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

The result of that duel was a draw.

Now, both of them have clearly improved their swordsmanship. So, who is stronger now?

"Hey, Okita."

"Hmm? What's wrong, Zuo Cun?" Miss Zuo Cun seemed to be in high spirits, with her hands behind her back as if she were on a picnic.

"Let's have another match after my injury heals!" Zuocun looked at Okita with a sharp smile.

Longma was stunned for a moment, then sighed and covered his forehead.

Zuo Cun, are you stupid...?

"Huh?" Okita was also taken aback, but after understanding what Samura said, he became eager to try. "Okay, okay, I want to try too. Who is stronger, me now or Mr. Samura now!"

Ryoma looked completely bewildered.

Good heavens, those two idiots.

Are these two people's brains stuffed with knives?

He patted each of them on the shoulder and said with some sadness, "As long as you two are happy."

"Huh? Mr. Sakamoto, he..."

Zuocun pondered carefully: "Could it be that you, Sakamoto, also want to participate in our competition?"

"..." Ryoma looked constipated.

"No." Then he turned and left with Miss Ah Long.

"What's wrong with him?" Zuo Cun was completely baffled.

"I don't know..." Okita was also baffled.

Miss Ah Long looked at the two people, laughed happily for a long time, and made a face at them.

......

"Hey, Shinmi, am I handsome?" Serizawa Kamo proudly showed off his newly bought keychain to his best friend.

Three magatama beads, strung together, hung on Serizawa Kamo's chest.

"Handsome my foot, you look like an idiot," Nijimi retorted with a smile.

"Hehe, I think it's pretty cool. Boss, how much is this? I'll buy it!" Serizawa Kamo said generously.

Shinji shook his head, and the two walked out of the shop together.

The two are currently in Kyoto.

"Let's go, Shinmi, let's go see the current Shogun."

"Isn't it said that even samurai can voice their opinions to the shogunate? Let me go and see."

"Is there any value in saving this shogunate and this country?"

......

It has started snowing.

In a grove of trees, Ryoma rested his face on his hands, looking at Samura and Okita.

He sighed.

"Saimura Anno, Okita Souji, let's settle this once and for all!"

"Hyakucho-ryū, Samura Anno." Samura drew his crane wings, looked at Okita Souji, and a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes.

"Natural Rishin-ryu, Okita Souji." Souji also placed his sword beside his head and stared at Samura.

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

Chapter 321 Parting Ways

click-

With the sound of the scabbard hitting the ground, the duel between the two samurai began.

Neither of them used their special techniques; instead, they simply charged and slashed.

The blades made contact, producing a crisp hum.

“This level of strength…” Okita didn’t want to fight any further; Samura’s strength was greater than his.

Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Samurai is slightly older, already seventeen years old, and is stronger than Okita. He also has a significant height advantage.

Okita was more agile; although he was only thirteen years old, he had been learning kendo for much longer than Samura.

The swords clashed, both wielding extremely fast swords, with frequent and rapid exchanges of blows.

After trying to compete for a while, the two realized that neither could gain an advantage, so they split up and looked for an opportunity.

Samura's strength was faster, but Okita's speed was even faster.

Okita chose to make the first move.

As Longma used the Shrinking Earth technique, his pupils contracted as he watched from the sidelines.

He never understood the principles behind Okita's shrinking of the ground and Samura's hovering.

Judging from their appearance, the two people are definitely human, right? And Miss A-Long has also confirmed that the two people are probably not monsters.

Ryoma once suspected that Samura might be a monster transformed from a frog...

Zuocun was on guard against Okita's Shrinking Thrust. He jumped up, flipped in the air to dodge Okita's thrust, and then swung Crane Wings at the back of Okita's neck.

Okita turned around quickly, took the blow, and retreated.

Zuocun jumped up and stood on the tree.

The two people stared at each other.

Suddenly, they all involuntarily sighed.

Okita picked up his scabbard, and Samura also climbed down from the tree.

