I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Sanako's eyes widened in surprise.

She stared blankly at something in front of her.

But in reality, she didn't see anything.

Her entire being was captivated by the emotion she felt from Qing Deng's words.

Her once empty and blank gaze gradually began to shine with a radiance that matched the hue of the summer sky.

Sanako, whose mind and attention had been captured by Aoto's words, smiled unconsciously.

The corners of her alluring mouth curved slightly outwards, a faint smile playing on her cheeks.

She tried to purse her lips, but a soft laugh still escaped her lips.

The smile on her pretty face and the light and shadow in her eyes complemented each other, creating a dazzling and colorful effect.

"Tachibana-kun..."

Sanako opened her lips, as if about to say something.

But at this moment...

"Whoa!"

The sudden scream from Aoto and the sound of the water basin being overturned interrupted Sanako's thoughts.

"Tachibana-kun, what's wrong?"

Sanako, reacting to the loud noise and commotion behind her, instinctively turned around, her voice tinged with tension.

The moment she turned her head and looked behind her... she froze.

……

……

At this very moment—

Little Chiba Sword Hall, Area B—

"...Brother Duomen, what do you think of Tachibana-kun?"

After Aoto was led to the inner courtyard to rest by Sanako, the Chiba Sword Hall returned to normal order under the organization of Chiba Jutaro.

Everyone went back to their respective places and did their own thing.

The disciples of Field C returned to Field C.

The disciples of Field B also resumed their cultivation.

However, the air in the dojo still retained a solemn atmosphere from the series of fierce battles that had just unfolded, as well as the enthusiastic atmosphere of applauding Qingdeng for his complete victory and safe retreat.

Standing in a corner of the dojo, with his arms crossed, Chiba Jutaro appeared to be intently observing the swordplay of the apprentices... but in reality, his mind had already wandered elsewhere.

"What do you mean, how do you see it?"

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Chiba Jutaro, Chiba Tamon Shiro asked in bewilderment.

"...I'll just be blunt."

Chiba Jutaro lowered his voice, looked directly into Chiba Tamon Shiro's eyes, and spoke solemnly and deliberately.

"Brother Duomen, what do you think of the name 'Tachibana Sanako'?"

"……what?"

"Still don't understand? Let me put it more bluntly. What do you think about Qing Deng and Sanako getting married?"

*******

*******

This kind of storyline, where you fight and then chase girls, is so addictive! (Laughing emoji)

This chapter took me a long time to write... Romance scenes are especially difficult to write. In order to portray the subtle emotional changes between Aoto and Sanako, I meticulously crafted each word and sentence.

Please vote for this book with your monthly tickets, considering how hard the author is working! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

P.S.: The author would like to take a day off tomorrow. Please see the "Author's Note" below for details.

Throughout the entire National Day holiday, I haven't had a break. Today, I want to go out for a walk to relax and unwind from the tension caused by days of writing.

[No updates tomorrow. Updates will resume the day after tomorrow, October 10th!]

[No updates tomorrow. Updates will resume the day after tomorrow, October 10th!]

[No updates tomorrow. Updates will resume the day after tomorrow, October 10th!]

Chapter 206 Half-naked Aoto and the Pure Sanako

"Of course I understand what 'Tachibana Sanako' means."

Chiba Tamon Shiro said irritably.

It is a fact that even young children know that a woman must change her husband's surname after marriage.

"This... you want Tachibana-kun and Sanako to get married? Shige-nii, you're not kidding me, are you?"

Look at my expression.

Chiba Jutaro raised his hand and gestured to his solemn face.

"Are you joking with that expression? I'm very serious."

"Uh……"

As if trying to cover up his confused expression, Chiba Tamon Shiro raised his left hand and vigorously rubbed the back of his neck, looking away.

It's no wonder that Chiba Tamon Shiro reacted and made that expression.

This question came so suddenly... He was caught off guard by the question about Sanako's marriage, and he was completely unprepared.

Moreover, this kind of question cannot be answered casually.

"Brother Chong, why are you asking me this for no reason?"

"...Brother Tamon, Sanako is 22 years old this year."

Chiba Jutaro let out a heavy sigh.

"Don't you think that Sanako, who is already this age, has reached the point where her marriage can no longer be delayed?"

"..." Chiba Tamon Shiro fell silent. After a moment, he nodded slightly, "...Yes."

