I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 1125 "Royal Guard - Zero Squad" [5200]

The usually composed Shintaro Toujou was now displaying a near-complacent panic...

Qing Deng frowned slightly as if he realized something.

If it were official business of the shogunate (Kyoto governor), he would never have done this.

In other words... something definitely happened to the Big Salt Party!

Without thinking twice, Qingdeng turned to his attendants and guards and shouted:

"Please wait a moment!"

Having said that, he dismounted from the ox, turned and walked back to the Tachibana residence, waving to Shintaro Tojo as he did so:
"Shintaro, come with me!"

Shintaro Toujou immediately followed.

The two went straight to Qingdeng's office, one after the other.

……

……

In no time—

Ju Di, Qing Deng's office —

"What? The teacher and Ziyang have been attacked?"

For ease of address and to show respect, Qing Deng also refers to the leader of the Big Salt Party as "Teacher".

Even the resolute Qing Deng couldn't help but change his expression after listening to Toujou Shintaro's detailed account.

Shintaro Toujou continued the conversation with a serious expression:
"Thanks to the comrades' desperate protection, Your Highness and Miss Ziyang are safe for the time being."

"They are currently hiding in the deep mountains east of Nara."

"But... the pursuers are hot on our heels! Your Highness and Ziyang's hiding place is completely surrounded, and they could be discovered at any moment!"

In short, the teacher and Ziyang are in imminent danger.

Qingdeng silently drew a general conclusion in his mind.

Qing Deng narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then asked in return with a solemn expression:
"...Is it a case of punishing the party according to the law?"

Having a grudge against the Great Salt Party and the ability to strike at its organization... Qing Deng's first thought was to punish the party according to the law!

The Great Salt Party excels in "intelligence gathering," and its various strongholds are heavily protected.

It is precisely because of this special skill that they have been able to survive under immense pressure to this day.

The location of the meeting between the teacher and Ziyang should have been a top secret, and it was impossible for outsiders to know about it.

The forces capable of carrying out such a magical invasion... Qing Deng couldn't think of any other answer besides the Fazhi Party!

The intelligence gathering capabilities of the Fazhu Party are also quite strong. If these are a group of crazy people with problems in their heads, then it would not be surprising no matter what kind of trouble they cause!
Shintaro Toujou shook his head:
"The exact identity of the attacker is currently unknown."

"Your Highness and the others have exhausted themselves just trying to protect themselves, and they really have no energy left to investigate the attackers' background."

At this point, Shintaro Toujou raised his pleading eyes and stared straight at Aoto:
"Master Zuo, you are the only person we can rely on right now!"

"Please, please help His Highness and Miss Ziyang!"

As he spoke, he bent down and bowed to Qingdeng with utmost solemnity.

His gesture of bowing was half anxious and half pleading.

Qingdeng lowered his eyelids...

The fighting capacity of the Great Salt Party has always been at an embarrassingly low level.

With time running out, there's definitely no time to gather the top fighting force of the Great Salt Party.

Furthermore, if the attackers were truly members of the Fazhi Party, then no matter how thorough the preparations were, they would still be insufficient.

Therefore, seeking help from the nearby and powerful "Niou" is the most reasonable, and almost the only, option!

The leader and intelligence chief of the Great Salt Party are already on the verge of death.

Their survival depends entirely on their own decision.

Save or not?
For Qingdeng, this question was not worth thinking about at all—even hesitating for a second would be a waste of time!

But Qing Deng suddenly stood up and retorted in a firm and forceful tone:
"Shintaro, do you know the exact location of the teacher and Ziyang's hiding place?"

"of course I know!"

"Then, I'll have to trouble you to lead the way!"

……

……

This is a rescue operation that is a race against time.

Therefore, Qingdeng had no time to select troops and generals, so he could only adopt the "principle of proximity" and use whatever troops and generals were available at hand.

As luck would have it, both Sanako and Mai are currently at the Tachibana residence.

