He changed Tiwat

"This is... for the General..."

Katsuragi's gaze fell on the crook of his arm; if there were someone lying in his arm, his gaze would have been on that person's chest.

Han Fulai's gaze also fell on the chest of the "scattered soldier".

He wore a feather-shaped gold ornament on his chest.

At that moment, Katsuragi suddenly whispered something to the "scattered soldier," then he used both arms to lift the doll in his arms and hurriedly ran out of the Japanese-style room.

"...I'll take you out. Our people are nearby. Just hold on!"

Gui Mu ran very fast, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

After Katsuragi ran out of the Japanese-style room, the room began to decay and collapse at a visible speed.

Maple leaves fluttered down in the courtyard.

The tightly closed doors of the "Borrowed Scenery Hall" suddenly burst open.

"What did he just say to you?" Han Fulai asked.

He couldn't hear Guimu's voice clearly because it was too soft.

The "scattered soldier" repeated the sentence expressionlessly: "This gold ornament is a certificate of identity bestowed by the general, but when you travel in the world, you must not reveal your identity to others unless absolutely necessary."

This statement later became the cause of Katsuragi's death and evidence of his "dereliction of duty".

Then the "scattered soldiers" took their steps and headed towards the exit of the "Borrowed Scenery Pavilion".

"You want to know what 'false reincarnation' is, don't you? Follow me, and I'll show you."

The moment the two stepped out of the "Borrowed Scenery Pavilion," the magnificent pavilion vanished in an instant, and the mountain path, hidden by maple leaves, changed direction, leading to an unknown place.

However, the "scattered soldiers" knew where this road led.

“Treading on sand,” he said.

The Tabao Sand Factory, which existed more than 400 years ago.

At that time, the "Miei Furnace Core" built using Fontaine technology had not yet been constructed, and the layout of the Tatara Sand Factory was also quite different from what it is now, with a much smaller scale.

However, the Tabao Sand Factory in the memories of the "scattered soldiers" still has one similarity with the current Tabao Sand Factory - that tall Tabao furnace.

More than four hundred years ago, this blast furnace was the core of the factory.

Before the blazing furnace, a burly samurai with a kind face led a richly dressed doll and introduced it to his lord: "Lord Nagamasa, I found this child in a collapsed cave. He doesn't remember his name."

The square-faced, serious man turned around and carefully examined the newcomer brought by his subordinate.

The "scattered soldier" crossed his arms and coldly explained, "He is the adopted son of Mikoto Nagamasa, the Oni warrior Mikoto Chiyo. His head is as hard as stone and he is inflexible. He is here day and night forging swords for the shogun in hopes of washing away his family's disgrace... What a pathetic man."

The stern-looking man named Mikoto Nagamasa didn't hear the cold words from the person involved. After scrutinizing the boy brought by Katsuragi, he finally spoke: "...There has to be a title. I just heard the workers outside calling you 'Kabuki-san'?"

The "scattered soldier" seemed to shake his head: "It's alright, this is fine."

Mikoto Nagamasa stared at him for a long time before finally looking up at Katsuragi and saying, "Katsuragi, go and report to Lord Niwa that we have an extra companion here."

Scene change.

After Yu Yu Changzheng's figure disappeared, another person appeared in front of the hearth.

A young man dressed in simple linen clothes and with a headscarf tied around his head was tending the fire in front of the stove.

The man was quite handsome, with brown hair tied in a ponytail and only a red highlight on his forehead, which added a touch of nonchalant playfulness to his appearance.

The fire used in steelmaking is unlike any other; its size directly affects the quality of the steel and the swords. The person tending the fire is also unusual; unlike ordinary craftsmen who hold tools, his fingertips hold—a lizard.

Each time the lizard moved, the young man with the turban would deftly move his fingers, keeping the lizard in a delicate balance between stillness and movement, as if it could never escape his palm.

The man had a smile on his face, as if he was having a lot of fun playing with the lizard.

At that moment, he heard footsteps behind him. The young man stopped smiling and released the lizard.

"Niwa-sama!" Katsuragi shouted.

"He was the leader of the artisans who traversed the sands back then, the Director of the Weaponry Bureau, Niwa Hisahide."

The emotionless voice of the "scattered soldiers" rang out.

"Inazuma's 'Raiden Five Transmissions', the master craftsman of the 'Katsuden' lineage, Masamaru, took on three disciples in his later years, named Kaedehara Kagemitsu, Niwa Nagamitsu, and Akame Minenaga. These three were known as the 'Isshin Sansaku,' who were the three founders of the 'Isshin' lineage, one of the 'Raiden Five Transmissions.'"

