I formed the strongest swordsman group

His granddaughter almost had an accident in Fujisawa, and Anthony didn't have the mood to stay in this unlucky place anymore.

At dawn the next day, Anthony hurriedly directed his convoy to leave Fujisawa Juku and continue on his journey to move to Edo.

Anthony's team size is not very large.

There are all kinds of carriages for people to ride and to transport luggage...the total number of carriages is only 8.

All the carriages lined up in a single column, marching on the flat road of Tōkaidō.

The 36 guards headed by Komuro spread out and guarded the convoy in all directions.

Except for Xiaoshi, the rest of the guards are not qualified to ride horses, so they all have to walk to guard the marching carriage team, and the carriage team also has to cooperate with the guards at a speed that is no different from walking. Rumble forward.

At this moment, in the compartment of one of the eight carriages——

"As expected of a rich man's carriage..." Qingdeng teased in a tone of self-talk, "I don't feel any jolt when I sit on it."

The carriage under Qingdeng and Saito must have adopted some special manufacturing process. It has a strong shock absorption function, and it is quite stable when sitting, with almost no sense of bumps.

Although the slash on Qingdeng's right leg was not serious, if he did not rest for two days, he would not even think about getting out of bed and walking.

After all, Qingdeng's right leg was injured to save his granddaughter and the others. After learning about Qingdeng's situation, Anthony, who was quite ashamed of Qingdeng's injury, waved his hand—they happened to be going to Edo, so they simply Invite Qingdeng to take his "ride" back to Edo directly.

Facing Anthony's invitation, Qingdeng only thought for a moment before readily agreeing.

There is no other reason - to take Anthony's "free ride" back to Edo, Qingdeng can only think of the advantages one after another, but can't think of any disadvantages.

If he rejected Anthony's "free ride" invitation, Qingdeng would have to lie in Fujisawa for a few days before he could go back to Edo the same way.

The group of "radical barbarians" who were eyeing Qingdeng's leader knew that Qingdeng was injured, so during the time when Qingdeng was recuperating in the Fujisawa dormitory, they secretly broke into the dormitory and attacked Qingdeng— Such a possibility is not impossible.

According to the currently known information about those lunatics, it can be basically concluded that these lunatics have certain intelligence gathering or tracking capabilities.

Every time they have launched "Heavenly Punishment" against Qingdeng so far, it happened when Qingdeng went to a place with few people - this is the best proof that they have a certain intelligence gathering ability or tracking ability.

To sum up, in the current situation of being injured, it is better to return to Edo, where Arima and others help, instead of staying in Fujisawa, where he is not familiar with his life.

In addition to this main reason, the reason why Qingdeng agreed to take a "hit ride" was that it was more comfortable to ride in a carriage, and it was safer to go back with Anthony and the others.

It was obvious which was easier, to sit comfortably in a carriage or to trudge on two feet.

So far, although the group of so-called "people with lofty ideals against barbarians" have shouted loudly the slogan "Get rid of barbarians", but so far, very few Westerners have died at their hands.

On the contrary, there were many Japanese who died at their hands, and the total number was at least ten times that of the Westerners who were killed.

Moreover, the few Westerners killed by them were basically killed when they accidentally placed orders.

"Soldiers against barbarians" attacked Westerners who were defended by a large number of samurai - there has never been such a precedent.

Going back to Edo with a large team like Anthony, you don't have to worry about being attacked by "people with lofty ideals" on the way back.

Qingdeng really couldn't think of any reason to reject Anthony's "free ride" invitation.

After Qingdeng readily agreed, Anthony vacated a carriage that was previously used to carry luggage for Qingdeng and Saito to ride in—that is, the carriage they were riding in now.

The weather today is quite nice.

The temperature is not too cold, the sun is warm and the breeze is gentle.

Qingdeng opened the car window slightly to allow the fresh air outside the car to pour into the car, then leaned his head against the window and carefully looked at the scenery outside the window.

"...You seem to be in a good mood." Saito, who was sitting opposite Qingdeng, rarely took the initiative to talk to Qingdeng.

"Huh? Yes, I'm really in a good mood right now." Qingdeng, who didn't take his eyes off the scenery outside the window, slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

The case that should have been handed over to him was solved by the "monk cat"... Qingdeng originally thought that this "trip to Fujisawa" was a business trip that was too bad.

Unexpected - the world is so unpredictable.

Although his leg suffered a little injury, the gains made Qingdeng's return journey this time can be called "returning with a full load".

In order to thank Qing and Zhai for saving his granddaughter, Anthony proudly gave them a gift of 80 taels of gold each!

80 taels of gold... This is not a small sum of money for an official like Qingdeng who works in the execution office and has a good salary.

The 80 taels of gold that Anthony got from him is now quietly lying in Qingdeng's arms.

Such a huge sum of money is undoubtedly a timely help for Qingdeng who is relatively short of money, and his hand has become much more abundant in an instant.

The two "big mountains" that now weigh on Qingdeng's shoulders: the threat to the personal safety of the "radical anti-barbarian faction" and the property safety of Yakuza - the pressure on Qingdeng from the latter is instantly reduced.

It seems that I have started to get lucky—Qingdeng couldn't help thinking this way.

Thinking of this, the smile on Qingdeng's face became even stronger.

...

...

Elodie was originally in the same car as her grandfather...that is, Anthony.

But now, her best friend Kinoshita Mai came, and in order to be able to ride in the same carriage with Kinoshita Mai, Elodie "kicked" Anthony out of the carriage very logically, and asked Anthony to find another carriage by himself.

So - Anthony, who was "driven out" by his granddaughter, could only ride in the same car with another old man: Kiryu.

