A person in Japan, a sword that soars to immortality.

"Thank you for the reward, Lord Aoki."

Taiichi sat facing Matsudaira Aoki and then began to bow.

“Not bad.” Matsudaira Aoki nodded and gave a wink to the page beside him.

The latter understood and immediately opened a long, narrow box, taking out a katana from it.

"Taichi, from this moment on, you are both a samurai of the Yamada family and a retainer of my Matsudaira Aoki."

"As your lord, I have a gift for you."

After Matsudaira Aoki finished speaking, he made a gesture of invitation, and the page beside him immediately came to Taiichi with his hands holding a sword.

Looking at the scabbard engraved with white patterns and the hilt wrapped with sharkskin and thin rope, Taiichi's expression changed slightly.

*Click!* The katana is drawn.

Sunlight shone evenly on the blade, making the beautiful "Fujimi Saigyō" (Fujimi Saigyō) blade pattern shine brightly, while the gleaming blade reflected Taiichi's deep eyes.

What caught Taiyi's attention even more was the four inscriptions engraved on the end of the blade: "Destroy Evil Spirits!"

"what!"

Zuo Qie, who was standing next to him, turned his head and immediately saw the inscription, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Seeing this, the others also turned their gazes over, and then all showed expressions of disbelief.

"This...this is the sword that Lord Aoki asked Taichi to test a while ago?"

"The Seven-Headed Sword!"

"Taiyi is so lucky! He actually owns a top-tier sword!"

In an instant, a mix of emotions—jealousy, envy, shock—appeared on the faces of those around them.

click!

There was another crisp sound.

Taiichi sheathed his sword and bowed to Matsudaira Aoki once more.

"Taiyi thanks His Lord for His grace!"

clap clap.

"As the Chinese saying goes, a fine sword is for a hero. Taiyi, you are worthy of this sword. Come back to the manor with me."

Matsudaira Aoki gently clapped his hands, looked at Taiichi with admiration, and then walked towards the entrance of the dojo.

"Yes!"

Tai nodded in acknowledgment, then tucked his Nichirin Blade into his waistband and followed behind the Matsudaira family page.

However, when he passed by Sōkiri, he saw that she was still standing there with her mouth open, looking silly, and Taiichi couldn't help but laugh. He casually patted her head.

Although Matsudaira Aoki was a young official under the shogunate, he was also a daimyo of a kin domain, and the daimyo of the Aizu Domain, with a fief of 180,000 koku. Naturally, he had the authority to appoint samurai.

Taiichi's position was horse-riding officer, which means that from then on, he became Matsudaira Aoki's personal bodyguard.

But what the Yamada family envied most was that Taichi's family status had jumped from ronin to hatamoto, and it could be inherited.

A salary of 200 shi per year is enough to marry, have children, and hire several servants.

"Master, am I dreaming? Was everything just now fake?"

Dian sat there staring blankly at the entrance of the dojo.

"That's what Taiyi deserves. If you want it too, then work hard!"

"Yes!"

Senta and Fuchi shared the same idea as Dianzuo.

Seeing Saki with her hands on her chest, unconsciously fiddling with the mourning bell, staring blankly at the door, a glint of light flashed across Senta's small glasses. A smirk appeared on his lips as he approached her, saying sarcastically:

"Sachi, from now on you will be the Okusama." (Okusama is the title for the wife of a Hatamoto samurai.)

"Oh, oh, oh, oh like this?" A crimson blush instantly rose from her neck to her forehead, but the next second, her eyes turned dead fish-like, and she punched Senta in the head:

"Senta, what nonsense are you spouting!"

......

Below Edo Castle, in the residential area of ​​the samurai family, the Matsudaira Aoki samurai family.

At this moment, Taiichi stood beside the artificial stream, admiring the garden landscape of the daimyo's family.

thump~

The startled deer beside me made rhythmic thumping sounds that echoed in the quiet environment.

Just as Taiyi relaxed, a cold glint suddenly shot out from behind his head.

"Little tricks!"

Tai didn't even turn his head. He pressed down on the hilt of the sword with his left hand, forcefully shifting his grip to a reverse hold.

The raised tip of the scabbard blocked the flying kunai.

"What a loud tone!"

The sound of air being torn apart rang out again, and three kunai came flying in once more.

click!

This time, Taiichi didn't underestimate the enemy. In the blink of an eye, he drew his Nichirin Blade and cleaved all the flying kunai in two.

At the same time, he also saw clearly who was attacking.

"Huh? A ninja?"

Taiyi raised an eyebrow and said in a playful tone.

To be precise, she was a female ninja.

A female ninja with a short ponytail, a charming yet ruthless face, a red robe revealing her shoulders, a white half-sash wrapped around her chest, a shimenawa belt around her waist, tight shorts, and black fishnet stockings appeared before him.

"Hiss~ Anti-Demon Ninja?"

"They're Oniwaban ninjas!"

Although it was unclear which ninja Taiichi was referring to, Aya could tell from his expression that it was definitely not a pleasant title.

This made her even angrier, and she drew her small katana from her waist and slashed at Taiichi.

Taiyi remained calm and composed, parrying with his sword while also checking his opponent's attributes.

Name: A-Xia

Age: 18

【Lifespan: 63】

[Essence: 187.2]

Qi and Blood: 134.8

【God Soul: 17】

The stats are good, but...

"That's all!"

Taiichi never tolerates people who come at him with swords drawn without asking why, especially when the opponent is a female ninja.

Torture, they must be tortured!

He immediately activated the Yang Dragon's Roar breathing technique, instantly changing his attributes and raising his health and mana to over 300.

"If you can't stop them, then die!"

The Nichirin Blade in his hand turned crimson and burst into flames as he slashed at Aya.

Even without using sword techniques, Taiyi's overwhelming numerical advantage meant that his strike was as fast as lightning in his opponent's eyes.

Ding!

"I surrender!"

Unsurprisingly, the Nichirin Blade, empowered by Taiyi's spiritual energy, instantly severed A-Xia's tachi, until the blade finally stopped in front of her little nose.

"If you had said so earlier, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this... damn it!"

"Ninjutsu - Heaven and Earth Lock!"

As Taiichi lowered his guard, the female ninja Aya revealed a smug expression in her eyes and instantly launched a close-quarters jujitsu technique.

She darted between Taiichi's legs like an eel, then wrapped her legs around his waist and placed her hands around his neck, securing a cross armbar.

"What the hell is this Heaven and Earth Lock?! You female ninja, you have no martial ethics at all!"

Contrary to what A-Xia had imagined, Taiyi was not strangled to the point of foaming at the mouth. Instead, he stood there like an iron tower, his face dark.

"Hmph! I am a ninja, and I will use any means necessary to achieve victory!"

Ah-Xia, clinging to Tai-Yi's back, said disdainfully.

Alright, alright, is this how you play it? Well then I won't hold back!

"Yanglong Flow..."

In an instant, Ah-Xia suddenly felt that what she was holding was not a human being, but a ball of blazing flame.

"what happened!"

But just as Taiyi was about to fully activate his breathing technique and transform himself into flames, a deep and steady voice suddenly rang out.

"Haha, it seems you two are getting along very well now~"

Matsudaira Aoki, now dressed in a kimono, stood in front of the main house and smiled.

Upon hearing their lord's voice, the two knew they could no longer fight, so they separated and bowed to Matsudaira Aoki.

"Yes, Taiichi, come in. I have something I need to talk to you about."

Matsudaira Aoki's expression suddenly turned serious as he stared at Taiichi and spoke.