I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Tachibana-kun, did you see Sanako today?"

"Miss Sanako?" Qing Deng frowned sharply.

……

……

Although Chiba Jutaro was so anxious that cold sweat was pouring down his forehead, he had not yet lost his basic ability to speak.

After his fairly clear and detailed explanation, Qing Deng finally understood what had happened, and his expression instantly became as solemn as Kondo and Okita's.

Sanako has disappeared!

Sanako, who had the task of "giving a lesson to Princess Date" today, was supposed to return to the Chiba Sword Hall by noon, but she did not return by the afternoon.

At first, Chiba Jutaro and the others didn't pay much attention, because it was common for Sanako to suddenly decide to go somewhere to relax before going home.

Time passed slowly... until night fell, and Chiba Jutaro and the others gradually realized that something was wrong.

Sanako had never been away from home for so long before...

With a growing sense of foreboding rising in their hearts, Chiba Sadakichi and Chiba Jutaro could no longer sit still.

Chiba Sadakichi personally went to the residence of the Uwajima Domain to inquire whether they knew the whereabouts of Sanako.

Chiba Jutaro first went to several places Sanako frequented, such as the Genbukan, to look for her.

Neither Chiba Sadakichi nor Chiba Jutaro... gained anything.

The ominous premonition in my heart turned into terrifying speculation!

It was already dark, and the magistrate's office had long since closed. Going to report to the authorities would only result in the office being deserted.

Worried about Sanako's safety, Chiba Jutaro and the others disregarded whether it was dark or late and decided to mobilize all the manpower they could to help them find Sanako.

For example, they had just asked the people from the Genbukan to help them as well. Chiba Jutaro approached his and Sanako's cousins: Chiba Michizaburo, the head of the Genbukan, and Chiba Tamon Shiro, the Genbukan instructor.

Sanako was the apple of the Chiba family's eye, and Chiba Michizaburo and Chiba Tamon Shiro were very nervous after learning that Sanako had gone missing.

After Chiba Jutaro explained the situation to them, they immediately said, "We will do our best to help."

Chiba Jutaro appeared at the Shieikan at this moment to ask everyone at the Shieikan if they had seen Sanako and to ask them to help him.

Is it really a coincidence...? Chiba Jutaro really made the right choice by coming to the Shieikan.

Qing Deng had just met Sanako today.

“I saw Miss Sanako around noon today,” Qing Deng said in a deep voice. “She was with a girl named Natsume Tsuki at the time, and it seemed like they were going somewhere to have fun.”

"Natsume Tsuki?" As soon as Aoto finished speaking, Chiba Jutaro's eyes widened in shock and surprise.

After a busy night, we finally obtained some high-value information related to Sanako... Overjoyed, Chiba Jutaro immediately pressed for details:

"Tachibana-kun! Could you tell me in detail about your meeting with Sanako today?"

Qingdeng nodded, and then recounted in detail the whole story of his chance encounter with Sanako that day.

After Aoto recounted everything he knew, Chiba Jutaro immediately posed a new question:

"Did Sanako say where she was going with Natsume Tsuki?"

“No.” Qing Deng shook his head gently. “Miss Sanako didn’t say where they were going, and I didn’t ask.”

The most crucial part was completely blank... Anxiety and regret welled up uncontrollably in Chiba Jutaro's eyes and on his face.

At this moment, Aoto, who had been the one being questioned, suddenly changed his attitude and asked Chiba Jutaro in a serious tone:

“Mr. Jutaro, Miss Sanako told me today that Natsume Tsuki is one of the disciples currently training at the Chiba Kendo Academy. Since she is from your Chiba Kendo Academy, do you know where this girl lives?”

"I don't know... but Natsume Tsuki's address should be in the student register kept in the sword hall!"

“Alright.” Qing Deng nodded. “In that case, let’s go to Natsume Tsuki’s house now! Maybe we can get some clues from her after we find her!”

Natsume Tsuki is currently the only clue... There's no other more effective action at the moment besides going to find Natsume Tsuki. Therefore, Chiba Jutaro nodded vigorously and solemnly, expressing his agreement with the suggestion that Aoto had just made.

……

……

With Sanako's whereabouts currently unknown, it's impossible for the Shieikan (Test Guard Hall) to remain indifferent.

Therefore, without Chiba Jutaro making any further requests, Aoto and Okita spontaneously offered their full assistance.

After a brief discussion, the group from Shieikan quickly divided up the tasks.

Okita and his companions traveled to various parts of Edo in search of Sanako.

Meanwhile, Aoto and Chiba Jutaro went to find Natsume Tsuki. The two of them first went back to the Chiba Sword Academy, found Natsume Tsuki's address in the academy's student register, and then went straight to Natsume Tsuki's house without stopping.

As expected of a prominent liquor merchant who has risen to fame in recent years... the Natsume family's outer walls alone exude an air of wealth.

After informing the steward of the Natsume family, Aoto and Chiba Jutaro were led into the house. Shortly afterward, an important figure appeared in person and met with Aoto and the others.

