I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Following the map, you either won't find the road shown on the map at all, or you'll encounter a dead end that's completely impassable.

After walking for a long time, not only did they fail to find Kikuchi Chisui, but they also became more and more confused.

Left with no other option, Qingdeng could only ask an old man sitting cross-legged on the side of the street, puffing on cheap tobacco.

"grandfather."

Qingdeng squatted down and spoke in a polite tone.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

The old man was quite composed, showing no fear whatsoever in the face of the unfamiliar samurai who suddenly approached him. He raised his eyelids, glanced at Qing Deng and his group, and then continued smoking.

"Do you know where Kikuchi Chisui lives?"

"Kikuchi Chisui? Oh, that drunkard."

--drunkard?

Qing Deng raised an eyebrow. The words the old man used made him take them to heart.

"Kikuchi Chisui... his house isn't far from here. Just keep going straight along this road, turn left at the first intersection, then keep going straight, and then turn right twice in a row. You'll then see Kikuchi Chisui's house."

At this point, the old man put down his pipe, exhaled a long, large smoke ring with a "ha," and then chuckled.

"Are you also creditors of Kikuchi Chisui? Then you're probably a step too late."

"Just now, a group of ronin stormed into Kikuchi Chisui's house. They're probably here to collect a debt from him."

"If you're quick and head to Kikuchi Chisui's house right now, you might be able to snatch something that's worth selling."

A drunkard, a creditor, a group of ronin (masterless samurai) coming to Kikuchi Chisui to collect debts… The old man's brief words were packed with information.

If time allowed, Qing Deng really wanted to chat with this old man a little longer and ask him for more information about Kikuchi Chisui.

Unfortunately, if what the old man said is true, then Kikuchi Chisui seems to be facing a rather thorny problem.

Aoto didn't want to travel all the way to Haramachi only to find Kikuchi Chisui beaten to a pulp, or Kikuchi Chisui's corpse.

"Grandpa, thank you for your help."

Qingdeng placed a few copper coins as a thank-you gift next to the old man's legs.

"Oh! Thank you so much!"

Looking at the copper coins left by Qingdeng, the old man immediately beamed with joy.

He bent down and happily picked up the copper coin.

"Sir Samurai! Thank you for your gift. I wish you... um?"

The old man wanted to say something to please the person.

When he looked up, he found nothing in front of him... Qingdeng and the two sisters had long since disappeared.

……

Qingdeng and the Erchong sisters hurried along the path the old man had pointed out.

Soon after, with the blessing of the "Sensor of the Wind," Qingdeng gradually heard a noisy commotion.

"Hey! Qian Shui! Since you used to be a private tutor, you should understand that 'paying back debts' is a matter of course, right?"

Upon hearing the name Qian Shui, which he had been searching for for so long, Qing Deng's mind immediately focused.

After passing through a narrow, winding path that was nothing but mud and dust, a dozen or so fierce-looking faces came into view of Qingdeng and his group.

Eighteen young men who looked like ronin stood around a shabby thatched hut.

This thatched hut was the very embodiment of the word "distressed." It was small, broken, and drafty. Whenever the wind blew, the cracked and hole-filled walls and roof would groan and make a sound. It felt like the whole house would collapse if you just kicked the door frame.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a middle-aged man with a haggard face standing with his back against the door.

Judging from his appearance, the middle-aged man was around forty years old. He was dressed in tattered clothes, unkempt, with puffy eyes, loose skin, a stubble beard, and hair that hadn't been trimmed in a long time, which looked like a bird's nest. His complexion was unnaturally pale.

This is the home of Kikuchi Chisui, the place the old man pointed out; the ronin call this middle-aged man "Chisui"... All signs indicate that this middle-aged man is indeed Kikuchi Chisui, whom Seito is looking for!

Due to his profession, Qingdeng has seen countless people.

Therefore, he recognized at a glance that Kikuchi Chisui had the appearance of someone who was an alcoholic.

The 18 ronin were less standing in front of the thatched hut and more surrounding Kikuchi Chisui, who was leaning against the door.

The person who had just been shouting "paying back debts is a matter of course" was a one-eyed man with an eyepatch over his left eye.

"..."

Faced with the one-eyed dragon's questioning, Kikuchi Chisui acted as if she hadn't heard him, staring blankly into the void ahead without uttering a word.

