I formed the strongest swordsman group

Menkyo Kaiden - This item is both a symbol of strength and a proof of honor!

Obtaining Menkyo Kaiden means that you have officially graduated and can set up your own school.

There is no specific pattern in the Japanese swordsmanship world when evaluating the level of each disciple, and each school adopts different methods. Since ancient times, there has been no fixed regulations.

However, generally speaking, "Menkyo Kaiden" is definitely the highest level of permission certificate!

The upgrade of Menkyo does not depend on the time spent on learning, but on the degree of a person's mastery of the technique.

In other words, as long as your level and strength are reached, no matter how old you are or how long you have entered the school, you can be awarded Menkyo Kaiden!

Souji and Saito Ichi are typical examples.

Saito Ichi got the Menkyo Kaiden of the Wugai Ryu at the age of 16.

Souji won this honor at an even younger age.

Strangely enough, Qing Deng had never been able to obtain the Menkyo Kaiden of the Tennen Rishin Ryu before.

The same is true for Hijikata Toshizo.

He entered the martial arts world earlier than Aoto, but Kondo Shusuke has not yet awarded him any rank certificate.

Aoto has mastered every move and every form of the Tennen Rishin-ryu.

In terms of personal strength... to be frank, Aoto is now far stronger than Kondo Shusuke!

Although Hijikata Toshizo's skills are not as good as Aoto, he is still one of the highest fighters in the Shiweikan.

Whether it is the mastery of the Tennen Rishin-ryu or the development of their own strength, both of them have reached an extraordinary level.

To give an example - their academic level has reached the level of being able to win the Nobel Prize, but the university they attended before has not yet issued them graduation certificates.

Many people are dissatisfied with the "injustice" suffered by the two.

However, Aoto and Hijikata Toshizo, who are the parties involved, do not care.

In Aoto's view, the so-called "Menkyo Kaiden" is just an empty name.

It is certainly gratifying to be able to receive this honor.

However, its actual significance... to put it bluntly, it is just that.

Once upon a time, Qing Deng also thought that being granted the Menkyo Kaiden was a great thing.

But now, after going through so many things, he suddenly realized that graduating from the dojo was just... standing at the starting line.

Qing Deng had been through hundreds of battles and had seen countless opponents.

Swordsmen who had catalog licenses or even Menkyo Kaiden licenses, and should have outstanding strength, but performed terribly in actual combat... Qing Deng had seen many such guys.

In the final analysis, the sword is a weapon, and swordsmanship is a killing technique.

Swordsmanship that is difficult to kill is just a useless technique.

Swordsmen who cannot win are just weak men.

In a nutshell - as long as you can win, it's fine!

Whether you have those false names, whether you have been granted this license or that certificate, it doesn't matter at all.

In the world of martial arts, the power contained in the body and the sword in your hand are the only truth!

Therefore, Qing Deng completely let it go.

Instead of pursuing these false names, it is better to work hard and move forward with your feet on the ground! Keep improving your strength!

To be honest, if Kondo Shusuke hadn't suddenly taken out this license, Qing Deng would have almost forgotten the fact that he hadn't obtained the Menkyo Kaiden yet.

Qing Deng turned the scroll over and over.

"Master, can I open it?"

Kondo Shusuke nodded gently

After getting the other party's consent, Qing Deng grabbed both ends of the scroll and slowly unfolded it.

On the nearly 2-meter-long scroll, from right to left and from top to bottom, there were elegant and graceful characters written in a flying dragon and phoenix style.

The first thing that caught Qing Deng's eyes was all the sword skills of the Tennen Rishin Flow.

From the most basic Sequence Sword and Oblique Sword to the profound Yan Xie Sword, Lion King Sword, and Wuming, everything is available.

Following the "Move List" is Kondo Shusuke's comments.

This apprentice was accepted by this dojo in January of the seventh year of Ansei (1860). This student has completed all the sword techniques of the Tennen Rishin-ryu and meets the standards for the granting of the Menkyo Kaiden. This is hereby certified - something like this.

Finally, at the very end of the scroll, the date of the award of this certificate is written, which is June 23, 1863, and the signature of the awarder... Kondo Shusuke.

Of course, the full name of the recipient, Aoto, is also indispensable - Tachibana Aoto Moriharu.

At the end of Hijikata Toshizo's scroll, his full name is written: Hijikata Toshizo Yoshitoyo.

Very standard content of the Menkyo Kaiden certificate.

