I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Please leave!"

Immediately afterwards, a woman in her early thirties, dressed in a deep blue kimono with a light purple sash around her waist and with a pretty face, rushed out and glared fearlessly at the scoundrels.

Judging from her aura, she must be the madam of this teahouse.

"Don't go too far! Even if it's to raise funds for future campaigns against the barbarians, there are so many large and well-established teahouses, shops, and government offices in Gion. Why are you specifically targeting us? This is all the money we can offer!"

The madam's reprimand did not anger Scarface—he scanned the man from head to toe, carefully looking him up and down, before revealing a knowing smile.

Then, Scarface strode towards the madam.

Upon seeing this, the madam immediately realized something, her expression changed, and she instinctively turned to run away.

However, it was too late.

Scarface darted forward and grabbed the madam by the back of her collar.

"W-What are you going to do?"

Despite her struggles, how could a weak woman like her possibly break free from the control of a grown man?

"Didn't I make myself very clear before? If you don't pay 100 taels of gold, I'll demolish your shop."

"As a result, not only did you not pay the full amount, but you also spoke rudely to us."

"Hey! Men, tear this dilapidated shop down! Let everyone see what the consequences are for those who defy the King and the cause of repelling the barbarians!"

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

Before there was even a moment to mourn the failure of "updating at 17 PM sharp," the next thing to arrive on the battlefield was "updating at 19 PM sharp!"

P.S.: The part in this chapter about "patriots extorting money and harassing women" is historical fact, not just some clichéd plot I'm writing. Reality is just that cliché, what can I do?

Chapter 568 The King of Benevolence Makes His Move! Hero Saves the Beauty! Instant Kill! [4300]

"Those bastards from the Kusunoki Group are getting more and more arrogant..."

Atachi murmured softly, her cheeks showing undisguised annoyance.

"..."

Komaki Goro remained silent, calmly glancing at Scarface and the others before turning his head to stare directly at Aoto, as if waiting for something.

"Orange-kun, let's go and help them out."

As Sanako spoke, she reached up and touched the blue-handled wakizashi at her waist.

"...No rush, wait a moment."

As he spoke, Qingdeng turned his head to look at the crowd of onlookers nearby.

"I'd like to observe for a while first."

……

……

After receiving "permission to vandalize," the scoundrels, like wild horses unleashed, grinned maliciously.

"Wait, wait a minute!"

The shopkeeper hurriedly stood up, intending to use his withered body to stop him.

"Let's talk this over! Let's talk this over!"

"You're only thinking of discussing this now? It's too late!"

As he spoke, the scarred man roughly pushed the shopkeeper to the ground.

The commotion naturally attracted the attention of passersby.

Upon discovering that it was the patriots who were causing the disturbance, most people hurriedly averted their gaze, lowered their heads, quickened their pace, and left in a hurry.

However, a small number of people stood still, their faces showing a variety of emotions.

A young samurai, who should have been around 15 years old, stared at the atrocity before him, his expression filled with intense indignation.

Immediately afterwards, as if he had made up his mind, his face showed a resolute expression, and he reached his right hand to his left waist and pressed on the hilt of his knife.

However, a samurai of similar age standing next to him reached out and grabbed him first.

"Hey, what do you want?"

"Need I say more? Of course, it's to rid the people of this scourge!"

"Are you crazy! You can't beat them! Didn't you see there are five of them? Do you want to fight five of them by yourself?"

How will you know if you don't try?

"There's no need to even try this! Putting aside the fact that they outnumber you, you can't beat them even in terms of individual warriors! See that person?"

As he spoke, he pointed to one of the five scoundrels, a tall and thin samurai.

The man stood with his arms crossed, his expression stern, exuding an air of competence.

“I remember him! His name is Umehara Junyuki. You must have heard of him, right? He was originally the instructor at the Shikikan in Rakuhoku. He possesses the complete mastery of the Shinto Munen-ryu style and his swordsmanship is extremely high! He alone is enough to subdue you!”

The young warrior, who was filled with righteous indignation, paused for a moment, gasped, and the anger on his face subsided considerably.

