I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Yesterday I saw a reader say that the scene of Ms. Okita taking a bath is 5 words long... There are no 5 words at all (I'm dead.jpg).

Starting from when Aoto and Ms. Okita entered the bathhouse, it's only 3 words at most.

The plot advances significantly, revealing Souji's gender and past, and using Hijikata and the others to foreshadow later events related to Tenshōin and Tokugawa Iemochi. It also introduces Chiba Jutaro, leading into the subsequent Sanako route. This 3-word plot is incredibly substantial! (crying emoji)

PS:

Some readers may find it strange that Chiba Jutaro has such a unique and persistent idea about communal bathing.

It's normal to feel strange, after all, times have changed, and changes in the pace and lifestyle of life have led to a divergence in the thoughts of people in ancient and modern times.

Just as we today find it hard to understand why the ancients were so moved by the arduous farewells their friends went to in their travels when they were about to embark on a long journey. The "farewell poems" of the ancients even became a distinct category of poetry.

In the Edo period, when there was no communication software and social classes were rigid, there were not many places where people could socialize freely.

Once you enter the bathhouse, whether you are a samurai or an ordinary commoner, you have to take off your clothes, sword, money bag, and all other personal belongings, which effectively diminishes the differences between classes.

Therefore, bathhouses, with their strong social attributes and the feeling of "eliminating class distinctions," do indeed possess a special kind of "magic."

In the eyes of some, the act of "being completely naked" with someone in a public bathhouse does indeed carry the profound meaning of "bringing people closer" and "enhancing friendship."

Chapter 213 Performing swordsmanship at the fireworks festival with Sanako! [7100]

"Okita Sojiro?" Qing Deng asked in confusion.

“Oh right... I don’t think I’ve told you about this yet.”

“Okita Sojiro was my former name… or rather, my former pseudonym.”

"My original name is actually 'Okita Tsukasa'."

"In order to successfully infiltrate the Shieikan as a man, I gave myself a very masculine name, 'Okita Soujiro'."

"When I was a child, I thought this name was very powerful, but when I grew up, I felt that the name was a bit ordinary and not very special."

"So after my coming-of-age ceremony, I changed my name."

“I added the word ‘General’ to my original name.”

"This is the origin of my current name... 'Okita Souji'."

"You probably know what happened after that, Tachibana-kun."

"I demonstrated extraordinary swordsmanship skills and gained my master's favor and high regard."

"Not long after, he was taken in as an inner disciple by his master and moved into the Shieikan to live and eat with his master, his master's wife, Kondo, and Genji."

"My ability to disguise myself is still quite strong."

The commander adopted a tone that carried a hint of pride and smugness.

Even when I moved into the Shieikan as an inner disciple and lived under the same roof as my master and Kondo, I never revealed my true gender.

"It wasn't until I was 12 years old... that my body started menstruating. One day, I was secretly changing my menstrual pad in my room when my teacher's wife accidentally caught me, which led to the exposure of my true gender."

"Haha... I still remember the expressions on my master's and Kondo's faces when they found out I was a girl."

"Especially the master."

"That was the first time I realized that my master's narrow eyes could actually be so wide open."

"Unfortunately, I didn't have the leisure to observe the changes in my master's and the others' facial expressions at the time."

"At that time, I was only focused on being scared and trembling."

A smile, as if recalling some amusing memory, reappeared on Souji's face.

The smile that Souji was wearing at that moment was pleasant and sunny... Her smile greatly diluted the heavy meaning hidden in her words just now.

Even though Souji didn't go into details, Aoto could roughly imagine what it was like at that time.

Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remains that Souji deceived her master by disguising herself as a man and infiltrating the Shieikan, a school that does not accept female apprentices.

They had high hopes for her, and their prized student, with whom they had spent many years, turned out to be a girl who had been deceiving everyone all along... After such a thing happened, no amount of anger or fury from Zhou Zhu and the others was excessive.

The commander must have been very uneasy at that time.

He was uneasy, worried that Shusuke and the others would become angry...

He was anxious, fearing he would be expelled from the Imperial Guard...

What Souji said next perfectly matched Aoto's guess:

"My master has always strictly adhered to the rule of 'not passing on swordsmanship to women,' and for decades he has never accepted a female disciple."

"Because I concealed my true gender, my master was forced to break his vows... To be honest, I was mentally prepared to be chased and attacked by my enraged master who would draw his bamboo sword."

"Of course, compared to being chased and attacked by my master, I was more worried about being expelled from the training hall by my master at that time."

"I can no longer practice the Natural Rinpoche style... This is more painful than being beaten up."

"Fortunately, although my master was old-fashioned, he was not cold-blooded or heartless."

“When my female identity was accidentally discovered, I had already been living in the Shiwei Hall for 3 years as an inner disciple.”

