I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"No need to get up, just lie down."

With that, Aoto darted to Todo Heisuke's bedside.

Todo Heisuke was shirtless, with a fist-sized piece of burlap stuck to his chest.

Qingdeng asked:

"How is the situation?"

Toudo Heisuke forced out a wry smile:

"It's just a minor injury to my chest. After applying some ointment and resting for a while, I'll be fully recovered."

"Minor injuries...that's good."

As Qingdeng spoke, he casually sat down cross-legged.

"Heisuke, what exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

Once the order was given, Todo Heisuke dared not delay.

He pondered for a moment, organized his thoughts, and then, with appropriate detail and brevity, recounted the details of his attack to Qingdeng and the others.

After listening, Qing Deng pondered for a moment, then posed a new question:

"Heisuke, did you see what that person looked like?"

Heisuke Todo shook his head.

"No... It was very dark at the time, and the person was wearing a low-cut top, so we couldn't see his face at all."

At this point, Todo Heisuke paused abruptly.

After a short while, he continued the conversation.

"However, although I couldn't see his face clearly, I recognized his accent."

Todo Heisuke adopted a firm tone.

"There's no mistake, the accent that person spoke was a Tosa accent!"

In an instant, Qing Deng lowered his eyelids.

Hijikata Toshizo also lowered his eyelids.

Qing Deng followed up with:

"Are you sure?"

Heisuke Todo nodded vigorously:

"Yes, I'm sure."

“I know the Tosa accent very well.”

"Because the Tosa accent is very similar to Harada-kun's accent, I definitely can't be mistaken!"

The Tosa Domain is located on Oshima Island in Shikoku, and Harada Sanosuke happened to be from the Iyo-Matsuyama Domain in Shikoku, so the accents of the two places are very similar.

"..."

Qingdeng pursed his lips, his face filled with a thoughtful expression.

About 10 seconds later, he said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work. I'll grant you 3 days... no, 5 days off. Rest assured and leave." Then he got up and left.

Before leaving, he said to Hijikata Toshizo:

"Sui San, come with me."

Without saying a word, Hijikata Toshizo followed closely behind Aoto, and the two left the medical station one after the other.

……

……

Aoto and Toshizo walked side by side.

Suddenly, Qingdeng asked:

"Sui San, what do you think?"

Hijikata Toshizo gave a cold laugh.

"A swordsman who can completely suppress Toudou... such a master is rare indeed."

"As far as I know, the only guys who possess such strength and are also so keen on killing are the 'Four Great Killers'."

At this point, Hijikata Toshizo held up four fingers.

"Kawakami Gensai, who is skilled in swordsmanship and is said to be currently serving Choshu."

"Tanaka Shinbei, a master of the Jigen-ryu style."

"Nakamura Hanjiro, who is also proficient in the Jigenryu school and is now a confidant of Saigo Kinosuke."

"Okada Izo, who was proficient in many sword techniques and is said to have killed countless people."

"Tanaka Shinbei has committed suicide due to his alleged involvement in the recent 'Saionji assassination case'."

"Of the remaining three, the most suspicious one is, of course, the one from Tosa..."

At this moment, Qing Deng suddenly interrupted.

He and Hijikata Toshizo said in unison:

"Okada Izou!"

*******

*******

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

Leopard is working hard on his rehabilitation! Give Leopard a little more time, and he'll definitely get rid of his "salty leopard" state! (Tearful leopard head.jpg)

Chapter 718 Qing Deng: Quick! Quickly call Kinoshita Mai to my room! [4800]

Okada Izou – Born in Tosa, of lowly status, merely a foot soldier.

What is a foot soldier?

This can be roughly understood as a corporal among corporals!

In the Tosa Domain, where class distinctions were strictly enforced, lower-ranking soldiers already suffered from severe discrimination.

It's not hard to imagine how miserable the lives of foot soldiers, who were even lower in rank than ordinary corporals, were.

It can be said that, apart from having the right to "claim their surname and carry a sword," the lives of foot soldiers like Okada Izo were basically no different from those of poor farmers!

His family was destitute, suffering from hunger and cold, and barely clinging to life.

The above describes Okada Izo's upbringing.

With no money, no power, and no influence... the only skill he could offer was swordsmanship.

Takechi Hanpeita discovered Okada Izo, who possessed extraordinary swordsmanship talent, and took him as his disciple, teaching him the Ono Itto-ryu swordsmanship.

Not long after, he was sent to Edo for further studies.

With the personal introduction of Takechi Hanpeita, Okada Izo successfully became a disciple of Shigakukan, one of the "Three Great Dojos of Edo," and studied Kyoshin Meichi-ryu under the great swordsman Momoi Haruzo.

In 1860, he accompanied Takechi Hanpeita on a journey of training in Nagoya and Kyushu. During the journey, he learned the Jikishiki-ryu swordsmanship in the Bungo-oka Domain, and the name "Kenshi Itō" (Swordsman Itō) began to be known.

After Takeichi Hanpeita established the Tosa Loyalist Party, Okada Izo naturally joined the organization and served Takeichi Hanpeita.

Looking back on Okada Izo's past life, it's not hard to see that Takechi Hanpeita was practically his second father!

It was Takeichi Hanpeita who taught him swordsmanship, enabling him to have a skill to rely on.

It was Takeshi Hanpeita who guided him, enabling him to gain access to a broader platform.

It was Takeichi Hanpeita who pulled him out of the cesspool of Tosa's lowest level!

Anyone with a modicum of conscience will always remember this immense kindness.

Legend has it that Okada Izo had an almost fanatical adoration for Takechi Hanpeita.

He often said, "I would give up my life for Teacher Wu Shi!"

Takechi Hanpeita was a gentleman praised by everyone... In fact, on the surface, that was indeed the case.

The most telling true story of Takeshi Hanpeita's character is his loving relationship with his wife.

Takeshi Hanpeita had a wife named Tomiko.

The couple lived in perfect harmony, with the husband leading the way and the wife following suit.

The only drawback was that Tomiko did not have any children for a long time.

In feudal times, having no offspring was a serious matter that could not be taken lightly!

So, after discussing it, Takechi Hanpeita's disciples, with Tomiko's consent, decided to help their teacher find a concubine.

They first sent Tomiko back to her parents' home, and then sent a stunningly beautiful woman to Takeshi Hanpeita's house.

After some time, the disciples came to check on the situation and were shocked to find that the woman was still a virgin.

Afterwards, Takeshi Hanpeita gave his disciples a severe scolding and strictly forbade such an incident from happening again.

This is just one of many events that reflect Takechi Hanpeita's outstanding character.

The good deeds that Takeshi Hanpeita has done, such as "charity" and "generosity," are too numerous to mention.

At first glance, he appears to be a good man with impeccable personal morality.

However... ever since Takechi Hanpeita led the Tokusa Kinno-o party to Kyoto, a rumor has circulated among the common people: Takechi Hanpeita is actually a cruel person who is ruthless to himself and even more ruthless to others!

He favored using physical means to overcome obstacles.

In short, he particularly enjoys emulating the "Sakuradamon Incident" by assassinating key figures in the opposing faction in order to weaken the enemy!

As long as I have no political enemies, no one can oppose me!

With his exceptional strength and unwavering loyalty, Okada Izo is simply the perfect "sharp blade"!

Therefore, he frequently sent Okada Izo to assassinate those who opposed him.