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

He looked to be in his thirties, dressed in loose-fitting Wu-style clothing, and had a serious expression.

Although he is no longer the head of the Lao Zhong, the aura he once had as someone second only to the emperor has remained.

Sitting opposite him was Zuocun.

The two stared at each other, and the air seemed to freeze.

There was no one else present, so Masahiro Abe ordered them all to go elsewhere.

Masahiro Abe looked at the excessively young face of Samura and spoke.

"I never imagined that the renowned Hagaki-zan, Samura Anno, would be so young." His gaze was sharp, scrutinizing and serious. "Should I say... that he's a prodigy at a young age?"

Zuocun is indeed not very old, only eighteen years old at most.

Zuocun stared expressionlessly at Abe Masahiro, who was sitting opposite him.

Generally, when a samurai is allowed to enter, his sword is to be put away.

However, Masahiro Abe unusually had Samura sit opposite him with a sword.

Do you have absolute confidence in your abilities?

"You flatter me, Lord Abe." Samura bowed slightly.

Regardless, Masahiro Abe is a highly respected figure within Japan's current ruling class, and he deserves the respect he is due.

"Lord Abe, is there anything you need from me?"

"Or do you simply want to see a samurai who has slain a demon?"

Abe Masahiro's heart was as calm as water.

She smiled slightly.

"I just want to ask, what is the perspective of the powerful samurai, Hagiwara, on the current situation in Japan?"

He held up one finger; his arm was thick and his hands were calloused, suggesting he had swordsmanship experience: "I'm someone who really enjoys making friends."

"But... ordinary people won't become my friends."

“Strong people usually think more deeply, so, Zuo Cun Anuo, can you answer my question?”

He thought for a moment and then added, "As for your killing of the Heavenly Hidden Demon... I do know that monsters exist."

Zuo Cun looked at the burly middle-aged man and pondered.

Masahiro Abe was the most charismatic person Samura had ever met.

"I can answer you, but you have to tell me one thing."

“I’m good at answering questions, go ahead,” Abe Masahiro said with a smile.

"So... you really have a ruthless attitude towards foreigners, wanting to exterminate them all?"

Abe Masahiro was taken aback, his serious expression softening slightly: "That's a sharp question."

He coughed twice: "Well then, based on the truth, let me tell you my thoughts."

"However, rules must be established."

Masahiro Abe pointed to the ceiling of the room: "Don't take today's words out of this room."

"That's my rule."

Zuo Cun nodded: "I understand."

He asked this question because Abe Masahiro is currently an open advocate for expelling foreigners, but his actions reveal many other implications.

Promote Western artillery techniques and ease the ban on building large ships.

Many signs indicate that this person who is openly advocating against foreign aggression seems to be... not so much against foreign aggression after all?

“Let me answer you, Anno Samura.” Masahiro Abe sighed softly. “Although I may have many ideas, as the leader of a faction, I must make a gesture in order to survive smoothly in this political arena.”

"Does the gesture mean handing over the position of head of the senior Chinese council to a moderate like Horita Masamichi?" Samura suddenly asked a question that seemed quite offensive.

However, Masahiro Abe didn't seem to care and simply nodded: "What rulers pursue is not correct ideology, but balance."

"If I had to put it bluntly, my thoughts don't belong to the moderate faction, nor to the anti-foreign faction. The actual leader of the anti-foreign faction should be that guy Tokugawa Nariaki."

"As for the matter of stepping down to Masatoshi Horita... it was a last resort."

Abe Masahiro placed his hands on his knees, looking somewhat dejected: "At that time, I was forced to speak to the shogun and dismiss the two weak men, Matsudaira Noriyuki and Matsudaira Tadahiro, and the court instantly descended into chaos."

"In order to stabilize the situation, the general and I chose to put Horita Masayoshi in the position of the head of the senior Chinese."

"But... the radical anti-foreign faction and the moderate opening-up faction... hehe, in my opinion, there is no absolute ideology."

Masahiro Abe stood up, walked to the bedside, and looked at the scenery outside the window.

