Torakichi let out an understanding drone.

He then looked at himself to find that his yukata was covered in dry mud.

He also noticed that he’d gotten some dirt onto Hanabira’s kimono.

“Is there a well nearby?” Torakichi asked as he removed his weapons from his waist.

“Why yes. There’s one just up the way.” Keii said as he leaned against a nearby wall.

“Good morning.” Amai greeted as she entered the hut. In her hands was a wooden tray on top of which sat several bowls.

Some of the howls had rice while others were filled with miso soup and eggs.

Torakichi raised an eyebrow, which Amai noticed.

“Mr. Umihara got us some supplies in town. The people there most likely wouldn’t have offered us anything after what happened yesterday, so he was a big help.” Amai said while handing everyone their bowls.

“Oh? I cannot thank you enough, Keii.”

“Call me Umihara or don’t call me at all.” Keii said with a raised nose.

“Also, you’re welcome. I hope you don’t mind, but I had the villagers help me bury the soldiers from yesterday.” Keii said as he ate.

“I don’t.” Torakichi said.

Everyone eventually finished eating before allowing themselves to rest.

Torakichi then looked at Hibana with a questioning look.

“Yes?” She asked.

“It would be best if we at least bathed before we left.” Torakichi said, prompting Hanabira to look herself over.

She then looked at Amai then Torakichi before nodding.

“This means I’ll have to undo my binds.”

“Oh. Of course.” Hanabira said as she stood.

She and Amai promptly left the hut before making their way up the path that led toward the village.

“Keii, there is something you should know.” Torakichi said as he removed the cloak that covered his torso.

“Our destination is the summit of the Shinsei Mountains.” Torakichi said as he untied Hibana.

“We’re going to cure this child’s petrification.” Torakichi said before showing Keii the stone child.

“My goodness.”

“Yes. This is the reason we travel in these lands of yours.” Torakichi said as he gently placed Hibana down.

He then vigorously stretched as Keii stared at the stone child.

“I see now why you fight so valiantly.” Keii remarked.

“Come.” Hanabira said to a now upright Torakichi, who’s head toward above all.

He followed Hanabira outside where she led him behind the hut where a medium-sized bucket awaited.

Torakichi sat on the conveniently placed log in front the bucket before removing his yukata.

“Wait a moment! Shouldn’t you and Amai bathe first?” Torakichi asked with a raised eyebrow.

“We’ll do so as soon as you’re finished.” Hanabira said as she grabbed Torakichi’s yukata.

She and Amai the lifted his large, scarred arms.

“What are you doing?” Torakichi asked as Keii blankly stared at them while leaning against the hut.

“Stay still.” Hanabira instructed.

She and Amai then proceeded to gently wash off the mud that had hardened on Torakichi’s skin. They made sure to be extra careful around his fresh scars, which were plenty in number.

“How are you able to remain so still, Mr. Kanemoto?” Keii asked with crossed arms.

“If I were in your situation, I’d have been on the floor giggling like a fool.” Keii said with a chuckle.

“I don’t know. Perhaps my old skin has lost its sensitivity.” Torakichi said as Hanabira unwrapped the bandage that covered most of his head.

“Perhaps.” Keii said as Amai placed a smaller bucket in front of Torakichi, who promptly washed his hair.

Hanabira and Amai then helped Torakichi get dry only for him to let out a deep sigh.

“With you helping me like this, I truly feel like an old man now.” He said with a lowered head.

“Tsk! What kind of old man can fight the way you do? I swear, it’s like- wait! Can you use Ne?” Keii asked unreasonably loudly.

“No. Although we spoke of it briefly, you never fully explained what it was.” Torakichi said as Hanabira grabbed his yukata.

She and Amai then left with the buckets and yukata in hand.

Torakichi opened mouth to speak, but he simply sighed before turning to face Keii, who stood in the shadow of the hut.

“Ne is the building block of all that is. It is what pulls and it is what pushes. It’s the dirt beneath out feet and the air that we breath. It is our very life essence. That which makes us whole. Think of it like a primordial energy, simply speaking.”

“Alright. I assume that since it’s an energy of some kind it can be used or harnessed, no?” Torakichi asked.

“It can, indeed. With a high degree of concentration and insight into the inner workings of the world, one can tap into not only their own Ne, but the Ne all around them. There are, however, some limitations on where and when you can draw out Ne. For example, you cannot steal someone else’s Ne as it is a part of them. To steal a person or even animal’s Ne would be to rip off a part of them and even then, it’s never happened. The only things that I can think of that can directly affect someone else’s Ne are spirits and demons, but we’ll cover that another time.” Keii said as he withdrew his katana.

Torakichi’s eyes then widened as a thin blue mist appeared along Keii’s katana.

“There are two types of Ne. Cold, or blue Ne, which is the most abundant, and red hot Ne which is so rare, no one’s ever actually ever seen it.” Keii said with a chuckle.

“Then how do you know it exists?”

“It is said that when all that is first formed, it took the form of said red Ne. This Ne then cooled and gathered in clumps , forming everything we know.”

“Mmm.” Torakichi droned understandingly as his body dried in the heat of the morning sun.

“How do you use it?”

“Ah, one simply needs to take in a bit of someone else’s Ne. Triggering the body's defenses and awakening one’s awareness and usage of Ne.” Keii said with a cheeky smile.

Torakichi nodded before deeply bowing.

“If its not asking too much, I’d like to learn how to use Ne.”