"Niwa Hisahide is the heir of the Niwa family of 'Isshinden'. Among the three families, he is the most skilled in controlling the heat and tempering the blade. He is the best swordsmith of that generation. He was unanimously elected by the bigwigs in Inazuma Castle to become the head of the weapon-making department and to forge a waist ornament for Raiden General by using katana sand."

"He... used to be my friend and family."

A middle-aged man with an unfamiliar face stepped forward and handed Niwa Hisahide a package wrapped in brocade: "This is a reply from the Akame and Kaede families. As you said, your old relative in the city doesn't think much of our plan. But Akame's plan is worth a try, so I found a supplier and ordered the things you wanted according to the purchase list."

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Miyazaki." Hisahide Niwa took the package.

"Sanbing" continued his emotionless explanation: "This person is Niwa's deputy, Zōheiji Suke, Miyazaki Ken'o—the swordsmith who now defected to Kaigi Island, and the ancestor of Miyazaki Saburo."

"Heh, you seem quite concerned about the descendants of your old friend?" Han Fu glanced at him.

He didn't even know there was such a person in the resistance, but the "scatterers" knew everything about him.

The "scattered soldiers" remained silent.

Niwa Hisahide opened the package, carefully read through the documents inside, and nodded: "Whether Kaedehara supports it or not, we should try the new forging technique."

Katsuragi, who had been listening to the conversation between the two adults, frowned and sighed: "Forging swords is a difficult task that requires skill. The adults are already very knowledgeable, yet they still want to improve every day... It's really frightening! If Lord Nagamasa heard this, he would probably look troubled again."

Upon hearing this, Niwa smiled and asked, "Mr. Katsuragi, how is the forging of your Lord Ienamasa's treasured sword coming along?"

Katsuragi was stunned for a moment. His patriarch, Miyakuchi, had only recently begun learning sword forging from Miyazaki, the swordsmith, and was wasting a lot of good steel every day. Therefore, he strictly ordered his subordinates not to reveal this matter... Little did he know that he had spoken too quickly and the swordsmith had caught on to something.

He could only say sullenly, "Lord Danyu is so skillful, it's even in his ears, isn't it? No wonder he can't stand our rough jokes."

Miyazaki covered his mouth and chuckled to himself—in fact, he had already told Niwa about this, and Niwa had even expressed his willingness to guide Mikoto Nagamasa in sword forging.

Mikoto Nagamasa, after all, is an official of the Tsuruga clan, in charge of managing sword forging affairs, yet he himself doesn't know how to forge swords—it would be a laughing stock if word got out. Besides, this Lord Mikoto Nagamasa is determined to clear his family's name, and forging a precious sword to present to the shogun is exactly the merit he desperately needs… It remains to be seen when he'll be willing to swallow his pride and ask Lord Niwa of the "Isshinden" for guidance.

At this moment, someone who had been present but had remained silent seemed to do something—since this was the memory of the "straggler," then the "straggler" must have been present at the time.

Niwa awkwardly accepted the item.

The shape of his palm looks like a small box.

The "scattered soldier" seemed to have finished delivering the food and was about to leave when Dan Yu called out to him, "Wait... what about your share? Aren't you going to eat it?"

That should be a bento box.

Katsuragi and Miyazaki also looked in a certain direction.

A moment later, the "scatterer" replied from that direction: "...Okay, I'll give it a try."

"It's the same food, so don't be shy," Dan Yu said.

The truly "scattered soldiers" remained silent.

To him, the human digestive system is inefficient; he never needs to eat, and the digestive organs in his body are merely decorations, "anthropomorphic" ornaments.

But back then, in order to become their "family," he worked hard to learn human behavior so that he could eat like a human—this meal delivery to Niwa was the beginning of his learning of human living habits.

The scene changed again.

This is the office of Mikoto Nagamasa—which will become the control room of the Tatsumara Sand Factory four hundred years later.

However, more than four hundred years ago, there was no industrial equipment from Fontainebleau here; there were only ordinary tables and chairs.

Meanwhile, Mikoto Nagashi stood by the office window, his worried gaze fixed on the horizon where the sea met the sky.

Katsura rushed into the door, his voice urgent: "My lord! There's something wrong with the furnace! I've searched everywhere for Lord Niwa, and Lord Miyazaki too. He's been out seeking help for a long time and hasn't returned yet. What do you think..."

