Bai Ling felt embarrassed and felt that his head went blank.
I couldn't remember a word of the pre-planned opening remarks and other words.
But at this moment, Shimano took the initiative and said:
"You are... Miss Bai Ling from Akane House, right?"
"Huh?"
Bai Ling raised his eyes, and while looking into Shimano's eyes, he blinked in surprise.
"Shimano-kun, you...remember me?"
"of course I remember."
Shimano said, smiling as warmly as the sun.
"A while ago, there was a burglary in Qian's house. When I was ordered to come to investigate, I met you once. If I remember correctly, we even used each other's names at that time."
As soon as Shimano finished speaking, Bai Ling's face immediately turned red - the color was different from the "dark red" he had suppressed due to emotional embarrassment just now, this time it was a "bright red" filled with shame.
She subconsciously hid her shame.
While burying his head low, his eyes were staring straight at the ground in front of his tiny toes.
"You remember this, such a long time ago..."
Bai Ling's tone contained half of surprise, half of shyness, and half of joy.
"Of course I remember. How could I forget such a lovely girl as Miss Bai Ling?"
Because he was lowering his head, Bai Ling did not see - when Shimano said these words, the smile on his face gradually became warm and bright.
"Ah...ah...ah..."
However, from another perspective, it was a blessing that Bai Ling did not see Shimano's brighter smile.
Just hearing what Shimano said just now, "How could I forget that?", her whole "emotional receptive ability" was overloaded.
The steps are weak.
Body shaking.
If she hadn't suppressed her inner turmoil in time, she would have turned into a ball of mud paralyzed on the ground.
"Ha...ha...ha...ha...ha..."
Bai Ling covered his chest with his hands and took a dozen deep breaths before finally getting his heart rate back to a level that would not make people feel uncomfortable and regaining the ability to speak normally.
At this moment, Bai Ling felt a powerful "power" that no one could control... no, it should be said that it was an uncontrollable "impulse", running wildly in her limbs and bones.
"call……!"
She took a sharp breath.
"Shimano-kun!"
Then, with a trembling voice, he turns his feelings towards the other party into concrete emotions and words.
"I fell in love with you the first time I saw you."
"I am just a humble wandering girl... I am ashamed to talk about 'marriage' and 'happiness', and I dare not expect to grow old together with you."
"I just hope you can come to see me occasionally...just once a month."
"If this can be done, I will be satisfied!"
Emotions explode.
The thoughts that had been accumulated and stored were released from Bai Ling's body in one breath, and vented towards Shimano's whole body.
After this blazing affection flew into the night sky, Bai Ling stared at his toes, his limbs stiff, and he did not dare to look at Shimano opposite him, like a criminal waiting for trial in court.
"...Miss Bai Ling."
Shimano called softly.
"I come to see you once a month... Isn't this frequency too subtle?"
Hot tears suddenly welled up in Bai Ling's eyes.
——As expected...isn't it still possible...
Bai Ling's hands, which were naturally folded in front of him, clenched the hem of his clothes unconsciously.
Just when her tears of grievance were about to burst out of her eyes——
"'Seeing you once a month' is too long. Can I come see you every day?"
"Eh……?"
Bai Ling felt that his eardrums were instantly paralyzed, and all the sounds around him seemed to drift away.
His eyes, stained by tears, left his toes and moved upward inch by inch.
His eyes crossed Shimano's insteps, calves, thighs, waist, chest, neck... and finally settled on the handsome face that was filled with shame.
Tears welled up in Bai Ling's eyes, and then fell down his cheeks in one breath.
The big tears fell on the dirt road.
The girl clearly saw her own reflection in the young man's eyes - a hazy figure who was crying and laughing.
…
A month later, the "Three Chapters" of Beifansuo temporarily returned to Okahiki Shimano Minoru under the command of Tongxin Yinto Kuzo. With the help of friends, he redeemed the life of Yoshihara Akaya Yumei Bailing, and regardless of secular pressure, solemnly married Bailing as his wife. The news became hot news in Edo overnight.
After hearing the news, many people ran to Shimano and Bai Ling's new home to watch the liveliness and jokes of the newlyweds, who were braving the world's disapproval.
