I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Therefore, Itakura Hirahiko's words and actions just now can be considered a very serious disrespect and blasphemy against Tenshōin.

To be fair, Qing Deng had great respect for Tenshōin, his female superior who had treated him very well and had been diligently training him ever since she recruited him into the new Imperial Guard.

A boss like this, who doesn't just talk about sacrifice and dedication, never puts on airs, and has an approachable personality, is rarer than a giant panda.

How could Qing Deng not be angry that someone he respected had been so disrespected?

Aoto wasn't the only one angered by Itakura Hirahiko's actions.

Tokugawa Iemochi, who genuinely treated Tenshōin with the respect due to a mother and son, and the two sisters who regarded Tenshōin as the only true god in the world, were both enraged by Itakura Hirahiko's rudeness.

Even if Qingdeng hadn't taken action just now, these three would certainly have used their own methods to protect the Tenshōin they deeply admired—perhaps even more violently and radically than Qingdeng's actions.

As for the deeper reason why Aoto punched Itakura Hirahiko...

During today's incognito visit accompanying Tokugawa Iemochi and Tenshōin, Aoto saw many sights that he hadn't paid much attention to before... or even noticed at all.

He had a bright future ahead of him, but was forced by the powerful and wealthy to the point of losing his family and becoming a "former Daoist master" who had to make a living by cheating and swindling.

Farmers, tormented by natural disasters, man-made calamities, and exorbitant taxes, were as if trapped in the deepest hell.

The impoverished urban dwellers, whose lives are so arduous they can't even afford medical treatment.

Deep-seated class discrimination and social prejudice.

These poor people, who have nothing, live in dire straits.

As a result, those who prey on others, like Itakura Hirahiko, have become bloated and complacent! They recklessly abuse their power to oppress others, bully men and women, and distort the truth!

Qing Deng, who leads a team of thieves in the Fire Thieves Bureau, has military power and extensive connections. His friends are spread across various fields, including officialdom and martial arts. Therefore, he is confident that he will not give the students of Changpingzaka Academy or Ruonianji’s son any kind look.

But what about the others?

What about those who have nowhere to rely on or have no one to depend on?

That's so unfair...

That's so unfair!

Thinking of this, Qingdeng felt an unnamed fire ignite within him.

This nameless fire had barely been ignited when it quickly spread like wildfire throughout Qingdeng's entire body.

This flame... or rather, this surging emotion, was the main trigger that made Qing Deng clench his fist.

I want to smash Itakura Hirahiko's face flat.

I want to smash something to pieces!

At that moment, Qing Deng's brow twitched—for some reason, he suddenly recalled a certain event from his previous life before he transmigrated to this world.

That happened when he was in the sixth grade of elementary school.

I've forgotten the exact reason... Anyway, the teacher, sitting upright on the podium, suddenly asked, "What are your dreams for the future?"

At the teacher's request, each student in the class had to take turns standing up to answer.

When it was Qingdeng's turn...

"I want to make the whole world XXXXXXXXX!"

—What did I say back then?

Qingdeng only remembered the first half of the sentence; he couldn't recall the second half at all.

All I remember is that after he shouted out his dream, his classmates all laughed.

The teacher was also covering her mouth and chuckling.

The classroom and the surrounding area were filled with a cheerful atmosphere, as if they had heard a funny joke.

"You! You've got guts!"

Qingdeng's "memory recollection" was interrupted by a roar that interfered with his thoughts.

Aoto reflexively glanced at the source of the roar, which was still pointing at him, at Itakura Hirahiko.

Itakura Hirahiko, his face flushed with resentment, laughed in exasperation.

"I don't know if you're truly fearless or just plain stupid. Since you're so bold, I'd like to see if you can maintain this spirit to the very end!"

After shouting, Itakura Hirahiko turned around and yelled at the four bodyguards behind him:

"Get him! Chop off both his hands!"

As soon as the order was given, the four bodyguards drew their swords without hesitation.

“Brother, we’re sorry.” One of the bodyguards said calmly to Qing Deng in a tone devoid of emotion, “We were just following orders, please don’t hold it against us.”

Qingdeng chuckled softly.

"It's okay, I understand."

Having said that, Qingdeng casually spread his legs, his left hand resting on the scabbard, and continued speaking unhurriedly:

"No need to worry. Just show me what you've got."

"However, let me make this clear beforehand—swords have no eyes. If your blades are aimed at crippling or killing me, then I will show no mercy and will slaughter you all without leaving a trace!"

The bodyguard who had threatened to tell Qingdeng "not to blame them" and made a pretentious "disclaimer" sneered repeatedly.

"Hmph, fine, if you can do it, then bring it on."

Four bodyguards strode forward, their long shadows cast by the setting sun looming over Qingdeng like mountains.

