Yoshida Toyo died. When his family found him, they could no longer identify the puddle of things on the ground as Yoshida Toyo.
A strange man knelt down next to him, and there was no doubt that he was the murderer.
It is a pity that this man who participated in politics and killed more than ten thousand people in Tosa Domain has committed seppuku.
Everyone in the feudal lord's mountain hall was numb.
Now is the time when Toyo Yoshida is needed to restrain the newly established Tosa Kinou Party. You didn't assassinate earlier and you didn't assassinate later, but why did you assassinate him at this time?
He once doubted whether it was the people from Tosa Kin's Party who did it, but after investigation, it was found that there was no record of any members of Tosa Kin's Party being present at the scene that day. The man who committed seppuku at the scene of Yoshida Toyo's assassination was also killed. It was found out that he was indeed Yoshida Toyo's former mortal enemy. He had a motive for killing Yoshida Toyo.
The investigation failed. In order to stabilize the situation, Yamauchi Hall had no choice but to temporarily avoid trouble with the Tosa Kinnoi gang.
...
Two people wearing bamboo hats were walking in the snow.
One big and one small, all with salutes.
Before Koike Souna could get over the grief of losing her father, she had to follow Samura on the road to Choshu Domain.
Zuo Cun went to Changzhou Domain not for other things, but just to meet an old acquaintance of his.
This old acquaintance forged him the sword that he still uses today.
The third generation of Shui Xinzi is showing off, and Shui Xinzi is doing well.
When Samura returned to Tosa, he received a letter from Shoji Mizukoko.
In the letter, Shui Xinzi Zhengci said that he was approaching the limit and his time was running out.
Before leaving, he wanted to see Zuo Cun again and He He, who became famous all over the world together with Zuo Cun.
The snowflakes were shaken off by Souna, and her stunned expression was extremely heartbreaking.
She stopped involuntarily.
Samura noticed something was wrong with Souna and squatted down to look at Souna's face.
"What's wrong, Souna?"
Ezuna was startled, and was awakened from her dementia mode.
"No, it's nothing, Master Samura." She looked a little scared.
Zuocun sighed slightly.
The sudden life changes had an indelible blow to this little girl. All Zuocun could do was to take care of her future life as much as possible after the death of Koike Issei.
"You don't have to be so afraid, Souna." Zuo Cun allowed himself to smile and tapped Souna's hat lightly.
"...Hmm." Souna still looked scared.
Zuocun pursed his lips.
Ezina is a gentle and shy girl, different from the hot-tempered Okita Souji that Samura met back then.
Samura apologized deeply to Souna, and said he should take his time to make up for this kind of thing.
"Let's go." Zuo Cun touched Souna's head through the bamboo hat and stood up.
The two men continued on their way.
Enchanna felt a little embarrassed when she looked at Samura's back, which was neither tall nor broad.
But he still followed him.
After all, Samura's side can be said to be Souna's only refuge at the moment.
Samura felt Souna's absent-minded steps, one step at a time, one step at a time, and looked forward.
There was both complexity and determination in his eyes.
When he knew about sacrificing Issei Koike, he knew there would be such a result, but he still did it.
Before he left, Ryoma gave him a lot of money.
"Use these to make Sumina's life better."
...
Tosa Domain and Choshu Domain were not far apart, and it took the two of them more than ten days to walk there.
The weather is dull and it seems like it will snow.
Zuo Cun looked at the sign at the entrance of the house.
Shuixinzi.
For a moment, his thoughts seemed to return to May 17, the second year of Anzheng.
"Is this why Mr. Samura came to the Choshu Domain?" Souna's emotions were quickly consumed by traveling through mountains and rivers. When she was on the way, she no longer fell into sadness.
But he is a child after all, and unlike Zuo Cun who often sleeps in the open air, Zuo Cun often needs to carry Souna who is tired or even asleep.
Fortunately, Samura was very strong, so it was easy to carry Souna on his back.
Soina also gradually became familiar with Samura during the walking journey.
"Souna, you don't have to call me Master Samura." Samura smiled, "Just call me Samura."
Ezuna didn't speak.
Samura sighed and tapped Souna's head lightly.
After patting the courtyard door, Zuo Cun took a step back.
"Here we come." A young voice came from the house.
A boy who looked to be in his teens pushed open the door and looked at Zuo Cun and the two knives on Zuo Cun's waist.
He was startled: "You, who are you."
Zuo Cun smiled: "Zuo Cun Annuo, with his famous sword He He, came to pay a visit to Shui Xinzi Shoji."
The young man looked at Anno Zuomura twice.
He is not too tall, wearing a decent Wu suit, and has long black hair tied neatly behind his back, reaching his waist.
A backpack is hung on the left shoulder, and a dagger with a red sheath hangs on the chest. There are two knives on the left waist, a black and white katana with a black sheath, and a green wakizashi with a sheath.
"..." The young man's eyes looked gloomy as he looked at He He with the black and white scabbard.
"Please come in, Lord Zuocun." The young man opened the door and made way for him. "Master...has been waiting for you for a long time."
Zuo Cun nodded and walked into Shui Xinzi's house with Shi Nai.
"Master is in the bedroom, please come with me." The young man walked in front to lead the way.
Zuo Cun and Ezuna followed the boy, and Zuo Cun looked at the boy.
This should be the successor of Mr. Shoji, that is... the fourth generation Suishinko Masahide.
The three of them came to the bedroom door, and the boy knocked on the door.
"Master, Master, Master Anno Zuomura is here."
After a long while, a weak voice came from the room: "...Come in."
"...Excuse me." Zuo Cun opened the door and walked in.
A strong medicinal smell hit his face.
Ezuna subconsciously covered her nose.
Zuocun looked at the figure wrapped in the quilt on the ground.
He walked over and knelt down beside him.
The voice was heavy: "...Mr. Shoji, I'm late."
Shuishinzi Shoji, who was already too thin to look like a human being, was still full of enthusiasm and smile even though he was weak.
"It's not too late... I'm still alive... It's not too late..."
"Let me see...the famous sword stained with evil blood...the famous sword from my hand..."
There is no trace of vitality in this old man's body.
But there was still passion in his dim eyes.
Zuo Cun couldn't help but smile.
"Ah, naturally."
Zheng——
The crane was unsheathed, and Zuo Cun put the crane in his hands and held it in front of Shuixinzi Shoji's eyes.
"It's still...so...dazzling."
Shui Xinzi Shoji showed no humility at all and looked at He He intoxicated, looking at this famous sword that he had spent all his energy forging.
