I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Although his facial features are distinctly Western, the lines of his face also possess a certain softness characteristic of Easterners.

This kind of appearance, which combines the advantages of both the West and the East, is indeed easy to appeal to the aesthetics of some people in this era and to please some people in this era.

The other beautiful figure besides Elodie felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Qing Deng.

He was quite tall, with slightly dry brown hair, emerald green eyes, and a fairly handsome face with a few freckles.

At first, Qing Deng didn't recognize her, but when he saw the pale yellow kimono she was wearing, he finally remembered—wasn't this the "pale yellow woman" who had been following Kinoshita Mai and Elodie silently all afternoon?

The woman in pale yellow kept a certain distance, walking behind "Colonel Sanders" and Elodie.

Qingdeng guessed that the woman in pale yellow must be Elodie's maid, Leroy.

"You must be Tachibana Aoto."

With his large pregnant belly, Colonel Sanders walked up to Qing Deng and greeted him with a smile in Japanese with a very strange accent.

After a brief exchange with this "KFC Colonel," Qingdeng learned that this old man was actually Elodie's grandfather: Anthony de Angoulême.

Anthony's visit to Qingdeng was for no other reason than to express his gratitude to Qingdeng for saving his granddaughter.

While thanking Qingdeng, Anthony also casually mentioned the results of Komuro and the others' interrogation of the "birthmark man".

After successfully capturing the only survivor of the group of attackers from this afternoon—the "birthmark man" with an unsightly birthmark on his face—Komuro and the others subjected him to brutal torture, treating him as if he were not human.

Under Komuro's interrogation, the identities of the attackers were finally revealed.

It turns out that these attackers were not "radical anti-foreigners" who came for Qingdeng at all.

They were just a bunch of poor, dissolute wanderers who had lost their lord and their family fortune.

To avoid attracting attention and trouble, Elodie and Leroy both used masks and headscarves to cover their hair and faces when they went to Eshima Shrine with Kinoshita Mai. However, even so, on the way to Eshima Shrine, a ronin still managed to discover the color of Elodie's eyes.

Blue eyes... that's definitely a Westerner.

Upon discovering that the girl wearing the tengu mask was a Westerner, the ronin began to harbor wicked intentions.

In order to escape his current impoverished, homeless, and precarious life, the ronin decided to take a gamble: kill Elodie! Then, carrying Elodie's head, he would head to the "anti-foreign faction's headquarters": the Mito Domain, to see if he could obtain an official position or be taken in by someone.

The Mito Domain—along with the Owari Domain and the Kishu Domain—was collectively known as the "Gosanke" (Three Great Families), and was one of the most important daimyo (female lords) of the Edo Shogunate.

During the Edo period, when the feudal system, similar to that of the Western Zhou Dynasty in ancient China, was still in effect, these large feudal states, which were no different from "countries within countries," had extremely high political influence and military strength that could even challenge the Edo shogunate.

Seven years ago, after U.S. Navy Commodore Perry led his fleet to force open Japan's doors, the various feudal domains took sides.

Some vassal states advocated seeking peace.

Some vassal states remained silent, offering no comment.

Only a group of domains, led by the Mito Domain, pursued an extremely tough diplomatic stance.

The Mito Domain's proposition was simple: expel all the barbarians without exception! Return Japan to its former state of isolation!

For the past seven years, the Mito Domain has been pressuring the Edo Shogunate to implement a thorough policy of expelling foreigners.

The Mito Domain's strong stance against the barbarians naturally won the favor and respect of the "expelling the barbarians" faction.

As a result, a large number of "anti-foreign patriots" regarded the Mito Domain as their "spiritual leader," and the Mito Domain naturally became their base camp. More and more "anti-foreign patriots" gathered at the Mito Domain to discuss the "great cause of expelling foreigners" with other like-minded partners.

Because the Mito Domain clings to its radical foreign policy of "expelling the barbarians," the relationship between the Mito Domain and the Edo Shogunate is quite tense. The current head of the Edo Shogunate, Ii Naosuke, advocates "opening the country," and is naturally at odds with the Mito Domain's people who are obsessed with "expelling the barbarians."

In conclusion, the idea that the ronin had was not an unrealistic fantasy. If they could take the head of the barbarian to the Mito Domain, it might be difficult to obtain an official position, but it was very likely that they would gain the favor of a "patriotic expulsion of barbarians" who was determined to "expel the barbarians" and be taken in.

If he didn't try to do something soon, he might really be a ronin for the rest of his life. Rather than continuing to be a pathetic ronin, he might as well give it a shot. With this thought in mind, this ronin, who was still loyal to some extent, gathered a few of his friends and prepared to go with them to "change their lives" by taking Elodie's head.

Their idea was brilliant.

But they hadn't anticipated the variable that was Qingdeng...

After listening to Anthony's story, Qing Deng couldn't help but twitch his lips.

So it turns out today's attack was just a misunderstanding...?

"I am truly grateful to both of you today." Anthony bowed 90 degrees to Qing Deng and Saito once again. "Without your timely help, I don't know what I would have done."

At the same time, Elodie and Leroy, who were standing behind Anthony, also bowed to Qingden in gratitude.

"Ah... there's no need for such a grand gesture." A helpless smile appeared on Qing Deng's face. "To be honest, I didn't draw my sword today specifically to save your daughter."

If Anthony and Kiryu misunderstand that he fought the ronin to save Kinoshita Mai and Elodie, it would feel like he was taking advantage of them.

Qingdeng likes to put clear prices on his work.

Whether it's someone else owing a favor to another or someone else owing a favor to him, Qingdeng doesn't want things to remain unclear.

