I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

When the woman's relatives were mentioned... Qingdeng looked up and glanced around.

"Ama, where's Mr. Kiryu? Is he out?"

To my shame... he was so engrossed in chatting and being affectionate with Kinoshita Mai that he completely forgot about his master's presence...

"Mr. Kiryu didn't go out, he..."

Kinoshita Mai's words suddenly stopped.

Before Qing Deng could ask "What's wrong?", he saw Kinoshita Mai with an expression that said, "Ah, I'm such an idiot! How could I forget something so important?"

"Qingdeng, I forgot to tell you! An elder I really like has come to Edo, and he said he really wants to meet you!"

"elder?"

The moment Qingdeng's question fell—

"Hmm? Ah Wu, what's all the noise about? Are we having guests?"

A deep, muffled voice, completely unfamiliar to Qing Deng, rang out from the back corridor of the Senjiya.

Immediately afterwards, a huge figure came into Qingdeng's view.

"Hmm? Oh! You must be 'Niou' Tachibana Aoto! Ah, I've been waiting for you! If you hadn't come, I would have gone straight to the Shieikan to find you! Oh, my apologies, my apologies, I forgot to introduce myself! Nice to meet you, I am Makimura Yahachi!"

******

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Today's chapter is a celebration for the "Dance Party"... Readers who love cute girls in red, please be sure to vote for this book today!

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

Upon closer inspection, Qingdeng's harem is full of athletic girls.

Two female swordsmen (Okita Souji, Elodie)

One female archer (Tenshōin)

One female ninja (Mai Kinoshita)

One female samurai (Sanako)

Living with so many energetic girls... Qingdeng is really tired~~

********

By the way: Although both are swordsmen, Sanako and Souji have slightly different attributes.

The former refers to a "female warrior," while the latter refers to a "female swordsman."

The former's main characteristic... or rather, its most absurd aspect, lies in the fact that she appears to be a noble warrior, adhering to moral principles such as propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame.

You know everything.

Chapter 353 Qing Deng: Kinoshita Mai is my wife! See that? [5600]

As the loud voice faded, a huge figure emerged from the back corridor of the Senjiya and came into Qing Deng's view.

Upon seeing the newcomer's appearance, Qingdeng almost instinctively gasped in surprise.

—So high!

The person before them was enormous, nearly 1.9 meters tall, a head and a half taller than Qing Deng.

Such a height... even in modern East Asian countries, it would be considered a "very tall" stature.

If this is the case even in modern times, then one can imagine how malnourished people were in the Edo period.

In an era where the average height of men fluctuates around 150cm, a person who is 1.9 meters tall truly deserves the title of "giant"!

Besides being very tall, this person was also very strong.

The clothes on his shoulders and chest were stretched high by his massive muscles.

Just from the way this person moves his arms and legs, you can tell that the muscles on his body are not just for show, but real muscles that contain powerful strength.

Despite possessing such an exaggerated physique that even young people might not have... this person is surprisingly old.

His face was covered with layers of wrinkles, and his long hair was completely white, without a single blemish from scalp to the ends.

By the way: this giant has a very stylish hairstyle.

Men in the Edo period generally did not grow their hair very long. Whether they shaved their hair into a chonmage or grew their hair into a full head like Aoto, they would generally only grow their hair to shoulder height.

In contrast, the giant had extremely long hair, which he did not braid. His waist-length white hair was simply tied up with a rope and hung loosely behind his head, like he was pulling a broom with plenty of bristles.

He looks to be 80... no, even older. He should be around the same age as Mr. Kiryu.

Around the same age as Kiryu... that means this giant is also over 90 years old...

Despite his advanced age, he is in excellent spirits.

His eyes were bright and sparkling, as if an inextinguishable flame resided within them.

Such eyes, such spirit, even a young man like Qingdeng would feel inferior.

Looking at his eyes alone, you would never imagine that they belong to an elderly man—a feature very similar to that of Mr. Kiryu.

Kiryu is the same—his body may be old and frail, but his inner soul still radiates a vibrant life force!