The one-eyed man, having been rebuffed, pursed his lips in displeasure.

"Ignoring me? Humph, whatever, I can't be bothered to argue with you."

"Let's get back to the main topic—Qianshui, I'm going to give you a calculation now."

"Six months ago, you borrowed three taels of gold from our boss. After six months, with interest, you now owe us five taels of gold—tell me, how do you plan to repay this debt?"

"Let me make this clear from the start: don't tell us things like 'I have no money' or 'please give me a few more days of financial assistance.'"

"Logically speaking, you should have paid back the money two months ago."

"Thankfully, our boss is kind-hearted and compassionate. He knows you've had a hard life, so he's made an exception and allowed you to pay back the money a little later."

"However, two months is the limit, and we can't delay any longer under any circumstances."

"Tell me quickly, how do you plan to repay the money? In cash? Or in kind?"

Compared to the arrogant attitude of the one-eyed dragon, Kikuchi Chisui's reaction was very calm... no, it can't be said that he was "calm," it should be said that he didn't react at all.

His eyes remained lifeless.

His expression remained blank.

He didn't even glance at the one-eyed man, and slowly spoke in a lifeless, hoarse voice, as if two pieces of sandpaper were rubbing against each other:

"I have no money... If you want money, just come into my house and search it. Take whatever you find that is valuable."

As soon as Kikuchi Chisui finished speaking—

"Damn it! Do you think I'm an idiot?"

While cursing loudly, the one-eyed dragon impatiently kicked the door frame next to Kikuchi Chisui.

The thatched hut behind Kikuchi Sensui suddenly shook violently, as if it might collapse at any moment.

"Do you think I don't know what kind of situation you have? There's nothing in your house except wine glasses and empty wine bottles!"

"Stop with the nonsense! Either give me the money right now, or..."

The one-eyed man put on a disgusting grin.

"The only thing we can do is ask you to come with us."

“One of our boss’s friends is currently recruiting hardworking and dedicated miners.”

"Although you're old and weak, you'd definitely die if you went mining, but who told you to owe us money? Since you owe us money, you have to pay it back. If you don't have the money, you'll pay it back with your labor."

At this moment, Kikuchi Chisui finally looked up at the one-eyed dragon for the first time.

He opened his eyelids, glanced at the one-eyed man, and then lowered his gaze again.

"...Whatever you like, do as you please."

"Great! That's satisfying!"

That disgusting, sinister grin reappeared on the one-eyed man's face.

"Hey, what are you all standing there for? Hurry up and drag this kid away!"

The surrounding ronin swarmed forward, grabbing hands and feet, lifting Kikuchi Chisui up like a pig.

Kikuchi Chisui offered no resistance whatsoever, allowing the one-eyed dragon and the others to take him away.

Just as the one-eyed man was all smiles and preparing to announce the end of the mission—

"Wait! Put him down!"

With his hand on his waist, Aoto walked slowly toward the ronin.

*******

*******

6300 words today! A rare long chapter! (Leopard looking triumphant.jpg)

Why hasn't my cough gotten better yet? Ugh! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 402 "Mad Dog" Ugaki Goro! Aoto vs. "The Mad Dog Family"! [5000]

Qingdeng's shouts immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

"what?"

One-Eyed Dragon was taken aback at first, then turned to look at Qing Deng with an expression that seemed to say, "Did I hear that right?"

"Young man, what gang do you belong to? Are you also one of Kikuchi Chisui's creditors?"

With a sneer, the one-eyed man revealed a friendly smile.

"If that's the case, then you're too late! We are also creditors of Kikuchi Chisui! We're taking him to settle the debt through labor! If you're also here to collect a debt from Kikuchi Chisui, then go into this dilapidated house and see if there's anything valuable inside. Everything in this dilapidated house is yours; we don't want it!"

“We are not Kikuchi Chisui’s creditors.”

Qing Deng said calmly.

"You don't need to worry about which side we're on. We have very important business to discuss with Kikuchi Chisui, so I can't let you take him away."

"Oh?"

The one-eyed man's brow twitched violently a few times.

The atmosphere, which had been harmonious until just now, suddenly became stiff and heavy.

“…Young man, let me give you some advice.”

As he spoke, the one-eyed man slowly wiped the smile off his face.