Hijikata Toshizo spread the scroll flat on the floor, took a quick look at it, and suddenly asked:

"Master, why is it so sudden? I thought I would never have the chance to receive the Menkyo Kaiden certificate in my lifetime."

Aoto then raised his eyes and cast a confused look at Kondo Shusuke in front of him.

Kondo Shusuke crossed his arms and sighed silently.

"To be honest... I do have the idea that 'I will never grant you the Menkyo Kaiden in this lifetime'."

"Tachibana-kun, Toshizo, do you know why?"

Both shook their heads.

Kondo Shusuke continued:

"It's not that I'm deliberately suppressing you."

"You are my favorite students."

"I'm proud of you."

"But... 'Only those who are proficient in the Tennen Rishin Ryu can be granted the Tennen Rishin Ryu' - this is the rule of our school."

"But what about you two?"

Speaking of this, Kondo Shusuke narrowed his already slender eyes and stared directly at Hijikata Toshizo.

"Suisan, you...tell yourself, can your swordsmanship still be considered natural and rational?"

"You added a mess of wild tricks to the moves of this genre."

"Poke in the eyes, kick in the crotch, choke... in your hands, my things have changed!"

After Hijikata Suisan heard this, he immediately lowered his head with a guilty conscience and looked at his eyes, nose and heart.

Immediately afterwards, Kondo Shusuke turned his gaze and his eyes fell on Aingto.

"Ju-kun, you too. You and Suisan are evenly matched."

"Suisan is a wild man who got involved in street fighting."

"And you are adding moves from other schools."

"Beichen's one-sword style's starting and chopping gestures, the ape-like cry of the Shinto-style, the heavy slashing of the Shinto Wu-Nian style...your swordsmanship is totally different!"

Aoto also looked away silently, just like Hijikata Toshizo.

Randomly changing the sect's moves - in the eyes of old-school martial arts masters, this is a very taboo thing.

Speaking of this, Kondo Shusuke sighed silently again.

"The swordsmanship between the two of you can no longer be regarded as natural Rishin-ryu."

"Therefore, there is naturally no reason to grant you the full exemption from the Natural Rishin-ryu."

"However……"

His conversation changed.

"Recently, my mind has changed."

As he spoke, he turned his head and looked at the distant eastern sky.

His eyes seemed to be trying to penetrate through layers of obstacles and reach another distant world.

"The 'British Ship Attack' not long ago made me understand one thing deeply - when the Western Yi drove the black ship to attack, the only thing we and the swordsmen could do was to look at the ocean and sigh."

"It probably won't be long before the sword... and our swordsmen will completely lose their shelter..."

A bitter look gradually spread across his cheeks.

Although he tried his best to speak in a plain tone, both Aomori and Toshizo Hijikata could clearly feel that there was a strong sense of loneliness between his words...

The two of them couldn't help but pursed their lips, with heavy expressions.

Qingdeng wanted to say something to comfort his master.

But...even though I have searched my guts, I still can't think of a single word to comfort me.

You can't persuade a patient with terminal pancreatic cancer to stay optimistic.

Suddenly, Shusuke Kondo spoke again:

"Now that martial arts has reached its end, there is no point in clinging to those old red tapes anymore."

"You are my pride, the pride of the Imperial Academy, and the pride of Natural Rishin-ryu. You deserve to receive the highest honor of our sect!"

"From now on, you are officially a disciple."

"I hope you can be upright people and upright men in the future, and never do anything that is disgraceful to the sect or contrary to human ethics."

"Okay, that's it."

"You have to go back to Kyoto tomorrow, so rest early."

Speaking of this, Kondo Shusuke seemed to have remembered something, and paused for a moment, then raised his finger and pointed at the few-colored hair on his head, and said with a wry smile:

"It's a pity...I'm old."

"If I were 30 years younger, I might have the courage to close the trial gym, grab my sword, and then go to Kyoto with you to make a scene!"

"An old man like me, who feels pain in his back and legs after walking a few steps too fast, should just stay in his one-third of an acre of land and drink tea."

"Be safe and take care of yourself."

"Don't be greedy for women, be sure to exercise moderation!"

As he spoke, he suddenly narrowed his eyes and glared at the two of them fiercely.

Aintō and Hijikata Toshizo once again looked away tacitly, pretending to watch the scenery.

"Don't be sick."

"Don't even die."

"If you feel tired and want to rest, go back to Edo...go back to the Imperial Guard Hall and sit down."

