My personal opinion on Gensokyo

"There are only three possible reasons why such a large-scale illegal underground fighting arena could be set up in Edo, especially near the city center."

"First, the IQs of the shogunate officials who governed Edo were not even in double digits."

"Second: This illegal underground fighting arena was built by a force far more powerful than the shogunate. As for the third..."

After explaining this, Shang Yang glanced at Okita Sougo, who remained silent after hearing his speech.

"...So, this is a 'venue of entertainment' privately built by the shogunate's inner circle, or perhaps by high-ranking officials of the shogunate."

"Mr. Shang Yang?!"

Seeing the young man appear from behind the underground passage, Shimura Shinpachi was also surprised and asked in surprise.

"Why, why is Mr. Shang Yang here?"

"That is to say, why are you here, Shang Jun?"

Although the tone was unfriendly, it was obvious that Kagura wanted to give Shang Yang a reminder.

"This is not a good place. If an ordinary citizen like you saw this, you might lose your life."

"You're right. There's always a powerful force behind this kind of thing, and the force that controls this underground fighting arena, Purgatory Pass, is an existence that even we, the Shinsengumi, cannot defy."

After hearing the young man's words, Okita Sougo calmly glanced at the strange young man with gray hair, and asked in the same indifferent tone.

"...By the way, who are you?"

"Shang Yang."

Glancing at the captain of the Shinsengumi's First Division, who seemed to have no expression change but had already placed one hand on the hilt of his katana, the young man with gray hair narrowed his dark eyes slightly, shrugged his shoulders, and introduced himself in a casual tone.

"I'm just a small businessman trying to make a living in Kabukicho."

"Stop it, Okita-kun."

After picking his nose and flicking it casually, Gintoki still half-opened his eyes and tried to persuade without any enthusiasm.

"This guy's shop is right across from our house. He's not a suspicious person, so don't worry about him."

After saying this, Gintoki turned his head, still with his eyes half open, and dissuaded casually in his usual lazy tone.

"Hey, hey... Shang Jun, I don't know exactly when you followed us here, but this isn't some small steel ball shop. If you get involved here, you might be ruthlessly wiped out from Edo by the shogunate's lackeys."

"Sakata-kun, you actually guessed it right away. I followed you here."

Hearing Gintoki's words, Shang Yang nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at the ghost-like man in the center of the fighting arena, and then smiled.

"I saw everyone mysteriously leaving the Women's Fighting Tournament, and I thought Sakata-kun had found somewhere more interesting. But I followed them out of boredom, and instead, I saw something so incredible."

After saying this, Shang Yang turned his gaze to Okita Sougo, who had already released his hand from the hilt of his samurai sword, and made the assurance seriously.

"Please rest assured, Mr. Police Officer. Although I am a businessman, I am not so obsessed as to trade such life-threatening information for intelligence fees."

"So much the better."

Hearing Shang Yang's words, Okita Sougo nodded slightly.

"Since you've managed to stay firmly established in Kabukicho, you're probably not a troublemaker. Furthermore, with the boss (Gintoki) guaranteeing you, there shouldn't be any problem."

After saying that he would not delve into the matter any further, Okita Sougo turned around and once again cast his gaze at Gintoki, who had half-opened his dead fish eyes and looked unmotivated, and said solemnly.

"Boss, did you see that guy in the middle of the fighting arena? He's the strongest fighter in Purgatory Pass—Kidomaru. If we investigate him, we might find some clues..."

"…It's agreed in advance."

Before Okita Sougo could finish, Gintoki interrupted him and lazily refused.

"I have no intention of being a thug for you guys."

"...Oh, that's strange. I thought the boss and I were the same kind."

Hearing this, Okita Sougo didn't show any surprise, and continued to speak calmly.

"I would hate this kind of thing to the point of wanting to vomit."

Hearing this, Gintoki couldn't help but glance at the young captain of the Shinsengumi's First Division and asked curiously.

"...Hey, is this really okay for you guys?"

"Don't worry, boss."

Hearing Gintoki's words, Okita Sougo smiled indifferently.

"This is just my personal request. The Shinsengumi has nothing to do with it. I'm the only one who knows about this place."

"So, please keep this a secret from Director Kondo and Deputy Director Hijikata."

⑵On the outskirts of Edo, outside a simple house located on the grass among the jungle.

Suddenly, a rustling sound was heard in the originally silent bushes, and along with this slight sound, five heads of five people in a group emerged from the bushes at the same time.

"I say, is that guy really going to live here?"

Gintoki half-closed his eyes, staring at the old wooden house in front of him that looked rather shabby, and asked with some doubt.

"This place doesn't look like the home of a well-paid top underground fighting ring champion at all."

"Sakata-kun is right."

Pulling at the branches, Shang Yang spoke slowly.

"Generally speaking, fighters who make money in underground fighting rings and live on the edge of life, not knowing whether they can walk off the ring alive in the next fight, will spend their money lavishly and enjoy themselves in the moment."

"But, this house in front of us doesn't look like the residence of a top underground fighting arena fighter. Unless..."

"...unless he needs to continue to use the money he earns to do something."

The black-haired girl who was also hiding in front of the young man said, "Love," with her cherry lips slightly opened, and she spoke softly.

