I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"However, the spread of your name is not very large. I only heard of you by chance."

"It's strange..."

At this point, Goro Komaki's facial lines relaxed, his lips softened, and he gave Aoto a peaceful smile.

"Perhaps it's because this country hasn't had a legendary figure who became famous with just a three-foot sword for too long. After first hearing the title 'King of Benevolence,' I inexplicably remembered your deeds and name."

"Niou, you are much younger and more handsome than the rumors say."

"Haha." Qing Deng smiled. "Mr. Gu Mu, you flatter me. Being called a prominent figure... I dare not accept such praise."

At this moment, Qingdeng belatedly realized: he felt so relaxed.

For some reason, Qing Deng felt an inexplicable sense of kinship with this Old Mu Uncle.

After chatting with Goro Komaki, my emotions unconsciously became exceptionally calm and peaceful.

It felt like I was spending time with my closest and dearest family and friends.

Perhaps it was influenced by Mr. Komaki's calm demeanor... Aoto thought to himself.

Qingdeng was modest and didn't like to talk about himself, so after humbly saying "I don't deserve it" several times, he smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Mr. Komaki, you used to own a wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop?"

This uncle was actually selling snacks... This surprised Qing Deng.

Komaki Goro's demeanor exuded the aura of a refined scholar, leading Aoto to believe he was the kind of schoolteacher who wouldn't even kill a chicken.

"Haha, yes. I'm just an ordinary wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop owner, the kind you see everywhere in this country." Komaki Goro adopted a half-joking tone. "My shop with my wife is called 'Kikyo-ya'. If you ever have the chance to visit Kyoto in the future, please be sure to patronize our shop."

“Okay, no problem.” Qing Deng smiled. “I quite like eating wagashi (Japanese sweets). If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely visit your store.”

"Huh? Mr. Komaki, Ms. Machi?"

Just then, a woman's voice suddenly rang out.

Souji is back... and he's brought his sister Okita Hikaru and brother-in-law Okita Rintaro with him.

Souji, who had returned to Aoto's side, first looked at the Komaki couple with delight, then scanned them with surprise, as well as Aoto, who was chatting with them.

“Okita-kun.” Goro Komaki, with a relaxed expression, nodded to Souji. “It’s been a long time. You seem to have grown quite a bit taller.”

Souji: "Mr. Komaki, Ms. Machi, it's been a long time! Hehehe, I have indeed grown a little taller since the last time we met."

Being praised for growing taller... this seemed to make Souji very happy.

The couples, Okita Hikaru and his wife, and Komaki Goro and his wife… these two groups, one a young couple and the other a middle-aged couple, were clearly not very familiar with each other. They exchanged only simple pleasantries with ordinary social etiquette and did not engage in much further interaction.

"Tachibana-kun, how did you end up chatting with Mr. Komaki and the others? Did you know Mr. Komaki and Ms. Machi before?" Souji asked.

Qing Deng shook his head, and then recounted in a calm and concise manner how he had struck up a conversation with Komaki Goro.

After hearing Qing Deng's explanation, Souji said "Oh, oh!"

"Oh, I see! Well then, Tachibana-kun, let me explain it to you!"

The commander straightened up slightly, cleared his throat with a "hmm," and then said in a serious tone:

"Mr. Komaki and Ms. Machi are old friends of our Shieikan!"

"Back when my master was preparing to build a Tennen Rishin-ryu dojo in Edo, he was struggling because he didn't have the money to buy building materials and didn't have the connections to acquire a good location. The establishment of the kendo dojo was very difficult."

"Thanks to Mr. Komaki and Mr. Kiryu's timely appearance and assistance, Master was finally able to get through the most difficult period and complete the sword hall... which is now our Shieikan!"

"It can be said that Mr. Komaki has done a great favor for our Shieikan! Although Mr. Komaki and Ms. Machi live in faraway Kyoto, our Shieikan has always maintained contact with them."

"After Kondo's wedding date was set, my master and the others immediately sent invitations to Mr. Komaki and Ms. Machi, inviting them to attend Kondo's wedding."

"Oh, by the way—although there's quite a big age difference, Mr. Komaki and Mr. Kiryu are very good friends."

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives—

As soon as the commander finished speaking, two familiar figures, one old and one young, appeared in the corner of Qing Deng's left eye.

"Uncle Goro? Aunt Machi?"

The young woman's voice cracked slightly from intense surprise.

Immediately afterwards, a bright red figure rushed towards Komaki Goro and Atachi like a blazing fire.

"A-Wu!" A-Machi, whose pretty face was instantly filled with longing and doting, opened her arms and hugged the girl who rushed towards her.

The two people who suddenly arrived, one old and one young, were none other than Mr. Kiryu and Mai Kinoshita.

Given the close relationship between Senjiya and Shieikan, Kiryu and Kinoshita Mai naturally had no reason not to be invited to Kondo's wedding.

