Female Swordsman Training Dojo

A dozen minutes later, Harunobu, having devoured three large bowls of rice in a whirlwind, slung his asauchi and reverse-blade sword over his shoulder, and carried a lantern, and walked into the night.

It looked somewhat lonely, but if you looked down from above, you could see several bright candlelights emanating from it, illuminating the streets on all sides. Although it couldn't illuminate the entire city of Tokyo, and couldn't compare to bustling areas like Minato Ward or Chiyoda, which even had electric lights, it still overshadowed the entire Asakusa.

This forced the once unbridled Yakuza to cower like rats, carefully avoiding the bright lights and hiding in dark corners, cursing the meddlesome guerrillas.

However, at this moment, Harunobu was also moving through the darkness, just like them. In the alley where even moonlight could not reach, in a paradise for rats and cockroaches, Harunobu skillfully and quickly walked to the deepest part.

Then I saw Tanaka Mataichi and Shutaro squatting on the ground playing karuta.

"You two..." Harunobu put down the lantern, "aren't you afraid of being ambushed?"

Without even bothering to tidy up the karuta cards, Tanaka Mataichi and Shutaro stood up: "Lord Taira!"

"Brother Qingxin!"

Just in case, even in this place, the two of them still didn't call out Qingxin's name.

"How's the matter going? Have you figured out who the main Yakuza intruders are?"

"I've pretty much figured it out. Aside from those just there to watch the show, there are three serious invading forces: the Kanda Alliance in Kanda Ward, the Hyōe Group in Nihonbashi, and the Tojo Clan in the port area," Tanaka Yoichi replied earnestly. "They all have backers similar to the Demon Dragon Society. The Tojo Clan is probably backed by the Satsuma people in the Navy, while the Hyōe Group and the Kanda Alliance..."

Tanaka hesitated for a moment, then said, "They are from the Aizu Domain."

“Police-run Yakuza…” Harunobu sighed, but he wasn’t surprised. Although he knew good police officers like Tanaka Yu and Chief Tachibana, and many other police officers with a similar sense of justice, to be honest, this kind of corrupt police was the general public’s perception of the police. At this moment, the police were not partners of justice.

"Should we let them go?" Tanaka asked cautiously, since the news that Harunobu and the Aizu Domain had joined forces was no secret.

"Of course not." Qingxin waved his hand. "If they dare to cause trouble on my turf, I don't care who's behind them."

“Alright, let’s talk about the Dragon Demon Society’s movements…” Harunobu said, then suddenly paused, “Wait, shouldn’t the Dragon Demon Society also know that the two Yakuza forces are backed by the Aizu Domain?”

Tanaka looked at Harunobu with surprise, then gave the answer to Harunobu's question with admiration: "That's right, they are already preparing to break through your blockade from this angle, sir."

"I guess you can't count on politicians after all." Harunobu shook his head. "Whatever, how's the Tanaka group's preparation going?"

Tanaka smiled slightly, about to boast about his achievements, when Shutaro, who had been holding back for a long time, spoke up smugly: "Everything is perfectly prepared! Big brother! Those scum and trash have been sent to fight those outsiders to their deaths. Now, the key positions in the Tanaka Group are all held by our Cat Claw people!"

"Well done!" Harunobu praised Asahi Taro, giving him a thumbs up. The boy chuckled and ran his thumb under his nose, puffing out his chest proudly.

However, this is indeed something to be proud of. Leading a group of children with an average age of twelve, they have managed to occupy key positions in the Tanaka group, even with the help of Tanaka Mataichi, the young leader. This shows the hard work and ability of these children.

“In that case, there’s no problem.” Qingxin said, rubbing his chin. “Next, proceed according to plan. You should first clean up those scumbags in the group and preserve the evidence of the Demon Dragon Society’s crimes.”

Chapter 149

"Wait until these idiots think they've won, then deliver the fatal blow."

This is Harunobu's arrangement for the Tanaka group.

As a direct affiliate of the Demon Dragon Society, the Tanaka Group possesses substantial evidence of the Demon Dragon Society's crimes and could launch a major attack at any time. However, defecting too early would make them vulnerable to detection, not only ineffective but also depriving Harunobu of another intelligence channel regarding the Demon Dragon Society. Moreover, the Tanaka Group has its share of scoundrels; failing to eliminate them sooner rather than later would complicate matters once they've been exonerated.

