Chapter 158: Sword Saint Takeda

Kimura Kazuki left Yagyu Shizuka to practice on her own and followed Yagyu Kenichiro into the study room curiously.

The moment they entered the study, a middle-aged man was sitting on the main seat of the study room as he studied Kimura Kazuki scrupulously.

Upon seeing the man, Kimura Kazuki was startled.

Yagyu Kenichiro took a deep breath, looked at Kimura Kazuki, and whispered, "Can you see him?"

"Yes." Kimura Kazuki understood Yagyu Kenichiro's question as the man who was sitting in the study room was an apparition.

Yagyu Kenichiro was able to grasp the situation, yet he was extremely astonished. So, what father said was true? He could not help but ask, "Kimura-Kun, are you really a sword saint? Which stage of sword power are you at right now? Have you... already achieved the Kenshin State?"

Kimura Kazuki was not confused when Yagyu Kenichiro mentioned about the sword power. Sword power was used in the Japanese Ancient Kendo Community to assess one's ability.

In Japan, one was required to master the sword power before they were allowed to begin their cultivation. If one failed to comprehend the sword power, their practice would be very restricted regardless of their strength.

Just like the tales, even the best common man would always lose to a true cultivator.

During the Dharma Ending Age and in an environment with weak reiki, even if one's sword power was mature, it would still be challenging to practice.

The sword power was divided by stages. The first stage of sword power resembled the First Foundation State.

After the stages of the sword power were completed, one would achieve Kenshin State, which was similar to the Metamorphosis State. This was how one's strength was ranked in Japan, both before and after the recuperation of the reiki.

Upon listening to his words, Kimura Kazuki answered with a silent smile.

"This is my father, Yagyu Yasuyo." Seeing that, Yagyu Kenichiro knew he was being insensible. He restrained his curiosity, pointed at the apparition, and said with a sombre expression. Kimura Kazuki nodded without speaking. Yagyu Yasuyo looked like a middle-aged man and appeared younger than Yagyu Kenichiro, but, after all, apparitions took on their appearances right before death. Kimura Kazuki could easily deduce that Yagyu Yasuyo had passed on for approximately 20 years as Yagyu Kenichiro was already in his midlife now.

Mulling over the thought, he glanced at Yagyu Yasuyo and said softly, "I'm sorry, but my father is not in his best condition."

"I'm... certainly not in my best state, and I can't stay for long," Yagyu Yasuyo spoke in a hoarse voice. At this moment, his turbid eyes began to show a slight hint of liveliness. Yet, he stared at Kimura Kazuki with an unwavering gaze and said in a polite tone, "To the honorable sword saint, I invited you here today to ask for your favor. If you can help me, you can absorb all the reiki emitted from my spirit after the task is completed. Besides, I will also pass you the ring."

Yagyu Yasuyo's gaze landed on his son as he ended his sentence.

Noticing his father's gaze, Yagyu Kenichiro removed the old and simple ring on his finger and handed it to Kimura Kazuki.

Kimura Kazuki received the ring and gently ran his finger through it. He realized that this ring was very similar to the jade pendant that belonged to Nakagawa Aokiji's mother, albeit their different physical forms.

The jade pendant was engraved with Spirit Tranquilizing Formation and could tame a soul. In 10 years, Furuhashi Sakurakyu's soul that was lying dormant inside had materialized.

On the other hand, this ring was engraved with the Soul Stripping Formation. This particular formation was somewhat complicated, but it was homologous to the Spirit Tranquilizing Formation. Both of the formations had a similarity of some 80 percent.

Of course, the Soul Stripping Formation was not devilish.

There were kind and evil spirits. If the ring was attached by a kind spirit, then it could tame a soul, just like the jade pendant. However, if it was possessed by a demon, the Soul Stripping Formation could nurture the good part and eliminate the evil side of the soul. Then, the soul would be protected and kept sane, preventing it from getting swayed by evilness again.

