I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

When he mentioned the word "beloved disciple," Takechi Hanpeita emphasized it.

Upon hearing his teacher call him "my beloved student," Okada Izo's face lit up with overwhelming excitement.

"What we need to do now is not to punish or be punished."

"Instead, we learn from experience and lessons and continuously improve ourselves."

"Izo, after tonight's battle, you shouldn't fail again when you face Toudou Heisuke next time, right?"

Okada Izo immediately replied:

"That's natural!"

"I've figured out that guy's swordsmanship!"

"Next time, I only need 5... no! 3 rounds to take his life!"

Takeshi Hanpeita nodded:

“That’s excellent. Yizang, I’m very pleased that you have such fighting spirit and mindset. You’ve worked hard tonight, now go and rest.”

"Yes!"

Under Okada Izo's ardent gaze, Takeshi Hanpeita slowly stood up, preparing to leave.

Suddenly, Okada Izo called out to him.

"Teacher Wu Shi!"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Wu Shi Banping turned half of his body back.

Okada Izo knelt down, adopting the dogeza posture, and solemnly proclaimed:

“I, Okada Izo, am illiterate and ignorant of current affairs.”

All I possess is strength and passion!

"I made up my mind long ago! I am determined to become the teacher's sharpest weapon, clearing obstacles for the teacher!"

"I'd give up my life for my teacher!"

"Tonight's defeat has left me utterly ashamed!"

"Teacher, I promise you! From now on, I won't make a mistake again!"

"I will obey your orders and kill all the captains of the Shinsengumi! I will help you achieve your great cause of peace and prosperity as soon as possible! I will establish an unprecedented era of peace and order!"

Wu Shi Banping listened quietly.

After Okada finished speaking in Tibetan, he smiled gently and said:

"Izang, thank you."

"Hearing your words, all the fatigue I've accumulated today seems to have vanished instantly."

"It is truly my honor to have your strong support."

"Even if it's just for you, I will carry out this great cause of honor and righteousness to the very end!"

"Your efforts will not be wasted!"

Okada Izo was flattered and quickly replied:

"I dare not accept such an honor! I am truly unworthy of it!"

Takeshi Hanpeita chuckled a few more times.

"Alright, stop kneeling and go get some rest. A person who is sleep-deprived can't defeat the Shinsengumi captains."

After leaving those words, Takeshi Hanpeita did not linger and left directly.

When he turned his back to Okada Izo, the smile on his face vanished in an instant... In the blink of an eye, the "smile" turned into a cold indifference, devoid of joy or sorrow.

……

……

The next day, at night—

Somewhere in Kyoto—

"La la la la~~ Hiccup! La la la~~ Burp! La la la la la~~ Hiccup!"

Ikeda Toritaro sang off-key songs, occasionally letting out loud burps.

As a close confidant of Kiyokawa Hachiro, he was extremely happy recently.

They successfully formed an alliance with the Tosa Loyalist Party and were no longer fighting alone.

The road ahead, which had been shrouded in thick fog, suddenly became clear!

He was so happy that he had been going out for a few drinks every night lately.

—Mr. Takeshi is an unparalleled genius.

—The Tosa loyalist party is full of talented people.

—With our inside help, the Shinsengumi will be doomed sooner or later!

Thinking of this, Ikeda Toritaro couldn't help but let out a smug chuckle.

call!

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind swept over him, making it impossible for him to open his eyes.

Just then, a gentle female voice came from behind him:

"Sir, you've dropped something."

Having drunk a lot of alcohol, and with his head not quite clear, Ikeda Toritaro turned around and looked back without any suspicion.

A vibrant red color caught his eye.

And then... no more.

"Well!"

Ikeda Toritaro felt something hit his stomach.

Before he could even see the true face of that "red" thing, and before he could even scream, he fainted...

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Chapter 719 Qingdeng: Come be my dog! [4800]

Ikeda Toritaro was in

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Wow!

A basin of cold water was poured directly onto Toritaro Ikeda's head.

Ikeda Toritaro's body jerked violently as a conditioned reflex, and he instantly regained consciousness.

"Hmm... eh...?"

He shook his head, wiping away the water droplets clinging to his eyelashes that were obscuring his vision, and then blankly turned his head and eyes, scanning his surroundings.

The cramped space, devoid of doors and windows, was filled with a stuffy, humid environment and a putrid stench...

An oil lamp hung on a pillar not far away—it was the only light source in the area—its dim yellow light barely illuminating the area around its feet.

The unfamiliar scene before him added another layer of confusion to his already muddled mind.

Where am I? How did I get here?

Ikeda Toritaro frowned, focused his mind, and tried hard to recall.

Go out in high spirits and enjoy a hearty drink...

Suddenly I heard a pleasant female voice behind me...

I was hit hard in the abdomen, and then I remember nothing...

Just like a fish blowing bubbles, the scattered fragments of memory gradually resurfaced and were pieced together again.

At that moment, a familiar, calm male voice suddenly came from in front of him:

"Ikeda-kun, how have you been?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ikeda Toritaro froze as if he had seen a ghost, his pupils shrinking to the size of pinholes.

He quickly raised his head and looked in the direction of the sound.

A tall figure stood directly in front of him.

With his tall stature, strong physique, and steady voice, he was clearly a top-tier man.

The light from the oil lamp shone from behind him, casting a mountain-like shadow that pressed straight down on Ikeda Toritaro.

Despite the sweltering heat, Ikeda Toritaro felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet and up to the top of his head.

Stimulated by the chill, fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, chest, back, and all over his body.

At the same time, the color drained from his face at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye he became as pale as snow.

"Tachibana, Tachibana Aoden...?!"

His throat sounded as if it were being choked, emitting a high-pitched scream like a woman's.

Qingdeng slowly raised his right index finger and pressed it against his lips, letting out a "shh" sound.

"Quiet."

"As you can see, it is me—Tachibana Aoto."

"If you can calm down quickly, it will save us both a lot of trouble."