I was a swordsman in ancient Japan

"Okay." Inaba said in a deep voice, "Whether the murderer is really Ogata Yidaosai, it doesn't matter at all."

"The reason why I called you here is because I have a proposal to share with you."

"As of now, as far as I know, 45 people have been killed by Ogata Ittosai."

"And among these 45 people, 37 people are disciples of our Six Great Sword Gyms."

Hearing Inaba's words, everyone's expressions became slightly serious.

Even the terrified look on Mizuno's face slowly disappeared at this time.

His Qianxue Academy is considered the least number of victims among the six great sword halls, only 4 people were killed.

As far as Mizuno knows, the worst place is the Kiyogakukan.A total of 12 disciples of the Qing Academy were killed.

Mizuno also felt very anxious when his disciple was killed, but he had no choice but to hope that the government would catch the murderer quickly.

After learning that the murderer turned out to be Ogata Yidaosai, Mizuno wished that the government would arrest the murderer immediately.

"I believe that you have received similar rumors to some extent." Inaba went on to say in a deep voice, "Some citizens have criticized the uselessness of the swords in our six sword halls. A total of 37 disciples have been killed, and none of them can resist. Thieves."

"That's right. There are indeed such rumors." Tsuchiya Kisei, the owner of the Qing Academy, nodded solemnly, "There are already many citizens secretly laughing at our useless swordsmanship."

As soon as Tsuchiya's words fell, the surrounding atmosphere instantly became heavier

They all know what it means if the reputation of their sword gym is damaged.

It means that no one may enter their door again in the future, and their income will decline like a cliff.

Thinking of the possible reduction in income, whether it was Mizuno or other museum owners, they all shivered to a greater or lesser extent.

"So we can't sit still!"

Inaba's voice gradually became higher and higher.

"In order to restore the reputation of our six great sword halls, I propose: Mobilize all the disciples under our command, and cooperate with the officials of the Kyoto Prefecture to make fun of Ogata Yidaosai."

"Even if we can't catch Ogata Yidaosai in the end, we can show the citizens that we will never condone and persecute our disciples! It will also be of great benefit to our reputation and word of mouth."

"There is still a Yamaboko Parade to be held tonight, and the Kyoto Prefecture must allocate some manpower to manage the streets of the Yamaboko Parade, so the manpower must be stretched, and they will definitely welcome us to help them search for Ogata Yidaosai."

After hearing what Inaba said, Mizuno and the others were all stunned.

"This proposal is not bad." The owner of the Strong Academy: Okupira Katsushigeki nodded first, "It's just that Ogata Yidaosai is a great swordsman who can be used against a hundred. Our disciples are against Kami Ogata Iktosai might not be Ogata Isaisai's opponent."

"We are just assisting the government to search for Ogata Issai." Inaba said, "When the disciples meet someone who is suspected to be Ogata Isai, immediately inform the nearby officials, and let the officials go."

Inaba turned her head and glanced around at the museum owners in front of her.

"Anyone else have any questions?"

Everyone looked at each other, but no one spoke.

"Then let's vote. Those who agree to mobilize the disciples under his command to assist the officials to search the whole city of Ogata Yidao Zhai raise their hands."

After all, Inaba was the first to raise his hand.

Mizuno, who most hoped that the thief Ogata Ittosai could be caught quickly, followed closely behind.

After hesitating for a while, the other 4 hands also raised their hands one after another.

Chapter 299

"Please rest here."

After saying this, the madam with a weird smile left the room quickly, leaving only Ogata and this young woman alone.

"Master Yi Dao Zhai."

After the bustard retreated, the young woman saluted Ogata again.

"This place is very safe, please rest here."

"...It seems that you know my name." Ogata said as he untied the big Shitian from his waist, and sat cross-legged in front of the woman.

"Well." The woman nodded, "Master A Gong has told me about you just now, don't worry, everyone in this auspicious house is only obedient to Mr. Xin, you stay here, official errands and rewards The hunters can't do anything to you."

Ogata only remembered for a moment, and then remembered who "Miya-sama" was - the dwarf who led Ogata to Yoshiya just now.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I said so much, I forgot to introduce myself."

The woman saluted Ogata again.

"Nujia Dieyin, please give me more advice."

"Please advise." Ogata nodded slightly.

"Would you like some wine, please?"

"No need." Ogata said without thinking.

"Master Yidaosai, you don't have to be so restrained." Dieyin smiled slightly, "Master Agong has given orders to the servants just now - take good care of Master Ogata Yidaosai."

"So you have to cherish the Nu family." Dieyin said in a half-joking tone, "The Nu family is the number one in this auspicious house, and ordinary people are not even qualified to see me."

"Then I'm very honored." Ogata smiled slightly, "I was able to share the same room with Yoshiya's top card."

"No, no, no." Dieyin shook her head, "I am the one who feels honored. When I learned that I would take care of Ogata Yidaosai, I was so happy that I was about to cry."

You are too exaggerated——Ogata was about to say this when he suddenly heard a painful groan from the next room.

As soon as this groan sounded, the expression of Dieyin who was sitting in front of Ogata changed instantly.

"Excuse me……"

Dieyin lowered her head and bowed lightly to Ogata, then picked up her clothes and hurried towards the east sliding door.

The rooms are connected to each other with paper sliding doors - this is also one of the characteristics of Japanese architecture of this era.

The room where the two of Ogata stayed was connected to the next room, and one could enter the east room only by opening the sliding paper door on the east side.

After Dieyin opened the paper sliding door on the east side of the room, Ogata's pupils shrank slightly at the scene in the next room.

