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"Big news! Big news!"
The tile vendors, who had just rested for a few days, were once again busy in the streets and alleys of Edo, selling their latest tabloids to every citizen around them.
"Nioh has made another big move!"
"Nioh challenges all the sword halls, jujutsu halls, and karatō halls in Edo... in short! He issues a challenge to all the martial arts halls in Edo!"
"The target of the challenge is also the martial arts school!"
"Starting from January 24th, Nioh will attack all the martial arts schools and all the martial arts halls in Edo!"
"Big news! Big news!"
"Nioh is going to challenge all the top warriors in Edo!"
"What? Nioh, is he crazy?"
"What does he want to do?"
"Does he want to rush to Kyoto and challenge the strong men one by one with whom he has not had time to compete before?"
"But isn't he going to Kyoto on February 1st? There are only a few days left before February 1st! He has a way to challenge so many martial arts halls and so many in such a short period of time
A warrior?"
"Hey! Look at what you said! Don't forget that Nioh's physical strength is very abnormal! When the Shinsengumi was recruiting soldiers, he challenged thousands of people in a row in 17 days. Not only did his body not collapse, but he also kept his face glowing
Refreshing! With Nioh’s ability, it is really possible for him to challenge all the martial arts halls in Edo in just a few days!”
"He even challenged the Kung Fu School... The Kung Fu School is full of swordsmen! Regardless of other sword schools, the Kung Fu School is not easy to break into."
"Especially since there is a 'Sword Master' in the martial arts institute."
"The 'Sword Master' is already old. The male Seiichiro Tanani is over sixty years old. An old man of this age may die even if he falls, let alone fighting with a sword?"
"You can't say that! The last time I saw Otani Seiichiro, he was still in high spirits! His face was rosy, and he didn't look like an old man who was already over sixty years old at all!"
"These are just superficial phenomena. No matter how energetic you look on the outside, you are old when you are old. Once a person gets older, his physical strength and energy will decline uncontrollably. This is a truth in the world and cannot be violated.
Yes! No matter how strong a person is, there will be a day of birth, old age, illness and death. The strength of male Tan Seiichiro is definitely not as good as it used to be!"
"However, although the 'Sword Master' is old, his abilities should not be underestimated."
"No matter what, there is another good show to watch! All the top warriors in Edo will fight against Nioh... Hahaha! It's exciting just thinking about it!"
…
Seuse and violence are the two eternal themes that most attract human beings.
No matter which country or era it is in, news related to these two topics will naturally capture the hearts of the general public.
Therefore, when the tile vendors shouted out today's front page content, Edo citizens rushed to buy the tabloids faster than before.
Every time the tile vendors took out a stack of tabloids, they were quickly sold out.
All the tile workshops were rushing to print more tabloids, but even so, their production speed was still not as fast as the citizens' buying enthusiasm.
In recent days, Edo citizens have become accustomed to "Aoto Fever".
Since the end of last year, Qingdeng has set off one social craze after another.
First, he was promoted to "Gyeonggi Zhenfu Envoy", then the sergeants were selected in a "fight one by one" method, and then the official name and organizational structure of the Zhenfu Army were determined.
And now, this man has once again created new and bigger hot news - challenging the martial arts school and all the martial arts halls in Edo!
This matter... although it cannot be said to be shocking, it can also be said to be jaw-dropping.
Since the establishment of the Tokugawa family in Edo, no one has ever sent letters of challenge to all the martial arts halls in Edo like Ainoto!
Qingdeng's move is unprecedented! There may be no one to come after him!
For a time, thousands of eyes fell on Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagi Town and the Imperial Guard Hall.
Everyone is looking forward to it and are mentally prepared to witness "the birth of a new legend" with their own eyes.
If Qingdeng's "journey" ended in failure, it would be easy to say that it would just leave a series of inconspicuous records in the history books.
But if you win...
If he really "conquers Edo" and escapes unscathed... no one knows how to imagine it.
In response to Qingto's challenge, various martial arts schools made various responses.
Silence is the answer.
There are those who welcome you warmly.
There are also people who are restless.
Regarding Aoshito's feat, the good guys in Edo gave it a very mighty but rebellious name - "Edo Conquest"!
From a certain point of view, this name is really wonderful.
Aoto sent a letter of challenge to the Kyobu Institute and all the martial arts halls in Edo.
This is tantamount to challenging all the apparently strong men in Edo.
Such a move can indeed be regarded as a conquest of Edo!
In the heyday of the Edo shogunate - from the mid-17th century to the mid-18th century - those who dared to give such an unorthodox name would have been investigated, arrested, and punished by the officers of the "Sanchai" of the Imperial Guard Bureau all night long.
The perpetrator.
However, after a series of incidents such as the "Black Ship Attack" and the "Sakurada Gate Incident", "bombs" that had been hidden in all levels of society for a long time exploded one after another.
While the Edo shogunate lost its authority, it also basically lost its grassroots management capabilities.
Even if they knew that a rather rebellious term was being circulated among the citizens, the shogunate was unable to respond.
The name "Edo Conquest" spread rapidly in teahouses, izakayas, bathhouses and other popular places.
In this tense and expectant atmosphere, finally... the tall figure with three swords on his waist slowly walked out of the gate of the trial hall under the gaze of thousands of people.
…
…
Wenjiu three years (1863), January 24——
Edo, Koishikawa Kohinata Yanagi Town, Imperial Guard Hall——
Qingden sat in the entrance hall, fastened his snow boots, patched the burgundy feather fabric, tied the black scarf tightly, and hung his waistband, Dingguishen and Vairocana quietly on his left waist.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap,...
Suddenly, he heard a series of footsteps behind him that he had long heard.
Qingdeng turned his head and looked at the brothers behind him with a wry smile.
Souji, Kondo Isamu, Hijikata Toshizo, Shannan Keisuke...everyone in the trial defense hall stood neatly behind him.
Admiration, appreciation, helplessness, envy... all kinds of expressions in the world seem to be reflected on their faces.
"What's wrong? Why are you acting like you want to send me off to get married? To prevent you from forgetting, let me remind you: I am a man and I will not get married."
"The beginning of 'Nioh's New Legend' - it would be a shame if we didn't come to witness it with our own eyes."
Harada Sanosuke said this in his usual naive voice.
Qingdeng laughed dumbly:
"Legend... I can't bear this word. When I come back victorious, you can use this word again."
Shannan Keisuke smiled slightly and said:
"Even if you don't come home victorious, just challenging the martial arts school and all the martial arts halls in Edo is enough to be called a 'legend'."
As soon as Shannan Keisuke finished speaking, the director with a complicated expression on his face immediately took over:
"Although I don't know what your thoughts were that led you to suddenly make such a decision... Anyway, you have to be careful and don't force yourself too much."
At this time, Toshizo Hijikata, who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded, grinned and interjected:
"Tachibana, are you trying to grab the title of 'The Strongest in Edo' before you leave Edo?"
Qingden shook his head gently.
To be continued...