I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

……

……

Mito Domain, Domain Castle——

"Eijiro! Eijiro!"

Hearing someone call his name, Chiba Eijiro, he turned around in the direction of the voice.

"Kiyoshi, what's wrong?"

"I have received your letter."

"My letter?"

Chiba Eijiro frowned slightly, took the letter from the other party, and without caring that there were outsiders present, tore open the seal, pulled out the letter, spread it out, and scanned it with his eyes.

Judging from his reading speed, the letter should not be very long.

However, this short letter caused Chiba Eijiro's expression to change several times in just a few seconds.

Sometimes surprised, sometimes puzzled, sometimes secretly pleased, sometimes gratified...

After a moment, he slowly raised his gaze, looking south... towards the direction of Edo.

"...Kiyoshi, starting tomorrow, I will be returning to Edo for a while."

"Hmm? Why? Has something urgent happened at home?"

Chiba Eijiro smiled.

"The sword is calling me."

*******

*******

Oh ho ho! The final and biggest dungeon in Edo is here! The martial arts academy, which has been built up for so long, is finally here to give away talent... Ah, no! It's officially making its debut!

It's almost the end of the month again! Readers who still have monthly tickets, please be sure to vote for this book! (Crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 522 Qingdeng's [Edo Conquest] Begins! [5600]

"Big news! Big news!"

The street vendors, who had only rested for a few days, once again flocked to the streets and alleys of Edo, hawking their latest tabloids to every citizen around them.

"Niou is making another big move!"

"Niou has challenged all the sword-making schools, jujutsu schools, karate schools... in short! He has challenged every martial arts school in Edo!"

"The military academy is also being challenged!"

"Starting from January 24th, Niou will fight his way through the Kōbō-shō and all the martial arts dojos in Edo!"

"Big news! Big news!"

"Niou is going to challenge all the top warriors in Edo!"

"What? Niou has gone mad?"

What is he trying to do?

"Is he trying to challenge all the strong opponents he hasn't had a chance to spar with before, one by one, before heading to Kyoto?"

"But wasn't he supposed to go to Kyoto on February 1st? There are only a few days left until February 1st! How can he possibly challenge so many martial arts dojos and so many martial artists in such a short time?"

"Hey! What are you saying! Don't forget, Niou's stamina is insane! When the Shinsengumi was recruiting, he challenged over a thousand people in 17 days, and not only did his body not break down, he was also radiant! With Niou's abilities, he might actually be able to challenge all the martial arts dojos in Edo in just a few days!"

"He even challenged the Martial Arts Academy... The Martial Arts Academy is a gathering place for sword masters! Putting aside other sword schools, the Martial Arts Academy is not easy to break into."

“Especially since the Military Academy still has the ‘Sword Saint’.”

"The 'Sword Saint' is old. Otani Seiichiro is over sixty years old. An old man of that age could die from a fall, let alone fighting with a sword."

"You can't say that! The last time I saw Seiichiro Otani, he was full of energy! He was ruddy-faced and didn't look like an old man over sixty at all!"

"These are all just superficial phenomena. No matter how energetic one looks on the outside, old age is old age. Once a person gets old, their physical strength and energy will decline uncontrollably. This is a truth of the world that cannot be defied! Even the strongest person will have a day of birth, aging, sickness and death. Otani Seiichiro's strength is definitely not what it used to be!"

"However, although the 'Sword Saint' is old, his abilities should not be underestimated."

"Anyway, there's going to be a good show! All the top warriors in Edo are going to fight Niou... Hahaha! Just thinking about it is exciting!"

……

Terror and violence are two of the most captivating and timeless themes for humankind.

Regardless of the country or era, news related to these two topics will naturally capture the hearts of the general public.

Therefore, when the street vendors announced the day's front-page content, the citizens of Edo rushed to buy the tabloids even faster than ever before.

Every time the street vendors took out a stack of newspapers, they were quickly snapped up.

All the tile workshops were rushing to print more tabloids, but even so, their production speed still couldn't keep up with the citizens' enthusiasm for buying.

In recent days, the citizens of Edo have become accustomed to the "Aoto craze".

Since the end of last year, Qingdeng has been swept up in one social wave after another.

