Chapter 150 Chapter 03

"Haven't you come back yet?" Yagyu Hyogo personally went to the gate of the city to inquire about Atong. After Atong rode Uginosuke's cow and went out, he didn't come back after a while, which caused a commotion. Because a letter came from Edo Castle, when Hyogo received it and wanted to pass it on to Atong, it was discovered that she was not in the city. "Have you sent someone to Tsukase to look for it?" Hyogo asked. "No problem. Seven or eight people have already gone to look for it." The retainers answered in unison. "Where's Sukuro?"

"Out of town." "Are you looking for her?" "Yes. Before he went out, he said that he would find Nara all the way from Prajna." "I don't know what's going on now?" Hyogo sighed heavily. He has a pure love for Atong.The reason why he realizes that he must do this is because he knows who Atong loves in his heart. Deep in her heart lives a man named Musashi.But Hyogo still likes her.During the long journey from Hiwa in Edo to Yagyu, and when his grandfather died, Atong was always by his side and took good care of him.From these two places, Hyogo gradually understood Atong's personality of being soft on the outside but strong on the inside.

How happy is a man who can make such a woman miss him! He even envied Musashi. Even so, Hyogo has no ambition to secretly steal love.His words and deeds completely follow the rules of bushido.Even love is no exception. Although he has never met, Hyogo can almost imagine what kind of character Musashi, the man chosen by Atong, is.He secretly made up his mind that one day in the future, A-Tong would be safely handed over to that person.In this way, not only can the grandfather's will be fulfilled, but also the pure love of a warrior can be briefly expressed. However-- The letter he received today was from Takuan in Edo.The date was the end of October last year.Do not know why?The New Year has passed, but it was not delivered to him until today.

The content of the letter is as follows—— Thanks to Hojo-sama and his uncle Tajima-sama's recommendation, Musashi is about to be employed as one of the general's masters of war... and so on. In addition, he also said that if Musashi takes office, he will have a house to live in immediately, and he cannot be left alone to take care of him. I hope Atong can rush to Edo, and I will talk about the rest in detail next time... How happy she would be! Hyogo empathized, took the letter to Atong's room, but found that Atong was missing, which caused the commotion. Not long after, Zukuro came back with Atong.

The other samurai who were looking for Tsukase met Uginosuke on the way and took him back to the city. Ushinosuke apologized to everyone one by one as if he had committed a crime. "Excuse me! It's my fault." And said: "My mother must be very worried. I have to go back to Araki Village first." "What nonsense. If you go back now, if you are caught by Tsukase's ronin halfway, you will die this time." Sukuro scolded him, and the other warriors also said: "You can stay in the city tonight! Go back tomorrow." Ushinosuke and other servants were arranged to spend the night in the woodshed of the outer city.

Yagyu Hyogo took out the letter from Edo in a room and handed it to Atong. "What are you going to do now?" He asked what Atong meant. Because Uncle Munemo will be on vacation in April and will return to the city from Edo.He asked whether Atong should wait until then to return to Edo with his uncle, or go alone first? As soon as Atong heard Ze'an's letter, even the ink stains felt nostalgic. Coupled with the news in the letter, Musashi will soon be an official in the shogunate and will have his own mansion in Edo. There has been no news for several years, and now that she has learned the news from the letter, it is almost like a year for her, how can she wait until April?

Her expression couldn't hide the joy of wanting to run over immediately. "If possible, I will leave tomorrow." She whispered her desire to leave. Hyogo nodded. Hyogo itself could not stay here for long.Next year, I will be hired by Owari's Tokugawa Yoshinao to take up the post.Then I plan to stop by Nagoya. But the trip can only take place after the uncle returns and a grand funeral is held for the grandfather.Hyogo told Atong that he wanted to drop Atong halfway, but now, Atong had to go on the road alone. The letter from Edo was sent out at the end of October last year, and after the New Year's Eve, it was not delivered here until today.It can be seen that the security of the post or accommodation on the way is calm on the surface, but in fact it has not yet fully entered the orbit.Hyogo thought it was quite worrying for a woman to travel alone, but since Atong had made up his mind, it was inconvenient to stop him.

