I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Bai Ju hesitated for a moment, then turned her head to look around as if she couldn't calm down.

Seeing Bai Ju's expression, Qing Deng's expression turned serious.

If Baiju knew nothing, she would definitely give a negative answer immediately.

However, she hesitated and stammered, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

This means that she must know something!

—Tonight's trip to Yoshiwara...it was definitely worth it!

Qing Deng sat upright, looking like he was listening attentively.

However... Bai Ju remained silent for a long time.

She remained silent, and at one point even seemed about to back down.

She must be worried about exposing the personal information of customers, especially regular customers, which would violate the professional ethics of a prostitute... Qing Deng thought to himself.

Protecting guests' personal information is a basic professional ethic for prostitutes and an unwritten rule in Yoshiwara.

Or perhaps... she's hesitant to speak up because she's worried about something... Qing Deng wondered again.

"...Miss Baiju."

As Bai Ju remained silent, Qing Deng slowly spoke, as if savoring each word:

If my question has made you feel uncomfortable, then I apologize in advance.

"But this question is very important to me... no, it's important to you and to me, so please be sure to answer truthfully."

Upon hearing the part about how "it's important to you and to me," Bai Ju raised a questioning look at Qing Deng.

Qingdeng silently continued the conversation:

“Miss Shirakiku, I believe you can also see that, right? The two men who attacked you and Granny Uryu just now, their knives were clearly aimed at you. I strongly suspect that they are connected to Yuuki Kamenosuke.”

The moment the words left her lips, Bai Ju's face turned deathly pale. Ignoring her change in expression, Qing Deng continued:

"To be honest, I..."

Qingdeng paused for a moment as he pondered the appropriate words.

At that moment, he caught a glimpse of Ogata Ittosai's portrait out of the corner of his eye.

"...You can think of me as a kind-hearted person like Ogata Ittosai, who likes to 'help those in need'."

"I am tracking down a vicious gang."

"Based on the intelligence gathered by me and my companions, it has now been confirmed that Yuuki Kamenosuke... your regular customer is an important member of that gang."

"I came to Yoshiwara specifically to find you in order to locate Yuki Kamenosuke and pinpoint the location of that gang's stronghold."

At this point, Qingdeng was about to conclude his advice, but then added a different perspective:

"Even if you don't believe me, please believe Granny Guasheng."

"Grandma Guasheng trusts me a lot—shouldn't that dispel your doubts about me?"

Qingdeng was not familiar with white chrysanthemums.

The only thing Qing Deng knew and was certain of about Bai Ju was that she trusted Gu Shengxiu very much.

Bringing out Gua Shengxiu should be enough to dispel his unease and doubts to the greatest extent possible.

Sure enough, after Guasheng Xiu was brought out, Baiju's facial features immediately softened considerably.

Having said everything that needed to be said, Qingdeng fell silent.

He waited quietly for Bai Ju's thoughts and reply.

Qingdeng: "..."

Bai Ju: "..."

The deathly silence was the hesitation of the white chrysanthemum.

About two minutes later, the tranquility, which seemed to be deep in the ocean, was finally broken by Bai Ju's murmured voice.

“I… I can tell you Yuki-kun’s address… but you have to promise me that you won’t let anyone know that I’m the ‘informant’.”

“I guarantee it with my head.”

As Qing Deng spoke, he grabbed the sword of Echizen Sumire Richi no Kami Kaneshige on his right, drew a small section of the blade out, and then shoved it back into its sheath with a heavy thud.

Ding!

The crisp sound of metal clashing lingered in their ears.

Although the oath of striking the metal has no legal effect, due to various cultural and historical factors, commoners and samurai in the Edo period still attached great importance to this oath ceremony.

Seeing Qingdeng's sincerity, Baiju's tense expression immediately eased a bit.

She let out a long breath, then slowly and deliberately said, word by word:

“I often send Yuki-kun crimson stationery… I can tell you the mailing address, but I can’t guarantee that Yuki-kun lives there.”

For the prostitutes, writing letters to regular customers and inviting them to visit again was a very important task.