"Atsuyuki Umehara? That swordsman who once defeated 36 people in a row during the Rikkari?"

[Note: "Liqie" means all disciples take turns fighting the challenger continuously until the challenger collapses from exhaustion.]

After his murmur, his facial expression was quickly filled again with uncontrollable grief and indignation.

"How could even such an outstanding warrior with unparalleled skills, who should have been serving his country, have become a thief...!"

His friends' attempts to persuade him continued.

"Even if you were possessed by Hachiman Daimyojin and miraculously defeated them all, you still wouldn't be able to stay in Kyoto! The Kusunoki Group will never let you go! Your parents, your sister... all your family members will be implicated because of you!"

The young samurai's facial features were contorted, as if countless waves were churning within them.

A moment later, he clenched his teeth and stomped his foot angrily.

"Yusaburo, we have been learning swordsmanship since childhood. Is it just so that we can stand idly by and watch others suffer like this?"

"This...sigh..."

His friend was speechless.

As for him... after hesitating for a while, he slowly released his hand from the knife.

The crowd that had gathered was about a hundred people, most of whom looked like young warriors, full of righteous indignation, yet hesitant to move forward.

It's not that I'm indifferent or heartless; it's just that I have the will but not the power.

Their frustration turned into complaints and curses.

"The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be..."

"What a load of rubbish about the Kyoto Guardian position, what a load of rubbish about the Kyoto Regional Garrison Commander... They have neither the authority to guard nor the authority to garrison."

"Let's report this to the authorities."

"What's the use! The Kyoto Magistrate's Office has long been in cahoots with the Kusunoki Group. Even if the officials are summoned, they will definitely side with the Kusunoki Group."

"The Kusunoki Group only knows how to bully the weak. Not to mention the whole of Kyoto, there are countless wealthy and powerful families in Gion alone, but they only bother these small and insignificant families."

"It is precisely because they never offend those they shouldn't provoke that the Kusunoki Group has been able to survive to this day."

"Hiss... Look, it's Umehara Junyuki, that famous swordsman."

"So the rumor that 'Atsuyuki Umehara accepted the offer from the Kusunoki Group' was true..."

"How infuriating! With Junyu Umehara's help, the Kusunoki Group is like a tiger with wings!"

"Sigh, let's go, let's go..."

At the same time, the scoundrels either drew their swords or picked up the sledgehammers they had prepared beforehand.

"Brothers! Let's get to work! Let's show them our demolition speed, which is no less than that of a town fire!"

"Oh oh oh!"

Scarface said leisurely:

"I'm leaving this to you guys. Do a good job. As for me... I'm going to rest for a bit now."

After saying that, he lowered his head and looked at the female boss, whom he had firmly controlled, with a lewd expression.

He's stopped pretending altogether now, his eyes gleaming with blatant lewdness.

The female boss struggled desperately, but she could not shake off the scarred man's large hand that was tightly gripping her collar.

During this process, the back of her collar gradually loosened, exposing her snow-white nape to the air.

That's how kimonos are structured; they're troublesome to put on but easy to take off. Just grab the back of the collar and pull gently to expose the back of your neck. If you use a bit more force to tear the hem open, your entire upper body can be exposed.

During the Edo period, "neck fetishism" was extremely popular.

The glimpse of the back of a woman's neck when she inadvertently bends over, bows, or kneels breaks the original conservative balance, but it is not vulgar like being exposed. This just-right charm makes people's imaginations run wild.

The female boss's inadvertently exposed snow-white nape undoubtedly further aroused the scarred man's desire.

“Madam, stop struggling. If you behave yourself, I might be gentler with you.”

As he spoke, Scarface dragged the female shop owner toward the back of the shop, pulling and tugging at her.

"Come here! Come!"

The pale-faced female boss, like someone who had fallen into the water, flailed her arms wildly, wailing and pleading for help.

However... the onlookers either turned away or looked away, not daring to watch anymore, and not a single person came forward to help.

Just as the end of this little teahouse was imminent—

"That's enough!"

The sudden shout caused the atmosphere in the entire venue to change.

In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on him—a tall, imposing warrior parted the crowd, glaring menacingly at the scoundrels.