"Mr. Jutaro, what is this paper bag in your hand?"

"Oh, this." Jutaro glanced at the paper bag he was holding in his right hand and let out a helpless, bitter laugh. "This is the medicine I just went to the drug store to grab for my father."

"Medicine?" Grandma Le was stunned, and then asked urgently, "Mr. Shigetaro, what happened to your father?"

"No need to worry, nothing serious happened." Jutaro replied, "I just have back pain again."

"Since last night, my father's waist suddenly started to hurt."

"I originally thought that the pain would be relieved by just resting for a while, but who knew that until noon today, the condition has not improved."

"I have no choice but to go to the drugstore and get my father this medicine that can effectively treat his back injury."

"Did Mr. Dingji's back problem come back again..." Granny Le looked worried, "It shouldn't be serious, right?"

"It's not serious, it's not serious." Jutaro put away the bitter smile on his face and waved his hand, "Grandma Le, you also know that this is my father's old problem."

"His waist will hurt every once in a while."

Chiba Jutaro shook the big paper bag containing medicine in his hand.

"As long as I apply this medicine and lie quietly on the bed for 1 or 2 hours, my father's old problem will be suppressed again."

After saying that, Chiba Jutaro raised his head, glanced at the sky above his head, and smiled bitterly at Granny Le with an apologetic expression:

"Grandma Le, I have to go back quickly to apply medicine to my father, so I have to take a step first."

"Well, okay." Granny Le nodded vigorously, "Go home quickly and say hello to your father and Miss Sanako for me."

"Okay." Chiba Jutaro grinned, "I will."

After waving goodbye to Granny Le, Chiba Jutaro tightened the medicine bag in his hand and continued to stride back to the Little Chiba Sword Hall.

However, suddenly - a young voice with a slightly shrill voice sounded from beside Chiba Jutaro:

"Hmm? Mr. Chiba?"

The next moment he heard this high-pitched voice... Chiba Jutaro's expression changed slightly and he paused, turning to look at the owner of this high-pitched voice.

The owner of this high-pitched voice was a very young and handsome young warrior.

He was filled with a warm smile that almost cracked the corners of his mouth to the roots of his ears, and ran in front of Chiba Jutaro in three steps and two steps at a time.

"Mr. Chiba, what a coincidence! I can meet you here!"

"Shinzuma-kun." Chiba Jutaro responded in a calm tone without sadness or joy, "Why are you here?"

The young samurai smiled, and then said softly: "...I'm here to prepare for the swordsmanship competition held by Lord Aizu tomorrow."

Hiroshi Niizuma - the name of this young samurai.

If you are someone who has been paying close attention to the swordsmanship world in Edo, you will definitely not feel unfamiliar when you hear the name "Hiro Niizuma".

After all, the new wife is one of the "Three Heroes" who have become famous recently!

Xuanbukan, where Beichen's Itto Style is taught.

A scholar's academy that teaches the Kyōshin Akechi stream.

A training hall that teaches Shinto Muen-ryu.

The above three sword halls are collectively referred to as the "Three Major Sword Halls in Edo" because of their size, teaching staff and other factors, which are the best among all sword halls in Edo.

Having the loudest reputation naturally attracts the most attention.

Who among the three major swordsmanship halls have received the "Exemption from All Swordsmanship", which powerful old men have left the swordsmanship halls because they have become apprentices, and what dazzling newcomers have emerged...these are all swordsmanship enthusiasts in Edo

The most talked about topic.

Just the year before last, a very interesting coincidence happened - the three major sword halls all produced a talented and talented newcomer at almost the same time.

These three newcomers are——

Oizaki Heiyuki of Genbukan.

Totaro Morishita of Shigakukan.

And the young man standing in front of Chiba Jutaro now: Hiroshi Arizuma from the training hall.

These three people only started to learn swordsmanship in the fifth year of Ansei (1858). After putting on protective gear and lifting the bamboo sword, they quickly showed their dazzling swordsmanship talents!

…

On the first day he entered the Xuanwu Hall, his talent was highly praised by the hall owner and fellow seniors...

Morishita practiced swordsmanship for two months and defeated a senior who had been practicing swordsmanship for many years...

Just over a year after the new wife's entry, she faced off against three senior brothers who had been immersed in swordsmanship for many years in a sparring match, and finally succeeded in defeating all three senior brothers...

