I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

If we don't eat our fill, if we don't have such a sumptuous meal, we simply can't keep going!

Is this just the beginning...?

For the next two weeks, starting today, they will be in an adaptation period. After that, the training intensity will gradually increase, and anyone who cannot persevere will be ruthlessly kicked out of the team – this is the announcement made by Qing Deng this morning.

Such arduous training was just an appetizer... Thinking of this, Shimada Kai couldn't help but feel discouraged.

—I underestimated the Shinsengumi…

Shimada Kai sighed again.

After such a brutal day, all the confidence he had built up had vanished.

—Can I really stick with the Shinsengumi...?

Just as Shimada Kai was lost in deep self-doubt, a male voice suddenly came from beside him—a male voice that was extremely familiar to him:

"Hey, Kui, why do you look so sad? What's wrong? Is the training too tough and making you want to give up?"

Shimada Kai paused for a moment, then subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound—not far from him, a burly man covered in scars was watching him with a smile.

Shimada Kai blinked, paused for two seconds, then shouted excitedly:

"Shinpachi!"

Nagakura Shinpachi chuckled:

"Ah Kui, you finally noticed me! I've been sitting next to you for ages!"

As he spoke, Nagakura Shinpachi shifted his position a few times and sat down next to Shimada Kai.

"Sorry, I'm thinking about something."

Shimada Kai responded with a wry smile tinged with apology.

Nagakura Shinpachi was an old acquaintance of Shimada Kai.

To go further, the two are very good friends.

How did they meet, get to know each other, and become acquainted?

This all started with Shimada Kai's mentor—the renowned swordsman Tsubochi Shuma, who worked for the Goshoin group and was quite famous in Edo.

[Note: Imperial Academy Group: Tokugawa Shogun's personal guard]

In his youth, Shimada Kai traveled to Edo to hone his swordsmanship and became a disciple of Tsubouchi Shuma, where he devoted himself to practicing the Heart-Shaped Sword Style. It was at Tsubouchi Shuma's dojo that he met Nagakura Shinpachi.

Nagakura Shinpachi was a restless fellow from a young age.

He was born in the tenth year of the Tianbao era (1839) and was the only son in his family.

The Nagakura family had served the Matsumae Domain for generations, receiving a stipend of 150 koku, and were relatively well-off.

In general, Shinpachi Nagakura, like Souji, is a person "born for the sword".

He became fascinated with swordsmanship at the age of eight and aspired to become a world-renowned swordsman.

So his father found Okada Jumatsu, a renowned master of the Shinto Munen-ryu school, to be his instructor, hoping that his beloved son would have a long and successful martial arts career.

With his father's strong support and the guidance of his master, Nagakura Shinpachi's swordsmanship became increasingly refined, and at the young age of 18, he was recognized as a master of the Shinto Munen-ryu school.

At that time, the Matsumae Domain implemented a system of rewards for martial arts skills.

Traditionally, the second and third sons of samurai families were required to be sent to excellent martial arts schools.

The eldest son, however, was required to inherit the position of head of the family and therefore could not go out.

Despite his ambition to excel in martial arts, Shinpachi Nagakura was unwilling to achieve only minor successes, but could only watch helplessly as his companions went to martial arts academies to further their studies.

In the spring of his 19th year, he finally made up his mind to leave his fiefdom without even telling his parents.

"Takeshitsuhan" refers to the act of leaving one's domain and becoming a ronin (masterless samurai).

During the Edo period, deserting one's domain was a serious crime.

Although it was common for vassals to switch allegiances during the Sengoku period, a trend emerged in the Edo period where leaving one's domain was seen as an unforgivable act of "betraying one's lord as a vassal."

At the same time, in order to facilitate the control of the various domains, the shogunate explicitly prohibited the act of leaving the domain. No one, whether samurai or commoner, was allowed to leave their domain without authorization.

If, for some reason, one must temporarily leave the vassal state, certain legal procedures must be completed.

If anyone leaves their domain without following proper procedures, they will be charged with fleeing, their family name will be severed, their property will be confiscated, and they may be sentenced to death if caught.

Logically speaking, Nagakura Shinpachi's act of leaving his domain without even informing his parents was utterly rebellious.

However, his parents understood his behavior and did not blame him.

Furthermore, because he was passionate about swordsmanship and did not do anything to disgrace the domain after leaving it, the domain, although it reaffirmed the law, considered his spirit commendable and thus acquitted him, and did not even bring him back.

After leaving his domain, Nagakura Shinpachi mainly traveled around Edo and the Kanto region.

To hone his skills and courage, he disregarded his own safety and frequently challenged other schools and venues.

Such flamboyant behavior naturally attracted the attention of some people—such as Tsubouchi Shuma.

