I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Hmm... never mind, you should just go back to where you started."

"Are you kidding me?!"

Kondo, who was hanging irises on the gate of the Shieikan with Saito and giving the gate a good cleaning, turned his head and smiled helplessly at the very noisy Nagakura and Harada: "It doesn't matter where you hang carp streamers, just find a place to hang them up."

After saying that, Kondo smiled bitterly and muttered to himself, "I'm so old, and they still celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with me... Sigh..."

Kondo sighed heavily, then joined Saito beside him in placing irises on the gate.

Just then, a clear male voice rang out from the distance behind Kondo:

"Oh my, Yong-kun, your carp streamers are so pretty."

Kondo's body trembled slightly, then he turned around in astonishment at the sound—and saw a very young man walking slowly toward their Shieikan with a faint smile on his face, while holding the sword at his waist.

"Good morning, Yong-kun."

It is Chiba Eijiro, the "Skillful Chiba".

*******

*******

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

The author explains: During the Edo period, some places held archery competitions and horse races during the Dragon Boat Festival. However, such high-end events were clearly not part of the Shieikan (a sacred hall for imperial envoys).

In modern Japan, the Dragon Boat Festival has basically become a boys' festival. Its traditional significance has diminished, and it has become a festival to celebrate the boys in the family. However, it still retains traditional customs such as eating rice dumplings.

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets!

The author has started a book club on Tencent!

Group number: 1162513690. Simply answer one question that anyone who has carefully read this book will know the answer to to join the book club.

The author occasionally appears in the group chat.

Chapter 160 Chiba Eijiro, who came for Aoto [4600]

Yesterday's chapter had its title and some content revised due to unforeseen circumstances... The title has been changed to the current "Edo's Strongest - Chiba Eijiro Visits," and a dialogue between Aoto and Okita in the chapter has been deleted... (Laughing leopard.jpg)

Fortunately, it doesn't affect reading.

*******

*******

"Finally, everything is set up!" Standing side by side with Aoto, Okita put his hands on his hips and looked with satisfaction at the stand that he and Aoto had successfully arranged with their combined efforts, displaying miniature armor, miniature katana, and Sakata Kintoki dolls.

Qingdeng rubbed his wrist with a wry smile: "This frame is really heavy."

This shelf is made of solid wood, and its actual weight is much heavier than it appears.

It took Qing Deng and Okita a lot of effort and hardship to move it into the hall.

"Let's rest for a bit." Okita lowered his eyes, glancing at his wrists, which were also aching. "I'll go to the kitchen to get some tea. Would you like some, Tachibana-kun?"

Qingdeng nodded: "Yeah, I'm a little thirsty too."

"Then wait here for a moment, I'll be right back."

After saying that, Okita turned around and quickly left the hall.

No sooner had Okita left than a series of heavy footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Just as Qing Deng was wondering if Okita had returned, he heard a "whoosh" as the paper sliding door of the hall was slowly pulled open.

The person who opened the door was Zhou Zhu, who was holding a pot of oranges.

"Oh?" As soon as he pulled open the sliding door to the living room, Zhou Zhu saw the shelves already set up with dolls and other items. "Tachibana-kun, you've set up the shelves! Hehehe, not bad! Thanks for your hard work!"

Zhou Zhu held up the bowl of oranges in his hand.

"Here, have some oranges and take a break."

Before Qingdeng could respond, Zhou Zhu placed the bowl of oranges he was holding on the large square table in the hall.

"Where's the commander? I don't see him anywhere. Wasn't he in charge of putting on airs with you?"

“Okita-kun went to the kitchen to get some tea,” Qing Deng replied. “He should be back soon.”

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

No sooner had Qing Deng finished speaking than Okita, carrying a pot of tea, appeared outside the paper sliding door of the hall that Shusuke had just opened.

"Huh? Master, what are you doing here?" Okita blinked in surprise at Shusuke in the main room. "Weren't you called to the kitchen by Auntie to help wrap rice dumplings?"

"I was just asked to help wash the lotus leaves; I can finish this job quickly."

"Since I have nothing to do, I can only come here to eat oranges and kill some time."

After saying that, Zhou Zhu smiled and pointed to the pot of oranges he had just brought.

"Sōji, you're back just in time. Would you like to have some tangerines? I just bought them yesterday, they're very fresh."

Okita's eyes lit up: "Oranges? I want to eat them!"

Okita cheerfully placed the teapot and teacups he had just brought from the kitchen on the table, then sat down with Aoto and Shusuke to eat tangerines.

The tangerines in this pot were indeed very fresh. The peels were a bright orange, and the leaves hanging on the branches were still a vibrant green. Qingdeng's mouth watered at the sight.

Aroused by the taste buds, Qingdeng casually picked up an orange from the basin, skillfully broke off a segment, and put it in his mouth.

This pot of oranges is not only fresh, but also tastes quite good.