…

These three people seemed to be competing with each other, constantly producing big news one after another that made the swordsmanship lovers in Edo feel extremely amazing and envious.

In just less than 2 years, the three of them have gradually gained fame through their outstanding performances time and time again.

As the reputation of these three people gradually increased, some good people collectively referred to these three people as the "Three Heroes of the Three Great Sword Halls".

This title was originally only circulated among a few people in a small area, but slowly, this title gradually became widely known.

It was by chance that Chiba Jutaro met Kan, one of the "Three Heroes".

If we talk about who is the most enviable among the "Three Heroes"... then it is definitely the new wife.

Although both Oizaki and Morishita are as famous as Shinsuma, there is one thing about them that is far inferior to Shinsuma.

Morishita has a face... at best, it's ugly, at worst, it looks like a "pig transformed into a human" face.

Oizaki came from a very poor background and was a junior feudal lord of the Sano clan.

Sano Domain is a poor small domain with a measly 16,000 stone in total. Oizaki, as a lower-level feudal lord of this poor small domain, is naturally so poor that the idiom "shocking" can be used to describe his situation.

He borrowed money from all his family and friends to finally scrape together the tuition and travel expenses for him to study abroad in Edo and practice swordsmanship.

Compared with Oizaki and Morishita, the new wife's conditions are the best and comprehensive - he comes from a Hatamoto family with a family income of 700 shi, and has a handsome face.

Excellent appearance and family background, coupled with excellent swordsmanship talent... As long as she continues to practice steadily, her new wife's future will be bright!

However - such an outstanding talent... Chiba Jutaro just couldn't like him.

Chiba Jutaro always felt that his new wife... was a little too arrogant.

Although his new wife always looks polite, his words always reveal a...sense of superiority.

Chiba Jutaro has always disliked people who are not humble enough in their dealings with others, so when getting along with his new wife, his attitude has always been lukewarm.

Normally, Chiba Jutaro would never take the initiative to communicate with his new wife, whom he was not familiar with and who didn't like him very much.

But what the new wife just said aroused some interest in Chiba Jutaro, which made Chiba Jutaro take the initiative to ask his new wife:

"Preparing for tomorrow's game...?" Chiba Jutaro glanced at his new wife up and down several times, "What are you preparing for? Do you want to take a walk on the street to relax?"

The famous Lord Aizu is going to hold a swordsmanship competition specifically for newcomers from various sword halls... This is a rare event.

A competition of this level is extremely attractive to those who are interested in swordsmanship.

As far as Chiba Jutaro knows, almost all the slightly famous sword halls in Edo have signed up to participate in this swordsmanship competition, with nearly a hundred participants.

On this long list of personnel, there are many names that are very familiar to swordsmanship enthusiasts.

For example - Tachibana Aoto, who has recently been hailed as "the strongest fighting sect in the North Division".

Another example - the "Three Heroes"!

Oizaki, Morishita, and Shinzuma have all been apprentices to swordsmen for less than three years, and they are all qualified to participate in this competition.

When he first learned that the "Three Heroes" would participate in this competition, even with Chiba Jutaro's character, he couldn't help but let out a low exclamation.

This competition... looks like it will be particularly lively.

When asked by Chiba Jutaro, "What preparations are you here for?", the new wife was silent for a moment, and then smiled:

"Well... please forgive me for being inconvenient to say more."

After saying that, the new wife looked at the medicine bag in Chiba Jutaro's hand.

"Mr. Chiba, I saw you walking in a hurry just now. Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?"

"Ah, my father's back disease has recurred." Chiba Jutaro shook the medicine bag in his hand, "I am rushing home to apply this fresh medicine to my father."

"Chiba Sadaki-sama's back problem has recurred?" the new wife looked surprised, and then the surprise on her face turned into apology, "I'm so sorry...I came to bother you when you were in a hurry."

As the new wife spoke, she stood a step aside.

"Mr. Chiba, I won't bother you anymore. You can go home quickly."

"Yes." Chiba Jutaro nodded, and then said politely, "See you in the future, New Wife-kun."

Although he couldn't get his wife to ask him what he meant by "preparing for tomorrow's game", Chiba Jutaro didn't particularly care about this question.

After saying goodbye to his new wife, Chiba Jutaro quickly gathered his thoughts and passed by his new wife.

The new wife stopped where she was and silently watched Chiba Jutaro leave.

After Chiba Jutaro's figure was about to disappear from his sight, his lips moved——
To be continued...