Chapter 2: All the knives are familiar.

After calming Kashuu Kiyomitsu down, Kanshu wandered around the Honmaru. Following the steps in the manual, she first went to the castle tower, where the Honmaru's control devices were located; only by channeling spiritual energy into them could she access them.

Only then can one completely control the citadel.

As the power was injected, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who was waiting outside, felt the power of the boat more directly. The previously listless trees and flowers burst with vitality in an instant and turned lush green.

Flowers are in full bloom, and withered branches are sprouting new buds.

Lush greenery, full of life.

Then there's the forging room, where all four furnaces are open, each containing 100,000 resources, 50 Jade Talismans, and 100 Speed-Up Charms.

"The citadel is too big, let's forge a few swords first." Han Zhou used the all-in-one formula, the universal formula, and watched as the paper-like shikigami moved the resources in, and the duration was displayed next to it.

She used speed-up talismans on all four sword furnaces, and Han Zhou was taken aback when he saw the swords.

"My lord? What's wrong?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu looked at the four swords; there seemed to be nothing wrong with them.

"...No, it's nothing."

As pale golden energy entered the swords, cherry blossoms rose in the forging chamber, and four different sword-wielding men appeared.

"Yo, General. I am Yagen Toushirou. Please take care of me and my brothers."

"I am Goko Retreat. Um... I didn't repel them. I'm sorry. Because the tigers were so pitiful."

"The Genji's prized possession, Higekiri. Are you the master of this generation?"*

"The Genji's prized possession, Hizamaru. Has my brother come here too?"

When Han Zhou saw the little tiger next to Wu Hu Tui, his gaze paused for a moment, and then he looked at the three swords that he had a connection with.

"Oh my, I never expected to see you again, Master," Higekiri's voice was soft and gentle. His upturned golden cat eyes were exceptionally beautiful.

Hizamaru was also stunned. Unlike Higekiri's casualness, he bowed slightly to Kanshu with great seriousness, but the joy in his voice was undeniable.

"Master, it's a pleasure to see you again."

Yagen was a little dazed, looking at the person in front of him as if he had traveled through a long period of time and was standing in front of him, but his face had not changed in the slightest.

"General...it's been a long time."

Kashuu Kiyomitsu stared at them in disbelief, then relaxed and leaned against the doorframe. Although he didn't know why Lord Kanshu hadn't aged, it meant that Kanshu had lived for a considerable time...

He's used other swords as well; strictly speaking, it's not Lord Hanshu's sword. It's just that Lord Hanshu and Souji often used it when sparring, so they had a brief connection.

"The Genji... that era is over a thousand years ago," Han Zhou sighed. She felt something tugging at her shoes, and when she looked down, she saw two small tigers circling around her feet.

"Yes, I'm sorry. Little Tiger... I didn't mean to," Wu Hu Tui apologized subconsciously, but when he saw his lord squat down and gently stroke the two little tigers at her feet, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Our citadel has nothing right now. Let's go to the general store and buy some things."

Since taking the five tiger cubs out was a bit of a hassle, they were left to play in the courtyard. Thanks to Hanzhou's power, some butterflies had come. Watching them dart among the flowers, Hanzhou thought about buying them some toiletries.

"Oh my!"

Higekiri looked at the familiar person in front of him, who had completely transformed into another person. He looked far less stunning than his original appearance and appeared quite ordinary.

"You'll recognize my original appearance too easily. There are many people in the Wanwu, so it will be quite troublesome later."

She doesn't want to reveal her special nature right now.

With the time-space converter in operation, Han Zhou led a group of tsukumogami to the general store. There were quite a few people there, but fortunately, the general store was very spacious.

Han Zhou bought a lot of things. Living a long life meant that her accumulated wealth had reached a terrifying level, and she was not materialistic. As a result, she had more and more gold.

Gold has always been a hard currency, regardless of the era. Han Zhou hoarded a lot of it to make his life easier in the modern world.

