Chapter Seventy-Five: Kimura Seiya’s Sorrow

When Wind Autumn Clarity drifted in, swaying gently as she entered, and caught sight of that person's face, she was startled—it was none other than Kimura Starry Night. He knelt upon a cushion, before him a deep crimson memorial tablet inscribed with bold characters: "Seat of the Lord of Fusang, Sacred Martial Kingdom." It was clearly the tablet for his father's spirit.

Wind Autumn Clarity hovered before his eyes, floating back and forth, yet Kimura Starry Night seemed entirely oblivious to her presence. His gaze was fixed upon the words carved into the tablet, his eyes filled with sorrow and melancholy.

"Father King, your son is unworthy, unable to fulfill his filial duties. Now the land is in chaos, the fate of our nation hangs by a thread, and the responsibility weighs heavily upon my shoulders. I had intended to relinquish the throne to my elder brother, but his nature is combative, his ambition great. Now he has even abducted the prince of Ling Dynasty, embroiling us in grave trouble. Though I urged him to return the young prince, he would not heed my counsel. For the sake of Fusang’s people, I must now turn against him and forcibly rescue the prince. If your spirit watches from heaven, I beg you to bless my efforts and let me succeed in saving him." With these words, Kimura Starry Night bowed three times, rose, and departed the ancestral hall.

His considerations were indeed thorough. Kimura Starry Scar had kidnapped the Ling Dynasty prince—a matter that could be dismissed or escalated, but if allowed to grow, it would surely bring disaster upon Fusang. Should Ling Dynasty decide to openly dispatch troops to reclaim their prince, Fusang, in its current state of turmoil and collapse, would stand no chance; even in its former days of prosperity, it could not rival Ling Dynasty in war. Should conflict truly break out, the only foreseeable outcome would be Fusang’s armies crumbling under Ling’s assault—a matter of national survival, of utmost gravity. He could not afford the naïveté of Kimura Starry Scar.

Kimura Starry Scar had been ambitious since childhood. Their father once considered molding him into the future sovereign, but later realized his ambitions were too wild, that the weighty burden of the nation could not be placed upon his shoulders. To rule, one must possess diligence and empathy for the people's suffering, so as to govern wisely and benefit the populace. Though Starry Scar was visionary and bold, his appetite was excessive, his self-confidence blinding, and he failed to consider Fusang’s circumstances. Without restraint, disaster would inevitably come to Fusang—and now, that day drew ever nearer.

Upon hearing his soliloquy, Wind Autumn Clarity at last understood that Kimura Starry Scar had seized Anno for this very reason. Clearly, Starry Scar was ill-suited to rule; one who pursues only his own ends, heedless of others’ safety, was precisely the sort of tyrant Wind Autumn Clarity despised.

Kimura Starry Night left the ancestral hall, turned a corner, and walked steadily ahead. Wind Autumn Clarity, unfamiliar with the paths of Fusang’s palace, followed him, winding along the corridors. Since he too sought to rescue Anno, as long as she stayed with him, she would eventually find Anno. Initially, she had no favorable impression of Kimura Starry Night, suspecting him of plotting with Starry Scar against Ling Dynasty. Yet after hearing his words, she realized he was a man of honor, and her heart was suddenly filled with admiration.

But as they walked, Wind Autumn Clarity noticed that Kimura Starry Night’s route did not lead toward any secret chamber or dungeon, but directly toward the palace’s grand hall.

The Fusang palace hall, much like Ling Dynasty’s, had the lord’s seat towering above. Wind Autumn Clarity followed Kimura Starry Night inside, and was instantly stunned. The hall’s perimeter was ringed with soldiers wielding blades and spears, clad in black iron armor, while within knelt countless palace maids and eunuchs, so densely packed that there was barely room to step. Upon the high seat sat a man in a dark red robe, reclining upon a couch, one hand propping his chin, body slightly askew, gazing disdainfully at the kneeling subjects below.

"You all wish to leave, do you?" That cold, spectral voice, as if echoing from the depths of hell, sent tremors through every heart present.

The hall’s eunuchs and maids shuddered, pressed themselves to the floor, and began to kowtow and beg for mercy. Instantly, the hall was filled with a cacophony of pleas and lamentation.

"If you are so eager to depart, then I shall send you all to hell." Kimura Starry Scar’s eyes flashed with a bloody gleam as he raised his right hand.

