I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Mecha novels are perfect for me! A powerful mecha can turn the tide of battle. You don't need to worry about strategy or tactics. Just spout nonsense!

We've digressed... Let's get back to the main topic.

Regardless, I still have a strong affection for this book.

If I hadn't run out of stories to write, I really wouldn't want to end it here...

I'm really going to miss Sanako and Mai... Like some writers, I've fallen hopelessly in love with the characters I created.

Sanako and Mai embody all of Leopard's quirks; I'll probably never forget them... (crying Leopard head.jpg)

Thank you, Aoto! Thank you, Sanako! Thank you, Mai! Thank you, Souji! Thank you, Tenshōin! Thank you, Elodie! Thank you to every character in the book! You've raised me for three and a half years! (crying leopard.jpg)

In conclusion, the story of "Nioh" has come to a temporary end.

Leopard will release the epilogue of this work the day after tomorrow (October 10th), which will mainly talk about the wedding of Aoto, Tenshōin, and Elodie. The content will not be very long.

Next, please enjoy the story of "Yakuza"!

Following "Shura" and "Nioh", the story of "Yakuza" has officially begun!

The new work is the final installment of the "Sword and Halberd Trilogy".

After completing "I Became a Swordsman in Ancient Japan" (382.5 million words) and "I Formed the Strongest Swordsman Group" (644 million words), I have written over ten million words of sword and spear novels! I have accumulated a wealth of writing experience!

Whether it's the depiction of sword fights or the portrayal of characters and plot, there has been a leap forward!

Therefore, I can confidently say to everyone: my new work is a masterpiece, the culmination of my accumulated knowledge and experience!

Below is a brief introduction to the new book, *America: The Great Chase of 1924*.

*******

*******

Location: San Francisco

Time: 23:47

……

He can load a Winchester lever-action rifle with one hand.

He is an expert in American Iaijutsu.

His Mozambique shooting technique was simply superb.

He could use the Qi Family Sword to cleave bullets flying in his face.

He instilled deep fear in the villains.

……

This is an era of extravagance and debauchery, an era of jazz, an era of Prohibition, an era of suit-wearing thugs, an era of ambitious men, an era of Lee Yuk-san, the "Like a Dragon" saga.

……

"Young men, remember this! Never mess with a Chinese man wearing a long black trench coat and a black suit, with an M1911 pistol tucked under his left leg and right armpit, a Winchester rifle in his left hand, and a Qi family sword in his right! He is 'Like a Dragon'!"

Why is he called "Like a Dragon"?

"Because he alone could destroy an entire Mafia family! He's practically the embodiment of a dragon!"

*******

*******

The protagonist of the new work is neither a wandering ronin like Ogata nor a feudal lord like Seito, but a sweeping monk based in a church. He is keen on helping himself and his friends clean up troubles, and he is keen on reciting Bible verses while sending people to their deaths.

On the surface, he is a harmless pastor, but in reality, he is John Wick/Kiryu Kazuma/Amamiya Ren/Nishiki Chizuka/Alucard, who is proficient in "New Era Dual-Sword Style" (lever-handed lever rifle and right-hand Qi family knife).

“You won’t even call me ‘pastor’.”

That's probably the story.

Please be sure to bookmark this new work and read it every day!

The number of readers who follow the updates daily determines the exposure of a new book.

The more reads you get, the more exposure you'll receive, and the better placement in our recommendations!

So please read the new book every day! If you want to add it to your reading list, please wait until it's officially released! (crying leopard head.jpg)

……

……

That's about all I wanted to say.

This concludes my final remarks for this book!

Finally, we must say that essential sentence—

My deepest gratitude to all the readers who have supported this book!

See you in the new movie!

……

……

Shumengshi

2025.10.8

Chapter 1197 Epilogue: The Wedding of Seito and Tenshōin Elodie

November 15, 1868 —

Otsu, Judi—

It was the dead of winter, and snow was falling heavily.

The stark contrast between the freezing cold outside and the lively atmosphere of the wedding banquet was striking.