Their solid and steady footsteps, the powerful yet flexible way they gripped their swords, and the sharp and capable aura emanating from every move made it clear to onlookers that this was a group of skilled warriors whose abilities were far from ordinary and who had undoubtedly experienced many life-or-death battles!

“…Sae, Yae.” Tenshōin lowered her head and said solemnly to the two Nie sisters standing on either side of her, “You…”

"You don't need to help me." Qing Deng interrupted Tian Zhangyuan without turning his head. "I'll handle all of these people."

Before Tenshōin could raise any questions, Tokugawa Iemochi preemptively asked, "Tachibana-kun, are you sure? Those four samurai in front of you... are clearly very skilled."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng smiled knowingly and said half-jokingly:

"It's alright, leave it to me. If we send Sae and Yae to help, and if that Itakura Hirahiko takes advantage of our unpreparedness and sends someone to ambush you, I can't bear the responsibility."

Despite Aoto's insistence, Tokugawa Iemochi still looked hesitant and uncertain.

After all, Itakura Hirahiko's bodyguards were clearly not on the same level in terms of martial arts skills compared to those unremarkable Confucian scholars.

However, at this very moment, the Tenshōin made the final decision for this brief negotiation:

"I understand. Then... Sheng Qing, let's go and make a big splash."

Even though Qingdeng had his back to Tenshōin, he could vaguely sense that Tenshōin was smiling at him.

Qing Deng tilted his head slightly and glanced back out of the corner of his eye—as expected, Tenshōin gave him a gentle smile that inexplicably made him feel at ease and content.

As if infected by Tenshōin's smile, Aoto unconsciously curled the corners of his mouth slightly as well.

After returning a smiley look to Tenshōin, Aoden turned his gaze and attention back to what was in front of him, and let out a long breath—clang—his sword was drawn!

"Go! Go! Cut off both of this guy's hands!"

As Itakura Hirahiko shouted arrogantly, he quickly retreated, hiding behind the bodyguards and out of Qing Deng's reach, a ferocious smile spreading across his face.

Despite the unexpected events, the group of pedantic scholars who had just been thoroughly beaten by Qing Deng were now feeling exceptionally pleased with themselves.

They were worried that Itakura Hirahiko wouldn't stand up for them, or that his revenge against Aoto wouldn't be severe enough.

Unexpectedly, Qing Deng actually beat up Itakura Hirahiko! He has seriously offended Itakura Hirahiko!

What a stroke of genius! That damn straw-hatted man is finished!

Right now, the pedantic scholars gathered around Itakura Hirahiko all wore expressions of schadenfreude.

They knew all too well how strong Itakura Hirahiko's bodyguards were!

They couldn't wait to see Aoto get beaten to a pulp by Itakura Hirahiko's bodyguards, crying and screaming for his parents!

A chilling atmosphere, completely different from that during the previous battle of Qingdeng with the Confucian scholars, spread everywhere.

Everyone present could sense, to varying degrees, that a fierce and brutal bloody battle was about to unfold!

……

Qing Deng's gaze swept across the faces of the four bodyguards along the blade.

The current situation... was entirely within Qing Deng's expectations.

As Qing Deng slammed his fist, driven by an unnamed rage, into Itakura Hirahiko's ugly face, he was already mentally prepared to face any vicious retaliation from Itakura Hirahiko.

I apologize for causing trouble for Tenshoin and the others, which has affected their incognito visit today.

But he felt no remorse for beating the corrupt and powerful.

Rather, Qingdeng even felt a strange sense of comfort and ease.

This is the main reason why Aoto insisted on "dealing with Itakura Hirahiko's bodyguards alone"—he wanted to monopolize the thrill of beating up the lackeys of the powerful.

If given the chance, he wouldn't mind punching Itakura Hirahiko's ugly face a few more times.

While silently enjoying this strange and comfortable feeling that came from nowhere, Qingdeng quietly set up his knife.

In the next instant, something incredible happened to Qingdeng.

Qingdeng suddenly felt as if something inside him was about to burst forth.

An instinctive thought struck me—

In an instant, the four warriors who were confronting Qing Deng all changed their expressions drastically!

The group from Tianzhangyuan behind Qingdeng also changed their expressions.

Although Itakura Hirahiko, the group of scholars, and the onlookers around them did not react as violently as Tenshōin and the others, they all vaguely sensed that Aoto seemed to have become a different person!

He seems to have become... even "huge"!

Only Tenshōin and the others, who were used to seeing the world, and the four bodyguards who were facing Aoto and had rich martial arts experience, knew clearly what was happening to Aoto.

“It’s ‘momentum’…!” One of the four bodyguards squeezed out the word through clenched teeth.

At this moment, a boundless aura, like a vast ocean, emanated from Qing Deng's body! It pressed down on the bodyguards with the force of a collapsing mountain!

The ability to unleash "momentum"... what this means is all too clear to the battle-hardened bodyguards.

For a moment, the bodyguards' expressions became extremely solemn.