Gulu... Gulu... Gulu...

The sound of the wheels turning was continuously heard in the carriage where Kiryu and Anthony were riding, where the atmosphere had been dead silent since just now.

Kiryu sat cross-legged with a slight smile on his face, folded his hands on his lap, looked at his nose, nose and heart.

Anthony, who was sitting opposite him, kept squinting his eyes, glaring at Kiryu.

"...Kiryu, don't you think you should give me an explanation?"

"Explain what?" Kiryu asked Anthony with a smile.

"Yesterday, how could it be possible for Wu to take Elodie out of the hotel under your nose?" Anthony's voice suddenly raised a few degrees, "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Besides that you let them go on purpose, I can't think of any reason why they could slip away under your nose!"

Looking at the angry Anthony in front of him, the smile on Kiryu's face became stronger.

He raised his hand to support his glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Ha... Sure enough, it's impossible to fool someone like you who knows everything about me..."

"Yes, you are right. Yesterday I turned a blind eye to the young master and others who sneaked out of the hotel."

"Why?" Anthony pressed his hands on his legs, leaned his upper body slightly forward in the direction of Kiryu, and asked quickly, "Why did you deliberately let Elordie and the others leave the hotel?!"

"There's no particular reason." Kiryu said lightly, "I just... want to give the young master a chance to have fun with her only friend after a long absence."

"You should also know how good the relationship between the young master and your granddaughter is?"

"Three months ago, after learning that you were going to move your family to Edo, the young master often couldn't sleep because of excitement, and was always looking forward to seeing Alodi sooner."

"A pair of best friends who are still children reunited after a long absence, but they can only stay in the hotel and can't go anywhere to play-I think this is a little cruel."

"So, yesterday I deliberately let them leave the hotel and let them play outside for a while."

After listening to Kiryu's explanation, Anthony showed a look of anger.

"Let them go out to play for a while? Kiryu, do you know that it was because you deliberately let Wu and Alodie slip out of the hotel, they almost had an accident yesterday!"

"An accident?" The smile on Kiryu's face slowly turned into an intriguing smile, "Anthony, you don't have to worry about that."

"I'm not a fool either."

"Let the young master, who is still very immature, take Ai Luodi alone to play in such an unfamiliar place-I won't do such a stupid thing."

"Do not worry."

"After turning a blind eye to the young masters who sneaked out yesterday, I have been secretly following them and protecting them secretly."

After that, Kiryu raised his hand and untied a large long cloth bag placed beside him.

There are only two things in this big cloth bag: a brown cloak and a knife.

If Qingdeng were here now, seeing this brown cloak, he would definitely feel quite familiar.

Because this brown cloak is exactly the cloak worn by the "cloak man" who accidentally knocked down the priestess he met in Enoshima Shrine...

"I noticed a long time ago that a group of people have been secretly following the young master and Elodie."

"I originally planned to show up as soon as these rogues started to attack and repel them."

"But who would have known——such an accident as Mr. Ju happened."

"That's good, Mr. Ju's sudden appearance can be regarded as doing me a favor, helping me defeat this group of ronin who are looking for trouble for the young master and them, and saving me a lot of effort."

After quietly listening to Kiryu's explanation just now, Anthony's expression changed slightly.

"... Humph." After a heavy cold snort, Anthony crossed his arms and leaned his body against the backrest behind him, "It's not too bad like this!"

"If you really just let Elodie and the others leave the hotel yesterday, but didn't secretly follow and protect them, then I really wonder if Kiryu is too old and your brain is broken!"

"Although I am old, I am still in good health." Kiryu shrugged.

Anthony, who hugged his arms tightly in front of him, slowly turned his gaze to another thing that was packed in the big cloth bag together with the brown cloak: the knife.

This is an ancient knife with a large arc, the scabbard and handle are black and purple, exuding a simple atmosphere.

After staring at the ancient knife for a while, Anthony said quietly:

"Kiryu...haven't you found someone who can inherit your mantle?"

"No." Kiryu smiled casually, "Unfortunately, my sword-drawing technique might really be lost."

Anthony's eyes widened slightly in astonishment: "Hey... is this okay?"

"It would be a pity if your unparalleled sword-drawing technique was lost..."

"... Let it be." Kiryu lowered his head, looked at the ancient purple and black knife beside him, and then stroked the knife with gentle movements as if stroking his own child, "I used to worry about skills Lost and impatient."

"But now, I look away."

"If I don't find a suitable heir until the day when my life ends, it means that my skills have no chance to be passed on."

"Leave everything to fate."

"If you are lucky enough to find an heir before the end of your life, that would be the best."

"If I don't have this luck...then I am willing to accept such a result."

Anthony frowned: "...there are so many people in this country, there is no shortage of people with extraordinary talent in swordsmanship, right? Can't you find someone who is talented enough to inherit your sword drawing skills?"

"Hmm..." Kiryu closed his eyes and shook his head lightly, "I don't just choose his heir based on his talent in swordsmanship."

"Don't just look at swordsmanship talent? Then what else do you look at?"

"How should I put it..." Kiryu smiled and opened his eyes to look out of the window, "As you said just now, there is never a shortage of talents with outstanding swordsmanship talents in this world."

"So I hope that my successor will have some... more interesting talents besides his outstanding swordsmanship talent."

"'A more interesting talent? What do you mean...?'"

"Hahaha." Kiryu laughed loudly, "I don't know how to explain it to you, anyway, my heir must be 'interesting' enough!"

"...The thoughts of you great swordsmen are really hard to understand." Anthony sighed impatiently.

*****

*****

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