I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The medical staff arrived and immediately began treatment.

Soon, Qing Deng and the others learned the cause of Souji's illness: blood cough, which is known as the "red incurable disease"!

During the Edo period, hemoptysis was one of the most notorious and feared diseases—simply because it was an incurable disease!

Even the most advanced Western medical techniques in the world today cannot cure hemoptysis!

After learning the cause of Souji's illness, Aoto, Sanako, and the others were all stunned and unable to calm down for a long time.

Vomiting large amounts of blood and falling into a coma... Even someone with no medical knowledge could tell that this was no minor illness.

Although Qing Deng and the others vaguely guessed that Souji's condition was not optimistic, they never expected that the disease she had contracted was hemoptysis!

Once you are diagnosed with this disease, you can only wait to die in despair – this is common knowledge!

The sudden turn of events struck everyone like a thunderbolt.

Souji is beyond saving, she's going to die... Faced with this cruel reality, even the most outstanding individuals, such as Kondo Isami and Hijikata Toshizo, who had overcome countless difficulties and walked between life and death countless times, and whose wills were as strong as iron, were shocked and almost collapsed to the ground.

In fact, even Qing Deng found it difficult to remain calm.

As far as he knew, blood cough was tuberculosis.

In modern times, thanks to the rapid development of medicine, tuberculosis is no longer an incurable disease.

What are now considered trivial ailments are, in this era, terrifying diseases that kill countless people...

Despite his shock, Qingdeng managed to suppress his panic with his extraordinary willpower.

Souji is his wife and one of his earliest partners... Even if the hope is slim, he will not stand by and watch her die of illness!

The most skilled doctor Qing Deng knew was Kita Jin, who had cured both Hijikata Toshizo and Tokugawa Iemochi.

Hijikata Toshizo was shot in the abdomen, his internal organs were damaged, and he lost a lot of blood—a severe injury that would be very difficult to treat even in modern times, yet he was able to heal him.

Therefore, Qingdeng was filled with anticipation: If it were Beifang Ren, then... no! There would definitely be no problem! He could absolutely cure Xiao Si!

Therefore, he quickly sent someone to Edo to invite Kita Jin.

The process of inviting Beifang Ren to Otsu went very smoothly.

Whether it was the fast horses that went to fetch people or the caravans that transported the people from the north to Dajin, they did their utmost. The horses were exhausted and the carts were on the verge of falling apart.

Bei Fangren truly deserves to be the best example of the phrase "a doctor with a benevolent heart".

Upon arriving in Otsu, the first thing he said was, "Where is the patient? Take me to see her quickly!"

Just now, he walked into the chief's ward with a serious expression and began to formally treat him.

Aoto and Kondo Isamu put aside all their affairs and waited outside the ward.

With nothing to do and relatively free time, Tenshōin and Kazumiya also came to keep them company.

Sanako, Amai, and the others also wanted to come and wait, but they were all politely declined by Aoto.

"Staying here won't help the treatment; in fact, it will only hinder Mr. Northern. Don't worry, I will inform you of the treatment results as soon as possible."

Beifang Ren is the most skilled doctor Qingdeng knows—in other words, he is his last hope!

If even Northern Jin was helpless against Souji's illness... then he was helpless too!

No matter what his feelings are, no matter what his thoughts are, he is powerless in the face of birth, aging, sickness and death.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things and will never change because of a person's social status, wealth, or martial arts skills.

At this moment, he had no choice but to wait quietly.

The two hands of the clock turned slowly, and time passed by, bit by bit...

Finally... this anxious wait is finally over.

Then, with a "whoosh," the door slowly opened, and Bei Fangren, reeking of medicine, walked out.

Upon seeing this, Qingdeng and the others immediately went to meet them.

Kondo Isami asked first:

"Mr. Northerner, how is it? Can you cure Xiao Si?"

Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Bei Fangren pursed his lips, and then... gently shook his head.