"Back then, a bullet pierced my stomach without missing a beat. The pain was almost as bad as a seppuku! Do you want to know why I know the pain of a seppuku so well? Well, that requires telling the story from the beginning! Back when I was still an official in the Matsuyama Domain of Iyo..."

"Huh? Sanosuke, why is your glass empty? This won't do! Today is a joyous occasion! How can we not drink?"

As expected, Nagakura Shinpachi preemptively shoved the bottle neck into Harada Sanosuke's mouth, interrupting his "chanting," and chugging the wine down his throat.

Not far away, Kondo Isami poured sake for Hijikata Toshizo while speaking to him in a serious tone:

"Ah Sui, you're not getting any younger, isn't it about time you got married?"

Hijikata Toshizo shrugged:

"I'm not interested in marriage."

"For me, marriage would only tie me down and take away my former freedom."

"Besides, I'm still young, only 33 years old this year, and I have a long future ahead of me."

"Uncle Yuan, who is already 39 years old this year and is still single, is the one who should get married as soon as possible."

After listening, Kondo Isami nodded seriously:

"Yes, that makes sense."

The sudden roll call startled Inoue Genzaburo, who choked on his drink and it went into his trachea.

After coughing violently a few times, Inoue Genzaburo said with a look of embarrassment:

"I'm well past the prime age for marriage. What woman would be interested in an old man like me?"

Hijikata Toshizo burst into laughter:

"Uncle Yuan, that's not how it works. Many women like mature and stable older men."

Heisuke Todo suddenly interrupted:

"What's more, you're the captain of the sixth division of the Shinsengumi. With your qualifications, you could attract countless outstanding women."

At this moment, accompanied by a noisy shout, the completely drunk Nagakura Shinpachi, Harada Sanosuke, Serizawa Kamo and others left their seats and ran to the center of the wedding banquet, dancing an ugly but jubilant dance under the guise of "adding to the fun".

Seeing this, Yamanami Keisuke looked helpless:

"Hey, take it easy, you guys. Even though today is a joyous occasion, don't go too far."

Qing Deng Wan Er:

"It's alright, it's a special day, even if it gets a little too much, it's fine! Everyone, have fun!"

Aoto, dressed in a formal suit (monzuki haori hakama), sat gracefully in the main seat.

Tenshōin and Elodie, dressed in pristine white kimonos, sat on either side of Aoto.

After marrying Sanako, Mai, and Souji, Aoto held his second wedding—marrying Tenshōin and Elodie!

The whole story of how Qing Deng and Elodie got together was truly dramatic.

Long ago, Qing Deng realized that his feelings for Elodie were not just simple friendship or mentorship.

However, due to their relationship (master and apprentice) and Elodie's young age, Qing Deng was unwilling to face this feeling.

Elodie was the same; constrained by societal expectations, she kept her distance from Qingdeng and hesitated to take another step forward.

The fierce and near-defeat Battle of Otsu became the turning point in their relationship.

Not long after the Battle of Otsu, perhaps because she had just escaped death, Elodie's thinking underwent a major change. She no longer suppressed her feelings for Qingdeng and began to actively express her love to him.

However, all her "offensives"—whether direct or roundabout—were evaded by Qing Deng, who pretended to be confused.

This stalemate continued until one day, by chance, she obtained a yellow paper written by the famous author Sojiro.

[Note: Yellow paper: Yellow-covered erotic publications with embroidered images popular in the Edo period]

After suppressing her embarrassment, she read through every paragraph of the yellowed paper and suddenly had an inspiration.

In the end, she resolved her emotional entanglement with Qingdeng in a very bold and unexpected way.

One night in January 1867, Elodie, dressed in a thin bathrobe, sneaked into Chingden's bedroom and slipped into his bed like an eel.

At that moment, Qingdeng, who was startled awake from his sleep, was so shocked that he almost cried out.

Elodie's actions were incredibly audacious—because Sanako, Tenshōin, Omai, and Souji were all sleeping next to Aoto!