Blankets, light clothing, daily necessities, and some small gifts I bought for them. For example, nail polish from Kashuu Kiyomitsu, medical books from Yagen, some silk to be returned, and tools for maintaining Genji's swords. Also, since no one knows how to cook, Kanshu bought some bento boxes.

I bought a lot of things, but luckily all Wanwu stores offer delivery services.

Han Zhou watched as the five tigers sat down in the corridor, tying new silk ribbons around the row of little tigers. Hizamaru was helping Higekiri air out his blankets, while a certain older brother, seemingly innocent but actually cunning, was deliberately mispronouncing his younger brother's name.

"It's Hizamaru, Aniga!"

"Ugh, the screaming pills are so noisy!"

Yagen was putting his and his brother's blankets on the shelf when Hizamaru, who had been arguing with his older brother about his name, came over to help.

Qingguang, who had already aired out the quilts, was now applying new nail polish.

Noticing her gaze, he grinned and waved his other hand, which was painted with nail polish, at her.

Is it pretty?

Under Qingguang's expectant gaze, Hanzhou nodded and said softly.

"Very beautiful," I finally blurted out my thought upon our first meeting.

Red suits you very well.

While Han Zhou returned to the castle tower to rest, the current swords spontaneously gathered together, discussing their memories of Han Zhou.

As the eldest of the Genji brothers, Higekiri and Hizamaru were the first to speak.

"Well~ we were already by the master's side when we were first forged." Higekiri's soft voice spoke of events from a thousand years ago.

"Just as my elder brother said, my brother and I have served the patriarch for nearly a hundred years. We have slain countless monsters and ignorant humans."

"But then the patriarch handed us over to the Genji."

Their reputations had already spread far and wide, so the Genji naturally wouldn't refuse two renowned swords that were already famous throughout the land. Thus, Higekiri and Hizamaru were passed down through generations of the Genji.

Yagen was silent for a moment, then stroked the little tiger that had snuggled up to him and said...

"I am a sword from the Kamakura period, which is the 13th century. At that time, the general often carried me on his waist and kept me within easy reach when he slept."

"Back then, the general was frequently attacked by both humans and monsters. But I didn't know the reason why."

Yagen Toushirou is a sword renowned for its loyalty. Kanshu chose it as his personal sword, and after a century, he gave it away.

"Is the California Palace also the Lord's sword?" Goko asked curiously.

“Strictly speaking…not really,” Kashuu Kiyomitsu sighed. He didn’t want to be outdone in this matter, but he also didn’t intend to hide anything.

“I am Okita Souji’s sword. Okita met you when he was young. You are like a teacher and family member to Okita.”

"During their sparring sessions, Okita would use Yamato no Kami Yasusada, while my lord would use me. When Okita fell seriously ill, my lord apparently went to search for medicine, and thus was unable to see Okita one last time."

As she spoke, she looked at her manicured nails, still deeply concerned about her former lover.

Gokotai, seeing the somewhat disappointed Kashuu Kiyomitsu, handed over the little tiger he was holding.

"Hey, California, don't be sad... Here, you can pet this little tiger."

Sensing its master's thoughts, the little tiger licked Qingguang's hand. Around its neck was the new silk ribbon Hanzhou had bought. It looked quite adorable.

Kiyomitsu chuckled softly and patted the little tiger's head.

"Thank you, Gokotai. But I'm not upset, after all... I'm the Lord's initial sword!" Kiyomitsu winked playfully at Gokotai.

Then he got up and casually stretched.

"I'm going back to rest. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be going into battle tomorrow. Don't talk to me too late, okay?"

The remaining four exchanged glances and then left. Gokotai, holding Yagen's hand, spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

"Yagen-ni really likes the lord."

Upon hearing Gokotai's words, Yagen's lips curled into a smile. His purple eyes were filled with joy and respect.

"You'll understand as you get to know him, Tui. He was an extremely outstanding general."

A note from the author:

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Is anyone there? [Peeking in] [Covering face and peeking]