He changed Tiwat

The doll was thus unjustly expelled from Tasha.

The doll who left Tatsuna wandered aimlessly in Inazuma for several years, and then met the child again in a thatched hut by the sea.

Han Fulai saw a little boy with dry, yellow hair.

The child was much thinner than when I saw him at the beach.

The child's parents both died from illness in the accident, and he was raised by neighbors.

According to Inazuma tradition, children only have nicknames in their early childhood, and they can only have their own names after "genpuku" (when they turn 11 years old).

Because his parents died too early, this child, although past the age of "coming of age", had no parents to change his name, so he was also "nameless".

Two nameless people lived together in a thatched hut by the sea, relying on each other for survival.

The child knelt on the dilapidated floor, holding a small "Ichimatsu doll" in his arms—the doll had short, black hair as black as brocade, wore a pure white hunting robe, and even its face shape was somewhat similar to that of a "scatterer".

If nothing unexpected happens, this doll was probably made by the "scattered soldier" himself for the child.

Meanwhile, the "scattered soldier" was sitting opposite the child, sitting upright like another doll.

Perhaps it was unnecessary to do so, but “Scatter Soldier” still decided to step into the role of this memory himself... The child’s face was already somewhat blurred, like an old photograph faded in memory.

The "stragglers" might forget about the child in the next "cycle of reincarnation."

or……

"You mean, you want a heart?"

The child, holding a doll, asked a question with an innocent look on his face.

The "scattered soldier" kept his head down in silence, avoiding eye contact with the child's clear gaze.

Actually, there might not be a next time.

The child, not waiting for a reply from the "straggler," began telling his own story: "I don't know if you've heard that story before..."

"There was a toy soldier whose wish was to stay with the dancing doll forever. But it had no heart and didn't know why it had such feelings..."

"Until one day, the owner stopped liking it and casually tossed it into the fireplace..."

"He was in the flames, staring at the doll."

The next day, people found a tiny heart in the ashes of the fireplace.

“But those are just heart-shaped ashes, aren’t they?” “Skirmisher” heard his own voice echo, “That’s not a heart.”

"But... is it possible... that the heart is born from ashes?" the child asked.

The "scattered soldiers" did not answer.

Memories flashed before his eyes like a fast-forwarded film reel.

"Wow... Is this where you were born? It's so beautiful! But there aren't many people here... cough..."

“Like you, I was abandoned. I lived here back then… It’s not a good place, we won’t move here.”

"...Hmm. I heard that my parents used to be blacksmiths, forging knives, but then the factory manager passed away, and my father fell ill...cough cough...just like me, he was always coughing. Later, my mother also started coughing incessantly, just like him..."

"But you can't do that. You have to keep your promise to me."

"Yes, we're family now, let's stay together forever!"

Flames roared up from all around the house.

That day he went out to find food, and when he returned, all he found was the child's cold body.

"...Hey! What's wrong with you...Say something!"

"To die like this, betraying my promise..."

"...We agreed to live together like family, but in the end, you betrayed me just like Niwa and the others... Haha..."

Later, he set fire to the house, burning the child and the hut to the ground.

He stood amidst the flames, his gaze fixed on the doll in the child's hand.

Like the puppet soldier in the fireplace in the story.

The flames died down, and everything before them turned to ashes.

"ridiculous."

Han Fulai saw the "scattered soldiers" in the ashes raise their heads and look at the false sky.

"In the ashes... nothing was left, was it?"

The "scatterer" ripped the golden arrow that General Thunder had left him from his chest and threw it into the ashes.

An elderly man with silver hair wearing a half-mask appeared in front of the "scatterers".

This was the first time Han Fulai had met the old man, but he almost immediately guessed his identity.

Among the Fools, there is only one old man who can recruit people from all over the place, bringing in all sorts of special "talents" to join the Fools and become their executives.

— Piero, the old man codenamed "The Clown," formerly the court mage of Canria and now the commander of the fools of the Winter Kingdom.

The Fools organization he was currently observing was entirely established by Piero. This old man might just be his greatest enemy in the future.

Why are you blocking my way?

The "scatterers" asked Piero a question.

Piero shook his head slightly.

"It's not about blocking, but about waiting. Your true nature is a weapon, which can be used for an iron will, or for continued wandering."

