I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1056: Swaying Camp and Bear Attack! [4700]

After much consideration, Qing Deng decided to land at Washinoki in the north of Hakodate.

Faced with Qing Deng's determination, everyone had no choice but to follow his lead.

Half an hour later, Xianlin Maru spewed out black smoke and carried Qingdeng, Ogata and their mounts northward.

During the time that Qing Deng was temporarily away from his post, Katsurintaro took over the command of the entire army.

When the Kanrin Maru set sail, Katsurintaro, Nagakura Shinpachi and others who were seeing it off on the shore were all very worried.

The movements of the enemy ships are unclear, and who knows whether the Xianlin Maru will encounter enemy ships halfway through the voyage.

Fortunately, the trip went very smoothly.

The Kanrinmaru crossed the Tsugaru Strait safely and arrived at Washinoki as scheduled.

Because of the risk of running aground, Xianlin Maru could not get too close to the coast. It could only lower a small boat at a certain distance and let Qingdeng and others row to the shore.

Ogata and his two mounts (radish and a good horse) went on board first, while Qing Deng walked slowly and said goodbye to the people on the boat.

The captain in charge of commanding the Kanrin Maru and sending Aoto and others to Washinoki was none other than John Manjiro, who had met Aoto once before and had an extremely legendary life experience.

John Manjiro looked at Qing Deng solemnly and said:

"Lord Niou, please take good care of yourself! I will be waiting for you here in 15 days!"

The time agreed upon by both parties is 15 days - after 15 days, Aoto and Ogata will return to Washinoki, board the return ship, and return to the expeditionary army camp in Aomori.

Qingdeng smiled slightly:
"Don't worry, Manjiro. Right now, I might be the safest person in the world."

After saying this, he glanced at Ogata on the boat without leaving any trace.

After bidding farewell to Manjiro, Qing Deng descended down the rope ladder to the point directly opposite Ogata.

Ogata took the two oars on his own initiative and pushed aside the current very skillfully, so that the boat sailed towards the coast quickly and steadily.

Such skillful movements show that he is an experienced rower.

Seeing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but ask:
"You also learned to row a boat?"

"I once learned how to go fishing in Tosa."

"Don't learn my master's catchphrase."

"I've wanted to say this catchphrase of Jiulang for a long time."

With the help of Ogata, an experienced rower, the two of them reached the shore and successfully landed in a short while.

Qing Deng waved to Xianlinmaru from a distance, then climbed onto the cow nimbly. Ogata beside him also moved lightly and sat steadily on the saddle.

The two of them slowly ran towards the heart of Ezo and slowly disappeared at the end of the coastline.

……

……

"Moo moo moo~~"

Carrot snorted a few times, moaned with pleasure, and swung his long tail.

"Huh... I can finally take off this damn veil."

After getting away from the coastline and making sure that no one else could see him, Ogata hurriedly took off the scarf from his face and breathed a sigh of relief.

Although it is summer, the current temperature in Ezo is not high due to its northern latitude.

It's not too hot or too cold, the air is dry and very comfortable.

Qing Deng couldn't help but take several deep breaths, and his mood became cheerful.

He turned his eyes with interest, taking in the northern scenery around him.

Whether it was the deep and dense forest nearby or the blue-lined mountains in the distance, they all aroused Qingdeng's strong interest.

Bright weather, beautiful scenery, the occasional chirping of insects and birds...it feels like an outing.

Come to think of it, he hasn't been out for an outing for a long time.

If he had a choice, he really wanted to turn around and say to Ogata righteously, "Mr. Ogata, let's go on a picnic!"

Of course, no matter how delusional he is, he will not forget the important things because of momentary laziness.

"Mr. Ogata, I'll leave it to you from now on."

Ogata smiled:

"Don't worry, I've lived in Ezo for several years and I won't cheat you."

As he spoke, he tapped the horse's belly lightly, increased the speed slightly, and walked side by side with Qing Deng.

"Ju Jun, before we set off, there are two important things you must remember."

"First of all, don't mention the derogatory term 'Ezo' in front of the Ainu people. The Ainu people don't like this name."

"Please refer to them as 'Ainu'."

"In the Ainu language, 'Ainu' means 'people'."

Qing Deng nodded seriously and said softly, "I understand."

He had no ill feelings towards the Ainu people - he had never even seen them, so there was no question of any ill feelings towards them.

The reason why he always mentioned the derogatory term "Ezo" in previous military meetings was just to cooperate with everyone and facilitate communication.

Ogata's voice continued:

"Secondly, Ezo is a truly undeveloped area, with virgin forests everywhere."

“Nature should never be underestimated, no matter when or where it is.”

"Even you and I cannot resist the might of nature."

"You must always follow me closely, don't run around, and don't fall behind."

After hearing this, Qing Deng raised his eyebrows and changed his tone to a half-joking one:
"Mr. Ogata, you can rest assured about this. I am more cautious than you think. Just be prepared that I will follow you even to the toilet."

