Qingdeng resisted the stench, stepped forward, and stepped into the earth.
"Mr. Kikuchi! Mr. Kikuchi!"
He shouted two or three more times toward the inside.
After a while, a weak coughing sound was heard from deep in the room.
"Ahem...what are you shouting...it's so noisy...if you want to come in, come in quickly..."
I got Kikuchi Sensui's permission to enter the house... In this case, Aoto is no longer polite.
Although this dilapidated house, which is no different from a dilapidated house, does not look like a "home", but no matter what, this place is also the residence of others.
Therefore, Aomori took off his snow boots in a polite manner, and used his right hand to carry the Echizen Sumihitachi Riku Kanju that he had taken off his left waist.
The room was very dark, without any light, and very quiet.
The floor was covered with randomly piled clothes and all kinds of garbage, and there was basically no place to step down.
At this time, for some reason, Qingnobo suddenly recalled every scene he saw while walking from Haramachi.
Although Haramachi is a very dilapidated and old slum, the air in its streets and alleys still has the atmosphere of people.
The sound of babies crying, young people talking, old people coughing... These noises can be seen everywhere in Haramachi.
From time to time, you can see several children running around in the narrow alleys.
From time to time, you can also smell the very pleasant aroma of cooking.
From time to time, happy laughter can also be heard.
Only here...only this crumbling thatched house is lifeless, incompatible with everything around it and Haramachi, as if this place is cut off from the world.
The environment was lifeless, coupled with the terrifying stench... For a moment, Qingdeng had the illusion that he was not entering a thatched house, but heading to the devil's world.
"Be careful, don't step on something and fall."
Qingden turned his head, and after reminding Sae and Yae in a low voice behind him, he took the lead himself and walked cautiously towards the depths of the house with cautious movements as if he were marching through an undeveloped virgin forest.
"This home... the more I look at it, the more amazing it becomes... How can I live in a good home with this kind of virtue..."
Yae shrank his neck and murmured softly.
It seemed that she was also frightened by this living environment that was not like what normal humans would have.
"It's not simple yet."
As soon as Yae finished speaking, Shazhong beside him spoke slowly in a tone of neither sadness nor joy.
"When you have no intention of living, your home will naturally lose its 'human' atmosphere."
When talking about the two words "having no intention of living" and "losing the 'human' breath", Sasaka emphasized his tone.
After a series of arduous "traveling through mountains and rivers", the three of them finally walked through the entrance hall and arrived at the living room of the house.
Although they were mentally prepared, Qingdeng and others were still shocked by the "tragic" scene inside the house.
First, the light is dimmer. It can almost be said that you can't see your fingers.
Secondly, it smells worse. Qingdeng and the Erzhong sisters did not dare to take a deep breath for fear that they would faint from the stench.
At this moment, suddenly, a hoarse middle-aged male voice suddenly sounded.
"Who...are you...? Do you have anything to do with me...? Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Qingdeng raised his eyes and followed the sound.
With the gift of "Cat's Eye", the darkness of the environment has no effect on Qingdeng's vision.
The owner of the voice was naturally Kikuchi Sensui who hurriedly slipped back into the house after the Cyclops and his group were beaten away by Qingto.
He was leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, holding a bottle of wine in his hand.
Judging from the bottle, the drink Kikuchi Sensui drank was the cheapest low-grade sake in the Edo market and had no merit other than a large quantity.
"I'm sorry... I was in a hurry to get back to drink... so I forgot to thank you... Thank you... Thanks to you, I don't have to go mining for the time being..."
Before he finished speaking, Kikuchi Qiansui picked up the wine bottle in his hand and took a swig.
Qingdeng, who didn't know how to talk for a while, silently turned his eyes away and looked around.
There was a pile of dirty bedding in the corner of the living room, covered with dirt.
Even in such a dim environment, the quilt still looked shiny.
Qingdeng felt that if he scraped the oil stains off the bedding, it would be enough to cook a plate of food.
