I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Makimura laughed loudly while slapping his thigh vigorously.

Kiryu replied casually:

"I used to learn in Tosa how to teach complex knowledge in a simple and concise way."

……

After chatting for a while, everyone...

"My path in martial arts is indeed still very long."

Already somewhat drunk, Qingdeng crossed his arms and sighed.

"Until today, my goal was only to reach the point where I could freely control my 'momentum'. But now, I have another goal."

Upon hearing the word "momentum," Kiryu and Makimura both burst into laughter.

Not understanding what the two were laughing about, Qingdeng asked in bewilderment:

"Mr. Kiryu, Mr. Makimura, what are you laughing about?"

Makimura slowly stopped laughing:

"'Momentum'... Haha, every time I hear this word, I deeply feel the development and changes of the times."

“When I think back to when Kiryu and I were young, there was no such thing as ‘power’.”

“We only know that powerful martial arts masters are often surrounded by a strong ‘aura’, but we don’t know what this ‘aura’ is, nor have we given it a formal name.”

"Until that guy got bored and, to kill time, named this 'aura' 'momentum' based on his own experience. He solved the naming problem first, and then conducted further in-depth research on that basis."

"It took several years for the concept of 'momentum' to finally emerge and be integrated into the current martial arts system."

As soon as Makimura finished speaking, a look of surprise appeared on Aoto's face:

"That guy...?"

Kinoshita Mai and Aoto, standing nearby, both showed expressions of shock.

“Mr. Makimura,” Qing Deng asked quickly, “from what you’ve said… you seem to know the person who pioneered the concept of ‘potential’?”

Makimura nodded calmly.

"I don't just know him. He's my and Kiryu's best friend."

"..." Qing Deng was speechless.

At this moment, Qingdeng had only one thought in his mind: What's going on with these two elderly people? Their social circles are incredibly extensive! How could they even know people like this? And be friends with them?!

Qingdeng hesitated for a moment, but ultimately succumbed to his curiosity:

"Well... Mr. Kiryu, Mr. Makimura, may I ask if your friend is still alive? If it's convenient, could you tell me his name?"

As a martial arts practitioner and enthusiast, Qing Deng was extremely curious to know who this amazing person was who could innovatively integrate the concept of "momentum".

"He's still alive."

Makimura grinned.

"He is not only still alive, but also very healthy, and he is lively and energetic every day. Judging from his current energy and physical condition... he probably won't die even two hundred years from now."

"There's no human being in this world who can live for more than 200 years..." Qingdeng thought to himself.

Qing Deng took Makimura's words as a joke and immediately put them out of his mind, continuing to listen attentively.

"As for the name..."

Makimura shrugged and shook his head.

"That guy is currently living in seclusion, so I can't just casually reveal his name and address."

"Ah, I see..." Qingdeng sighed regretfully.

At almost the same time, Kinoshita Mai also expressed her regret with a sigh.

Kinoshita Mai was also curious to know who this person was who possessed such great abilities.

"Hahaha! Young Master Ju, there's no need to feel sorry!"

As Makimura laughed, he raised his large, fan-like hand and patted Aoto and Kinoshita Mai on the shoulder in turn.

"It's not like we'll never have a chance to meet that guy!"

"When the time is right in the future, I will personally introduce you to him!"

"That guy is in great health, so you don't need to worry about not having the chance to meet him in your lifetime."

“He might still be alive even after you’ve all turned to dust.”

Qingdeng raised an eyebrow and said jokingly:

"We've all turned to dust, and he's still alive? His body is incredibly robust!"

"Mr. Makimura," Mai Kinoshita said helplessly, "isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"

Makimura shrugged noncommittally, then gave a knowing smile.

"His health is indeed that robust... Okay, let's not talk about this anymore, let's talk about something more interesting!"

*******

*******

The author wasn't feeling well yesterday, so today's chapter is a bit shorter. I'm very sorry! I'll definitely update more tomorrow.

It's almost the end of the month again, please vote for me!

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

The groundwork that needed to be laid is finally done.

Starting tomorrow, we will officially enter the climax of the confrontation with the Extermination Group, comparable to the first volume.

