The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 579 Ascending the Steps (Three Chapters Combined)

On the fifteenth day of the fifth month of the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign.

Surrounded by mountains, Kamakura Castle faintly reveals its outline in the sunlight.

Two hundred years have passed since the end of the Kamakura Shogunate era. This castle has long lost its status as the political center of Japan, but it still retains many functions that can still be called "center" today.

For example, Kendo.

For example, religion.

Passing through the seven narrow passages known as "Kamakura Seven Passes" that run through the surrounding mountains, and walking along Wakamiya Avenue that runs north-south through the city, you will reach a section in the middle where cherry blossoms bloom on both sides and the path gradually rises from the ground.

Passing through this passageway called "Dan-ge," you will reach Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, towering in the center of Kamakura Castle.

For the local daimyo, this place was a symbol of legitimacy in inheriting the Kamakura Shogunate's power. For almost all samurai and swordsmen in Japan, this place was a "sacred land."

On the streets, which have become dilapidated and decayed with the passage of time, samurai and swordsmen with swords at their waists come and go. As they pass through the passageway, they can't help but glance at Hachiman Shrine... hoping that one day they can set foot there.

Of course, for the vast majority of people, this is a pipe dream that they might not be able to achieve even if they try their hardest. Nine out of ten swordsmen who come here out of admiration and arrogance will only leave in despair when they grow old... or die on that cherry blossom-lined path.

Today is no exception.

"Have you heard? Lord Uda is going to 'ascend the steps' today!"

"Does a swordsman of that level... also need to 'ascend the steps' to enter the Hachiman Shrine?"

“He practices breathing techniques rather than visualization techniques, and he practices the original swordsmanship rather than the divine swordsmanship. This is the only way for him to enter the Hachiman Palace... Moreover, he is already old.”

"It's begun! It's begun!"

The whispers gradually merged into a continuous murmur, and as a certain person appeared, they converged in the same direction, suppressing other noises.

"Lord Uda!"

"Lord Uda has arrived!"

Swordsmen and samurai thronged the streets, completely blocking them, yet they all made way for a narrow passage in the middle of the street, which extended all the way to the corridor leading to Hachiman Shrine.

Once the passageway formed spontaneously, the scene quieted down. Countless eyes turned towards the end of the street, to an elderly figure slowly walking towards them.

He was an old man with white hair and beard.

His face was drooping with age, and there were two dark bags under his eyes. His back was straight, contrary to his age. His arms, which emerged from under his haori, were as thin and bony as bamboo, with clearly defined tendons.

He looked straight ahead and walked slowly towards us.

"Hiss—Lord Uda's condition today..."

Two swordsmen whispered among themselves in the crowd.

"Very strong."

“Indeed, although Lord Uda’s swordsmanship was superb before, he was somewhat dejected... But now, looking into his eyes, I feel a chill.”

"Could we really see him ascend to the Hachiman Shrine today?"

Their conversation was overheard by someone nearby, who let out a cold snort.

"How can it be!"

"In the past two hundred years, when have you ever seen a swordsman who has practiced the original intent sword technique successfully 'ascend the ranks'?"

"Besides the Kurama style of yesteryear..."

The speaker abruptly cut off the conversation.

He said things he shouldn't have said.

"Kurama-ryu," one of the four oldest original sword styles that spread throughout Japan hundreds of years ago, is a taboo here.

If the priests or swordsmen of Hachiman Shrine were to overhear this, it might bring about their death.

He looked around to make sure no one had heard him, then breathed a sigh of relief and turned his attention back to the old man walking towards him.

"Lord Uda."

The old man had already walked to the center of the crowd, right in front of him. He quickly gripped the hilt of his sword, bowed slightly, and paid his respects to the old man.

The same applies to the other swordsmen and samurai.

Most of them did not know the old man, nor did they have any relationship with him. They might even have secretly thought his choice was foolish. But all the swordsmen and samurai gathered in Kamakura would bow to the one who chose to "ascend the steps".

