He changed Tiwat

The man named Kyonosuke Kurosawa finally spoke, but his voice sounded wooden and lifeless: "This is an order given by Lord Takatsukasa Susumu, and I am merely following orders. If you disobey orders, the shogunate will treat 'Meijō Shisui-ryū' as 'exile'."

"You bastard!"

Anzai grabbed Kurosawa by the collar, and Kurosawa let him hold him without resisting at all.

In terms of strength, the aging Anzai was no match for the young and vigorous Kurosawa. Kurosawa could easily shake off his hand—but Kurosawa remained motionless, like a piece of wood.

It was Tumen's cough that made Anzai let go.

After the priest of Narukami Shrine helped Tsuchimon "exorcise evil spirits" last time, Tsuchimon's mind had recovered. However, during the period when he was mentally unstable, he didn't eat much and caught a cold, so he soon fell ill.

As the saying goes, illness comes like a landslide, but recovery is like pulling silk from a cocoon. In particular, Tumen had competed with others everywhere when he was young, and his cultivation was extremely strenuous, which led to many ailments. This time, both new and old ailments flared up at the same time, keeping him bedridden for almost a month. He had entrusted all the affairs of the dojo to his senior brother Anxi.

If it weren't for Kurosawa coming to recruit soldiers today, Tsuchimon would have been resting in bed, but now he's forcing himself to come out despite his illness.

Upon hearing Tumen cough, Anxi quickly supported him and loudly called out to the two remaining disciples to fetch medicine for their teacher.

He patted Tsuchimon's back, not forgetting to complain to Kurosawa: "Hey! You saw it too, does he look like he can go to the battlefield?"

Kurosawa repeated expressionlessly, "I was merely following orders."

After the crushing defeat at Kannazuka, most of the Shogunate army was wiped out, and the combined number of the Tenryō and Tōjō magistrates in the castle was less than a thousand. If the rebels and the Liyue people joined forces to attack Inazuma Castle, the Tenryō magistrates' small force would not be able to defend the castle at all.

Therefore, Kujo Takayuki issued an urgent order, requiring all districts under the jurisdiction of the Tenryō magistrate to urgently conscript soldiers. Those who had "slipped through the net" in the last conscription were all to be "caught in one fell swoop" this time. In the past, the shogunate conscripted young and strong men, but this time teenagers and people in their fifties and sixties were also included in the conscription order.

Kurosawa's superior, Takatsukasa Susumu, ordered him to conscript at least three hundred foot soldiers from his jurisdiction to report to the magistrate's office within three days.

Kendo dojos within the jurisdiction were naturally the primary targets for conscription.

Anxi panicked: "I'm following orders! I think it's a matter of life and death! Are you even human? Do you have any humanity at all?!"

Tsuchimon's cough subsided slightly, and he spoke up in support of Kurosawa: "Senior brother... don't make things too difficult for Mr. Kurosawa... he had no choice. I've had dealings with Kurosawa before... the Kurosawa family has always upheld... benevolence and righteousness... they're not the kind of people you're describing..."

Before the "Eye Hunting Order" was issued, Tsuchimon's disciples were known for their bravery and fighting spirit, causing Kurosawa a lot of trouble.

At that time, Tsuchimon himself was an arrogant person who was determined to become the "Number One Swordsman of Inazuma". He was sharp in his words and deeds and would offend people as soon as he opened his mouth. As the instructor of the dojo, he was also very protective of his own disciples. He would usually take the side of his own disciples without asking questions and would draw his sword to threaten others at the drop of a hat.

But Kurosawa always acted impartially and was neither arrogant nor servile. He always handled conflicts properly, leaving a deep impression on Tsuchimon.

Tsuchimon still remembers Kurosawa saying back then: "The way of benevolence and righteousness should be upheld without loss; the will of frugality should be maintained from beginning to end without wavering."

Kurosawa said that those were his father's last words to him, and he had always followed his father's last words, acting with benevolence and righteousness.

If there was any official in the shogunate who could earn Tsuchimon's respect, it would be this Kurosawa Kyonosuke.

When Kurosawa heard Tsuchimon say the words "benevolence and righteousness," his body trembled slightly, and his lips opened but no sound came out.

After a while, he lowered his head again and resumed his wooden posture.

Anzai seemed to hear Kurosawa whisper something.

It sounds like... a repetition of the word "benevolence and righteousness"?

"What did you say?" Anxi asked, frowning.

Kurosawa's answer this time was very clear: "...Please tell me, what exactly is 'benevolence and righteousness'?"

"Huh?" Anxi was a little stunned. What was wrong with this guy all of a sudden?

