Thatch poked out buds from the cracks in the rocks in the mountains, tremblingly sensing a world that was completely unfamiliar to it. Awakening from the darkness, the instinct of survival forced it to resist the oppressive burden and squeeze out every bit of space it could.
I don’t ask for much, I just need a little bit of moisture brought by the breeze, a little bit of sunshine that accidentally falls from the canopy, that’s all.
What greets it is the gnawing of wild beasts and the trampling of soles of feet, but no matter how it is destroyed, it still insists on flowing out precious juice from its remains to heal the wounds and grow new shoots. Otherwise, it will be completely destroyed every day.
It will grow up slowly, reaching the soles of the feet, reaching the knees, until it is as high as the shoulders. At this point, it will no longer be easily crushed, and can sway wildly, enjoy the morning dew and the morning glory, and survive the summer and the cold.
, until the heavy snow fell suddenly.
The sound of crunching snow came from far and near, and two lines of footprints, one large and one small, were trampled on the remains of the thatch. The long marks were as straight as measuring, which showed the two people's high cultivation of human body.
"Why have you been so absent-minded recently? Don't think that you can become a master. Although your swordsmanship is extraordinary, you are still not a top master. What's more, even if you become the best swordsman in the world, there are still countless things that can kill you.
Do you understand?" The tall figure, wearing a white cloak, is connected to the endless snowy scene, as if this man is one of the scenes, without any sense of abruptness in this nature.
The reprimanded boy lowered his head, his rare crimson hair shining in the sun, and his fierce and unyielding sword energy made everyone look at him.
The young man's hand tightened on the handle of the knife at his waist, he stopped and hesitated to speak, but finally he said: "Master... I want to go down the mountain, um... Master, I want to go down the mountain!" His voice was as soft as the gurgling stream beside him.
It is clear, but the firmness in it is like ice in the river, which cannot be washed away no matter what.
The tall man turned around. His resolute facial lines did not leave any traces of time. He was just slightly thinner than he had been many years ago. His body full of explosive power was still intimidating. He was none other than the 13th-generation sect leader of the Feiten Sword Style, Higurashi.
Seijuro.
Looking at the young Kenshin, Hiko couldn't help but feel a little sour in his heart. Perhaps he had already guessed that this day would come sooner or later, just like his old self, but Kenshin, you are far from mature enough to face the dangers of the world alone.
To what extent!
"Don't go down the mountain! Katsura Kogoro has been in contact with you all these years. Don't think that I don't know. If I had known this, I wouldn't have saved him in the first place. You are such an ungrateful guy." Higurashi refused coldly.
"Master! It's none of Senior Gui's business. When we were practicing on the mountain, I don't know how many people died due to being involved in the turmoil at the foot of the mountain. Every time you take me down the mountain, what I see is that the weak are bullied and killed. At this moment
Isn’t it the time for me, the Flying Sword Style, to protect the people?”
"You stupid apprentice!" Higu shouted loudly. The harshness of his voice made Kenshin tremble, but he still stared at the master stubbornly.
Bigu turned around, as if he didn't want to see his disciple's eyes, "In such troubled times, what can you do alone? If you want to change the troubled times, you must join one of the forces and then be used by them. Listen, I'm not here for
It is for this purpose that I taught you the Hiten Sword Style, and you, are you learning my swordsmanship to change the troubled times? Don't worry about external things, you just need to concentrate on your training."
Kenshin retorted loudly: "How long will you continue to practice? The people of the world are in dire straits, and many people are grieving because of the war. I can't ignore them and refuse to save them, Master! What's wrong with you?
, back then you and Senior Sorayama destroyed the Ii family in one fell swoop, eliminating the first minion of the shogunate, and countless people who overthrew the shogunate rejoiced, but now how did it become..."
"I haven't changed, you have changed! My stupid disciple, open your eyes and look, Ii Naomi is dead, who will benefit in the end? Kill one, and the second one will appear. The shogunate is still the same
That shogunate, the world is still the Tokugawa world, we are swordsmen! Not politicians! The flying sword style is the strongest style invincible in the world, just like the "black ships" on land, if used by people with ulterior motives, they will gradually kill people
If you lose your original intention, you will be miserable even if you wake up. Do you really know the consequences?"
Kenshin was silenced by what his master Higu Seijuro said. He lowered his head and thought. Although he knew that what his master said was to protect him, the tragedy he had witnessed in the world over the years had made him want to "save the people."
As lush as thatch, words alone could not change his obsession. He took a slow breath and said calmly and firmly: "Master! I am no longer the child I was before and no longer need to be protected.
It can protect others. The Feiten Mitsurugi-ryu is a sword that eliminates evil in the world. It is a sword that protects the weak. It uses the sword to protect people from suffering in troubled times. Isn't that the purpose of the Mitsuruken-ryu? Isn't that what the master has always done?
?"
"The sword is a murder weapon, and swordsmanship is the art of killing! No matter how gorgeous the rhetoric is to cover it up, it can never change this fact. To protect others, you must kill, and to survive, you must kill. This is the truth of swordsmanship, just like when I saved you,
I have killed hundreds of villains before this, but do you think they were like this from the beginning? They are also human beings, they just hope to survive in this troubled world... If you take a step out of this mountain
, what awaits you is endless killing in the name of 'justice' for various reasons. Once you join in, you will definitely kill countless people!"
Hiko felt this. This was a summary of his nearly thirty years of life. Perhaps resorting to violence is the only way to end troubled times, but the side effects caused by such behavior must not be borne by individuals, especially someone like Kenshin.
This kind of young man with no political experience but a kind heart is really cruel to him!
"Even so, I still want to use this power to save the suffering people, even if it's just to save one more person!" Kenshin retorted loudly, raising his petite and delicate palms and holding them tightly, "I want to use these hands to protect
As many people as possible... so... master!"
Higu's tall shoulders seemed to be shaking uncontrollably. In order to cover up this weakness, he lifted his steps and walked towards the direction of the thatched house. He turned his back to Kenshin and said coldly: "I don't know a fool like you.
Just go anywhere and disappear quickly."
"Thank you very much, master..." Seeing Bigu's tall figure disappearing into the hut, Kenshin bowed deeply. After a long time, he finally raised his body and walked away along the snow-covered mountain road.
My silly apprentice! You are like a fool, and you still chose this way of life after all, because your heart is too pure. This may be a fate that you cannot escape... Looking at the back of the apprentice who decided to leave from the window, Bi Gu felt sad.
, are you going to be alone again after so many years? Kongshan, my dear friend! It has been ten years, how are you doing?