I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Qingdeng was slightly surprised by this—he hadn't expected that there really was a Yakuza in this world who upheld the principles of "benevolence and righteousness."

To glorify themselves, the Yakuza liked to call themselves "chivalrous knights" and often raised the banner of "benevolence and righteousness".

Forget about never betraying me.

What do you mean by never bullying the weak?

What about respecting the boss and being friendly to subordinates?

In reality, however, the Yakuza's daily actions had nothing to do with "benevolence and righteousness".

While engaging in despicable acts such as human trafficking, forcing respectable women into prostitution, and lending money at exorbitant interest rates, they still keep "benevolence and righteousness" on their lips... It's utterly ridiculous!

Betrayal, betrayal, and treachery within the Yakuza were rampant.

While the heroic act of Kitahara Kōnosuke and others fighting to the death to avenge their "father" is admirable, Aoto remains completely unmoved.

Out of a simple sense of justice, Qingdeng has never had any goodwill toward the Yakuza, who act by any means necessary and survive by torturing the weak.

Aoto was quite surprised by the kindness and righteousness of Kitahara Kōnosuke and others—but that was all.

Aside from surprise, Qing Deng felt no other emotions.

His blade remained sharp, and his attacks were still merciless!

Under Qing Deng's fierce attack, only a handful of enemies, including Kitahara Konosuke, were still able to stand properly.

Just then, Qingdeng suddenly heard a strange sound coming from behind him.

He turned his head and looked back.

boom!

The sound of a pistol being fired echoed in the deep night sky.

*******

*******

I only got 589 votes yesterday, not reaching 630. What a pity! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

However, although I didn't reach my target, to thank everyone for their enthusiastic voting, I did manage to write 7600 words today, which is almost 8000 words, even though I couldn't reach 1 words.

The monthly ticket bounty continues today! Today, I'm lowering my target a bit! The current monthly ticket count is 610. If I can reach 770 tickets by tomorrow, I'll write a whopping 1 words tomorrow! If I don't reach the target, but am close, I'll write 8000 words like I did today!

Chapter 391 Eternal Talent

Qingdeng felt something hot fly past his body.

Immediately afterwards, a burning sensation and a pricking pain emanated from his right waist.

"Tsk...this thing is really hard to aim at!"

While cursing, Kitahara Konosuke bent his left thumb and pulled down the hammer.

Suddenly, a silver revolver appeared in his left palm, with faint white smoke still rising from the muzzle.

Without a doubt—the bullet that just grazed Qingdeng's body was a revolver bullet!

Qing Deng didn't know much about firearms of this era, so he couldn't recognize the model or country of origin of the gun in Kitahara Konosuke's hand.

But regardless of the type of gun... even an old-fashioned flintlock pistol is not to be underestimated.

"I never expected you to be hiding such a weapon..."

Aoto dared not take his eyes off Kitahara Konosuke. While keeping a close eye on the other man’s every move, he glanced at the spot where the bullet had just hit him.

Fortunately, the bullet that Kitahara Kōnosuke had just fired did not penetrate Aoto's body; it merely grazed his waist, leaving only a red mark from which blood was still seeping out.

"To be honest, I really don't want to use a Western short gun against you unless absolutely necessary."

At this moment, Kitahara Konosuke said calmly.

"Western short guns and their ammunition are very rare. I went through a lot of trouble to get this one and the only six bullets I had. Every bullet I fire is one less bullet I have left."

"Tachibana Aoto! Prepare yourself! Even if you are Niou, you cannot defeat firearms!"

"No matter how fast you swing your knife, can it be faster than a bullet?"

At this point, Kitahara Konosuke revealed a smug smile, as if he had already won.

His surviving subordinates also showed joy and relief at having survived the ordeal.

They all retreated, increasing the distance between themselves and Qingdeng.

Stop seven steps away from Aoto and form a fan-shaped formation that partially surrounds Aoto, with Kitahara Konosuke at the center.

No wonder Kitahara Kōnosuke and the others were so smug.

Although radical anti-foreign patriots always clamored that "foreign gun corps and ironclad warships are nothing to fear" and "as long as we are determined to die and uphold the spirit of Bushido, we can be invincible," anyone with a brain knows that in the face of volley fire and the roar of cannons, swords and spears are nothing.

This principle was best demonstrated as early as the Warring States period three hundred years ago when Oda Nobunaga mobilized 3000 matchlock muskets and decisively defeated the renowned Takeda cavalry in the Battle of Nagashino.

The Shimizu clan is the "strongest Yakuza group in Edo" with influence throughout the entire Kanto region. Overseas smuggling is one of their sources of wealth. As a member of the Shimizu clan, it is not impossible for Kitahara Kōnosuke to own a revolver.

"Lord Kitahara! Quickly! Shoot Tachibana Aoto! Avenge my father!"

"Lord Kitahara! Fire!"