"Why did you stop fighting?" Longma wanted to observe the teleportation or airborne techniques a little longer.

Miss Ah Long was hanging on the tree behind her, almost asleep.

"If this keeps up, I could fight with Samura for ten days and still not be able to decide a winner." Miss Okita sheathed her sword and smiled.

“If we use more force, neither of us will be able to stop. We... haven’t reached that level yet. If we both go all out, it’s possible that we’ll get injured, or even one of us will kill the other.” Zuo Cun had just found his scabbard.

The previous scabbard was damaged in the battle, and the current scabbard of Tsuruka was given to Samura by the castle lord who was acquainted with Matou Sawa.

The scabbard is half black and half white, resembling the wings of a crane, which does match the name of the sword.

Because of the Kurokawa Santenkakuki incident, not only did the hero "Hagi-giri" (Hawaki-giri) become famous, but the sword he wielded also became famous.

The legendary sword, Crane, which was created by contemporary Mizushinko Masahide and Mizushinko Masatsugu, who risked their entire futures, attracts countless people's gazes of awe or worship, just like its master, Hagiwara.

In addition, before leaving, the city lord subtly conveyed something to Zuo Village.

Contemporary Tianhuang (to avoid suspicion, I'll use this as a substitute), Xiang Jianjian Zuocun.

Zuocun did not respond immediately, but instead avoided the topic.

The shogunate was incompetent, but does that mean the emperor was necessarily capable?

Zuocun pondered this question.

At this time, the shogunate's incompetence was exposed to the Japanese people and the world, and it had undoubtedly become an obstacle to Japan's progress. However, how to change the status quo was a question that both Samura and Ryoma were pondering.

They had asked Okita what he thought.

Okita laughed and said, "Since the shogunate is so incompetent, why not just make it capable?"

Neither Samura nor Ryoma responded immediately.

but......

Is there any value or possibility in saving a tree that is about to die?

......

“Speaking of which, I’ve been out here for more than half a year now, shouldn’t I go back?” Okita glanced at Samura.

"Huh? Okita, are you going back?" Ryoma asked, somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, if I don't go back soon, my master will scold me." Okita chuckled and scratched his head.

“…Let me go back with you, Okita,” Samura said after a moment’s thought.

"Oh! Really! Samura, you're coming back to Edo with me?" Miss Okita said excitedly.

She could hardly believe that Samura, who usually couldn't utter a single word, would actually ask to go back to Edo with her.

“Yes.” Zuocun nodded. “I’m starting to miss everyone at Shiekan. After being homeless for so long, I want to take a break.”

"Yay!" Okita Souji cheered, then patted Samura on the shoulder. "Let's go now!"

"Sakamoto, do you want to come along?" Samura asked, looking at the calm and humorous man.

"Well, as for me... although Edo is also my final destination, I still want to go back to Tosa first." Ryoma smiled and punched Samura's upper arm. "But speaking of which, you've finally improved a bit!"

"What progress?" Zuocun asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing. Since you're going to Edo and I'm going back to Tosa, let's part ways here."

Ryoma looked into Samura's eyes and said, "Samura, I'm so happy to have met a friend like you. I hope we can meet again in the future."

"Yes, Sakamoto, don't forget me when you get back to your hometown. If you return to Edo soon, come find me at Shieikan outside the castle."

Their fists collided, and they both burst into laughter.

“Two idiots…” Miss A-Long and Okita stood together, arms crossed, looking helplessly at the two adults who were laughing like little boys.

"Well then, take care on your journey, Sakamoto."

"Take care of yourself, Zuocun."

"Don't worry, with Miss A-Long by Ryoma's side, Ryoma will definitely be fine. Although Ryoma is an idiot and his strength is also very poor, Miss A-Long will definitely protect Ryoma very well!" Miss A-Long said with a smile, showing her teeth.

"Huh? Miss A-Long, who is this idiot...?"