I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"The reason why our lord is so concerned about dealing with those evil people and bad organizations is simply because of the kindness in his heart."

"Therefore, after accidentally discovering the existence of the Fazhu Party six years ago, the lord has been tirelessly waging a protracted struggle against the Fazhu Party without seeking any reward."

"It was for this reason that I came to Edo and opened this Thousand Things Shop."

"The Fazhu Party has always been relatively active in the western country and the capital region."

“But in recent years, we have received definite intelligence that the activities of the Fazhu Party in the East seem to be gradually becoming more frequent.”

"Therefore, my lord sent me to Edo to secretly investigate the movement of the Fa-ju-dui-dui."

"That's my true identity."

After speaking, Kiryu fell silent, giving Aoto ample time to process the information.

From the moment Kiryu officially began speaking until he shut his mouth... less than 20 minutes had passed in total.

But in that short period of less than 20 minutes, the amount of information Qingdeng received was so large that his brain was overwhelmed and in a state of "semi-shutdown".

It took Qingdeng quite a while to gradually recover from the shock of the massive amount of information.

"...Was A-Wu actually sent to assist you in investigating the Fa-Zhu Party?" Qing Deng asked.

"No." Kiryu shook his head without hesitation. "Young Master was simply sent to my side for training by the Lord."

"Young Master, like you, only now did you learn of the existence of the 'Law Extermination Party' and that your grandmother had been secretly fighting against this organization all along."

Aoto's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly turned to look at Kinoshita Mai beside him—Kinoshita Mai, like him, had a look of astonishment on her face that had not yet faded.

"Ah Wu, don't you know about the Fa Zhu Party? Don't you know your grandmother has been secretly dealing with this Fa Zhu Party all along?"

Kinoshita Mai chuckled awkwardly, "I had absolutely no idea... I didn't even know that Mr. Kiryu's real name was 'Mamiya Kuro'..."

"All I know is that Mr. Kiryu was my grandmother's old subordinate who had been with her for over seventy years. He was a highly skilled swordsman and a reliable person."

"Ever since I was adopted by my grandmother, apart from a very few people like my grandmother who often called Mr. Kiryu 'Kuro' because it's a nickname, everyone else called Mr. Kiryu 'Kiryu' or 'Mr. Kiryu'..."

“Although the name ‘Mamiya Kuro’ isn’t exactly a household name, it still has a certain reputation.” Kiryu added with a smile, “Having this name makes many things inconvenient, so I started using this alias frequently even before the young master was born.”

"To avoid leaks, only a very small number of people in the entire Gourd House know my true identity."

"I'm sorry, young master, for keeping this from you all this time."

"Mr. Kiryu!" Mai Kinoshita exclaimed urgently, "Why have I never heard of this 'lawful purge' from you or Grandma before?"

“Young Master, this is the Lord’s will,” Kiryu explained calmly. “The Lord believes that you were too young to know things that children shouldn’t know.”

"The lord plans to tell you these things when you are older."

"During the time that Tachibana-kun was recuperating at the Jin-i-do clinic, I sent a message to my lord in Osaka, asking whether I should tell you the truth."

"My lord and I both believe that now is the best time to tell you everything about the Fa-Zhu Party."

"That's why I've kept you here today, so that you and Mr. Ju could hear the biggest secret that our Calabash House currently holds."

As the daughter of the Gourd House, Kinoshita Mai didn't know any more than him... This truly surprised Aoto.

Qing Deng pursed his lips slightly as he organized and summarized the information he currently possessed.

Simply put, the organization that Kiryu's boss is backed by is a business called "Gourd House" that openly engages in various business activities while secretly working to maintain social peace and stability.

In recent years, they have been secretly dealing with a mysterious organization called "Fa Zhu Dang" whose base, number of members, organizational goals and targets are all a mystery, and which specializes in various terrorist activities.

After briefly gathering his thoughts and emotions, Qingdeng took a deep breath and posed the next question:

"Kiryu...Mamiya..."

As Aoto hesitated whether to address him as "Boss Kiryu" or "Mr. Mamiya" as usual, Kiryu smiled slightly.

"Tachibana-kun, just call me Kiryu-sensei as usual. Anyway, a title is just a name. It doesn't matter how you call me."

"Then... Kiryu-sensei, why did you appear so timely that night? You wouldn't... have been secretly protecting Mai all along, would you?"

Although the second half of Qingdeng's sentence was in the form of a question, the tone was that of an affirmative sentence.

Aside from this reason, Aoto couldn't think of any other explanation for why Kiryu was able to appear so timely to save the day that night.

Kiryu's next words confirmed Aoto's thoughts.

Kiryu nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze to Kinoshita Mai.

