"I don't need the arrangements you've made. I've already self-studied all the so-called knowledge taught in school. I hope... you can agree to let me go out and travel on my own to hone my swordsmanship!" After saying this, he looked firmly at his father.
The head of the Ryougi family gazed intently at his son, listened to his request, and said slowly, "Are you really sure about this? You should understand that here, under the care of the Ryougi family, if anything happens, we can help you. But if you go out alone, far from the family's influence, the help we can provide will be very limited. You should reconsider."
"No, my mind is made up!" The voice was firm, without any hesitation.
"Alright! You're a true man. Then, aside from necessary expenses, the Ryougi family will not provide you with any other assistance. I hope you can make a name for yourself!" Stopping his wife's attempts to dissuade him, the head of the Ryougi family nodded in agreement. Only an eaglet that experiences hardships can grow into an eagle soaring through the skies.
"I've said before that there are two reasons for taking you in as my adopted son. The second reason is... as Shiki's fiancé. When you both come of age, I will allow you to marry. Are you willing?" For this intelligent and precocious child, he wasn't sure if he understood what "fiancé" and "marriage" meant.
I nodded quickly, as if afraid my father would change his mind: "Yes, of course!"
Seeing his son's reaction, the head of the Ryougi family smiled as if he had expected it.
At that moment, a voice came from the side. It was the grandfather who had been silent all along. He said, "However, your future children must carry the Ryougi surname." His tone was resolute.
"Grandpa... my surname is Ryougi..." Ryougi Raku said weakly.
"…"
"…"
The atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.
"Ahem!" The old man quickly pretended to cough twice to cover his embarrassment. He glared at his smirking son and daughter-in-law, then suddenly sat up straight and said, "Finally, Raku, I have just one last thing to say!"
Seeing his grandfather's serious and formal expression, Ryougi Raku unconsciously straightened his back and said, "Please go ahead."
"A person can only kill one other person in their lifetime, and a person can only bear the death of one other person, and that is themselves!" Out of nowhere, he uttered this profound statement.
Ryougi Raku lowered his head in thought for a moment, then slowly asked, "So, Grandfather... what if it's not a person?"
The old man looked at him meaningfully and replied, "Then naturally, one does not need to abide by it."
Yes, a person can only kill one other person in their lifetime. But if this "person" is not a "person," why should one be bound by the restrictions that apply to people?
…
Kyoto, located in the central part of Honshu Island, is home to numerous Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as well as world-famous hot springs. It has a long history and is known as the "Thousand-Year Capital."
It could be said that all sorts of strange tales originated here.
Ryougi Raku wanted to understand the "anomalies" of this world, so this was the perfect place for him. There were other locations in Japan with powerful spiritual ley lines, but they were often occupied by magus families. For someone as "anomalous" as Ryougi Raku, visiting those places would be challenging, as he would inevitably be monitored or even attacked by the local magus families. Of course, if Ryougi Raku were powerful enough, he wouldn't need to worry about them.
Before setting off, his father had actually told him that Japan's traditional forces, such as onmyōji, had long been in decline. The major forces entrenched in Japan and occupying important spiritual sites were actually families that practiced Western-style magecraft.
With the advancement of science, people had become more inclined to believe in science and less concerned with demons and monsters. Phantasmal species that fed on human fear and imagination had nearly gone extinct. Without the threat of demons, there was no longer a need for onmyōji or demon hunters, making life increasingly difficult for those who relied on such professions. If not for the occasional vengeful spirit and the lingering descendants of humans and "non-human species," these professions might have long vanished into history.
As one of the Four Great Demon-Hunting Families, the Ryougi family had been far-sighted, integrating into normal society early on. Even now, when the other three families existed in name only, the Ryougi family continued to thrive.
However, since Kyoto was once the core area for these existences, Ryougi Raku felt it necessary to come here. Perhaps he could find what he needed.
But reality was cruel. After visiting places like Nishi Honganji, Nijo Castle, Kamo Shrine, and Kiyomizu-dera, although these scenic spots and historical landmarks were pleasant to visit and contained many cultural relics with long histories—some even possessing spiritual power—they were not what Ryougi Raku was seeking.
After touring the area quietly like a typical visitor, Ryougi Raku began to ponder where to go next. Perhaps he should ask his father if there were any kendo dojos still active today, so he could visit them and see if he could learn anything.
…
Wandering among Kyoto's quaint buildings, occasionally stopping to enjoy local snacks when the mood struck, Ryougi Raku observed that many women here wore traditional kimonos, as if he had stepped back into ancient times. If it weren't for the season, he would have liked to try the hot springs.
By chance, in front of an ancient estate in a quiet corner, Ryougi Raku saw an old man sitting cross-legged in the courtyard. The old man had white hair but a youthful complexion and wore simple Taoist robes. A long sword lay across his knees. Passersby often glanced at him, perhaps finding it novel.
However, Ryougi Raku's expression turned solemn. The old man seemed very ordinary, no different from any other elderly person, but the Origin Power within him warned that the man before him was extremely dangerous—not like a man in his seventies, but like a ferocious beast ready to attack at any moment. This level of power was unprecedented!
Sensing Ryougi Raku's gaze, the old man, who had been looking down, raised his head and glanced at him with cloudy eyes. For a moment, it seemed as if Ryougi Raku's earlier feelings were an illusion, but a smile played at the corners of the old man's mouth.
