I totally adore Shunki x Kokujun. They are just one of the most “awwwww” type of couples, with the sweetenings in the whole relationship being six to seven over dosages of total sugarly love.

The phrase of this week’s episode,以毒攻毒, means to counter poison with poison and it applies to the scenario in the last scene of this episode.

Seiran fans will love it, I bet.

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Episode summary

This episode picks off from the previous one when Shuurei and Shunki went down the dungeon to find Kokujun only to hear a scream, while Ensei and Eigetsu arrived to the ceremony. At the cell, we see Kokujun stoning until Shunki gave him a tight slap to wake him up. He finally regained his senses as his tears started to fall, saying that he had killed his father and Chuushou. Kokujun added that he had lost the last bit of humanity about him but Shunki said that it was impossible as he was such a kind person that would not even hurt a flower. Kokujun said that he was strange and kept thinking about killing, but Shunki assured that she trusted him.

Shunki then said it did not matter whether he did kill or not, but most importantly, it was the regret that he could not do anything to stop this absurdity in time. She continued with her declaration to assume the authority of Sa clan if he was to simply escape as she took out the Sa ring that she found around Chuushou and would take on all responsibility. Just before she put the ring on, Kokujun stopped her and wore the ring instead, saying that he could not allow her to be burdened with his own problems. He admitted that he would regret for a long time after this that he was unable to do anything.

Yet, he would not be overcome by it but to carry the burden of Sa clan on his shoulders. With that, the spirit of Enjun appeared, encouraging Kokujun that he was a kind man and not to lose his humanity ever. Enjun said it was all right to cry, but also to be a strong man to support Sa clan. As the spirit of Enjun disappeared, Kokujun said that he was weak and warned Shunki that there was a long journey ahead. He then added that he wanted Shunki to be always around him to support and believe in him, with Shunki agreeing in tears. After they resolved their differences, Shuurei formally regarded Kokujun as the head of the Sa clan and told him that he had to shoulder the responsibility as the Sa clan. Kokujun agreed as he carried the body of his father out of the cell.

Kokujun then arrived to Eiki’s room, with Eiki seeing the vision of Enjun for a moment and the ring. Kokujun then answered the call of responsibility by Eiki as Eiki told him that he was a common man, yet one that would protect the little things that he had. Eiki then told him to prepare for the ceremony as Shunki came in with Shuurei. Eiki acknowledged the trouble caused by the Sa clan and asked Shunki whether she would regret being with Kokujun. Shunki said that she wished to be as happy as Eiki with Enjun, as Eiki laughed jovially about the low possibility of that happening.

At the ceremony, Ensei and Eigetsu noticed that Eiki, Kokujun and Sakujun were all missing as the other Sa clan members gathered around, laughing at Eigetsu’s appearance and belittling him. The other clan members were talking about how Enjun previous poisoned everyone by gathering them together and dissing Chuushou for thinking that he was going to be the clan leader. Ensei checked the walls and Eigetsu poured the wine on the floor, as they realized that the walls were extremely thin and the room was tilted. They then told everyone that the house was going to collapse soon as Chuushou’s attempt to kill everyone was realized.

The troops of Teh Yuushun and Sai Shou’s elite mercenary troops arrived, as Eigetsu used his power as the governor to arrest all the Sa clan members for disrupting the peace of Kouling, with him saying that he would talk to the clan leader of Sa for further punishment. The clan leader would of course suffer the heaviest consequences as no one dared to stand up. Eiki and the rest then appeared, saying that she would be the guardian of Kokujun, the next clan leader, with the Sa clan ring on Kokujun’s finger as the defining judge. Eigetsu also formally approved of Kokujun’s position as clan leader of Sa as he left for investigations with Shuurei and Eigetsu while the other Sa clan members were slowly arrested.

At the cell, the young form of Shou talked to the dwindling spirit of Enjun, saying that he wanted to show Enjun the start of a new era. He wanted to let Enjun rest in peace. Enjun’s voice then said that Kokujun never killed anyone as Shou replied that he knew it as Shou told him not to worry anymore. Enjun laughed, asking Shou who was the one that made him unable to die in peace as his spirit dissipated.

Sakujun was quietly playing on the er hu as Seiran arrived, asking Sakujun to drink the poison. Sakujun asked why he did not intend to attack him directly, but Seiran reiterated that he wanted to see Sakujun being convicted by the law. Seiran then added that no cell could keep Sakujun. Sakujun teased how Seiran intended to get him to drink the poison. Seiran said that he intended to defeat him in battle and forced it down his throat. Seiran continued to speak as he intended to decide in a game where they had poured Seiran’s poison in 5 of the wine cups and 5 lethal poison in another 5. Sakujun said Seiran had nothing in exchange for him, but Seiran mentioned that he was an obstacle to Sakujun’s love of Shuurei. Sakujun agreed as the game started.

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Thoughts

Honestly, I really do wonder who the killer of Chuushou and his father was. Kokujun seemed to acknowledge that it was him who did it, yet Shou and the spirit of Enjun said that Kokujun did not kill anyone. So, who in the world killed the two. However, I do agree that whoever killed the two was not the important issue, but the issue of resolving the leadership of the Sa clan. I guess, it was not really too much of an important detail who the real killer was, but the journey in which Kokujun finally assumed leadership and guts was the true thing to note.

Just to repeat, I find that the relationship of Shunki and Kokujun is so beautiful that words can hardly explain how great it is. They have so much love and trust of each other that it is amazing how they can withstand being separated for such a long period of time. I am so glad that they can finally get back together and it was so sweet when Kokujun said that Shunki’s voice was extremely sweet and music to his ears. Shunki’s assurance that she would be there forever for Kokujun was also a really big “awwww” moment for me.

I personally feel surprised at the strategy used by Chuushou to kill off the whole Sa clan. I am expecting initially for him to do some form of poisoning during the feast and the likes, as it will be technically illogical for anyone to repeat the same way of killing done thirty years ago. If anything, the most obvious method to eliminate your clan will usually be the less expected method of killing, which would be good.

However, the current way of elimination is also ingenious. I mean, to build a house with thin walls and floors, so as to slowly cause the house to collapse in an instant is a slow death that no one will be able to expect until the weight of the people in the house tilts it over. Hence, it is pretty amazing since Chuushou, with his brutal ways, has chosen just about the most subtle way of killing a whole group of people at one go without any high suspicion. Only Ensei and Eigetsu will be perceptive enough to such situations.

They are too darn smart.

I am also seriously disturbed at the “game” that Seiran and Sakujun is playing. They are literally playing with their lives with this game and it severely disturbs me that I have no clue who will be the one surviving (*grumbles for their good use of a climax*). I am sure that there will somehow be an interference in the form of Shuurei or someone, but I am not too sure. The whole chance roll of the dice and drinking the assigned wine cups just makes for a disturbing climax of the resolution between Sakujun and Seiran. Man, whoever is the director is an evil freak that loves to keep us on our toes.

Lastly, everything is starting to be resolved and I am glad that Shuurei and Eigetsu can finally be appointed as the governor. The choice of Kokujun as the clan leader is a tad interesting too.

So who do you hope to win the battle of “Shuurei”? Sakujun or Seiran?

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