Centered around the place where Kikuchi Sensui was sitting cross-legged, the surrounding floor was filled with empty wine bottles.
These empty wine bottles were scattered randomly on the floor in piles here and there, almost covering the ankles of Qingdeng and others.
There was basically no decent furniture as far as the eye could see, and all that came into view was rubbish.
However, after taking a closer look, Qingdeng was surprised to find that next to the extremely dirty quilt, there was a medium-sized bookcase.
The bookcases carefully and neatly list the Four Books and Five Classics, "Historical Records", "Zizhi Tongjian", "Poetry and Language", "Young Learner's Guide" and other books.
["Poetry Collection" and "Kindergarten Reading Guide": both are introductory textbooks of Japanese Chinese poetry]
In this shabby house that was as dirty and chaotic as the Fallen Demon Realm, this bookcase was the only one that was still neat and clean.
Kikuchi Sensui was once a private school teacher——Aoto suddenly recalled the piece of information Arima had revealed last night.
"Okay, let's talk..."
Kikuchi Sensui's voice brought Qingden's consciousness back to reality.
"You are not willing to fight with the 'Rabid Dog Family', why?"
As Kikuchi Qiansui spoke, he let out a big wine burp.
He raised his face and gave Qingden a look that seemed to be looking at a certain point, but also as if he was not looking at anything.
In short, Kikuchi Sensui's eyes were lifeless, like the eyes of a dead person.
Since the other party got straight to the point, Qingden was willing to save time and get to the point.
"Mr. Kikuchi."
Aomori sat down on his knees in a relatively clean area in front of Kikuchi Sensui that was not covered by garbage.
"I took the liberty of visiting you today just to verify something with you - do you remember the story of Tachibana Takayuki from the town of Kitaban?"
Tachibana Takayuki... The next moment he heard this name, it was really just a split second. Kikuchi Sensui's eyes suddenly widened.
As his eyelids were raised, his empty eyes regained some brightness and vitality - however, this was only fleeting.
The light in his eyes came suddenly and went away just as quickly.
After a while, his eyelids lowered again, his eyes were buried deeply, and his whole person returned to the appearance of a "living dead".
"...Why do you ask this?"
Qingden didn't know if it was his own imagination, but he always felt that Kikuchi Qiansui's voice had become hoarse.
"I do not know anything."
Kikuchi Qiansui took a sip of wine.
"Please leave!"
Faced with the sudden eviction order issued by Kikuchi Qianshui, Qingteng turned a deaf ear.
"Mr. Kikuchi, as far as I know, you reported a murder case to the execution office three years ago, and the person responsible for investigating the case was Tachibana Takayuki..."
"Didn't I tell you that I don't know anything?"
roar.
Hysterical roars.
Kikuchi Sensui's roar interrupted Qingden's words.
At the same time, he threw the wine bottle in his hand at Qingdeng.
The wine slipped out of the bottle and splashed everywhere.
Qingdeng was just in time to avoid the flying wine bottle when it hit his head.
Bang bang!
The bottle hit the wall behind Qingdeng.
The crisp cracking sound instantly raised the atmosphere around him to a tense state.
The two sisters on Qingden's left and right, as if they had rehearsed in advance, stepped forward at the same time to protect Qingden in front of him, forming a human wall that separated Qingden and Kikuchi Sensui.
"Hey! You bastard! Why did you suddenly go crazy when you were fine!"
Yae was the first to attack.
"Mr. Kikuchi, please calm down."
Sasaki followed closely behind.
"Ho...! Ho...! Ho...! Ho...! Ahem! Ahem! Ahem! Ahem...! Ahem...!"
Kikuchi Qianshui tried to get up, but as soon as he lifted his neck, he lowered himself down with a painful expression, covering his chest with his hands, panting, and making an unpleasant coughing sound from his throat.
"I told you... I don't know anything... As you can see, I'm just an alcoholic...!"
