I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Shuten-dōji nodded.

"really."

"He won't hold back?"

"I'll make him do his best without killing you."

At this point, Shuten-dōji paused, then adopted a tone that was half joking and half serious.

"However... I'll be frank from the start. Although you've become much stronger than when you first joined us, you're still no match for Ōtakemaru."

"If you were to face Ōtakemaru now... let me think... he might still kill you instantly!"

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P.S.: This volume is relatively short, mainly covering the "Ikedaya Incident" and the subsequent "Kinmon Incident." After the "Kinmon Incident," we'll move on to the next volume. If all goes well, this volume should be completed before November.

Chapter 837 Qingdeng's Promotion! A Commander-in-Chief Who Can Stand Alone! [4600]

Prajna snorted coldly and said:

"One day, I will surpass all of you!"

Shuten-dōji smiled:

"Is that so... Then you should work harder."

After leaving those words, Shuten-dōji flicked his sleeves, turned his back, and strode away.

No sooner had Shuten-dōji left than Hannya was about to depart as well.

Just then, the Sea Monk suddenly spoke up:

"Hannya, I heard that you recently fought against Tachibana Aoto and the 'Shinsen Three Heroes'. How strong are they?"

Prajna stopped in her tracks, pondered for a moment, and then replied:

"In my opinion, Nagakura Shinpachi and Saito Hajime are not to be feared."

"However, for the general public, they are considered rare strongmen."

"If you face those two in the future, you'll at best have a 50/50 chance."

"The most outstanding one among the 'Shinsen Three' is still Okita Souji."

"I almost died by her knife."

At this point, he specifically pointed to the scar on his forehead that had not yet fully healed.

When the topic turned to the top experts who had caught his eye, Prajna immediately perked up, his eyes shining and his expression excited.

"Her three consecutive thrusts were truly remarkable."

"I really wish I could see it a few more times!"

"A technique full of 'explosive' power... that suits me quite well!"

"If I watch it a few more times, I'm confident I can learn this move!"

"As for Tachibana Aoto..."

When the name "Ju Qing Deng" was mentioned, Hannya's expression underwent a subtle change.

After a few seconds of silence, he calmly said:

"I didn't get to fight him."

"However, just by observing his skill in leaping to save Saito Hajime and Okita Souji, it is enough to conclude that he is a formidable opponent worthy of my full effort!"

"Hmph! To be able to obtain Vairocana from your master, you certainly have some skill!"

Su Nuo interjected:

"Oh right, I forgot... Ju Qingdeng is still your junior brother."

Umibozu shrugged and asked with a playful expression:

"What are your thoughts upon first meeting your junior brother, whom you've never met before?"

Prajna sneered:

What else could I possibly feel?

"Am I supposed to cry and hug him tightly, calling him 'Junior Brother,' and then he'll cry and hug me back, calling me 'Senior Brother'?"

"I don't have any particular thoughts."

"If I had to say what I felt... I'd probably just find him an eyesore!"

As he spoke, he turned his head to look east.

His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through layers of clouds, reaching Qin Jinfan in the capital region and Qing Deng himself.

"I never imagined that a master who is so picky about his disciples would actually take on another disciple as his last.

"I never imagined that this closed-door disciple would actually receive my master's sword."

"Hmph, so be it!"

"That saves me some trouble."

"As long as I defeat Tachibana Aoto, I can prove that I am stronger than him and more qualified to wield this sword!"

He lowered his eyelids, his gaze becoming even sharper.

"Master... Ju Qingdeng... just wait!"

……

……

Kyoto——

"Mother, is your luggage all packed?"

"Yes, everything is packed."

“Okay! Come here, Mother, take my hand and I’ll help you into the car.”

"Sigh... Taro, are we really leaving? I'm such an old man, I really don't want to leave Kyoto..."

"Oh dear, Mother, things have come to this point, why are you still hesitating? This time you must listen to me! The Changzhou army is about to attack! War is more terrible than fire or earthquake! Come with me now!"

……

"Dad, where are we going?"

"A place far from Kyoto."

"A place far from Kyoto? Where exactly?"

"I don't know. Anyway, let's leave Kyoto first, the farther away from Kyoto the better."

……

"No way! I'm not leaving! I'm not leaving no matter what! As a dignified citizen of Kyoto, how can I go to such a rural place!"

"Mother, Owari is not a rural area; Owari is very prosperous! It was the territory of Oda Nobunaga, the overlord three hundred years ago!"

"Don't give me that! Everything outside of Kyoto is just a run-down countryside!"

……

"Father, I don't think we need to be so nervous! We have Niou! He will definitely protect us!"

"Jiro, I also believe that Niou will definitely defeat the enemy and protect the people. However, just to be on the safe side, we should leave this dangerous place as soon as possible!"

……

This scene can be seen throughout Kyoto.

The reasons Changzhou gave for its eastern expedition were nothing more than the same old story: the imperial court was being held hostage by the shogunate, and we had to go to the capital to defend the emperor and purge the court of corrupt officials, and so on.

The shogunate responded swiftly.

Tokugawa Iemochi immediately issued an order to "punish the traitor" as quickly as possible, calling on all the feudal lords in the land to join forces against the enemy in Korea.

Compared to Choshu, the shogunate's reasons for war were undoubtedly much more substantial and convincing.

After all, Changju had not yet been removed from the label of "enemy of Korea".

Eliminating the enemy of Korea is the duty of all people.

Therefore, it was both reasonable and justifiable for the shogunate to call for the campaign against the enemy in Korea.

With this sense of righteousness, feudal lords from all over the land responded in an instant!

From Matsumae Domain in the north to Satsuma Domain in the south, the vast majority of domains sided with the shogunate.

Not a single domain offered support or endorsement to Choshu.

A few feudal states did not express their stance and remained neutral—in fact, their "neutrality" was completely biased and was essentially tantamount to supporting the shogunate.

Sanako beats up Mai—all options other than "helping Mai" are helping Sanako.

Even before the war began, the disparity in strength between the two sides was already too great to bear.

From a political perspective, Choshu is truly at odds with the entire world!

With the strength of a single domain, he fought against the entire nation of Japan!

Of course, those remote vassal states could only grumble a few times.

It's definitely impossible to expect them to send troops to our aid.

By the time their troops arrive, the battle will likely be over.

Even if we force them to send troops, they will definitely play tricks, taking one step forward and three steps back, marching endlessly. The war will last a year, and they can march for a year!

In contrast, the feudal lords in the capital region had no reason to refuse to send troops.

With the shogunate's decree, despite their reluctance and the fact that the national treasury was so empty that even a rat would want to commit suicide, the feudal domains in the capital region had no choice but to grit their teeth, squeeze out a sum of money and grain, and send their own troops to the capital to defend the emperor.