I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Beneath the calm surface, there seemed to be a hint of mockery...

Such an expression was neither feigned composure nor unyielding, but rather a kind of... indescribable calmness.

Looking at Aoto's expression, Kinzaburo Takahashi felt inexplicably angry.

He gritted his teeth, slapped his thigh, and shouted:

"Damn it! Use torture! I want to see if you'll still be this arrogant after I tie your feet to your neck! Use torture! Use torture now!"

The kind-hearted rope official glanced at Kinzaburo Takahashi, who had given the order, then at Aoto, and sighed.

"Young man... grit your teeth. Please don't blame us..."

Just as Shengqu picked up the thick hemp rope and slowly walked towards Qingdeng...

"Which bastard killed my little brother?!"

Several solemn-faced samurai with swords at their waists strode into Baizhou.

The leader was dressed in a high-class kimono made of Sendai fabric. He was lean, with sharp eyes and fierce gaze. Just by looking at him, one could instinctively feel that he was not someone to be trifled with.

"Eh? Lord Yamazaki? What brings you here?"

The moment this group of people suddenly appeared... Takahashi Kinzaburo vividly demonstrated a "face-changing" performance that would put even Sichuan opera actors to shame.

During Aoto's trial, Kinzaburo Takahashi appeared fierce and wrathful throughout.

Those who don't know the situation might think he's some kind of ruthless and unyielding person.

As a result, upon seeing this group of uninvited guests, his facial features immediately softened, the corners of his mouth turned up high, his eyes narrowed into slits, and his face was filled with a fawning smile.

He hurriedly stood up, bent over, and hunched his shoulders, his posture extremely humble.

In addition to changes in facial expressions and gestures, his manner of speaking has also changed significantly.

The honorifics used... just hearing them makes me cringe, they give me goosebumps.

Such a dramatic and seemingly disparate change before and after is truly a masterful magic performance.

Yamazaki Heijiro… the lean samurai who was walking at the front and was addressed as “Lord Yamazaki” by Takahashi Kinsaburo, stood next to Takahashi Kinsaburo and slowly said in a nonchalant tone:

"Hmph! Lord Takahashi, don't you know why I'm here?"

"I was comfortably drinking tea and embracing women at home when I suddenly learned that my important subordinate had been killed by some unknown ronin. If I were to remain indifferent, what would become of the Kusunoki Group's reputation? How would we continue to live in the world after this... Ah, no, that's not right, how would we continue to achieve our great cause of honoring the emperor and expelling the barbarians?"

After saying that, Yamazaki Heijiro turned his head and looked at Aoto.

"Is it you who caused me to lose a group of capable men?"

An undisguised rage and murderous intent flashed in Yamazaki Heijiro's eyes.

"Lord Takahashi, what do you think? How should this matter be handled?"

"Uh... to kill people in the street, and five at that, is an unforgivable crime! He should be severely punished swiftly and severely! However, this guy is unrepentant and refuses to sign the confession! Lord Yamazaki, I'm preparing to torture him and let him taste the power of the Ebi torture! After I've tortured him, I'll see if he can still be so arrogant!"

"Ebi-genji? Lord Yamazaki, Ebi-genji alone is far from enough!"

Heijiro Yamazaki gently shook his head.

"Loyal people who served the country were brutally murdered. If they are not severely punished, it will be impossible to appease public anger!"

Kinzaburo Takahashi hesitated.

Subsequently, the dignified Yinwei Fang and Li sought advice from the mere Yakuza:

"Then... Lord Yamazaki, in your opinion, how should we deal with this thief?"

Heijiro Yamazaki smirked, revealing a sinister grin.

"Let him try all the instruments of torture here! Torture him until he's barely clinging to life, then behead him at the Three Rivers Plain!"

The atmosphere at the scene changed drastically as soon as he said this.

Regardless of the kind-hearted rope handler, even the other rope handlers, scribes, yo-ri-suke, and dou-shin, who were used to seeing injustices, couldn't help but change their expressions.

Even Kinzaburo Takahashi was momentarily taken aback. However, he quickly regained his composure, his mind now focused on the cold, hard comparison of gains and losses.

Yamazaki Heijiro is an important member of the Kusunoki Group, so how could he miss such a great opportunity to curry favor with them?

And so, Kinzaburo Takahashi almost without hesitation loudly echoed:

"I see... Lord Yamazaki, your method is excellent! Such a despicable and wicked villain should not be allowed to die so easily! That would be too lenient on him. I will do it immediately!"

At this point, he shouted to the rope takers:

"Did you all hear that? Bring all the instruments of torture here!"

The ropes looked at each other, bewildered.

Ultimately, they were no match for Kinzaburo Takahashi's tyranny... They turned around and walked toward the racks of torture instruments placed on both sides of Shirasu.

