The young boy walking ahead had a bloodless face, holding something resembling a wooden plaque in his hands, his fingers clutching tightly. The young girl walking behind wore a plain small sleeve and tightly held onto a narrow wooden box, as if holding onto her last hope. She lowered her head slightly, revealing only half of her snow-white face, her frightened eyes fixated on the thick wooden clogs beneath her feet, her white socks stained with powdered snow.

"Chief Divine’s protection, indeed it is that tea-brewing boy! Shiba Rongdong... huh? What is the wooden plaque he is holding? So many words written on it?"

Zuwaro’s eyes flickered, carefully reading the clan position plate in Shiba Rongdong’s hands. He could barely understand most of the characters, but did not fully grasp the meaning.

"Junior Fifth Rank・Middle Affairs Assistant・Inspector Forbidden Missions・Left Gate Captain・Owari Guardian... Shiba Clan Ancestor... Ashikaga family? Beside it is an emblem of ’two’?..."

"Oh! Is it a Divine Platform for offering to ancestors? Ashikaga? Ashikaga! The name sounds so familiar... That’s right! Wasn’t the Shogunate Great Tlatoani also named ’Ashikaga’?"

Zuwaro was thoughtful, silently contemplating. Shiba Rongdong’s face was pale, glancing at the dreadfully simple Ezo village, and then at the tall, barbaric Shandan Samurai, his body trembling slightly.

It’s truly like a nightmarish encounter! The young boy, full of hope for reviving his family, set sail with the Tiantai Sect’s fleet to the desolate Ezo land for exploration. In the end, where he arrived, contrary to expectant "barren yet with potential of exploration Japanese land", was the "truly barbaric Ezo village". What greeted him was not "respected administrations, marital alliances Kaozaki Takeda", but the "truly barbaric ferocious Shandan!"

"Merciful Buddha! Rongdong, I know you blame me in your heart, for bringing you to such a barbaric Northern Ezo... But as the last bloodline entrusted to the Tiantai Sect by Lord Yilian, you need to rise like a true Samurai! As a Samurai, how can you not endure these hardships and tribulations? The house of the Echizen Shiba Clan rests on the shoulders of you and Yue Ji!"

In the Ezo snowstorm, by the village’s port, Mori no Kiyoshi, with a sorrowful expression and genuine sincerity, comforted the boy’s heart. He pressed firmly on the boy’s shoulder, staring into the other’s timid eyes, like a true generous elder, speaking solemnly.

"Buddha’s protection! The sect has sent you to Ezo land and is going to petition for the Ezo Guardian’s position from the Shogunate, it can be said to have been extremely benevolent... I have entrusted you to the Golden Clan, for the continuation and revival of your Shiba Clan, finding the only and best path!"

"Rongdong! The Kaozaki Family has but a few thousand stones, two or three hundred Samurai, barely establishing a foothold in Japanese land. How can their force compare to the powerful and affluent Golden Clan? The Golden Clan not only has over a thousand Armored Warriors, hundreds of Cavalry, but also entire ships and warehouses filled with the wealth of gold! Such formidable force is almost equal to a Daimyo of ten thousand stones! With this remaining trace of the Shiba Clan, only a dozen or so loyal retainers, what better choice is there?"

"Moreover, the mighty Shandan Golden Clan is also willing to fully support the Shiba Clan! As long as you and Yue Ji, and Golden Clan form matrimonial alliance, follow the arrangements of the Golden Chief... Once the bloodlines are united, a new Shiba Clan will be reborn in the Ezo extremity! The strength of Shandan and Ezo People will bring the Shiba Clan infinite possibilities of hope, perhaps one day reclaiming your guardian territory in Echizen!"

"Rongdong, remember my words, ponder them often. And now, what you must do is... Come! Pay the Ritual of adoptive son to my dear friend, your Godfather, the esteemed Golden Chief Zuwaro!"