Seijuro Hiko, who adheres to the idea of saving the world, initially did not plan to stay in the mountains for a long time. He regarded this place as a stronghold to comfort his soul and body. He would stay for a few days and then go down the mountain, which could take up to half a year or as short as a few days.
Every time he came back, he would bring some jars of good wine for Kazuyo Sorayama. After the two friends competed in swordsmanship, they would drink happily. Hiko Seijuro would take the opportunity to tell Kazuyo Sorayama what he had seen and heard one by one.
However, facing countless villains to kill and countless civilians to save, this tough guy with nerves as tough as iron cannot help but become increasingly depressed.
"The feudal clans are fighting for power and profit, the shogunate is violent, wealthy merchants are squeezing the people, the royal family is controlled by them and become a complete puppet, and the people are suffering from slavery at all times. The samurai family in between, only
Most people who seek their own prosperity end up living in a dream, and those highly capable warriors either become tools used by the above three types of people, or they rely on their martial arts to commit crimes. Sometimes I often want to rush into Edo and kill all these bastards like you. Alas,
The world is over."
An oil lamp made of animal fat in the room swayed with the sound of pine waves in the distant mountains.
Hiko Seijuro drank the sake in his glass in one gulp, stared at Sorayama Kazuha with burning eyes and continued: "Sorayama, you and I are enough to run rampant in the world, why don't we work together to kill all the top officials of the shogunate? What do you think?"
Kazuyo Sorayama looked at the drunken man like he was staring at an idiot, "Then what? Let the 15th, 6th, 7th, and 8th generation generals take over, and the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 sons of high-ranking officials will inherit their father's legacy and continue to harm the people. What can happen again?
Isn’t it possible to kill him once?”
"No, no, I have traveled a lot in the past three years. Since the Black Ship Incident, almost everyone is dissatisfied with the shogunate, especially the lower-level samurai. They are shouting to return the emperor to power every day. However, the shogunate is still powerful and cannot overthrow it by force.
,if we……"
Ichiyo Sorayama filled Hiko's glass of wine and said with a half-smile, "Okay! I agree. I'll leave tomorrow. I'll go to Edo first and then Kyoto to kill all the scum of the shogunate."
"Uh..." Higu Seijuro choked violently on Sorayama Kazuha. Of course he was just joking!
Not to mention whether the two of them can do such a thing, Higurashi Seijuro knows that even if they really kill all those people, the final gain will not be theirs, let alone the people who need to be saved. The greatest possibility is still that they have been killed for a long time.
The chances of the nobles, nobles, and wealthy businessmen who oppressed the common people to make wedding clothes for others is almost 100%.
"By the way, I heard that your former disciple, Katsura Kogoro, seemed to be very active in the Choshu Domain." Hiko Seijuro quickly changed the subject.
"Oh? What is he doing?"
"Like all aspiring young people nowadays, a group of frustrated rogues gathered around them to seek an opportunity to overthrow the shogunate. Those young people work hard for the country every day, while a big shot like you who has the world's high expectations is just waiting to die every day.
, Kongshan, don’t you feel ashamed!”
Three years of sun and moon have completely washed away the boundless ferocity in Ichiyo Sorayama, and his mind has become more and more clear, "Hiku, you said that your Feitian sword style is the sword of salvation and the strongest swordsmanship, but
Why has it been passed down to you for thirteen generations and still not known to the public?"
"Well... maybe, maybe I don't want to be dragged down by fame."
"How can we save the world if we don't even want to bear the burden of the most basic reputation? Rely on assassination?"
Higu Seijuro was speechless after being questioned, and could only continue to drink heavily. After a long time, he raised his head and said as if he had made some decision: "You are right, even if I can master the magic with swords, I can only
Tools used by those with ulterior motives. In the past few years, I have gradually understood that neither you nor I are suitable for this world! Sorayama, I am going back to Choshu Domain. Although there are only a few shabby houses on the mountains there, it is me after all.
Do you want to come with me to the place where I have practiced swordsmanship since I was a child?"
Faced with such an unexpected invitation from Higu Seijuro, Kazuyo Sorayama couldn't help but be a little stunned. He thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, but I want to ask you something."
"What?" "You take Kiriko and leave first, and I will set off after you. After all, she is too risky by my side. Although the shogunate cannot send out an army, Yu Tingban and the spies all over Japan probably won't let her go easily.
Me." Kazuyo Sorayama recalled the determined look in the ninja's eyes who was forced to cut off his arm by him.
"Okay, it's settled. We'll pack up tomorrow and we'll set off the day after tomorrow at the latest!" Higu Seijuro was a little excited. After getting along with him in the past few years, he already knew the character of Sorayama Kazuha. This is a man who only has a sword.
A person can stay in one place for a lifetime just because of food!
Then he ordered to Wuzi who was silent and showed no expression: "Wuzi, you heard it, right? By the way, today's radish is cooked very delicious, go and serve some more."
Looking at Kiriko's back, Hiko rubbed his chin and continued: "She is already eleven years old, but she is still as tall as a child. The secret skills of ninjas are really harmful... Sorayama, is she still silent?
?”
Kazuyo Sorayama nodded helplessly. Although Kiriko has gradually become more girlish, her personality has basically not changed. It should be said that she has not spoken since she saw this little girl. I don’t know if she really looks like that.
The female ninja said that Kiriko just didn't want to speak, and it wasn't because she had damaged her throat by practicing secret techniques.
"What are your plans? I think this child has recognized you, Kongshan, are you going to marry her?"
"Clang!" The crisp sound of a porcelain bowl falling on the stone floor came from the outer room. Kazuyo Sorayama put a hand on his forehead and glanced at the embarrassed Seijuro Hiko with a rather complaining look, "Do you know what getting a wife is? I once
She also has a wife and children, what do you, an old bachelor, know? When the fog gets bigger, I will find a good family for her."
Wuzi leaned against the wall quietly, stroking her chest. Although her body was much smaller than girls of this age after going through many hardships, her mind was far more mature than that of ordinary girls. For Sorayama Kazuyo, she had never forgotten her senses.
The initial resentment and conflict gradually turned into respect and admiration. After several years of getting along day and night, she vaguely developed an indescribable complex emotion. It seemed that just seeing this man every day would make her very... happy?
I felt that it would be best to continue living like this forever. When I first heard Seijuro Hiko teasing Sorayama Kazuha, I immediately lost my composure and could no longer maintain the indifference I had always maintained.
Are you qualified to marry someone like him? I am just a humble daughter of a ninja. If I hadn't met by chance, I would never have had the chance to meet him in my life. Besides, my mother once said that a woman who cannot bear children is not complete.
Woman, would he marry a woman like herself? Wuzi shook his head in his heart, it was impossible.
Kiriko had a sad and tidy look on her face. She took out another bowl of radish and brought it to the low couch in front of Sorayama Kazuyo. She once again returned to her expressionless look and stood in the dark corner.
"Kiriko, we have to leave here for a while. After all, we can't live in the mountains forever." Besides, if this continues, we might really have to stay in this world for the rest of our lives. It's time to go out and look for new clues! Ichiyo Sorayama