"Leave now! I don't want to talk to you anymore!"
"If you don't like me, just kill me with one knife!"
"Anyway...I have nothing left except this miserable life...!"
After roaring, Kikuchi Qianshui leaned back and lay back in his original position.
Leave aside Yae, Yae is a girl with a bad temper.
Kikuchi Sensui's bad attitude directly ignited Yae's anger.
"Hey you……"
However, just as Yae had time to lightly open his lips, Qingden took over the topic first:
"Eight Layers, please be patient."
Qingden waved his hand, signaling for Sae and Yae to step back.
After hesitating for a while, the two sisters retreated to Qingdeng's left and right sides respectively.
"Mr. Kikuchi, although I don't know your past, let alone what happened between you and Tachibana Takayuki, I am eager to know everything related to Tachibana Takayuki. So, I hope you can help me."
After the outburst just now, Kikuchi Qiansui was like a deflated rubber ball, and his mood returned to calmness.
"Tachibana Takayuki... Tachibana Takayuki... one bite at a time... Tachibana Takayuki"... Ha!"
Kikuchi Qianshui sneered, then raised his gaze and looked at Qingden up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Who are you? Why do you want to know about this man?"
"...I am an old friend of Tachibana Takayuki."
"Ah!"
Another scoff.
"Old friend... your answer like this will only make me feel that you are very suspicious."
At this time, both Sae and Yae's eyes fell on Qingto.
Even without using his eyes to confirm, Qingden knew what the two sisters' gazes meant.
Qingdeng's brows frowned slightly, and a thoughtful look appeared in his pupils.
"……I see."
After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, Qingdeng nodded vigorously.
"I'm not lying. I am indeed an old friend of Tachibana Takayuki - and a very close friend."
After saying that, Qingdeng raised his hand and slowly took off the low-brimmed bamboo hat on his head...
At first, Kikuchi Qiansui just looked away casually.
And soon, his original indifferent expression dissipated at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Instead, there was an unparalleled feeling of shock.
Qingdeng's face was clearly reflected in his pupils.
"Mr. Tachibana...Mr. Tachibana...?!"
Kikuchi Qiansui stared blankly at Qingdeng's face, muttering to himself, repeatedly chanting Tachibana Takayuki's name.
What kind of murmur is this?
Seems to be missing...
It seems to be sentimental...
Seems to be sad...
Qingdeng raised his eyebrows in surprise, but he did not speak, quietly waiting for Kikuchi Qianshui's emotional waves to subside.
After a moment, Kikuchi Qiansui suddenly smiled.
A peaceful smile.
"I see... you are... Mr. Tachibana's only son... Tachibana Aoden..."
"You and your father... look so much alike..."
After Qingdeng heard this, he unconsciously raised his hand and touched his face.
The old servant of the Tachibana family, Kyubei, as well as Arima, Inotani, Ushiyama and others, have all mentioned that Aonto and Tachibana Takayuki look very similar.
Although everyone who knew Tachibana Takayuki said so, because Tachibana Takayuki had already passed away when he traveled to this world, Aoden could only explore Tachibana Takayuki's appearance in the memory of "original Tachibana Aoden". Unfortunately, the memory of "Original Tachibana Aotobu" has long been faded by the passage of time, so Aotobu has no real sense of how similar he and Tachibana Takayuki look.
"Yes. I am none other than Tachibana Takazuki's son, Tachibana Aoden."
"...Ha. Since he is Mr. Tachibana's son, I can't be too rude..."
Kikuchi Qianshui struggled to straighten her waist and sit up straight. She no longer crossed her legs, and instead sat in a regular kneeling position.
It was obvious that he just changed his sitting posture to a more serious posture, but his whole temperament suddenly became different.
If Kikuchi Qianshui just now exuded a depressed and depressed atmosphere, like a lost dog, then now he looks a bit more human.