"Kill Tachibana Aoto! Kill Tachibana Aoto!"

Kitahara Kōnosuke's subordinates kept urging him to fire quickly and finish off Aoto as soon as possible.

However, Kitahara Kōnosuke remained unmoved.

He was frozen in place, the gun pointed straight at Qing Deng's chest, holding the gun raised, hesitant to pull the trigger.

"Kitahara-sama?"

"Sir, what's wrong? Why haven't you fired yet?"

Suddenly, a barrage of questioning gazes fell upon Kitahara Konosuke.

Those with keen eyes could not help but notice the heavy, gloomy look that had settled on Kitahara Kōnosuke's face.

It wasn't that Kitahara Kōnosuke had a soft heart and wanted to spare Aoto's life.

In fact, even without his subordinates reminding him, he wanted to pull the trigger immediately and turn Qingdeng into a "leaky gourd".

The reason he suddenly stopped moving was simply because Qing Deng's reaction was very strange to him.

In Kitahara Konosuke's mind, apart from a very few frogs in a well who are unaware of the vastness of the world, there is no one in this world who is not afraid of firearms.

Anyone who sees their opponent pull out a firearm should be terrified and filled with fear.

However, Qingdeng remained unusually calm at this moment.

Upon seeing that he was carrying a revolver, Qing Deng was initially startled, but quickly regained his composure and calmly met his gaze.

He acted as if the revolver was nothing to him.

He seemed to disregard firearms.

If it were someone else, Kitahara Konosuke would have thought that the other party was just bluffing.

But the person opposite him was Tachibana Aoto... the one who had created countless miracles with a single sword since his sudden appearance... This made Kitahara Kōnosuke hesitate.

—Could it be that… Tachibana Aoto can “cut bullets”?

Thinking of this, a few drops of cold sweat seeped from Kitahara Konosuke's forehead and then slid down his cheeks.

Bullet-cutting: As the name suggests, it means using a knife to intercept and cut down flying bullets!

To ordinary people who are not skilled in martial arts, this may seem incredible or even unbelievable, but it is a real and divine skill.

Kitahara Kōnosuke, who holds a high-ranking position among the Shimizu clan, is a man of considerable experience and knowledge. Therefore, he is well aware that there really are swordsmen in this world who can cut through bullets!

Legend has it that the "Eternal Sword Saint" Ogata Itsei was an invincible man who could "cut down a waterfall of bullets" and who was "absolutely impossible to defeat unless a cannon was brought out."

Even disregarding legendary figures like Ogata Itsei, just considering the outstanding heroes of recent times... Chiba Shusaku, the founder of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style; Chiba Eijiro, the "Technique of Chiba"; Oishi Susumu, the "Seven-Foot Warrior"; and Otani Seiichiro, the "Sword Saint of Our Time," are all said to have reached the level of cutting bullets!

If... Aoto, like Chiba Eijiro and Otani Seiichiro, has already reached a martial arts level where he can slice bullets like candy...

At this thought, a strong sense of dread entwined Kitahara Kōnosuke's body like vines.

—No way! Tachibana Aoto is only 19 years old this year, how could he possibly have reached the level of "slicing bullets"!

—But… Tachibana Aoto is a recognized swordsmanship genius…

—If he has truly reached the level of cutting through bullets, it wouldn't be surprising...

Just as Kitahara Konosuke was hesitant to act because he couldn't discern Aoto's true intentions, he probably never imagined that Aoto was actually just bluffing...

……

……

—Damn it…! Another pistol!

Qingdeng, who rarely swore, actually cursed in his mind at this moment.

This is not the first time Qingdeng has encountered an opponent who suddenly pulls out a gun.

Looking back... he couldn't even count how many enemies he had encountered so far who would "suddenly pull out a revolver while fighting".

After getting to know various masters such as Chiba Eijiro, Kiryu Boss, and Makimura Yahachi, Qing Deng's horizons broadened considerably.

As a result, although everyone respected him as the "Benevolent King", he always maintained a high degree of self-reflection.

He dared not call himself a "powerful figure," but only humbly said that he was only somewhat capable.

In short, Qing Deng was self-aware—he was quite clear that he was currently powerless to resist firearms!

Qingdeng isn't stupid either.

He had long ago discovered that the world he had transmigrated to was quite different from his original world—the average combat strength of this world was very high.

To put it simply... the world I'm currently in is a "low-level martial arts world".

For the outstanding martial artists of this world, taking on ten, dozens, or even a hundred opponents is an easy task that can be accomplished effortlessly.

Take Qing Deng's actions tonight as an example. He single-handedly slaughtered more than twenty warriors, leaving them in disarray... This was something he couldn't have imagined in the world before he transmigrated.

In the world before he transmigrated, being able to fight ten people at once was already considered an extraordinary martial arts master; being able to fight a hundred people at once only existed in novels and movies.

However, no matter how high the average combat strength of this world is, it is still only "low-level combat strength".