"Stand up!" Zhou Ming withdrew his foot and commanded again.
This time, the samurai obediently stood up, looking at Zhou Ming with a confused expression.
"Tell me your name."
"Takenouchi Seita."
"Are you and those other people all from Takenouchi Dansui-ryū? What is your relationship with this school, since your surname is Takenouchi?"
"Oda, Yamashita, Horii, Matsuda, we are all Catalogues of Takenouchi Dansui-ryū. The current Dochochu of the Takenouchi Dojo is my father."
In this state, Takenouchi Seita answered all of Zhou Ming's questions, and soon, Zhou Ming obtained a lot of information from him.
It turned out that Takenouchi Seita was the youngest son of Takenouchi Jun, the current Dochochu of Takenouchi Dansui-ryū.
Having two older brothers, Takenouchi Seita had virtually no chance of inheriting the Takenouchi Dojo. Therefore, his father doted on him the most since childhood, never forcing him to practice the martial arts of Takenouchi Dansui-ryū, and even willing to spend money to support his beloved painting career.
However, all of this changed a year ago.
In this world, there are many martial arts schools, and conflicts between different schools are almost commonplace.
However, due to the rulers' demands, large-scale armed conflicts between schools were impossible. The most common way to resolve disputes was through arranged duels.
A year ago, Ōishi Shinpū-ryū, the sworn enemy of Takenouchi Dansui-ryū, produced a Genius. He reached the Rank of Menkyo within just half a year of joining, and then was brought by people from Ōishi Shinpū-ryū to challenge Takenouchi Dansui-ryū.
The result was tragic. Takenouchi Seita's eldest brother was cut down on the spot, and his second brother, though he miraculously survived, was paralyzed in bed and could never stand up again.
While Takenouchi Dansui-ryū suffered a complete defeat in this conflict, the more serious problem was the vacant position of the next Dochochu, as the two legitimate heirs were one dead and one crippled.
According to the rules, either the original third-in-line heir, Takenouchi Seita, would succeed, or an outstanding Disciple would be chosen from the Dojo as the heir.
To prevent the Dochochu's position from falling into the hands of an outsider, Takenouchi Jun forcefully compelled Takenouchi Seita to abandon painting and turn to practicing martial arts, pushing him into the heir's position.
Takenouchi Seita had a weak personality since childhood, with no desire to compete or excel, completely different from his naturally strong eldest brother and his sunny, outgoing second brother.
His martial arts talent was also poor. Even though Takenouchi Jun taught him everything he knew, guiding him in martial arts without reservation, his progress in martial arts was still very slow.
This made Takenouchi Jun increasingly disappointed in him, and his temper became more irritable, forcing him to practice martial arts even more roughly, often resorting to beatings or scolding at the slightest displeasure.
However, such strict education only made Takenouchi Seita more averse to practicing martial arts, while also making him more cautious about his words and actions, fearing that he might accidentally anger his father and provoke his temper. Over time, his personality became even more timid and cowardly.
Hence, the scene today: Takenouchi Seita, as a samurai, did not even have the courage to draw his sword against Zhou Ming, and his pleas for mercy were so smooth.
"What do you mean by Catalogues and Menkyo that you just mentioned? Are they Rank divisions of martial arts proficiency?"
"Yes, Sir, these are unified standards set by the Dojo to assess the martial arts proficiency of its Disciples, divided into four Ranks: Kirigami, Catalogue, Menkyo, and Kaiden."
Takenouchi Seita quickly explained.
Kirigami is the term for an 入門 Disciple, someone who has just begun to learn the school's martial arts and is not yet skilled. They are not even allowed to state the name of their school when going out to duel, lest they lose and bring shame to the Dojo.
Catalogue means that after crossing the 入門 stage, one begins to learn techniques and Moves, which is equivalent to being formally taught true skills.
And after long-term practice at the Catalogue stage, until one passes the teacher's approval and reaches the Rank of Menkyo, one is qualified to proudly declare their school and challenge others everywhere.
Finally, Kaiden means having learned all the techniques of that school, truly a master within a school, a pillar-like figure. A school at most has only a few Kaiden.
"Take me to your Takenouchi Dansui-ryū Dojo."
At Zhou Ming's command, the dazed Takenouchi Seita immediately led the way without hesitation.
Zhou Ming stepped over the bodies on the ground, ignoring the terrified gazes of those around him who desperately wanted to flee, and strode forward along the street. Everyone along the way quickly made way, fearing that blocking his path would result in being cut down by his sword.
"Let me ask you again, what area is this? Whose Daimyo's territory is it?"
As the two walked, Zhou Ming continued with his next question.
"Uh." Even under the effect of the Bewitching Soul Gu, Takenouchi Seita was somewhat dazed, seemingly a little surprised why Zhou Ming would ask such a well-known question.
