"Hakuji, go get the medicine jar I put on the cabinet yesterday."
"Right away, Mr. Shisho."
"Hakuji, the patient has left. Come and clean up."
"Right away, Mr. Shisho."
"Hakuji, watch the clinic with Tamayo. I'm heading out."
In the small clinic, the voices of Shisho and Hakuji alternated. Four years had passed since Hakuji started working for Shisho. Now, at fifteen, he was a young man. The four years of work had matured him greatly, and the extreme anger he once felt had long been suppressed within his heart. During this time, his diligence and earnestness had earned him the recognition of both Shisho and Tamayo.
Though he hadn't saved much money, Hakuji knew that the so-called "debt" was just an excuse. The value of the herbs the two had used to treat his father far exceeded the money spent to bail him out.
One evening, because there had been too many patients earlier, Hakuji stayed behind to help Tamayo clean the medical tools.
"Thank you, Hakuji," Tamayo said with a slight nod, taking a medicine jar from his hands.
"No, no, I should be the one thanking you, Miss Tamayo. You've helped my father and me so much these past four years," Hakuji waved his hands hastily, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
Seeing his gesture, Tamayo couldn't help but smile. What a peaceful and serene life, she thought to herself, extremely content with their four years of secluded life. After we defeat Muzan, will Shisho and I… Her face suddenly flushed red, steaming like a boiling kettle. She quickly shook her head, dispelling the thought.
Just then, the sound of the door opening was heard. Shisho was back.
"Ah, Mr. Shisho, welcome back!" Realizing it was Shisho, Hakuji rushed out, intending to ask about his father's condition.
But, unlike usual, Shisho's face was impassive. And in his hand, he held a blood-stained letter.
"Hakuji, your father hanged himself."
A simple sentence, yet it instantly plunged Hakuji into hell. He stood frozen, his wide eyes filled with disbelief. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Shisho handed him the letter. "I found this on the table. It's addressed to you."
Hearing this, Hakuji snatched the envelope, tore it open, and began to read. The letter's contents were simple, mostly his father blaming himself for his declining health. He explained that the reason for his suicide was so he would no longer be a burden to his son, who was finally on the right path. He also expressed his gratitude to Shisho and Tamayo for their care.
At the end of the letter, Hakuji's father had left one last line.
My good son, if there is a next life, I pray you are not born to a worthless man like me.
His fists clenched, crumpling the letter into a ball of waste paper. Hakuji bit his lower lip, his face contorted in an expression of wanting to cry but being unable to.
"Sometimes, crying is the best way to release sorrow," Shisho's voice sounded. Hakuji then felt a hand patting his head. After a moment of shock, he came to his senses and threw himself into Shisho's chest, sobbing loudly.
Shisho gently patted Hakuji's back, saying nothing, just watching him quietly.
Perhaps it's time to leave Edo, he thought. In these four years, the accumulated pain and frustration from Tamayo's constant failures had dissipated. Moreover, she had developed many new types of medicine. The only thing missing was demon blood to use as a catalyst to test their efficacy. He glanced at Tamayo and received an affirmative nod.
The next morning, with Shisho's help, Hakuji's father was buried. After the funeral, Hakuji, following behind Shisho, wiped the tears from his eyes and said, "Thank you, Mr. Shisho. I will repay you in the future."
Shisho smiled slightly. "Do you not owe me enough already?" He waved his hand, gesturing for Hakuji to follow as they went to pack up their things at the clinic.
Just as they arrived in front of Hakuji's house, they found it surrounded by a dozen burly men. The man in the lead pulled out a portrait, compared it with Hakuji, and then shouted, "Criminal Hakuji, by order of the Bugyōsho, you are hereby sentenced to exile, effective today!"
Hakuji was stunned. For the past four years, he had stopped his old thieving ways and had even used the money he saved to help many people. Why was he still being sentenced to exile?
Shisho frowned and stepped forward to ask the leader of the men for an explanation. After four years, Shisho and Tamayo were well-known figures. From high-ranking nobles to common folk, countless people had been freed from the torment of illness with their help. Seeing that it was Shisho asking, the man didn't hesitate to explain. A few days ago, the head of the Bugyōsho had passed away. The newly appointed leader was inexperienced and lacked any real achievements. To gain the respect of his subordinates, he issued a series of orders. One of them was to exile anyone from Edo with a criminal record in the past five years.
What a pointless reason, Shisho thought with a sense of helplessness, his face remaining calm. After explaining, the man smiled and added that these orders had nothing to do with Shisho. If Shisho was willing, the head of the Bugyōsho would like to invite him to his home.
"That won't be necessary." Shisho waved his hand, refusing the invitation. "I was planning on leaving Edo anyway. I've been here for quite some time."
Hearing this, the man panicked. If the head of the Bugyōsho found out that not only had he failed to invite Shisho but had also caused him to leave Edo, he probably wouldn't see the light of tomorrow. Shisho and Tamayo were treasures of the Edo region; they couldn't just let them leave.
At this thought, the man gritted his teeth and signaled for his men to draw their weapons. Even if it meant using force, he would drag Shisho to the magistrate's home.
However, the moment the dozen men drew their weapons, they felt their bodies begin to tremble uncontrollably. The once-gentle Shisho now radiated a terrifying and ferocious aura. In the face of this presence, these hardened men, who had seen their share of bloodshed, were like lambs to the slaughter, unable to even stand steady. Their teeth chattered like printers, and with several thuds, all of them collapsed to the ground, completely drained of strength.
"Hakuji, is there anything else you want to take?"
Hearing Shisho's voice, Hakuji snapped out of his daze and shook his head. To him, the most precious thing in his home had been his father. Now that his father was dead, the only ones he could rely on were Shisho and Tamayo.
"In that case, let's go." With a flick of his sleeve, Shisho turned and walked back toward the clinic. He had a premonition that perhaps in the next place they went, he would find the key to finally freeing Tamayo from Muzan's control.
Hakuji looked at the house he had lived in for over a decade, then at the retreating figure of Shisho, and gritted his teeth. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply several times toward the house. After rising, he ran straight after Shisho.
Since Shisho was willing to take him, Hakuji would follow him for a lifetime.
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