai Luodi's house.

The too comfortable life made Qingdeng unconsciously ignore: the current world is full of chaos and blood.

Unknowingly, the "Baoyi faction" has evolved...

Taking the emperor's dislike of barbarians as the legal support, it gained political soil and theoretical support.

Don't underestimate these two things.

For an organization or a force, the presence or absence of these two things can be said to be a qualitative difference.

Although the man just now was a commoner, he had good vision and knowledge. What he just said is basically correct.

Although the real power to rule the country is in the hands of the shogunate general who conquered barbarians, the emperor clan, which has existed for thousands of years, has unparalleled cultural influence.

With the emperor as the platform behind them, the fighters against barbarians shouted the political slogan "respect the king and fight against barbarians", which is equivalent to obtaining a banner with a clear program of action that can gather people's hearts, and has the ability to leap onto the political stage...

Qingdeng couldn't help but not care about the evolution of the people with lofty ideals against barbarians.

After all, after a while... on November 1st, he will officially take up his post and become the new leader of the third team of Huofu Thief Kai and the leader of the seventh team of the Xianshou bow group.

At that time, maybe I will have more frequent contacts with the patriots than when I was working in the Beifan Office...

Qingdeng's brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

But suddenly—

"Mr. Ju...I've changed my clothes."

From behind came Sanako's... a somewhat twitchy voice.

Qingdeng, whose thoughts were interrupted, frowned, turned his face around following the sound, and looked behind him.

The moment his eyes turned to the rear... Lao Shizi, who was reflecting on his "immoral behavior" tonight, was self-criticizing and disappeared instantly.

*****

*****

Ding! Qingdeng successfully completed the achievement: 2 ship jumps! Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations~

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ps: Everyone in real life, don't learn from Qingdeng. He will be chopped to death with a hatchet.