At this point in Gintama, the story had entered one of its most memorable arcs: Yoshiwara in Flames.
The story begins when a boy named Seita steals Gintoki's wallet, leading the characters to discover Yoshiwara, a mysterious underground district.
This place, known as the "paradise for men and hell for women," is an underground city that never sees sunlight. The area is ruled by a powerful figure—Hosen, the King of the Night, who was once at the top of the Yato clan.
In their quest to save Seita's mother, Hinowa, trapped in Yoshiwara, Gintoki and his friends face off against the formidable Hosen and encounter Kagura's older brother, Kamui.
They battle for the chance to see the blue sky and to stand under the sunlight once more. The arc featured intense action, significant plot developments, and introduced two popular characters—Tsukuyo and Kamui.
Multiple factions and intersecting timelines made the story complex and compelling, with every character's actions rooted in emotion and motivation, adding depth to the arc. This made the Yoshiwara in Flames arc a favorite among fans.
Li Shuwen, watching the story on his roommate's recommendation, was hooked.
It was undeniably captivating.
Ignoring the samurai themes and traditional clothing, it felt much like other great stories he'd read.
"Did they finally defeat him?"
Watching Gintoki and Tsukuyo's group barely suppress Hosen, Li Shuwen let out a breath of relief.
Hosen was overwhelmingly strong; even Gintoki struggled against him.
But just when it seemed they'd won, Li Shuwen's eyes widened as Hosen stood back up. He was revived!
"Watch out!"
He couldn't help but yell at the screen.
Of course, Gintoki and the others couldn't hear him.
Gintoki was injured trying to protect Tsukuyo.
He was already struggling before the injury, so how could he now fight Hosen, who seemed as powerful as ever?
Li Shuwen felt his heart race.
Then the scene shifted—Seita, with Kagura and Shinpachi covering him, reached the control room and activated the mechanism.
The dark, sunless sky over Yoshiwara began to change, letting sunlight pour in.
The sunlight, which Hosen hadn't seen for years, sapped his strength and led to his demise.
Li Shuwen exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Finally, you got to see it. The sky I always wanted to show you..."
Hinowa, who had been imprisoned by Hosen, smiled as she cradled him.
Hosen, reflecting on his past with Hinowa as he gazed at the sky he longed for, realized it wasn't the sun that had drained him; it was his own soul, starved of light.
Initially, Li Shuwen had found Hosen detestable, seeing him as cold and ruthless.
But now, watching Hosen's final moments, he felt differently. Perhaps Hosen and Hinowa had a connection—a bond deeper than most.
"They were probably kindred spirits," he thought.
Hinowa understood Hosen better than anyone.
But it was too late. Understanding came at the cost of Hosen's life.
He died with a smile, finding peace in the end.
Just as Li Shuwen processed this, another character appeared—Kagura's brother, Kamui.
"Yoshiwara's darkness wasn't only Hosen..."
With Kamui's ominous words, Li Shuwen's worry spiked again.
Was there a new, stronger enemy now that Hosen was gone?
Defeating Hosen alone had pushed Gintoki to the limit. They only managed to win thanks to the sunlight. If another foe stronger than Hosen emerged, what would they do?
Through Kamui's revelations, the deeper secrets of Yoshiwara became clear.
There would always need to be a figure like the King of the Night to keep the chaos at bay. Otherwise, those hungry for Yoshiwara's riches would descend like wolves, turning it into an even worse place than before.
Fortunately, Kamui assumed control, though he showed no real interest in Yoshiwara. He didn't even leave subordinates behind. His only interest was Gintoki.
Thanks to Kamui's indifference, Seita, Hinowa, and others could continue living peacefully in Yoshiwara.
"It's just about reclaiming the sun. The sun that everyone here, locked in this cage, had forgotten. No matter where you are, no matter the conditions, there's always a sun. It may be hidden by clouds, but if you look up long enough, the clouds will part, and the sun will shine again."
"So, we must not miss that moment. Stand tall, look up, and live bravely."
Reading Gintoki's words, Li Shuwen felt a powerful resonance.
The arc's tight narrative and flawless panels made Li Shuwen, who had previously been put off by Gintama's comedic and parodic style, fall in love with it due to its unique take on heroism.
"That was epic!"
As Gintama continued its run, online discussions flourished.
"It's my first time realizing Gintama could be this intense! I always thought it was just a parody series, so I only read the start and dropped it. But after my roommate recommended 'Yoshiwara in Flames,' I can't wait to catch up!"
"No way! The comedy and parody are just the surface. The depth and heart are the core!"
"Despite the humor, Gintama has moments of genuine emotion. Only those who've experienced life's struggles can fully appreciate it."
"If you try to sink the sun, it'll rise again as long as there's a sky. Seita's line was amazing. Just a minor character, yet the Porter's writing made him unforgettable."
Kamui, though positioned as a villain in this arc, also drew attention.
Many readers were captivated by his words to Gintoki, sparking speculation that the two would clash again.
Fans eagerly anticipated what was to come.
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