Hyogo was sure again what she meant. "no problem." Atong was very grateful for his care. "I'm used to traveling alone. And I know a thing or two about the warmth and coldness of the world, so please don't worry about it." There will be a date later——this evening, everyone hosted a banquet to see her off. In the early morning of the next day, the weather was fine and birds were singing and flowers were fragrant everywhere. Zhu Jiulang and other familiar retainers all stood on both sides of the middle door to see her off. "correct!" As soon as Zukuro saw Atong, he immediately told the people around him:

"At least take her to the Uji Bridge! Last night, Uginosuke also lived in the firewood house in the city, so I can borrow his cattle." After speaking, immediately send someone to call him. "It's really thoughtful." Everyone also agrees.Although he said goodbye to A-Tong, he held her back and asked her to wait near the middle gate.Go and call the samurai back and say: "I didn't see Uginosuke. I heard from the servant that Uginosuke crossed Tsukase in the dark and went back to Araki Village last night." "What? He went back last night?" Sukuro was taken aback.

Hearing what happened last night, everyone was deeply surprised by Ushinosuke's courage. "Then bring the horse over here." One of the samurai rushed to the stable immediately after Sukukuro ordered him to do so. "No, it's too luxurious for a woman to ride a horse." Atong declined, but Hyogo insisted. "Then, I'd rather be obedient than respectful." After speaking, he rode on the horse led by the samurai. The horse carried A Tong from the middle gate to the gentle slope of the gate.This road was pulled by a little samurai to Uji. A Tong rode on the horseback, turned her head and said goodbye to everyone one by one. When she turned her head, a plum blossom protruding from the edge of the cliff brushed her cheek, and two or three petals fluttered down, exuding a fragrance.

