Chapter 30 The sword deserves the one who loves it

The sun sets in the west and the sound of waves sounds like sipping.

On the calm sea, a broken sailboat with its mast broken was drifting with the current.

On the day it set sail, there were about twenty people on the boat, but now, there are only two left.

Terajima Kohei leaned against the side of the ship, slumped on the deck, looking at the sunset in the distance. Next to him, there was a little boy who was only seven or eight years old leaning against him.

"Uncle, is the sun going to set soon?" The boy's eyes had long been blind, but this also made his other senses relatively sharp.

"Yes." Terashima's voice sounded weak, but he still tried his best to make his tone sound kind and gentle, "Are you feeling cold? Taro."

"Well..." Taro shook his head, "No, uncle's side is very warm."

"Really...then go to bed quickly." Terajima thought, "You won't sleep when you fall asleep." You will feel hungry. Maybe when you wake up tomorrow, we will have arrived on land."

"Do you really still believe it? About '朙'..." Taro asked.

"Of course I believe it." Terashima replied, "'朙' exists, there is no doubt about it."

"No...I didn't mean that..." Taro He said, "I mean...does uncle really believe that on the other side of the sea, there will be a place where there will be no wars, no fights, and everyone can be happy?"

Terashima was silent.

What Taro said was what the leader of the twenty people on the boat, their village chief, said to them on the day they left their hometown; although...the village chief himself had never I have never been to Dashu.

If even children don’t believe it, how can adults believe it? But those who got on the boat had no choice but to believe.

The vassal state they lived in had just been contested by the shogunate army not long ago. The war swept through their homes. Their families were killed, raped, and insulted. Their property was plundered, and their dignity was trampled on. Life is also destroyed wantonly like grass.

Since their hometown has become Shura Hell, even if it is the ideal hometown in lies, it is still worth pursuing. After all... they have nothing to lose.

"Stop thinking so wildly..." Terajima lied, not for himself, but because he didn't want the boys around him to be crushed by the despair of reality. "How could the village chief lie to us? As long as he arrives Dazao, we don’t have to worry about anything anymore. There will be a lot of delicious food there, warm and soft beds, and the kind villagers will treat us like family members... So, Taro, you should have a good rest and take good care of yourself. Spirit, maybe we can see those tomorrow morning."

After hearing this, Taro showed a sad smile: "Uncle...what did you do before?"

" Oh……"Taro responded with a smile, "It's not unexpected at all... I can still imagine the uncle scolding the juniors loudly in the dojo with a serious look on his face. He paused and muttered, "People like uncle are really bad at lying..."

At this moment, Terajima realized that this child beside him, this Children who have been baptized by the fire of war are far less innocent than he thinks.

Perhaps, this blind child sees the world more clearly than he does.

" Uncle, I'm tired. "Taro's voice gradually became lower.

"Go to sleep, uncle will watch over you. "Terajima Road.

"Uncle, if I don't wake up tomorrow, please let me sleep all the time..." Taro's tone was very calm. It was obvious that he could already act like an adult... ...No, you can talk about death more calmly than adults.

But Terashima did not respond to this sentence because he did not know whether it was cruel or merciful to let the other person "not wake up". .

Taro continued: "...In that way, maybe I can see my father and mother again..." After a slight pause, he said in a concerned tone, "Promise me, Uncle, if I really can’t wake up, please don’t throw me into the sea like everyone else. Before I rot, my blood and flesh will..."

"Stop talking! "Terajima suddenly shouted loudly to stop the other party, not letting Taro say the last half of his sentence, "You smart boy... don't look down on adults! Do you want others to accept the kind of kindness from a child that will never be repaid until death? ”

When the roar ended, two lines of hot tears had flowed down from Terashima’s face.

And Taro did not speak anymore. He had leaned against Terashima’s side and fell silent. Go to sleep.

The next day, a pirate ship passing by found the starved Terashima and the body of a little boy.

The Japanese on the ship. Most of them, after seeing Terashima's clothing and the sword in his hand, they thought that this man was probably a samurai who might be able to use it, so they rescued him.

And Taro's. The body disappeared into the waves forever along with the broken ship.

…………

Terashima opened his eyes. There was a wasteland in front of him, and a bright moon above his head.

Tonight, Kang Haijiao kept him waiting for a long time, and when he closed his eyes to rest, he recalled some things that were already distant and vague. In the past.

