I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Keisuke Yamanami flipped through the notebook beside him.

"They're all basically here, except... oh dear, they've arrived."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a loud voice rang out behind Qingdeng.

"Hey! Tachibana-kun!"

Qingdeng turned his head and a smile spread across his face.

"Brother Chong, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Several warriors with swords at their waists and exuding a powerful aura strode straight toward Qingdeng.

The leader was an elderly man who was over seventy years old.

Walking behind the old man were three young men who looked very similar, and a stunningly beautiful woman.

Chiba Sadakichi, Chiba Jutaro, Chiba Michizaburo, Chiba Tamon Shiro, Chiba Sanako... Except for Chiba Eijiro, who was serving as an official in Mito, almost all the members of the Chiba family were here.

As expected of the renowned "Sword Master Family," the moment they appeared, Qing Deng immediately felt the air around him become sharper.

The Kondo family and the Chiba family have always been on good terms.

If the former was in the succession ceremony, how could the latter be absent?

"Congratulations, Tachibana-kun and Okita-kun."

Chiba Sadakichi smiled kindly.

"The Tennen Rishin-ryu school has welcomed a new and talented leader. Under Yu's leadership, the Tennen Rishin-ryu school will surely reach unprecedented heights."

Upon hearing this, Aoto, Souji, and Yamanami Keisuke all smiled and offered humble words.

"Inheritance" is of paramount importance in all walks of life, and even more so in the martial arts world.

Whether or not one can pass on their mantle to a qualified successor is a matter of life and death for a school of thought.

Therefore, in the Japanese swordsmanship world, it is common to adopt a son as a successor.

For example, if a sect leader feels that his own children lack the talent to learn swordsmanship, or if the sect leader has no son or daughter, he will often find an outstanding young man among his disciples to adopt as his successor.

The position of head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu school was smoothly handed over to the powerful, talented, and energetic Kondo Isami—a truly joyous occasion for the Tennen Rishin-ryu disciples, including Aoto and Souji.

After exchanging pleasantries with Chiba Sadakichi for a while, Aoto's gaze unconsciously began to shift to a certain Yamato Nadeshiko.

Because she was attending a serious event that could not be taken lightly, Sanako's outfit today was exceptionally formal and stunning.

Her hair, styled in a Shimada bun, was adorned with many ornaments that Aoto couldn't name.

A turquoise kimono, with a spring-green obi.

Further down, there are alluring, slender feet wrapped in white socks and wearing blue-buttoned wooden clogs.

As if by telepathy, at the same time that Qing Deng glanced at Sanako, Sanako was also secretly looking at him.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

Immediately afterwards, she instinctively avoided eye contact.

But after a short while, she couldn't help but shift her gaze back to its original path.

Gradually, a calm yet undeniably shy smile appeared on her face.

At that very moment—

"Ah! Qingdeng!"

A melodious young female voice, as sweet as a silver bell, suddenly came from not far away.

In an instant... truly the instant the woman's voice rang out, the smile on Sanako's face vanished.

Chiba Jutaro was another person who had lost his smile.

The commander's expression immediately turned strange.

Qingdeng paused for a moment, but quickly recovered and greeted the newcomer warmly as if nothing had happened:

"Ah! Kiryu-sensei! Mai! You're here too!"

Kiryu, Kinoshita Mai, and a girl in yellow who was being led by the hand by Kinoshita Mai and whose face was obscured by a low-brimmed straw hat, walked quickly to Aoto's side.

Coincidentally, Souji, Sanako, and Kinoshita Mai formed a pincer movement that surrounded Aoto.

His girlfriends gathered together... For Qing Deng, he had experienced such occasions far too many times in the past year and eight months... He had long been used to it, numb to it, and adept at dealing with it.

*******

*******

I spent the whole day at the CP exhibition yesterday and was completely exhausted, so I slept for almost 11 hours straight today...

Because I spent all my time sleeping, today's update is a little shorter. I'm very sorry! (crying leopard head.jpg)

I'll definitely write a long one tomorrow!

Chapter 494 The Female Leads Are Getting Bigger and Bigger! [6000]

The Kiryu boss was as energetic as ever.

Bright, expressive eyes; firm, powerful strides; clear, precise speech.

Apart from the inevitable wrinkles that have appeared on his skin due to age, he showed no signs of aging whatsoever, and it was impossible to tell that he was an elderly man nearing 100.

