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

"Is that so?" Shimazaki Yu remained noncommittal.

The air fell silent once more.

"Zomura, since you've brought this up, I also have something to say to you."

"I hope you will join us and support the regime."

"This is also... the path we have chosen to save our country."

Zuo Cun's expression froze for a moment, then he gave a bitter laugh.

"I see, I understand."

Samura and Shimazaki Isamu stood up simultaneously and shook hands.

Then Zuocun turned around, his voice sounding as if it had lost all its strength.

"I hope we won't meet on the battlefield again."

Samura approached Ms. Okita, who was sitting on the ground.

“Mr. Samura…” Okita understood what had happened.

She was at a loss, feeling only a sharp pain in her heart.

Zuocun didn't say anything, but just smiled and gently hugged Ms. Okita.

"To repay Okita's great kindness to me... if we ever become enemies in the future, I will spare each of you once."

After leaving those words, Zuo Cun did not look at anyone else in the room and walked out of the dojo.

"Mr. Samura!" Okita's heart clenched, and he chased after him.

Shimazaki and Hijikata both let out a long sigh.

"Let us go just once... What a heavy promise..." Hijikata's eyes drooped.

Shimazaki, Hijikata, and Inoue all knew that with their opposing stances, they would most likely end up on opposite sides in the future.

Facing Zuocun, all three knew very well that they might be able to exchange a few blows, but they were definitely no match for him.

Miss Okita chased after him out the door, but only saw a figure leaping into the distance.

"Zuocun..."

......

Zuocun remained silent, jumping incessantly.

Before I knew it, I had already left Edo.

He knew he could never return to the Imperial Guard.

This era is hell, a vortex, an apocalypse, from which no one can escape.

Emperor, Shogun, Grand Elder, Senior Councilor, Domain Samurai, Townsman, Farmer, Nobleman... No matter your status, you cannot escape the vortex of corruption.

Whether you choose to do it willingly or unwillingly, you will be forced into this hell.

Samura chose to overthrow the shogunate in order to uphold his beliefs.

The students at Shieikan also chose to follow their own path and support the shogunate.

What will the future hold?

Zuo Cun gritted his teeth, not knowing where he had arrived, only that he was in a desolate, uninhabited mountain forest.

He usually has a cold face just because he doesn't know how to express his feelings, it doesn't mean he has no feelings.

He not only has feelings, but he also thinks further ahead than anyone else.

Pheasant feathers and crane wings were drawn from their sheaths and held in Zuocun's left and right hands respectively.

His teeth were chattering, and Zuo Cun was starting to lose his temper.

He didn't say a word, but his eyes were bloodshot.

Zheng—

The tree, which three people could barely encircle, was cut in half by Zuo Cun. With continuous swinging of his crane wings and pheasant feathers, the ancient tree, whose age was unknown, was chopped into pieces by Zuo Cun.

Zuocun stood there, panting heavily.

He was perfectly clear about what the future would hold.

With a painful close to his eyes, Zuo Cun stood there motionless.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, regaining some clarity.

With a sigh, Zuo Cun turned and left, ignoring the mess behind him.

Regardless, he had things he had to do.

......

Shimazaki's face was ashen, and his voice was low.

"Is Okita's condition... any better?"

"No." Hijikata leaned against the wall, his eyes glazed over.

"Samura... isn't one of us," Shimazaki said dejectedly. "We all have our reasons, but our reasons have led us down different paths."

"So..." Hijikata choked up, "Is it really... that becoming enemies is the only option?"

Shimazaki was stunned.

For a very long time.

He finally nodded slightly.

Hijikata closed his eyes in pain.

Finally, he seemed to have figured everything out.

"Then... let's not let that guy Zuocun look down on us."

"We must prove that our path... is the right one."

......

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

Chapter 345 Factional Struggle

Both sides had reasons for not being persuaded, so neither made an attempt to persuade the other.

Their parting ways was destined long ago.

This is an era where beliefs reign supreme; saying too much will only be seen as questioning the other person's beliefs.

Moreover, Samura is not particularly good at debating.

Walking slowly, Zuocun's destination is Tosa.

The news of Ii Naosuke's assassination at Sakurada Gate has spread throughout the land.

The objective has been achieved. All that's left for Samura is to go see Takechi Hanpeita one more time, and then he can return to Tosa with him.

Having one's own power is very important; no matter how skilled a person is in martial arts, it is impossible to fight against a country.

As the most powerful person under the shogun, Ii Naosuke's death will surely cause a great uproar. What we need to do now is to temporarily avoid the limelight and wait for the right opportunity. If we make too many moves in the short term, we will definitely be targeted.

......

"Your Majesty, Ii Naosuke, a retainer of Tokugawa Iemochi, has been assassinated," a servant reported to Takaaki.

"...Who was the assassin?" Emperor Komei was a little flustered, after all, the shogunate was his shield.

"It seems to be a deserter from the Tosa Domain who has now committed seppuku," the servant continued to report, but his attitude was not respectful, but rather somewhat casual.

Emperor Komei was already used to this attitude. He simply sighed, somewhat impatiently, "This, what should we do..."

"Your Majesty, what Elder Ii discussed with us before... still stands?"

Xiaoming, who was anxiously waiting, was taken aback, then immediately realized: "You mean, the matter with the Prince?"

The servant nodded: "The senior councilors Hiroshi Kuze and Nobumasa Ando have taken over this matter."

"...It seems that Tokugawa Iemochi is also getting anxious..." Emperor Komei was extremely worried.

Too many things have happened lately, and it's all very chaotic.

He deeply disliked foreigners, but he had no choice but to appease them because their military strength was too great.

The shogunate could only maintain stability, because Emperor Komei's mood had been low for the past few years, and his health was deteriorating day by day.

A while ago, Tokugawa Iemochi sent Ii Naosuke here to petition for the marriage of Princess Kazumi to Tokugawa Iemochi.

This was a response to Emperor Komei's proposal of "union of the court and the military".

However, just as Emperor Komei was preparing to happily marry his daughter to Tokugawa Iemochi, an unexpected incident occurred.

Princess Kazuya had a big fight with her brother, Takaaki, and was very opposed to marrying Tokugawa Iemochi.

That's really uncomfortable.

Therefore, Emperor Komei was caught in the middle, suffering between the "Revere the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians" faction and the "King and Warriors Unite" faction, and also had to work on Princess Kazumi's mindset.

Moreover, Emperor Komei had always wanted to say something about the idea of ​​"respecting the emperor".

Why do you respect me?

In this chaotic world, are you pushing me into this position hoping to hasten my death?

He had some ulterior motives before, and even wanted to recruit Hagiwara no Samura, but Samura no Samura never came to see him. In addition, Japan had really fallen into complete chaos in the past two years, so Emperor Komei's ulterior motives gradually faded away.

Even remaining in a remote corner is an incredibly good outcome for him. You still want me to sit in that decision-making position? Are you here to honor the king, or are you trying to assassinate me indirectly?

What awaited Emperor Komei was a long and arduous period of struggle.

This game, which is not really a game of chess, will involve the Emperor, the Shogunate, and many powerful families.

Meanwhile, Tokugawa Iemochi, far away in the Shogunate...

Tokugawa Iemochi's son was quite handsome.