I formed the strongest swordsman group

About an hour later—

"I said why it's getting hotter and hotter! So it's already this hour!"

While looking up at the sky, Mucun took off the haori on his upper body.

The pale yellow sun has just emerged from behind a thin white cloud and is about to reach the highest point in the sky.

The faint beam of light struggled to penetrate the layers of cold fog, and hit the streets and alleys of Edo weakly.

Compared with the coldness of severe winter, the warmth of the sun is nothing to mention, but it still raises the temperature in the air a little.

"Hahaha! It's good to have a higher temperature! I don't like too cold weather!"

After finishing speaking, Mu Cun held up the number of bottles of wine that had long since been counted, and took another deep gulp.

Seeing this, the corners of Qingdeng's mouth twitched.

He strongly doubts whether Mucun has the talent of "drinker +9" in his body.

Although Kiryu thoughtfully prepared squid, fried beans and other appetizers, Mucun hardly touched these snacks, and just kept drinking.

Except for a short pause in the middle of the discussion with Qingdeng, Mucun never stopped drinking, and he drank vigorously without stopping.

The degree of the water above cannot be said to be very high, but pouring so much wine into the stomach in one breath, even if you are not drunk, your stomach should be bloated and uncomfortable, right?

However, Mucun only had a slightly red face and a slightly distended belly, and everything else was as usual.

Clear consciousness, clear articulation, speech and demeanor without half-drunkness.

——A lot of alcohol...Mr. Makimura must belong to the kind of person who can "live" to the end in various banquet scenes...

Qing Deng thought to himself.

At the same time, he couldn't help but recall in his mind the scene where he accidentally drank the fragment on New Year's Eve a few days ago.

"Hmm...Mr. Makimura...Sorry...I can't drink anymore..."

Kinoshita Mai let out a "hum" and hiccupped cutely.

Kinoshita Mai's drinking capacity is very average, and after drinking a few glasses of ordinary sake, her face will start to blush.

At this time, Kinoshita Mai was already looking slightly drunk, her pretty and lovely face was dyed a blush.

Qingdeng has always liked Kinoshita Wu's blushing, so he thinks Kinoshita Wu's drunken state is very cute.

"Hahaha! Young master, your drinking capacity needs to be strengthened! Well, since the young master can't drink anymore...Kiryu, Tachibana, let's continue drinking!"

The sound of the wine bottle being lifted, accompanied by Mu Cun's laughter, echoed in the courtyard and lingered for a long time.

Looking at Mucun, who felt like he could still drink for a day and a night, bits and pieces of embarrassment gradually emerged on Qingdeng's cheeks.

He looked up at the sky and thought to himself: It's almost afternoon...

Qingdeng did not forget the promise with Kinoshita Mai because he was so busy drinking: this afternoon, he will go out with her to play.

Based on Mucun's heroic personality and his ability to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, I always feel that even if I drink with him until the sun goes down, he will still be full of energy.

Do you want to continue to drink with this old man, or keep your promise and go out with Kinoshita Mai?

For Qingdeng, this was a question that did not require him to think even for a second.

I am a young man, and I have always promised money! Whatever you promise to others, you will do your best to achieve perfection! So, how can I break my promise to Ah Wu?

After shouting in his heart in a very firm tone, Qingdeng paused for a moment, then changed into a tone as if whispering, and added softly in his heart:

It's definitely not because I'm lustful, it's definitely not because I want to go out with the girl I like more than drinking with my grandfather...

With this thought in mind, Qingdeng began to think about how to use appropriate and polite words to reject the drinking situation that he didn't know when it would end.

At the same time, he subconsciously looked sideways at Kinoshita Mai beside him.

Coincidentally, Kinoshita Mai also turned her head to look at Qingdeng at the same time as if she had a heart-to-heart connection.

Affected by her shy personality, Mai Kinoshita is not good at making eye contact with others.

The moment her eyes met Qingdeng's, she subconsciously dodged her eyes and wanted to avoid them.

However, in just a split second, relying on her strong will and fiery emotion, she straightened her eyes again and looked into Qing Deng's eyes without flinching.

