Although curious as to how the other man recognized him, Sishu generously confirmed his identity. "It's been a long time, Yuube Masaru. I never thought the little guy being carried by his father back then would become like this."
The moment he heard those words, Yuube Masaru was even more certain that the young man before him was the Demon-Slaying Mister of yesteryear. After all, he had never mentioned that scene to outsiders; only his descendants knew this secret.
"Demon-Slaying Mister, is it really you?" Two streams of clear tears rolled down his rough cheeks. Yuube Masaru tried to get up from his chair, but he no longer had his former strength. His arm gave way, and his body tilted towards the ground.
With a slight push of his foot, Sishu appeared at his side. He reached out and caught the falling Yuube Masaru, helping him back into the chair.
Just as Yuube Masaru was about to say something, a loud shout came from behind. "Let go of my father!"
Looking towards the sound, Sishu saw Yuube Wataru, holding a samurai sword, rushing towards them with a fierce expression. Behind him followed a group of samurai hired by the Yuube family.
Yuube Wataru hadn't expected his father, who was supposed to be resting, to actually be sunbathing. Furthermore, he had just seen this young man grabbing his father, seemingly up to no good. At these thoughts, anger clouded his mind, and the instinct to protect his father overrode all reason.
Just as Yuube Wataru was about to risk everything to save his father, Yuube Masaru suddenly roared, "All of you, stop!"
Although Yuube Masaru's time was short, his roar at this moment was so powerful, not at all like that of a dying man. Gritting his teeth, Yuube Wataru waved his hand, signaling his men to stop.
Just as he was wondering if his father was being threatened, Yuube Masaru continued, pointing at his son, his voice even louder. "Put down your sword! Do you intend to attack our family's benefactor?"
Glancing at Sishu, Yuube Wataru dropped his sword and knelt beside his father. If this person tried to harm his father, he would block it with his own body without hesitation.
Seeing that Wataru had settled down, Yuube Masaru seemed to have exhausted his strength and slumped back into the chair. "Cough, cough." Covering his mouth, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood. Wataru was about to say something but was silenced by his father's glare.
"My apologies for this embarrassing scene, Demon-Slaying Mister," Yuube Masaru said, his voice turning hoarse with apology.
Sishu shook his head. "It's understandable. After all, my appearance is hard to believe." To be fair, if a young man suddenly appeared claiming to be a child from sixty years ago, most people would find it impossible to accept. "Wataru is a good son, just a bit impulsive. Please give me some time to explain to him."
Sishu nodded and stepped aside, giving the father and son space. Although he could easily overhear their conversation, out of courtesy, Sishu did not deliberately listen.
After a while, Yuube Masaru seemed to have finished his explanation. Yuube Wataru's attitude, once furious, had undergone a complete transformation. He rushed in front of Sishu and dropped to his knees with a thud. Then, in front of his father, he kowtowed several times.
"I, Yuube Wataru, was blind and acted foolishly, nearly making a grave mistake. I do not dare ask for the benefactor's forgiveness, I only wish that the Demon-Slaying Mister will not harm my father. All the blame is mine." After speaking, he seemed ready to kowtow again.
Sishu reached out and stopped him. "You were only thinking of your father. What fault is there in that?"
Wataru looked up abruptly at Sishu's smiling face, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. "Thank you, Demon-Slaying Mister."
"'Demon-Slayer' was just something I came up with on the spot. My real name is Sishu." He helped Wataru up. "Now, may I speak with your father?"
Taking a few steps back, Wataru bowed respectfully. "I understand, Mister Sishu. I will wait nearby. If you need anything, please call me at any time." He then tactfully withdrew, leaving the space and time entirely to Sishu and Yuube Masaru.
Sishu pulled up a chair and sat next to Yuube Masaru. "You've searched for me for many years, haven't you? It must have been hard."
"To be able to see you again, Mister Demon-Slayer, it was all worth it," Yuube Masaru said, shaking his head without a hint of complaint.
"I'm curious about your life all these years. Can you tell me about it?"
"It would be my honor."
For the rest of the time, Yuube Masaru recounted to Sishu what he had seen and heard over the past sixty years. From small anecdotes he heard on the roadside to a plague that had once covered a small town. The more he spoke, the more excited and happy he became, while Sishu sat there quietly, being a good listener. When they spoke of happy things, they would laugh together. When they spoke of sad things, their moods would turn somber. They were like old friends reunited after many years, sharing joy and sorrow.
Time flew by, and soon it was night. After sharing the last story in his mind with Sishu, Yuube Masaru's aged face was unusually flushed. Although it was only a day, he had relived sixty years of memories with Sishu.
"Mister Sishu, are you still doing that... hunting those evil demons?" As one of the survivors from back then, Yuube Masaru naturally knew of the existence of demons.
"Yes. I promised someone I would finish the task he could not."
"I see." Yuube Masaru nodded and looked up at the vast night sky. In his eyes, neither the crescent moon nor the surrounding stars were enough to describe Sishu. Only the sun, hanging high in the sky during the day, was the best description for him. He himself was just an ordinary person, yet he had been fortunate enough to meet this man who was like a blazing sun. To meet Sishu again at the end of his life, he felt his life was complete.
"Mister Sishu... may you forever be as magnificent as the sun."
With that simple sentence, the smile on Yuube Masaru's lips froze. His eyes stared blankly at the night sky, as if waiting for the light behind the black curtain to arrive. Feeling no regrets in his life, Yuube Masaru had passed away peacefully.
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