Swordsmen who practiced the original sword technique, in particular, had solemn expressions, faintly revealing a sense of sorrow for the fate of their fellow practitioners.

A short while later, the old man reached the end of the passage.

stopped.

Take another step forward, and you'll find yourself on a raised path. The cherry blossoms on both sides are not in season, with only a few withered petals scattered at your feet.

Take another step forward, and you'll be "ascending the steps".

There is death and no life.

The old man raised his head, squinted at the Hachiman Shrine standing at the end of the passageway, drew his katana, held the scabbard in his left hand, and took a deep breath.

Then, he took a step forward.

The straw sandals fell, stepping on a fallen cherry blossom.

Then he walked forward step by step.

The swordsmen and warriors who followed behind breathed a sigh of relief and stepped onto the passageway—only the first swordsman to walk onto the passageway was considered to have "ascended the steps," and those who followed were merely spectators and would not be in danger.

The crowd kept a distance of about ten feet from the old man as they surged onto the passageway.

The old man walked forward step by step.

He walked forward for several feet before stopping.

A person was leaning against a cherry blossom tree by the roadside ahead. He was wearing a straw hat, revealing a dark blue-black, hard chin, and had a blade of grass in his mouth. He seemed to be dozing off.

The old man stared at the man.

Seemingly sensing the old man's gaze, the man suddenly trembled, then took his hands out of his pockets, stretched out a long yawn, revealing the appearance of a middle-aged rogue.

"Ha—what bad luck."

He turned his head and looked at the old man.

"No one has climbed the steps for years, why did it have to be my turn to stand guard... Hey, old man."

He pulled a long katana from behind a tree, slung it over his shoulder, placed his hands on the scabbard, and sauntered into the middle of the road, tilting his head and laughing.

"Can't you just die already? Don't waste my afternoon nap time!"

The crowd behind them erupted in uproar.

The two swordsmen who had been talking at the beginning exchanged a glance. They hadn't been at Hachiman Shrine for long, and the swordsmen there rarely went out, so they didn't recognize the man.

The swordsman who had spoken first spoke in a low voice.

"You don't even recognize him?"

"【Sword Saint】Asai Keita!"

The two of them gasped in surprise.

"Hiss—it's him!"

"【Scarlet Raven】Asai Keita!"

The swordsman who interrupted nodded solemnly.

"It's him, no doubt... This is just the first swordsman!"

"Even if Lord Uda was in his prime, his strength was roughly the same as his... This is dangerous."

He looked reluctant.

"Lord Uda, we're going to lose."

Before he could finish speaking, a cold snort suddenly came from the side.

"Shit!"

"Him? He's all show and no substance!"

The swordsman who interrupted was taken aback, then became angry and turned to look at the person who had spoken.

The speaker was also an old man, roughly the same age as the old man climbing the steps. He had white hair and beard, sunken cheeks, downturned lips, and a tall stature. Just by looking at his appearance, one could tell that he was a man of strong character.

As a fellow swordsman, he could tell that the old man was a very strong swordsman; the chilling aura emanating from him was undeniable, and he was definitely stronger than himself. But he didn't want to lose face unnecessarily, so he stubbornly argued back.

"Where did I go wrong?"

"Judging from past events, the two are indeed of similar strength. Moreover, Lord Uda has neglected his studies in Kamakura for the past few years and is already old, so he must be a bit weaker. I am stating the facts!"

"If you think I'm wrong, feel free to explain your reasons!"

The old man snorted coldly, but didn't say anything. He just reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist, which startled the swordsman who had interrupted, who quickly took a step back and prepared to draw his sword to fight.

Before he could draw his knife, suddenly a hand reached out from behind the old man, pressed down on his shoulder, and stopped him from drawing his knife.

At the same time, a clear, melodious, and smiling female voice spoke.

"Don't do anything stupid."

"If we alert the enemy and ruin today's plans, Lord Li might get angry and smash your head in—you don't want to die such a ridiculous death, do you?"

Then another male voice took over the conversation.

"Is that how the sect leader is talking about me?"

"I'm not some devil."