This important figure was none other than Natsume Tsuki's father: Natsume Sohachiro.

Overwhelmed with longing for his sister, Chiba Jutaro disregarded etiquette. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries with Natsume Sohachiro, he bluntly explained why they had come and inquired about Natsume Tsuki's current location.

Before arriving at Natsume's house, Aoto had imagined various scenarios.

Some speculated that Natsume Tsuki was safe and sound, while others speculated that Natsume Tsuki might have disappeared along with Sanako.

Despite having made various guesses and mental preparations in advance, Natsume Sohachiro's answer still took Aoto completely by surprise.

“A-Yue returned this afternoon,” Natsume Sohachiro said in a deep voice, “but she’s not home right now.”

"Her maternal grandmother, who lives in Osaka, has never been in good health."

"This afternoon, a letter from her grandmother arrived by a fly: she has fallen ill again, though not seriously, she needs to rest in bed for some time."

"Because she was worried about her sick grandmother, Yue hurriedly set off for Osaka at around 7 a.m. (4 p.m.). She should not be back for another two weeks."

"What?" Chiba Jutaro's eyes widened in shock. "Natsume-san isn't home? Did she mention anything about Sanako to you today?"

“No.” Natsume Sohachiro shook his head. “She only told me that she ran into Ms. Chiba outside today, and then went out to play with Ms. Chiba. She had a lot of fun with Ms. Chiba.”

"..." Aoto, who was sitting side by side with Chiba Jutaro, was now frowning.

Sanako went missing today, and Natsume Tsuki, who went out with Sanako today, happened to be away from home because she went to Osaka to visit her sick grandmother...

"What the hell is the coincidence..." Qing Deng thought to himself as he narrowed his eyes and gave Natsume Sohachiro a meaningful look.

*******

*******

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

The final battle of this volume is finally approaching.

The final battle is fast approaching, and I, the author, am planning a final push. Starting today, I will do my utmost to write a little more each day!

The author isn't a full-time writer, so there's no guarantee that I'll write 10,000 words every day. I can only guarantee that I'll do my best (crying face).

Please be sure to vote with more monthly tickets! Your support will give the author even more motivation to push for the final chapter.

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 177 Rescue Sanako!

Edo, somewhere—

Led by the "slanted-eyed samurai," Kanno stepped down the dusty stairs and into the dim underground.

At the bottom of the stairs is a cellar full of history.

The cellar, which should have been used as a warehouse and filled with a large number of items, is now empty, with only dust and the corpses of insects on the ground.

This cellar, which was as desolate as a graveyard, miraculously possessed the presence of life.

呼……呼……呼……呼……

Although very faint, a soft breathing sound could indeed be heard coming from the depths of the cellar.

Following the sound of breathing... you can see two girls with their feet flat on the ground, their hands twisted behind their backs, and their bottoms sitting on the ground. They are tightly tied to a pillar in the corner of the cellar with hemp rope.

These two girls are none other than Sanako and Natsume Tsuki, whom Aoto and his friends are currently anxiously searching for.

The girls, their shoulders pressed together, remained unconscious with their heads drooping, their mouths bound with strips of cloth to prevent them from crying out if they woke up.

"...You've really brought a lot of trouble upon us."

Facing Sanako, who had not yet regained consciousness, Kanno spoke these words quietly, his tone neither sad nor happy, making it difficult for outsiders to discern his current mood from his tone.

“I’m very sorry…” The “slanted-eyed samurai” standing beside him lowered his head in shame. “According to the information we’ve gathered, Natsume Tsuki always likes to go to that teahouse alone to eat wagashi (Japanese sweets).

"However, by sheer coincidence, today, Natsume Tsuki brought someone with her... and the person she brought happened to be 'Chiba's Oni Komachi'."

"Because I heard that Chiba Sadakichi of the Chiba Sword Hall once did you a great favor, Mr. Jinno, we don't know what to do with this Chiba Sanako."

"So, we had no choice but to tie her up as well."

“…Very well.” Kamino sighed heavily. “The fault doesn’t lie with you. No one could have predicted such an accident.”

After saying that, Jinno paused for a moment, then softly repeated the name of the "slanted-eyed samurai" he had just mentioned.

"Chiba Sadakichi..."

A hint of reminiscence flashed in Jinno's eyes.

"Ah, what a nostalgic name."

The samurai with slanted eyes glanced at Jinno, whose face showed a look of reminiscence, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:

"Mr. Kanno, did Chiba Sadakichi really do you a great favor?"

Kanno glanced at the "slanted-eyed samurai" in return, then nodded noncommittally:

"Chiba Sadakichi of the Chiba Sword Hall has indeed done me a great favor."

"The first swordsmanship I learned was not the Kyōshin Akechi-ryū, but the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. I switched to the Kyōshin Akechi-ryū midway because I felt that the Hokushin Ittō-ryū was not suitable for me."