I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Aoto's gaze reflexively swept towards Sanako.

"Okita-kun, what are you laughing at?"

"nothing."

As Souji swung his feet in the pool, he smiled and said:

"I just feel so good about this peaceful and tranquil feeling. I hope every day can be this quiet and peaceful."

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but chuckle.

Sanako smiled slightly as well.

One second Souji was being sentimental, the next he suddenly adopted an embarrassed look:

"Tachibana-kun, what are your thoughts on your future?"

"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"We didn't do anything, just chatted casually. Soaking your feet like this is so boring, let's talk!"

Chatting with the commander... Aoto naturally welcomed this.

He pondered for a moment, then said in a joking tone:

"In the future... I plan to establish merit, achieve great things, be granted territory, and become the ruler of a city and a country..."

Before he could finish speaking, Souji interrupted him in a displeased tone:

"Answer seriously!"

After saying that, she subtly moved her right foot, which was hidden under the hot spring, and stepped on Qing Deng's foot.

Because of the stealthy movements and the angle of view, Sanako was kept in the dark and had no idea that Aoto had been "attacked".

In the eyes of some people with special fetishes, being kicked and trampled by a beautiful girl like Souji is not a humiliating punishment, but a wonderful reward.

Obviously, Qingdeng does not have such a quirk.

He just felt so much pain!

While enduring the pain, Qingdeng deliberately asked in a wronged tone:

"What? Do you think I'm incapable of ruling a city or a country?"

In order to maintain its ruling position, the Edo Shogunate always found ways to cause trouble for the feudal lords.

If a feudal lord violates any of the following: the extinction of his lineage; violation of the laws of the samurai class; improper governance of his territory (family uprising or peasant revolt); or disorderly conduct or mindset, he will be subject to a change of dynasty.

[Note: "Reformation" was a punishment for samurai during the Edo period, lighter than seppuku but heavier than seclusion. Those punished with reformation were stripped of their samurai title, demoted to commoners, and had their lands, houses, and stipends confiscated.]

The most typical example is the Ako Domain.

The lord of the domain, Asano, attacked a high-ranking official of the shogunate, angering the shogun. The lord was ordered to commit seppuku, and his territory was transferred to the Nagai clan.

Of course, the daimyo were not just punching bags that could be passively beaten.

The change not only affected the interests of the daimyo, but also the interests of the domain's samurai, since no one wanted to become a ronin without a job or a place to live.

Especially for large domains, a single change could affect the livelihoods of thousands, or even tens of thousands, of samurai.

Unauthorized actions that threaten the interests of powerful domains can easily trigger war.

Therefore, even when the Tokugawa family was at its zenith, the Edo shogunate was always very cautious about the issue of daimyo changing their allegiance.

The reason most daimyo changed their names was because they had no heirs.

The people whose names were changed were mostly minor or major figures.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the daimyo of the domains who occupied the highest positions in the political landscape of the Edo period and took the most "cake" were not always the same group of people—which can be seen as providing a channel for upward social mobility.

As long as one can establish commendable achievements, then being granted a territory and becoming a lord is not an impossible thing!

Qingdeng's current family stipend is over a thousand koku. When his family stipend reaches over ten thousand koku, he will automatically be promoted to daimyo.

At that time, they will not only have their own land and people, but also be able to start a farming life of developing the economy, researching science and technology, recruiting talents, and building an army.

"I'm not doubting your abilities."

The commander put his hands on his hips, feigning displeasure.

"I just feel that what you just said wasn't from the bottom of your heart."

Qing Deng shrugged.

"To be honest, I don't have anything that I can call a 'goal'. If I had to say, it would be 'take it one step at a time' or 'do my job as a monk and ring the bell for the day'."

Upon hearing this, the commander curled his lip.

"What's wrong with you? Your easygoing attitude is just like Harada's!"

Qingdeng smiled without saying anything, and did not respond.

……

At the same time—

Edo, Koishikawa, Kohinata, Yanagimachi, Shieikan, Diner's Room—

"Ha Qiu!"

Nagakura: "What a loud sneeze, Harada! Are you cold?"

Harada Sanosuke blew his nose and said:

"I'm perfectly healthy! There's no way I could have caught a cold! It must be some dust that got into my nose. Oh well, never mind."

After speaking, Harada shifted to a more comfortable lying position and continued to eat the orange with "mmm" sounds.

"So delicious~~ I wish I could eat such delicious oranges every day~~"

……

In fact, Qing Deng lied.

He still has a goal to strive for.

That is to marry Sanako, Kinoshita Mai, and Souji as wives, and live a peaceful life of one husband and three wives, sleeping together in the same bed.

Because Sanako doesn't yet know Souji's true gender, it's not convenient for Aoto to voice his grand ambition at the moment.

Who would have thought that the renowned and slaying King Ren's ideal was so ordinary? It was neither to achieve great deeds nor to become an unparalleled swordsman, but to marry many, many wives...

Just then, the commander suddenly looked up and gazed ahead.

"what?"

Attracted by Souji's exclamation, Aoto raised his eyes and followed her gaze—and saw a beautiful purple butterfly perched on the treetop opposite the hot spring.

"What a beautiful butterfly!"

The commander's eyes shone brightly, sparkling like tiny stars.

Qingdeng nodded slightly and echoed:

"Yes, it is indeed very beautiful."

In the midst of his haste, two splashing sounds reached Qingdeng's ears.

Souji pulled his feet out of the hot spring, then took out a tissue he always carried and hastily wiped the remaining water droplets off his feet.

Upon seeing this, Qing Deng immediately asked:

"Okita-kun, aren't you going to take a piss anymore?"

"I'm going to catch that butterfly!"

"Are you a little kid?"

Faced with Qing Deng's dumbfounded retort, Souji, who was putting on his shoes and socks, looked up and made a face.

"Do you know what my sister's most frequent comment to me is? 'Why do you always seem like you'll never grow up?'"

Just then, Souji, who had finished putting on his shoes and socks, stood up and happily chased after the purple butterfly.

Two "butterflies," one large and one small, flitted through the forest.

Hey! Don't wander too far! Be careful not to get lost!

Qingdeng raised his head and roared.

The sound of Souji's footsteps grew fainter and fainter... I wonder if she heard Aoto's warning.

"Seriously...it's just a butterfly, why are you so excited..."

Qingdeng's expression was dominated by a strong sense of helplessness.

Souji went off to catch butterflies, leaving only Aoto and Sanako, a lone man and woman, by the spring.

This wasn't the first time Aoto had been alone with Sanako, so he didn't find the current atmosphere awkward or uncomfortable.

Qing Deng wanted to find a topic to chat with Sanako to relieve his boredom.

Unexpectedly, before he could speak, Sanako spoke up first:

"Tachibana-kun, your relationship with Okita-kun... is so sweet."

Because Sanako's tone was neither sad nor happy, Aoto didn't pay much attention and casually replied:

"Hmm? Oh, yes. After all, we're fellow disciples living under the same roof."

"...Are they just fellow disciples?"

Sanako's tone revealed a sharp, witty edge.

******

******

The original title of this chapter was "Sanako's Bare Feet and Jealous Sanako".

However, considering this book is for all ages, I'll pass. Arknights players must be very excited after reading this chapter! (Just a passerby, suddenly appearing on the homepage of a certain forum.jpg).

Please vote for me! Please recommend me! (Like a leopard crying.jpg)

Chapter 428 Sanako: Aoto really does like men! [6000]