"The Shinsengumi is looking for you?"
Zhang Heng accompanied the French businessman for an afternoon stroll along the flower street. When he returned to the dojo, Akane told him about what happened in the afternoon.
Zhang Heng's work was as easy as ever. He was still accompanying Gabriel to eat, drink, and have fun. The latter seemed to be very patient. He had already spent four sakuras to hire an interpreter, and on top of that, he looked like he really wanted to experience the exotic culture of Kyoto.
Perhaps it was because his behavior was too confusing, but Zhang Heng noticed that there were fewer people following them these days. Zhang Heng knew that the day when the French businessman would make his move was not far away.
"It's a young man." Akane Koyama gave Zhang Heng a brief description of the visitor. When Zhang Heng heard the name Shinsengumi, and Akane Koyama talked about the bright smile on the man's face, as well as the fact that he kept coughing, a name came to mind.
Could it be that guy?
"He's here for the Choshu samurai. He heard about what happened at the market that day, and how they came to seek revenge. That's why he's looking for us to cooperate," Akane Koyama said.
"Cooperation? How do they want to cooperate? Ambush the Choshu samurai at the dojo? " Zhang Heng removed the wakizashi from his waist. He had been following the French businessman around, and he was not in any danger for the time being. So, he left his katana at home and only brought a short sword for self-defense.
Besides, the haori he was wearing now was no longer a free gift from the system at the beginning of the quest. Akane Koyama found a few of her father's old clothes so that Zhang Heng could have a change of clothes. Although Zhang Heng's stature was common in modern times, he would stand out in the Edo period. He had already found a tailor to order new clothes, but he had yet to receive the ready-made ones.
"No, the Shinsengumi isn't interested in these ordinary Choshu samurai. They seem to have a bigger goal."
Although the visitor did not elaborate, Akane Koyama was not an ignorant girl. As the daughter of the dojo's owner, she was now shouldering the heavy responsibility of running the dojo alone. She was well aware of the current situation in Kyoto. Since the Shinsengumi came here not for Yamada and the others, their target could only be someone more important.
"What do you think?" Zhang Heng asked.
"When my father was still alive, Ito came to him to discuss the matter of rescuing the emperor, but my father refused. After that, the Shogun's people tried to rope him in, but my father refused as well. He said that each side had its own reasons, and he was just the owner of a small dojo. He couldn't tell right from wrong, so he couldn't make a decision. In that case, it was better for him to stay true to his heart and only do what he thought was right, such as using his katana to protect his neighbors, or helping those in need in this chaotic world," Akane Koyama replied. "So, I refused the proposal to cooperate."
"And then? What did that guy say?"
"He said he could understand and respect my choice, but the rest of the team might not think so. He also told me not to worry too much, and that he would try his best to convince their director to take another approach. Oh, by the way," Akane Koyama said, "he also heard about you cutting off Yamada's left hand. He said he would come and see what kind of person you are when he has time."
This child-like curiosity really did sound like that person's style of doing things.
Zhang Heng had also developed a lot of interest in that guy. If he really was that person, it would be worth fighting. So, Zhang Heng said to Akane Koyama, "When he comes next time, if I'm still not here, help me make an appointment with him."
"Huh?" Akane Koyama misunderstood Zhang Heng's meaning. She hesitated for a moment and said, "I think he … he doesn't mean any harm. He just wants to see you."
"You misunderstand. I'm just interested in Tennin Rishin-ryū. I just want to see it," Zhang Heng explained, washing his face with the well water.
…
The two had dinner under the maple tree in the dojo. Akane Koyama cleaned up the dishes and leftovers, then went back to the house and took out two wooden katanas.
Although Koyama Ryu was more focused on the state of mind, it was impossible for him to not have any sword skills. After Zhang Heng joined the dojo and listened to Akane Koyama's explanation, he learned that he still needed to get a certificate to practice swordsmanship.
Generally, when assessing the standard of their disciples, they would divide them into three levels.
Paper Cutter, Table of Contents, Kanban, or Table of Contents, Kanban, Kanban.
Paper Cutter was the most basic entry certificate. It represented that one had just joined the dojo and was considered a novice. During a fight, one could not even tell others about one's sect. After all, every dojo was very prideful. If one's smurf got slashed too many times, it would inevitably affect the reputation of the dojo, and people would conclude that a certain dojo was just so-so.
Therefore, for disciples who were still stuck at the Paper Cutter level, each dojo asked them to stay out of trouble. Even if they wanted to fight, they could not reveal their dojo. If they got slashed, no one would know who taught them their dojo, lest their sensei was angered to death.
For those who were a little more powerful, the dojo would issue scrolls to record the techniques they had learned. They would memorize every move they learned until they reached the level of Kanban. Only then would the samurai be qualified to announce their dojo before fighting.
Akane Koyama and Yamada, whose hand was forcibly chopped off by Zhang Heng, were at this level.
The last level, Kanban, as the name suggested, meant that one had learned all the techniques of the dojo. The sensei had taught them everything, and there was nothing left to teach them. Those who could get this certificate were basically the real masters of the dojo.
Take the guy who came to Akane Koyama this afternoon for example. If he was really the person Zhang Heng was familiar with, then he would have gotten the Kanban of Tennin Rishin-ryū.
Back to Zhang Heng. He thought that after joining Koyama dojo, he would be able to go around killing people, but he realized that he still had to reach Kanban first.
However, this was not a problem for Zhang Heng, whose swordsmanship was already Lv.3. It was hard to say what his state of mind would be like, but if it was just the techniques, he could learn them in two or three days. After all, his strength, speed, and reflexes were all there for him to learn. He just needed to go from slashing people randomly to being disciplined.
Akane Koyama had to admit that she was impressed. She practiced the techniques many times when she was young, and sometimes, she would secretly wipe her tears when she learned them. But when it came to Zhang Heng, he seemed to have mastered them effortlessly. All she had to do was remind him a few times about the postures and the way to exert force, and Zhang Heng could execute them perfectly.
Now that the two were fighting, both using Koyama Myoshin-ryū's swordsmanship, Akane Koyama was no longer Zhang Heng's match. It made her wonder if she was an idiot.
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