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

"..." Zuo Cun lowered his head and stopped speaking.

"Please understand," Matou sighed. "The incompetence of the shogunate is obvious to all of Japan. If a 'samurai who has exorcised the monsters' were to appear at this time, it could stabilize public morale to some extent."

“If it were me, a demonic being, who defeated the Hidden Demon, those who followed him would probably have kept it a secret, because they knew that we couldn’t be completely exposed to the public. But you are different, Zuocun.”

“You are a true, pure human being, and a human being who participated in the entire war.” Matou Sawa looked at Samura from behind, with some admiration and some respect. “I watched with my own eyes as you used human power to behead that great demon twice.”

"The defeat of the Hidden Demon was the result of everyone's efforts, but you are definitely the greatest contributor."

"If such a strong person doesn't gain any fame in this battle, I think it would be unreasonable."

Zuocun sighed, looking at the sunlight streaming in through the window.

"So, you'd better just accept it, Samura!" Ms. Okita pushed open the door and walked in.

"Okita... I just feel that this battle wasn't entirely the right one." Samura turned to look at Okita, who was wearing a yukata, somewhat stunned. "Okita, you..."

"Hehe." Okita's face turned a little red.

"This battle, or rather all battles, have no distinction between light and darkness," Matou Sawa said with a smile. "There is only a conflict of positions."

"Those who know about her past would probably sympathize with Miss Hoshiguma for doing what she did."

"However, to humans, to those who are merely passing by and are dragged into this mess, she is undoubtedly a demon, a monster, and no one would choose to forgive her. So, there is no need to have such a heavy psychological burden."

"And right now, a festival is being held in the city."

"...Festival? What festival?" Zuocun asked blankly.

“It’s a festival to celebrate the defeat of the great yokai, Tenkakuki.” Ms. Okita sat down next to Samura. “The magistrates spread the word about this incident, and many people went to Kurokawa Mountain to join in the fun. The traces of the battle that day and the charred corpses by the lake are still there, so almost everyone knows that a great yokai appeared on Kurokawa Mountain and killed many people, but was eventually defeated by Mr. Samura.”

Matou Sawa glanced at Samura, then at Okita, who was wearing a yukata, and a smirk appeared on her lips.

"So, shouldn't we follow tradition and have the hero who vanquishes the monster marry a princess?"

"Ugh?"

"Ok?"

Both Samura and Okita were completely bewildered by Matou Sawa's words.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away.

Matou Sawa smiled and shook her head.

He was just making a harmless little joke; both Samura and Okita are still too young.

......

"Yo, Samura." Ryoma, dressed in a navy blue yukata, led Miss Ryu, who was dressed in a black yukata, and greeted Samura. "It's rare to see you in a yukata."

Zuo Cun scratched his face: "What's wrong? Am I that different from usual?"

"You've lost that sharp, intimidating aura you had when you were carrying a knife. You don't seem so unapproachable anymore." Ryoma smiled as he looked at his friend.

"Keep out, strangers?" Zuo Cun was a little confused. "What kind of person am I in your eyes all the time?"

"He always has a cold, sour face; he only shows a little more expression when he's drinking," Miss Ah Long added sarcastically.

"Huh?" Zuocun found it unbelievable.

"Samura, what are you doing!" Miss Okita has a big heart and has long forgotten the embarrassment just now. She jogged over from a distance, her cherry blossom yukata swaying. "Mr. Matou and the lord are looking for you everywhere."

"Go on, Samura, you're the star of the festival today." Ryoma patted Samura on the shoulder with a bright smile.

"Ah, um..." Zuocun was stunned as Ms. Okita pulled him away.

He looked at the hand that Ms. Okita was holding and fell into deep thought.

This feeling...

No, Ms. Okita is my benefactor, I can't have such thoughts.

Samura released the hand that was holding Okita Souji.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Ms. Okita turned her head and glanced at Samura.

"It's nothing, Okita, let's go quickly." Samura's expression was a little stiff as he spoke to Okita.

“Yes.” Okita Souji nodded.

......

The festival was very grand.

Zuo Cun was arranged by the city lord to ride in a sedan chair without a canopy, with two swords at his waist, dressed in a magnificent Wu-style robe, carried by sixteen people, passing through the center of the festival.

Zuo Cun, sitting in the sedan chair, had a cold (dull) expression, and his hand was constantly on the hilt of He He's sword (tense), showing the demeanor of a strongman.

And the people below.

"Hey, isn't that Lord Feather Demon Slayer...?"

"He looks so young, but his knife is quite fancy."