The hand that was on the old man's shoulder patted him.

"Are you right?"

The swordsman who had interrupted stared blankly at the old man, watching his face turn from red to black, first with anger, then with coldness, and finally with forced composure.

"Humph!"

The old man loosened his grip on the sword hilt.

The swordsman who had interrupted finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the two people who had spoken behind the old man.

Upon seeing this, they were stunned.

Standing on the left appears to be a woman, dressed in the robes of a Shinto priest, but not in the style of a Hachiman Shrine priest; her attire is more ancient and elegant. A light veil covers her face, which flutters in the wind, revealing her slender, snow-white neck—just by her posture and demeanor, one can tell that she is an exceptionally beautiful woman.

The man standing on the right, who had just stopped the old man, was not clearly visible. He was wearing a black robe that covered his entire body, so all that could be seen was that he was extremely tall and robust, and that his every move exuded a peculiar air of nobility.

The reason he was stunned was not because of the old man and the man in black robes, but because of the woman... She was dressed in priest's robes and had been standing beside him for who knows how long. Also, the man in black robes had an outstanding figure. He should have been very conspicuous, but he had not noticed him at all!

Could it be because of nervousness?

He thought to himself.

Looking around, he saw no one else paying attention to him. Even the two swordsmen who had spoken to him earlier had turned away and were chatting enthusiastically, as if they had really forgotten about this place!
He was puzzled when he heard a commotion in front of the crowd.

"here we go!"

"Silence, it's starting."

Ignoring the strange behavior of the old man and the two men, he quickly turned his gaze back to the front.

The old man surnamed Yutian didn't reply at all, but just stood quietly in place, holding a scabbard in one hand and a katana in the other, without wavering in the slightest.

Seeing that the old man did not reply, the middle-aged swordsman Asai Keita, known as the "Crimson Raven," let out a long sigh.

"Oh, troublesome."

"You fool who likes to die... Fine, I'll kill you. I don't have to guard this passage today. Consider it a rest!"

Swish!
He reached for the scabbard, flicked it horizontally, and the long scabbard flew out, the katana still resting on his shoulder. Then he slowly bent down, his left hand touching the ground, and stared intently at the old man.

"Three moves."

I'll kill you within three moves.

The old man did not react.

This only made Keita Asai even angrier.

His anger surged, but he shut his mouth instead, lowering his body lower and lower until he was almost touching the ground. His aura, however, gradually rose as he lowered his body.

The next instant—whoosh!

He lunged forward close to the ground, his speed almost leaving a blur. When he reached the old man, his katana suddenly leaped up and unleashed three slashes in an instant!

A cold glint suddenly appeared, enveloping the old man on either side.

The swordsman exclaimed in surprise, "Shinto Munen-ryu—Iizuna Phoenix Fan!"

"Although this move doesn't strike vital organs, it covers both arms and is incredibly powerful. Anyone who tries to block it will have their stance broken! Lord Uda is old; he certainly won't be able to withstand it!"

Before he could finish speaking, the old man who had just retorted snorted coldly.

"idiot!"

Before he could react, a burst of blood shot into the sky!
The swordsman's eyes widened suddenly!

"Oops!"

Faced with Keita Asai's attack, the old man Uda neither dodged nor evaded. Suddenly, a burst of bloody light erupted from his arms, and two thin strips of flesh flew off.

It’s over.

Lord Uda didn't even have time to parry... Has the only swordsman in years to activate "Ascension" fallen just like that?

The swordsman interrupted, closing his eyes.

He could already picture Asai Keita severing the old man Uda's head with a single stroke.

But after waiting for two breaths, Asai Keita did not make any move. After the katana cut through the flesh of the old man Uda's arms, it stopped in mid-air and remained motionless.

After standing there for a while, the old man Yutian suddenly raised his hand, grabbed his sleeves, and tore them off with a tearing sound, revealing the white bones of his upper arms, from which blood flowed profusely.

He bypassed the motionless Keita Asai and continued walking forward.

"What... is going on?"