The soldiers, seeing the gesture, readied their weapons, awaiting only his command to dispatch the maids and eunuchs to their deaths.

"Stop!" Kimura Starry Night arrived in haste, and at the sight before him, immediately cried out to halt the proceedings.

That shout of "Stop!" was loud and abrupt. The soldiers outside the hall turned, clearing a path. Kimura Starry Night strode forward, casting a glance at the trembling maids and eunuchs, his gaze settling on Kimura Starry Scar, seated in authority.

"So, it’s you, my beloved brother," Starry Scar met his gaze with a slight, insolent smile—at least in Wind Autumn Clarity’s eyes.

"Our father has passed but days ago, his bones not yet cold, and you intend to stain this Purple Imperial Hall with blood?" Kimura Starry Night stared directly at him, his eyes aflame with imminent anger.

"You know father’s bones are not yet cold," Starry Scar’s lips curled in a sneer, his expression tinged with mockery. He cast a look of disgust at the prostrate maids and eunuchs, as if eyeing a pack of contemptible curs. "These slaves dared to attempt escape. I have stationed guards at every gate. Any who try to flee—kill without mercy."

"Is this how you honor father’s spirit?" Kimura Starry Night, hearing this, grew anxious. He and Starry Scar had grown up together, once close, but as they matured and interests diverged, their bond had frayed. To see his elder brother now, eyes red with murderous intent, filled him with sorrow.

"They have betrayed father, betrayed Fusang, betrayed you and me," Starry Scar’s tone turned vicious. "You know well—I loathe betrayal, whoever it may be!"

Kimura Starry Night simply watched him in silence.

A hush fell upon the hall; one could hear a pin drop. All held their breath, not daring to utter a sound.

Wind Autumn Clarity, witnessing the scene, was furious. She rushed at Starry Scar, raining invisible blows upon him, crying "I'll beat you, I'll beat you, villain!" Yet her assault was futile—even Kimura Starry Night felt not the slightest breeze.

"Even you, my dearest brother, will not be spared," Starry Scar said, fixing his gaze upon Kimura Starry Night.

"You’re wrong. They did not betray you—it was you who betrayed Fusang, and betrayed them," Kimura Starry Night stepped forward, pointing at the maids and eunuchs. "A servant dies for a master who understands them. You claim to detest betrayal, but you betrayed them first. They served you faithfully, yet for your own selfish ends, you disregarded their lives. If you care nothing for their welfare or their fate, how can you demand that they devote themselves to you?"

Wind Autumn Clarity wanted to applaud him—his words were so true.

"In your eyes, they are but lowly servants, so you think you wield the power of life and death over them. Yet you see only the ruler’s authority, not his duty. Only one who constantly remembers the sufferings of the people, who takes peace and prosperity as his charge, is fit to sit in that seat. As the saying goes, water can float a boat, but it can also overturn it. Your obstinacy will only lead to isolation and betrayal." Kimura Starry Night’s words were heavy, each falling with the weight of truth. Wind Autumn Clarity saw many within the hall moved—whether those kneeling or the soldiers standing—all gazed at him with heartfelt respect.

If you respect others, they may not respect you; but if you fail to respect others, they will certainly not respect you. Such a simple principle, yet so many fail to grasp it.

Kimura Starry Scar’s expression was no longer calm. His eyes betrayed a hint of mania as he forced a smile. "By your reasoning, I am unfit for this seat. And you are fit, is that it?"

"I do not claim to be fit, but I am certain I am more suited than you," Kimura Starry Night replied, uttering words that could spark a war.

"Haha, excellent," Starry Scar’s eyes flashed with fury as he rose, descending the steps one by one. "In that case, shall we wager?"

"Wager on what?"

"On our lives." Starry Scar stood before him, radiating a powerful anger. Wind Autumn Clarity, though only a wisp of soul, instinctively drifted several steps back.

Kimura Starry Night frowned, knowing his words had successfully enraged Starry Scar. Now, nothing could restrain his brother’s wrath.

Starry Scar smiled, took two swords from a nearby soldier, handing one to Kimura Starry Night. "We brothers have not sparred in years. Let us duel today. If you win, I will release everyone in this hall and withdraw all the soldiers."

"Agreed." Kimura Starry Night replied, fully aware of his meaning. "If I lose, I am yours to dispose of."

－－－－－－End of chapter－－－－－－

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