Kinoshita Mai is dressed in a classic outfit: a bright red kimono with a bright yellow sash embroidered with many cute patterns, tightly wrapping around her slender waist.

Kiryu's attire was quite similar to Aoto's—white robes, black hakama, and a wine-red haori draped over his upper body.

Goro Komaki affectionately patted Mai Kinoshita's head a few times as she was tightly embracing Atachi, then raised his gaze and met Kiryu's eyes with a smile.

"Kiryu, it's been a long time."

When Kiryu met Goro Komaki and Atachi, he was initially slightly surprised, but quickly regained his composure.

"Yes, it has indeed been a long time..." A faint smile appeared on Kiryu's old face.

*******

*******

Thank you all for your enthusiastic voting yesterday! The monthly vote count exceeded the target yesterday. To thank everyone, I worked overtime yesterday and successfully achieved the goal of updating 10,000 words in one go.

Meanwhile, because the number of monthly votes has significantly exceeded the target, the author has decided to continue updating tomorrow with a ton of new chapters! Trying to write 8000+ words!

So, in consideration of the author's hard work, please vote for this book again today! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

I need your monthly votes! I need your votes to advance my character!

Just a little heads-up: Given the relationship between Chiba Sword Hall and Shieikan, Chiba Jutaro and Sanako will definitely be attending the banquet. So... you know what I mean.

I'd like to recommend a book to everyone—"Girl, Don't Rush."

I am a transport officer in the town transport department.

You ask me what I'm doing?

I'm helping an elderly lady cross the street.

Why do you do this?

Because the system says I won't live past three days.

Oh, right, there's one more thing.

I discovered that there's a tunnel in my house that leads directly to the neighbor's house.

Then a princess moved in next door.

A new author with multiple female leads, a light and humorous writing style that's very comfortable to read, and even a little sweet. Don't miss it if you're interested.

Chapter 262 One Man Against Three Women, Another Battleground! [6400]

It's quite unexpected that Kiryu and Goro Komaki are actually good friends...

Two people who feel they have no connection with each other are actually very close friends—this wonderful coincidence and fate surprised Qing Deng.

After all, there's quite a big age difference between Goro Komaki and Mr. Kiryu; one is over 90 years old, while the other looks like he's just over 40.

In an era where medical care is underdeveloped, people lack scientific hygiene and dietary concepts, and life expectancy is extremely low, a nearly 40-year age difference represents almost two generations.

This is probably what they call a "friendship across generations".

"Komaki, when did you and Atachi arrive?" Kiryu asked.

"last night."

Goro Komu replied.

"The plan was to go to the Senjiya to find you and Mai as soon as I arrived in Edo."

"But when we arrived in Edo last night, it was already quite late."

"Because I was worried that suddenly coming to see you so late at night might disturb your and A-Mai's rest, A-Machi and I found a random hotel to stay at last night, and planned to meet you after Kondo Isami's wedding starts this morning."

Kiryu adjusted his glasses: "You only arrived last night... Why are you and Atachi so late? I thought you weren't coming to Kondo-kun's wedding."

"The wedding of the future fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu school... I can't possibly not attend, can I?"

A meaningful smile appeared on Komaki Goro's lips.

"My Kikyo House has been doing very well lately, and I've received many large orders."

"In order to complete these orders, Atachi and I worked day and night kneading dough until we set off for Edo, which caused us to waste a lot of time."

"Fortunately, we weren't late. We arrived in Edo smoothly the day before the wedding. Congratulations, congratulations!"

While Goro Komaki was exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Kiryu, Mai Kinoshita and Machi were intimately embracing and nuzzling each other.

It must be said that the sight of the two women, one tall and one short, embracing each other was quite alluring.

The two women each possessed a captivating beauty.

One is a mature and beautiful married woman, and the other is a cute and innocent young girl.

While their facial beauty may differ, their allure is strikingly similar—they all possess enviable, curvaceous figures.

The shy Kinoshita Mai threw herself into Atachi's arms without any hesitation.

Atachi warmly opened her arms and hugged Kinoshita Mai, while Komaki Goro affectionately patted Kinoshita Mai's head.

Judging from Kinoshita Mai's series of interactions with Komaki Goro and Atachi... she has a very good relationship with this couple.

With a face full of doting affection, Atachi hugged Kinoshita Mai while gently rubbing her cheek against Kinoshita Mai's delicate face.

"Ah Wu, you've grown even more beautiful since I last saw you!" Ah Machi said.

"Auntie Machi, you too! You've become even more beautiful!" Kinoshita Mai, who is usually tongue-tied and introverted, showed a rare cheerful side in front of Machi.

Amused by Kinoshita Mai's compliment, Atachi covered her mouth and chuckled, "Haha, thank you for the compliment. I'm very happy to be praised like this by you, this old lady."

"Auntie Machi, you're here again."

Kinoshita Mai giggled childishly, then hugged Omachi even tighter.