I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Foreign invaders, thugs with radical anti-foreign ideology wreaking havoc everywhere, and bandits rising up in droves across the land..."

"One annoying thing after another happened. In my memory, since the Black Ships knocked on the gates seven years ago, there has been no happy event in Edo that can make people happy."

"Although I am not very talented, I would like to do my best to quell the turmoil in this world."

"But I am just a swordsman. I have no ability to change the world or change the country. All I can do is promote swordsmanship as much as possible, so that as many people as possible can understand and learn swordsmanship, strengthen their bodies, and master the skills to protect themselves!"

"The fireworks festival was an annual grand event in Edo, and in terms of popularity and excitement, almost no other event could compare with it."

"Therefore, I plan to hold a high-level swordsmanship demonstration at this year's 'Fireworks Festival' to showcase the exquisite nature of swordsmanship to the public and attract them to learn martial arts!"

"The performance was very simple—demonstrating sword skills and using real knives to cut bamboo mats standing on the ground into as many pieces as possible. The people loved watching this kind of performance, and it was the only kind of performance they could understand."

"I've already asked a friend to arrange the venue; all I'm missing now is people to perform."

"Since the goal is to attract people to learn martial arts, it is not appropriate to invite people whose swordsmanship skills need improvement to be performers."

"Just two or three strong swordsmen will suffice!"

"The only people who have clearly stated that they will participate in my martial arts demonstration are my younger sister Sanako and my cousin, Chiba Tamon Shiro."

"Although with me, the three of us siblings can barely hold up a martial arts performance, after much thought, I have decided to invite another expert to 'help out'."

"That's why I'd like to ask you, Tachibana-kun, for help!"

"Of all the friends I can ask, you are the most suitable helper."

"With your current swordsmanship level, Mr. Ju, demonstrating a swordsmanship move or cutting a bamboo mat is just a piece of cake."

"If a swordsman who is not from the Hokushin Itto-ryu school could demonstrate swordsmanship together, it would also increase the entertainment value of the performance."

"And most importantly—you are now a celebrity in Edo, and the name 'Niou' has spread throughout the streets and alleys of Edo."

"If you could come and 'support' our martial arts demonstration, it would definitely attract a lot of people to watch!"

"The martial arts competition I've scheduled for August 24th at 8 PM is scheduled for 8 PM. Mr. Tachibana, what do you think? Would you be interested in participating?"

Chiba Jutaro blinked a few times, then looked at Aoto with hopeful eyes.

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The lengthy dialogue of the "Sōji Route" is finally coming to an end! Next up is the action-packed scene that will bring this route to a close! Finally, it's time to get some slashing! Compared to the dialogue that fleshes out the characters, the author definitely prefers writing action scenes with lots of hacking and slashing.

Although today's chapter is a transitional one and not very exciting, the author is still shamelessly asking for some monthly votes! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

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

P.S.: Ms. Okita is optimistic, open-minded, and strong. Although she speaks of it lightly, it's easy to imagine that she, disguised as a man in that era, couldn't have escaped immense suffering. I hope everyone can possess the angelic values ​​that Ms. Okita has.

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The author is making a promise! Tomorrow, the author will try to update as much as possible! And will try to break into the "Test Guard Hall vs. Xuanwu Hall" storyline in tomorrow's chapter!

This match is going to be quite exciting! Aoto and Souji are finally going to challenge the two-sword master, Chiba Michizaburo, who has been preparing to prove his strength for a long time.

Astute readers may already be able to guess how this match will unfold from the foreshadowing and setup in the preceding text.

With a relationship of "Why was Eijiro born if Dao was born?" with Chiba Eijiro, his strength was among the top swordsmen in Edo... naturally, he was incomparable to the likes of Jinno and Kamaitachi.

Please look forward to the upcoming action scenes!

Chapter 214 Test Guard Hall vs. Xuanwu Hall, Opening Ceremony!

Meeting the intensely emotional gaze cast by Chiba Jutaro, Aoto grinned.

"So... Mr. Jutaro, are you planning to rely on just the four of you—you, me, Ms. Sanako, and Mr. Chiba Tamon—to carry out this swordplay demonstration? Isn't that a bit too few people?"

"Four people are enough."

Chiba Jutaro shook his head and smiled wryly.

"One of the main reasons I plan to hold this swordplay demonstration with such a small number of people is that we have too little space to perform swordplay."

"The booths at the fireworks display are so valuable that every inch of space is worth its weight in gold."

Chiba Jutaro held up two fingers.

"Even I only managed to snag a 2-ping (approximately 3.3 square meters) stall."

"This small booth is only big enough for 3 or 4 people to come up and perform swordsmanship."

"If there are any more people, we won't even have a place to sit and rest."

After listening to Chiba Jutaro's explanation, Aoto nodded slightly: "Two tsubo... then it really does only require three or four performers..."

Qingdeng had heard a little about how difficult it was to apply for a roadside stall at a fireworks display.

At such a grand event, setting up a simple snack stall or tea stand would be enough to make a fortune.

Therefore, in the eyes of the merchants in Edo, the fireworks festival was a piece of delicious meat, and they were all waiting to pounce on it and have a good meal.

However, there are too many monks and not enough porridge... The area where people watch fireworks is only so big, and the places suitable for setting up stalls are also limited.

Therefore, without some skills and connections, you won't be able to set up a booth at the fireworks festival.