It's nerve-wracking, if I continue to drink with Mr. Mucun like this, I'm afraid this afternoon's travel plan will be ruined - Kinoshita Mai said this to Qingdeng with her eyes and expression, while showing a shy wry smile.

The eye contact between the two was very subtle.

However, this "silent communication" was discovered by others.

And the discoverer was the person with the worst eyesight at the scene.

Kiryu looked at Qingdeng, and then at Mai Kinoshita. The eyes hidden behind the glasses flickered slightly.

"... Mucun, let me drink with you. As for Mr. Ju, don't let him drink anymore."

Mucun: "Huh?"

Qingdeng, Kinoshita Mai, and Mucun all cast surprised glances at Kiryu with uniform movements.

"Old people live like old people, and young people live like young people. Today's weather is not bad. On this fine day, it's too wasteful not to let young people go out to vent their energy, but to trap them under the eaves." .”

After finishing speaking, Kiryu looked at Qingdeng and Kinoshita Mai with a smile.

"If I'm not wrong, you two have an appointment this afternoon, right?"

A word to wake up the dreamer. Hearing what Kiryu said, Mucun suddenly showed an expression of enlightenment.

"Oh! So that's it! What, Tachibana, if you have an appointment with the young master, talk about it earlier! Hahaha!"

Kinoshita Mai's pretty face, which was already blush from the alcohol, suddenly turned a little redder.

As Kiryu and Mucun's voice fell, she quickly loaded the ostrich with a reflex-like speed, and buried her small face low.

Tongsheng actually saw through everything... This feeling as if being caught by the parents of the woman who was having sex with the other's daughter caused Qingdeng to be greatly embarrassed.

However, embarrassment is only a temporary thing.

In the blink of an eye, Qingdeng managed to adjust his emotions, and gave grateful eyes to the understanding Kiryu.

...

...

Thanks to Kiryu's rescue, Qingdeng and Kinoshita Mai escaped from the endless drinking situation smoothly.

Kinoshita Mai changed her outfit.

The outermost clothes on her body are still the exquisite red kimono given to her by her grandmother; inside the kimono are a few extra scarves for cold protection; a pink scarf is wrapped around her tender neck; two The little feet are covered with white cotton socks; the whole body exudes the unique youthful atmosphere of a girl of her age.

"Qingdeng, let's go..."

Kinoshita Mai squeezed the belt of the kimono tightly, and whispered like breathing.

Sentimental dimples filled his lovely face.

Although Qingdeng and Kinoshita Mai have a very good relationship, so far, the two of them seldom go on dates together.

Watched by Kiryu and Mucun, the figures of young men and women disappeared at the intersection outside Senshiya.

The two old men returned to the verandah of the courtyard.

Without the company of Qing Deng and Kinoshita Wu, the place suddenly became much deserted.

"Young master... really grown up..."

Mucun will be full of emotions, which will turn into long sighs.

"The older I get, the more I feel that time flies by."

Mucun stretched out his hand and compared it to his thigh.

"Back in the day, when the lord brought the young master back, the young master was only so big, like a kitten, as if she could be strangled to death with just a light pinch."

"I didn't expect... In just a blink of an eye, the young master has become a legally married girl. There is also someone I like... I'm afraid it won't be long before we can see the young master wearing white Wugou's clothes." It looks like it."

Kiryu joked:

"Makimura, you seem to be particularly sentimental today."

"Sentimental? Hahaha! Maybe!" Mucun folded his arms in front of his chest, raised his head, and looked at the distant sky, "Sentimental and reminiscing about the past-these are the privileges of us old people, aren't they?"

"Well... that's true." Kiryu agreed.

Makimura continued:

"To be honest, I used to worry that the young master with a weak personality would be fooled by the sweet words of the unreliable prodigal son."

"Did such stupid things as 'unwillingly donate money and sex', 'elope with people recklessly'."

"Fortunately, this worry did not become a reality. Overall, I am very satisfied with Tachibana. The last time I met such an outstanding Junjie...was on Butterfly Island 70 years ago."

"70 years ago... Butterfly Island..." Kiryu raised his eyebrows, "Do you mean... Ogata-kun?"