Kurosawa lowered his head, as if talking to himself: "I once... used my own money to buy food for the homeless people in my jurisdiction and distributed 'relief food' to them..."

"To ensure they had enough to eat, I pawned everything of value in my house..."

"Later, I ran out of money and food to distribute."

"But they said that I had embezzled the shogunate's 'relief grain,' that I was a morally corrupt samurai, and they insulted and cursed me with the most vile words..."

"Sacrificing oneself to bring happiness to others, is that what 'benevolence and righteousness' is...?"

"But what have I gained myself?"

“Today I went to recruit soldiers, and those refugees cursed me again, cursing my dead father and mother, cursing our ancestors of the Kurosawa family... They said they were starving and were being taken to their deaths, and told me that if I wanted to die, I should just go and die myself.”

“I think they might be right. I should come to find people who can eat their fill first. That’s why I came to find you.”

“Now, you all criticize me, saying I'm inhuman… but if I fail to complete the task, my superiors will punish me for dereliction of duty…”

"Please tell me, is it only if I die that I can be considered 'benevolent and righteous'?"

After hearing Kurosawa's words, Anzai was speechless.

He certainly didn't want Tsuchimon to go to his death, but this Kurosawa... was also a pitiful person.

Faced with Kurosawa like this, Anzai couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh.

At this moment, Tumen suddenly struggled to his feet and walked with trembling steps toward the plaque with the words "Mingjing Zhishui" (meaning "clear mirror and still water") at the entrance of the temple.

"Hey, junior brother, what are you doing?" Anxi looked at Tumen with a puzzled expression.

Tumen didn't answer, but simply stood on tiptoe and took the plaque down.

Then he forcefully hoisted the plaque onto his shoulder.

Because he was still recovering from his illness, this movement caused him to stumble and almost fall.

What are you doing?!

Anxi hurriedly chased after him, but stopped halfway.

—Because he sensed a murderous aura, the kind of murderous aura that only the Tumen clan possessed in its prime.

Tumen's eyes shone with an alarming light in that instant.

"Mr. Kurosawa, I'd like to tell you a story."

He said.

“In the past, there was a man who carried a plaque that read ‘Mirror Still Water Flow’ and challenged all the dojos in Inazuma.”

"He gained the Eye of God because of his pursuit of the ultimate swordsmanship, and he believed that this was the recognition of the gods."

"He said he wanted to be the number one swordsman in Inazuma."

"He said he was a swordsman who could surpass General Raiden."

"The man said this, and he practiced his sword every day, looking for people to spar with."

"He showed no mercy to anyone in pursuit of this goal, causing his master's death and driving away his senior brother..."

"He defeated many people, but he still did not become the number one swordsman in Inazuma."

"Actually, becoming the number one swordsman of Inazuma is very simple. As long as you can defeat General Raiden, you will be the number one swordsman of Inazuma."

"The man wasn't unaware of this matter, but despite his constant challenges to various martial arts schools, he never dared to challenge General Raiden to a duel before the emperor at the castle tower."

"Because he knows he can't surpass 'The Strike Without Thought'."

"Isn't it ridiculous? This man prides himself on being the number one swordsman in Inazuma, but deep down he admits that he can only ever be number two."

"Later, this man gradually aged, and in the end, he was even defeated by his own disciple, who also took away his God Eye."

“What’s even more ridiculous is that this man once possessed the Eye of God, while the disciple who defeated him didn’t even have the Eye of God.”

“Junior brother…” Anxi looked at Tumen with some reluctance.

Tumen was panting, clutching the plaque on his shoulder tightly.

"That man seemed to have lost his soul, not knowing what to do, and afraid to face his past wishes."

“But his senior brother came back; he didn’t give up on him. His disciples also stayed by his side; they didn’t give up on him either.”

"They all felt that the man was still the number one swordsman in Inazuma in their hearts, or at least he was still qualified to pursue the goal of becoming the number one swordsman in Inazuma."

"Now, this man is old, sick, and weak, but he still decides to carry on the banner of 'Mirror Still Water Style' and become the number one swordsman of Inazuma."

"Therefore, he prepared to challenge General Thunder."

"He knew perfectly well that he couldn't defeat General Raiden, but he still decided to do it... Kurosawa, do you know why?"

Kurosawa looked at Tsuchimon and slowly asked, "Why...?"

"The man answered like this..." Tsuchimon's lips slowly curled up, "Kid, the reason I went to fight was... At that time, I poured my whole life into the matter of 'Inazuma's Number One Swordsman.' So, I didn't want it to become a lie."

“…I don’t want it to become a lie.” Kurosawa murmured, repeating the sentence.