There are people who feel sorry for Shimano - he is obviously good-looking and has a good job with a decent salary, but he married a promiscuous woman with "a pair of jade arms that can be used by thousands of people, and a bit of red lips that can be tasted by thousands of people."
There were also people who mocked Shimano as a fool in public - their heads were filled with water! It's okay to take a wandering girl as a concubine, but actually marry a wandering girl as your main wife?
In ancient Japan, like ancient China, there was no such thing as "three wives and four concubines", only "one husband, one wife and multiple concubines."
No one will care about how many concubines you take and who you take as concubines.
But there can only be one head wife.
This is the point of conflict between Souji and other women and Qingto.
Qingdeng wanted to marry them all as his wives.
However, in the eyes of the daughters who have been influenced by feudal ideas since childhood, once Qingdeng marries other girls as his wives, and later marries them, they will automatically be reduced to "concubines" whose status in the family is no different from that of "high-level slaves". "Yes.
According to legend, Bai Ling was frightened by those people who were watching the excitement and did not take it too seriously. Bai Ling suffered from mental illness for a time and did not dare to go out or see anyone except Shimano.
It is even said that after Bai Ling learned that her status as a wandering girl had caused a lot of trouble for Shimano, she felt deeply guilty and filed for divorce from Shimano.
External forces from the outside world and conflicts within the government - Shimano withstood it all with his amazing psychological quality.
Faced with the ridicule of outsiders, he laughed it off.
Faced with his wife's fragility, he fully supported her.
As time went by, when the popularity of the big news about "an official from the service station married a wandering girl" gradually faded away, everyone's attention was attracted by new hot news, and no one had the leisure to pay attention to this pair of special statuses. couple.
This couple, who had a rough life, finally lived an ordinary, normal, but happy life.
Whether in public or in private, Shimano respects Bai Ling and never acts like a "big man" or "I am your savior".
As for Bai Ling, when she married Shimano, she gave up the nickname "Lark" and changed her name to "Shimano Ling". She devoted herself to running the family and tried hard to play the role of a good wife.
Gradually, the nearby residents no longer looked at the Kang Li couple through colored glasses.
Gradually, the Shimano couple became famous far and wide as a loving couple, and they became a good talk for a while.
Qingdeng probably never expected that he would actually become a moon elder, indirectly contributing to the birth of a pair of deeply in love mandarin ducks.
…
…
Speaking of which, now——
Edo, Sawa Town——
When I turned around the wall of an izakaya, it was like a piece of the black wall fell off, and a long black shadow appeared silently at the intersection.
[Exposed intersection: a path between two rows of houses that is not covered by eaves. 】
It was Qingdeng who rushed here with all his strength after saying goodbye to Gua Shengxiu.
We have finally arrived... Qingdeng thought to himself. As long as you pass through the dew intersection in front of you, you will reach Sawacho's 2-chome.
Ayoto was not familiar with this area, so he did not know where the Yamato House was located in Sawa Town.
After arriving at the 2-chome of Sawa Town, you still have to spend some time looking around for the location of Yamatoya.
Fortunately, the area of Sawa Town is not that big.
There are nearly 2,000 towns throughout Edo. Although there are many towns, most of them are only two or three streets, or even the size of one street.
Thinking about it this way, it shouldn't take much time to find the specific location of Yamatoya.
With this thought, Qingdeng lightly pressed the bamboo hat on his head and stepped forward.
The figure melted into the darkness at the intersection.
He stepped lightly on the ditch board with silent steps.
[Gutter board: a wooden board laid on the ditch]
At this time, facing Qingdeng directly in front of him, several white marks drawn out of thin air were suddenly faintly visible.
"Snowing……"
As Qingdeng continued to walk forward, he raised the edge of his hat and looked up at the "white elf" floating down carelessly.
"It's really not the right time for this snow to fall..."
While murmuring like this, Qingden frowned slightly and his face darkened slightly.
Once the snow accumulates on the ground, it becomes difficult to keep your steps quiet.
The "squeaking" sound of treading on the snow is especially ear-splitting so late at night.
Moreover, being in a land dyed white by snow is not conducive to hiding one's figure.