Tsubouchi Shuma was impressed by Nagakura Shinpachi's skills and invited him to serve as a substitute instructor at his dojo.

With money to be made and the opportunity to frequently spar with others... such a rare and desirable job was one that Nagakura Shinpachi readily accepted.

Nagakura Shinpachi was a straightforward and easy-going person who could easily get along with others.

During his time as the instructor at Tsubouchi Shuma's dojo, he spent his days from morning till night sparring with his fellow students, honing his swordsmanship, and often carrying kendo equipment to teach other schools.

And so, he naturally became acquainted with his fellow student, Shimada Kai.

Although they were not of the same generation—Nagakura Shinpachi was 27 years old and Shimada Kai was 35—the two quickly formed a deep friendship because of their similar personalities and shared interests.

Later, Nagakura Shinpachi concluded that "training at the dojo could no longer improve my skills," so he resigned from his position as instructor and left the Tsubouchi dojo.

He applied for a bodyguard job at the Senjiya and was recommended to Aoto by the owner of Kiryu, thus beginning his connection with Aoto—and that is the story that follows.

Shimada Kai didn't know that his old friend had also joined the Shinsengumi until Aoto announced the list of Shinsengumi officers, and that he had been promoted to the high position of captain of the second division of the Battotai.

On the night the Shinsengumi officially set off for Kyoto, Shimada Kai searched everywhere in the post station for Nagakura Shinpachi and finally reunited with him.

The two chatted for a long time.

Even after a long separation, the two remain close friends who can talk about anything.

If it were someone else, they might have shamelessly asked Nagakura Shinpachi to use his position to take care of him—but Shimada Kai wouldn't do that.

He would rather die than rely on nepotism to gain a high position!

"Ah! Captain!"

"Captain! What are you doing here?"

"Captain, you're quite fit!"

Shimada Kai's shout of "Shinpachi" had just drawn the attention of everyone around him.

Everyone was greatly surprised to see the Second Division Captain here.

Or perhaps they were so surprised they forgot to speak.

Or they would rise in fear and bow.

Or perhaps they were observing Nagakura Shinpachi's body with great interest.

"Alright, everyone, relax a bit!"

Nagakura Shinpachi waved his hand.

"This is a bathhouse, not a training ground! Here and now, we are all just bathers, and there is no superior-subordinate relationship between us!"

After frequently attending the "cultural classes" offered free of charge by Yamanami Keisuke at the Shieikan, Nagakura Shinpachi, who was originally illiterate, became eloquent.

Since Nagakura Shinpachi had said so, everyone relaxed and sat down.

In the blink of an eye, curious gazes focused on Nagakura Shinpachi.

Why are you all looking at me like that?

Someone asked excitedly:

"Captain! I heard that back when Lord Niou was just an ordinary town clerk in the Hokuban-sho, you were always by his side, fighting alongside him. Is that true?"

"Ok?"

Nagakura Shinpachi raised an eyebrow, then smiled, revealing his teeth:

"You're right, that's true."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another person asked:

"Captain! I've heard that Lord Niou is a member of the various sects, and that he has an ambiguous relationship with the captain of the First Division. Is this true?"

*******

*******

I'm so sorry! I tried my best! But I still failed to reach 6000+ words (crying face emoji).

It's been so cold in Guangzhou lately! Seals are hibernating creatures, so they just can't help but sleep when it gets cold... (Seal crying.jpg)

Chapter 596 Qing Deng is indeed a person of the Dao! He and the Souji are indeed a couple! [4500]

Upon hearing this, Nagakura Shinpachi was once again the target of curious stares.

"Yeah, yeah! Captain Nagakura, it's rare for us to take a bath together, so why not take this opportunity to tell us about it? Everyone's really curious!"

"Huh? You guys are really boring! This kind of rumor is obviously made up by those guys who hate Lord Niou!"

"That's right! Don't you all know? Lord Niou has already pledged his life to Chiba Sanako of the Chiba family... that is, to the captain of the 7th Division! It's said that they'll be getting married soon!"

"That's right! Two years ago, Lord Niou single-handedly stormed the Shimizu residence and then kissed Chiba Sanako in public. That beautiful story is still being told in the streets of Edo today!"

"But... at first, I also thought it was nonsense, but after seeing Lord Niou and Captain Okita getting so close together, I couldn't help but wonder if the rumor was really false!"

"Could it be... that Lord Niou is the kind of person who is attracted to both men and women?"

"Even if he is that kind of person, it's not surprising. Aren't people like that quite common?"

"With Captain Okita being so handsome, it's no wonder Lord Niou would like him, right?"

"To my shame, although I am not a member of the sect, I couldn't quite control myself after seeing Captain Okita's handsome face..."