The expression on Sazanoko’s face changed as well.
Sazanoko’s willow eyebrows knitted together, a tint of displeasure appearing on her face.
Suddenly, a surprised cry ca from not far away:
"Eh, isn’t that Brother Tadomaru? What are you doing here?"
Chiba Shigetarou, holding a roasted squid in each hand likely bought from a nearby vendor, cast a bewildered glance at the handso young man, while forcefully squeezing through the "human wall" blocking his path.
The "human wall" in front of Chiba Shigetarou was thin, so he quickly broke through all "obstacles" and ca to Sazanoko’s side.
"Brother Shigetarou." The handso young man said in a deep voice, "I ca specifically to advise you both."
"Advise us?" Chiba Shigetarou’s eyebrow twitched.
"Playing the tedious ’Battle Ga’ with the Shiwei Hall, a third-class Sword Dojo with few apprentices and generally poor swordsmanship skills... it’s a complete waste of ti."
"I urge your Little Chiba Sword Dojo to take on the responsibility of being a Great Sword Dojo to ’train disciples into talents,’ and to use precious ti for nurturing disciples or other proper affairs. Don’t waste valuable ti playing gas!"
"Tsk..." Chiba Shigetarou’s expression instantly turned the sa as Sazanoko’s—displeasure visibly surfacing on his face at an eye-catching speed.
Just as Chiba Shigetarou was about to say sothing to the handso young man—
"Mr. Shigetarou, Miss Sazanoko." At that mont, Aoto finally succeeded in leading Chokata and Saito, breaking through the layers of people and squeezing out from the dense crowd.
Chiba Shigetarou: "Mr. Tachibana? Lord Toshisuke?"
The brother and sister standing side by side threw surprised and astonished glances at Aoto’s unexpected arrival.
The handso young man also cast an astonished glance at Aoto and the others who appeared out of the blue.
First puzzled, he focused his gaze on Aoto, this unfamiliar person.
But upon discovering Chokata standing next to Aoto, his expression quickly changed, imdiately focusing all his gaze and attention on Chokata.
"Mr. Chokata...?" The handso young man raised an eyebrow, softly murmuring Chokata’s na in a volu only he could hear.
Under the gaze of everyone’s varied emotions, Aoto walked slowly to the side of Chiba Shigetarou and Sazanoko.
Just as he settled beside the siblings, Aoto straightforwardly asked them:
"Mr. Shigetarou, Miss Sazanoko, who is this?"
With his eyebrows still furrowed, Aoto gestured towards the handso young man.
"Uh..." Chiba Shigetarou awkwardly scratched the hair on the back of his head.
Judging from Aoto and Chokata’s expressions, he knew: the handso young man’s earlier mockery of the Shiwei Hall had been heard by them...
Chiba Shigetarou laughed dryly several tis:
"Mr. Tachibana... This is the fourth son of my uncle Chiba Shusaku: Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu, who is also my cousin and Sazanoko’s."
—The fourth son of Chiba Shusaku...?
Aoto raised his gaze, scrutinizing Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu’s features—his appearance indeed bore so resemblance to Shigetarou and Sazanoko.
"...Mr. Chokata, long ti no see." At this mont, Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu suddenly initiated a greeting with Chokata.
"Yes, it’s quite unfortunate." Chokata snorted coldly, his face indifferent, "Accidentally seeing you spoiled my good mood from earlier."
Despite Chokata’s harsh sarcasm, Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu didn’t show a hint of resentnt; instead, he sported a carefree smile.
Before Aoto could express any curiosity about the seemingly past grievances between Chokata and Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu, Chokata leaned closer to Aoto, in a voice only they could hear, supplenting Chiba Shigetarou’s introduction of Chiba Zemon Shiro:
"Mr. Tachibana. This Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu is the Deputy Master of Xuanwu Hall."
Upon this, Chokata paused, then continued in a complex tone:
"He is also one of those people I previously ntioned who looks down on our Shiwei Hall and refuses to exchange swordsmanship with us..."
Aoto’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Chokata’s last sentence cleared the lingering fog in his mind—he imdiately understood why Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu had called their Shiwei Hall a "Third-class Sword Dojo" so brazenly in public just now.
"Brother Tadomaru!"
Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu’s previous ridicule of the Shiwei Hall was heard by Aoto and others... This left Chiba Shigetarou, caught between family and friends, so embarrassed he didn’t know how to express it.
To swiftly escape this extrely awkward situation, Chiba Shigetarou cleared his throat forcefully, then turned to Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu with a stern face.
"Whatever you want to say, save it for private discussion later!"
"Look around; is this a place to discuss matters?"
"In front of so many spectators, what kind of decorum is this?"
"Leave quickly! If you don’t, beware of reporting your actions today to our cousins later!"
Reporting to the cousins—upon hearing this, Chiba Tadomaru Yorozu’s expression suddenly changed.
He turned his head, looking around.
The crowd gathering to watch the excitent was growing larger, encircling them in layers.
In the distance, several young witches in red and white attire noticed the commotion here and were hurriedly heading toward them, lifting the hems of their crimson hakama as they ca.
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