I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

As the saying goes, samurai have two great privileges: "being called by their surname" and "wearing a sword".

However, the privilege of "using surnames" was not exclusive to samurai; a very few local powerful clans also had their own surnames—Hijikata Toshizo was one of them.

According to Kondo and Okita, Hijikata Toshizo was the descendant of a wealthy farmer from the Tama region in northern Edo.

The Tu family were powerful local landlords, so they also had the right to use surnames.

Therefore, Tu Fang Suisan, whose identity is that of a farmer, should be thrown into the most deplorable people's prison.

However, Qing Deng used some of his functions as a member of the Dingcheng Huitongxin sect to get his fellow disciple into a decent single cell.

After leading everyone to the solitary cell that Qing Deng had specially opened using his authority, Qing Deng and the others saw Hijikata Toshizo sitting cross-legged on the ground, idly picking at the dust under his fingernails.

"Mr. Hijikata!"

Okita took a step forward, raised his hands and gripped the wooden bars of the cell tightly, pressing his face close to the gaps between the bars, revealing a helpless look of disappointment.

"What are you doing! Why are you causing trouble again as soon as you get back to Edo? Why are you beating people up in the street for no reason?"

"Okatsu, Souji?" Hijikata looked at his two close friends, who were like brothers to him, with surprise. But he quickly suppressed his surprise and curled his lip at Okita. "I just want to teach that Kin'emon a lesson, it's that simple."

Aoto had already told Kondo and Okita what kind of trouble Hijikata had caused this morning, and also explained to them why Hijikata suddenly started beating up Kin'emon in the street.

After bringing Hijikata Toshizo, who had been involved in a "street brawl," back to the magistrate's office, Hijikata immediately confessed all his motives for the crime.

The reason he suddenly beat up Kin'emon in the street was quite simple—to avenge a friend of his.

He has a friend who runs an izakaya (Japanese pub), and about 10 days ago, one night, Kin'emon visited his friend's izakaya.

Kin'emon, that scoundrel, after indulging in a feast at someone's shop, saw that Hijikata's friend looked timid and easy to bully, so he hatched a wicked plan.

Fueled by alcohol, Kin'emon refused to pay for the food and drinks.

Hijikata's friend tried to reason with Kin'emon, but Kin'emon attacked and injured him.

After injuring the person, Kin'emon menacingly threatened them: "Don't report this to the authorities! Even if you do, I'll only be in jail for a short time. Once I get out, I'll come looking for you for revenge!"

Kin'emon was right about him.

Hijikata's friend was indeed somewhat timid and afraid of trouble.

Kin'emon's hands were covered with many different tattoos—proof of the numerous crimes he had committed in the past.

During the Edo period, one form of punishment involved tattooing the hands and face of criminals.

Different crimes result in different tattoo designs, so you can tell what crimes a person has committed by looking at the tattoos on their hands and feet.

Threatened by Kin'emon, whose hands were covered with so many "criminal certificates," Hijikata's friends actually chose to swallow their anger and dared not pursue Kin'emon's crimes of eating without paying and injuring him, pretending that nothing had happened.

Hijikata's friend was willing to compromise—but Hijikata was not.

When Hijikata, who had been away from Edo for a long time, came to greet his friend this morning, he noticed the bruises on his friend's face.

After some questioning, I finally learned what had happened.

Without saying a word, Hijikata stormed out of his friend's izakaya and went to settle the score with Kin'emon.

Kin'emon is a celebrity in Takumachi, and Hijikata can easily find out which places Kin'emon frequents with just a few inquiries.

And so... this morning's scene unfolded: "He rushed over without saying a word and beat Kin'emon mercilessly"...

"A-Sui..." Kondo, who looked just as helpless as Okita, let out a long sigh. "Why were you so impulsive... Couldn't you have thought of a way to avenge your friend besides fighting?"

"Besides fighting, I don't have any other skills," Hijikata said slowly as he stood up, dusting off his backside. "Besides—giving that Kin'emon a good beating is the best revenge I can think of."

"Even if you report it to the authorities, Kin'emon will at most be thrown into jail for a while. Such punishment is nothing to someone like him who makes a living by doing dirty things."

"So after thinking it over, I decided to cover my face and then beat that guy up. Only in this way can I give him a serious enough punishment."

"You... sigh, never mind, this isn't the place to talk." Kondo sighed again, then took out a small purse from his pocket.

"Tachibana-kun." Kondo smiled wryly and handed the money bag in his hand to Aoto. "Please arrange for A-Sui to be released as soon as possible."

Aoto nodded and then took the money Kondo handed him.

The investigation has now clarified Tsuchikata's motive, confirming that he was simply seeking revenge for his friend and had nothing to do with the "masked gang."

Although the fight in the street was not too serious, no one was beaten too badly or killed.

Given that Tu Fang's crime was relatively minor, as long as he paid a fine and Qing Deng, an "insider" working in the "city police department," pulled some strings, Tu Fang could be released today.

Aoto, holding the fine paid by Kondo, went to the prison cell of Doshin. After briefly explaining the situation and handing over the fine, the cell door of the cell where Hijikata had been living for nearly an hour and a half was finally opened.

After leaving the prison with Aoto and the others, Hijikata stretched vigorously and said, "Katsu, thanks. I'll pay you back the fine later."

"Don't thank me. The person you should thank the most is Tachibana-kun."

Upon hearing Kondo's words, Hijikata looked at Aoto, who was standing to his side.