"You too, don't let your 'benevolence and righteousness' turn into lies."

Tumen carried the plaque and walked out of the temple gate.

Chapter 181 With a heart full of concern for the nation, I shall stand; it is time to sing the song of men. [4k]

As its name suggests, Hanamizaka is a slope for flower viewing.

Cherry blossoms typically bloom in early spring, but it's already September, the season is long over, and cherry blossoms in other places have already faded.

However, the cherry blossoms in Inazuma Castle are said to be branches of the sacred cherry tree in Narukami Taisha Shrine, blessed by the gods, and bloom in all four seasons without fading.

These cherry blossoms that never fade have become a major attraction of Inazuma Castle, and are also the origin of the name Hanamizaka.

In the past, the residents of Hanamizaka would sit under the cherry trees along the roadside, drinking and admiring the moon, gazing up at the eternal beauty bestowed upon them by the Shogun. Energetic children would also run and play here, filling the air with laughter... However, tonight Hanamizaka is deserted, with every household's doors and windows tightly shut, and not a single person can be seen on the entire street.

This is because the curfew order issued yesterday is being enforced by the authorities.

After 9 p.m., except for officials like Kurosawa who are allowed to travel on official business, all other people are prohibited from going out. If they are caught violating the curfew by patrolling officers, they may be punished.

So tonight, only an old swordsman carrying a plaque walks alone on the streets of Hanamizaka.

An old man from Tumen, who was ill and carrying a heavy plaque, was walking slowly. Anxi caught up with him in no time.

"Hey, Tsuchimon, tell me the truth, you don't really want to challenge General Raiden, do you?" Anzai asked.

"...Of course it's true."

Tumen didn't turn back, and continued walking forward carrying the plaque that read "A Clear Mirror Remains Still."

His feet pattered softly on the fallen cherry blossom petals on the slope.

Inatsuma samurai often used fallen flowers as a metaphor for the passing of a person—a samurai walking on fallen flowers, what a truly ominous scene.

Anzai frowned, took a few quick steps, and blocked Tsuchimon's path: "...I won't stop you if you want to become the number one swordsman of Inazuma, but now...you're just going to your death!"

Tumen paused briefly.

"Senior Brother Anxi, let me ask you... when do you think I was closest to being 'the best in the world'?"

Anzai was somewhat surprised by Tsuchimon's strange question, but still answered honestly: "It must have been when you won the 'Yenbu Denshin' sword tournament ten years ago, right? I heard that you fought against the Puppet Sword Master with our sect's 'Ichi no Tachi' and were evenly matched. Many people regarded you as the strongest swordsman in Inazuma, and our sect's reputation reached its peak at that time."

Tumen chuckled softly: "So... cough... senior brother, you secretly came to watch my match back then?"

Anxi blushed.

Tsuchimon smiled and said, "Senior brother, do you know? Kurosawa wasn't always like that... He used to have the Eye of God, but, just like me, the General took away his 'wish'."

"When I saw him, it was like seeing myself from a while ago..."

"Then I suddenly realized... that there are things I, this old man, can actually do."

Anxi looked at his junior brother in silence.

Tumen patted the plaque on his shoulder: "Master once said, 'A clear mirror and still water, a mind without distractions.' I thought that pursuing the ultimate in swordsmanship was the 'clear mirror and still water' and the 'mind without distractions'—but that's not the case."

"At that time, I still cared about fame and victory... I didn't dare challenge the general because I was afraid that if I lost, I would lose my reputation, my honor, and everything I had accumulated in the past..."

“My ‘wish’ was nothing but a lie. I deceived many people, and I deceived myself.”

"That's why I gradually lost my swordsmanship, was defeated by Okawara, and easily lost my desires... and my heart."

"That young Kurosawa was the same. His sense of 'benevolence and righteousness' was slowly being eroded in this corrupt world... He even began to doubt whether upholding 'benevolence and righteousness' was the right thing to do..."

"I also wavered, thinking that I would never be able to realize my dream."

"So I entrusted my dreams to you, my senior brother, and to my disciples... I feel that this is the end of my life..."

"But I don't think that way anymore."

"Senior brother, I want to use my actions to tell Kurosawa... and you, and our disciples, and... everyone living in Inazuma—"

"A true wish can never be taken away by anyone. As long as this heart is still beating, the dream will never end!"

Anzai silently looked at Tsuchimon's face.

He remembered many years ago, the young man who had just become a disciple.

The young man asked his master, "How can I become the best in the world?"

The earthen gate before him overlapped with the image of the spirited young man in his memory.

Is this what is meant by "a mind as clear as a mirror and as still as water"?