Chapter 111: The Demon Slayer (2)
"It was a celebration party, why did you run out?"
"Many people died. What is there to celebrate?"
"We killed over a thousand demons, but only a few hundred people died. It was a great victory, as in previous years, no one ever returned from battling demons."
"…"
"Young person, listen to me. The secrets and truths inside this place are beyond your understanding. Are you perhaps one of those who learned about death only this year?"
"In the past, we knew, but we didn't know that so many people would die."
"Hahaha… Don't joke around. How many bodies did you actually see? Saying so many people died? How many intact bodies did you bring back? There were only a few dozen coffins, and they didn't even fill up half of them."
"I…"
"The shogunate only cares about the results. If you bring back 170 demon horns, then you will be hailed as a great hero who slays demons. No one cares about how many people in your team died. If you focus too much on death, you may lose yourself. Everyone who comes here has willingly chosen to do so. Although not everyone is willing to die, they should have been mentally prepared. Is it your turn to sympathize with their life and death situations?"
"I am not worthy of sympathy?"
"Yes, you're not qualified, you had your life handed to you, pitying the dead is better than pitying me."
"Pitying you? What is there about you that is worth being pitied for?"
"I was a poor and powerless wanderer, relying solely on slaying demons to earn some money. Do the less privileged in society not deserve sympathy? When you say such things, doesn't it hurt your conscience?"
"No, you've killed so many demons, it seems like the number is over five hundred, and the bounty is also in the hundreds of taels, enough for a worry-free life."
"You… well, I guess what you said is true, but this tiny amount of money is not even enough to fill the gap between my teeth."
"Do you owe money?"
"Yes, and it's also a very large debt… But never mind, let's not talk about it. You should go inside now, so that others won't come and ask for it. You can just go to enjoy the music and continue the dance."
"Are you not going inside?"
"Food doesn't satisfy my taste buds, so I nibble on some rice balls instead. They are filling and affordable. The food on Cherry Island is all mild in flavor."
…
In the peaceful capital city of Heian-kyō, there was a house with a courtyard. Bai Wei knocked gently on the back door, and after a short while, the small door opened.
"I, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, arrived with my army."
"Sir…please come inside and take a seat quickly."
"No, these mischievous children looked troubled. This was a debt from this time of year. Winter is approaching, so it's time to get some clothes for the little ones."
"Why are you saying that? Where did you borrow money? Well, back then, you just bought a set of clothes and boots on credit…"
"I still owe you three months' worth of food money."
"Even so, I have already repaid it long ago… Wait, what's this quantity all about? Did you go and rob someone?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes…"
"No, did you go to hunt for rewards? How could you do such a dangerous thing? If something were to happen to you, there wouldn't be anyone to collect your body outside! Just stay in Heian-kyō… Oh, sir, you…"
"Blabbering on, just give you some more money, is that enough? I only have this much on me, you have to leave me some travel expenses."
"I didn't mean that!"
"You have more than a hundred mouths to feed. You can go hungry, but children can't."
"Oh dear…"
"I have taught the troublemaker who used to cause chaos a lesson. The rowdy young troublemakers around the town no longer dare to bother you. The girls need a dowry when they get married, but once the boys turn sixteen, they can take care of themselves. I just wanted to say these few words. I will come back in six months."
"Take this with you."
"?"
"The children made rice balls by themselves today. They didn't finish eating them, so they just left it there. Why don't you take it with you?"
"Ok, ok, I'm leaving."
The door closed shut as he walked around the corner.
The young man picked up a rice ball from the box and took a bite. It had already become cold, and the taste was just okay, a bit unfamiliar and not quite ripe yet.
Just as he took a bite, suddenly a figure rushed over and grabbed a rice ball from the box.
"Halt! You thief, how dare you commit such a crime in front of me!"
"I am a little hungry, and I just happened to meet you. Before, you left without saying hello. Just now, after the evening feast ended, I went out for a walk and smelled something delicious."
"You have such a dog-like nose."
"My nose has always been sensitive, but this rice ball doesn't taste very good."
"If you don't want to eat, don't eat it. If you vomit, I can help you by punching your stomach."
"Hahaha… actually, I saw it. If you keep doing things this way, you'll definitely run out of money."
"Ah, you must have had some unrealistic daydream. Are you secretly thinking that I am a good person?"
"No," he replied.
"That's right, I'm not a good person. The lady is a loan shark. Even though it looks like an orphanage on the outside, it's actually an underground gambling den. The children are just a cover. I owe a lot of money and I'm being forced to repay it. If I don't give her the money, she will harm me!"
"Oh."
"It's true! They were all members of a dangerous gang, very cruel!"
"…Oh."
"Don't be so dismissive, at least believe a little, give me a bit of face, I am known as one of the Four Emperors, the holder of the Face Fruit."
"Can anyone be more cruel than a wicked ghost?"
"Can they? Are capitalists scarier than evil demons?"
"I can't understand what you're saying. Where are you planning to sleep tonight?"
"Well, I'm definitely not going to sleep in your kitchen and steal your rice."
"You can sleep, I'll add another blanket to your bed."
"Can I sneakily eat the offerings from your ancestors? I don't mean any harm, I just have a big appetite."
"…"
"I'm leaving!"
"Wait a moment."
"Why, would you like to invite me to your house for a cup of tea?"
"Where should I go to find you? You are always disappearing mysteriously. If I don't ask now, I won't know when we'll meet again."
"You are Yagyū's eldest son. I am a wandering samurai, with no fixed abode. Why have you come to find me?"
"I…" Saizō fell into silence. Moonlight shone on his delicate profile, revealing a slight unnatural blush. "I just wanted…"
The young man wearing a fox mask instinctively took a step back. He couldn't believe it, he actually saw a trace of shyness on a man's face.
Instinctively, he swallowed… Oh, dear!
Could it be that this man, he actually likes men…
From now on, I must stay away from him.
"Your sister…"
"My younger sister? What happened to Chiyo?"
"It's nothing, I suddenly started to worry about the future of the Yagyū family."
"Ah?"
"Farewell!"
Watching the young man run away, Yagyū Saizō raised his arm and let out a gentle sigh.
"I just want to learn the sword skills to slay demons."
He realized that this time he missed the opportunity, and the next time they might meet again, it could be a long time from now.
…
Even though they were both in Heian-kyō, the difference in social status meant that they truly couldn't often meet each other. One person walked along the palace corridors, while the other walked on muddy grounds. It was destined that they would never encounter each other, even if sometimes they were separated only by a wall.
The two of them met again, but it happened a year later.
Both of them went to hunt demons.
The young man still came alone, and Saizō brought along the disciples from the Yagyū family.
Unfamiliar with what Saizō had gone through during the past year, it was evident that he had matured. His features appeared softer, charming the women around him. His desire for revenge hadn't diminished at all; instead, it burned stronger than ever before.
He and his disciples found the valley, and they entered it by breaking in. They walked past a few lonely graves.
And then, there were dead people, so many dead people.
Yagyū Saizō fought until he fainted, this time he didn't escape. But when he woke up, he found himself still in the valley.
In the quiet valley under the setting sun, several new tombstones appeared silently.