"General Tachibana, I'm sorry... I can't cure Captain Okita."

"I tried to get Captain Okita to take my specially made secret recipe."

"This herb of mine has a remarkable effect in clearing the lungs and relieving coughs; it is especially effective in treating lung diseases."

"However, I have never tried to use it to treat hemoptysis."

"This is the only medicine I can think of that might work if I want to cure Captain Okita."

"If this medicine doesn't work, then I'm out of options."

Unfortunately—

He paused here, a strong look of hesitation appearing on his face, his brows furrowed with reluctance.

Despite his inner struggle, he fulfilled his duty as a doctor and continued the conversation:

"After taking this medicine, Captain Okita's condition did not improve at all..."

"I'm sorry, I really tried my best."

"Her condition is quite serious."

"I estimate... even with the best care, she won't live more than three months..."

"Hemoptysis is an incurable disease and will not be cured by early treatment."

"When Captain Okita was suffering from hemoptysis, his fate was already sealed."

Even if the disease is detected early, it will be of no use.

"Therefore, you don't need to feel guilty."

Having said that, he slowly lowered his head, preparing to face the "storm" that was about to begin.

As a doctor, he was used to enduring the scolding, cursing, and tears from patients' families.

However, the expected scene of him grabbing his collar and hurling insults did not happen.

What he gained was a deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop...

Time seemed to stand still in this corridor.

Kondo Isami opened his eyes wide, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints, and his face drained of all color, turning him into a clay sculpture.

Tenshōin looked on in disbelief.

He Gong looked somber.

As for Aoto… after Kita Jin said, “I can’t cure Captain Okita,” he couldn’t hear anything else…

……

……

Souji's bedroom—

"Uh...uh..."

Souji groaned and slowly opened his eyes... His vision was blurry, as if covered by a thick film.

"Xiao Si, how are you feeling?"

Before her vision returned, she heard a familiar voice.

She looked in the direction of the sound—a lump of something came close to her eyes, and from its outline, she could vaguely make out that it was a person.

About 10 seconds later, her eyes gradually adjusted to the light, and her vision returned.

The grid-like ceiling, the orange sunset... and Qing Deng sitting by her bedside, leaning over to look at her, all came into her view.

Qing Deng leaned forward and cast a worried look at the chief.

The commander smiled slightly:

"Yes, I feel much better."

Although Northern Jin could not cure the hemoptysis, he prescribed several doses of medicine for the Souji, which could effectively relieve the pain.

Although Souji's expression improved slightly, Aoto's expression did not relax in the slightest.

He gave Souji a deep look, then let out a long sigh.

"Since you've been sick for a while, don't force yourself to stay healthy."

Helplessness, blame, heartache... his one sentence contained a multitude of emotions.

Regarding the commander's condition, Kita Jin said to Aoto and the others with certainty: "Without months of accumulation, there could be no such serious illness!"

She had been sick for months, and kept it a secret for months...

Faced with Aoto's rebuke, Souji showed remorse:

"Qingdeng, I'm sorry..."

She succinctly recounted how she discovered her illness and how she relied on medicine prescribed by Nanjo Akizaburo (the head of the Shinsengumi's medical department) to slow down her condition.

After she finished speaking, she specifically instructed:

“Qingdeng, you must not blame Mr. Nanjo. I forced him to do this. I held a knife to his neck and threatened him, saying, ‘If you don’t hide my illness from me, I will kill him.’ All the responsibility lies with me.”

In order to exonerate Nanjo Kyosaburo, she fabricated the story that she "held a knife to his neck".

Whether or not Nanjo Akizaburo is blamed—such a trivial matter was too much for Aoto to bother with.

"You... idiot..."

He reached out and gently stroked her head.

"I'm the one who should be saying 'I'm sorry'..."

“I’ve been right beside you all along, and I’m still your husband, yet I didn’t notice your illness in time.”

"I really... I really..."

Suddenly, an index finger reached out and gently touched his lips.