"...Trying to win me over?"

The voices of the "scattered soldiers" were full of sarcasm, mocking not only the old man's good intentions but also their own worth.

A doll that is abandoned time and time again, an empty shell like a walking corpse, how much use can it have?

Piero's voice was as firm as his will: "The curtain has already been raised on the destiny of rebellion. Why not come to the table and become a part of the celebration?"

The "straggler" remained silent for a moment before giving his answer—

“I am a puppet, a puppet without a heart and a name. Nothing can drive me, nothing can fill me… except for inescapable karma.”

"Revenge is also a kind of cause and effect."

Han Fulai simply watched those memories replay silently as an observer.

This is a very standard "darkening" process.

It is also his process of going from a puppet to a "disorganized soldier".

From an anonymous doll abandoned by its creator, to wanting to become human but being deceived and betrayed by humans, and finally losing its last pillar of support, it joins the Fools.

He had witnessed the experiences of the "scattered soldiers" over the years.

No wonder the soul of "Skirmisher" needs such a "ritual" for its rebirth—these memories are probably the foundation of the personality of "Skirmisher".

Buddhism emphasizes the concept of "cause and effect across three lifetimes," which means "past causes lead to present effects." This is exactly what Buddhism is talking about.

The former nameless doll, "Kyouki-zhe," can be considered "Sanbing's" previous life. His troubles and actions in his previous life have shaped his current role as the executive officer "Sanbing."

For the "straggler," this is his "past life and present life," his "reincarnation."

Judging solely from these experiences, "Sanbing" does indeed have aspects deserving of sympathy. At least in the Tasha accident, he was genuinely innocent, and could even be considered to have contributed to the disaster relief efforts. Yet, he was treated that way, making the reasons for his "darkening" quite plausible.

However, he is not prepared to show sympathy for the "stragglers".

"Your so-called 'revenge' is to go back to Inazuma and spread the evil eye to harm innocent people?" Han Fulai pointed out this calmly.

No matter how much the "Sanbing" hates the Inazuma Shogunate and those officials from four hundred years ago, his "enemies" are at most within the scope of the Shogunate. What do the people of Umiji Island, the villagers of Hishiki Village, and the miners in the mine have to do with his revenge?

The "scattered soldier" shook his head indifferently.

“I’ve already said, I’m not the mastermind.”

Han Fulai also shook his head.

"There is no difference. You are here in this Evil Eye Factory, watching these things happen, so you are an accomplice. Even if you are just following orders, an 'accessory' is still a criminal. And have you thought about how your actions will cause more children to lose their parents, become infected with 'evil spirits,' and die tragically, just like the child in your memory? There are many such children in Hiki Village."

"Then they should blame that high and mighty Thunder General. It was she who made those miners mine 'Crystallized Bone Marrow,' it was she who built the Tarim Sand, ordered those swordsmiths to forge swords for her, and it was she who abandoned her own people, wasn't she?"

Han Fulai shrugged: "Then why don't you attack the castle tower and settle accounts with General Raiden? Are you afraid? Because you can't win?"

"Skimp" raised an eyebrow: "Heh, why do you think I want to become a god?"

Han Fulai continued to ask, "So, for the sake of power, you're willing to sacrifice innocent people?"

The "streak" was enraged by his attitude: "A revenge without power is nothing but suicide... Do you dare to storm the castle tower now and challenge the 'Seven Rulers of the Mortal World'?"

Han Fulai nodded nonchalantly: "Yes, I dare. Didn't I already take down Taba Sand? If it weren't for all this mess you Fools have made, I'd probably be planning how to attack 'Kujou Jinya' right now. If necessary, I could even blow up the castle tower."

The "scattered soldiers" were stunned.

When you're being sarcastic, ask someone, "If you're so good, why don't you do it?" and they reply, "If I'm good, I'll do it!", you've instantly killed the game.

The usually sharp-tongued "Scatter Soldier" fell silent... Indeed, he had just personally experienced the strength of Han Fulai's soul, and even if this person said that he would replace a certain "Seven Rulers of the Mortal World", "Scatter Soldier" did not think it was a lie.

He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "It's pointless. Even killing Thor wouldn't make a difference. Come with me, there's one last stop."