So Qingdeng summoned the two women and gathered 30 guards from the Ju residence—this was the lineup to rush to the aid of his teacher and Ziyang!
There were 60 guards inside and outside the Ju residence. Qing Deng took half of the guards away at once... Out of caution, Qing Deng ordered the Dajintun garrison to send an additional 100 soldiers to fill the gaps in the Ju residence's defenses.

Including Aoto, Shintaro Tojo, and the two women, only 34 people were dispatched... Although the number was small, since they were all guards from the Tachibana residence who accompanied them, their combat strength was guaranteed.

It's easy to imagine that the guards who could serve at the Ju residence were no ordinary people.

Initially, the guards of the Tachibana residence were elite soldiers selected from the First Division.

Later, learning from the lessons of the Keio Incident, and with the arrival of Tokugawa Iemochi, Tenshōin, and Kazuya, Aoto became worried and decided to carry out a comprehensive reform of the defenses of the Tachibana residence.

The most significant improvement was the enhancement of the size and military skills of the guards.

The selection of candidates will still be based solely on the first team, but unlike before, each candidate will undergo the most rigorous training.

From swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat to military skills such as horsemanship and firearms handling, anyone who fails in any one of these areas will be eliminated without hesitation!
Qingdeng's goal is to transform the guards of the Ju residence into the sharpest swords and the most reliable shields!

Through his tireless selection and training, the guards of the Tachibana Mansion have now undergone a complete evolution, with each guard being a "jack-of-all-trades" in the literal sense.

He was not only proficient in weapons such as swords and firearms, but also skilled in horsemanship, arithmetic, reconnaissance, and swimming.

Their standard armament consisted of a sharp blade at their waist, a musket on their shoulder, a waist pouch full of ammunition, and full armor, including chainmail, gauntlets, leg armor, headbands, and helmets.

Although there were only 60 people, each of them had the potential to serve as a junior officer, and they were the so-called "elite among the elite".

It is worth mentioning that although they belonged to the Shinsengumi, they did not have a specific unit designation.

Therefore, many people jokingly refer to them as the "non-existent squad" or the "Royal Guard - Squad Zero".

The "king" in "royal guard" naturally refers to "King Ren".

In fact, because it was easier to pronounce, the Shinsengumi's higher-ups, such as Aoto and Hijikata Toshizo, usually referred to the Tachibana residence's guards as "Zero Squad."

As Qingdeng's orders were rapidly issued, a cacophony of noise dominated the Ju residence.

One by one, fine horses were led out of the stables, and the members of the Zero Squad were all ready to go... The air was filled with a tense atmosphere of "battle is imminent"!

At this very moment, Qing Deng, Sanako, and Amai are in the stable installing saddles on their respective mounts.

"Qingdeng, where are we going?"

While leading her horse, Sanako asked Aoto beside her:
Qing Deng said quickly without turning his head:

"Time is of the essence, I will explain to you later."

Sanako and Ama exchanged a glance—both of them noticed a deep look of confusion on each other's pretty faces.

Although they were puzzled, they all tacitly kept their mouths shut and did not ask any more questions.

Qingdeng's solemn expression said it all.

The specifics of what happened can be left for later investigation.

Qingdeng needs their strength to overcome difficulties—knowing just this one thing is enough!

When Aoto and the two women arrived at the gate of the Tachibana residence, Toujou Shintaro and the members of the "Zero Squad" had been waiting for a long time.

But when you see Shintaro Tojo raising his spear and leaping onto his horse, even his bloated body covered in excess fat cannot conceal the heroic spirit he exudes.

Whenever he grips his spear, the image of the once-mighty "Naniwa Kirin'er" who once dominated Osaka returns to him.

"Shintaro, please lead the way."

Shintaro Toujou nodded vigorously, returning his gaze with unwavering determination.

Qingdeng leaped lightly upwards and sat steadily on the ox's back. Then, with a gentle tap on the ox's belly—a moo—the carrot shot out like an arrow.

Shintaro Toujou followed closely behind on his left.

Sanako, Mai, and the members of the Zero Squad immediately followed.

The group kicked up dust and headed straight for Nara.

……

……

That night--

A mountain east of Nara—

"Hey, has anyone found anything over there?"