Looking at Yagyu Yasuyo, Kimura Kazuki could deduce that he was a demon from the intense resentment and hatred Kimura Kazuki noticed in Yagyu Yasuyo's eyes. The effect of the ring was proven with Yagyu Yasuyo's current gentle attitude and the absence of odor around him. If he was able to obtain this ring, he could suppress a demon in the future with the Soul Stripping Formation and temporarily tame the devilish soul. Then, he could probably try to fulfill their obsessiveness. But... looking at Yagyu Yasuyo's situation, it seemed impossible.

The Soul Stripping Formation was merely able to keep a demon rational, but could not turn them into a spirit. But as he looked at Yagyu Yasuyo, there was still a little of conscience in his soul. It seemed like if Yagyu Yasuyo's obsessiveness was fulfilled, the quality of his reiki would possibly be as good as a spirit's.

"What is it about?" With that idea in mind, Kimura Kazuki placed the ring on the table. He sat in front of Yagyu Yasuyo and appeared ready to listen to Yagyu Yasuyo.

Clearly, Yagyu Yasuyo knew that once an apparition's obsessiveness was fulfilled, they would turn into a cloud of reiki. He reckoned that Yagyu Kenichiro had definitely sent someone, probably a member of the Deity Rising Palace, to check out this place on his behalf during these 20 years. Otherwise, he would not have known about this.

"I need your help to kill a man," Yagyu Yasuyo said in a zealous tone that was filled with intense hatred.

Kimura Kazuki furrowed his brows, "I don't kill innocent men."

"He isn't innocent," Yagyu Kenichiro quickly added, signaling for his father to rest, as he saw how unwell his father was.

If his father had not stayed in the ring for these years, his father's intellect would not have lasted and would be assimilated by that strong hatred. Thinking of that, Kenichiro continued, "27 years ago, my father received a then down-and-out swordsman by the name of Hiroshi Takeda." His gaze then landed on Kimura Kazuki. Seeing how Kimura Kazuki's expression remained unchanged, he continued, "Before you were known, Hiroshi Takeda was Japan's only sword saint. Although my ancestor, Yagyu Isshin, had the title of sword saint, he did not reach the realm of the sword saint. But, Hiroshi Takeda had certainly set foot on the realm of the sword saint."

"You want me to kill Hiroshi Takeda?" Kimura Kazuki looked at Yagyu Yasuyo.

Yagyu Yasuyo struggled to recompose, but still nodded, "Please, kill him! I'll then be able to let go of this hatred!"

Kimura Kazuki did not answer. Then, he signaled Yagyu Kenichiro to continue speaking.

"27 years ago, Takeda's family was killed by his enemy. At that time, Hiroshi Takeda was out and managed to escape from that raid, but he was hunted down. My father saved him and kept his whereabouts confident." Yagyu Kenichiro took a deep breath, "Then... before Hiroshi Takeda left, he killed my parents!"

Kimura Kazuki listened attentively without saying a word, but he could sense that Yagyu Yasuyo's resentment was growing stronger.

"Before I died, I thought he was afraid that I'd give away his whereabouts and killed Kiko and I. But, to my disbelief..." Yagyu Yasuyo paused. He closed his eyes, hiding his crimson eyes, "After Hiroshi Takeda killed Kiko and me, he paid his respects to our bodies, and explained that he killed us because he was practicing the Merciless Nature Stroke. When Kiko and I took him in, his heart was filled with gratitude. Unfortunately, for him, this feeling of gratitude made him weak, and eventually, he had to kill us."

When Yagyu Yasuyo died, he refused to accept the truth and was aggrieved about his death. His apparition was absorbed into the ring that he was wearing on his finger.

That was how he overheard Hiroshi Takeda's words. However... this had lead Yagyu Yasuyo's grudge to become more potent.

"He was atrocious." Kimura Kazuki had now learned about Hiroshi Takeda's character. He looked at Yagyu Yasuyo and said solemnly, "If what you said is true, then I'll take on this mission."

Upon hearing that, Yagyu Yasuyo could no longer hold himself together. He quickly disappeared into the ring before the hatred consumed him.