So, taking advantage of this opportunity, the Tanaka group continued to infiltrate the Demon Dragon Society to gather intelligence, while quietly discarding the trash that Harunobu didn't accept, either selling them to the Bracers or sending them to fight against the foreign Yakuza. In short, their main goal was to send them to their deaths.

Furthermore, because of his daring and aggressive style, Tanaka Mataichi is now valued by the Demon Dragon Society and considered a loyal fighter. After all, the Tanaka Group had a large number of members captured by the Bracers, and in the fight against the foreign Yakuza, they were the most valiant and retained the most territory!

Moreover, they are a direct descendant of my Demon Dragon Society! The current leader is even related to our Demon Dragon Society by marriage!

The Tanaka Group will always be loyal!

The author says:

Author's note: I'm going to the hospital for a follow-up appointment for dermatitis today... my scalp is covered in papules.

Chapter 142: The Expected Betrayal

Several more conversations with Tanaka Mataichi took place in the following days, and the number of Yakuza on the streets dwindled, with most even afraid to leave their offices. However, beneath this seemingly prosperous surface, undercurrents were growing increasingly turbulent.

Finally, one day, while Harunobu was doing his morning exercise, he received news that Tanaka Yu was coming to visit. He patted the head of the disciple who brought the news—he didn't know when it started, but the disciples all asked Harunobu to reward them like this—Harunobu simply wiped the sweat off his body and received Uncle Tanaka, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, at the Nihon Dormitory.

At first glance, Tanaka Yu didn't seem much different from before; he was still wearing an oversized patrol uniform and carrying a briefcase. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that he looked somewhat haggard, and a few strands of white had appeared in his once thick black hair.

"Uncle Tanaka, you look like you've been in Yoshiwara for a month. Even if you've been promoted to patrol chief, you don't need to be this extravagant," Harunobu joked. Tanaka Yu rolled his eyes at him, "Do you think everyone is a lecherous freak like you?"

As he spoke, he took a sip of tea. The tea, at a comfortable temperature, made him feel much better, and his expression relaxed a bit: "Sigh, I really envy you, kid. You don't have to be caught in the middle like me."

Qingxin immediately understood; it had finally come to an end: "So you've finally arrived? What did your superiors say? Are you going to release all those Yakuza?"

Tanaka looked up at Harunobu in surprise, then sighed, "Was I that obvious?"

“Of course there are.” Harunobu also picked up his teacup and took a sip. The slightly bitter tea went down his throat and invigorated him. “But what’s even more obvious is those persistent Yakuza… I think they’re called the Hyōe-gumi and the Kanda Alliance? For the Yakuza, they’re just too tenacious.”

"Sigh..." Tanaka Yu sighed heavily again upon hearing those two names.

They've really lost all face.

He even talked about police ethics before, but now he's really...

"Alright, Uncle Tanaka, I don't like seeing uncles looking dejected. So what are those scoundrels planning to do? Release them directly, or are they going to turn around and target the Bracers?"

Just as Tanaka Yu was about to recite a haiku he had painstakingly memorized to express his loneliness and sorrow, he was shut down by Harunobu's words. He could only take another sip of tea: "It's not that bad, but most of the Yakuza will be released... The idea from above is to let the Dragon Society continue to manage things, which is better than being invaded by those bastards from Kanda and Nihonbashi."

Harunobu scratched his chin and said, "Let me guess, the Choshu Domain first approached the police in Kanda and Nihonbashi to work together against your Asakusa police, and then when they saw that I was going to treat all Yakuza equally, they came looking for you?"

"Then, seeing that things were hopeless, those big shots simply surrendered, losing half their losses, and changed sides?"

“I’m not worthy to be with them.” Tanaka Yu laughed sarcastically. “Those adults wouldn’t even look down on a mere patrol chief.”

His words made no rebuttal to Harunobu's speculation, clearly indicating that he tacitly agreed with Harunobu's statement.

That's quite normal; even Harunobu could guess their specific thought process.

For the police in Kanda and Nihonbashi, although they were all police officers—or rather, precisely because they were all police officers—seeing that bastard from Asakusa achieve such a great merit was more painful than killing them. After all, even the police chief wanted to advance!

But there are only so many positions available. If you improve, then I won't be able to improve either, right? How can that be? Since I can't improve, then you can forget about it too!

So they immediately dispatched their Yakuza to attack the Asakusa area. For the Yakuza, a turf grab supported by the police was a fierce and daring operation—hopefully they would be comfortable in the Asakusa detention center.