The swordsman paused for a moment, then finally noticed an extremely thin line of blood on Keita Asai's throat.

An old man's disdainful voice came from the side.

"A feint attack? What a joke!"

"What use is a feint to a swordsman who has already resolved to die? In a life-or-death battle, what harm is there in sacrificing two mere arms?"

"Hachiman Shrine, a bunch of idiots!"

After saying this, the old man and the couple walked forward.

The swordsman who interrupted thought for a moment and then understood everything—Asai Keita wanted to force the old man Uda to block, but he directly abandoned his two arms and took advantage of the opening to cut the other's throat.

But after figuring it out, he turned his gaze to the back of the old man who had spoken earlier.

How did he figure that out?

Also, didn't he just say "Hachiman-no-miya, you idiot"?
After pondering for a few moments, seeing that the crowd ahead had already moved several feet ahead, he was afraid of missing the show, so he suppressed his doubts and quickly followed.

This time, however, he intentionally or unintentionally moved closer to the old man.

The old man Yutian stepped over the corpse, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in his straw sandals, and continued forward for several more feet.

Everything fell silent.

The only sound was the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves.

Suddenly, with a whoosh.

Old man Yutian suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His clothes suddenly ripped open in a narrow gash at the chest, revealing his withered ribs. A moment later, a thin wound slowly opened, and blood flowed out.

"Hehehe."

A soft laugh came from his side.

"Boring."

"It's just a greeting, can't I avoid it?"

"Could it be that he was seriously injured by Asai-kun? That's really boring. I thought I could find some fun."

The swordsman who had interrupted looked in the direction of the voice.

Beside Elder Uta, a woman dressed as a shrine maiden with prostitute-like eye makeup and a large expanse of white skin exposed by her open clothing appeared out of nowhere. She was holding her face with one hand and gently shaking a short sword with the other, smiling at Elder Uta.

"Red silk!"

The swordsman who had interrupted shuddered.

"is her!"

"【The Man-Eating Courtesan】!"

He exclaimed in surprise, but the woman heard him. She looked over at the sound, gave a suggestive lick of her lips, and smiled alluringly.

"You recognize me?"

The swordsman who interrupted was startled. Although the woman was extremely charming, she made him break out in a cold sweat and tremble as he lowered his head, unable to meet her gaze.

"Boring."

The woman pursed her lips and turned her gaze back to the old man, Yu Tian.

"Uncle, why aren't you looking at me?"

"Are you afraid to look?"

She raised her arms horizontally, lifting her ample breasts. Her clothes were already loose, so the exposed areas increased dramatically with the movement.

The old man finally reacted. Faced with the alluring woman whose movements were extremely seductive, he slowly curled the corners of his mouth.

Then he spat on the ground.

“Too ugly.”

"nausea."

"I do not want to see."

The swordsman who interrupted gasped.

"Hiss—it's over!"

"That crazy woman hates that phrase the most... She's about to explode!"

Sure enough, as soon as the old man Yutian finished speaking, the woman's eyes twitched, and then several veins popped out on her forehead, her brows furrowed, and all her charm vanished, making her look like a hungry wolf ready to devour its prey.

"Old Ghost—what did you say?"

She lowered her arms, which had been supporting her chest, and pulled another short knife from under her skirt.

"I was originally thinking of playing around with you. If I was in a good mood, I might even give you a night of passion and then take advantage of you... But now, I've changed my mind."

"die!!!"

Swish!
Two short swords suddenly flashed with a cold light, enveloping the old man Yutian.

"what!"

The swordsman who had interrupted cried out in surprise.

But then he heard a cold laugh from the old man beside him.

"Another idiot!"

Before he could react to the meaning of the old man's words, he suddenly heard a piercing scream from ahead!

"Ah—a madman!"

He quickly turned his head and saw a short knife wedged into the old man's cheek, cutting off half of his jawbone, and another short knife pierced into the old man's abdomen, with his internal organs slipping out of the wound.

But at the same time, the old man Uda's katana also pierced the side of the [Man-Eating Courtesan]'s neck, cutting off the scream.

scoff.

