I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Her slender hands and feet were straightened, and then she blinked her big eyes, looking up at Qingdeng like a pleading puppy—

"Mr. Ju, please take me as your apprentice! I want to learn your swordsmanship!"

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Let's move on to the monthly pass bounty!

The book currently has 2734 votes. If it can reach 2800 votes today, we'll add a long chapter of 10,000 words tomorrow!

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

The "Second Annual Character Popularity Vote" has already started in the book's QQ group! This time, a new character has been added: Brave Bull Carrot.

As I expected, Sanako is currently leading the pack with an overwhelming majority of votes... Her popularity is truly unshakeable. I feel like Tenshōin is at a disadvantage; her major role hasn't even started yet, and in terms of popularity, she can't compete head-on with Sanako and Kinoshita Mai...

However, Qingdeng is about to be promoted to a higher position, and astute readers can see that most of this chapter is setting the stage for the later plot of Tenshōin's eldest sister.

The Hitotsubashi faction is on the rise, Tokugawa Iemochi is struggling alone, and Tenshōin is forced to retreat into the background...

Tenshōin's older sister's scenes are about to increase!

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

The author has started a book club on Tencent! Anyone interested is welcome to join and chat about Big Bear.

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 190 Accepting a Disciple! Qingdeng's First Female Disciple and the Young Lady Arrive [7200]

Yesterday, due to some unforeseen circumstances in real life, the author's writing time was shortened, and the author was unable to reach 1 words (crying face).

Tomorrow, the author will try his best to make up for the 10,000-word chapter that was owed today. (Leopard dead.jpg)

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The ward was instantly enveloped in silence.

Whether it was Arima and the others, or Okita and the others... in short, everyone in the ward was now focused on Elodie, who had suddenly uttered such startling words.

The expressions on everyone's faces and the emotions revealed there combined to create a tense atmosphere.

Under the oppressive atmosphere, Elodie felt a different kind of pressure. She shrank her shoulders and neck, and her already petite body became even smaller. A hint of fear appeared on her delicate cheeks, and her hands, which were placed on her legs, unconsciously clenched.

Despite her obvious fear and the discomfort caused by the collective gaze and atmosphere, her gaze and the emotions contained within her eyes remained unwavering.

Her clear, sky-blue eyes, reminiscent of a summer's clear sky, perfectly reflected Qing Deng's figure.

The will conveyed in his eyes was quite clear, and Qing Deng sensed a peculiar strength.

"It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. My words were spoken only after careful consideration," Elodie's unwavering gaze conveyed this message.

"Elodie, what nonsense are you spouting?" (in French)

The first person to break the silence was Anthony.

Because of his impatience, Anthony subconsciously used French.

"Grandpa, I'm serious."

Elodie tilted her head and met Anthony's gaze with unwavering eyes.

"I want to become Mr. Tachibana's apprentice and learn his swordsmanship!"

"Learning Tachibana-kun's swordsmanship..." Kondo interjected with a strange expression, "You mean... you want to learn the Tennen Rishin-ryu style?"

"Yes!" Elodie nodded vigorously without hesitation.

Kondo, Okita, Shusuke, and Abi all looked at each other with strange expressions.

A little girl from France wanted to learn their Natural Rishin-ryu style, and even specifically asked to become Qing Deng's apprentice... This was all so sudden and unexpected...

After receiving Elodie's affirmative reply that "I want to become Qing Deng's apprentice," Anthony's expression instantly became extremely flustered.

The same applies to Qingdeng.

Qing Deng raised his gaze and looked at Anthony.

Seeing that Anthony also looked helpless, Qing Deng knew that Elodie's decision to become his apprentice must have never been mentioned to Anthony.

Both he and Anthony were dragged into an unprepared "battle" because of a single sentence from Elodie.

Fortunately, Qing Deng is now a man who has seen his share of storms, and in just a moment, he managed to compose himself.

“...Miss Ungulem”.

Qingdeng's voice made Elodie turn her gaze back to Qingdeng.

Unlike Anthony, Qing Deng didn't directly confront Elodie with questions like "What are you doing?"

Instead, he calmly and lightly said:

Why do you suddenly want to become my disciple and learn my swordsmanship?

Elodie seemed to have expected to be asked this question, so she remained quite calm.

She took a deep breath, straightened her posture, creating a restrained atmosphere, and a hint of tension appeared between her brows.