However, he did not remain dazed for long and quickly answered Zhou Ming's question: "This is Koriyama Castle, belonging to Lord Oda Heizo's territory…"
Under Takenouchi Seita's description, the image of the Daimyo named Oda Heizo gradually became clear.
He was thirty-four years old this year, his territory was hereditary, he enjoyed beautiful women and delicious food, his troops were not particularly strong, and there were no rumors of any ambitious actions. He seemed content with the status quo, thoroughly enjoying his current life.
Although Oda Heizo did not impose any harsh laws to exploit the common people, there were terrifying rumors such as "ordering the beheading of a chef because the food was not delicious" or "demoting a family to slavery because their mischievous child did not Move out of the way of his procession in time."
However, whether these were mere rumors, or actually true, or if he acted one way in public and another in private, could not be obtained from others.
"In this era, the country has laws, and each Daimyo's territory also has laws, with clear class divisions, and the laws have different requirements for different classes..."
"If a commoner kills someone on the street, it's usually a death sentence. If a samurai kills someone on the street, it depends on who was killed and why. If it's a samurai duel, and one dies in defeat, then it's mostly handed over to their respective Dojos for resolution, not judged by law."
"If a samurai kills a commoner, there's also the 'Kirisute Gomen' right, where their honor was offended by rude behavior and they retaliated by killing, allowing them to be directly acquitted, at most paying a small sum to settle the matter."
"As for nobles killing people, hehe…"
"What a backward and chaotic era!"
Zhou Ming expressed such an emotion.
"However, it is precisely such an era, such a world, that allows Reincarnators to act with fewer scruples and to do as they please!"
Zhou Ming looked up at the building in front of him, the plaque hanging on the gate reading "Takenouchi Dansui-ryū," and said with a sneer in his heart.
Then, he took large strides, stepped over the threshold, and entered the Dojo.
"Stop, who are you? Eh? Takenouchi-kun!"
Two samurai, seeing Zhou Ming enter, quickly stepped forward to block him and ask questions.
"Tell them I'm here to challenge Takenouchi Dansui-ryū, and have their Dochochu, Takenouchi Jun, come out."
Zhou Ming did not speak directly to the two men but whispered to Takenouchi Seita.
Takenouchi Seita immediately loudly proclaimed Zhou Ming's words, his tone as devout as if announcing an imperial edict, his voice booming and almost echoing through half the Dojo.
"Takenouchi-kun, what's wrong with you! How can you, as the heir of Takenouchi Dansui-ryū, say such a thing!"
"Baka! You Demonic Technique, have you used an evil Demonic Technique to control Takenouchi-kun!"
One of the samurai looked at Takenouchi Seita with a worried expression, while the other, with a furious face, drew his sword at Zhou Ming.
"Heh heh, you have the courage to draw your sword at me, not bad. Then let's start with you!"
A flash of sword light from Zhou Ming's waist, a crisp clang in the air, followed by a clatter.
The samurai's long sword was only half-left in his hand, the other half bounced twice on the ground before lying quietly there.
Zhou Ming held his long sword against the samurai's neck and asked, "Do you surrender?"
The samurai stared blankly at the broken sword in his hand, seemingly still unable to believe that his sword had been cut so easily.
"Baka, are you trying to bully Takenouchi Dansui-ryū into thinking we have no one!"
The other man shouted angrily, straining his voice to call for more fellow Disciples.
Immediately, samurai rushed out from the Dojo, quickly surrounding Zhou Ming in three inner and three outer circles, each glaring at Zhou Ming menacingly.
"What, do you want to gang up on me? Is this the Bushido spirit of your Takenouchi Dansui-ryū!"
Zhou Ming sneered, deliberately mocking them loudly.
At this moment, shouts came from outside the crowd.
"Move aside, everyone Move aside!"
Where the voice sounded, the crowd parted, and three young men were seen escorting a middle-aged man as they walked in.
"Young man, I am Takenouchi Jun. You have brazenly trespassed into our Takenouchi Dojo. Are you here to challenge my Takenouchi Dansui-ryū?"
The middle-aged man spoke in a deep, low voice, his gaze sharp, exuding an intimidating aura without anger.
"Challenge? Heh heh, I've merely come to demand an explanation!" Zhou Ming gently waved his hand, beckoning Takenouchi Seita forward: "Narrate the events to your Dochochu."
"Yes!" Takenouchi Seita obediently complied, recounting in full how Oda and the others had provoked Zhou Ming, and how they had been cut down one by one.
However, looking at his son's meek and subservient demeanor, Takenouchi Jun didn't hear a word of what Takenouchi Seita said. He only felt overwhelming shame and burning rage, and directly raised his hand to stop Takenouchi Seita from continuing.
"No need to say more!" Takenouchi Jun brandished the sword at his side, his eyes sharp and fixed on Zhou Ming.
"Whatever your ultimate purpose, since you have entered my Dojo, let everything be decided by the sword!"
"Good, excellent!" Zhou Ming burst into laughter.