“Of course I’ll teach you. I only ask for one thing.” Keii said with narrowed eyes and a crooked smile.

“What?” Torakichi asked as he stared into Keii’s dark eyes.

“I’ll teach you all there is to know about Ne if you call me master.”

Torakichi nodded before standing. He then walked up to Keii before deeply bowing once more.

“Understood, master.”

“Wait! I was joking! I didn’t think you were actually going to do it. Just speak to me as usual.” Keii said as his face lit up with fluster.

“Alright, Keii.”

“Umihara! It’s not that hard to say! U-mi-ha-ra!” Keii cried before sighing deeply.

“Ugh, forget it. Come.” Keii said before leading Torakichi back into the hut where the two sat.

“Give me your hand.” Keii instructed and Torakichi complied.

Keii then placed his index finger on Torakichi’s palm.

“Ah!” Torakichi cried before being quickly caught by Keii before he fell over.

Torakichi bit his teeth as countless waves of intense pain washed over his body.

“That’s your body reacting to unfamiliar Ne. Bear it a little longer, Mr. Kanemoto.” Keii said as Torakichi awkwardly convulsed in his hands.

“Ah!” Torakichi screamed as the pain intensified.

A thin layer of blue mist then appeared all over his body ad he trembled.

“What’s happening?” Hanabira asked as she and Amai rushed into the hut, their wet bodies covered only in small cloths.

“Don’t worry. I’m just teaching him a few things.” Keii said as Torakichi finally stopped convulsing.

Hanabira and Amai kept their distance as thin steaks of blue smoke continued to rise from his body.

“There we go.” Keii said as he slowly let go of Torakichi.

“One thing I should have mentioned is that the Ne inside you is what constitutes your soul. When you use it on external things like how I coated my blade with it, you’re actively draining your soul of its energy. Losing too much will leave you a husk. A mindless being that’s more akin to an animal, only you’re driven by dark instincts. Blood thirst, lust and a extreme hunger that you’ll never be able to sate. Your body will remain human, meaning you’ll eventually die. That’s why I’m going to teach you how to draw Ne from your environment.” Keii said to a discombobulated Torakichi.

“Is he alright?” Hanabira asked.

Keii’s eyes widened upon realizing that the women in front of him were essentially naked.

“Yes, now away with you!” He said while averting his gaze.

Hanabira and Amai left while Torakichi slowly stood up.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel as though I have an extra set of bones. There’s something swirling and surging within me. It’s dizzying to focus on actually.” Torakichi said rather calmly as he stretched his arms.

He then gasped upon looking at Hibana.

The boy was seemingly encased in a layer of Ne.

“Ah, yes. The boy’s petrification. Could this truly be the curse of the ashen beetle?” Keii asked.

“That’s the conclusion I’ve reached.” Torakichi said as he sat next to Keii.

“Mmm… I heard a dragon resides there behind the walls of a red temple.”

“I’ve heard that as well. It was supposedly built by dragon worshipers. Is there any truth in that?” Torakichi asked.

“I don’t know for sure. What I do know is that the sacred pond exists and it will surely cure the little one.” Keii said.

Torakichi remained silent as he focused on the strange feeling that coursed throughout his body.

Hanabira and Amai eventually returned only they were slightly more dressed than before in slightly bigger pieces of cloth that covered their chests and thighs.

“How are you feeling?” Hanabira asked as she and Amai sat opposite Torakichi.

“I’m fine. Actually, I’d like to ask of you something else, Keii.” Torakichi said as he looked into Hanabira’s eyes.

“You’re willfully picking berries near a sleeping tiger, Mr. Kanemoto. Ask away.” Keii said with narrowed eyes.

“Can you also teach these two how to use Ne?”

“Sure, I don’t see why not.”

“What do you want him to teach us?” Amai asked with narrowed eyes.

“Show them, if you please.”

Keii nodded before raising his hand.

Streaks of blue mist then rose from within his palm, much to Hanabira and Amai’s bewilderment.

Keii then explained all there was about Ne to the attentive women.

“I see.” Amai said with wide eyes.

“B- But why go through all the effort just to teach us?” Hanabira asked only for Torakichi to smile faintly.

“Didn’t I tell you I’d teach you how to become fine warriors? Well, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

.

..

Everyone’s clothes eventually dried and after getting dressed, packing their things and cleaning up the hut, they left its thin walls.

Torakichi snuck one last look at the village.

“Thinking about the soldier? We could visit him before we leave. Although I must warn you. His current state is… tragic. To sat the least.” Keii cautioned.

“I guess saying goodbye couldn’t hurt.” Torakichi said.

Keii nodded before leading Torakichi and company towards a small hut way outside the village perimeter.

The air surrounding the was extremely foul and flies swamped the small wooden shack.

Torakichi gestured that everyone stay back as he walked towards the hut.

He heard the sounds of sobbing and hesitated to open the door upon reaching it.

Torakichi steeled himself and slowly opened the door to find a weeping Keitaku sleeping on the floor.

His body covered in layers of his own feces and urine.

Keitaku’s reddened eyes widened upon noticing Torakichi.

He then weakly raised his arms as tears rolled down his filth covered face.

The man that was Keitaku then began bawling while Torakichi slowly closed the door.

He then walked back towards Keii and the others before gesturing that they continue their journey south.

“Well? What’s become of the man who burnt our home?” Hanabira asked.

“He is a man no longer.”