——I need to speed up a little bit...
Qingdeng wears a bamboo hat.
A wide bucket hat with a very low brim is now an excellent snow hat.
However, there were still two or three naughty snowflakes, blown by the cold night wind like a knife, falling from the slant into the back of Qingden's neck.
As if to tell the story of the brevity of life, the snowflakes disappeared immediately after touching Qingdeng's skin.
The cold touch made Qingdeng's already energetic consciousness become more active.
In fact, from last night to now, Qingdeng's eyes have never closed.
The reason is all thanks to the new talent he got from my grandson Chutaro last night: "God Brain + 9".
Just as Qingdeng had expected, "Shen Brain + 9" not only extended his concentration time a lot, but also made him less likely to fall asleep. The rest time his brain needs... in simple terms... , that is, sleep time is further reduced.
After being copied to the "Sleeping God", Qingden's available time per day has increased significantly for a long time.
Going to work, practicing martial arts, studying, strengthening relationships with girls like Souji, bragging and drinking with good buddies like Kondo... There are so many things Aomori has to do and be able to do every day.
Therefore, he will never think that he has too much time.
He wished he could become a superman who never had to sleep.
Therefore, Qingden was very satisfied with his new talent.
However, the living habit of "going to bed on time at 10 o'clock every night" has already penetrated into his subconscious mind.
It should take him a lot of time to fully adapt to this sudden change in his physiological routine.
call!
A particularly strong cold wind suddenly hit Qingdeng from the front.
He saw the exit of the exposed intersection under his feet, already in front of him.
Affected by the "narrow tube effect", the wind became much stronger.
Seeing this, Qingdeng quickly put aside the distracting thoughts in his mind and focused all his attention on the business at hand.
His luck was good.
In just a moment, he found a wooden hotel-level hotel with a "Yamatoya" plaque hanging in a corner of Sawa Town 2-chome.
Inns in the Edo period were divided into four levels:
1. Honjin: a residential facility that can only be occupied by daimyo, public officials and high officials of the shogunate. Qingdeng, who is now the captain of the Third Division of Fire Thieves, can check into a hotel of this level with his ID if he goes on a business trip.
Second, the wakihonjin: a residential facility that provides services to the relatively low-level feudal lords and their entourage.
3. Hatago: The most common inn that caters to general samurai and common people. Meals are generally provided. They are divided into "Imori Hatago" with rice-mori girls and "Hirago" without this service. [Imori-na: As the name suggests, she is a woman who serves and sells rice to guests in a hotel. In fact, she provides astringent services to male travelers. But not all Iimori girls were prostitutes. 】
4. Wooden rental accommodation: The cheapest accommodation facility, which does not provide meals and bedding. Accommodation prices are generally only one-fifth of Hatago.
From the appearance, Yamatoya is a very common wooden rental house.
Dilapidated ceiling, old walls, height of two stories, not too big or too small.
It's now past 10 o'clock in the evening.
At a time when entertainment activities are scarce, except for a few special places such as Yoshiwara, most of Edo at this time has been immersed in the embrace of night.
Inside and outside Yamato's house, it was dark and quiet, with no light visible.
——Okay...let's sneak in and take a look...
Just as Qingdeng was thinking this, out of the corner of his right eye he suddenly spotted a lone figure walking straight towards him.
This person has a very fast pace.
Within a moment, he moved from the street corner a hundred meters away to not far from Qingdeng.
According to common sense, it is impossible for passers-by to appear on the streets of Edo at this time...
Qingden, who was keenly aware of the abnormality, subconsciously lowered his waist and hid in the darkness.
At almost the same moment when he relied on his "cat's eye" night vision ability to check the face of the visitor——
--Um? he is……? !
Qingdeng's eyes widened in surprise.
This "uninvited guest"... Qingdeng recognized him.
It was the cadre of the "Shimizu Clan" who imprisoned Otsuki Tsuneji because his lover was poached by Otsuki Tsuneji: Konosuke Kitahara!
As New Year's Day approached last year, in order to repay the debt owed to Miyabe Shunzou (Otsuki Minoru's biological father), he responded to Otsuki Minoru's pleading and took Sona with him to Kitahara Konosuke's casino to rescue him from him. I went back to Otsuki often times.
