At this thought, Sanazi turned around and looked around hesitantly.

After a moment, as if she had made up her mind, she raised her hand and patted Qingdeng's shoulder like a baby.

The sudden touch on the shoulder made Qingdeng stunned.

"Miss Sanako, what's wrong?"

Qingden looked up and saw beautiful eyes staring straight at him.

"Tangerine-kun...thank you for your hard work."

——Huh? Is it my imagination?

Qingden always felt that the look Sanako cast towards him seemed to be mixed with a bit of pity...

Although he didn't know what Sanako was causing, Qingto no longer wanted to talk about this sensitive topic any more.

"Well, Miss Sanako, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about something more interesting."

As Qingdeng spoke, he used his brain to think about new topics.

Somehow, he suddenly recalled what he had just discussed with the director.

As long as we can get away from the topic of "Souji is a girl", it doesn't matter what we talk about. With such a mentality, Qingto asked casually:

"Miss Sanako, do you have any ideas about your future?"

As soon as Qingden finished speaking, Sanazi understood the wrong meaning again.

——Ji Jun really doesn’t want people to know that he is a member of the Taoist community...

Sanako nodded solemnly.

Sanako understood Qingto's feeling of "not wanting to talk too much about her secrets with others", so she happily took up the conversation that Qingto offered.

"The future..."

Sanako raised his gaze and looked at the distant sky, thinking.

After a while, she slowly said:

"If possible, I would like to stay at the Little Chiba Sword Hall, devote myself to the study of swordsmanship and naginata skills, and devote my whole life to martial arts."

Having said this, Sanako paused.

When she spoke again, her words suddenly changed:

"But... it should be difficult to realize this wish of mine."

"Father's 'judgment' is correct. My martial arts realm has come to an end."

"I have... no chance to study martial arts."

"So, I will probably become a doctor in the future, open a small medical clinic, and make a living by practicing medicine."

After finishing speaking, Sanako raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a calm smile, and the smile dimple flickered on her cheeks.

Beautiful smile.

A smile that anyone would find charming.

However, Qingdeng, who was so close to this beautiful smile, only felt stiff and rigid, like a puppet controlled by silk threads.

This is the smile of "the most beautiful woman in Edo".

But it was not the smile of Sanako Chiba that Aoto was familiar with.

At this moment, Qingto wanted to tell Sanako "Miss Sanako, don't listen to your father", "Your martial arts realm is far from over" and other "white lies" to comfort Sanako.

However, after thinking deeply, Qingdeng changed his mind and let out a sigh of relief.

Sanako is not a fool. Such baseless words are not only difficult to achieve, but may also have counter-effects.

A few months ago, the scenes of accompanying Sanako to the fireworks display flashed through Qingto's eyes one by one like a slideshow.

At that time, it was because Sanako accidentally heard Chiba Sadakichi's cruel comment that "Sanako has no talent" that she found it hard to accept, so she ran away from home briefly, and then was "picked up" by Aoshito...

Although the facts are cruel, Qingto has to admit: Chiba Nobuyoshi's judgment is correct...

It is true that Sanako possesses outstanding swordsmanship talent.

In terms of swordsmanship talent alone, Aoto feels that among the nationwide famous Chiba family, there are only those two monsters, namely Chiba Eijiro, the "strongest swordsman in Edo" and the second-generation head of the Hokatsu Itto-ryu clan.

Michizaburo Chiba can stabilize Sanako's head.

However, in the world of martial arts, although "skills" are very important, "physical fitness" is even more important!

Sanako is far stronger and more agile than ordinary women...but that's about it.

Without the support of a strong body, it will be difficult to further improve skills and improve strength.

Can't move faster...

I can't swing the sword more forcefully...

Couldn't react faster...

There is no way to practice more advanced skills...

In comparison, Souji, who is also a female swordsman...she is the "girl favored by the gods".

Souji not only has outstanding swordsmanship skills, but also has an explosive body.

She can jump to a height of more than 1.5 meters with a random jump without a run-up.

For a distance of 100 meters, she can easily run within 8 seconds just by raising her leg.

You must know that Qingden’s previous world records for vertical jump and 100-meter sprint were only 1.65 meters and 9.59 seconds.

All I can say is that he is worthy of being a resident of the world of low martial arts.

In short, physical deficiencies limited Sanako's development.

Sanako's current strength has reached the limit that her body can bear.

For a long time in the future, her martial arts strength will remain unchanged, and then continue to decline as her body ages and her energy and spirit decline...

Just as Qingteng was trying hard to think of words that could be used to comfort Sanako, urgent footsteps suddenly came from the distance.

Along with the footsteps, there was also an extremely familiar neutral voice:

"Tachibana-kun! Miss Sanako!"

Crash--the bushes opposite the hot spring were pushed aside, and a slender ponytail burst into Qingden's view.

"Oh, Okita-kun, you're back? How's it going? Did you catch that butterfly?"

"No, that butterfly flew so fast that I couldn't catch up...Ah, no! Now is not the time to talk about this! Mr. Tachibana, Miss Sanako, please put on your shoes and socks and follow me!"

There was a strong sense of tension in Souji's voice.

After realizing that Souji was not joking, Aomori immediately put away the smile on his face, and then involuntarily put away his legs soaked in the hot spring.

Almost at the same time as Qingden stood up, Sanako also stepped out of the spring.

There are ripples on the surface of the pool.

The straight and slender legs were like hibiscus emerging from the hot spring.

The heat of the hot spring gave Sanako's skin a hazy rosy glow.

The already white and rosy feet look more healthy, full of luster, and look extremely attractive, making people want to hold them lightly.

However, Qingdeng had no time to enjoy such beautiful scenery.

While putting on his shoes and socks more quickly, he asked the chief:

"Okita-kun, what happened?"

"Didn't I catch butterflies just now? While chasing butterflies, I accidentally broke into a dense forest, and then, then..."

Out of emotion, Souji was tongue-tied.

After "then" for a long time, she finally continued:

"Then I found a simple thatched house deep in the dense forest!"

Thatch house - the next moment he heard this word, Qingdeng's expression was filled with solemnity.

…

…

Under the leadership of the General Secretary, Qingto and Sanako traveled all the way across mountains and rivers.

Climb over the woods, cross the river, climb up the boulders...

After galloping for nearly 2 kilometers, Qingdeng couldn't help but complain:

"Okita-kun, how far did you run to chase that butterfly?"

"Almost there! Almost there!"

The general manager shouted loudly without looking back.

She didn't lie.

Within a moment, she led Qingden and Sanako into a dark forest.

Because it faces north and south, the lighting in this forest is extremely poor, and the ground is covered with mushrooms, moss and other vegetation that prefers darkness and moisture.

The lack of sunlight makes the temperature in this forest very different from the outside world.
To be continued...