Mikoto Nagamasa slowly turned around, his face solemn as if attending a funeral, and his words were heavy: "It is not that I want to say such things, but Katsuragi, Lord Miyazaki... he may not come back."

Katsura's gaze traveled through his long, broad, and stiff shoulders to the window—dark clouds churned over the sea, a terrifying sight. The pitch-black night was the only weather, and he wished he could transform into a monster and devour the entire Tatsumara Sands himself.

Gui Mu seemed to have been punched, and staggered back a few steps.

The forging furnace was modified by Niwa Nagahide and Miyazaki, which greatly improved the forging efficiency. Mikoto Nagamasa also forged a treasured sword with the help of the new forging furnace, which he named "Oota-nagamasa" - that sword is now hanging on Nagamasa's waist.

But... not long after, black mist began to linger around the furnace, and it didn't dissipate for a long time.

To date, more than ten workers have died in the factory.

Niwa went to deal with the furnace core and had not returned, while Miyazaki was the first to set sail for Narukami Island to seek help.

When Miyazaki left, the clouds had just formed, so he should have already arrived at Narukami Island safely.

But why didn't Miyazaki-sama come back?

Just then, a voice came from the corner, saying, "I'll go."

Chapter 137 The Heart of a Puppet, Five Fruits of the Present World [4k]

Katsuragi has served Mikuni Nagamasa for many years, vowing to stay by his side for life. Mikuni Nagamasa's life has been full of ups and downs, and he is still unmarried. Katsuragi, as a guest knight, is naturally also without a family.

For Katsuragi, the "Qingqi Zhe" he picked up from that "Borrowed Scenery Pavilion" was his own child.

Gui Mu was naturally reluctant to let his own child embark on such a dangerous journey and wanted to refuse on the spot.

But the "Kyouki" pointed to his chest—to the golden feather ornament hidden in his bosom.

The situation in Tasha is urgent. Even if it means sacrificing a few more lives, they want to seek protection from the main city... and the "Qingqi Zhe" who possesses the General's Certificate is the most likely person to receive assistance.

Then Katsura hugged the child one last time: "This gold ornament is a token of identity bestowed by the General, and it will surely save everyone from suffering."

That's what he hoped for.

Han Fulai followed the "scattered soldiers" away from the Tabusha factory and arrived at the seaside.

A small boat floats on the seashore.

It was sunset, and there were neither sunset clouds nor birds in the sky.

The sea was dark, and the twilight pressed down on the clouds, forcing them to kneel before the earth.

A heavy rain is coming.

Setting sail in such weather in a small boat is almost tantamount to suicide.

A little boy who looked no more than six or seven years old stood beside the small boat, tiptoeing and looking in the direction of Narukami Island, seemingly waiting for someone.

“He is the son of a sand-making craftsman, and his parents both contracted diseases in the accident... He also became ill.”

The "scattered soldier" still had the same expressionless face, but Han Fulai could hear a slight fluctuation in his voice.

The child turned around and looked in their direction with clear eyes.

"Wanderer, where are you going?" the child asked in his innocent voice.

In the child's eyes, the "straggler" at this time was dressed in a miner's coarse linen clothes and wore a rain hat, and he did look very much like a "vagrant".

"I'm going to Inazuma Castle."

"The stragglers" replied.

It was answered by the real "scattered soldiers".

This child seemed very special to him.

“But they said… none of the people who left before have come back…” The child’s face was full of worry.

Mikoto no Nagamasa not only dispatched a group of people seeking help, but almost all the larger ships on the island had been taken away, leaving only this small boat... However, none of those who sought help returned.

Han Fulai saw the "scattered soldier" open his mouth, but in the end he just smiled at the child.

Then the "scattered soldiers" boarded the small boat.

Han Fulai followed.

The small boat began to move.

The ship sailed at sea for a while when a storm suddenly descended.

Although he was in the form of a soul, Han Fulai could still feel the ferocity of that storm from back then—the small boat beneath his feet was tossed about in the waves, sometimes being carried to the horizon by high waves, and sometimes plunging straight into the sea, not knowing when it would break and capsize.

The dark clouds in the sky pressed down lower and lower, and suddenly a black cloud flew down, swirling around the small boat and haunting them like a nightmare.

"What is this?" Han Fulai couldn't help but ask in surprise.

The "scattered soldiers" shook their heads.

More than four hundred years have passed, and he still hasn't figured out what it is.

All he knew was that this dark cloud prevented Miyazaki Sohei and those who went to seek help from returning home.

If he were not a puppet created by God, he would certainly not have survived the attack of this dark cloud.