Chapter 220: The Heart of Senji Muramasa
The sun in the sky had moved from the center to the west. The intense sunlight had gained a faint orange-yellow hue. It was now late afternoon, and soon, when the sun touched the distant mountains, it would be twilight.
Walking through the small alleyways lined with small wooden houses that were dilapidated and leaked during the rain, surrounded by the ragged children of commoners—none of this could hide the joy of the farmer leading them inside.
It was the joy of seeing hope. In his weathered, dark, wrinkled old face, and in the dust on the ground, everything in the world was exceptionally beautiful to him right now.
Young Yukino also smiled and asked curiously, "What kind of samurai is this?"
"He's a warrior monk!" The farmer grinned and said.
"A warrior monk? Could it be a monk wrapped in a turban and carrying various weapons?" Shirou asked.
"No, he's a bald monk carrying a spear, but he looks very strong," the farmer replied with a smile.
When Shirou led Souji and Nobu to their lodging, he saw that besides the four farmers, including the kind, blue-haired man, there was one additional person: a warrior monk.
"Welcome back, General! I was just about to send someone to look for you. Come, this is the compassionate Monk who is willing to help us fight the bandits." Tawara introduced the comrade he had found to Shirou and the others.
"I am undeserving of such praise. I am merely a slightly rash monk. Moreover, it is a pleasure to meet a master like you here," the warrior monk said with a smile.
"I am Shirou, the initiator of this fight. Please take good care of me," Shirou walked up and bowed to the warrior monk.
The other party quickly stood up. He was a lean monk, about half a head shorter than Muramasa, around 170 cm tall, but his eyes were bright and focused, indicating his extraordinary nature at a glance.
He returned the bow:
"My name is Hōzōin Inshun. I am willing to contribute my humble strength to this punitive expedition."
"Hōzōin!" Hearing this name, Souji, who was standing nearby, gasped.
If Sanada Yukimura represented the most famous spear-wielder among military commanders, then Hōzōin was the most famous name for spear-wielding among martial artists.
"Hahaha, I haven't seen anyone among the Heike's fierce generals with such incredible spearmanship," Tawara laughed heartily and praised him without reservation, as if the monk readily accepted any praise directed at a martial artist.
The Hōzōin temple, although not large in scale, held a similar status in the hearts of the people of Japan as the Shaolin Temple in China. Its founder, Hōzōin Kakuzenbō In'ei, created the most famous and practical Jūmonji yari (cross-shaped spear) in Japan. After gaining fame, he abandoned martial arts for Buddhism, established a temple, and lived a life of chanting sutras.
However, the spearmanship that was his life's work was not abandoned, so the monks in the temple also practiced the spear technique. In time, Hōzōin became a famous martial arts sanctuary, often challenged by martial artists.
The Inshun before them was the most outstanding among them. As the second successor of the Hōzōin-ryū spearmanship, he surpassed his master, creating new moves based on the original spearmanship and elevating the Hōzōin-ryū spearmanship to a miraculous level.
In folk tales, the story of Miyamoto Musashi forcibly hacking open the temple gate and demanding a life-and-death duel with Hōzōin Inshun is well known to the people of Japan.
At the time, Musashi used a real sword, while Inshun used a practice wooden staff fitted with a spearhead. The duel ended with neither side able to kill the other.
The tall, thin man wore a blue-gray monk's robe and a large white prayer bead necklace. There was an X-shaped scar on his shining forehead, and he never let go of the Jūmonji kama-yari (cross-shaped sickle-spear), which resembled a trident.
Although a monk, he mastered one of the finest spearmanship techniques in Japan. As long as he held the Jūmonji kama-yari, he could miraculously defend against and counter any attack, no matter how adverse the situation.
"Welcome to the team, Lord Inshun. We are truly grateful for your help," Shirou said happily. The powerful enemy they faced was indeed formidable, and the addition of such a master was the best possible outcome.
"No, we who have left home are compassionate. I simply do not wish to see these farmers starve to death because their hard-earned grain has been stolen. Rather, it is truly admirable that you, Lord Shirou, a samurai, were the first to agree to help the farmers and take the initiative to gather men," Hōzōin Inshun praised him.
"Please sit down and speak. I am not that admirable. I simply couldn't stand by, and I have been searching for an answer, so I am just following the path," Shirou said, shaking his head.
"An answer?" Hōzōin Inshun sat back down on the wooden floor and asked curiously.