"Who else is there besides him?" Mucun grinned, "Ah, speaking of Ogata...Kuro, let me ask you something."

Because there were no outsiders around, Mucun switched the address for Kiryu back to the nickname he had called for decades: Kuro.

Kiryu: "Huh?"

"I also discovered it by accident when I was sparring with Tachibana just now. Do you think that Tachibana is very similar to Ogata and Gen-sama?"

"..." Kiryu was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly with a smile in his eyes, "I discovered this as early as before I confiscated Mr. Tachibana as a disciple."

Seeing that Tongyu had the same feelings as himself, the smile on Mucun's face gradually grew stronger.

"Haha! You really wanted to go with me! Although at first glance, Tachibana, Ogata, and Gen-sama don't have any similarities in appearance and temperament, but it is inexplicable that they are very similar. a feeling of."

"Especially when Tachibana is fighting, he will occasionally show that intoxicated look that seems to be addicted to 'sword swinging'... It's exactly the same as Gen-sama!"

"Oh, Kuro, tell me: Will Tachibana grow into a great swordsman like Ogata and Gen-sama in the future?"

As soon as Mucun's voice fell, Kiryu said in a decisive tone without hesitation:

"No, I don't think so."

Before Mucun could respond, Kiryu continued without hesitation:

"I think Tachibana will surpass Ogata-kun and Gen-sama."

The tone revealed by Kiryu's words was so firm, like a sharp sword that was suddenly unsheathed, piercing the surrounding air with a "chichi" sound.

Makimura stared at Kiryu dumbfounded.

"Uh...well, Kuro, Tachibana's talent for swordsmanship is indeed outstanding, but..."

Before Mucun finished speaking, Kiryu interrupted him.

"Makimura, you misunderstood. I don't mean Tachibana-kun's swordsmanship achievement will surpass Ogata and Gen-sama."

"What I mean is: Tachibana-kun is expected to leave a rich and colorful stroke in the future history books that even Ogata-kun and Gen-sama can't match."

Mucun raised his face, his eyes buried in layers of wrinkles suddenly opened wide.

"Kuro, you, you..."

His tongue seemed to be knotted, and he muttered for a long time without uttering a word with specific content.

"Do you think I'm exaggerating?"

Kiryu asked in a joking tone.

Makimura nodded seriously.

"You may find it unbelievable, but what I just said is from the bottom of my heart."

"I sincerely believe that Mr. Ju's future identity and achievements are not limited to swordsmen and kendo."

Kiryu filled the small porcelain cup in his hand with full wine.

"Makimura, have you heard the roar of the times?"

"Overseas, the Western countries are eyeing it like a tiger."

"Overseas, the feudal lords of the Western Kingdom are ready to go."

"At the same time, there are also independent forces such as the Fazhu Party and the Oshio Heihachiro Remnant Party lurking under the undercurrent, and they should move and plan at the right time."

"I used to have my doubts. But now, I am sure - a new Warring States era is coming."

"War, Warring States...?!" Mucun was dumbfounded.

He originally wanted to say, "No matter how chaotic the current national situation is, it will not repeat the Warring States situation, right?". However, after seeing Kiryu's serious expression, combined with his own understanding of Kiryu and what he has seen and heard in recent years...Makimura gradually suppressed the smile on his face and put on a focused demeanor.

"Although the Edo shogunate is in decline, its hundred feet are not stiff."

"According to my observation, the current general of the shogunate, Iemo Tokugawa, is a rare enlightened lord."

"Externally, there are powerful feudal clans such as Aizu Fan and Kuwana Fan; inside, there is the Ming Lord at the helm. It is not impossible for the Edo Shogunate to achieve rejuvenation and revive the glory of the 'Shamrock'."

"The West Country has its own ghosts, but they should not be underestimated."

"The Changzhou Domain has extremely strong financial resources because it controls the Shimonoseki Strait. Moreover, the historical grievances between the Choshu Domain and the Edo Shogunate are the deepest."