"Young Master, do you think I don't know what you do every night?"

Kinoshita Mai's delicate body trembled violently.

She raised her eyes, her gaze trembling as she met Kiryu's.

Her little face was filled with surprise and disbelief...

"Mr. Kiryu, you...you already knew? When did you find out?"

"I knew it from the very beginning."

"At the very beginning?"

"As the name suggests, from the very first day you decided to rob the rich and help the poor in Edo, I knew that my young master was the legendary phantom thief, Neko-sō."

Kinoshita Mai's delicate body trembled violently once again.

Her mind and expression were instantly thrown into a state of extreme confusion. In a trembling voice, she weakly asked Kiryu a new question.

"Mr. Kiryu, you...you didn't tell Grandma about these things, did you?"

"Do you think I would not report something like this to the lord?"

Kinoshita Mai immediately buried her head tightly in her chest like an ostrich.

"What did Grandma say...?"

"My lord neither supports nor opposes it." Kiryu smiled warmly at Kinoshita Mai. "You have your own dreams and are willing to fight for them, which makes my lord very pleased."

"But my lord doesn't want you to do such a dangerous thing."

"After all, there were just too many hidden talents in Edo."

"Although your martial arts skills are quite good, and you are one of the best among your peers, no one can say for sure that you might encounter an accident someday."

"Therefore, after much deliberation, my lord has no choice but to trouble this 92-year-old man."

At this point, Tong Shengchang sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

"Whenever you go out in your cat form, I will secretly follow behind you and protect you in secret."

"I must say—Young Master, your movement skills are becoming more and more exquisite."

"Lately, I've often found myself in the embarrassing situation of not being able to keep up with you."

“So that’s how it is…” Qing Deng breathed a sigh of relief. “So, in other words—Mr. Kiryu, the brown-robed man that A-Mai and I faced before was indeed you?”

Kiryu chuckled and shrugged.

"At the time, all I wanted to do was get rid of you guys."

"But I'm really getting old, and I can't outrun you young people at all, so I can only use some... slightly rough methods to make you stop chasing me."

Another mystery has been solved.

The person who possesses the eternal talent "Hachiman of No Bounds"... it really is Kiryu-sensei!

Qingdeng's eyes flickered slightly as his emotions surged.

"Tachibana-kun, is there anything else you want to ask?" Kiryu shifted his gaze, scanning Aoto and Kinoshita Mai's faces. "Young Master, you too, if you have anything you want to ask, you can ask it now."

“…Mr. Kiryu, I have another…small question.” Qing Deng lowered his eyelids slightly, staring directly at Kiryu. “According to my friend, ‘Ship-Slaying Swordsman’ Mamiya Kuro is proficient in sword-drawing techniques.”

"At such a young age, he has developed his own unique sword-drawing technique: Flowing Light."

"When Mamiya Kuro was at his peak, when he used his Stream of Light to cut people, the opponent could not hear the sound of Mamiya Kuro drawing his sword until he was hit."

"That night, Kiryu-sensei, the move you used to defeat Kamaitachi in one blow... could it be this 'Flowing Light'?"

Kiryu glanced at Aoto with a look that was tinged with surprise.

Then he nodded slightly with a strange smile.

"Tachibana-kun, that's a good question."

"That's right. The technique I used to defeat the Kamaitachi was indeed my signature sword-drawing technique, Flowing Light."

"Speaking of my special skill... Tachibana-kun, I happen to have something very important to tell you today."

"Huh?" Qing Deng was taken aback.

"Would you be interested in becoming my disciple and inheriting my mantle?"

"what?"

"Or let me put it more simply. Tachibana-kun, would you be interested in learning my sword-drawing technique: Flowing Light?"

*******

*******

Although I didn't reach 1 words, this chapter is still close to 9000, which isn't a small number. Moreover, it's packed with information, so even the most discerning reader shouldn't have the audacity to say this chapter's plot is weak. Please consider the word count and quality of this chapter and vote for this book with your monthly ticket!

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

I'll make up for the 10,000-word update I missed today later!

!! [The author would like to ask for a day off tomorrow. I'm going out for a delicious meal with my university friends today, so I probably won't have time to write. Please allow me to take a break tomorrow, and I will resume updates the day after tomorrow (crying leopard.jpg)]!!

The second character popularity poll is still in full swing in the Penguin group!

Kinoshita Mai and Sanako are really going at it right now, with only a mere two votes separating them!

Whether Sanako will retain her title or Kinoshita Mai will become the new champion remains to be seen.

Poor Qingdeng... as the main character, he only received a fraction of the votes of Brave Niu Niu...

Chapter 194 Qingdeng's New Title: [Renwang]! [The End]

I thought

*******

*******