Ogata smiled:
"If that's the case, it couldn't be better."

"That's all I have to say."

"It's summer now, the mildest time of year in Ezo, with no risk of snow or wind."

"If nothing goes wrong, it will only take five days to reach the Ainu tribe where I once lived."

"Time waits for no one. Let's hurry up and get on the road."

"By the way, let me see how capable this mighty black bull you ride is."

After saying this, without waiting for Qingdeng's response, Xu Fang knocked the horse's belly lightly and rushed out like a sharp arrow.

Looking at Ogata who was gradually going away, Qing Deng smiled and raised his hand to pat Luobo's big head:

"Carrot, let him see what you can do."

"Moo moo!"

As soon as Qingdeng finished speaking, Luobo started to moo - it seemed to have understood Ogata's challenge, and a hint of fighting spirit flashed in its eyes - it spread out its four hooves and soon caught up with Ogata.

……

……

The next few days were boring.

Travel, travel, and travel again... The fun of arriving in the new heaven and new earth for the first time is gradually worn away by the boring journey that repeats itself over and over again.

Qing Deng looked back on his past life and found that he had never left the "human world".

Needless to say, in his past life, in this life he basically only moved around in cities and towns such as Edo, Kyoto, and Otsu.

These towns and cities may not have very advanced infrastructure, but they have everything they need, such as food, water, and shelter.

As long as you have money in your pocket, you can find restaurants, teahouses, pubs and hostels just around the corner.

After becoming a respected pillar of the shogunate, Qing Deng enjoyed even higher-level services.

There are dedicated people to take care of food, clothing, housing and transportation. Even when going on a long journey, there are dedicated people to arrange the accommodation in advance. After arriving at the destination, you can just move in with your luggage, and Qingdeng doesn't have to worry about it at all.

Living an explorer's life in a primitive area without any trace of human beings... This is the first time for Qing Deng.

Whether it's finding food or building a shelter, you have to do it yourself.

Qingdeng's understanding of "wilderness survival" is limited to extreme behaviors such as eating insects, drinking feces, hiding in the stomachs of large animals, and replenishing water with his buttocks.

Fortunately, thanks to Ogata, he doesn't have to resort to these horrific survival techniques.

It is no exaggeration to say that he has been relying on Ogata for support these days!

Hunting, finding water, finding the way, setting up camp, cooking... these important actions related to survival were all handled by Ogata. He said that during the years he lived in seclusion in Ezo, he not only learned the Ainu language, but also acquired a lot of hunting skills. He was not bragging.

Thanks to him, Qingdeng has lived a very comfortable life in recent days and has never been hungry or cold.

Every time it was time for dinner, Ogata would help him catch prey like a magician, whether it was a fat rabbit, or a fish he couldn't name, or at worst some edible wild fruits.

Every night, he would build a hunting lodge himself.

The so-called "hunting lodge" is a temporary base built by hunters when they go into the mountains to hunt.

Ogata built the hunting lodge incredibly quickly.

First, cut down a fir tree. When cutting down, make sure the tree falls in a depression on the ground. This will create a space underneath. Then flatten the ground under the tree and spread a layer of leaves on it. Then you can spend the night.

The tree trunk above is the ridge, and the hanging branches and leaves are like the roof.

According to Ogata, this is an Ainu camping technique that is quite practical.

It is indeed very practical. It only takes Ogata 5 minutes to build a hunting cabin for rest.

But...if an inexperienced person saw it, they would probably think, is it possible to go back alive after sleeping here?
At first, Qing Deng thought so too.

You call this a "hut"?
No matter from which angle you look at it, this thing is extremely rudimentary and doesn't really look like a place to spend the night.

But after actually sleeping in it for a night, he discovered that this hunting lodge was more comfortable than he had expected!

The drooping leaves can block the wind, and because there are thick trees and lush branches above your head, it gives you a strange sense of security.

It's just like wrapping yourself tightly in a quilt, and feeling like you have created a barrier that is invulnerable to gods and ghosts. It has the same effect.

As long as you light a campfire outside the hunting lodge, there is no risk of freezing to death.

However, although this hunting lodge was not as bad as Qing Deng had imagined, one still had to endure the hardships.

It is very hard to sleep in the open air, with the sky as a blanket and the ground as a bed.

Sleeping on the hard ground is far less comfortable than sleeping in soft bedding; sleeping next to Ogata is far less happy than sleeping next to his wives.

It was hard work, but for Qing Deng, this hardship was nothing to mention.

The talents in his body are not just for show!
Just the "Yuan Yang +8" alone can make Qing Deng's body incredibly healthy.

As far as Qingdeng could remember, he hadn't experienced diarrhea or catching a cold for a long time.

Not to mention Ogata, who has the "power of immortality" and is probably healthier than Qing Deng.