Just when Aonto was surprised, he saw Konosuke Kitahara pause - he stopped outside the door of Yamatoya's store, and then crossed the threshold of Yamatoya without any hesitation.
Immediately afterwards, a window in Yamato's house suddenly lit up with white and red candlelight...
"..."
When Qingdeng saw this, he showed a thoughtful, neither sad nor happy expression.
"ha……"
The closed lips were slightly open, and hot turbid air flowed out from between the teeth.
"The whole incident is getting more and more confusing..."
After murmuring like this, Aomori took off the hat on his head that was in the way of sneaking in, and walked towards Yamatoya without any hesitation.
He quietly circled the Yamato House and quickly found the best entrance to sneak into.
He jumped lightly, grabbed the rafters under the eaves, and then turned his body upwards like origami, standing on the eaves of the first floor of the Yamato House, and then disappeared into the invisible night... …
…
…
The Yamatoya, which has only two floors in total, is not that big, and because it is only a wooden rental hotel, the internal structure is quite simple...it can even be described as rough, so Ayoto quickly followed the dusty, The dirty ceiling of spider webs sneaked up to the room that was suddenly lit by candlelight.
Before he even got close, Qingdeng could hear very noisy quarrels coming from the room.
Since there was no gap or gap through which he could peek below, Qingdeng had to listen to the sound to identify the location and rely entirely on his ears to gather information.
Qingden closed his eyes.
"Gathering God", "Perceiver of Wind", and "God Brain +9" are activated!
All kinds of subtle sounds that are difficult for normal people to perceive were continuously transmitted to Qingdeng's ears like thunder.
Qingden uses the sound of breathing to identify the number of people in the room and where each person is.
——1, 2, 3... 23 people... That's a lot of people...
At the same time, Qingden listened carefully to their conversation.
"Higashiyama-kun and Nanase-kun haven't returned from Yoshiwara yet?"
"No."
"Tsk! They must have encountered something unexpected..."
——Higashiyama...Nanase...should be the name of the birthmark face and the strong man...
The birthmarked face and the strong man, who were still sleeping heavily, were temporarily entrusted to Kua Shengxiu by Aomori. After the affairs at Yamatoya were finished, they would be taken back, as they might have some important information.
"Damn it! It's too slow, isn't it? It's just killing a wandering girl, does it take so much time?"
"That's right! Such a long time is enough for me to kill and kill in Yoshiwara and back!"
"Don't tell me that after Fukushima-kun, even Higashiyama-kun and Nanase-kun are missing!"
"Hmph! Fukushima-kun brought it all upon himself! He might have been buried in the flames of Kodenma Town's Koyashiki!"
"That's right! The flames were already burning very high and strong at that time. I advised him not to enter the fire scene, but he insisted on saying that he had an ominous premonition and wanted to see with his own eyes whether Ju Qingden had been burned to death or choked. If you die, you will never come back!"
"Sigh... Okay, stop talking. Fukushima-kun is one of our leaders after all. His disappearance is a great loss to us!"
——Fukushima-kun...Sea of Fire...
The face of the mysterious man he encountered and fought with when he was escaping from Kodenma Town's prison house that was devoured by the fire demon appeared in Aoto's mind.
——Is it him... That mysterious man should be the Fukushima-kun they call...
Under the ceiling, the discussion continued.
"Okay, let's get back to the topic. The reason why we suddenly held this meeting tonight is to discuss whether to abandon this important stronghold under our buttocks. Everyone, please speak freely."
As soon as this person finished speaking, a hoarse voice sounded:
"I think it should be abandoned! As we discussed this morning, Kimura Suma and Higasaka Genzo were abducted by unknown persons at the same time. This is really abnormal! The possibility that this is Tachibana Aoden's handiwork cannot be ruled out! Kimura Suma and Hosaka Genzo knows that Shirogiku of Yoshiwara Chikaya is Yuki-kun's lover, and Baiju knows the existence of Yamato House. Therefore, the location of the stronghold may be at risk of being exposed. Just in case, I think all personnel and materials in Yamato House should be removed. , move to another stronghold!"