"Although I am old, I still have the energy to drink a few cups of tea with you and listen to your complaints."

"Even in your free time when there is nothing important, you can come back more often."

"To be honest, although there are more apprentices in the trial defense hall today, I still find it strangely deserted and lonely."

As Kondo Shusuke finished speaking, Aoto and Hijikata Toizan looked at each other in tacit understanding.

They all saw half-amused, half-touched glances in each other's eyes.

Although there was no prior arrangement, they seemed to have made an agreement in advance. They sat upright in no particular order, held the certificates that were passed down in both hands, raised them high above their heads, and respectfully presented a gift to the master.

…

…

The next day——

Wenjiu three years (1863), June 24——

Edo, Nihonbashi, the starting point of Tokai Street——

The 2,000 recruits of the Shinsengumi formed a neat row in two rows, from the far left end of the field of view to the far right end. What a spectacular scene!

Tokugawa Iemo led Tenzouin, Katsurin Taro and other high-ranking shogunate officials to personally see Aoto off.

The surrounding area was crowded with people either simply coming to join in the fun or wanting to say goodbye to Niou.

Tokugawa Iemo and Tenzouin came forward and patted Aonto's shoulders enthusiastically.

Katsurin Taro and others also followed suit and sent their blessings to Aoden.

"Ju Jun, have a good journey.", "Ju Qingden, I wish you good luck in martial arts"... are some commonplace words.

Under the glare of everyone's gaze, Qingden jumped onto the cow neatly and was ready to go!

However... at this moment, he unconsciously turned his gaze and looked at Tianzhang Courtyard not far away.

In order to avoid suspicion, Tianzhangyuan wore a blue silk veil, revealing only her two beautiful eyes.

When Qingdeng looked over, she immediately sensed his gaze.

The expression on her face changed immediately.

Even through the veil, Qingdeng could clearly feel that Tianzhangyuan was smiling at him.

Both beautiful eyes are curved into a pair of crescent moons.

Qingdeng also raised the corners of his mouth and gave the other party a faint smile.

For no reason, he thought to himself unconsciously:

——It’s time to say goodbye to Tianzhang Academy again...

Strangely enough, when he thinks of this, Qingdeng feels lonely for no reason...

…

…

From Edo to Kyoto, Koshuguchi is a must-pass.

Anyway, it’s on the way, so let’s go and review the newly acquired army - the Eighth Prince Thousands of People with One Heart!

So, under Aomori's urging, the recruits accelerated their march at a rapid march and rushed straight to the Hachioji area.

They are indeed 2,000 warriors carefully selected from tens of thousands of people.

Not to mention anything else, his physical fitness alone is really worth it!

Probably influenced by Qingdeng's high prestige, the recruits maintained a very high degree of organization without receiving any training.

It only took them two days to reach the Hachioji area.

The first impression this place gave Qingdeng was that of tranquility and peace.

Green water, green mountains, flat cultivated fields, sweet chirping of birds, chasing and playing children... it looks like a paradise.

After visiting this place in person and carrying out detailed observation, Qingneng finally understood why thousands of people came together to support the shogunate.

Having such a fertile land in a "mountainous country" and being able to inherit it from generation to generation... is enough for thousands of people to unite and remember the shogunate's kindness at all times.

In the Edo period, Shikyo Shiroku was deeply implemented in all aspects - Hachioji's "Thousands of People with One Heart" is no exception.

Its officer positions are mainly held by the children of 10 local wealthy families, and they are hereditary.

These 10 families are collectively called the "Top Ten Families of a Thousand People". They are -

The Hara family, the Kamikata family, the Kamikubuda family, the Shimokubada family, the Ishizaka family, the Shimura family, the Ogihara family, the Nakamura family, the Kono family, and the Yamamoto family.

The heads of these 10 families knew early on that their new leader would be coming here today, so they set up a grand welcome array at the Eight Princes early.

On a certain flat field ridge, Qingdeng walked slowly with his bridle in his hand, driving the cattle towards the welcoming array in front.

When they were about 10 steps away, Qingden got off the cow and walked instead.

Upon seeing this, the leader of the welcoming array immediately tidied up his clothes, and then took three steps at a time to greet Qingdeng.

"Nio-sama, it's our first time meeting you! I'm Shimohara Sankei!"

Qingdeng nodded lightly, and before the other party could start the next conversation, he said first:

"Let's talk as we walk. Take me to see your training ground."

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