"No."

"Damn it, where did those guys go?"

"Hiss... It's so cold..."

"Don't complain! If you're feeling cold, hurry up and find those guys! The sooner we finish the mission, the sooner we can go home!"

"Speaking of which, who exactly are those guys? Why did we specifically come all the way to the capital region to hunt them down?"

"We just need to follow orders and not worry about anything else!"

Several warriors rubbed their frozen hands as they searched in other directions.

Not long after they left, a rustling sound came from a bush not far from them—two young men peeked out and cautiously looked around.

"Have they gone far away?"

"Yes, they've all gone far. Let's go back quickly."

Both men have very distinctive physiques; one is short and stocky, while the other is tall and thin—let's just call them "short and stocky" and "tall and thin" for now.

The two crouched low, making silent steps, cautiously emerging from the bushes, and headed north with trepidation.

Their precarious posture, as if walking on thin ice, was like that of a frightened bird. The slightest sound—even the soft rustling of a squirrel scurrying among the leaves—would send shivers down their spines and make them break out in a cold sweat.

Fortunately, they arrived at their destination safely without any major incidents. It was a cave hidden behind a waterfall.

Upon entering, a strong stench of blood assaulted the senses...

Inside the cave were more than ten people, almost all of them wounded, their faces etched with weariness, like soldiers who had just suffered a defeat... and indeed they were.

They were the old man and Ziyang's guards.

Last night, they fought desperately and paid a heavy price, but finally managed to escort the old man and Ziyang out of the enemy's encirclement and escape to this place with great difficulty.

After a fierce battle, only those of you present here remain alive...

The short, stocky creature and the tall, thin creature ran side by side toward the deepest part of the cave, toward the old man who was resting against the rock wall.

"Teacher, these are some wild fruits we just found. Please have some."

As they talked, they poured out all the wild fruits from their pockets—only six in total, not nearly enough to share.

The old man glanced at the wild fruits and shook his head:

"I'm not very hungry. Let's give it to the injured person first."

"Huh? But..."

"There are no 'buts'. Quickly take these mountain fruits to those who really need them."

The old man exuded an aura that left no room for argument.

Seeing this, the "short and stocky" and the "tall and thin" dared not say anything more and could only comply.

Before they left, the old man reached for a wild fruit, then handed it to Ziyang beside him:
"Azi, you eat."

The escape, which lasted for nearly a day and a night, had robbed Ziyang of its usual neatness and elegance.

Her kimono was wrinkled and her pretty face was covered in dust, making her look disheveled.

However, her eyes still shone with a bright and resolute light.

As soon as the old man finished speaking, Ziyang shook his head without hesitation:
"Teacher, I'm not hungry either, you eat..."

Before she could finish speaking, the old woman frowned and interrupted her sternly:

"Azi, now is not the time to be reckless."

"The story of Kong Rong giving away pears also depends on the time."

"Although I am old, I am much stronger than you."

"Your lips are all white. If you don't eat something soon, your body won't be able to take it."

"Do you want to become a hindrance, a burden that only hinders us?"

Upon hearing this, Ziyang bit her lip, stopped arguing, silently reached out and took the mountain fruit, and began to devour it.

She ate so fast that she didn't even care about her manners, which showed how hungry she was.

Seeing this, the old man nodded and gave him a satisfied look that said, "That's right, that's how it should be."

Then, he turned his head and looked at Akutsu, who was pacing back and forth not far away.

"Akutsu, sit down quickly. You're just wasting your precious energy. The enemy won't retreat because of your pacing."

Akutsu paused for a moment... He never disobeyed the old man's orders.

Therefore, after scratching his hair a few times, he obediently and anxiously sat down cross-legged.

At this moment, a person nearby timidly asked the old man:

"Teacher, will that 'Niou' really come to save us?"

Before the old man could reply, Ziyang nodded vigorously first:

"He will definitely come."

The person who strongly advocated seeking help from Qingdeng was none other than Ziyang.

Last night, after escaping the enemy's encirclement, despite the critical situation, her mind remained efficient and sharp.

