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

A large flag bearing the character "诚" (sincerity) fluttered in the wind.

"Does my sincerity... still exist...?"

She found herself walking towards the outskirts of the city.

Although Inoue Genzaburo's body was used to guard the tomb of Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi, the Shinsengumi still erected a cenotaph for Inoue outside the castle.

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Chapter 410 The Passing of the Dragon

Zuocun sat under the cherry tree, looking at the tombstone in front of him.

"When you were alive, we never had a proper drink together. It was mostly just me and those two guys, Hijikata and Kondo, drinking together."

He poured himself a glass of wine, then poured himself another, and placed them in front of the tombstone.

"I may not be qualified to say this, but..." Zuo Cun took a sip of wine and looked intently at the tombstone.

"Once this is all over, I'll dig you out from under Tokugawa Iemochi's coffin."

Okita Souji stood not far away, staring blankly at Samura's back.

Zuocun, oblivious to the situation, continued, "I won't ask for forgiveness."

After pouring the sake that belonged to Inoue Genzaburo in front of the tombstone, Samura poured another cup of sake.

"I still remember the first time we met at the Shieikan."

"You're the one who talks the least... but you're also the most genuine."

“Hijikata and Kondo have a lot of thoughts about the world, Okita is more simple-minded, but only you... truly have the heart to pursue the strongest.” As he spoke, Samura downed his drink in one gulp.

He showed the bottom of his bowl to the tombstone above the well.

"I'm going to continue on my own path, so... goodbye."

“Although I know I may no longer deserve this title, but…” Zuo Cun stood up and sighed, “If I have time, I will come back to keep you company again, brother.”

call out--

After saying that, Zuocun leaped away.

Miss Okita was standing not far behind Samura.

She watched as Samura's leaping figure disappeared from her sight, then slowly walked to Inoue Genzaburo's tombstone.

With a complicated expression, she picked up the bowl of sake that belonged to Inoue Genzaburo.

"Samura...Inoue..."

The purest of souls have long since passed away, while the walkers who continue on their journey perpetuate their own path.

So... what about me?

The moment Okita Souji saw Samura, he desperately wanted to draw Kashuu Kiyomitsu.

But when his right hand reached for the hilt of Kashuu Kiyomitsu's sword, Okita Souji realized that he could no longer lift his own sword.

Looking at his own face reflected in the wine, Okita Souji closed his eyes.

Okita drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp, and this time he didn't choke.

What should I do?

The cherry blossoms are not in bloom because it is summer.

......

Samura and Ryoma's strategy has many possible escape routes.

The imperial edict that Samura obtained from Meiji to overthrow the shogunate would trigger a war, but a full-blown war would be the worst possible outcome.

Japan is currently being watched by many countries, who are waiting for an opportunity to exploit it. A full-scale war would make it impossible to prevent the infiltration of foreign forces.

The "Eight Strategies from the Ship" that Ryoma presented to Tokugawa Iemochi were both advice and a warning.

The four powerful southwestern domains were a problem that the shogunate could not ignore, and what Sakamoto Ryoma, the central figure of the four powerful southwestern domains, handed over to the Tokugawa shogunate was, in a sense, an ultimatum.

The Tokugawa shogunate would not completely relinquish its power, a fact already established by the powerful domains when they rejected the parliamentary system.

Longma's "Eight Strategies on the Ship" was the final act of coercion.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu was to lower his status and return power to Emperor Meiji, while Tokugawa Yoshinobu himself would become a minister.

In this way, large-scale war can be avoided, foreign infiltration plans can be cut off, the wishes of powerful southwestern domains can be satisfied, and the shogunate can retain its last shred of dignity.

Now, it remains to be seen what choice Tokugawa Yoshinobu will make.

If Tokugawa Yoshinobu were to return power as Ryoma wished and demote himself to a minister, that would naturally be a happy ending for everyone.

If Tokugawa Yoshinobu is unwilling to return power to the Emperor, then... it's time for the imperial edict to overthrow the shogunate, held by Samura, to come into play.

But life is full of surprises.

......

After Shinsaku Takasugi's death, Junichiro Kido alone was no longer able to control the situation.

Samura's prolonged stay in Kyoto and failure to return eventually fueled resentment among these people.

The Choshu Domain, at all times, carries an impulse that cannot be ignored.

The calls for the use of force to overthrow the monarchy are growing louder.

A group of people quietly bypassed Kido Junichiro, who was trying to control the situation, and plotted something... that could really provoke conflict.

November.

The calls for a military overthrow of the shogunate have grown explosively, and Ryoma is extremely anxious.

Because Tokugawa Yoshinobu had not yet responded, Samura chose to return to the southwest ahead of Ryoma, ready to prepare for the real war at any time.

The 15th.

The north wind was howling, and Longma was in a state of great anxiety because the window had not been closed properly when he went to sleep a few days ago.

Longma is sick.

Miss A-Long placed Ryoma's head on her lap and massaged his head.

"Ryoma, you have a bit of a fever."

Miss A-Long looked at Ryoma with concern.

"It's okay, it'll be fine in a few days."

With a wry smile, Ryoma soothed the somewhat impatient Miss Ryoma.

"Oh, right, Miss A-Long, could you hand me the letter Zuo Cun wrote to me? I want to take another look."

Ryoma cautiously suggested.

"You're not allowed to work now, just focus on getting better! Ryoma's a good boy, listen to me!" Miss Ryoma huffed and puffed as she rubbed Ryoma's face.

"Ah, okay, okay, then let's not work anymore." Ryoma said with a mix of helplessness and warmth.

Miss Ah Long suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Ryoma, you humans must have something called medicine, right?"

"Huh? Yeah, what's wrong?" Ryoma replied, his face flushed and his voice weak.

"Because you're very sick, Miss Ah Long wants you to get better quickly and recover your health, you idiot!"

"Ah... even if you say that, Miss A-Long..." Ryoma felt Miss A-Long's slightly cool hand and didn't know how to answer.

"I remember that guy named Nakaoka, he recovered from frog disease after eating it, right?"

“Uh…” Ryoma chuckled awkwardly, “Nakaoka ate chicken.”

The Nakaoka mentioned by Ms. A-Long is a friend of Ryoma named Nakaoka Shintaro, who was also sick recently.

"Then, Miss A-Long, go buy Ryoma a chicken. After drinking the chicken soup, you must get better quickly!"

"Hmm, I'm really looking forward to Miss A-Long's cooking."

Miss A-Long blushed slightly, patted Ryoma's head, and gently placed Ryoma's head on the pillow.

"Ryoma, you'd better stay home and wait patiently. Don't you dare work secretly while Miss Ryoma is away."

So Miss Ah Long went out full of energy.

As Ryoma listened to Miss Ryoma's footsteps fading into the distance until he could no longer hear them, he quickly sat up.

"In that case, let's get to work!"

He smiled, and using the light streaming in through the window, picked up his pen and began reading Zuocun's letters.

But no light shone through the window.

"Hmm?" Ryoma turned his head in surprise, only to see a flash of light.

puff-

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Chapter 411 The Day You Died

"Hey... Ryoma... Ryoma."

Miss A-Long looked at Ryoma lying on the ground, in a pool of blood.

Blood splattered all over the room. Longma's eyes were slightly open, but he had already lost all life.

"Ryoma!!!!!"

Miss A-Long threw the box containing the food on the ground and ran frantically towards Ryoma.

Ah, why did I leave Ryoma? Why did I go out?

She held Longma in her arms and roared wildly.

What Miss A-Long loved most was Ryoma's eyes, which shone with a bright, spirited light—