Chapter 139 All things are impermanent, arising from causes and conditions [5k]

They returned to the entrance of the "Borrowed Scenery Pavilion," back to the starting point of the character "Scattered Soldier."

The "last stop" for the "scattered soldiers" in this context is going down the mountain.

Han Fulai guessed that the process of going up and down the mountain might also have some symbolic meaning, similar to experiencing something and then letting it go again... In fact, there is a corresponding explanation in the legacy of "Red King" Ahmar, but "Scattered Soldiers" obviously wouldn't be so kind as to explain it to Han Fulai.

However, in Han Fulai's opinion, the mountain path downhill was much longer than the path uphill.

The time span he experienced on this downhill road was also longer than before—he followed the "scattered soldiers" for four hundred years.

Along the mountain road, various scenes of memories flashed by, all of which were the experiences of the "scattered soldiers" after leaving Inazuma.

Han Fulai saw several familiar and unfamiliar scenes and figures, such as the scene in the abyss, the "clown," the "lady," and the "doctor," as well as an unfamiliar girl with her eyes covered, a mechanical doll sitting on a giant humanoid figure, a middle-aged woman with long chestnut hair, a slender woman with short white hair, and a burly man wearing a full-face mask...

And a woman sitting on a high, icy throne.

However, the "scattered soldiers" did not dwell on those memories, treating them as if they were mere pebbles on the roadside.

Unbeknownst to them, the "scatter soldier's" pristine white hunting robes had been transformed back into the attire of an executive officer.

Han Fulai watched as the hood flap of the "scattered soldier's" straw hat swayed before his eyes. The strange, newly created character on the hood flap was now crystal clear to him—half of it was "good" and the other half was "evil"—just like the "scattered soldier's" past and present life.

The "scattered soldiers" stopped just before they reached the foot of the mountain.

A new scene unfolded before them.

Narukami Island, Inatsuma Castle.

A doll dressed in black scaled the wall of a large house and entered a courtyard filled with Chinese toon trees.

Han Fulai recognized the camellia leaf family crest on the lanterns in the corridor—the family of the Shefeng Shenli family.

This is the Kamisato Yashiki.

In the doll's eyes, those "final shogun" ninjas hidden on the roof beams or treetops were as conspicuous as fireflies in the dark.

The "scattered soldiers" easily bypassed the heavy guard and entered a Japanese-style room.

In the Japanese-style room stands a magnificent sword rack, upon which rests a treasured sword—the sword of the head of the Kamisato family, a waist ornament bestowed upon him by the shogun, "Hawara Tsukishiro no Tsukijin".

But the "scattered soldiers" were not after this knife.

His hand reached for the hidden compartment beneath the knife rack.

Hidden in the secret compartment was an ancient scroll, which looked to be at least three or four hundred years old.

The "scattered soldiers" opened the scroll.

This is an ancient "Divine Sword Forging Manual," a weapon design blueprint personally written by the Thunder General. Inazuma's sword-forging techniques all originated from that Thunder General, who taught mortals these manuals.

The ability to perfectly forge a samurai sword according to the general's design means that the swordsmith has inherited the general's sword-forging skills.

On the land of Inazuma, the families that inherited the Shogun's sword-forging skills were known as the "Raiden Five Generations." For example, the Kaedehara family, to which Manyo belonged, was once the head of the "Isshin Generation" among the "Raiden Five Generations."

These swordsmiths, who inherited the skills of the gods, actually held a very noble status. Although they usually dressed as craftsmen and did not have any real power, they were all of high rank, above the shogunate level, and received generous salaries from the shogunate.

In addition, the chief of the equipment department of the shogunate, the weapon manufacturing office of Futsuna, was selected from the successors of the "Raiden Goden" – it can be said that inheriting the "Raiden Goden" was equivalent to being a candidate for chief of the weapon manufacturing office, a hereditary ironclad position, and the status was probably more stable than that of the Kujo family and the Hiiragi family.

If the Kaedehara family hadn't fallen into decline, the young master of the Kaedehara family, Manyo, would probably still be in Inazuma Castle, wearing hunting clothes and composing poems, living a carefree and happy life.

But it is clear that "Thunder Five Transmissions" has experienced changes and is no longer as glorious as it once was... The reason for this is probably related to the "scattered soldiers".