She keenly realized that in this situation, the only person who could lend them a helping hand was "Niou".

"The King of Benevolence will save us"—that's what Ziyang said to everyone with certainty.

Some people agreed with her claim, while others disagreed... Fortunately, the old woman was among those who agreed.

The old man personally made the decision and sent someone to Kyoto to contact Shintaro Tojo and ask him to request Aoto's assistance.

They had no idea what happened after that.

Did the messenger successfully reach Kyoto?

Will Niou be willing to rescue them?
All of the above are unknowns.

Although Ziyang had given a positive answer, everyone was more curious about the old man's thoughts.

Everyone present turned their heads, and all eyes were fixed on the old man.

After a moment of silence, the old man said calmly:
“I have never met ‘Niou’ and do not know what kind of person he is.”

"Whether he will come or not, and whether he can make it in time, only God knows."

The old man smiled serenely as he spoke.

"Whether 'Nioh' comes or not, what we must do will not change—strive to survive and fight to the last moment!"

"That's exactly how we persevered all this way, isn't it?"

The old man's words seemed to possess a unique magic.

The atmosphere eased, and everyone, including Ziyang, smiled and regained some of their energy.

However, at this moment, Akutsu's expression changed slightly:

Shh, be quiet, someone's coming.

These words immediately caused the atmosphere to tense up again, which had just eased!
Everyone consciously kept their mouths shut, even their breathing became extremely soft.

Despite their efforts to minimize their presence and activity, it didn't work.

"Hey? Look, there seems to be a cave over there!"

"where?"

"It's behind that waterfall. Come on, let's go take a look."

Accompanied by a brief exchange, two footsteps gradually approached... The scene that everyone least wanted to see still happened!

Akutsu silently gripped the kusarigama in his hand.

Before long, two figures appeared outside the cave—

"Hey! There really is a cave!"

"Hmm? This is... the smell of blood! Someone's here!"

Whoosh!
In an instant, the scythe flew out!

Akutsu hurled his kusarigama with force, and the several-meter-long iron chain rattled in mid-air.

In the blink of an eye, the sharp sickle sliced ​​open the first man's neck, taking his life.

Immediately afterwards, Akutsu exerted a sudden burst of ruthlessness, tightening the iron chain. The scythe, as if equipped with a remote control, deftly turned a corner and, on its way back, cut down the second person as well.

With superb skills and swift movements, the two men were sent to meet the King of Hell before they could even react.

Unfortunately... it was all in vain.

The next moment, a new shout came from outside the cave:

"Hey! There seems to be some noise over there!"

Akutsu clicked his tongue in resentment:

"Let's go! We can't stay here any longer!"

The crowd picked up their weapons and, surrounding the old man and Ziyang, fled out of the cave.

……

……

"Over there! I see them!"

"Surround them!"

"Watch out! Those guys are not to be underestimated! Surround them first!"

The rapid footsteps, the shouts that rose and fell, the occasional clang of metal against metal... the tranquility of the deep mountains was broken, startling countless birds into flight.

The fleeing crowd had lost all sense of direction, running headlong towards whatever they could find where the enemy was.

Behind them, figures flickered—countless enemies were screaming and chasing after them!

No matter where they fled, they could hear the endless chasing sounds, as if enemies were everywhere, as if every tree and every blade of grass around them were menacing enemies!

Akutsu was the strongest fighter among them.

He consciously took on the important task of "paving the way," charging ahead and carefully searching for an escape route.

Like everyone else, Akutsu was exhausted and hungry, feeling dizzy and sluggish.

Therefore, he was completely unaware that a small group of enemies had suddenly rushed out from the side and blocked their path!

"Haha! We found them!"

"Kill them all!"

"Leave only the old man and the woman! They must both live!"

It was like a demon opening its claws—a fan-shaped net opened before everyone's eyes.

Led by Akutsu, the guards gritted their teeth and bravely charged forward.

The old man and Azi, who were unable to fight, also gripped their katana tightly, ready to fight to the death.

A bloody battle to the death immediately ensued!

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