Chapter 53: Kaito Shōki (Seeking Recommendations)

  "It's said that there is a high-ranking monk from Myoshin-ji Temple in Mino Province! Let's go and take a look!" Akane was sewing with needle and thread on a handkerchief, she was a devout Buddhist, to be precise, a devout follower of the Myoshin-ji school, as the Kira family had been followers of the Myoshin-ji school for generations. The Myoshin-ji Temple in Kyoto was the main temple, and about half of the nobles in the current imperial court were followers of either the Daitoku-ji or Myoshin-ji temples. The Tachibana and Akatagawa families were also among them.

  "Hmm, the temples of Myoshin-ji are all worth visiting... Come to think of it, wasn't it at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto that Father met Mother for the first time? Was Akane there too?" Yoshirou Manabu asked with a sideways glance at Katsuie and a rather gossipy tone.

  "Akane wasn't there at the time, because Akane hadn't been born yet. The princess also said that she was only a few years old then, so she doesn't remember anything about it. This answer won't satisfy you, will it?" Akane smiled faintly, extinguishing the burning flames of gossip in Kira Kosaku's heart.

  "How boring! I thought there would be a romantic and touching love story, but it's just a Lolita complex story?" Kiryu Manzoumaru muttered to himself, his voice trailing off. His father, Kiryu Yoshikazu, was born in the third year of Bunka, eighteen years before his mother, Chūin no Aiko, who was born in the first year of Daiei.

  Before, when I didn't think about the age difference, it was a romantic love story that could be sung and cried about. Who would have thought it would end up like this? Sitting in the carriage, feeling down for half a minute, Xiao Luoli Shengji called out to wake me: "Onii-chan! Look quickly, what a huge temple is built on the mountain! It's completely different from Hongguo Temple!"

  "Does Katsuragi like this temple?"

  "I don't like it! The monks in this temple have scary eyes, they always stare at Mother, I really dislike them!" The listener's expression changed instantly, Kiryū Matsuomaru and Akane's faces turned pale, Akane was so frightened that she almost dropped the needlework in her hand, hastily pulling Shōki, she said urgently: "Shōki, you absolutely must not say this out loud!"

  "Hmm! Katsuragi never told anyone, but Mother used to be different before a monk from Nagasaki came to Honke-ji Temple. Little Rori poured out all the words she had been holding back in her heart, as if she understood and didn't understand at the same time, and only after repeatedly assuring them that she wouldn't tell anyone else did the two of them feel at ease."

  Kiriyama Manzaburou's face turned iron-blue as he shouted out of the carriage: "Masakiyo! Bring Bosei to me!"

  Before long, a soft "creak" sound came from the carriage shaft outside. Through the thick canvas of the carriage, Fukube's voice came in: "What are your orders, Master!"

  "Look into the relationship between Mrs. Ogasawara and Honke-ji Temple, and... I don't want to see that monk from Ise Long Island again."

  "Yes! I will go and take care of it immediately!" As soon as the word "take care" fell, the voice had already drifted to the back of the horse carriage and was gradually fading away.

  "Ohni-chan, why don't you want to see that monk again? Shōshi remembers Ohni-chan has never been to Honkeiji Temple!" Little Shōshi's careless remark brought Akane's concerned gaze once more. Yoshirō Kira gently shook his head to indicate it was nothing, knowing the meaning behind Akane's eyes.

  The life of the Musha family is troublesome, but in terms of results, it's just a cycle of killing and being killed. As a member of the Musha family, Akane has long been accustomed to this kind of life. She only worries about his safety, not caring about that unknown Long Island monk, let alone that the monk may have had an affair with Yoshitoshi's aunt, making his death not worthy of sympathy.

  The horse-drawn carriage soon came to a stop, and several hundred steps away was the destination of this tour, Chongfu Temple, a branch temple of Miao Xin Temple. Kira's samurai followed him up the stairs, and when the group arrived in front of Chongfu Temple, the mountain gate suddenly opened wide, and a monk in his thirties wearing a kasaya came out with a group of monks from the temple to greet them.

  This monk, wearing a kasaya, has a very good appearance. If he didn't shave his head and become a monk, he would definitely be a handsome man. With a familiar Kyoto accent, he said: "The donor has come from afar to visit our humble temple, and everyone in the temple feels honored. I, Kosen Shoki, the chief priest of Sofuku-ji Temple, humbly welcome you."

  "Come from afar? It seems that Master Kuaihe is also well-prepared!"

  "This humble monk has only prepared for those with a predestined affinity, I wonder if Tan Yue is one of them?" The two people, vastly different in age and height, exchanged a smile, then quickly led a group of over a dozen people into the Chongfu Temple. As for the large crowd? Of course, they were stationed outside the temple.

  Myōshin-ji school was a new school that came from Southern Song Dynasty during the Kamakura period, because of its different Zen style from the Gozan schools in Kyoto, it was favored by the warrior class, but this also made them unpopular among the Gozan schools. The new school didn't have a solid foundation and lacked the aggressive nature of the Hokke-shū or the Gozan schools due to the inherent characteristics of Zen Buddhism. They didn't have a large group of armed monks or believers, so they were classified as a harmless sect. That's why Kira Yoshinaka dared to enter a temple in an unfamiliar area with only ten people after revealing his identity, and it was only possible for the harmless yet faithful Myōshin-ji school.

  "It's funny, the name Kawahaya Shōki sounds kind of familiar! But for a moment, I couldn't recall who it was. Kijirō Manzanmaru could confirm that he had heard this dharma name before, but as for famous monks from Mino, he really didn't know any. He followed Kawahaya Shōki around the small temple grounds and paid his respects to Enmei Jizō Bosatsu and Seikanzeon in the main hall."

  Until Kawanosho Shoki introduced the monk of this temple, and mentioned his disciple, Torai Sōi, who is 20 years old this year, he suddenly remembered the origin of these two masters: "Isn't Kawanosho Shoki that high-ranking monk from Kai? It seems that he and another high-ranking monk created the flag of wind, forest, fire, and mountain, which is a die-hard Takeda fan! How can it be Minō people? I heard that his secular surname is Toki? Isn't Torai Sōi the master of someone? Am I lucky again?"

  Kirishima Manzanmaru was so excited that he didn't notice what Kawakawa Shōki said, and when he came to his senses, the high priest had already run off somewhere. After spending a lot of time finding him, he immediately asked: "Kawakawa's words have opened up my mind! I wonder if Master Kawakawa has any plans to return to Kyoto for further study? It's really a waste for someone like you to be in charge of such a small temple as Sōfuku-ji!"

  "I, however, have plans to return to Kyoto... just not now." Kawanosuke's answer was disappointing, and the high priest continued: "However, I intend to let my disciple, Torakichi Sōetsu, enter the capital to study the scriptures of the great temple Myōshin-ji, so I implore you, patron, to take my disciple with you."

  "Hesitation, is it just to study Buddhism? Alright! I agree! If the master has a chance, please consider my proposal. I bid farewell!" Kiryu Manzoumaru was initially delighted but later became disappointed and didn't even get a hair's worth of benefit. However, since the high-ranking monk made such a request, he couldn't not show respect, leaving a good impression on each other, perhaps for future opportunities, at least giving him an idea to go to Kyoto.

  Note: Kawabata Shōki is one of the creators of the Fūrinkazan flag used by Takeda Shingen, a native of Mino Province. Many people know that he was the teacher of Date Masamune, but few people are aware that they were master and disciple.