第4章 無鞘之劍

ASWORDWITHOUTASHEATH

BYJOELANSFORD

WhatisaswordwithoutthemanbehinditTeachingaswordsmantokillissimpleThetruechallengeliesinteachinghimnottokill

WhenIwatchedmyyoungbrotherbegintraining，hebreathedlifeintothebladeatfirsttouchOneheardwhispersinthehallscomparinghimtotheswordmastersofoldButasYasuogrewandhisskillsincreased，sodidhisegoHewasimpetuousandboastfulHeignoredourmasters’lessons，andknewnothingofpatience

Fearingmybrotherhadstrayedtoofarfromtheway，Iwentnottowarnhim，buttomakeanappealtohishonorIgavehimamapleseed，ourschoolshighestlessoninhumilityoneYasuoseemedtohaveforgottenAseedisjustaseed，butgiventimeonemaycometoknowthebeautyitholdswithin

Yasuotookmygift，andthefollowingdayhepledgedhimselftotheElderSoumaIhadhighhopeshewouldlearnthepatienceandvirtuerequiredofatrueswordsman

Itwasnottobe

Today，itseemscleartomethatYasuomurderedtheverypersonhewassworntoprotectHehasbetrayedhisnation，hisfriends，andhimselfWereitnotformyactions，Iwonderifhewouldeverhavebeensweptdownthisdarkpath

ButmytaskisnottoquestionImustbeartheburdenofmyduty

Atfirstlighttomorrow，IwillsetouttocaptureaswordwithoutasheathmybrotherYasuo