"Goodbye!" Hyogo was speechless, but his eyes expressed everything in his heart.The fragrance of flowers on the slope came faintly. Hyogo felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness—although he was reluctant to give up, he still secretly prayed that Atong would be happy. Everyone watched Atong leave, and her figure gradually disappeared at the end of the road under the city.Hyogo couldn't bear to leave, so everyone left him alone. I really envy Musashi. Hyogo's lonely heart was secretly sad.At some point, Uginosuke, who had returned to Araki Village last night, stood behind him. "Mr. Hyogo." "Oh! So it was you." "That's right." "Did you come home last night?" "I'm afraid my mother will worry." "Did you go back through Tsukase?" "Yes, you can't go back to the village without passing through there." "Aren't you afraid?" "not at all……" "What about this morning?" "Passed by this morning too." "Have you been spotted by the wanderers?" "Mr. Hyogo, why are you so worried! How strange! I heard that those ronin who lived in the mountains knew that the woman they teased yesterday was from Yagyu Castle. They were afraid that Yagyu Castle would come to prosecute the teacher, so I didn't know it at night. Where did you hide?" "Hahaha... Really? Little Maotou, what are you doing here this morning?" "me?" Ugly help was a little shy. "Mr. Kimura praised the wild sweet potatoes in our mountains yesterday as delicious. I asked my mother to help me dig some sweet potatoes." "yes?" Hyogo's lonely look disappeared.The simple mountain boy in front of him made up for the emptiness he felt when he lost Atong. "So, have you had some good soup today?" "If Mr. Hyogo likes to eat, I will dig more." "Hahaha!" "Where's Miss Atong?" "I just left for Edo." "Huh? Edo... So, I asked her yesterday, and she hasn't told Mr. Hyogo and Mr. Kimura?" "What did you entrust her with?" "Something that keeps me working in town." "Working in the city? You are still too young. When you grow up, I will definitely hire you. Why do you want to serve the public here?" "I want to learn swordsmanship." "Ok……" "Please teach me. When my mother is still alive, I must show her." "Who did you learn swordsmanship from?" "I learned from trees, birds and beasts, and explored alone." "that's fine." "But--" "Come and find me at my residence in the future." "Where will you live?" “I will probably live in Nagoya!” "Is Nagoya the Nagoya of Owari? But, my parents are not far away!" Every time his mother was mentioned, tears would glisten in Uglyosuke's eyes. Hyogo was moved by him, and suddenly said: "Come!" "..." "Go to the martial arts hall. I want to try your skills and see if you are qualified to practice martial arts." "what?" Uginosuke thought he was dreaming.The big martial arts gym in this city is the palace that he dreamed of since he was a child! Mr. Hyogo is not a member of the Yagyu family, nor is he a retainer, but the Yagyu family.It's unbelievable that he would agree to go to Liusheng Martial Arts. Uginosuke was overjoyed, and had no time to ask questions. Seeing Hyogo walking in front, he hurried after him. "Wash your feet clean." "yes." Uglynosuke washed his feet by the sink, even his nails were cleaned.He had never stepped into a martial arts gym, and now he finally got his wish. The floor of the martial arts hall was as bright as a mirror, reflecting Uginosuke's figure.Surrounded by solid wooden walls and huge beams, it looks majestic and majestic. "Take a wooden sword." Here, even Hyogo's voice sounds full of majesty.Rows of wooden swords hung on the walls on both sides of the front of the martial arts hall, and Uglysuke chose a black Tochigi sword. Hyogo also took a handful.Holding the wooden sword straight, he walked to the center. "Are you ready?" Uglynosuke raised his sword parallel to his shoulder. "All right." Hyogo held the sword in his right hand, but did not lift it up, and only stood slightly away from his body. Uginosuke pointed the wooden sword at him, and the hairs all over his body stood on end like a hedgehog. --I am coming. Ugly assistant gestured with his eyes.Hyogo said he could attack, and Uglynosuke tensed his shoulders. "meet!" As soon as Uglyosuke spoke out, Hyogo greeted him with vigor, and hit him on the waist with a sword in one hand. "I haven't lost yet." Ugly assistant yelled. Then, he jumped up with both feet and jumped over Hyogo's shoulder. Hyogo lowered his body, and easily grabbed Uginosuke's feet with his left hand. Due to the relationship between speed and strength, Uginosuke spun like a bamboo dragonfly, and his body hit Hyogo's back. Chou's assistant let go, and the wooden sword was thrown far away.Still unyielding, Uginosuke turned over and jumped up, about to pick up the wooden sword. "Okay." Hyogo was talking on the other end. Ugly assistant turned around and said: "I haven't lost yet." He picked up the wooden sword again and attacked Hyogo like an eagle. Hyogo stood erect with his sword raised, fearless.As a result, Uglyosuke stopped halfway. Tears filled his eyes with annoyance.Hyogo kept watching his expression, thinking: Looks like a samurai! Even so, he pretended to be angry. "Little Maotou!" "yes." "You rude guy, how dare you jump over my shoulder." "..." "As an aboriginal, how dare you be so bold—kneel down for me." Uglyosuke knelt down. Although he didn't know what was going on, he immediately bowed down and apologized.Hyogo dropped the wooden sword, drew out his saber, and pointed at Uginosuke's face. "I'm going to chop off your head." "What? Beheading?" "Put your head out." "Your behavior just now insulted the dignity of the warrior, I can't bear it." "That's why you want