After all, Harunobu doesn't give them any face.

However, Harunobu's actions seemed excessively arrogant to the Asakusa police. Everyone had hinted that he was targeting the Demon Dragon Society, and now he was even provoking the members of the kaizu clan—wasn't that a bit too impolite?

Of course, that wouldn't have mattered much, since the credit still went to the Asakusa police, and people could just mutter a few barbaric insults about the samurai behind their backs. But as the guerrillas gained fame, a saying began circulating among the public: if you have a problem, it's better to go directly to the guerrillas than the police. Even though they might ask the guerrillas to collect money, they actually do get involved when needed!

This prompted the police in Asakusa to take action.

What if, I mean just what if, Taira no Shin gets tired of being a dojo master and wants to switch careers to become a policeman?

It's not like there's no precedent.

After all, killing monsters is too dangerous.

Hearing this, Tanaka Yu couldn't help but raise a hand: "Stop, stop, stop! Don't be so naive about those bastards, okay? They must have Tokyo Bay in their heads to think you want to be a cop, right?"

"Then why did they kneel down so quickly?" Harunobu stroked his chin. "They couldn't possibly think I couldn't beat those Yakuza, could they?"

Tanaka Yu spread his hands regretfully: "Congratulations, you finally guessed right."

"what?"

Harunobu was genuinely angry now.

Tanaka Yu picked up a piece of sour plum daifuku and popped it into his mouth: "Don't get angry yet, there's more to come. Here's what happened..."

A dozen minutes later, Tanaka Yu finished explaining the real cause and effect.

In short, the protectors behind the Demon Dragon Society are colluding with the Aizu Domain people who want to disrupt Asakusa Ward's performance-boosting efforts, planning to restrict Harunobu's privileges, and they have a high success rate. In the next day or two, Harunobu will likely be unable to arbitrarily arrest people, because that's not a right reserved for samurai, not a right of the gokenin (family members).

Previously, the guerrillas were able to launch large-scale attacks thanks to the ambiguous interpretation of privilege and the tacit approval of the police. However, once this power is restricted, the guerrillas' range of operations will be greatly limited. They might be accused of excessive self-defense, or even fighting amongst themselves, and end up in jail.

The guerrilla fighters were all women, and all from wealthy families. Going to the detention center would be a devastating blow to their reputation; they might even be unable to get married. After all, detention centers are places where things can go wrong even if you're not in one, even if it's a women's detention center.

Therefore, the higher-ups at the Asakusa police department determined that Harunobu had no basis for cooperation and simply abandoned him, instead reorganizing the Demon Dragon Society. After all, if they let...

Chapter 150

With the Yakuza, supported by their counterparts like the Kanda Alliance and the Hyōe-gumi, occupying Asakusa Ward, the security of Asakusa Ward was no longer determined by the Asakusa police, but by the police from Kanda and Nihonbashi.

In the simplest terms, no matter the case, the Asakusa police guarantee they won't find a single culprit. And if the Kanda or Nihonbashi police come over, the culprit might just jump into the detention center that very day and perform a Noh play.

Don't ask, just tell me he's a famous cop! A brilliant detective!

Therefore, Asakusa must have a Lich King... no, I mean Yakuza!

Harunobu scratched his head helplessly and looked at Tanaka Yu: "Uncle Tanaka, do you think I'm acting too much like a good person?"

Tanaka swallowed the daifuku in his mouth: "You kill monsters, you kill yakuza, you even help old ladies cross the street, who would believe you're not a good person?"

"You're right." Harunoku nodded. "Then I can rest assured."

Tanaka Yu scratched his head in confusion, wondering what had suddenly gotten into Harunobu. Just then, another disciple came to report: "Master, there is a man outside who claims to be an army major named Katsura Gensei visiting you."

The author says:

Author's note: The villains are about to get a buff (laughs)

Requesting votes daily~

Chapter 143: I'm a really good person

Katsura Kotaro, who likes to call himself Katsura Kotaro, stood ramrod straight in front of the Aozorakan gate. With his military uniform and pistol at his waist, he looked quite dashing and heroic.

—If you ignore the fact that he's only 1.5 meters tall wearing high-top military boots.

However, he clearly didn't see anything wrong with it, and even the surprised looks from passersby and the Bracers entering and leaving the Blue Sky Pavilion couldn't shake his confidence. At this moment, he was looking up at the Blue Sky Pavilion's sign, his eyes full of contempt.

