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

"No other way, my foot!"

Suddenly, Samura kicked the door open and punched Yamanami Keisuke in the head.

"Pfft—" Yamanami Keisuke was kicked away by Samura.

Samura stood on the tatami mat and clapped his hands.

Shannan was kicked to the side by Zuocun, and lay on the ground with his butt sticking out, already unconscious.

"Samura, just in time!" Okita Souji breathed a sigh of relief. She had just been wondering why Samura hadn't come out yet, and if he hadn't, Yamanami would have really committed seppuku.

“After all, he is a man with feelings. I can’t just let him die like this, especially by my own hand—” Zamura looked at Hijikata Toshizo at the door. “For a samurai, this is both an honor and a disgrace. This is the last chance to preserve dignity, because before this, dignity has long been exhausted.”

Tu Fang had his back to Zuo Cun and did not respond.

Samura lifted Yamanami Keisuke up and placed him on his shoulder. He patted Okita's head and said, "Well then, I'll take this guy with me."

"Hmm." Okita Souji smiled.

"Hijikata, although saying this goes against my principles, but... for the sake of our past brotherhood, let me give you a heads-up."

"The real chaos is about to begin... You must be prepared."

"Don't die."

After saying this, Samura quickly left with Yamanami Keisuke.

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

Chapter 399: The End of Ruishan in Wu City

"Uh—" Yamanami Keisuke scratched his head, barely opening his eyes, and sat up from the tatami mat. "Here... um?"

He suddenly came to his senses.

"Wait a minute? Where am I?"

"You're awake, Senior Brother Shannan." A voice came.

Keisuke Yamanami looked toward the source of the sound and saw a rather familiar face.

"You are... Sakamoto?" Yamanami looked at Ryoma, feeling a bit of a blank.

"Wait a minute, I remember I... no, I was committing seppuku?" Yamanami was bewildered. What on earth had happened?

"I heard about your plan to commit seppuku." Ryoma sat down next to Yamanami. "Samura rescued you, although I don't know the specifics, but... do you still want to kill yourself now?"

Shannan was taken aback by the question.

After thinking for a while, he shook his head.

"Right? It's definitely better to be alive." Ryoma smiled.

"...So what about Samura?" Yamanami Keisuke avoided the question and asked a question that puzzled him.

If it was Zuocun who rescued himself, then what about the people of Zuocun?

"Samura has a lot of things to do. He has already set off for Kyoto, while we are... in Tosa now."

"Hey?"

......

After a period of adjustment, Keisuke Yamanami accepted the status quo.

After learning the truth, he sighed and, carrying Ryoma's letter of recommendation, went to the Choshu Domain to begin a new life.

Takasugi Shinsaku placed Yamanami Keisuke in an administrative position and planned to have him serve as Samura's deputy when Samura returned, specifically responsible for gathering intelligence and handling other matters for Samura.

Shannan had no objection to this. His life should have ended, but now that he was alive, he wouldn't complain as long as the work he was doing was legitimate.

Time passed slowly.

July.

“So, we’ll be taking action soon.” Zuo Cun smiled as he looked at the young man before him. “At that time, there will be some things that you, as the ruler, will really need to handle.”

Mutsuhito's face lit up with anticipation: "Really...?"

He was determined to be a good monarch.

Zuocun's statement was not without basis.

Emperor Komei was nearing the end of his life; his health was deteriorating day by day, and he believed he wouldn't live for more than a few years...

He stood up: "I'm leaving, Mutsujin."

"Mr. Samura left very early today." Mutsuhito looked up at Samura.

In fact, it wasn't just Zuocun; there were other patriots who approached Mutsuhito through various channels.

Their names are Toshimichi Okubo and Moritaka Saigo.

At this time, with the coordination of the British, the Choshu Domain and the Satsuma Domain also completed a true cooperation and formed an alliance, with the original four-person alliance at the center.

However, the Choshu Domain advocated for the overthrow of the shogunate by force, while the Satsuma Domain, although also leaning towards the overthrow of the shogunate, was still somewhat hesitant and expressed a desire to observe the situation further.

Choshu had no objections, because Satsuma would eventually see the shogunate's incompetence and powerlessness, and since its own strength was not yet sufficient, it was not advisable to send troops.

"The reason I'm leaving is because a friend of mine is going to be executed today," he said with a sigh and sorrow.

......

Wu Shi Ruishan is about to be executed.

Years ago, when Samura went to deliver a letter to Takeshi Tomiko, Takeshi Tomiko cried and questioned Samura about why he hadn't rescued Takeshi Ruizan. Samura had nothing to say.

The statement, "Mr. Takechi chose this path himself," is something that can never be uttered...

But at least, I can see you off on your final journey.

After disguising himself, Zuocun entered the house that had been chosen as the final resting place for Takeshi Zuizan.

Takeshi Ruishan knelt on the ground, with the kaishakunin standing beside him.

He had long anticipated this day, so he did not hesitate at all.

With a smile, he picked up the wakizashi.

"Thank you for your consideration." Wu Shi Ruishan's appearance had not changed from before; he looked somewhat thin, but was incredibly energetic.

“Since the first year of Wenjiu, he has taken advantage of the situation to privately form factions and incite the people,” he said loudly, looking out the door and then at the sky.

"Afterwards, he made rash and offensive remarks to high-ranking officials in the capital, and also made various rude suggestions to Mr. Yamauchi." He loudly recounted his crimes.

“Completely lost the status of a subject, disregarded the authority of the ruler, and disrupted the national constitution.”

"Hahahahahaha!"

Suddenly, he burst into laughter several times.

"Thanks to your grace! I will now commit seppuku to atone for my sins!"

Wrapping the cotton cloth around the hilt of the wakizashi, Takechi Zuizan shouted, "Excuse me!"

puff-

A gash appeared on his stomach. Takeshi Zuizan pulled out the wakizashi, and then—

puff-

Pull it out again.

puff-

Wu Shiruishan was stabbed three times.

A number "three" appeared on his stomach.

He placed the wakizashi aside, his hands trembling as he steadied himself on the ground.

Boom!

The sound of someone banging their head on the ground rang out.

"grateful!"

Zheng—

The second drew his katana and slashed at Takeshi Zuizan's neck.

The head and body were split in two.

Wu Shi Ruishan's head was wide open in anger, and he was looking directly in the direction of Zuocun.

But upon seeing Zuo Cun's face, the head, now devoid of a body, inexplicably revealed a smile.

His eyes slowly closed.

Zuocun gritted his teeth, letting the tears slide into his mouth.

He didn't make a sound, he just cried silently.

It was just... simple crying...

......

Even more heartbroken than Samura was Okada Izo, who was far away in Choshu.

Holding the letter from Takeshi Ruizan who had committed seppuku, he wept uncontrollably in his room.

He is now in the Choshu Domain, and has become a member of the "Shuda" (various units), establishing the "Tenchuda" (Heavenly Punishment) under the command of Takasugi Shinsaku.

Zuocun bought some snacks and went to the seaside.

"You once told me that you don't drink much alcohol and that your favorite thing is all kinds of sweets..."

He looked at the sea and threw the snacks into it.

"You haven't been laid to rest yet, and I don't know where to pay my respects to you... Let the sea, which you loved so much, take away your favorite foods."

Watching the bag of snacks drift further and further away with the ocean current, Zuocun wiped his eyes and suddenly slapped himself.

"They're just hypocrites."

After cursing, Zuo Cun turned around and left.