Akane had no idea what Zhang Heng was up to tonight.
Before he left, all he said to her was, “Going to work. Don’t leave any food for me,” before he walked out of the dojo with his sword.
Akane thought it was just the regular affair since Zhang Heng had gone out for work a couple of times before, though not often, so this time should not be any different.
The fact was, she did not have the capacity to worry about such things right now. Ever since their trip to the temple, her feelings towards Zhang Heng had changed. She did not know what it was, or perhaps she had an inkling of what it was, yet unwilling to admit it. Women’s minds were as murky as the reflection of the full moon on the water.
Other than her relationship with Zhang Heng, Akane had other worries too—the most important one being Koyama dojo’s survival and development. Because they needed students, she was forced to offer free training and meals to attract poor parents in sending their kids to the dojo. However, it also meant that her funds would be sorely strained.
Even though Zhang Heng rejected her offer to let him lease the yard for free, the rental alone was insufficient to feed that many mouths. Akane had been agonizing over ways to increase the dojo’s source of income but to no avail.
As she racked her brain, she noticed a stranger standing outside the dojo looking in. Pointing sternly at the bokuto on his chest, she barked, “Who sent you here?!”
“Huh?!” the frightened stranger stumbled backward.
“Is this Koyama dojo?”
“Can’t you see read what’s written on the plaque above the door?” Akane did not let her guard down.
“I… I saw it. It’s just that I didn’t expect it to be so… direct,” said the stranger. “Have you come to be beaten up?!” Akane almost shouted. How dare this shifty-looking bugger criticize the dojo! “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” The stranger quickly apologized. “I know that Koyama doesn’t like chasing fame and fortune. This is just the right place… To tell you the truth, I actually came here to be an apprentice.”
“Huh?” Akane withdrew her bokuto and looked at the stranger with suspicion. “Why have you come to Koyama dojo to be an apprentice?”
The stranger was surprised by the question and Akane’s skepticism.
“Because… I want to be the best samurai in the world?” answered the stranger cautiously.
That expression combined with his seemingly wretched appearance was hilarious; even more so, the solution to his ambition to become the world’s number one swordsman was to come to the impoverished and starving Koyama dojo. Akane was convinced the stranger in front of her was just tugging her chains. So, she raised her book again and growled, “You arrogant bastard, prepare to die!” “What?!” The stranger shouted. He could not understand why he had to be punished for telling her the truth. Could this be part of an entrance test? No wonder the people of this school were so fierce.
Zhang Heng had gone to the meeting place to meet up with the French merchant. Today, Gabriel was dressed in a tuxedo, and his hair meticulously combed, and he looked refreshed. When Gabriel saw Zhang Heng arrive, he waved and announced their destination. “Hi, Mr. Yuta. We’ll be going to Gion tonight.” Gion was located to the east of the Kamo River. Originally, it was just a street in front of Yasaka Shrine. Then in 1665, the Edo Shogunate allowed the establishment of tea houses, before being eventually developed into a famous hanamachi or geisha district. Gion saw its golden age around the Edo period. It was said that there were three thousand geishas here and was the preferred spot for all men to satisfy their desires.
The person who invited Gabriel to this place clearly knew of the French merchant’s hobbies.
But Gabriel was in no hurry to get there. He brought Zhang Heng to a stall for food and only left when the sky turned dark. They made their way slowly to Gion, confirming Zhang Heng’s theory. Obviously, it was inconvenient for the person the Frenchman was meeting to be seen in public, which was why the banquet was delayed to this hour. Anybody wanting to join the meeting would have the cover of night, thus avoid being seen by anyone. Could the person be Kirino Toshiaki, the one everyone in Kyoto was looking for?
Even though Zhang Heng hoped this was the answer, he knew that the cunning French merchant only contacted the anti-shogunates to discuss business. Moreover, an executioner like Kirino Toshiaki knew nothing about business at all. Of course, it did not mean that he wouldn’t want to tonight. Even if he wasn’t the host of tonight’s banquet, there was a chance he could be bodyguard, so Zhang Heng did not completely give up hope.
Zhang Heng followed Gabriel into a tea house named Ukichi, and immediately, he could sense that something was different. From the waiters at the entrance, the dancers they passed in the corridor, to the smiling lady boss, Zhang Heng could sense that all of them had martial arts training before.
Zhang Heng realized that his theory was flawed. The host had chosen this place not to satisfy Gabriel’s manly needs but because this was the secret meeting place of anti-shogunates. Zhang Heng was even more curious about the host of the banquet tonight. Taking such measures to maintain confidentiality and security could only mean that this person was someone big. But Zhang Heng pretended to be indifferent.
They walked through a corridor and came to the middle of the courtyard, where a hostess blocked Zhang Heng’s path.
She bowed politely and said, “Sir, Ukichi is a place for pleasure. Please, leave your katana behind.”
“But I’m not here to seek pleasure,” answered Zhang Heng.
The hostess merely smiled in reply but did not move away.
Seeing the tension build up between his translator and the hostess, Gabriel quickly interjected. “It’s alright, you can leave your sword with them for safekeeping. It’s just a banquet. There won’t be any danger. You can come back and collect it after dinner.”
“This is a relic from my ancestors. I cannot part with it,” Zhang Heng insisted. The truth was, he had simply borrowed it a few days before, and it happened to be the sharpest and sturdiest one. He brought it with him for the battle that might take place tonight.