"My dear Kikuchi Qianshui, I used to be a Chinese teacher in a private school, but now...as you can see, I am a good-for-nothing alcoholic."
Not only has his temperament changed, but his attitude towards Qingdeng has also softened a lot. At least his words are no longer thorny.
"Mr. Kikuchi, I have spoken frankly."
Qingdeng said as he placed the bamboo hat in his hand next to his legs.
"So please give me a hug. All you need to do is tell me everything you know about Tachibana Takazhi. Other than that, I have nothing else to ask for."
"...I am older than you, may I dare to call you 'Orange-kun'?"
Kikuchi Sensui asked.
"Please."
Qingden nodded.
"So... Mr. Ju, please allow me to ask: Why do you want to know about my father's past?"
Kikuchi Sensui stared straight at Qingdeng with sharp eyes, as if he would never give up until he got a definite answer to this question.
Qingdeng was silent for a moment thoughtfully——
"...I'll keep the story short."
"I am currently tracking an extremely important case."
"After investigation, this case is very closely related to my father."
"Therefore, in order to collect intelligence, I came here to harass you."
Kikuchi Qiansui listened quietly.
After Qingdeng finished speaking, he showed a meaningful smile.
"Ji Jun, the case you are following...could it involve a red and purple pill, right?"
After finishing speaking, he stretched out the thumb and index finger of his right hand to show the shape of the pill.
In an instant, Qingdeng and the Erzhong sisters felt turbulent in their hearts.
Sae and Yae are well-trained female ninjas, so although they are not calm, they still maintain their appearance of calm.
The same goes for Qingdeng.
For Qingdeng, who is gifted with the "Emperor's Art", it has never been difficult to control his facial expressions.
Kikuchi Sensui actually knows about the existence of "trick medicine"...
And after mentioning the case related to Tachibana Takayuki, I immediately thought of "trick medicine"...
This self-destructive "former private school teacher" really knows something!
After thinking this, Qingdeng nodded vigorously with a solemn expression.
"Yes, as I said - the case I am currently following does involve a red and purple pill."
After receiving a positive answer from Qingteng, Kikuchi Qianshui lowered his head and let out self-deprecating laughter one after another "hehehe".
"Hehehe... Could it be that this is the so-called 'evil fate'..."
"Father and son... are actually related to that broken medicine... This is really..."
Having said this, Kikuchi Qiansui raised his head and sighed to the sky.
"Okay...that's the end of the matter...I'll tell you everything I know..."
Kikuchi Sensui made a "please" gesture towards Saege and Yae, who were standing on the left and right of Aoto.
"You two girls, please find a place to sit. I have to tell a long story, and you will be very tired if you stand all the time."
Sha Zhong shook his head.
"Thank you for your concern, but we can just stand. We won't feel tired even if we stand all day."
"That's it...then it's up to you."
Kikuchi Qiansui twirled his messy beard as if reminiscing.
"Well... where should I start..."
"Ha... As expected, we have to start with A Qi... with my deceased wife..."
"My wife's tragic death is the beginning of all stories..."
"As I just said, I used to be a Chinese teacher in a private school."
"The place I teach is not a world-famous university, it is just a little-known little private school that can be seen everywhere on the streets of Edo. There are only about thirty apprentices on the books."
"Although I don't earn much, I still have enough food and clothing."
"Ten years ago, on the recommendation of a friend, I met an excellent woman."
"Her name is Aqi. She comes from a peasant family. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also very hard-working."
"It's shameful to say that I fell in love with her the first time I saw her."
"Fortunately, Aqi also has a good impression of me."
"So, we got married not long after we met."
"Aqi is a perfect wife."
"Whenever I come home every night, whenever I see Aqi's smiling face, I feel all the fatigue in my body disappear."
"Although my life after marrying Aqi was not rich, I felt sincerely happy."
"However...this happiness only lasted until three years ago...when that damn broken medicine appeared...!"
(End of chapter)