"We spent so much time together as master and disciple, and almost like family... Not to mention my master, even my master's wife, who is rather aloof, developed deep feelings for me."

"My feelings for you ultimately triumphed over all the rules and regulations."

"When he first learned that I was actually a woman disguised as a man, my master was indeed furious for a while, but he quickly calmed down and forgave me."

"The master finally decided to make an exception and chose to 'pretend that he did not see anything and everything is as before'."

"Thus, with my master's exceptional permission, I was able to continue learning swordsmanship at the Training Hall as an inner disciple... right up to the present day."

Souji finished recounting her past.

Qingdeng, who had been listening quietly, asked after a moment of contemplation:

"Since your true gender was discovered by your master and the others four years ago... then why do you continue to disguise yourself as a man? Is it because your master wants to avoid disgracing the sect and requires you to continue dressing as a man, so that no one knows that the Examination Hall has mistakenly accepted a female disciple?"

"That's not it."

The commander shook his head.

"It was my own insistence that I continue to dress as a man."

“My master and Kondo have both advised me: since they already know I am not a man, I should stop pretending and just show my ‘true face’.”

"But I rejected their suggestion."

"Why?" Qing Deng pressed.

"Because it's always easier for a man to learn swordsmanship than for a woman."

The commander laughed.

"Although people's contempt for women has lessened considerably compared to the Warring States period three hundred years ago and even earlier, most people are still not very accepting of women practicing swordsmanship."

"If I reveal my 'true form,' it will inevitably attract some criticism and strange looks, which will affect my daily cultivation."

"In that case, I would rather continue to present myself as a man."

"Moreover, my master only forgave me for 'disguising myself as a man and deceiving the sect' because of the deep friendship between us."

“Deep down, my master still felt that swordsmanship should not be passed on to women.”

“If I show my ‘true face’ and walk in and out of the Shieikan dressed as a woman… even if my master doesn’t say anything, I think he would still feel uncomfortable.”

Qingdeng nodded gently: "I see... So that's why you've been disguised as a man all this time."

"Hmm...no, the reason is not just that."

"Huh?" Qing Deng was taken aback.

"What I just mentioned are only secondary reasons."

"The most important reason why I insist on always dressing as a man..."

At this point, Souji's lips curled into a helpless and embarrassed smile.

“I’m afraid that after I stop dressing as a man… a lot of strange men will come and disturb my life.”

As soon as Souji finished speaking, Qing Deng didn't immediately understand what she meant by "there will be many strange men who will bother you." It wasn't until a moment later that he realized what she meant—a strange smile appeared on Qing Deng's cheeks.

"Although it sounds a bit like bragging... my face seems to be quite popular."

As if a little shy, Souji stretched out his right index finger and poked his chubby, pink right cheek, which was so tender that half a finger would sink in when poked.

"Over the years, I've almost lost count of how many people from various sects have harassed me..."

“When I was still a man, I was already harassed by so many men… I can’t even imagine what my daily life would be like after I reveal my ‘true form’.”

"If I were like Miss Sanako, constantly being bothered by suitors who appear out of nowhere, I would feel very troubled."

After speaking, the commander paused, then chuckled a few times in a self-deprecating tone.

"Ugh, I feel so shameless... comparing myself to Sanako... I'm nowhere near as pretty as Sanako..."

"That's not necessarily true."

Qingdeng reflexively picked up the conversation quickly:

“Miss Sanako has her own beauty, and Miss Okita, you also have your own charm.”

The commander paused for a moment, then chuckled mischievously, revealing a wicked smile that suggested he was plotting something.

"Tachibana-kun, now that we know I'm a girl, not a boy... who do you think is more charming, me or Sanako-san?"

“Miss Sanako.” Aoto gave his answer without hesitation.

Perhaps because she didn't expect Aoto to answer so quickly, or perhaps because Aoto's answer was unexpected... or perhaps both, in any case, after hearing Aoto blurt out Sanako's name, Souji's beautiful eyes widened, and then she immediately pouted, a hint of reproach flashing between her brows.

"I thought you would say it was me just to flatter me, or say 'both of you are very charming' just to fool me..."

“Miss Okita, I’m not saying you’re less charming than Miss Sanako.” Aoto let out a long sigh and said with a wry smile, “I just… haven’t completely gotten used to seeing you as a girl yet…”

"Until half an hour ago, I always regarded you as my best friend and my most sincere brother at the Shiwei Hall."

"To be honest... subconsciously I still see you as a boy."

“It will take me a while to fully adjust to the current situation where my ‘best friend’ has become a ‘cute girl’.”

After hearing Qing Deng's explanation, the reproachful look between the Souji's brows instantly dissipated.

"Likewise..." Souji chuckled. "It will probably take me a while to fully adjust to the change in our relationship."