"Sakuma Shōzan and I, who were demoted to the countryside a long time ago, are actually the same kind of people."

"Founding the nation is a must." He lowered his head, then suddenly raised it again, clenching his fist. "But repelling the barbarians is also a must!"

"So, Anno Satomura, can you tell me your thoughts?"

“Strength is not the decisive factor, but it is definitely an important factor. Your strength is enough to kill the great demon Tenkakuki.” Abe Masahiro’s gaze was intense as he turned to look at Samura. “There are few swordsmen in Japan with this level of skill, so… I think it is necessary to know your position.”

The current Masahiro Abe gives Samura a rather bland impression.

"Standing...opening up the country? The country has already been forced open, expelling the barbarians? Is bowing and scraping before foreigners considered expelling the barbarians?"

Zuocun chuckled.

"..." Masahiro Abe didn't speak, he just looked at Samura.

"My stance..." Zuo Cun's wisps of hair obscured his eyes.

"I stand only on the side of change, as for the shogunate..."

“Lord Abe, you are a respectable man, but…” Samura also stood up, “the shogunate… is beyond saving.”

“…I don’t think so,” Masahiro Abe said. “The shogunate should not have fallen so easily.”

The two people stared at each other.

"All I can say is that I will not be your enemy." Samura sighed. "Or rather, my thoughts are somewhat similar to yours, but I will absolutely not stand on the side of the shogunate."

“...Is that so?” Abe Masahiro remained serious.

"Well then, let me give it a try..." Abe Masahiro's shadow began to stir slightly, "...whether you can survive in the chaos that lies ahead..."

“Not standing with the shogunate might be a good excuse, but someone like you, as long as you stand on Japanese soil and don’t serve me… you’re almost destined to become my enemy.”

Masahiro Abe looks a bit of a pity.

"We had a very pleasant chat today, and I understand your thoughts, but..."

“Try to get out of this room alive.” Abe Masahiro’s eyes were sharp.

Zuo Cun smiled casually and placed his hand on the hilt of He He's sword.

"Well then... I'll give it a try."

Several figures suddenly darted out from Abe Masahiro's shadow.

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

Chapter 329 What's Hidden Beneath the Serving the Country

"...Ninja."

Zuocun frowned.

The crane's wings were drawn from their sheaths, reflecting the dim sunlight streaming through the window.

Two figures emerged from Abe Masahiro's shadow.

They were short in stature, dressed in pure black clothes, covering themselves completely except for their eyes.

This kind of attire will only appear on one type of person.

ninja.

The assassins kept by bureaucrats and aristocrats specialize in walking in the shadows and doing shady things.

These two in front of me are probably ninjas from the Abe family.

"I never imagined I'd have to fight against something like this..."

The situation in Zuocun is actually very dangerous.

A ninja kept by a high-ranking official like Masahiro Abe is definitely not a simple character.

The chat venue chosen by Masahiro Abe also proves one thing.

He investigated Zuocun.

The reason for choosing a small room for chatting is probably to limit the biggest characteristic of the Samura Hyakudori style—that is, Samura's powerful jumping ability.

Zuocun also noticed all of this.

But he dismissed it dismissively.

Do you really think that simply restricting the venue can weaken me?

The two ninjas, dressed in black, remained silent. Abe Masahiro made a gesture, and the two of them shot towards Samura as if launched.

The shuriken swiftly slipped from the hands of the two ninjas, and sharp kunai appeared out of thin air.

Zuocun lightly jumped to dodge the shuriken that seemed to fly like a ghost.

Ping Pong —

A clang of metal clashed like a violent storm, sparks flying from the weapons of both sides.

However, the two ninjas remained expressionless; Samura was merely testing the waters.

With a slight step back, Zuocun twisted his body, dodging the tip of the kunai, and turned around to slash back a ninja.

Seeing that things were not going well, the other ninja quickly flipped backward and retreated.

Want to go?

Zuo Cun exerted force with his calves, springing forward like an arrow on a bow, and his crane wings slashed down—