Volume 4, Edo Chronicles: Chapter 187: The Demon's Rare Treasure

"Don't worry, people nearby did see him enter this room, so he must be fine."

After hearing the three people's speeches, Shimura Shinpachi also answered quietly, and then suddenly changed the subject, with a huge crossroads on his forehead, and asked excitedly.

"But! Why did Mr. Shang and Miss Ai come here together?!"

"That's right, you two."

Kagura also turned sideways and whispered.

"It will be very troublesome if I get involved in this kind of thing."

"Don't worry, Shimura-kun, Kagura-san."

After hearing Shinpachi and Kagura's advice, Shang Yang waved at them without turning his head and said indifferently.

"I just came to see if there's any chance to make a fortune. I'm the champion of an underground fighting arena sanctioned by the shogunate, Kidomaru. Perhaps this ghost really has some rare treasure guarded by ghosts. I'm very interested in knowing what that treasure is."

Having said that, Shang Yang paused for a moment and turned his gaze to the girl with long black hair who was looking carefully at the dilapidated wooden house in front of her.

"...As for this person in my family."

Hearing this, Ai did not turn around, but just continued softly.

"I'm just a little concerned..."

"Hey, big businessman, you're even trying to peek at ghosts' rare treasures."

Hearing Shang Yang's words, Gintoki turned his head and looked at Shang Yang, still speaking in a calm tone.

"Perhaps, that so-called 'rare treasure' is covered in unsightly bloodstains."

Hearing Gintoki's words, Shang Yang smiled and asked back.

"Then, Mr. Sakata, why did you accept this commission?"

"Of course it's for the reward that boy gave me."

When Gintoki heard Shang Yang's question, his expression did not change at all, and he spoke as a matter of course.

"Don't look at Okita's miserable appearance. He is at least a direct retainer of the shogunate. He will definitely give us a lot of rewards. Maybe even more than you, a big businessman, can give."

Upon hearing this, Kagura and Shinpachi subconsciously roared at Gintoki.

"You actually do this for money!"

After hearing Gintoki's answer, just when Shang Yang was about to say something, suddenly, loud crying sounds came from this dilapidated house.

The five people were stunned at the same time, and almost subconsciously, Gintoki put his hand on the hilt of the wooden sword Toyako and rushed out of the bushes, not forgetting to give instructions.

"You guys just stay here!"

"A Yin!"

Seeing Gintoki rushing out like this, Shimura Shinpachi shouted subconsciously, then shook his head and continued to crouch down and hide behind the bushes.

On this side, after rushing to the front of the house in three or two steps, Gintoki quietly stepped onto the wooden steps, stretched out his hand, and very slowly and without making any sound, he pushed open the sliding wooden door covered with white paper.

The scene in the house made Gintoki stunned.

Inside the dilapidated house, many children were playing and fighting, with happy expressions on their faces.

As for the crying just now, it was just that one of the children accidentally fell hard while playing and started crying loudly.

"This, what's going on..."

Seeing these happy children, Gintoki leaned forward and muttered to himself in wonder.

However, just as Sakata Gintoki was thinking, a strong figure suddenly appeared behind Gintoki and with lightning speed, he used the legendary Millennium 〈〒III Commander? Abandoned 〢 (Part 2) 俬拔十四杀......

"I poke!"

“Aaaaaaaaaah~!!!”

In an instant, Gintoki's screams echoed throughout the entire area...

"puff……"

Shang Yang, who was still hiding behind the bushes, covered the eyes of the love in front of him with his left hand and commented with gloating satisfaction.

"It's simply an unprovoked disaster..."

Seeing this scene and hearing Shang Yang's gloating comments, Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura's mouths twitched and their faces were filled with black lines...

A moment later, inside the house.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

Facing Gintoki's embarrassed face, this serious middle-aged man with short hair like a lay disciple in a temple apologized to Gintoki repeatedly.

"Because your 'hole' looks like a suspicious person, I unconsciously..."

"You bastard, every hole on the human body is a vital point..."

Gintoki, looking embarrassed, complained while rubbing his butt in panic.

"Oh no... my butt is split in two..."

"...Ayin, calm down, people's buttocks are cut in two..."

Seeing Shinpachi complaining about Gintoki with a helpless look on his face, Shangyang casually glanced at Ai and Kagura who were playing with the children in the next room, and then turned his gaze to the middle-aged man next to him who looked serious.

"But, to be honest, you guys are also wrong."

The middle-aged man in front of him said with a hint of reproach.

"Sneaking around outside someone else's house and peeking in is really..."

"Ahh, I'm so sorry."

Hearing this, Shinpachi hurriedly apologized.

"Actually, we're looking for someone, um, this... Master, have you seen a man wearing a demon mask nearby?"

Because he was really unsure of the middle-aged man's identity, Shimura Shinpachi could only use the respectful title for monks to address this middle-aged man who looked very much like a monk.

"...Oh? A ghost? This is a strange thing."

The serious man heard this, his expression unchanged, and he just continued to ask calmly.

"So, are you all here to get rid of the demon, Momotaro?"

"I have no interest in inferior brats."

Gintoki's expression rarely turned serious, and he spoke in a deep voice.