I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Atachi couldn't help but laugh again.

This time the laughter was louder and more joyful than before.

Sanako blinked her beautiful eyes with a blank expression.

"Huh? Is that so? But I heard that Ogata Ittosai is quite ordinary-looking. He's not ugly, but he's not particularly handsome either."

"That is incorrect!"

Komaki Goro suddenly straightened his face, his expression becoming extremely solemn.

"These are all fabricated rumors by the shogunate to discredit Ogata Itsunari!"

"In fact, Ogata Ittosai is very handsome."

"In order to discredit Ogata Hayanari, the shogunate even deliberately made his arrest warrant ugly."

Upon hearing this, Sanako couldn't help but retort:

"Mr. Gu Mu, that's highly unlikely, isn't it? Putting aside the possibility of fabricating rumors, if the portrait on the wanted poster is inaccurate, how can they arrest the person?"

Immediately afterwards, Qing Deng also said in a helpless tone:

“Mr. Komaki, you’re talking as if you’ve seen Ogata Ittosai with your own eyes.”

Komaki Goro was around 3 or 40 years old. When Ogata Ittosai was active in the world, he hadn't even been born yet. How could he have seen Ogata Ittosai in person?

Aoto could understand Komaki Goro's strong defense of Ogata Ittosai.

After all, he had just said that he was an admirer of Ogata Hayanari.

Since they are fans, it is inevitable that they will "protect them loyally".

"Although I have never seen Ogata Ittosai in person, everyone around me, including the old people who were born in the Kansei era, said that Ogata Ittosai was a handsome man."

After saying that, Goro Komaki turned his head to look at Omachi.

"A-Machi, don't you think so?"

"Hmm... well..."

Atachi tilted her head, as if deep in thought.

A moment later, she leaned her upper body towards Komaki Goro, her eyes slightly narrowed, and the corners of her mouth curved into a cat-like arc:

"If Ogata Itsuki looked like you, then he would undoubtedly be the most handsome man in the world!"

"..."

Goro Komaki fell silent.

He silently withdrew his gaze, looking straight ahead, no longer looking at Atachi.

Because of the limited perspective, Qing Deng couldn't see the expression he had etched.

Atachi chuckled softly a few times, then casually put her arm around Komaki Goro's right arm.

Qingdeng, who witnessed the entire loving interaction, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.

—This elderly couple is way too fond of showing off!

Goro Komaki and Atachi have been showing off their affection, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

It was in the sun before I went out, and it was still in the sun after I went out; it never stopped.

However, despite feeling mentally exhausted, Qing Deng also felt a faint sense of envy.

Such a natural and unpretentious way of expressing their love for each other... the affection between the Old Shepherd couple is visibly deep.

After chatting idly for a while, the four of them fell silent.

The Gu Mu couple gazed thoughtfully at the Tang Clan before them.

Sanako's attention was drawn to the imposing design and exquisite patterns of the Tang-style cloak.

As for Qing Deng... from the very beginning, he had been secretly glancing sideways at the guards protecting Nijo Castle.

Looking around, there were six guards standing neatly on the left and right sides of the Tang Clan.

They were all fully armored, with swords at their waists and long spears held high in their hands; their equipment was excellent.

They were all soldiers of the "Sanbangu" (the personal guard of the Shogun).

There are 12 large groups, and each group takes turns guarding Edo Castle, Nijo Castle, and Osaka Castle according to the month.

Four living people, two men and two women, stood upright within their reach, openly looking at the gates of Nijo Castle. Instead of driving them away, they didn't even try to stop them.

"Haaaaaaahhhhhh~~"

One of the guards yawned widely.

Every single one of these gatekeepers had a blank expression, empty eyes, and stared blankly into the void ahead.

……

……

After leaving Nijo Castle, led by the experienced Komaki couple, the group strolled through the intricate streets and alleys, leisurely visiting various key locations in Kyoto.

Although the Koomaki couple didn't look very old, their understanding of Kyoto had the air of "old Kyoto residents".

They could answer any question with ease: Where is this? What is that? What is this place called? What is that place?

When it comes to understanding Kyoto, even the elderly who have lived in the city for most of their lives probably can't compare to the Komaki couple.