First, he was promoted to "Golden Capital Garrison Commander". Then, he selected soldiers through "one-on-one battles". After that, he determined the official name and organizational structure of the Garrison Army.

And now, this man has created a new and bigger hot news story—challenging the Kobujo and all the martial arts dojos in Edo!

This matter... while not exactly shocking, is certainly astonishing.

Since the Tokugawa family established their shogunate in Edo, no one has ever sent challenge letters to every martial arts dojo in Edo like Aoto!

Qingdeng's move is unprecedented! And there may never be one like him again!

In an instant, countless eyes fell on Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagicho and on the Shieikan.

Everyone eagerly awaited the moment, mentally prepared to witness the "birth of a brand new legend."

If Qingdeng's "journey" ends in failure, that would be fine; it would simply leave an inconspicuous record in history.

But if we win...

If he were to actually "conquer Edo" and escape unscathed... no one knew how to even begin to imagine it.

In response to Qing Deng's challenge, the various martial arts dojos have adopted a variety of approaches.

Some chose to remain silent.

Some people gave it a warm welcome.

Some were also anxious and restless.

The Edo enthusiasts gave Aoto's feat a very impressive yet rebellious name – "Edo Conquest"!

From a certain perspective, this name is absolutely brilliant.

Aoto sent challenge letters to the Kōbō-shō and all the martial arts dojos in Edo.

This is tantamount to challenging all the overtly powerful figures in Edo.

Such an action could indeed be considered a conquest of Edo!

If this had happened during the height of the Edo Shogunate—from the mid-17th to the mid-18th century—anyone who dared to use such an unorthodox name would have been investigated, arrested, and punished by the magistrates of the Imperial Household Agency (御庭番) and the "three-times" magistrates' offices (謊行所).

However, after a series of events such as the "Black Ships Attack" and the "Sakuradamon Incident," the "bombs" that had been hidden in all levels of society for a long time finally exploded.

While losing all authority, the Edo Shogunate essentially lost its ability to manage grassroots affairs.

Even knowing that a rather rebellious term was circulating among the common people, the shogunate was powerless to respond.

The name "Edo Conquest" spread rapidly in bustling places such as teahouses, izakayas, and bathhouses.

Amidst this tense and expectant atmosphere, finally... the tall figure with three swords at his waist slowly walked out of the gate of the Examination Hall under the watchful eyes of thousands.

……

……

Wenjiu three years (1863), January 24th——

Edo, Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagi Town, Test Guard Hall——

Qingdeng sat in the entrance hall, fastened his snow boots, put on his wine-red haori, and wrapped his black scarf tightly. The wakizashi, the shinigami, and the Vairocana all hung quietly on his left waist.

Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap...

Suddenly, he heard a series of familiar footsteps behind him.

Qingdeng turned his head and looked at the group of brothers behind him with a wry smile.

Souji, Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, Yamanami Keisuke... all the members of Shieikan stood neatly behind him.

Admiration, praise, helplessness, envy... all the myriad expressions of human nature seemed to be reflected on their faces.

"What's wrong? Why are you all acting like you're sending me off to get married? Just in case you forget, let me remind you: I'm a man, I don't get married."

"The beginning of 'Nioh's new legend' - it would be a shame if we didn't come and witness it with our own eyes."

Harada Sanosuke said this in his usual goofy voice.

Qingdeng chuckled to himself:

"Legend... I can't bear that word. Wait until I return victorious before you use that word."

Yamanami Keisuke smiled slightly:

"Even if you don't return victorious, just the fact that you challenged the Kōbō-shō and all the martial arts dojos in Edo is enough to earn you the title of 'legend'."

No sooner had Keisuke Yamanami finished speaking than Souji, his face filled with a complex expression, immediately took over the conversation:

"Although I don't know what you were thinking when you suddenly made this decision... Anyway, you should be careful and not push yourself too hard."

At this moment, Hijikata Toshizo, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, grinned and chimed in:

"Tachibana, you wouldn't be thinking of grabbing the title of 'Strongest in Edo' before you leave Edo, would you?"

Qingdeng gently shook his head.

"No, that's not it. I have absolutely no interest in the title of 'strongest'."