As soon as the hoarse voice fell, a high-pitched male voice immediately rebuked, not to be outdone:
"Relocating a stronghold? Huh? It's easy for you to say that! Do you think a stronghold with a good geographical location and concealment enough is so easy to find? I think everyone doesn't need to be so nervous! Haven't we already sent Dongshan Jun and Qi Has Se-kun gone to kill that Baiju? Once that Baiju dies, everything will be fine!"
"But the problem is, Higashiyama-kun and Nanase-kun haven't returned yet! I think they must have had an accident!"
"I think it's better to make two preparations. Not only kill Bai Ju, but also abandon the current stronghold."
"You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are! This Yamato House is the place with the best comprehensive conditions that I have found, and the most suitable place to set up as a base! If you want to change it to something as good or better than this one in a short period of time, It’s simply impossible!”
"Damn it! Yuuki-kun! After all, it's not all your fault! Even if you're playing with women, you actually revealed the location of this precious stronghold that you finally found!"
——Yuki... Yuuki Kamenosuke...
Finally hearing the name of a person he knew, Qingdeng quickly cheered up.
"I……!"
A baritone voice seemed to come from Yuuki Kamenosuke.
He hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed heavily.
"I admit... I was indeed confused... I was so fascinated by Baiju's little feet... I accidentally made the mistake when I heard her ask me for my address and expressed that she wanted to send me more letters on weekdays. Liaohun...I'm very sorry! I'm willing to accept all punishment!"
At this time, two loud claps overwhelmed all the sounds around.
"That's enough, now is not the time to pass the buck to each other."
It’s Kitahara Konosuke’s voice!
Qingdeng's eyes shrank slightly.
He clearly felt that after Kitahara Konosuke's voice sounded, no one dared to speak again.
Even through the ceiling, he could tell that everyone in the room was staring intently at Kitahara Konosuke.
Kitahara Konosuke's status among this group of people... is evident.
Ayoto, who realized this, did not dare to relax and listened to Kitahara Konosuke's words with bated breath.
…
Because Qingdeng was hiding on the ceiling, he couldn't see the scene below at all.
Therefore, he had no idea that since just now, there was a young warrior with a long face, holding a knife in his arms, sitting cross-legged in the corner of the room, frequently raising his eyes to look at the ceiling above his head.
Wherever he looked was where Qingdeng was hiding.
"Goto-kun, what's wrong?"
A person next to him noticed something strange about the long-faced warrior and asked.
"……nothing."
The long-faced samurai called Goto responded softly.
…
"Just blaming others. Neither the blaming party nor the blamed party will grow."
Kithara Konosuke stood up and said loudly while looking around at everyone around him.
"No one has forgotten why we are here, right?"
"We are working hard and passionately to take revenge on the Tachibana family, aren't we?"
"That being the case, what kind of decency would it be for us to fight here in a den before the big revenge has been avenged?"
"Cheer up, everyone!"
"No one is allowed to mention the mutual accusations like just now!"
"If anyone offends again, I will punish him severely! Then don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As Kithara Konosuke's words fell, echoes sounded in twos and threes.
"yes……"
"Understood."
"Sorry, Mr. Kitahara, we will not make this mistake again..."
Qingdeng, who was lying on the ceiling and eavesdropping, could not help but frown.
——Revenge against the Tachibana family...?
What Konosuke Kitahara said just now made Qingto very concerned.
What he said was not "revenge against Tachibana Aoden", but "revenge against Tachibana family"...
The target is not him as a person, but the family to which he belongs...
At this moment, Qingto felt that the "fog" that had been clouding his mind ever since he witnessed the fire in Kodenma Town's cell building was gradually fading away.
In the haze, he felt that he was about to touch the truth hidden behind the "fog".
However... at this same moment, a sudden change occurred.
Under the ceiling, the long-faced warrior who had been keeping an eye on Qingden's hiding place suddenly stood up slowly with the sword in his arms.
Seeing this, Kitahara Konosuke asked in confusion:
"Goto-kun, what's wrong?"
Goto ignored Kitahara Konosuke's rhetorical question.
While continuing to stare at Qingden's hiding place, he pulled out the wakizashi from his waist.