Kyoto is indeed an ancient capital with a long history, with temples and shrines everywhere.

It's no exaggeration to say that every time you go to a new place, you can always see one or more temples and shrines.

Along the way, Qingdeng's feelings were roughly like this: temples, shrines, temples, shrines, temples, shrines, temples, shrines, temples, shrines, temples, shrines, temples, shrines...

So many temples! So many shrines!

Among them are many famous temples and shrines that have existed for hundreds or thousands of years, each with an impressive title. They are either the head temple of this sect, the head temple of that deity, or bear the title of "most" or "number one".

So far, the temples and shrines that Aoto and Sanako have visited include, but are not limited to:

The headquarters of the Rinzai sect: Nanzen-ji Temple.

The head temple of the Tendai sect, known as the "Mother Mountain of Japanese Buddhism": Mount Hiei Enryaku-ji.

The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, the main shrine of Inari Shrine, is a magnificent structure with tens of thousands of torii gates winding up the mountain.

The main shrine of Atago Shrine is Mount Atago.

The tallest wooden pagoda in Japan: Toji Five-Storied Pagoda.

Temples and shrines should be places of purity and peace.

However... while passing by a certain temple, Qingdeng caught a glimpse of a merchant dressed in fine silk talking to an old monk dressed as the abbot.

Thanks to his exceptional hearing granted by the talent "Wind Perception +1", he clearly heard the following conversation:

“Abbot, I have donated another 2000 taels of gold to your temple this time. In total, I have donated a total of 6 taels of gold to your temple. What do you think…”

The businessman stopped abruptly at a meaningful point, not continuing, and drew out his words in a low, drawn-out tone.

The abbot—whose beard and eyebrows were already white, suggesting he was around 70 years old—had his hands clasped together, a beaming smile on his face, and his eyes were squeezed into two thin slits by his prominent cheekbones.

Judging from his appearance, the abbot has the demeanor of a highly accomplished monk.

Kind-faced and gentle, with a pleasant expression.

However, when he opened his mouth, he exuded an undisguised air of mercenary shrewdness.

"Please rest assured, benefactor. A person as charitable as you will surely ascend to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss upon your passing."

Upon hearing this, the merchant breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good, that's good!"

……

……

Besides its ancient and historic sites, Kyoto also boasts bustling commercial districts and vibrant, lively street life.

"Cooling beds" set up by merchants along the Kamo River.

The Nishiki Market is about 400 meters long and 3.3-5 meters wide. More than 130 food shops are crammed together on both sides of the narrow street. All the ingredients needed to make Kyoto cuisine can be bought here. It is known as the "Kitchen of Kyoto".

While passing through the bustling and prosperous Nishiki Market, Qingdeng spotted a man dressed in rags.

He was covered in filth, his face was etched with the marks of time, and his hands and feet were covered with chilblains as large as pigeon eggs.

He huddled on the side of the street like a ghost, shouting something.

Although the volume was loud, the accent was too strong, and even Qingdeng, who had seen countless people, couldn't understand what he was saying.

However, judging from his expression and appearance, he should be a refugee who fled from other places.

The words he shouted were probably a plea for a job from a kind person.

However, no one paid any attention to him.

One reason is that no one understands what he's saying.

On the other hand, even if he understood, there were very few people who could actually help him.

Whether in towns or rural areas, harvests have been poor in recent years.

The lackluster harvests, coupled with the gradual collapse of the natural economy caused by the intervention of foreign capital, made life increasingly difficult for farmers.

Several years ago, uprisings of all sizes broke out one after another throughout Japan.

Every upheaval creates countless refugees.

These refugees, with nowhere else to go, had no choice but to flock to major cities to make a living.

In fact, after being led by the Komaki couple on a tour of Kyoto, Aoto had already witnessed many refugees in places where rats and insects gathered, such as streets, riverbanks, and under bridge piers.

They left their homes with hope, but were destined to struggle in despair.

How could Kyoto, which had been harassed by anti-Japanese patriots for a long time and was occupied by various forces, and had become a powder keg, possibly have a thriving economy?

It was a genuine case of "even the landlord's family had no surplus grain."

Of the refugees who were able to survive in Kyoto, only one in ten would survive.