"The Satsuma domain is ambitious, and all the samurai in the collar are brave and good at fighting. The most important thing is that under the reform of the former lord Shimadzu Qibin, the Satsuma domain has completed a rough industrialization, with iron smelting reverberatory furnaces, melting furnaces, Advanced industries such as forges, steam engine factories, shipyards, and gun factories."

"Under the auspices of Yoshida Toyo, the Tosa Clan also started the reform of breaking up the family status, prospering the industry, and enriching the country and strengthening the army."

"The Saga clan continued to 'make a fortune in silence'. Before the 'Black Ship Incident' happened, the Saga clan had already carried out in-depth research on Western culture by virtue of its favorable geographical advantage of being backed by Nagasaki. And launched a large-scale Westernization construction. After decades of accumulation and precipitation, the current Saga Domain is already superior in medicine, industry, military, technology and many other aspects."

"Whether it's Changzhou or Satsuma; whether it's Tosa or Saga, it's impossible for any feudal clan in the Western Kingdom to shake the authority of the Edo shogunate."

"However, if they join forces, it's a very different story."

"If the Changzhou, Satsuma and other domains form an alliance to form the 'Western Alliance'...then, unless the Edo Shogunate recruits supporters such as the Aizu Domain and Kuwana Domain to form an 'Eastern Alliance' that can fight against it, Otherwise, the Edo Shogunate will be in danger."

"Makimura, I dare to assure you with all my heart: In the not-too-distant future, there will be a war between East and West Japan."

"At that time, the Jingban area sandwiched between the Eastern Kingdom and the Western Kingdom will inevitably become a frontline battlefield where the two armies will fiercely confront each other."

"Therefore, today's Dingding Tianxia is not in Edo, but in Jingban."

"Kyoto...Osaka..." Mucun was speechless, "Isn't this the base of our gourd house..."

"Yes." Kiryu smiled slightly, "So, Mucun, be prepared to be involved in a raging war in the future."

"Heh..." Mu Cun smiled wryly, "'War'...It's such a terrible term. I never imagined that I'm already very old, and I would still be expected to encounter such a big war sweeping across the country..."

Kiryu accompanied Mucun with a wry smile for a while.

"Well, yes... For people like us who have experienced countless bloody storms, just saying the word 'war' already makes the roots of our teeth feel cold."

"The times make heroes. When the war between East and West Japan starts, there will be countless heroes who will take advantage of the situation."

"Makimura, you just met Qingdeng today, so you probably don't know anything about it. Ju-jun's greatness is not only his superb swordsmanship and talent for swordsmanship."

"Oh?" Mu Cun straightened his back and put on an attitude of "willing to hear more about it".

"Mr. Ju, he...has a strong attraction."

"Attractiveness?" Mucun leaned forward a little bit.

"Well, yes. It's 'attraction'. Mr. Ju can attract people from all walks of life with different personalities."

"I, the young master, are all attracted by him."

"With such terrifying power, Mr. Ju may be able to make brilliant achievements that will fascinate countless future generations in the upcoming world of great controversy."

"?!!" Mucun was too shocked to speak.

For a time, countless names flashed through his mind: Minamoto Yoritomo, Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, Mori Motojo, Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu...

"Of course, all of the above are my own imaginations. No one can say what will happen in the future. But what is certain is that in this new era of turmoil, every young person is expected to make a big difference. "

"And we, the remnants of the old days..."

Kiryu lowered his head and stared at the wine glass in his hand.

The clear water reflects an old face full of years.

After a while, the water shook slightly.

As the ripples go round and round, the reflection shatters like a mirror.

When the water surface returned to calm, the old face in the water underwent subtle changes.

It has a little more smile.

A smile with mixed feelings.

"For the new era, the swords of us old people... are too blunt."

Kiryu raised his head slowly, looking straight ahead.

"At any time, the young people's backs are so dazzling that an old man like me wants to look away."

Kiryu seems to be staring into the depths of the distant world, and there seems to be some kind of depressing emotion hidden.

This emotion can be interpreted as regret.

It can also be interpreted as unwillingness.

"...Kuro, you bastard..." Mucun shook his head and said helplessly, "Where did you get the confidence to say that I'm sentimental? Obviously you are the most sentimental person, right?"