Soon enough, the wakizashi, which reflected the sharp cold light under the candlelight, flew out of his hand! Shoot to the ceiling! Shoot at the place where Qingdeng is hiding and lying down!
The timing of Goto's attack was so sudden.
Wakizashi's flying speed is so fast.
Even a warrior who has been in battle for a long time and whose nerves have been repeatedly tempered by blood and fire might not be able to react, right?
However, long before Goto threw the wakizashi, Aomori had relied on his superior hearing to hear the subtle sound of drawing a sword!
Thanks to his good ears, Qingdeng sensed the approaching danger at the critical moment.
Immediately afterwards... "Godly Speed +4" activates!
He rolled to the left at lightning speed——
Peng!
Wakizashi pierced the old ceiling, and the blade of the knife sank deeply into the ceiling. It was not until the blade was firmly in contact with the ceiling that it finally stopped "flying".
The place where the wakizashi stabbed him was exactly where Qingteng was lying just now.
If Aoto's reaction and movements had been slower just now, he would have been stabbed in skewers by the wakizashi thrown by Goto.
However, although Qingdeng successfully dodged this sudden attack, the violent movement of turning over inevitably made a loud "gudong", "gudong" sound.
"Sure enough, there is someone hiding..."
Goto said calmly.
At the same time, Qingdeng was also talking to himself in a calm tone:
"Has it been exposed..."
For a moment, everyone in the room, led by Kitara Konosuke, all had knives in their hands, as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"There's someone! There's someone on the ceiling!"
"Damn! Why is there someone hiding on the ceiling? Is he an official from the government?"
"Quick! Follow me! Poke the thief down from the ceiling!"
Under the ceiling, the sound of footsteps gathered towards Qingdeng.
Now that the whereabouts have been exposed, there is no need to continue hiding!
Qingden took a deep breath and kicked the ceiling beneath him.
How can it withstand Qingdeng's kick when it has been on the ceiling for a long time?
Qingdeng stepped down, and a large hole suddenly appeared in the ceiling for at least one adult male to pass through freely.
He jumped down the big hole, and his feet landed on the corridor outside the room.
At this time, everyone, led by Kitara Konosuke, rushed out of the room.
Qingdeng's hat had long been abandoned on the snow outside because wearing it was not conducive to sneaking.
Therefore, after Kithara Konosuke and others rushed out of the room, they immediately saw their "thinking" faces.
"Tachibana Aoden!"
At the same moment when he saw Aoden, Kitahara Konosuke's penis shrank to the size of a pinhole.
Immediately afterwards, the burning anger climbed up to his eyes at a speed visible to the naked eye.
He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:
"Tachibana Aoden, you really didn't die in the flames of Kodenma Town Prison Yashiki!"
"It's just flames, nothing worth mentioning."
Qingden said calmly.
Then, in a natural standing posture, he pulled out the Echizen Sumi Hitachi Mori Kaneshige from his waist.
This small movement is like a stone causing thousands of waves.
In an instant, Kitahara Konosuke and others, as if they were witnessing a tiger emerging from its cage, pulled out the swords in their hands and got into fighting postures. Some even took a few steps back to widen the distance between themselves and Aomori.
Once, once, once, once, once, once...
The scattered sounds of swords being drawn and the vague light of swords dominate this spacious corridor that can accommodate four adults walking side by side!
*******
*******
After a one-day trip to the Comic Exhibition and a short two-day trip to Zhanjiang, the author now feels that his writing is in great shape! Thanks to this state of affairs, today is a long-awaited 8,000-word chapter!
It's rare that I'm in such good condition that I decided to start the long-lost "monthly ticket reward" - the current monthly ticket count for this book is 458. As long as I can reach 630 votes before tomorrow, I will get an update of 10,000 votes tomorrow! Yes! 10000!
Now is the double monthly voting time, and this number can be reached as long as less than 100 votes are cast. If you want to see Leopard Updates, be sure to vote enthusiastically! Once May 7th passes, there will be no double monthly passes! (Leopard cry.jpg)
Asking for a monthly ticket! Please vote for recommendation! (Leopard head crying.jpg)