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

"Excuse me, do you need help?"

Taiyi walked over, bent down, and asked the merchant with a kind expression.

"Ah? Sir Samurai, would you be willing to help me?"

"I am Kojiro Ishii, a grain merchant from Kanagawa. If you can spare me from physical suffering, I will repay you in any way I can!"

Kozaburo Ishii was groaning for half a second, but after hearing Taiichi's words, he immediately turned over, faced Taiichi in a dogeza posture, and took out a stack of small gold coins from his pocket, raising them above his head with both hands.

"Who are you? How dare you stop the Red Scorpion family from doing their business?"

The man who had just been shouting that he would teach the merchant a lesson and who called himself a samurai was now pointing at Taiichi with eyes full of anger.

"Since when did the Yakuza dare to call themselves warriors? Who is your lord? Do you have any 'hand gestures' or any 'feelings'?" Taiichi raised an eyebrow and said with a playful tone.

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about? I've never even heard of it!"

"You samurai who doesn't even have a family crest, what are you pretending to be, you big shot? Get out of my way right now, or I'll beat you up too!"

Yakuza tore open his shirt, revealing the monster tattoo on his chest, as did his companion behind him.

"I am Yamada Asaemon Taichi, the shogunate's personal sword tester. Please apologize now."

Taiichi naturally picked up the small gold leaf from Kousaburo's hand, put it in his pocket, and then sternly reprimanded Yakuza.

"Apologize? Are you fucking deaf? When the Red Scorpion family does business, even Okabiki from Yoshiwara doesn't bother to manage it. Who the hell do you think you are? Beat him up!"

The Yakuza man in the lead, unable to tolerate Taiyi's dawdling any longer, waved his arm and led his men forward.

Hehe, this is exactly what I've been waiting for!

"Since that's the case, and neither of us has any weapons, even if I'm unarmed, I will uphold the dignity of a samurai and punish you, who dares to impersonate a samurai and even intends to commit violence!"

Taiyi immediately assumed a fighting stance, ready to meet the enemy.

(Samurai are not allowed to carry swords when entering the Yoshiwara entertainment district.)

"Damn it, do you think this is the Warring States period? How can you guys who play with wooden swords in the dojo every day withstand the fists of us who fight in the streets every day?"

"Besides, how can a man be better looking than a woman! I hate people who are more handsome than me! Go to hell!"

The leading Yakuza man first took a step forward, then leaped high into the air and swung his fist at Taiyi's head.

"Nice pose, but it's a pity!"

Taiyi's pupils contracted instantly. Instead of retreating in the face of the attack, he advanced, grabbed the opponent's wrist, twisted and spun around, and pulled Yakuza, who was still in the air, to the ground.

Then his entire demeanor changed, and a powerful killing intent rose from his body as he kicked Yakuza in the neck.

Click!

[General point +1]

The sound of bones breaking rang out, leaving the rest of the Yakuza, including all the onlookers, stunned on the spot.

"Kill, kill someone!!!"

Someone shouted, and everyone around them panicked, scrambling to retreat and move away from where Taiyi was.

"You, you actually dared to kill someone in the street! This is a capital offense!"

A Yakuza man, his face pale, said as he backed away.

“Death penalty? I was just exercising my rights as a samurai.” Taiichi looked at him disdainfully, then walked over to the merchant and helped him up.

However, the moment they made contact, he noticed that the businessman's behavior seemed quite different from that of the others.

First, there's the other person's body. As someone who witnessed the murder up close, Kousaburo wasn't as panicked or trembling as the bystanders.

Secondly, it's the other person's eyes.

Taiichi and Kousaburo exchanged a glance and found that the other was looking at them as if they had seen some rare treasure, with an unusual gleam in his eyes.

This Kousaburo is no ordinary man.

Taiyi immediately made his judgment.

“Lord Taiichi, once the magistrate’s men arrive, I will act as a witness and point out that the other party was rude first and also impersonated a samurai.”

Kozaburo said in a gentle tone.

"Oh? It seems you are very familiar with the contents of the Imperial Decree on Official Affairs."

"No, no, as merchants, we travel between various domains on a daily basis, so we must be familiar with the regulations of the shogunate."

Kozaburo answered modestly.

"In that case, I'll leave it to you." Taiichi gave the other person a deep look, then stood beside Yakuza's corpse, waiting for the magistrate's men.

Even if no one can vouch for me, I should be fine.

As members of the Yamada family, the place in Edo Castle where they had the most dealings with their family was the Magistrate's Office.

This is the advantage of being the emperor's personal sword tester and executioner!

......

Late at night, outside the gate of the Ōhanya in Hatchohori.

After being brought back to the magistrate's office, Taiichi was released smoothly after going through the process of "meeting with acquaintances, expressing friendship, and expressing sincere gratitude."

However, looking at the small gold leaf in his palm, which was already half gone, Taiichi's expression was a little unnatural.

"It seems that even Master Taiyi needs money."

Kozaburo stood to the side, his hands tucked into his sleeves and held in front of his chest, and said with a smile.

"No one is without money. You are safe now, so we can part ways."

Taiyi tossed the small gold in his hand, then grabbed it and stuffed it into his chest, preparing to leave.

But before he could turn around, Kousaburo called him back again.

"Lord Taiyi, please wait a moment."

"What's the matter?" Taiyi turned his head and looked at the other person with a hint of curiosity.

"Well, there's something else I'd like to ask of you, sir."

"Ok?"

Taiyi narrowed his eyes, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Of course, I won't let you do your work for nothing. If it's successful, I will pay you one hundred taels."

Kousaburo's expression tightened, and he quickly explained.

Snapped!

Taiyi grabbed the other person's hand, held it in his palm, and said solemnly:

"Money is a small matter. My greatest hobby is helping others! Sanlang, are you hungry? I know a tavern that's still open."

"Uh...hehe, I understand, let's go together!"

Kousaburo's lips twitched, and he could only nod in agreement.

Less money, a meal.

After a simple meal, Kousaburo began to explain the contents of the request, and Taichi's expression was somewhat amused after listening to what the other party had to say.

His fingers tapped incessantly on the table, his eyes fixed intently on Kousaburo.

"Tai, Tai-Yi, if you feel this is inappropriate, then let it go."

Kozaburo's hands, which were resting on his knees, tightened unconsciously.

Thinking about Taiyi's methods of killing, he felt his throat go dry, his forehead began to sweat, and his body tensed up.

They were afraid that if the other party became unhappy, they would act rudely towards them again.

"Of course not, but there's something I want to confirm about what you just said." Taiichi's serious expression vanished, replaced by a smile as he looked at Kousaburo and continued:

"Are you sure there are really ghost legends in the villages along the route the grain will pass through?"