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

Zuo Cun held something up with both hands: "The anti-foreign faction has been in power for a long time, and has even driven the Gongwu Heti faction to the brink of despair."

"The Ansei Prison?" Mutsuhito pondered.

Zuocun nodded, casually picking up a fallen leaf: "But such a powerful anti-foreign faction ended up like this... completely wiped out in officialdom, and even... well-known anti-foreign organizations such as the Loyalist Party were all destroyed."

A hint of sorrow flashed in his eyes, but it was only for a moment.

"A battle that cannot properly weigh the strength of both sides is nothing but reckless folly." Zuocun crumpled up a fallen leaf and scattered it on the table.

A gentle breeze swept away the debris.

“If it were just a battle between people, it might be easier to talk about,” Zuocun sighed. “But in this case, when our side is in complete chaos and unable to withstand the enemy’s retaliation, choosing to provoke the enemy is not even reckless, it’s just plain stupid.”

Mutsuhito pondered what Samura had said.

"Mukujin, I have a question for you," Samura called out. "In your opinion, who defeated the anti-foreign faction?"

Mutsuhito thought for a moment: "Is it my father and Tokugawa Iemochi?"

Zuocun shook his head.

"Shimazu Hisamitsu, who is determined to purge the court of corrupt officials?"

Zuocun shook his head again.

"A foreign fleet?"

Zuo Cun sighed, "They were defeated by themselves."

"Just as I just said, blind arrogance, recklessness and stupidity. Perhaps some people still have some rationality, but they are simply unable to resist the tide of thought."

"Moreover, even if the officials in the bureaucracy and the organized anti-foreigners failed, there are still quite a few anti-foreigners hiding in the corners of Kyoto, as well as other anti-foreign patriots scattered in various domains. These people are still a force to be reckoned with."

"but--"

Another leaf fell onto the table.

Zuocun and Mutsuhito did not move, and the fallen leaf turned to ash in the wind.

"They're no longer a threat."

"Pressure from multiple sides increased simultaneously. The imperial court, the shogunate, and foreigners all slapped the anti-foreign faction hard in the face, making them sober up."

“But once you’re sober, you won’t try to expel the barbarians anymore, because expelling the barbarians… is impossible.” Zuo Cun slapped the table. “Or rather, it shouldn’t be done.”

“Living in this world is a process of seeking common ground while reserving differences. Japan cannot remain isolated from the outside world forever.”

Mutsuhito smiled and nodded to Samura: "I understand, Mr. Samura."

Zuo Cun stood up: "There are still many things you need to think about yourself, so I'll be leaving now."

"I'm going to see... someone in prison."

......

The arrested anti-foreign elements are currently imprisoned, and most of them are still undergoing surprise interrogations.

Zuo Cun, with his agile figure, took advantage of the darkness to evade the guards at the gate and entered the prison.

Zuo Cun breathed a sigh of relief. His movement technique wasn't the fastest, and even experts could notice him, but since he had already infiltrated, there shouldn't be any major problems.

It was late at night, and most of the prisoners were asleep.

Zuocun searched for a while and stood in front of a cage.

"...Mr. Takeichi."

Zuocun called out softly.

One of the people in the cage heard the sound and turned over.

"...Is that Zuocun?"

He got up from the ground, walked to the opposite side of Zuocun, and the two looked at each other across the steel.

Neither of them spoke; they simply stared at each other.

After a moment, looking at Takeshi Zuizan's smiling face, Zuocun involuntarily said, "Do you need me...?"

“No, Zuo Cun.” Takeshi Ruizan knew what Zuo Cun wanted to say, and he interrupted him.

“I am the most crucial person. They only want me. If I am not in prison, it is impossible to prove that the anti-foreign faction has been wiped out.”

“You don’t need to make excuses for me,” Wu Shi Ruishan said with a smile.

"...I understand." Zuo Cun felt a little guilty, but he shook his head and shook off the thoughts.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" Zuo Cun asked.

Wu Shi Ruishan nodded: "I made preparations in advance. It's not safe for you to stay here."

"Go to the base, to my room."

"I hid two letters in a compartment of the cabinet. The one with the red seal was for my wife, Tomiko. As for the other one... it was for Okada Izou."

Takeshi Ruizan slowly bowed to Zuocun Tu: "Please be sure to... help me take the two letters out, and also protect the safety of Fuko and Izo."

"You have the ability to do it."

"I am extremely grateful!"

Zuo Cun reached into the cage and helped Wu Shi Ruishan up: "I understand, Mr. Wu Shi."

Wu Shi Ruishan looked up, only to find that Zuo Cun was no longer there.

......

Okada Izo had been loitering in the red-light district for several days and was now strolling leisurely toward the Loyalist Party's headquarters.

When he returned to his post, he found that the once bustling Loyalist Party post had become extremely deserted.

Suddenly, Izang felt a sharp sword light piercing towards his arm and instinctively dodged.

call out--

The person landed on the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Your strength is not bad, being able to dodge my thrust." Inoue Genzaburo stood with his sword in hand, coldly looking at Okada Izo.

"Who are you? Where have all the loyalists gone?" Okada Izo's eyes were cold as he drew his katana and wakizashi and looked at Inoue Genzaburo.

“I am a member of the Shinsengumi. All the members of the Loyalist Party have been arrested for crimes... And who are you? If you don’t answer me, I will assume you are a remnant of the Loyalist Party and throw you in jail as well.” Inoue Genzaburo asked routinely.

"Mr. Takeichi and the others have been arrested?" Okada Izo was stunned for a moment. "What did you do?"

"Arrest the loyalists...that's all." Once Inoue Genzaburo entered battle mode, he was completely different from his usual somewhat carefree self.

"Tch." Okada Izou said, "Who's afraid of you, you bastard—"

Ping Pong —

The one whose sword clashed with Inoue Genzaburo's was not Okada Izo, but—

"Inoue, give me some face." Samura's eyes darted around, but his tone left no room for argument. "Let this person go."

"—Samura?!" Inoue Genzaburo quickly retreated, breaking away from Samura's attack range.

"What are you doing here?" Inoue Genzaburo and Okada Izo asked at the same time.

"Mr. Okada, please don't speak yet." Samura, somewhat agitated, turned to Izou and said, then looked at Inoue. "So, Inoue, would you agree to give me face?"

Genzaburo Inoue looked uncertain.

After a brief struggle, Inoue Genzaburo took a deep breath.

"Excuse me—I cannot accept this."

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

Chapter 383 A Letter to Izang

Several more Shinsengumi members, dressed in light blue haori, jumped out from the shadows: "Commander, we've come to your aid!"

"No need!" Inoue Genzaburo shouted, "...I'll handle this myself, you guys go and catch the other one."

"Yes!" Several team members rushed towards Okada Izo.

Zuo Cun sighed and closed his eyes.

"Inoue... I'm sorry."

When I opened my eyes again, all the nostalgia and hesitation vanished, leaving only... earnestness.

With a swift turn of its wings, Zuo Cun's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

"This speed—!" Inoue Genzaburo subconsciously looked up at the sky.

left!

His hair stood on end instantly because of a sense of crisis, and Inoue Genzaburo subconsciously took a small step to the right.

boom--

The crane's wings struck the ground, leaving a crack several meters long.

"...You've improved, Inoue."

"You're not the only one making progress, Zuocun."

Inoue instantly lunged forward.

Ping Pong —

Snapped--

A fierce battle, like a torrential downpour, unfolded between the two.

"I am—!"

"Always there—!"

Inoue Genzaburo roared and launched a relentless attack on Samura.

"Chasing after this Souji—chasing after you!"

Ping Pong —