"Yes, an answer to solving this era of chaos, or rather, solving humanity's fate of suffering," Shirou replied.
"That is a great undertaking, indeed, destiny... To want to solve this problem is like the great vow of Jizo Bodhisattva: 'Until the hells are empty, I will not attain Buddhahood,' wouldn't you say?" Hōzōin Inshun widened his mouth in surprise. He hadn't expected the man before him to have such a grand wish.
Shirou, feeling the residual consciousness of the body take hold once again, felt a sense of discouraging loss and smiled bitterly, shaking his head: "That's why I said I only seek an answer. I am not the kind of wise, sage-like great person who can do everything perfectly and be praised and remembered by everyone.
I also understand that it is impossible to achieve this with my own strength alone. It's just that if I don't find the answer, I will be troubled by this confusion my entire life. If I could know the answer, I could at least dedicate my utmost effort to achieving that goal."
At this moment, Hōzōin Inshun looked at Shirou with even more admiration, praising him: "Lord Shirou, you do not need to be so humble. This is like Shakyamuni(Buddha), who, to save all sentient beings, abandoned his throne, shaved his head to become an ascetic, seeking profound enlightenment of the world's truths, and thus saving the people."
Shirou, whose heart was filled with Muramasa's memories and influenced by the residual consciousness, continued: "To understand the world, I have traveled everywhere, visited elders in various places, and studied all fields of knowledge, whether it be Zen, Confucianism, history, military strategy, forging... but even now, I have not found the answer.
Regarding Buddhism, it advocates against killing, yet due to prolonged warfare, it has become people's spiritual sustenance and has become increasingly prosperous. The surrounding residents are emaciated and sickly, but the great temples can cast gold statues for the Buddha and afford the tall, strong warrior monks responsible for guarding the temple."
"That is a fact that this humble monk cannot refute. However, our temple also provides shelter to fleeing believers, but we cannot save more people," Hōzōin Inshun sighed and said.
"So why not just burn it down?" Nobu muttered from the side.
"As for the military, because some people establish meritorious service, receiving titles and ranks, even if the higher-ups don't want to fight, some in the lower and middle ranks still yearn to change their fate through war. When hatred and desire intertwine, war cannot be stopped. In the Nanboku-chō and Sengoku periods, even if the Shogunate could temporarily suppress the local warlords and daimyō, once the Shogunate weakened, war would return."
"Well, we depend on these wars for our livelihood," Tawara said with a bitter smile.
"And Confucianism, the ideas of loyalty, righteousness, propriety, and the people being more important than the ruler are excellent, but difficult to implement," Shirou continued.
"Are you suggesting, Shirou, that if the scholars of Japan change from samurai to literati like those in Huaxia, this constant era of war can be changed?" Nobu asked, crossing her arms. She frowned, clearly disagreeing with this point.
"No, the Imperial Examination system is not something Japan can easily adopt," Shirou shook his head. Moreover, he was just an old soldier skilled in blacksmithing. He might be able to occupy a few castles based on his martial prowess and superior weapons, but it was impossible for him to lead a nation to reform.
After all, with his loner-like personality, he couldn't possibly lead too many people to follow him and fight for his seemingly impossible ideal.
Managing a country and reforming its system were too difficult.
The same is true for justice; it is extremely complex and elusive...
"So, even now, I still haven't found the answer, and I haven't figured out what I should be doing most in this life. I apologize for telling you all these boring and unattractive things," Shirou said apologetically.
"No, no, General, I am also deeply grateful that you were willing to speak so candidly with us. At least, by joining this fight with you, I believe I have made the right choice," Tawara said with a hearty smile.
"As expected of Master. Although I don't fully understand, I will follow you," young Yukino, who had been listening quietly, looked at Shirou with admiration.
Hōzōin Inshun also laughed boldly and said: "Hahaha, this world is truly strange. Interesting people constantly emerge. Even here, he is a remarkable individual.
Lord Tawara's archery and golden sword are both incredible. He is a rare fierce general with a bold and kind personality, which is truly precious. And Lord Shirou is like iron that has been tempered and glows with heat. It is an honor for me to fight alongside you."
Thus, a very reliable comrade, the warrior monk Hōzōin Inshun, joined the team. The number of samurai members was now three.
"By the way, General, can you introduce the people you brought back with you?" Tawara asked, looking at the two girls who had followed him.
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