Now that I think about it, Taro has seen things more clearly than he did.

Obviously, Dazuo is not the ideal hometown described by their village chief. This is just another place where the jungle is strong. < /p>

After that day, Terashima still lived a life of drifting with the crowd: he was rescued by Japanese pirates and boarded a pirate ship, so he could only follow them to become Japanese pirates. Later, the group was killed by Da Zha's army. After being suppressed, Terashima managed to escape and became a wandering bandit again.

It wasn't that he didn't want to put down his sword and become an upright and law-abiding person, but at his age, it was almost impossible to change his accent and mannerisms. It was unrealistic to hide his Japanese identity. At that time, the Japanese pirates were in full swing along the coast. The common people had long hated the Japanese, and there was no talk of deportation in those days. People with criminal records like him would basically die if they were caught by the government.

Therefore, for Terashima, there is neither a hometown to return to nor a harbor that can truly accept him.

He can only live a life of licking blood day after day, using the only thing he is good at, that is, the pursuit of "martial arts"... to numb himself.

It was also during this process that Terashima's swordsmanship became increasingly sophisticated and he gradually became famous; until a few months ago, a well-known figure in the Central Plains martial arts found someone to hook up with him. Line, proposed to accept him as a "guest", of course... it is the kind that cannot be made public.

Terashima had no reason to refuse. Even though he had been a thief for many years, he still believed in his heart that he was a samurai. Being able to find a "lord" to serve him was better than doing things all day long that would make him feel good. The shameful robbery business is better.

Just like that, tonight, he met that man.

When Lin Yuancheng walked towards Terashima, Terashima could feel it in his eyes - this was also a man who sought the truth, a man who was extremely honest with the sword.

Although Terashima also saw Sun Yihe and Kang Haijiao with chains tied to their bodies in the distance, he had no interest in asking what was going on; at this moment, all he could see was Lin Yuancheng.

In Lin Yuancheng's eyes, there was only him.

"What a sword." When Lin Yuancheng stood still in front of the opponent, he first commented on the Japanese sword at the opponent's waist.

He didn't even confirm whether the opponent was Terashima Kohei...because it didn't matter who the opponent was or what his name was.

"Oh? Do you think this is a sword?" Terajima asked slightly surprised.

"Of course this is a sword." Lin Yuancheng said, "And you are also a very powerful swordsman."

"Heh..." Terajima smiled, "That's right. , I am a swordsman, and I also practice 'kendo', but... my weapon is a sword to you Central Plains people, so most people think that I am a swordsman."

"In this world. Most people are ignorant," Lin Yuancheng said.

"It seems you are in the minority." Terajima said.

"Me?" Lin Yuancheng thought for a while, and a trace of sadness appeared on his face, "I am different, I have always been 'a person'."

These words, Others may not understand, but Terashima vaguely understood. Looking at the expression on the other person's face, he didn't know whether it was envy or sympathy in his heart: "Huh... you are either so arrogant that you even deceived yourself. , or it's really too pitiful."

"You will know the answer soon," Lin Yuancheng said.sentence, his hand has been placed on the hilt of the sword.

Terashima stopped talking and silently took out his sword from its sheath and took a stance.

The long sword is plain and plain, still in its sheath, but the diffused sword intention is already coming majestically like the majestic mountains.

The Japanese sword is strong and strong, and its edge has emerged, but the raised blade is still as quiet as a cicada, and there is no ripple in the ancient well.

This battle cannot be called a duel between the top masters in the world, because the internal strength of these two people is still far behind those of the first-class masters; they can neither show any numbers. A sword energy that can injure someone from a distance of ten feet cannot be used to forcefully break an enemy's weapon by suppressing it with force.

But this is indeed a duel between top-notch swordsmen, and their understanding of their respective swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world.

Hiss——

The wind blew, and Terashima's sword moved.

At the same moment, Lin Yuancheng's sword was finally unsheathed.

As the two figures staggered each other, the sound of sword fighting also began.

Terashima uses the "Ji Shang Shui Tian Liu" sword technique passed down from his family. This is a martial art he has learned since he was a child. It is said that his ancestors practiced swinging swords under the waterfall every day. And he gradually realized it; and the internal energy he possesses is also a matching mental method passed down from his family. Although this mental method can only be regarded as a third-rate breathing method compared with Zhongyuan's internal energy, Terashima's age after all He is much bigger than Lin Yuancheng, so he will not be at a disadvantage in terms of total internal strength.