The beautiful woman's head fell to the ground.

puff.

Old man Yutian collapsed to the ground and could not get up.

"This...is this?"

The swordsman hesitated before interrupting.

The old man seemed unwilling to explain the situation to him at all, and upon hearing this, he let out another cold snort.

But the man in black robes beside him picked up the conversation, laughing as he spoke in broken Japanese.

"Mindset, anger, goal."

"Rising your life."

The swordsman who interrupted was taken aback.

"What?"

The man in black robes shook his head, turned and whispered a few words to the woman dressed as a shrine maiden, then closed his eyes and thought for a moment before turning back to speak to him.

"That Japanese woman's temperament."

"Deliberately provoking, attacking the mouth, attempting to torture."

"Use this as a desperate gamble to win."

The swordsman who interrupted was stunned for a moment before he realized what was going on—Old Man Yutian knew the weakness of the [Man-Eating Courtesan], so he deliberately provoked her, making her attack his mouth, making her want to torture him instead of killing him directly, and then using this as an opportunity to make a desperate attack and kill her.

It turned out to be the case.

I knew that Lord Uda wasn't the kind of vulgar swordsman who would spit on his opponent to mock him!

"But……"

He slowly shook his head.

"Lord Uda has fallen."

The cannibalistic courtesan severed the old man Uda's jaw and cut open his abdomen, even spilling his urine—she fought desperately, only to end up dying together with him.

This "ascent of the steps" has come to an end.

He was about to sigh when he heard the old man snort coldly.

"At least you have some backbone!"

The next moment, the old man Yutian, who was lying on the ground, slowly moved his arm and propped himself up.

He reached under his body, grabbed the entrails that had spilled onto the ground, and stuffed them into his stomach, ignoring the dirt on them. Then he tore off his shirt, wrapped it around his waist, and tightened it with his belt.

"Well!"

He groaned.

Then he grabbed a handful of dry soil from the ground and smeared it on his half-shaved jaw.

"hiss!"

"Lord Uda!"

"It's okay...it's okay!"

Seeing the old man Yutian's actions, the swordsmen and samurai who followed him understood his meaning perfectly—he wanted to continue "ascending the steps"!
Several swordsmen who were acquainted with Elder Yutian were in tears.

This old man came to Kamakura twenty years ago, but he rarely sparred or interacted with other swordsmen. He spent his days drinking and rarely spoke.

If he hadn't intervened a few years ago when a wandering samurai committed murder in the street, probably no one would have known that he was also a powerful figure at the level of a "Sword Saint"!
But to this day, no one present knows why this usually drunk and silent old man suddenly began to "ascend the steps" in such a tragic way at the last moment before he was about to die!
What is he planning?
Given his current injuries, even if there are no more swordsmen blocking his way, he will die by the time he reaches the end of this passage!

What does he want?
Swordsmanship? He pawned his sword countless times just to get wine!
It was a grudge, but why did he do nothing for the previous twenty years, only drinking when he was at his peak, yet suddenly unleash such resolute courage when his life was about to end?
Who gave him the courage?
Although the old man Yutian managed to stop the bleeding in an extremely crude way, he was already at his limit. His already frail body, coupled with blood loss, had blurred his vision.

In his delirium, he could no longer conceal his emotions and instinctively glanced into the crowd.

The swordsman who had interrupted was startled and abruptly turned his head.

That's right!

He wasn't mistaken... The old man Yutian was looking at the mysterious old man who had been speaking coldly and sarcasticly just now!
Their eyes met.

He saw the old man narrow his eyes slightly, his lips moving as he made several mouth shapes.

He carefully examined the lip movements.

"Get up... coward?"

Before he could guess the meaning and story behind it, he saw the old man Yutian, whose vision had been unfocused just moments before, suddenly straighten up, pick up his sword from the ground, and stagger forward.

Dozens of feet ahead, a figure sat upright in the middle of the passageway, coldly looking at the old man Yu Tian who was staggering towards him.

(End of this chapter)