The vast size of the Aozorakan Museum cannot conceal its decay; the mottled exterior walls can be seen as a symbol of antiquity, or as proof of its dilapidation.

Not to mention, according to intelligence, he knew very well that the Blue Sky Pavilion had long been unable to maintain its massive buildings and could only let them decay and wither away.

Therefore, samurai should be consigned to the dustbin of history, not left out in the way! And what about monsters? Can they even beat cannons?

Typical militaristic thinking, completely disregarding how he intended to use cannons to kill monsters in Tokyo.

I guess everyone killed by cannons is considered a monster.

Dressed neatly, Qingxin walked out of the gate. After glancing around, she looked at the disciple who had brought the message with a puzzled expression: "Didn't you say someone was looking for me?"

The female disciple wanted to laugh but was too embarrassed, her lips pursed into a wavy shape. Then she stretched out her palm and pointed below Qingxin's line of sight: "This gentleman is it."

Following the direction, Qingxin lowered his head. The stark contrast between his towering 1.8-meter frame and Gui Yancheng's mere 1.5 meters (with shoes on) was striking. The shadow cast by Qingxin's towering figure completely covered Gui Yancheng's body.

"Hello, Major Katsura Konosuke." Harunobu bowed politely to Katsura Konosuke at a perfect 15-degree angle. "I am the head of this establishment, Taira Harunobu. May I ask what brings you here, Major Katsura?"

Gui Yancheng's eyes twitched, and he laughed angrily: "Is this how Qingkong Pavilion treats its guests? Making them stand at the main entrance?"

Harunobu opened his eyes wide innocently: "This dojo is an all-women's dojo, men are not allowed. If Major Katsura is tired of standing, how about we go to a coffee shop to talk?"

Harunobu made no attempt to hide his sarcastic remarks. Tanaka Yu had only been inside for a short time, so how could it be a no-men policy? And what did he mean by "getting tired of standing"? Was he implying that someone's legs were weak?

Gui Yancheng's gentle demeanor began to crumble. He hadn't expected Ping Qingxin to be so unruly, not even sparing anyone basic courtesy.

Although Harunobu felt he had already given Tanaka Yu a lot of face, as Tanaka Yu had even personally come out to greet him!

Thinking this, Qingxin's expression became even more innocent, which made Gui Yancheng furious.

Fine, since you're being so disrespectful, then so be it! You can't blame him for being ruthless!

Gui Yancheng suddenly sneered, raising his hand to his chest, but Qingxin grabbed it: "So that's how it is, Major Gui is a Westernizer, huh? You should have said so earlier!"

A tremendous force was applied to Gui Yancheng's small, yet surprisingly strong, right hand. The faint rumble of thunder only reached his and Qingxin's ears, almost drowning out Qingxin's voice.

"Hello, Katsura Kotaro." Harunobu's innocent eyes turned cold. "May I ask how the Demon Dragon Society managed to get you to help them again? It can't be because Suzuki Ryuu slept with you, can it?"

Katsura Gensei's eyes narrowed, and his expression turned serious as he looked at Harunobu: "Looks like someone's been tipping you off. The Aizu Domain's incompetents are indeed unreliable."

The Tanaka Group is a member of the Demon Dragon Society's Plain White Banner, and their ancestors crossed the border with Suzuki Ryuichi. Besides, apart from the Nishikiyama Group, which was completely wiped out by Harunobu, they suffered the greatest losses recently, so no one would doubt them.

"Don't act like a big shot here, you peasant from the Choshu Domain. Do you think you're superior when you're begging in Tokyo?" Harunobu's words were far more venomous than Katsura Gensei's. Not to mention, he was still gripping Katsura Gensei's hand tightly, the force almost crushing his bones, causing Katsura Gensei to show an uncontrollable expression of pain on his face.

Or perhaps it was triggered by the psychological attacks from a local Tokyo man?

Harunobu then released his hand. It was impossible to really beat him up in such a public place; illegally assaulting a military officer was a serious crime, far more serious than cutting off the limbs of a few Yakuza.

"Major Katsura is really enthusiastic," Harunobu said with a smile, then vigorously wiped his hands on his pants.

The disgust is palpable.

Damn it! Who's holding on so tightly?! If you're going to complain, then don't hold on for so long! And don't use so much force!

Gui Yancheng, whose right hand had been pinched so hard that five red marks were left, was completely enraged, and his previous pride and arrogance had vanished.