Relying on their iron bodies and Ogata's professional knowledge, the two of them effortlessly crossed the Ezo land and reached the heart of the country.

But they had ruddy complexions and were in high spirits. They walked through the deep mountains and dense forests as if they were walking on flat ground, just like they were going on an outing.

Time flies... In the blink of an eye, 5 days have passed quietly.

……

……

Day 5 of going deep into the heart of Ezo

Ogata stretched his neck, looked around, and said seriously:
"We are almost there. Another half day's walk and we will reach 'Mirkonkala'."

Murokonkara - the name of the Ainu tribe where Ogata once lived.

According to Ogata, "Murokonkara" means "the place guarded by huge stones" in Ainu.

The Ainu people believe that all things have spirits, which is surprisingly consistent with the Shintoism of the Japanese people.

Out of their worship of the strange rocks, the Ainu tribes often built houses based on the "sacred rocks".

Seeing that they were about to reach their destination, Qing Deng said quickly:

"So what are we waiting for? Let's get going. I want to sleep under a real roof tonight."

As he was about to tap the cow's belly, Ogata stopped him.

"Tachibana-kun, don't worry. It's almost noon. Let's stop and have lunch. Our horses...ah, no, our mounts also need to rest."

Hearing this, Qing Deng subconsciously raised his head and glanced at the sun which was almost at its zenith.

Although he was anxious and wanted to reach the destination immediately, Qing Deng had to admit that Ogata was right. In the wilderness far away from the world, eating was the top priority.

Always keep your body full of energy and eat well when you can - this is one of the wilderness survival tips that Ogata has taught Qingden in recent days.

The two men rode their horses (cows) slowly, looking for a suitable place to camp.

After a while, Qingdeng found an open, flat space.

"Mr. Ogata, how about this place? It looks spacious and perfect for camping."

Ogata shook his head and explained slowly:
"Not here. This is a 'colt', a depression in the protruding part of the mountain. Almost all animals pass through here, and over time, 'animal paths' are formed. It's better to avoid camping in such places. I don't want to be ruined by a sudden appearance of a wild animal in the middle of a meal."

After saying that, he turned his horse and walked towards the woods beside him.

"Come with me, we'll go look into the woods."

When it comes to matters related to survival in the wild, Qing Deng has 100% trust in Ogata and never interferes.

Therefore, he followed immediately without saying a word.

The two of them walked in the woods, one after the other, surrounded by similar scenes, as if they were in a maze that they could never get out of.

Suddenly, Ogata, who was walking in front of him, stopped abruptly.

Seeing this, Qingdeng immediately tightened the reins and stopped Luobo.

"Mr. Ogata, have you found a suitable place to camp?"

Ogata did not answer immediately, but stared at something in front of him.

Qing Deng blinked, and was about to ask again when Ogata slowly spoke:

"...Tachibana-kun, I have some bad news for you. It seems we have entered a bear's territory."

Bear - upon hearing this term, Qing Deng immediately frowned and looked serious.

When talking about Ezo, we have to talk about bears.

There isn't much else in Ezo, but there are plenty of bears!

At this time, Ogata swiftly turned over and dismounted, followed closely by Qing Deng.

They walked side by side towards a strange mound of earth ahead.

But the mound was bulging upwards and the soil was very new. It was obvious that it had been built not long ago. A dead male deer was buried in it, with a deer head with a pair of large horns and two deer hooves exposed outside.

Qing Deng frowned:

"What the hell is this?"

"This is bear food. Bears will bury unfinished food and come back to eat it when they are hungry. This half-eaten food is forbidden to bears, and no other creature is allowed to touch it. Once you take its food away, the bear will follow the smell to find you."

Having said this, Ogata squatted down and looked around for something.

After a while, he whispered:
"There is..."

Qing Deng leaned over to look and saw a huge footprint next to the mound.

"These are bear footprints. Since we can see the bear's 'food reserves', it means that the bear is not far from here."

After hearing this, Qing Deng unconsciously raised his hand and grasped the Vairocana at his waist.

"Mr. Ogata, do you have any experience in bear hunting?"

"I have hunted 32 bears in total. Even the most experienced bear hunters don't take bears lightly."

As Ogata spoke, he stood up and stood back to back with Qing Deng.

"Jujun, be careful. Even though the bear is so big, it doesn't make any noise when it walks."

"...The bear was about 2 meters tall."

"Hmm? You guessed right. Judging from the size of its footprints, it is indeed 2 meters tall."

"I didn't guess, I saw it."

Ogata was startled, then quickly turned his head and looked in the same direction as Qing Deng.

Right in front of the two people's sight, a big black bear stood twenty meters away, staring at them.

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Today is the last day of the double monthly ticket period! Book friends who have monthly tickets, please be sure to vote for this book! (tearful leopard head.jpg)

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PS: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter today. I like this kind of "two brothers trekking through mountains and rivers together" plot.

(End of this chapter)