Chapter 113: RashoMon
Riding a horse, he fought using a sword to strike and slash.
From the early morning until evening, they fought tirelessly.
They charged from the plain into the forest, then continued deeper into the mountains. Finally, they returned to the mountain slopes after battling through the canyon.
His hand held a precious sword stained with countless drops of blood. The Tengu Cut was incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through even the feathers of a Tengu. This legendary blade, soaked in the blood of numerous battles, trembled and hummed with power.
It didn't feel tired at all.
As he watched the sky change from morning to evening and transition into night, the young man let out a slow breath. He was feeling a bit tired.
Even though he still possessed a few gifts from heroic spirits, he couldn't continue slashing like this. He had no idea where the main forces were located, and he lacked knowledge of coordination and military strategy. It was easy for him to make mistakes and reveal his weaknesses. That's why he bravely charged forward alone, slashing and fighting his way through the enemy lines.
He had already gotten lost and had no idea where he was. He found a place to clean the bloodstains from his body and took off his armor.
Unknowingly, he followed the moonlight and came across more than ten desolate graves.
"Ha, why have I returned here again?"
He sat in front of a grave, looking at the many graves around him. Suddenly, he felt like it would be quite fitting if he died here too.
Among this group of people, many were samurai who died for loyalty and righteousness.
He died here as a way to repay a debt, and it's not really a bad thing. At the very least, he has a place to be laid to rest, which is definitely better than freezing to death on the streets and being eaten by stray dogs.
"Yagyū," he said, "it's time to settle the debts owed by me to your family."
He walked towards the deep valley.
He thought there would be many evil demons guarding this place, but what he actually saw was completely empty.
Continuing forward through the valley, under the moonlight, there was a person sitting on top of a pile of bodies as tall as a small hill, wiping a sword.
He was wearing a messy traditional Japanese outfit called a kimono. His hair was disheveled and tangled, and he had a fox mask covering his face. He had a cold and icy expression on his face.
"You came late," said Saizō.
"……Damn it." The young man muttered, "Who allowed you to come here?"
"No one brought me, I came by myself."
"No, what I mean is, did those mischievous children take the money but didn't do anything? I made you unconscious with the medicine and they should throw you onto the spaceship headed for the Ming Country."
"Hmm? So you had planned this all along?" Saizō raised an eyebrow, about to get angry. But when he saw the young man's desperate expression, he couldn't help but burst into cheerful laughter. "You were just too kind to those little ones. They didn't want to see you sacrifice yourself for a stranger like me. They knew they couldn't stop you, so they didn't interfere, but they also didn't help. They even found the horse you left behind and retrieved the sword you threw into the pond."
"Damn, those naughty children!" Bai Wei cursed.
"You underestimate yourself too much," he said again. "You never owe anything to the Yagyū family."
"You don't have the final say," the young man asked. "Are you really not planning to go back?"
"I've always dreamed of charging back in there," Saizō's smile was filled with a bloodthirsty gleam. "All those years of training have led up to this very moment!"
"Then follow closely behind me," the young man said. "This time, there truly is no turning back."
"Embracing life in the face of death," Saizō leaped down from the pile of corpses and stood beside the young man. "But this time, I want to come back alive, together with you."
"If I can make it back alive, then I won't hide from your sister Chiyo anymore."
"Sure, let's go back together and let her pour wine for both of us."
The two of them exchanged a smile as they locked eyes.
Saizō took off the fox mask, and the young man took the mask from him, hanging it around his waist.
And they drew their swords, advancing towards life.
…
They found RashoMon without much effort. It stood wide open, revealing the deepest part of the valley, like a silent stone monument.
Emerging from the horde of evil demons, they fought their way through, bravely stepping into the gate of RashoMon.
They were still unsure of how to shut the door, but the moment they stepped inside, they heard a loud and clear sound.
It turned out that as long as a living person stepped inside here, it would close shut.
"Next, let's see how long we can hold on," the young man said in a soft voice. "The longer we hold on, the longer this door will stay closed. It all depends on how long we can endure, guarding the peace of the human world."
"How long?"
"I don't know, but now that we've entered, we can't get out," the young man said in a solemn tone. "This is a living sacrifice."
"So, you knew all along," Saizō exclaimed, surprised.
The young man silently shook his head. Despite the breaking of his Heroic Spirit Principle, he had once been a heroic spirit. Whenever he touched Rashomon, he always gained crucial information.
Inside this gate, one day is like ten years, two days is like twenty years, and ten days is like one hundred years. If they can hold on free for ten days, the world outside will have pace for one hundred years.
Saizō smiled happily.
He wasn't afraid of death. He was willing to die here in battle, with his dear friend by his side. He was ready to face any challenges, even if it meant walking through treacherous mountains, raging fires, or the depths of the underworld.
Even if it was destined that he couldn't leave.
The short break came to an end, and after that, they didn't even have a chance to talk. They could only choose to fight back to back.
The never-ending bloodshed overwhelmed the two people.
After a long time, someone finally spoke.
"Speaking of it, I feel a little hungry."
"This time, I didn't bring my rice ball."
"Demons, can we eat them?"
"Maybe it's possible? Why don't you take a taste and see for yourself?"
…
"How long has it been?"
"Where do I have time to keep track, let me ask."
"Who are you asking?"
"It said, 'This is the third day.'"
"Keep going."
…
"Without resting or sleeping, how many days does it take for a person to die, in the end?"
"If you have time to think about this question, it means you won't leave so quickly."
"How long has it been?"
"On the fourth day at noon!"
…
"You daydreamed."
"I am not made of iron, it seems like I am getting tired, I am not invincible like Doom Slayer…"
"Doom Slayer?"
"He is a super strong man who could stay awake all night and relentlessly kill through hell, striking fear into the demons of hell as an incredibly ruthless individual."
"When…"
"On the fifth day."
…
"Can you still hold on?"
"I can last longer than you."
…
"I'm sorry, Bai Wei, but I might have to…go ahead first."
"Don't talk nonsense, it's just that you didn't sleep for seven days and nights, making it seem like you were about to die suddenly."
"At the end, can I tell you a secret?"
"No way! I am very busy!"
"Just a few words, actually I…"
"Okay, be quiet and be careful not to bite your tongue!"
With a loud sound, the tightly sealed door swung open, and the bright morning light of the eighth day illuminated the pitch-black RashoMon, shining intensely and dazzlingly.
Saizō's expression was filled with surprise. Why would RashoMon open?
"Living sacrifice, just one is enough."
Saizō heard the whisper of the young man.
A sensation, like electric currents flowing through his back, awakened his almost depleted consciousness in an instant. His whole body surged with strength, attempting to withstand the force with his legs, but the impact was so powerful that it forcefully threw him out of the door. He landed on the ground, rolling several times, looking disheveled and covered in dirt.
"Bai…" he shouted angrily, unwilling to accept it.
"Survive," the young man murmured softly as he carefully closed the gaps of the RashoMon. He covered his face with a mask and threw the Tengu Cut from his hand. He picked up Saizō's dropped sword. His voice was gentle and carefree, as if he was just going on a long journey. "Wait for me to come back!"
Saizō tightly held onto the mud ball, kneeling on the ground with his forehead pressed against the muddy surface. Tears streamed down his face as he let out a heart-wrenching cry, until he fell unconscious.