In the Edo period, when people's level of thought, technology, social order, and customs were basically still at the level of the Middle Ages, marriage was undoubtedly the most important event in life, and procreation and carrying on the family line were things that everyone felt were natural and right.

During the Edo period, women could generally get married at the age of 15 or 6, and the average age of marriage fluctuated around this range. Some women even got married as early as 12 or 3.

Therefore, from the perspective of this era, Sanako, who is 22 years old this year and still unmarried, can now be considered an "extremely old single woman".

Out of concern for his family, four years ago, when Sanako had just turned 18, Chiba Tamon Shiro had been paying close attention to the marriage prospects of his younger cousin, who had been unmarried for a long time.

Chiba Tamon Shiro had asked Chiba Sadakichi and Chiba Jutaro several times why Sanako had never married. Given Sanako's qualities, it shouldn't be like this.

The response he received from Chiba Sadakichi and Chiba Jutaro was always the father and son giving a helpless or dry laugh while saying, "Sanako hasn't found someone she likes yet, so she hasn't gotten married."

Seeing that Chiba Tamon Shiro nodded, Chiba Jutaro immediately showed a delighted expression.

"Haha, Brother Duomen, since even you think that Sanako's marriage can't be delayed any longer, then the rest is easy to discuss."

"I don't need to explain in detail, you should already know how difficult it is for a woman who is all alone and has no one to rely on to live."

"Although Sanako is proficient in naginata techniques and the kodachi techniques of my Hokushin Itto-ryu style, and also has considerable skill in my Chiba family's traditional acupuncture techniques, how many places in this world can accommodate female samurai and female doctors?"

“While my father and I are still alive, and while our Chiba family is still large and prosperous, we can still protect Sanako.”

"But what will she do when my father and I both die and our Chiba family is no longer as glorious as it is now?"

Upon hearing this, Chiba Tamon Shiro's expression suddenly changed.

"Brother Chong, you shouldn't say such unlucky things."

He was referring, of course, to Chiba Jutaro's earlier remarks: "My father and I will both die someday" and "Our Chiba family will never regain its current glory."

"Haha, what's so auspicious or inauspicious about these words?"

Chiba Jutaro put his hands on his hips and smiled nonchalantly.

"Everyone is subject to accidents, and everyone will experience birth, aging, sickness, and death."

"The same goes for families. No matter how powerful a family is, it will decline one day."

"Moreover... we are currently in a period of great chaos, the likes of which have not been seen in a thousand years."

As if infected by his own words, a faint look of frustration and helplessness appeared on Chiba Jutaro's face.

"Westerners forced open the country's doors, the shogunate weakened, the Nanki and Hitotsubashi factions are still locked in a fierce struggle, and powerful local clans are eyeing the country covetously..."

"In such a chaotic world, it is not surprising that one encounters anything."

"So I don't want Sanako's marriage to be delayed any longer."

"Even disregarding vague reasons like carrying on the family line and continuing the family line, just for the sake of Sanako's happiness, I hope that Sanako can marry the person she likes as soon as possible."

"Having a talented and reliable husband to rely on makes things much easier in these chaotic times."

"Therefore, Brother Duomen, to be honest, I started looking for someone suitable to be my brother-in-law a long time ago."

"After careful selection, I have finally found the most suitable and highest quality candidate."

Hearing this, and recalling Chiba Jutaro's earlier questions such as "What do you think of the name 'Tachibana Sanako'?", even the most foolish person would understand what Chiba Jutaro meant.

"So..." Chiba Tamon Shiro lowered his voice, "you've taken a liking to Tachibana-kun?"

“Brother Duomen, don’t you think Tachibana-kun and Sanako are a good match?” Chiba Jutaro grinned. “First of all, their ages are suitable. Tachibana-kun is 18 this year, and Sanako is 22. Sanako is only 4 years older than Tachibana-kun. Tachibana-kun is currently unmarried and still single.”

"And then, Tachibana-kun is exceptionally talented."

"Brother Duomen, you should know what kind of political achievements he has made so far."

"Not only will he have a bright future in officialdom, but he will also have a promising future in the path of swordsmanship."

Chiba Jutaro gestured with his lip toward the dojo in front of him.

"Brother Duomen, you just saw how high Tachibana-kun's swordsmanship and skill level are, didn't you?"