In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

I haven't even found a good teacher, so what does all this have to do with me?

Samura left Edo Castle and returned to Shieikan.

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Chapter 284 The Sturdy Wandering Warrior

For more than a month after that day, Anno Samura traveled back and forth between Shieikan and Edo.

Zuocun had no money; he came only for the scenery and folk songs.

Observing the expressions of the people and guessing their thoughts was something that Zuocun found very interesting.

Zuocun's favorite place to stay is the seaside, not because the sea is beautiful or vast, but because many seabirds gather there.

For some reason, Zuocun is very popular with birds.

Neither sparrows, land birds, nor seagulls, water birds, were wary of Zuocun.

Zuocun would not harm them, but would gently pat the birds' heads, and sometimes he would ask the fishermen for two small fish that he could not sell to feed the birds.

Over time, the fishermen became familiar with this peaceful "samurai," and he would occasionally tell dirty jokes that left the clueless Zuo Cun completely bewildered.

Every time he asks, "Why can only men and women have children together?"

"Why do women smell so good?" "Why do men have to smell so bad?"

The fishermen who joked and laughed about this kind of question would actually find themselves in an awkward situation.

Occasionally, I would spar and exchange techniques with people from the testing center.

Zuocun is always very focused and serious during each sparring session.

Everyone in the testing hall became familiar with him and recognized his strength.

Apart from Okita Souji, no one can suppress Samura Anno.

Moreover, after Samura Anno came into contact with the sword, it seemed that he was improving every day.

In just one month, Okita Souji felt that he was having some difficulty suppressing Samura.

1853 10 Month 3 Day.

A light drizzle in Edo.

Zuocun, wearing a straw hat, stood on a high place, looking at the waves below.

The waves were quite large, so no seabirds stayed on the shore.

Boring...

Turning my head slightly, I saw another man wearing a straw hat, also standing on the same platform looking at the sea.

It is worth noting that this man with thick arms and abundant body hair also had a katana tucked into his waistband.

This is a samurai.

"Hey, young man, you've come to see the sea too?" The burly samurai greeted him.

"...Hmm." Is this person being a little too enthusiastic?

"Ah, I'm a rather talkative person, so I often like to chat with someone." The burly samurai waved his hand, his tone sounding like he was laughing.

He took off his straw hat and smiled at Anno Samura: "My name is Serizawa Kamo, I am a wandering samurai, nice to meet you."

Anno shook hands with him.

"As a fellow samurai, I look forward to your guidance, Samura Anno." Samura also took off his straw hat.

Serizawa Kamo looks to be in his twenties, but he is big and fat, weighing at least twice the weight of Samura.

They shook hands and then parted ways.

"The sea is so beautiful," Serizawa Kamo exclaimed. "I love the sea, especially the sound of the waves crashing on the beach."

Zuocun Anuo nodded: "The sea is indeed beautiful."

“Right!” Serizawa Kamo seemed very happy. “People who like to look at the sea are broad-minded! That’s what my father said!”

The two chatted for a while, although it was mostly Serizawa who was telling Samura about his views and love for the sea.

"Hey, Serizawa-kun, why would someone who loves the sea so much choose to pick up a sword and become a samurai?" Anno Samura asked with some confusion.

“Ah, this…” Serizawa was taken aback, but remained silent for a moment.

"Samura-kun, what made you choose to pick up a knife?"

"I don't know... at least not yet." Zuo Cun looked at the surging sea and said in a low voice.

"I see..." Serizawa Kamo sighed.

"I'm sorry, Samura-kun, the reason I drew my sword... is something only I can say, so I can't tell you." Serizawa Kamo's expression was somewhat serious.

Just then, a voice came from the other side of the road: "Hey, Serizawa, what are you doing!"

"New discovery!" Serizawa Kamo exclaimed.

He turned to Zuocun and gave him an apologetic smile: "Sorry, Zuocun-kun, my friend is calling me."

"Please go ahead." Zuo Cun smiled.

"However, if you're looking for a reason to draw your sword, I do have some humble suggestions that you might find helpful." Serizawa Kamo patted Samura on the shoulder, revealing a somewhat fierce-looking smile.

"Go further away. Don't let yourself linger in one place for too long. A comfortable life is not suitable for a samurai who kills."

"Well then, I'll be going now!" Serizawa Kamo moved his muscular body and ran towards the person called Shinmi, disappearing from sight in a short while.

"Goodbye, Serizawa-kun..." Samura murmured to himself.

He returned to the test hall.

"Samura!" Hijikata Toshizo slapped Samura Anno on the back.

"Hijikata..."

"What are you thinking about? You seem so distracted as soon as you got back today." Hijikata sat opposite Samura. "This isn't like you."

Zuocun is usually very quiet, but it would never be as eerily silent as it is today.

“I was just…thinking about something.” Samura skillfully grabbed Hijikata’s hand and rested his elbow on the table.

The two started arm wrestling.

Fighting with wooden swords is something that consumes a lot of physical strength, and it's fine to do it only once in a while. Since Samura and Hijikata like to have a contest, they adopted this less strenuous method.

"Uh--"

"ah--"

Although Samura could suppress Hijikata during training, Hijikata was still superior in terms of pure strength.

"Hehe, how about that—" Hijikata Toshizo gritted his teeth, a smirk playing on his lips as he pressed down hard.

"You're so weak, you idiot—" Zuo Cun's face turned bright red, his lips pursed. Even if he was at a disadvantage, he would never let him win so easily!

"Honestly, you two are arm wrestling again." Okita Souji walked in, saw the two grappling, and shook his head.

Place your hand on the back of Zuocun's hand and give it a gentle push.

Zuocun instantly gained the upper hand.

"Hey, Okita! What are you doing!" Hijikata was startled and quickly tried to regain his footing.

Zuocun did not speak.

"Is it fun for you two to play like this every day?" Okita Souji said boredly, squatting to the side.

"Uh—ah—" Zuocun Anuo gripped the table and forcefully pressed Hijikata's hand down.

"Really, really, this time Okita messed things up, so it doesn't count." Hijikata muttered in dissatisfaction.

"Of course not, but..." Zuo Cun chuckled, "It feels really good to beat you."

“You brat—” Hijikata was speechless for a moment.

"Hahahaha." Okita Souji laughed heartily.

"Okita, what are you laughing at?" Samura asked, bewildered.

"You two are so silly. So this is what samurai are like?" Okita Souji grabbed the hands of Samurai and Hijikata.

"Come on, try it again with your left hand!"

"Uh......"

"Oh! Come on, Zuocun!"

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Chapter 285 Leaving the Nest

Samura Anno lay on the tatami mat, looking at the wooden ceiling, quietly lost in thought.

At the Shieikan, aside from training with Hijikata and Okita, he spent all his time thinking.

He asked Okita Souji why he drew his sword.

The girl, while brandishing her sword, told him with a smile that she drew her sword to change her fate.

Recalling the many conversations the two had on the road, one can understand why Okita Souji had such a reason for drawing his sword.

Hijikata's reason for drawing his sword was to maintain good relationships with those around him.

"I don't want any of my loved ones to die, that's why I drew my sword."

The young samurai, looking quite dashing in the setting sun, uttered those words.

He recalled the words spoken by the samurai named Serizawa Kamo that he had met at the beach on a rainy day.

"Mr. Kondo told me to find my own good mentor..."

"Serizawa-kun told me not to linger, to go a little further away..."

He sat up abruptly.