However, despite already adopting a "I'm going to answer seriously" stance, Elodie hesitated to speak.

Upon closer inspection, one could see Elodie constantly blinking her big eyes, stealing glances at Kondo, Arima, and the others beside her with a look tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

Okita keenly noticed the frequent glances that Elodie's group was casting in their direction... After pondering for a moment, Okita raised his head and gave a bright smile to everyone around him.

"Let's go outside for now."

Kondo, Arima, and the others nodded belatedly upon realizing what Okita was implying.

However, just as everyone except Anthony and Leroy was about to turn and leave the ward, Elodie called them back.

"You don't need to go out, that's fine!"

Elodie closed her eyes and took another deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, there was no trace of the shame she felt when she told so many outsiders why she wanted to become Qingdeng's apprentice.

"I want to protect Grandpa and Miss Leroy."

Elodie's first words changed the atmosphere in the ward and the expressions of everyone, including Qingdeng.

"Although the Extermination Group is on the verge of collapse, no one can guarantee that a second Extermination Group will not emerge in this country in the future."

"Although firearms are more powerful than traditional martial arts, my family is just an ordinary merchant family and we don't have the means for me to learn how to use firearms."

"So I want to learn powerful martial arts."

"I will master powerful martial arts so that those 'radical anti-foreign' thugs will never be able to harm my family again."

"If I were as strong as you, Mr. Ju, my grandfather and I wouldn't have been forced to the brink of death by fire 10 days ago."

"Although I have studied rapier and I personally love rapier, I simply cannot find a good and suitable rapier teacher in this country."

"Without the guidance of a renowned teacher, no matter how hard I practice on my own, my progress will be extremely limited."

"Therefore, I made up my mind to temporarily give up rapier and switch to another martial art!"

“My Western identity prevents me from moving freely outside my place of residence. If I want to switch to other martial arts, I can only ask a private tutor to come to my home to instruct me.”

"And Mr. Ju, you are the most suitable... no, the most perfect candidate for me!"

"Mr. Ju, your character and abilities are quite reliable, and you are also a very good teacher."

"Some time ago, when I was playing with you, Mr. Tachibana, a simple sentence from you made my movements improve significantly."

"If I had to say who is the most suitable martial arts teacher for me... I think it has to be Mr. Ju!"

Her voice was delicate, yet her tone was resolute.

His resolute gaze seemed to pierce through all hesitation and confusion.

Seeing Elodie's serious expression and unwavering determination in her eyes, the expressions of everyone in the room changed drastically, overwhelmed by her courage.

At such a young age, he could say something that moved everyone who heard it: "I want to learn martial arts to protect my family." Arima, Inoya, and the others, who were all married with children, were all filled with emotion.

Inugaya grinned and muttered in a low voice only he could hear, "Why aren't my kids as obedient and sensible as they are..."

If we're talking about whose facial expressions are the most captivating... then it's undoubtedly Anthony and Leroy.

“Miss… (in French)” Leroy blinked hard and quickly, his eyes slightly moist.

Anthony was initially surprised but then delighted.

Elodie's earlier comment about "protecting the family" had a powerful impact on Anthony.

Anthony's lips trembled slightly as he pressed them together. His eyes, though not as moist as Leroy's, were slightly red-rimmed.

At this moment, Elodie's voice rang out again.

"Besides Mr. Tachibana's swordsmanship... I also want to learn from Mr. Tachibana's character!"

"This is the main reason why I want to become Mr. Tachibana's apprentice and have him as my martial arts tutor!"

"What kind of person am I?" Question filled Qing Deng's face.

"I want to become as strong and brave as you, Mr. Tachibana."

A shy smile appeared on Elodie's slightly upturned lips.

A look of longing and anticipation gradually appeared on his face.

"Ten days ago, on that night, after seeing the entire mansion suddenly burst into flames and dozens of menacing thugs from the Exile Group blocking the outside... it's a bit embarrassing to say, but I was genuinely so scared that I couldn't even move..."

"I still find it hard to imagine that someone could fight more than sixty warriors single-handedly and without fear."

Elodie raised her gaze, conveying her admiration precisely to Qingdeng through her eyes.

"I want to become a strong and brave person like you, Mr. Orange!"

"So I want to learn from you closely, Mr. Tachibana!"

"Learn from your character, learn from how you became so strong and brave!"