Before leaving, the kind rope taker turned back to Qingdeng with a pitying look, lowered his voice, and said softly:

"Young man, you're really unlucky..."

Crack, crack, crack, crack... One after another, terrifying instruments of torture were carried out.

Kinzaburo Takahashi and Heijiro Yamazaki stood side by side, both letting out smug laughter.

In high spirits, they mocked Qingdeng without restraint.

"Hey! Dongyi, this is a rare opportunity. I'll teach you a lesson, so listen carefully: even the sharpest sword is no match for a small official seal! Killing you is easier for us than killing an ant!"

As soon as Kinzaburo Takahashi finished speaking, Heijiro Yamazaki picked up the conversation:

"Hmph! This is what happens when you dare to kill my underlings! Kid, if there is an afterlife, remember this well: 'Keep your tail between your legs' is the first rule of being a human being!"

The rope-wielding men, carrying various instruments of torture, slowly approached Aoto...

"..."

Qingdeng, who had been motionless like a clay or wooden sculpture since the beginning, finally stirred.

He raised his gaze, scanned his surroundings, and finally fixed it on Kinzaburo Takahashi and Heijiro Yamazaki.

"Your name is... Kinzaburo Takahashi, right? Although your mouth has been full of nonsense from the beginning, there is one sentence just now that I have to partially agree with."

You're absolutely right.

As Qing Deng spoke, he reached into his robes and pulled out a magnificent wakizashi.

"Sometimes, even the most powerful sword, capable of cutting through iron like mud, is no match for a mere official seal."

Having said that, Qing Deng casually placed the wakizashi in front of his knees.

Looking at the wakizashi, in an instant... truly in an instant! The rope-wielders, holding the torture instruments and approaching Aoto, all stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

The next instant, they all threw away the instruments of torture in their hands, knelt down respectfully, huddled together, and dared not even breathe. A few of them even trembled slightly.

This sudden turn of events left Kinzaburo Takahashi and Heijiro Yamazaki, who had been laughing wildly just a moment ago, stunned into silence.

"What are you doing? Why are you kneeling down?"

Kinzaburo Takahashi lost his composure and shouted wildly. Then he craned his neck to look at the wakizashi in front of Aoto's knees.

The wakizashi was entirely gold, with a warm and smooth color and a delicate texture. The scabbard was engraved with an exquisite three-leaf holly.

In an instant, Kinzaburo Takahashi's eyes widened just like the rope-taker's earlier, and the color drained from his face at a visible speed.

"Sunflower, sunflower pattern?!"

Aoto curled the corners of his mouth, crossed his hands and tucked them into his haori sleeves, his expression playful.

"This is a precious sword bestowed upon me by the Great Tree Master; seeing it is like seeing the pattern of a sunflower."

"Big Big Tree?!"

"What? Why are you all still standing so stiffly? Has no one ever taught you the proper etiquette when you see Kuiwen?"

Just as Qing Deng finished speaking, a flurry of footsteps suddenly came from outside Baizhou.

Immediately afterwards, Hijikata Toshizo, Matsudaira Katamori, Inaba Masakuni, and the soldiers of the two armies they led filed in.

In the blink of an eye, the spacious white island was filled with soldiers exuding murderous intent.

Qingdeng slowly stood up and smiled:

"Hijikata-kun, you guys are really fast! I thought you'd be even later."

Hijikata Toshizo shrugged and smiled:

"Our boss has been arrested. If we don't react as quickly as possible, how will we survive in Kyoto?"

Matsudaira Katamori and Inaba Masakuni stepped forward—the former signaled with his eyes, while the latter bowed respectfully.

"Tachibana-sama!"

Masakuni Inaba said respectfully.

"I'm so sorry! I've startled you!"

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PS: Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka each had two magistrate offices. Edo's magistrate office was divided into the South Office, and Kyoto's was divided into the East Office and the West Office. Both were staffed on a monthly rotation basis.

Since the Kyoto Magistrate's Office is not an important location, to save trouble, Leopard has combined the East and West Magistrate's Offices in Kyoto into one. Please be aware of this.

Chapter 573 The Shinsengumi Sets Off! The Shinsengumi's First Battle! [4200]

"Lord Tachibana, this is Nagato no Kami, Yodo Domain head, Kyoto Shojidai, Inaba Masakuni."

Matsudaira Yongho introduced.

Aoto stood up, faced Inaba Masakuni, and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Lord Nagato, I've long admired your name."

Inaba Masakuni hurriedly bowed in return.

"Lord Ju, my apologies! I have long admired your name!"

At the same time, Yoshisuke Nose, who was standing to the side and behind Masakuni Inaba, also bent down, displaying a look of fear and trepidation.