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

I already knew what I wanted to do.

Perhaps, it's just that they can't bear to leave this place.

Although he only spent a month at the Tennen Rishinryu Shieikan, the place left a deep impression on Anno Tamura...

Although I've never experienced what home feels like, this is indeed how Samura described Shieikan.

So, should we abandon the knife and stay here?

Do not......

Zuocun subconsciously clenched his fist.

He enjoys the feeling of fighting.

As long as I grip the sword tightly, a sense of excitement arises from within.

But if one must pursue the sword, then...

No, I should be more clear-headed.

This country is changing...

A sword is absolutely necessary.

He recalled his conversations with the fishermen at the beach these past few days.

These fishermen, when they have nothing to do, often chat about national affairs, and surprisingly, they are quite knowledgeable.

General Perry of the United States forcibly opened Japan's doors and signed a treaty.

This exposed the incompetence of the shogunate to everyone.

Unrest was imminent, a premonition of Samura Anno.

I cannot only see the happiness in the present moment; I must consider the long term.

A light shone in the boy's eyes.

This sword was drawn for the sake of long-term happiness in the future...

............

"So, you're leaving." Kondo Shusuke looked at Samura Anno, who was carrying a small cloth bag, his eyes flickering slightly.

“Yes.” Anno was dressed in a gray-blue Wufu (traditional Japanese clothing), and his bag contained some travel money that Hijikata, Okita, Shimazaki, and others had scraped together for him, as well as another set of Wufu. “Please forgive me for bothering you for so many days.”

"It's nothing." Kondo Shusuke smiled and patted Samura's shoulder. "Then, I wish you good luck in your military campaigns."

"Thank you." Zuo Cun bowed deeply and turned around.

Three shadows suddenly appeared behind Kondo Shusuke.

"Hey, Zuo Cun, you bastard, are you trying to leave us without saying goodbye?!" a young man dressed in Wu clothing with his chest exposed shouted.

"Hey, stop right there!" Another young man, slightly taller than him, shouted just as loudly.

Okita Souji watched Samura Anno's retreating figure and pursed his lips.

Kondo Shusuke asked the person next to him, "Inoue, aren't you going?"

Inoue Genzaburo smiled and said, "No need, Hijikata and the others are enough."

Zuocun Anuo stopped in his tracks.

She sighed softly.

"Samura-kun, are you really leaving?" Okita Souji looked at the thin figure.

Zuocun Anuo nodded with his back to everyone.

"I have found my reason for drawing my sword."

"Chaos is coming, and it is not advisable to place our hopes on temporary comfort."

"I draw my sword for the sake of future happiness."

All three of them fell silent.

"Congratulations, but... I just can't help but feel that you're a really jerk." Shimazaki Shota smacked his lips.

“It’s impossible for you to just leave like this.” Hijikata Toshizo placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Zuocun Anuo turned around, a smile playing on his lips.

Okita Souji took a step forward.

"Hijikata, Shimazaki, let me do it." Okita Souji's eyes were red, and his hand was already gripping the hilt of the katana.

Hijikata Toshizo and Shimazaki Shota exchanged a glance.

"Fine, then you can have Samura, Okita."

Samura Anno didn't say anything, but simply placed his hand on the hilt of the knife as well.

It wasn't pheasant feathers, but rather an ordinary katana.

Zheng—

The sword was drawn, gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

“Let me test the resolve in your sword.” Okita Souji smiled almost imperceptibly. “Don’t blame me if you die.”

"We are samurai. Since we are facing each other with swords drawn, we must be prepared to be cut down."

“Of course.” Zuo Cun’s gaze also hardened.

He will certainly take it seriously; it concerns the dignity of both parties.

The two people were about ten meters apart.

Okita Souji made the first move.

With one foot pushing off the ground, Okita Souji seemed to leap, and his petite eleven-year-old body reached Samura in just two or three steps.

This is a thrust—

Zuo Cun's pupils contracted, his target becoming the chest—

Ping!

As the blades clashed, Samura used the momentum to shift slightly to the right, dodging Okita's thrust.

Okita reacted extremely quickly. After dodging the thrust, he steadied himself and, with one hand, slashed at Samura's neck from left to right.

He parried the slash, raised his sword, and then cleaved downwards with a downward strike.

Okita received Samura's attack, and the immense force caused him to involuntarily retreat.

This time, it was Zuocun's sudden attack.

Its speed was no less than Okita's, and it aimed straight for Okita's chest.

Okita smiled indifferently.

Squat down.

Her height advantage allowed her to completely evade Zuo Cun's thrusting path, and she swung her katana upwards from below—

Zuo Cun felt a chill.

What a vicious slash!

Suddenly I noticed a tree behind Okita.

Instead of retreating, Zuocun jumped up.

He climbed the tree.

Before Okita Souji could react, Samura jumped down from the tree again.

With the force of his jump, he unleashed his slash.

Okita Souji positioned her sword to her side; there was no time for her to dodge at such close range, she could only block.

Ping Pong —

"Ugh—" Okita Souji couldn't withstand the power of the slash and was knocked back several meters, landing hard on his backside.

And Zuocun Anno.

pat.

The katana in his hand fell to the ground.

His hand went numb from the reaction force.

“You can stop now.” Kondo Shusuke appeared between the two, a satisfied smile on his face.

"This battle ended in a draw. Okita Souji fell and Samura Anno dropped his sword, both of which can be seen as signs of defeat. So, any objections?"

Zuocun helped Okita up, and the two smiled at each other.

"no disagreement."

"Let's call it a draw."

Samura Anno bowed to Kondo Shusuke and Okita Souji, picked up his katana, sheathed it, and smiled.

"Well then, everyone, until we meet again."

Kondo Shusuke and his four disciples stood beside him, watching the young man.

The chicks have left the nest and are trying to find food on their own.

------------

Chapter 286 The US Warship Returns

Murder is the bane of the underworld.

Wipe the blood off the pheasant feathers with a cloth and slowly sheath it.

Zuocun Anuo sighed.

I feel absolutely no guilt...