to chop off my head?" "That's right." Uginosuke stared at Hyogo for a long time, and then said with a conscious expression: "Mother! I'm going to be buried in the city, you will be sad, even if the child is unfilial." After finishing speaking, he turned to face Araki Village, and quietly stretched out his neck. Hyogo smiled slightly, sheathed his sword, patted Uginosuke on the back and said: "OK OK." He comforted Uglyosuke. "I was joking just now. You are just a child, how could I kill you?" "Huh? Are you kidding me?" "You can rest assured." "You said just now that you must abide by the etiquette of strategists, but you made such a joke. Is this okay?" "Don't be angry. I'm just trying to see if you are qualified to practice swords." "But, I thought it was true." Only then did Uglysuke feel relieved.At the same time, he also felt very angry.Hyogo understood how he felt and asked him kindly. "You just said that you haven't learned swordsmanship from anyone, isn't that true? At first I pushed you to the wall on purpose. Most people, even adults, would turn their backs to the wall and surrender. You jumped over my shoulder—this kind of kung fu is not a skill that someone who has practiced wooden swords for three or four years can have." "But... I really haven't learned swordsmanship." "you're lying." Hyogo didn't believe his words. "Don't hide it anymore. You must have been guided by a good teacher, why don't you say the name of the master." Ugly help was speechless. "Think about it carefully, you must have learned from someone!" Hearing what he said, Uginosuke suddenly raised his head. "Ah! Yes, yes. I did learn." "Who did I learn from?" "not human." "Don't people learn from Tengu?" "It's hemp embryo." "what?" "Hemp embryos. They are hemp embryos for birds!" "It's so strange, why is Ma embryozi your teacher?" "From our village to the deep mountains, there are many ninjas from Iga and Koka living there. I have seen these Iga ninjas practice, and I also practice like them." "Huh?...Is it hemp embryo?" "Yes, sow hemp embryos in early spring, and slowly the hemp embryos will grow green seedlings from the soil." "Then how did you practice?" "Practice jumping. I jump over the seedlings of hemp embryos every day. As the weather gets warmer, the seedlings of hemp embryos continue to grow, and it grows very fast. I practice jumping in the morning and evening—one foot, two feet, three feet, Four feet... Ma is constantly growing taller, if you are a little lazy, you will lose to Ma, and you will not be able to jump it in the end..." "Oh?... Do you practice like this?" "Yes, I practiced from spring to autumn, I practiced last year, and I also practiced the year before..." "I see." Hyogo patted his knee, very moved.At this time, Kimura Sukuro called him outside the martial arts hall. "Mr. Hyogo, another letter from Edo..." After speaking, he entered the opening hall with the letter in his hand. The letter was written by Ze'an again. The things mentioned in the previous letter suddenly changed. I just received the first letter from Ze'an, and this is the second letter. "Help Kuro!" "exist." "A Tong should not have gone far, right?" After reading the letter, Hyogo looked anxious. "Well... Even if they ride horses, they should not exceed two miles." "Then I should be able to catch up, and I'll set off now." "What happened?" "This letter says that Musashi was supposed to be introduced to the general's family, but it was canceled for some reason." "Huh? Canceled?" "A Tong didn't know about it, and rushed to Edo happily. If she found out, she would be very sad." "Then I'll go after it! Give me the letter, please." "No, I'll go... Ugly, I have to go out because of this urgent matter, you can come back later!" "yes." "You train hard. You should also be filial to your mother." After Hyogo finished speaking, the person had already walked outside the door.He pulled a horse out of the stable and ran towards Zhi's direction. but-- He was halfway there when he suddenly thought of another thing. Whether Musashi can be the military teacher of the general's family has nothing to do with Atong's love. She was just going to meet the Musashi people. What's more, she couldn't wait until April and set off alone. Even if he showed the letter to Atong. Shall we come back to the city first and then talk? Presumably it is impossible for her to come back and wait in vain.Doing so will only make Ah Tung sadder and make her journey even darker. "...Wait a minute!" Hyogo is now nearly a mile away from Yagyu Castle, and if he only needs to drive another mile, he may catch up with Atong.But he knew it was pointless to do so. As long as Atong meets Musashi and the two tell each other about divorce, other things are not a problem at all. He slowly turned the horse back to Yagyu Castle. The weeds on the side of the road are sprouting, and Hyogo is also strolling leisurely in this spring.However, deep in his heart was hidden a lingering knot. I really want to see her again. she told herself calmly. No-- Hyogo shook his head resolutely. Because Hyogo secretly prayed that Atong could live happily.Samurai also have obsessions as well as ignorance and infatuation.From the point of view of Bushido, however, this was only a flash in the pan.If you can overcome your troubles, you will find another village where the willows are dark and the flowers are bright, and you will find another world of paradise.Youth is not just a burning love affair!The era is opening its turbulent hands, calling for the younger generation, as if to say: Don't be attracted by the wild flowers on the roadside!You should seize the time and catch up with the trend of the times!