Sanako looked awkward.

"I think I should get some reward after saying such cool words."

"..."

Sanako raised his eyes and glared at Qingden fiercely.

However, in just the next second, she lowered her head with pink cheeks, staring at her slightly tightened toes while adjusting the position of her right hand.

His fingers slipped between Qingdeng's fingers.

From "being held" to "fingers clasped".

Hold Qingdeng's hand tightly.

"...You are not allowed to let go of me until I say, 'It's okay.' If you dare to let me go, from tonight on, you and I will be strangers. And don't do it again."

Qingdeng smiled and said nothing.

In this situation and atmosphere, no words are needed.

Just like that, the two held hands and looked at the world in the distance together.

The night wind passed by them.

The blades above the head are rubbing in the wind.

The slender crescent moon is getting brighter and whiter.

The sound of water lapping against the river bank turned into a melodious melody.

…

…

Edo, Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagi Town——

"Moo moo~~"

After sending Sanako home, one person and one cow finally returned to the trial defense hall.

After running around for a whole day, even Carrot was tired.

"Moo moo..."

Carrot consciously got into the cowshed.

The professional shepherd Qing Teng hired with a large sum of money to take care of the radishes immediately quickly took out hay and brushes to feed and brush the radishes.

Qingdeng dragged his body and walked toward the residence.

——I’m so tired...go to bed quickly...

He had also planned to go to Chihiro House and take a nice hot bath.

However, it is already late at night and Chihiro House is about to close.

Moreover, after going out for a tryst with Sanako, my already exhausted body became even more overwhelmed, and I really didn't feel like taking a bath anymore.

Qingdeng stretched out his hand and opened the door - click, click, click - and then he saw a majestic "gorilla".

"Tangerine-kun! You are finally back! You came back just in time!"

Isamu Kondo stood at the entrance with his arms crossed and a high-spirited look.

"Kondo-kun, what's wrong?"

"Sorry, Tachibana-kun, can I disturb you for a moment?"

Sorry, no - to be honest, Qingdeng really wanted to answer this.

He really wants to go to bed now!

However... after seeing Kondo Isamu's extremely serious expression, Aoto still buried his inner thoughts deeply.

"Is there something important?"

"Well, let's put it this way, I won't bother you for a long time, it will be fine in a little while."

"……I see."

Aoto took off his shoes and took off the saber from his waist, and followed Kondo Isamu.

After arriving at the destination: the hall of the Trial Guard Hall, Qingdeng couldn't help but be surprised by the scene inside.

Kondo Shusuke, Okita Souji, Hijikata Toshizo, Shannan Keisuke, Inoue Genzaburo, Saito Ichi, Nagakura Shinpachi, Harada Sanosuke, Toudo Heisuke... I saw everyone gathered together, sitting at attention.

Even the frizzy Harada Sanosuke rarely showed an upright attitude.

"What's going on? Why is everyone here?"

Qingdeng asked in a daze.

Isamu Kondo faced Ayoto with a solemn expression and said loudly and righteously:

"Tachibana-kun, I'll keep the story short."

"Tonight, while you have not returned yet, we have been having a heated discussion."

"In the end, we unanimously decided: I, General Secretary, A Sui, Uncle Gen, Shannan-kun, Saito-kun, Nagakura-kun, Harada-kun, and Todo-kun will all join the Zhenfu Army! I will go to Beijing with you!"

Qingden's eyes widened in surprise.

For a moment, he smiled bitterly, and then murmured softly at a volume that only he himself could hear clearly:

"Did you and Sanako make an agreement in advance? Why did you both say the same thing at the same time..."

After adjusting his emotions, he turned his eyes and scanned the faces of the General Secretary and others, and asked:

"You all want to join the Zhenfu Army? Why?"

Shannan Keisuke pursed his lips and smiled:

"This is all thanks to Kondo-kun's impassioned speech just now."

Isamu Kondo laughed loudly:

"Shannan-kun, you praise me. I don't have such a big contribution. It's obvious that you are also eager to go to Kyoto, but my instigation only played a catalytic role!"

Shannan Keisuke slowly closed his eyes - his actions were equivalent to acquiescing to what Isamu Kondo said.

After laughing happily, Kondo Isamu's face returned to a solemn look:

"Mr. Ju, when I learned that you had been promoted to the title of 'Messenger of the capital city' and that you were going to send troops to Luo one day, my heart has been restless."

"There was a voice in my head that kept telling me: This is my best chance to make a name for myself!"

Hearing this, Qingden raised his eyebrows.

He couldn't help but recall the night when Kondo Isamu officially inherited the position of "the fourth generation head of the Tenurishin-ryu clan", the look of his unfulfilled ambitions, and the words he said about his "desire for greater achievements."

words.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied with my current life."

Speaking of this, Kondo Isamu glanced at Kondo Shusuke beside him.

"It's just that... a real man was born in troubled times, so he should carry a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled achievements!"

"Today, at the recruitment meeting of the Zhenfu Army, I felt strong envy in my heart when I looked at everyone who climbed onto the platform."

"At that moment, I was finally convinced - I still want to make a difference!"

"I long to be like the heroes of the Warring States Period three hundred years ago, using a sword in my hand and a horse on my hip to gain great fame! Become the master of a city and a place!"

"To be honest, after making this decision, I felt like my whole body was almost floating with excitement."

"Driven by this excitement, I gathered everyone together and shared all my thoughts. I wanted to see if there was anyone who had the same ambition as me and was willing to go to Kyoto with me."

"I never thought... the final result far exceeded my expectations - everyone is willing to go to Kyoto."

As soon as Isamu Kondo finished speaking, Nagakura Shinpachi wiped his nose, grinned and said with a smile:

"To be honest, I had the intention to sign up to join the Zhenfu Army before Kondo-kun showed his ambition!"

"After all, the reason why I came to the Trial Guard Hall as a diner is because I want to follow Mr. Tachibana!"

"Mr. Tachibana is going to Kyoto, so I have no reason not to accompany you!"

Todo Heisuke answered excitedly:

"Me too!"

Shannan Jingshu nodded silently.

Although Saito Ichi remained silent as always, everyone knew that the reason why he became a patron of the Trial Guard Hall was because of Aoto.

Sanosuke Harada scratched his hair several times.

"I don't have any ambitions or dreams. It's just that if everyone goes to Kyoto and I don't go, it will feel lonely."

Genzaburo Inoue chuckled a few times.

"I don't have any ambitions or dreams. It's just because I can't worry about Ayong, Suisan and Souji."
To be continued...