As for Lin Yuancheng... strangely, after the battle started, he did not use his "Sadness", but only used the most basic moves of sweeping, blocking, stabbing, teasing and splitting. He used his moves to only defend but not attack, and tried his best to avoid a head-on confrontation with Terashima, giving priority to side blocking and evading.

The two of them exchanged blows after twenty moves. At this time, Terashima realized something belatedly, so he feinted with his sword, took half a step back, and stopped the attack.

"What are you doing?" Terashima asked, "Why don't you take action?"

"It's not that I don't want to take action, I just can't do it casually..." Lin Yuancheng said .

Hearing this, Terajima's expression changed slightly, and he thought to himself: "This kid...did he realize from the beginning that his sword might break if he fought me?"

He guessed correctly.

Only after the first sword collision, Lin Yuancheng instinctively noticed this through the feeling in his hands, so he responded in this way.

"Ha...then what's the point of continuing to fight like this? It's only a matter of time before you lose." Terajima continued with a smile.

Lin Yuancheng replied expressionlessly: "If we are divided into life and death, how can we ask about victory or defeat? If we are seeking swordsmanship, what is the meaning?"

His sixteen words, Terashima was left speechless.

After thinking about it for a moment, Terajima felt a faint sense of fear - he suddenly discovered that the young man in front of him was far more eager to seek truth and swordsmanship than he was.

Terashima’s pursuit of “martial arts” is at best like that of a craftsman, but Lin Yuancheng, already a madman.

In Lin Yuancheng's heart, there has never been victory or defeat, not even life and death. He feels that everything he has done for the sword is natural.

For ordinary people, using "relatively disadvantageous weapons to fight" is an "unfavorable situation" and "unfair", but for Lin Yuancheng, this is just the countless things he needs to go through. As a person in the process of experience, what he cares about is not fairness or unfairness, but how to cross this hurdle, because on his "road", crossing this hurdle is necessary and should be done.

"I see..." After a breath, Terashima's expression gradually became colder, "It seems that I have to kill you here... If you continue to grow, one day you will He has become a serious problem for the master..."

"Master?" Hearing these two words, Lin Yuancheng was slightly startled, "What? It turns out that you are not looking for someone to compete with others, but to accept others. "Entrusted by others?"

"Is there any conflict between the two?" Terashima asked, "Since I am entrusted by others, can I also pursue martial arts?"

"Okay." Lin Yuancheng nodded, "But there is a difference which one is 'incidentally' and which one."

"There is no difference in my opinion." Terashima said.

"Then let me tell you what the difference is." After Lin Yuancheng said this, he actually took the initiative.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yuancheng stepped on the seven stars, his sword came out, his mind and spirit were united, and his moves were like turbulence.

In an instant, a cold light flashed under the moon, and the sword threatened his life.

Nasidao was always ready to respond and did not relax. As soon as he saw the sword light coming, he immediately leaned down, pressed the knife and turned his wrist, flipped his hand and slashed, using the "Collapse of Water and Heavenly Flow" technique. "Flow back" goes backwards and upwards.

Pong——

The next second, there was a golden sound.

The sword breaks and the blade flies away.

Followed by a soft sound of "呲——", a piece of blood mist flew in the wind.

The dust is stained with blood, and the figures are different.

Lin Yuancheng held the broken sword in his hand, his eyes were cold, and he stood facing the wind, unscathed.

Terashima was still standing, but there was a bloody mouth on the side of his neck.

"The sword is a good sword, and the swordsmanship is not bad. It's just that there are too many things besides the sword in your heart." Lin Yuancheng slowly turned around and summed up, "The heart is mixed, the sword The law is in chaos, so a broken sword is enough to kill you." Before he could finish his words, Terashima fell face down.

At that moment of his death, Terashima actually did not listen, or in other words, he did not care what Lin Yuancheng said.

At that moment, the sound of waves seemed to ring in Terashima’s ears.

He seemed to be back on the sea again, leaning against the side of the ship, looking at the sunset, with a child leaning against him.

Everything in these years seems like a dream.

The upright samurai Terajima Kohei had already stayed on the broken ship with Taro. In that wisp of "ideal"I fell asleep forever in the illusion and hope of "hometown".