Some established brothels would even hire private tutors to teach their courtesans to read and write.

The prostitutes would often leave bright red lip prints on the letters they sent to their regular customers.

The lip print left on the letter is called "Heavenly Red," signifying that the recipient is a special person. All letters with Heavenly Red are collectively called "Heavenly Red Letters." However, in reality, most courtesans would leave Heavenly Red on every letter they sent to their regular customers.

"It's alright. I'll investigate whether Yuki Kamesuke lives there or not later."

Qingdeng quietly clenched his fists.

Bai Ju nodded gently:

"Then... the mailing address is: Yamato-ya, 2-chome, Sawamachi."

With his exceptional memory, enhanced by his photographic talent, Qingdeng memorized this not-so-complex address.

Next, Qing Deng posed a second question:

"What else do you know about Yuuki Kamesuke? For example, where is he from, and what does he do for a living?"

"He didn't say where he was from, but I guess he was a native of Edo because he had a very heavy Edo accent and a typical Edo man's personality: very concerned about his image, loves to boast, and spends money extravagantly..."

"As for his work..."

Bai Ju gently bit her lower lip.

"He never said what he did for a living."

"However... his body was covered in tattoos... so I guess he must be a Yakuza..."

雅库扎！

Qing Deng narrowed his eyes slightly.

The faces of the two Yakuza who had attacked Uryuu and Shirakiku earlier—the one with the birthmark and the one with the burly man—flashed through his mind.

"It seems... those two who attacked you just now are indeed very likely connected to Yuuki Kamenosuke..."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ju subconsciously hunched her shoulders, making her already petite body appear even smaller and more delicate.

"Did Yuki Kamesuke mutter anything unusual?"

“Unusual words?”

"For example, 'to avenge so-and-so' or something like that."

“Hmm… Ah, yes! Yes! Once he drank a lot of alcohol and passed out drunk. He was wailing like a child, shouting loudly, ‘Dad, we will definitely avenge you!’”

—Dad…?

Qingdeng lowered his head thoughtfully.

The internal structure of Yakuza groups in the Edo period was centered on the leader, imitating the patriarchal system (adoptive father-son relationship). Members were closely bound together by a quasi-blood relationship, and juniors were required to absolutely obey their elders. The ethical hierarchy at each level could not be overstepped at will.

The fabricated blood ties were the organizational cornerstone of the Yakuza.

This "pseudo-bloodline" relationship is generated through a special ritual known as "cup ceremony".

Simply put, once you join any Yakuza group and the "Cup Ceremony" is held, you become a member of that group and the adopted son of its leader. From then on, you must call the leader "father."

Yuki Kamenosuke's body is covered in tattoos; he once clamored to avenge his "father"—considering these two pieces of information, the gang that is chasing Aoto around is undoubtedly a group of Yakuza.

But... that's strange.

Qingdeng couldn't recall ever offending any Yakuza organization.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that since he transmigrated to this world, he has basically had no dealings with the "underworld".

The only Yakuza group he ever interacted with was...

At this moment, Qingdeng's thoughts paused.

A name that hadn't appeared in his life for a long time surfaced in his mind—

The Shimizu clan, known as the "strongest Yakuza group in Edo," whose sphere of influence spanned the entire Kanto region.

*******

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Today is the last day of the month! Readers who still have monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book!

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

The plot is getting more and more unpredictable! Why would this group of mysterious Yakuza target Qingdeng? Some readers have already guessed it.

Chapter 387 Qingdeng's disguise is exposed! Qingdeng's identity is revealed! [4600]

But... that doesn't make sense either.

What reason would the Shimizu clan have to hunt me down?

Because of Tachibana Takayuki's gambling debts of several hundred taels of gold?

Impossible! Putting aside the fact that the Shimizu clan has forgiven all the debts left by Tachibana Takayuki in order to be on good terms with me, a few hundred taels of gold may be an astronomical figure that an ordinary family could not repay in several lifetimes, but for a Yakuza group of the Shimizu clan's caliber, this amount of money is no different from pocket money.

Why would the Shimizu clan bother hunting me down for such a small amount of money?