"Speaking of which, was it really this lord who slew the Heavenly Hidden Demon...?"

"It's definitely true! I went to Kurokawa Mountain and saw over a thousand charred corpses! There were also huge, shattered rocks! The black blood of the Heavenly Hidden Demon has stained the entire lake area black!"

"Was it really that terrifying? Where did that Hidden Demon come from? It actually killed over a thousand people..."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, while Zuocun walked straight through the festival with his eyes level.

Ryoma led Miss Ryoma by the hand, a strange smile playing on his lips.

If Zuocun gains more fame, it might bring about some new effects on the reform movement...

Bang!

Fireworks rose into the sky.

Miss Okita's eyes reflected the fireworks and the figure of Samura, and she couldn't help but recall what Matou Sawa had said during the day.

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

Chapter 320 Swordsmanship, but not swordsmanship

"So, in conclusion, I'll be traveling with you for a while longer." Ms. Okita, dressed in a kimono that matched her hair color, said to Samurai and Ryoma with a bright smile.

"Welcome." Ryoma glanced at Zuocun.

"Ah, welcome," Zuo Cun replied with a smile.

......

"Hey, kid named Saito." Inside the Tennen Rishin-ryu Test Hall, Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toshizo sat together, looking at the boy with grayish-blue hair.

Both men looked very strong, but Saito Hajime wasn't afraid at all, just casually shaking his head.

"What's wrong? You guys can't beat me without Okita." Saito Hajime sat by the window.

“We don’t want to fight right now. We just want to ask what your opinion is on this country,” Shimazaki Yu asked casually, lying on the tatami mat and looking at the ceiling.

“Huh? This country?” Saito turned his head and looked at Shimazaki Isamu with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot. “What can you think of it? It’s just an ordinary country.”

"You...you're really heartless." Hijikata Toshizo took a sip of tea and rolled his eyes. "How can someone like you be a swordsmanship genius?"

“I just found it interesting.” Saito chuckled twice. “Did you draw your swords for some other reason?”

Isamu Shimazaki and Toshizo Hijikata exchanged a glance.

"I was taken in by Mr. Kondo after my hometown was attacked by bandits. If I had to give a reason for drawing my sword, it would be justice!" Shimazaki Yu sat up.

“I’m just following Shimazaki-san. I’ve always lived around here, so it was only natural that I ended up here.” Hijikata Toshi pinched his sideburns with three fingers, where he had a lot of hair. “As for the reason for drawing the sword, it’s simply because I don’t want my loved ones to leave me.”

"I see. Compared to your reasons, I feel like mine are at a disadvantage. Damn it..." Saito Hajime scratched his head and said awkwardly.

A long silence followed.

Shimazaki Yu sighed, "I feel like the Shieikan has become really quiet since Okita went out to play."

“Yes, Okita is always so energetic, she makes everyone in the Shieikan (Test Hall) spontaneously lively.” Hijikata Toshizo and Shimazaki Isamu lay together, the two young men looking like salted fish. “Except for the time when her hometown was attacked by bandits, Okita has always been very active.”

"Speaking of which, Shimazaki, what was that thing Okita used?"

"What? You mean shrinking the earth?"

"Yeah, that thing... combined with Okita's signature thrusting technique, it doesn't look like swordsmanship at all."

"Yes, that's true. It shouldn't be swordsmanship, but something else..."

Saito was completely bewildered. What swordsmanship? What?

What are you talking about?

“Ah, Saito, you probably don’t know this yet.” Shimazaki Isamu stood up and walked to Saito Hajime’s side. “Okita has learned something new.”

"It's something like, disappearing from my place and then suddenly reappearing at Hijikata's location, or something... She said it was swordsmanship..." He gestured, leaving Saito stunned.

After a long explanation, Saito finally understood and believed what Shimazaki Isamu and Hijikata Toshizo had said.

He had one comment on this.

"You call that swordsmanship?"

“According to Okita himself, it’s probably true, but it’s not quite…” Shimazaki Yu stroked his chin earnestly.

"Speaking of which, is Okita possibly with Samura now?" Hijikata suddenly asked, remembering that...

"Huh? That's probably impossible." Shimazaki Isamu waved his hand with a smile. "Japan is so big, how could two people easily run into each other?"

"Too......"

"And who is Zuocun?"

......

Okita hummed a song as he walked ahead.

"Miss Okita is so energetic, and her swordsmanship is also very strong." Ryoma and Samura walked side by side, looking at Okita ahead.

Zuocun thought for a moment.

Swordsmanship...

When he left the Tennen Rishin-ryu school of Shieikan, he had a duel with Okita.