“…What a strange coincidence.” Hijikata pursed his lips, then let out a long sigh. “The person who caught me is actually that newcomer you kept mentioning to me in your letters, Katsu…”

When Hijikata was captured, Seido revealed his identity as a "new disciple of the Shieikan" to Hijikata, so Hijikata already knew that the person who captured him today was his new junior brother.

Hijikata's gaze toward Aoto was a mixture of curiosity, surprise, and other complex emotions.

"Speaking of which... I haven't formally introduced myself to you yet."

Hijikata straightened his clothes and then stood up straight.

"Nice to meet you."

He said to Qingdeng seriously.

“I am Hijikata Toshizo, a disciple of the Shieikan Academy.”

……

……

The arrest operation carried out by Aoto and Nishino this morning can be described as perfect.

While Aoto was dealing with Hijikata, Nishino easily and effortlessly captured Kin'emon, who was fleeing in his direction.

Nishino, the holder of the "Catalogue" of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style, took the initiative to meet Kin'emon, drew the Jitte from his waist, and used the Jitte as a sword, knocking Kin'emon down with a single blow and successfully arresting him.

What kind of firm will could a thug who usually only bullies men and women and uses the strong to oppress the weak have?

After they brought him back and showed him various instruments of torture, he was immediately terrified.

After using torture instruments to quell his arrogance and wielding the "deterrent rod," the prison warden in charge of interrogation immediately offered a "red carrot": if you tell him everything you know, you can get a reduced sentence.

Startled and provoked by the jailers, Kin'emon immediately confessed all the crimes he had committed.

He admitted to being part of the "masked gang" that had recently been committing numerous crimes. He also revealed the identities and addresses of his accomplices.

In the afternoon, Bo Jing dispatched a large force to arrest the remaining members of the "masked gang".

With the information revealed by Kin'emon, it was only a matter of time before the "masked gang" was wiped out.

Having not participated in the afternoon's arrest operation and having had no important work to handle since noon, Qingdeng "clocked out" on time in the evening and returned to the testing center.

Tonight, Shieikan is much more lively than usual—because Hijikata Toshizo has come for dinner.

Hijikata Toshizo was injured in a fight back in his hometown and spent more than two months recuperating before finally recovering and returning to Edo. Tonight's dinner at Shieikan is a welcome feast for Hijikata. Abi specially bought extra ingredients to make tonight's dinner more lavish.

As soon as dinner began, Shusuke, who was seated at the head of the table, sighed heavily and said to Hijikata in a serious tone:

"Sui San, I've heard about what happened today."

“You really should change your 'thorny brat' temper.”

"Your biggest problem is that when you encounter trouble, you only think of using your fists to solve it."

"Indeed, some things cannot be completely resolved without resorting to violence."

"But there are many things that you can't solve by using violence."

……

Shusuke lectured Hijikata in a slightly rambling tone.

“Yes…” Hijikata lowered his head and replied in a slightly somber tone, “I have already been reflecting on my actions…”

Hijikata said he was reflecting on his actions and even seemed to look guilty—but whether he had truly taken Shusuke's words to heart, only he himself could know.

Zhou Zhu still wanted to ramble on about Hijikata, but Abi, sitting next to him, seemed tired of Zhou Zhu's lecturing and frowned, saying:

"Alright, let's talk about everything after we finish eating!"

Zhou Zhu shrank his neck, then quickly said, "Okay, okay, I won't say anymore. Let's eat."

Overall, Tufang is a rather quiet person.

Unlike Okita, he wasn't cheerful enough to keep smiling and chat with people for an hour or two without stopping.

But unlike Saito, he was not taciturn and would not utter a word for a long time.

When dining with Qingdeng and the others, he would actively participate in the conversation, and would also take the initiative to find topics and ask questions.

For example, right now—he brought up the fight he had with Qingdeng that day.

"Your martial arts skills are amazing," Qing Deng, who happened to be sitting opposite Tu Fangxiang, said casually. "It's been a long time since I've encountered a master like you in a martial arts contest. Where did you learn all these skills?"

"The martial arts I used were all passed down in my family." Qing Deng brought up his all-purpose excuse. "Your fists and feet are also very powerful. I almost got defeated by you several times today."

Qing Deng's words were not just polite flattery; he genuinely believed that Hijikata's unarmed combat skills were very high, and he had indeed been nearly defeated by Hijikata several times today.

"The moves you use seem to be from no particular school or sect," Qing Deng pressed. "Did you figure these out all by yourself?"

Hijikata nodded: "My techniques are all things I've explored and figured out little by little while fighting with others. Although they're all unorthodox, I believe they're quite effective."

"Speaking of which, I have a question I wanted to ask you this morning when you knocked me out."

Having said that, Hijikata put down his bowl and chopsticks.

"The move you used to subdue me—the move where you grabbed my right arm and twisted it behind my back."

Hijikata waved his hands, trying to recreate the scene of how he was subdued by Aoto earlier that day.

"How did you twist my right arm behind my back? I didn't even have time to react before you twisted my arm behind my back. How did you do that?"

The handsome young man, like an eager student, blinked his curious eyes at Qingdeng.

"Ah, this..." Qing Deng put down the miso soup he was drinking. "I actually used a little trick..."

Qingdeng tried to explain to Tufang as concisely as possible.

Hijikata listened intently, his entire upper body leaning slightly forward towards Aoto's seat.