Standing still, Ryougi Raku hesitated slightly but ultimately walked toward the old man. He had come out to travel precisely to find a true swordsmanship master from whom he could learn humbly. Judging by the long sword in front of the old man, he seemed to be the one Ryougi Raku was looking for, and the old man showed no malice.
"Since I reached my current level, others have seen me as nothing more than an ordinary old man. But you, young friend, saw through me at a glance. You are truly gifted." The old man spoke first, his tone full of admiration.
Ryougi Raku didn't ask how the old man knew he had seen through his hidden power. In Ryougi Raku's opinion, so-called masters always spoke in vague and mysterious ways. So, he simply looked at the old man without responding.
The old man didn't mind. He just looked up and studied Ryougi Raku. Passersby saw the old man and the young man gazing at each other, their eyes full of unspoken understanding. Some offered advice, but no one disturbed them.
The more the old man looked at Ryougi Raku, the more pleased he became. Suddenly, a sharp light flashed in his cloudy eyes. Startled, Ryougi Raku subconsciously took a step back. It wasn't that the old man exuded some kind of kingly aura, but his gaze reminded Ryougi Raku of the photos of beautiful women he had browsed online in his previous life!
Just as Ryougi Raku was secretly complaining, suspecting the old man might be a homosexual who fancied delicate and cute boys like himself, he shuddered and considered making an excuse to leave quickly. But the old man's next words made him stumble.
"I see you have a broad forehead and finely structured bones—a true martial arts prodigy. Would you like to inherit my Kyoto Shinmei-ryū and become my disciple?"
"I don't want to become a master's gay partner!" Ryougi Raku blurted out without thinking.
"#" A vein bulged on the old man's forehead, but as a senior master, he remained calm and composed.
"Wait, Kyoto Shinmei-ryu?!" Ryougi Raku exclaimed as if suddenly remembering something.
"Oh? Could it be that young friend has heard of Kyoto Shinmei-ryu?" The old man suddenly stood up, enunciating each syllable of "Kyoto Shinmei-ryu" clearly. A powerful aura emanated from him, and the cloudiness in his eyes vanished, replaced by an unusual depth.
Caught in this powerful aura, Ryougi Raku stood frozen. It was extremely difficult for him to even move a finger. He could only circulate the Origin Power within his body to barely resist and avoid collapsing to the ground.
He grew anxious: It seems I said something wrong.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Damn it, old man, are you trying to kill me?!" Ryougi Raku shouted in frustration.
However, anyone facing a tiger with only a katana, especially after being thrown into such a situation by someone else, would feel upset, right?
The tiger was also very depressed. It had been sleeping soundly, dreaming of a beautiful tigress, and was just about to mate when someone stabbed it in the anus. It was already in a bad mood, and the person in front of it was shouting. It was really unhappy and didn't care whether this person was the one who stabbed it or not—it decided to eat first!
Seeing the fierce gleam in the tiger's eyes, Ryougi Raku calmed down. His earlier shout was just venting his frustration about the situation. Overcoming the current difficulty was the priority. He began to analyze his advantages: he had a long sword, and as the saying goes, "an inch longer, an inch stronger." Coupled with the hidden power within him, facing a tiger was nothing to fear. At most, he would suffer some minor injuries.
"Roar—" With a loud roar, the tiger opened its mouth and bit at Ryougi Raku. Although it was fast, it was nothing to Ryougi Raku. He rolled on the ground, evading the tiger's attack, and took the opportunity to slash out. A wound appeared on the tiger's side, and blood gushed out.
This only enraged the tiger further. It swiped at him with its paw, and Ryougi Raku had no choice but to block with his sword. But how could he withstand the force of hundreds of kilograms? With a grunt, he was forced back several steps, his wrist aching. But with a shift of Origin Power, the pain and injury in his wrist vanished instantly.
Seeing its attack fail, the tiger opened its bloody mouth and bit at his head.
Gritting his teeth, Ryougi Raku shifted his body slightly, offering his shoulder. He endured the pain of the tiger's teeth piercing his flesh and thrust his sword directly into the tiger's abdomen. With a twist of his wrist, he slashed open a large hole, spilling the tiger's intestines onto the ground. Severely wounded, the tiger howled, and the teeth embedded in Ryougi Raku's shoulder gradually loosened. Its massive body collapsed to the ground, but its eyes still stared fiercely at Ryougi Raku, as if it wanted to take one more bite.
"Tsk, how brutal." Ryougi Raku shook his head and sighed, examining the wound on his shoulder. For an ordinary person, such a penetrating wound would be very difficult to heal, but for Ryougi Raku, with just a thought, the wound disappeared at a visible speed.
"Oh? I didn't expect you to have such an ability~!" Aoyama Yaha looked at Ryougi Raku's instantly healed wound with admiration.
"Old man, are you trying to kill me?" He said through gritted teeth, glaring at the old man who acted as if nothing had happened.
"How can you speak to an elder like that? Besides, look, you're perfectly fine, aren't you?" Aoyama Yaha said, indifferent to Ryougi Raku's anger. If not for this, how could he have tested your character and discovered your abilities?
Ryougi Raku curled his lips, realizing that he was no match for this cheap master. Getting angry with him would only bring more trouble.