Kinoshita Mai is dressed very formally today.

A bright red kimono embroidered with beautiful patterns, an exquisite pale yellow obi, jade-like feet encased in white socks that make you want to hold them in your palm and play with them, and small red-buttoned wooden clogs.

"Qingdeng! Good morning!"

"Yes, good morning to you too."

After greeting Qingdeng, she turned her gaze and began to greet the other people present—then, almost in the blink of an eye, her expression changed from "happy" to "timid".

"Um... hello... I'm Mai Kinoshita, the head of the Senjiya..."

As she spoke, she clasped her hands tightly together in front of her, and her toes, encased in white socks, scratched repeatedly at her wooden clogs, her expression tense.

Only in front of Qingdeng would she show her innocent, carefree, and girlish side.

However, after becoming a couple with Qingdeng, she became much more cheerful and energetic than before, nurtured and encouraged by love.

Although she is still introverted and shy, at least she dares to take the initiative to greet people.

When speaking to strangers, you should dare to look them in the eye and speak clearly enough for them to understand.

In the past, in a situation with many strangers around, she would have buried her head low, hidden behind Mr. Kiryu, staring intently at the ground in front of her feet, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Kinoshita Mai and Souji have a good relationship, so she nodded slightly and smiled at Souji as a greeting.

As for Sanako...

She glanced sideways at Sanako beside her.

Coincidentally, at the same time, Sanako also glanced sideways, her gaze, devoid of joy or sorrow, sweeping towards Kinoshita Mai.

Immediately afterwards, they all hurriedly looked away, as if their eyes would see filth if they met.

Kinoshita Mai: "Hmph."

Sanako: "Hmph."

At the same time, the two women both let out a cold snort in a volume that only they could hear.

Ever since Qing Deng announced to the three girls and their parents in the hospital ward of Renyi Clinic that "I want to form a big family," the scene that Qing Deng dreamed of, where "the girlfriends successfully got along and formed a deep friendship," did not happen.

Putting aside the "Happy Shiba Inu," the relationship between the "Mute Cat" and the "Noble Fox" remains terrible...

To be honest, Aoto still doesn't understand why Sanako and Kinoshita Mai's relationship is so bad.

If they disliked each other because they were rivals in love... that doesn't seem to make much sense.

After all, Souji is also their love rival, but they all have a good relationship with Souji.

Fortunately, according to Qingdeng's observation, the two women did not harbor the kind of intense hatred that makes one wish the other would die.

In short, their relationship was really awkward.

Perhaps this is what is called "incompatible birth charts"—there is no reason, just a simple dislike for each other.

At this moment, Qing Deng suddenly realized that he had traveled to this world in January of the seventh year of Ansei (1860), and now it was December of the second year of Bunkyū (1862).

Roughly speaking, he has lived in this world for nearly 3 years, and has known and spent nearly 3 years with Sanako, Kinoshita Mai, and Souji.

Compared to when I first met them, the three women have changed a lot.

Sanako is already 24 years old this year, long past the age of growing up.

Whether it's height or whether it's a bear or a peach, it has stopped growing.

However, the passage of time has only made her temperament more mature, elegant, and charming.

In addition, she seems to have frozen in time.

Although she is almost thirty, she still looks like a woman in her early twenties.

Even Sanako has changed so much, not to mention Souji and Kinoshita Mai, who are at the age where they are growing.

His facial features have become more mature, and there is less childishness between his brows... These minor changes in appearance are not worth mentioning, so let's leave them aside for now.

The biggest changes in Souji and Kinoshita Mai in recent years are their body shapes—their slender parts remain slender, and their already large parts have become even larger!

The current CEO now has to spend far more time and effort each morning to soothe his body.

As for the other girl... Qingdeng speculated: This might be a side effect of her innate "milk".

Three years ago, Kinoshita Mai's kimono already had very puffy and high lapels.

Now, her kimono was stretched even more taut! There was almost no room between the clothes and her body, making her particularly eye-catching.

Although she is still smaller than Sanako, Aoto feels that her current size and shape are just right.

After all, Kinoshita Mai is much shorter than Sanako.

Sanako's size is just right at the point where "any bigger would be a little scary" and "any shorter would feel very disproportionate".

In other words, a size like Sanako's is only suitable for someone of her height.