"Shikisaki, your life is... too depraved, isn't it?

"It's just a matter of hanging out in Youkuo, but actually borrowing money from Yakuza."

"Have you ever thought about what will happen to you if you don't pay back the money?"

Boss Kiryu's words showed no mercy at all.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Shikizaki Jiyoshi blushed and her expression changed several times.

Looking at his appearance, Qingdeng thought he would get angry and explode on the spot.

Unexpectedly, he was surprisingly calm.

After a moment of silence, he sighed quietly:

"Boss Kiryu, although your words are very unpleasant, I really have no room to refute..."

"I know, I will be more restrained in the future and try to pay off the debt as soon as possible."

Although Aonto didn't know the specific relationship between Boss Kiryu and Shikizaki Shiyori, judging from the current situation, the latter had a considerable degree of respect for the former.

He still listens to the other party's good advice.

However, his words of "I understand" obviously did not gain the trust of Boss Kiryu.

I saw him put on a serious face and said seriously:

"Shikizaki, why are you doing this?"

"Just relying on your craftsmanship, even if you can't become rich, you won't end up in such a miserable situation today."

"As far as I know, you no longer take up the job of forging knives, and you make a living by making hoes and sickles."

"What happened?" "Why did you try to use your talent?"

"If you don't mind, can you tell me?"

"If you think I'm nosy, you can keep silent."

"However, as someone who loves swords, I really don't want to watch a talented swordsman with extraordinary talents sink like this."

Shikizaki Shiyorimoto has an expressionless face.

But after hearing the word "genius swordsmith", he suddenly grinned, with a self-deprecating look on his cheeks.

"'Genius swordsmith'...hehehehehe..."

Shijizaki Jiji put his hand on his forehead, seeming to smile but not laughing, and seeming to cry but not crying.

"These days...is there still a place for swordsmiths to be useful?"

As soon as he said this, Boss Kiryu's expression changed slightly, as if he had realized something.

Shikizaki Jiyoshi took a sip of wine, put on a tone of mixed emotions, and spoke:

"As far back as I can remember, I started to touch hammers and learn how to forge iron and forge knives."

"Who would give up the skills they have honed for most of their lives if they are not forced to do so?"

"Although I dare not claim to be a 'magic craftsman,' I believe that compared to ordinary knife makers, my craftsmanship is superb."

"But... no matter how well forged the knife is, it can't compare to Western guns."

"Boss Kiryu, with your skills, it is certainly not difficult to know how far Western guns and artillery have developed."

Speaking of this, the self-mockery on his face became even more intense.

"Let me think about it... it was probably four years ago that I accidentally came into contact with Western guns."

"Honestly... after seeing with my own eyes how easily the musket shot through the armor and how easily the cannon shattered the bricks, I felt like the world was hanging upside down."

"To be honest, before this, I always thought that swords would continue to be important companions of samurai forever."

"However...even if I am full of dissatisfaction, I have to admit: Today is no longer the age of swords."

"In front of guns and cannons, swords and the like are just toys."

"Whenever I think about this, I have no motivation to forge knives, nor am I in the mood to be a knife maker."

"When I came back to my senses, I was like this muddling along now."

"The sword is destined to be eliminated."

"Instead of continuing to be a knifesmith who is doomed to have no future, it is better to transform as soon as possible and become an ordinary blacksmith who specializes in making farm tools."

"In comparison, this one is actually more profitable."

"Boss Kiryu, I'm not bragging. The farm tools forged by me are well-known and have never been short of sales."

"The reason why I fell into the miserable situation of almost being sold to a mine to pay off my debts was purely because I was lazy."

"As long as I work hard, I will soon be able to raise enough money to pay off the debt."

Although his words were not long, he succeeded in stagnating the atmosphere of the scene by telling heavy facts.

Perhaps in order to lighten the atmosphere, Shikisaki Jiyoshi took the initiative and asked:

"I almost forgot to ask, Boss Kiryu, please tell me in detail about the 'big business' you mentioned earlier."

"Let me explain in advance - I will not take up the job of forging swords now."

Boss Kiryu opened his mouth and was about to speak.

However, Qingdeng, who had been silent since just now, answered first:

"Mr. Shikisaki, what a coincidence, we want you to forge a sword, and we want you to reforge the blade of a broken sword."

As he spoke, he took off the low-brimmed bamboo hat on his head and revealed his face.

Although Shikisaki Jiyō didn't recognize Aoden, he could see that Aoden was not an ordinary person, so he asked cautiously:

"May I ask your Excellency?"

"I'm not talented, but Ju Qingden is."

"?!"

Suddenly, Shikisaki Jiyue took a breath of cold air, her face full of disbelief.

His reaction is quite normal.

The legendary "Nioh" and "Strongest Samurai" actually appeared in front of him... For a moment, it really made people feel at a loss.

I don’t know when he started to acquire another title: “The strongest samurai in the shogunate”.

Although Qingdeng thinks this title is too exaggerated, many people think it is well deserved.

Just when Shikizaki Jiyose had not yet recovered from the shock, the old voice of Boss Kiryu sounded again:

"Shikizaki, I understand your difficulties."

"Since this is the way you decided to live after careful consideration, then I can't comment on it."

"But... I want to ask you to take a look at this first."

After finishing speaking, he reached out his hand and took out a tightly wrapped package. He put it on the table and pushed it in front of Shikisaki Jiyō.

When he unwrapped the furoshiki, the unique black light of "Wanrengang" filled Shikisaki Shiyō's vision.

In an instant... really in an instant, Shikisaki Jiyoshi's expression changed drastically.

"This is...'Wan Liangang'...?!"

At this moment, he showed a much stronger shock than when he learned Qingdeng's identity just now.

He subconsciously rushed forward, staring at the steel without blinking, not missing any detail.

"This light...! This color...!"

"Good steel! Really good steel!"

"Boss Kiryu, where did you get this piece of good steel?"

“This is the first time in my life that I have seen such high-quality ‘Wan Liangang’!”

Boss Kiryu said calmly:

"I will tell you the origin of this steel later."

"Shikisaki, let me tell you straight: we plan to ask you to use this steel to recast Vairocana's blade."

Shikisaki Jiyoshi was stunned:

"Recast Vairocana's blade? Use this 'ten thousand steels'?"

Boss Kiryu nodded lightly:

"After fighting with Somi Kotetsu, the leader of the 'Supreme Great Property', Vairochana suffered extremely serious injuries."

"Only by recasting its blade can it be reborn from the ashes."

"The swordsmith who can take on this important task... Shikisaki, the only person I can think of is you!"

Along with the sonorous and powerful words, the old man's eyes full of trust were directed towards the young knifemaker.
To be continued...