Chapter 5: Ah Jiao's Wish

  According to Yamamoto Kansuke, he traveled outside for over a decade and saw the snow of Mutsu Province, the fire of Sakurajima, the warriors of Kanto, the pirates of Kansai, met many people while traveling north and south, visited many ancient battlefields, and was familiar with astronomy, geography, human culture and customs. He also participated in over a dozen battles as a ronin.

  His one eye and lame leg were injuries from an avalanche during his travels, the disability of his fingers and the scars on his body were all marks left from battles, but unfortunately those daimyos looked down on the ugly Yamamoto Kansuke and didn't believe he had any great talent, whether it was presenting strategies or being appointed as a castle builder, all were refused without exception, Yamamoto Kansuke's path to becoming an official was very bumpy.

  According to Kiryū Manzaburou's view, with his experience he could have written a book and become a cultural celebrity of his generation. Unfortunately, Yamamoto Kan no Suke himself had no such ambitions and lacked the flowery language needed to embellish his writings. Only those idle court nobles who had nothing better to do would engage in such activities.

  No matter what school of swordsmanship, from the beginning to lay the foundation must use a wooden sword to chop trees or wooden stakes. As the head of the Kira family and also a direct disciple of Yamamoto Kansuke, Kira Mimasaka's training volume was much heavier than those small-name attendants. Every time he swung his weighted wooden sword, sweat dripped down his forehead. He looked up at the scorching sun hanging high in the sky and vented angrily: "Chopping a thousand times every day with such a heavy wooden sword! You're abusing children! Where did that guy go?"

  "Has anyone seen the master?" Kiryu Manshōmaru shouted, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. The group of attendants exchanged glances but remained silent. Kiryu waved his hand for everyone to disperse and rest, then walked out onto the veranda and lay down unceremoniously. A quick-witted young servant had already brought over a wooden bucket filled with cool well water, and he used a towel to soak up the water and cover his forehead, instantly dispelling the heat.

  "Why is it so hot in this era's summer too? It's so hot that I'm dizzy!" A maid who walked quietly, carrying tea water, knelt down beside him and pushed the teacup to Kiryu Manzoumaru's side, saying softly: "Your Highness! Akane has prepared a chrysanthemum tea for you to clear the heat and fire. This is made from dew collected in the early morning by Akane especially for Your Highness! Please drink it quickly!"

  "Ah, Ah Kui! You're always busy and never take a break, come sit for a while!" Kiryū Manzōmaru tossed the towel on his forehead into the wooden bucket, picked up the chrysanthemum tea and gulped it down like an ox, then wiped his mouth and said: "It's really delicious, from now on Ah Kui should prepare more for me! Let the maid do the dew collection and other chores, don't overwork yourself!"

  "Ah, Kikyo is not suffering! As long as Your Highness can grow up happily, Kikyo will be content!" Kikyo was the maid of his late mother, Lady Chūin, and also came from a noble family in Kyoto, specifically the branch family of Atago, which is why she was sent to follow his mother when she married into the Kiryū family.

  "Your Highness! If you have time, why not go back to Kyoto and take a look?" Ah Kui's big eyes were full of expectation as she stared at him, making him feel somewhat embarrassed. He hesitated and said: "Go to Kyoto? It's too far! And I don't know anyone there either!"

  "How can you say that there is no one you know?! Kyoto has your uncle! The princess still remembered Kyoto before she passed away, and the princess hoped that you could return to her hometown where she grew up. So Akane asked Your Highness, please go to Kyoto once!" Akane bowed deeply, leaving Kira Manzanmaru at a loss for words, he hastily comforted: "Akane, get up first! You are mother's relative and my kin, if father's body wasn't weak, he would have taken you as his concubine!"

  "Your Highness, don't say such strange things! The previous Lord and Lady were a harmonious couple and never had any thoughts of Na Ah-ju. Ah-ju is satisfied as long as she can see Your Highness grow up happily." Ah-ju's red face awkwardly changed the subject, seemingly realizing it wasn't suitable here either, and lightly bowed her head to say: "In short, I'll leave the Princess's wishes to you! Ah-ju will take her leave first!"

  "Ah-ah-ah!" Akane hurriedly ran away with small steps, even forgetting to pick up the tea tray, leaving behind Kiriyama Mantarō who was stunned and confused: "What's wrong with this girl? She's only a few years older than me, but her figure is quite impressive, even Wu Fu can't hide those curves! No! Am I also having spring fever?"

  The father of Yoshimune was Yoshikazu Kira, the seventh head of the Kira family. He had two older half-brothers: his eldest brother, Yoshisato Kira, who became the eighth head of the house but died in battle against the Imagawa clan in 1539; and his second brother, Yoshiyasu Kira, who was adopted into the rival branch of the Kira family, the Higashi-Kira, as their heir shortly after birth.

  The mother of these two elder brothers was the daughter of Mrs. Gotō, the former legitimate wife, and Mrs. Gotō died of illness due to excessive grief over the death of her eldest son. The mother of Yoshida Kiyomasa was a woman from the Kyoto noble family of Tachibana, who was remarried by Yoshida after his eldest son's death and became the new head of the house. Perhaps she was not used to life in rural Mikawa or missed her hometown of Kyoto too much; in any case, this lady gave birth to Yoshida Kiyomasa in 1541 and then fell ill.

  After drinking tea, you still need to continue practicing. This kind of practice has no fancy moves, just one sword strike after another. This mechanical and uninteresting practice method is the same in ancient and modern times, East and West. In fact, it's a training method for the subconscious mind or what we call "practice makes perfect". After practicing for a long time, you'll remember the feeling of striking in your brain, penetrate into your subconscious mind, and when you encounter an enemy again, you can strike out subconsciously, then you'll find that the enemy has been struck to death by you.

  According to Yamamoto Kansuke, when one's cutting technique has reached a certain level, it means that their strength has been roughly cultivated, and apart from continuing to strengthen it, they can further study more profound sword techniques and complex mental tactics. Only then can they learn the ultimate secrets of martial arts, such as the application of aura and the cultivation of school secrets. In short, practicing swordsmanship is a very troublesome thing. Kirishima Banshōmaru spent five years cultivating before he roughly grasped the outline of martial arts.

  After another half-hour of cultivation, until the sun was slightly westward, Shan Cilang panted and ran over from the tiger's mouth connecting the two pills, shouting: "Master! Yamamoto has returned! And brought a group of new faces!"

  "Oh? New faces?" From the high vantage point of Honmaru, Yamamoto Kanbee, dressed in a hemp robe, was leading dozens of big and small strangers into Ninomaru. It seemed that these people were not from nearby powerful families, and no one knew what kind of tricks Yamamoto Kanbee had up his sleeve.

  Seeing Yamamoto Kanetsugu's figure, he beckoned: "Zentaro! Hurry up and get the nearby crowd to start training!"

  "Yes!" Zentaro responded immediately, standing up and walking over to loudly call out to the younger ones. The originally disorganized group quickly divided into several teams, with the older pairs practicing together, while the younger ones continued to practice basic cutting techniques like Kirara Mantaro. For a time, the sounds of shouting and wooden swords clashing filled the air with "clang clang".