The pace is fast, and the story unfolds like a raging storm—I guarantee it.

Chapter 358 Qing Deng has been arrested by the Shogunate! [6500]

About an hour later—

"No wonder it felt hotter and hotter! It's already this late!"

As Makimura looked up at the sky, he took off his haori (a type of traditional Chinese garment).

The pale yellow sun had just peeked out from behind a thin layer of white clouds, about to reach its highest point in the sky.

The faint beam of light struggled to penetrate the layers of cold fog, weakly striking the streets and alleys of Edo.

Compared to the cold of the harsh winter, the warmth of the sunshine was negligible, but it still raised the temperature in the air slightly.

"Haha! It's good that the temperature is a bit higher! I don't like weather that's too cold!"

After saying that, Makimura picked up the bottle of wine, which he had lost count of how many bottles he had ever drunk, and gulped down another big mouthful.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

He strongly suspected that Makimura possessed a talent for "drinking prowess +9".

Although Kiryu thoughtfully prepared squid, stir-fried beans, and other snacks to accompany the drinks, Makimura barely touched these snacks and just kept drinking.

Except for a brief pause due to his sparring with Qing Deng, Makimura never stopped drinking, chugging without pause.

The alcohol content of the liquor above isn't particularly high, but if you drink that much in one go, even if you're not drunk, your stomach should feel bloated and uncomfortable.

However, Makimura only had a slightly flushed face and a slightly bloated stomach; everything else was normal.

He was fully conscious, spoke clearly, and showed no signs of intoxication in his speech or behavior.

—What an impressive alcohol tolerance… Mr. Makimura must be one of those people who can “survive” to the end at any banquet…

Qing Deng pondered to himself.

At the same time, he couldn't help but recall the scene from the New Year's Eve a few days earlier when he accidentally drank himself into oblivion.

"Um... Mr. Makimura... I'm sorry... I can't drink anymore..."

Kinoshita Mai let out a cute "humph" and a adorable hiccup.

Kinoshita Mai has a very low alcohol tolerance; she will start to blush after just a few cups of ordinary sake.

At this moment, Kinoshita Mai was already slightly tipsy, her pretty and cute face flushed red.

Aoto had always liked Kinoshita Mai's blushing face, so he found her current drunken state particularly adorable.

"Hahaha! Young Master, your alcohol tolerance still needs improvement! Alright, since Young Master can't drink anymore... Kiryu, Tachibana, let's continue drinking!"

The sound of the bottle being opened, along with Makimura's loud laughter, echoed in the courtyard for a long time.

Looking at Mucun, who seemed capable of drinking for another day and night, Qingdeng's cheeks gradually showed a hint of distress.

He looked up at the sky and thought to himself: It's almost afternoon...

Qing Deng didn't forget his promise to Kinoshita Mai while he was busy drinking: he would accompany her out for a stroll this afternoon.

Given Makimura's bold personality and his incredible alcohol tolerance, I always felt that even if I drank with him until sunset, he would still be full of energy.

Should I continue drinking with this senior colleague, or keep my promise and go on the trip with Kinoshita Mai?

For Qingdeng, this was a question that didn't even require a second of thought.

I, Ju Qingdeng, have always kept my word! I always do my best to fulfill any promise I make to others! So how could I break my promise to A-Wu?

After shouting this in his heart with absolute certainty, Qingdeng paused, then changed to a whispered tone and added softly in his mind:

It's definitely not because I'm a womanizer, and it's definitely not because I'd rather go out with a girl I like than drink with an old man...

With this thought in mind, Qingdeng began to consider how to politely and appropriately decline this drinking party that seemed to have no end in sight.

At the same time, he unconsciously glanced at Kinoshita Mai beside him.

As luck would have it, as if they were telepathically connected, Kinoshita Mai also turned her head to look at Aoto at the same time.

Due to her shy personality, Kinoshita Mai is not good at making eye contact with people.

The instant her eyes met Qingdeng's, she instinctively looked away, trying to avoid his gaze.

However, in just a moment, with strong will and burning emotions, she straightened her gaze again and looked directly into Qingdeng's eyes without flinching.