In the center of the room is a quilt, and a beautiful woman is lying in the quilt.

This beautiful woman is still very young, about 23 or 24 years old.

However——this woman's beautiful face was covered with red spots at this time.

"Syphilis..." Ogata murmured softly at a volume that only he could hear clearly.

In this era when there is no penicillin and the level of medical care is backward, if you get a disease like syphilis, there is basically only one way to go-wait for death...

Dieyin walked quickly to the side of the woman suffering from syphilis in three steps at a time, and helped the woman up from the quilt.

Then he picked up the water cup placed by the bedside, fed the sick woman with water skillfully, and stroked the back of the sick woman.

With the efforts of Dieyin, the painful moaning of the sick woman gradually subsided.

After the sick woman's breathing stabilized again, Dieyin helped the sick woman lie back in the bedding as if relieved from a heavy burden.

"Sorry, Ogata-sama, I made you laugh..."

Dieyin turned her head and smiled apologetically at Ogata.

"This is my best friend in Jiwu—Chufeng."

"We met for the first time." Ogata held his Da Shitian with his right hand, and knelt beside Chufeng's bedside, "I'm Ogata."

Chufeng opened his eyes slightly.

After taking a look at Ogata, a faint smile appeared on Chufeng's face.

"Are you...the customer who ordered my sister...?"

Bitterness and embarrassment flashed across Dieyin's face.

Just when Dieyin was thinking about how to explain to Chufeng who Ogata was, Ogata said without hesitation just after Chufeng's voice fell:

"Yes."

The smile on Chufeng's face became more intense.

"Thank you...for ordering my sister..."

"Chufeng." Dieyin said at this time, "You continue to rest, and Master Ogata and I will not disturb your rest for now."

"Hmm..." Even though he had lost all strength in his body, Chu Feng still nodded his head vigorously.

After exiting Chufeng's room and returning to the room where Ogata and Dieyin were just now, Dieyin immediately bowed to Ogata and apologized:

"Master Ogata, thank you for smoothing things over for me just now..."

The voices of Ogata and Dieyin have always been very quiet, and Chufeng has fallen asleep again now, so there is no need to worry that Chufeng in the next room will hear their conversation.

"It's just a trivial matter, so you don't need to thank me specifically."

"...I'm sorry." Dieyin knelt back on the tatami again, with bitterness on her face, "Just now... let you see an unsightly picture..."

"Master Ogata, the scene you saw just now is the appearance of most wandering girls on their deathbed..."

"For a long time, there are almost no people who can survive after getting that kind of disease..."

"The doctor has already told me... Chu Feng won't live long..."

When she said this, Dieyin had a calm expression on her face, as if she was talking about something insignificant.

It's just that - Dieyin's hands that were naturally resting on her legs slowly tightened at this time, and tightly grasped the kimono fabric on her legs.

"But Chufeng is lucky... She still has me, and my friend who is willing to pay for her and help her find a doctor..."

"If not, she will be thrown into the dirty plain to fend for herself..."

Hearing Dieyin's words, Ogata couldn't help but think back to the woman he saw in the filthy plain just now, who also had syphilis and died by the side of the road...

"Whether it's Yoshiwara in Edo or Shimabara here, it's all like this—once you enter here and become a wandering girl, you can't go out again."

Ogata and Dieyin happened to be sitting by the window at this time.

When saying this, Dieyin turned her head and looked out the window.

Ogata followed Dieyin's gaze and looked towards where Dieyin was looking.

What Dieyin was looking at now was the tall wall surrounding Shimabara.

"Just enter here and be a wandering girl. If you want to go out, there are only three ways left."

"The first method: work until the age of 28. According to the regulations of the shogunate: we Yoshihara and Shimabara girls can retire as long as they work until the age of 28."

"The second method: save enough money to redeem yourself, or someone is willing to pay to redeem you."

"The third method: die."

"28 years old..." Dieyin's tone seemed to be talking about astronomical figures, "There are not many girls who are lucky enough to live to be 28 years old."

"Even if you are lucky enough to escape all diseases and live to be 28 years old, it doesn't mean you will be free."

"After reaching the age of 28, although you can retire, it does not mean that you can rest."

"Our daily expenses for food and clothing, etc., are all recorded in our personal account of Younv."

"If you don't pay off these debts, you can never get free."

"So even if you can retire at the age of 28 and regain your freedom in name, if you haven't paid off these debts, you will still have to stay here and do all kinds of hard work to pay off the debts."

"Most of the wandering girls are like Chu Feng, who got sick before the age of 28, and then waited to die slowly."

"So the vast majority of wandering girls can't get out of this 'cage' until they die..."

"I can't get out of this 'cage', and I can't even participate in the Gion Festival..."

"Every household in Kyoto can watch the 'Yamaboko Parade' tonight, but we caged birds can't even hear the sound."

"But fortunately—this year's Gion Festival finally allows us caged birds to participate."

"Master Ogata, do you know why we caged birds can also participate in this year's Gion Festival?"

"I don't know." Xu Fang shook his head in confusion.

"Because this year's Gion Festival has more fireworks."

Hearing Dieyin's words, Ogata immediately showed understanding.

Hearing Dieyin's words, Xufang immediately remembered that there was indeed such a thing.

"After tonight's 'Yamaboko Parade' ends, there will be a grand fireworks display."

"This is Kamiyama Koshinosuke-sama's idea, to adjust the 'Yamaboko Parade' to tonight, and then after the 'Yamaboko Parade' is over, set off fireworks that can illuminate the entire Kyoto."