Therefore, Qing Deng immediately concluded at a glance that this giant who called himself "Makimura Yahachi" must be no ordinary person!

—Makimura Yahachi…Makimura Yahachi…

Qingdeng pondered the name several times in his mind, silently memorizing it.

At that moment, Qing Deng suddenly felt a slight itch in his right palm. He turned his head and saw that Kinoshita Mai was gently tapping his right palm with a subtle and cute gesture.

“Aoto…” Kinoshita Mai said softly, in a voice only she and Aoto could hear, “This is the elder I just told you about who wants to see you no matter what.”

Qing Deng raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself:

—Is it him...? How come Ah Wu has so many strange and unapproachable elders!

First there was the legendary master of swordsmanship, now there's a giant who seems capable of shattering rocks with a single punch... what will come next?

Wealthy merchants who have amassed wealth from all over the world?

A sharpshooter who can hit an ant a hundred miles away with a single shot?

Or is he the unparalleled swordsman?

After letting his thoughts wander and concocting a whole bunch of nonsensical ideas, which he found amusing even to himself—how could such a thing possibly happen?—Qingdeng took a deep breath and straightened up.

Since she's Kinoshita Mai's elder, I can't be too rude...

Qingdeng cleared his throat and solemnly announced his address:

"Nice to meet you. My name is Tachibana Aoto. Please take care of me."

After speaking, Qingdeng bowed respectfully to Mucun without being humble or arrogant.

"Hahaha!" Makimura laughed heartily. "Not bad! Your voice is full of energy! Young people should have this kind of spirit!"

Judging from his appearance, he was a very generous and forthright old man... Qingdeng thought to himself.

"Huh? Makimura, what are you laughing at?"

Just then, an old male voice came from the back corridor of the Senjiya again... This time, it was a voice that was very familiar to Aoto.

A tall figure emerged from behind the broad ridge of the pastoral village.

He was of average build, only half a head shorter than Qing Deng, with a meticulously combed hairstyle and a refined, scholarly face that resembled that of a samurai. He wore thin-rimmed glasses on his nose.

It was Mr. Kiryu.

"Hmm? Tachibana-kun?"

Looking at Aoto standing side by side with Kinoshita Mai, Kiryu was first surprised and then delighted.

"You're here! It's been a while since I've seen you. Happy New Year!"

Qingdeng smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Kiryu, Happy New Year to you too!"

The two exchanged pleasantries for a few moments.

"Young Master," Kiryu said to Kinoshita Mai, "could you help me hang the 'Closed for Business' sign outside? Oh, and while you're at it, bring over all the Kamijou Shui (sake produced in the Kyoto area) that's stored in the warehouse."

……

……

Half an hour later—

Edo, the Senjiya (Thousand Things Shop), the dining room where Kiryu and Kinoshita Mai eat their daily meals—

"Glug~~Glug~~Glug~~Glug~~"

Makimura raised the wine bottle high and, with the ferocity of Kuafu drinking water, frantically drank the wine inside.

Only after the bottle was upside down did he let out a "whoosh" and slam the empty bottle back onto the tatami mat.

"Hahaha! Kyoto sake is the most enjoyable to drink! Tachibana, it's your turn!"

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng grabbed the wine bottle beside his leg without hesitation, and just like Mu Cun had done, put the bottle mouth into his mouth, and then turned the bottle upside down 180 degrees, with the mouth facing down and the bottom facing up.

Tons~~tons~~tons~~tons~~tons~~

The aroma of the liquor filled the air, and the unique spiciness of alcohol permeated Qingdeng's entire mouth. He felt all the blood rushing to his head and stomach.

The entire Shiwei Hall is filled with heavy drinkers, and thanks to these drinkers, Shiwei Hall holds drinking parties every now and then.

As a result, Qingdeng can be considered to have "seen countless wines".

The more sake Aoto drank, the more he understood why sake from the Kyoto area, known as Kamigata sake, was so popular.

Compared to regular alcohol, the taste of the water above is indeed better.

A moment later, Qingdeng put down the wine bottle in his hand; the bottle was empty.

"Oh? Not bad, not bad!"

Makimura clapped his hands and laughed.