So, Qing Deng patiently explained to Anthony and Kiryu why he had stood up against those ronin that day.

Kiryu and Kinoshita Mai were unaware that Aoto had been targeted by the "radical anti-foreign faction," so after hearing Aoto's explanation, they, like Anthony and Elodie, looked at him in surprise.

After listening to Qing Deng's explanation, Anthony paused for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter.

"It's ok!"

He waved his hand dismissively.

"Regardless of your purpose in saving my daughter, the fact that you saved her is undeniable."

"This will not prevent me from expressing my deepest gratitude for saving my life!"

After saying that, Anthony laughed heartily a few more times.

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Second update!

One more update in 2 minutes!

[Japanese History Mini-Lesson Begins!]

The Mito Domain was very close to Edo.

Located just north of Edo, practically next door, the Mito Domain's people could set off for Edo in the morning and arrive in the afternoon.

The Mito Domain, one of the "Three Houses of the Goge," was a renowned and powerful domain with a total koku (a unit of rice measure) of 35 koku.

This 35 koku means that the Mito Domain could produce at least 35 koku of rice per year.

During the Edo period, the economy was based on rice. The amount of rice produced directly affected the strength of a domain. Generally speaking, the higher the rice production of a domain, the stronger its economy.

Because the Mito Domain had an economic strength of 35 koku, and possessed strong military power, economic strength, and political status, it had considerable influence in the Edo Shogunate.

Chapter 71 Unparalleled Sword Drawing Technique

Having nearly caused an accident to his granddaughter at Fujisawa-juku, Anthony had no desire to stay in that ominous place any longer.

The next day at daybreak, Anthony hurriedly directed his caravan to leave Fujisawa-juku and continue his journey to Edo.

Anthony's team is not very large.

There were a total of no more than eight carriages, including those for riding in and for transporting luggage.

The carriages were lined up in a single file and traveled along the flat road of the Tokaido.

Led by Komuro, the 36 guards dispersed and protected the convoy from all directions.

Apart from Komuro, none of the other guards were qualified to ride horses, so they all had to escort the traveling caravan on foot, and the caravan had to keep up with the guards, moving forward at a pace that was no different from walking.

At this very moment, inside one of the eight carriages—

"No wonder it's a carriage belonging to a wealthy family..." Qingdeng quipped to himself, "There wasn't a single bump in the ride."

The carriage that Aoto and Saito were riding in must have used some special manufacturing process, as it had extremely strong shock absorption, making it very stable with almost no bumps.

Although Qingdeng's right leg wound was not serious, he wouldn't be able to get out of bed and walk without resting for two days.

After all, Qing Deng's right leg was injured while saving his granddaughter and the others. After learning about Qing Deng's situation, Anthony, who felt quite ashamed of Qing Deng's injury, waved his hand and invited Qing Deng to ride back to Edo, since they were going to Edo anyway.

Faced with Anthony's invitation, Qing Deng readily agreed after only a moment's thought.

The reason was simple—to hitch a ride back to Edo with Anthony. Aoto could only think of one advantage after another, and couldn't think of any disadvantages.

If Aoto refuses Anthony's "ride-sharing" invitation, he will have to stay in Fujisawa-juku for a few days before he can find a way to get back to Edo.

It's not impossible that the "radical anti-foreign faction" that had their eyes on Aoto's head knew he was injured. So, while Aoto was recuperating at Fujisawa Inn, they secretly broke into the inn and attacked him.

Based on the currently known information about that group of lunatics, it can be basically concluded that they possess certain intelligence gathering or tracking capabilities.

Every "divine punishment" they have launched against Qingdeng so far has happened precisely when Qingdeng went to a sparsely populated area—this is the best proof that they have a certain intelligence gathering or tracking ability.

In conclusion, given his current injuries, it would be better for him to return to Edo, where Arima and others can help him, rather than staying in the unfamiliar Fujisawa-juku.

Besides this main reason, Qingdeng agreed to take a "ride" because riding in a carriage would be more comfortable, and going back with Anthony and the others would be safer.

It's obvious which is easier: sitting comfortably in a carriage or struggling to walk on foot.

So far, although those so-called "patriots who want to expel the barbarians" have shouted the slogan of "expelling the barbarians" loudly, very few Westerners have actually died at their hands.

The number of Japanese who died at their hands was much greater than the number of Westerners killed.

Moreover, the few Westerners they killed were mostly killed when they were alone and unwitting.

There has never been a precedent for “patriots to expel foreigners” attacking Westerners who were protected by a large number of warriors.

By traveling back to Edo with a large group like Anthony's, there was no need to worry about being attacked by "anti-foreign patriots" on the way back.

Qing Deng really couldn't think of any reason to refuse Anthony's "hitchhiking" invitation.

After Aoto readily agreed, Anthony made room for Aoto and Saito in a carriage that had previously been used to carry luggage—the same carriage the two were currently riding in.

The weather is quite nice today.

The temperature wasn't cold, the sun was shining, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Qingdeng opened the car window slightly to let the fresh air in, then leaned his head against the window and carefully observed the scenery outside.

“…You seem to be in a good mood.” Saito, who was sitting opposite Aoto, rarely took the initiative to talk to him.

"Hmm? Yes, I am in a really good mood right now." Qing Deng, whose gaze was not taken off the scenery outside the window, smiled slightly.

The case that should have been handled by him was solved by "Neko-sō"... Aoto thought that this "Fujisawa-yū trip" would be a business trip that would be a huge loss.

Unexpectedly, life is so unpredictable.

Despite sustaining a minor leg injury, Qingdeng's return journey was truly a "full harvest."