The moment he put a segment of fruit into his mouth, the sweet taste immediately filled his entire oral cavity.

In Qingdeng's memory... this was the first time he had eaten such fresh and delicious fruit since he traveled to this era.

In this era, because fruit cultivation and breeding techniques were still very backward, whether or not you could buy delicious fruit was a matter of luck.

—So sweet… Okita-kun must love this sweet fruit.

As Qing Deng thought this to himself, he subconsciously glanced sideways at Okita, who was sitting next to him, and looked at him with an observant gaze.

Just as Qing Deng had predicted—after eating a small piece of fruit, Okita, who had a sweet tooth, first widened his eyes in surprise, then slowly narrowed them, and a happy smile appeared on his lips, showing a look that said, "I'm almost melting."

"Hehehe." Having taken in Aoto and Okita's expressions and reactions, Shusuke let out his signature "hehehe" laugh. "How is it? Delicious, isn't it?"

Okita forcefully swallowed the fruit in his mouth, then nodded hurriedly.

"If you like it, eat more." Shusuke pushed the bowl of tangerines toward Aoto and Okita. "There are still plenty of tangerines, eat as much as you want."

After speaking, Shusuke grabbed three tangerines from the basin in one go. Shusuke ate them in a rather bold way. Unlike Aoto and Okita, who broke the fruit into segments to eat, he preferred to peel off the entire peel and stuff the whole tangerine directly into his mouth.

The three people sat side by side, enjoying a bite of orange and a sip of tea, completely relaxed and content. The atmosphere in the room was quiet and peaceful; anyone who didn't know better would think they were celebrating the New Year.

As Qing Deng took the fourth orange from the basin, he suddenly heard Zhou Zhu, who was sipping his tea, speak to him:

"Kid Orange, you finally have a day off today. Do you have any plans?"

"No plans," Qing Deng replied without hesitation. "I plan to spend this morning leisurely and then practice my sword at the dojo in the afternoon."

"Even on a rare holiday, you still have to practice your swordsmanship meticulously... Tachibana-kun, you are really diligent." Shusuke's eyes were full of praise as he looked at Aoto.

At this moment, Zhou Zhu suddenly seemed to recall something, and his expression paused for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, he was heard to softly ask Qingdeng:

"Tachibana-kun, have you seen that 'airflow' again recently when you've been practicing swordsmanship and sparring with others?"

“No.” Qing Deng’s response was unwavering. He shook his head with a wry smile. “I haven’t seen that ‘airflow’ since then.”

"I see..." Zhou Zhu pursed his lips, then chuckled and patted Qing Deng's shoulder. "It's alright, take your time."

"One day we will figure out what those 'air currents' you see are all about."

Ever since Qing Deng fought against Niizuma Hiroshi in the final of the Aizu-gun sword tournament and learned that he had unconsciously released his own "momentum" at the same moment he saw "qi" on Niizuma Hiroshi, his curiosity and confusion about this "qi" have increased dramatically.

I racked my brains but couldn't come up with a solution.

So, in order to find out what this "airflow" was, Qing Deng, after much deliberation, decided to ask his master, whom he relied on very much... namely, Zhou Zhu.

Qing Deng thought that Zhou Zhu, who was several times his age and had been practicing martial arts for decades, might be able to provide him with some answers or inspiration.

However... the final result disappointed Qing Deng—after listening to Qing Deng's description, Shusuke was also completely bewildered.

Shusuke had no idea what these "air currents" that Aoto saw were...

Even the well-informed Zhou Zhu couldn't give him a specific answer... This made Qing Deng even more puzzled by this "airflow".

Zhou Zhu's sudden, casual question was just a minor incident.

After asking Aoto if he had seen any "air currents" recently, Shusuke fell silent and continued eating oranges quietly with Aoto and Okita.

The atmosphere in the hall returned to tranquility and peace.

However, this tranquility and peace were soon broken again.

Thump, thump, thump—the sound of hurried footsteps came from the corridor outside the hall.

As soon as Qing Deng and the others turned their gaze in response to the sound, they saw Kondo, with a strange expression, pull open the sliding door of the hall.

"Father, we've finally found you!"

"Yong, what's wrong?" Zhou Zhu frowned. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Father." Kondo, his expression growing even stranger, pointed towards the entrance of the Shieikan (Imperial Examination Hall). "Eijiro is here!"

"What?" Zhou Zhu, who was about to put a freshly peeled orange into his mouth, froze, his hand holding the orange stopping in mid-air.

—Eijiro?

Upon hearing this name, Qing Deng's pupils constricted slightly, and like Zhou Zhu, his entire body froze...

……

……

Test Hall, Rooms

"Please have some tea."

"Thank you." Chiba Eijiro bowed slightly and gave Abi, who served him tea, a polite smile.

At this moment, the halls of the Shiwei Hall are truly a gathering of stars.