Therefore, from another perspective, it is quite remarkable that Chiba Jutaro, who is not a professional merchant, was able to secure a 2-tsubo (approximately 8 square meters) booth space on August 24th.

Aoto had no interest whatsoever in Chiba Jutaro's idea of ​​"using martial arts demonstrations to attract people to learn martial arts." He didn't have such lofty ideals.

However, Qing Deng was quite interested in the "martial arts demonstration" itself.

Since his transmigration, he has never held or participated in any form of swordsmanship demonstration.

He demonstrated how to chop bamboo mats and perform sword techniques to onlookers on the roadside... Qingdeng found this quite novel and interesting.

Chiba Jutaro was a good friend of his, and Aoto was always happy to help his friend with these small favors that weren't particularly troublesome.

Moreover, I was quite interested in this activity myself.

Anyway, he didn't have anything planned for that night and was quite free. So, after thinking for a moment, Qingdeng nodded slightly:

"I understand. In that case, please allow me to do my part."

"Hahahaha!" Chiba Jutaro slapped his thigh again with a joyful laugh, his mouth stretched so high it almost reached his ears. "I'm so grateful! It's a deal then! Let's meet at 'To Ryogoku' at Ryogoku Bridge on August 24th!"

The fireworks display will be held at Ryogoku Bridge, an east-west bridge spanning the Sumida River.

The east end of the bridge is called "Mikoto-ryoku," and the west end is called "Nihonbashi-ryoku." The streets connected by the west end of the bridge are the most famous entertainment district in Edo: Ryogoku-hirokoji.

When Chiba Jutaro said "meeting at Ryogoku", he meant meeting at the east end of the Ryogoku Bridge.

Where to meet was a trivial matter. Qing Deng silently remembered the meeting place that Chiba Jutaro had told him, and then nodded to indicate that he had remembered it.

Chiba Jutaro, who was crossing his arms and reaching into his sleeves, had a smile on his face that hadn't faded since earlier... no, it hadn't faded at all, but rather seemed to be expanding.

His eyes, which were almost squinting from laughing, were now gleaming with a barely perceptible light of relief and cunning.

Aoto had no idea that... Chiba Jutaro, who was the "eldest son of the Chiba family branch," had a way of getting a stall space that was much larger than 2 tsubo.

青登更不知道——如果他是8月23号有空，那千叶重太郎口中的这场剑术演武就将会在8月23号举行；如果是8月25号有空，那就是在8月25号举行；如果是哪一天都没空，那千叶重太郎就会求青登想想办法，匀一天出来参加他的剑术演武……

……

……

The next day—

The first year of Wanyan (1860), December 16th——

The tumultuous night, marked by the huge shock to the worldview of "good brothers" turning into "good sisters," finally passed peacefully.

Even though the world has changed beyond recognition and the world has undergone tremendous changes, the sun will still rise as usual.

Whether it was because Souji's body recovered quickly or because of the "special medicine" that Abi had cooked for her, Souji regained her usual energy and vitality after a night's rest.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng and the others all breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Souji appeared to have recovered, to ensure that her body had fully recovered, at the unanimous request of Aoto and others, Souji was placed under a "stay-at-home order".

Aside from your room and the toilet, you're not allowed to go anywhere today. Just stay in bed and sleep. Don't worry about meals; we'll bring you food when it's mealtime. These are the exact words that Qing Deng and the others said to the commander this morning.

Despite being confined to his room, the chief argued vehemently, declaring that he had recovered and no longer needed to stay indoors to recuperate.

"I want to go to the dojo to practice swordsmanship! Look how energetic I am!" Souji shouted loudly, jumping up and down like a puppy trying to please its master, with its thin ponytail flying up and down at the back of its head.

But clearly, nobody paid any attention to her claims.

Early this morning, Qingdeng, who is always self-disciplined, was honing his sword skills at the dojo as usual.

As expected, Souji's older sister, Hikaru Okita, and her husband, Rintaro Okita, visited Shieikan again early this morning.

Since arriving in Edo to attend Kondo's upcoming wedding, the Okita couple have visited the Shieikan almost every day.

Souji lived in the Shieikan for seven years as an inner disciple, and Shusuke and Kondo had long regarded Souji as their half-daughter and half-sister.

Thanks to Souji's connection, the Kondo and Okita families have always had a very good relationship. In addition, Okita Hikaru is very polite and has a knack for dealing with people, so the Kondo family always welcomes the Okita couple to visit and chat with them.

Okita Hikaru, who was visiting Shieikan again today, immediately learned that Souji had been out soaking in Chihiro's house last night.

So, naturally, she hurriedly led her husband to the chief's room to visit her troublesome younger sister.

……

……

Shieikan, Souji's room—

"She actually got dizzy from soaking in the bathhouse... When did my little sister become so stupid?"

Hikaru Okita, kneeling upright beside Souji's bedside, half-closed his eyes and looked at Souji, who was sitting cross-legged on the bedding, with an expression as if he were looking at a fool.

"Hahaha..."

With a dry laugh, Souji reached behind her head with her left hand and smoothed her little ponytail.

"Everyone has accidents sometimes..."

"So what happened to you last night? Did you accidentally fall asleep while taking a bath at the public bathhouse?"

Hikaru Okita pressed Souji relentlessly with his questions.

"There's no particular reason..."

The commander-in-chief said vaguely.