Kiryu was noncommittal, just smiled lightly.

"Okay, let's stop here for the time being about the topic of young people and the new era."

Kiryu drank the glass of wine that he had held for a long time in one gulp.

"Because the young master is away, let's talk about some serious business. Mucun, are you really sure you want to go to Yokohama?"

"Ah, of course I'm sure." Mucun replied without even the slightest hesitation, "In Yokohama, there are signs of the activities of members of the French Party—this is reliable information that I managed to obtain in the Northeast. Eyes, I can't be reconciled."

"...I understand." Kiryu nodded solemnly, "When do you plan to leave?"

"The reason why I have been staying in Edo right now is because I want to take a rest after a long absence, and on the other hand, I want to take the opportunity to see what Tachibana Qingdeng, who has been famous for a long time, looks like and what skills he has."

"Now, these two goals have been achieved, so I don't plan to stay in Edo for a long time."

"If there is no accident, I will leave in a few days."

Kiryu: "... Yokohama is very close to Edo. If you encounter any troubles that urgently need help, don't hesitate to come to me."

"Don't worry!" Mucun looked up to the sky and laughed a few times, "Even if you don't say it, I will make such a decision! Hahaha!"

...

...

In the next few days, Qing Deng's daily life returned to the old rhythm.

Every day, I went around in the five places of the test guard hall, the thousand things house, the small Chiba sword hall, the Western settlement, and the Tsukimiya Shrine.

For Qingdeng, this kind of busy and leisurely life is really very comfortable.

I'm so comfortable that I don't want to let the New Year holiday end like this.

If there is anything worth mentioning happened in the past few days... then it must be Mucun's departure.

Just 2 days after Qingdeng and Mucun met for the first time, that is, on January 8, Mucun carried his simple luggage and his big sword, and stepped on the road to leave Edo alone at a leisurely pace. avenue.

Out of curiosity, Qingdeng asked Kiryu, Kinoshita Mai, and Mucun himself: Where is Mr. Mucun going?

Kinoshita Mai bluntly said "I don't know".

Tongsheng and Mucun kept secret.

Since people don't talk about it, it's not convenient for Qingdeng to ask further questions.

Time passed bit by bit.

In the blink of an eye... Despite all the reluctance, the day of "returning to work" finally came.

...

...

In the second year of Wanyan (1861), on January 10, in the morning——

Edo, somewhere——

"Ha~~"

Qingdeng yawned heavily, while walking slowly on the way to the Huofu Bandit Kaiya Mansion.

Suddenly, a familiar male voice came from behind:

"Oh? Mr. Tangerine?"

Qing Deng followed the sound and turned his head to look back.

"My grandson..."

My grandson walked towards Qingdeng with three steps and two steps at a time, shoulder to shoulder with Qingdeng.

After the two said "good morning" to each other, my grandson was the first to start the conversation:

"Tachibana-kun, I always seem to meet you on the street~~"

Qingdeng smiled and agreed:

"This shows that we are quite destined."

"Mr. Ju, you look like you didn't get enough sleep. It seems that you had a very fulfilling vacation."

...

The contents of chats without nutrition are filled between Qingdeng and my grandson.

Although what I talk about with my grandson are all things that have and don’t exist, but having an extra partner who can talk with me makes this boring commute to work less boring.

Unknowingly, the Yafu reformed by Huofu bandits appeared within the field of vision of Qingdeng and my grandson.

However, at this time, Qingdeng and my grandson discovered abnormalities in no particular order.

"What's going on..." Qingdeng couldn't help frowning as he looked at the large group of officials gathered outside the gate of the Yafu.

Just when Qingdeng wanted to lean over and ask what happened, this group of officials actually took the initiative to walk towards... no, they rushed towards Qingdeng!

Crash la la la la... The sound of dense footsteps surrounded Qingdeng heavily.

"Ju Qingdeng, you came at just the right time, we are looking for you."

A middle-aged man Qingdeng didn't know came out.

"Huofu Thief Changed Team 3 Captain, Ju Qingdeng, you have been arrested, please follow us obediently!"

*****

*****

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