Volume 1, Chapter 83 – Tea Intent

Volume 1, Chapter 83 - Tea Intent

Translator: Sigma

Lily arrived at the elegant inner courtyard that Sakiko called home, and found Nanako already there. Lily didn’t have any problems since she fell asleep in the bath - what problems could have occured when she was sleeping? - yet it felt like Nanako was always directing an unusual gaze towards her. Nêww chapters will be fully updated at (n)ov(e)l/bin(.)com

“Did you- Did sister buy the tea utensils? ” Nanako struggled to say, still unused to calling Lily as her master...

Previously, Nanako had told Lily that they should address each other as sisters, especially in front of Sakiko, as to save the face and reputation of the Saionji House; Lily had agreed with her.

“Yeah, we should go in. Don’t let Master Sakiko wait for too long.”

Lily and Nanako waited outside, immediately entering the room after they received permission.

Right after Lily got into the room, she separated a little from Nanako. With elegant manner, she sat down on her knees opposite to Sakiko. Although Nanako was often quite willful, she was still the eldest daughter of an affluent house, so she had mastered such etiquettes.

After Lily sat down, she noticed that Sakiko was holding yet another uncommon tea utensil. That was a black teacup with drawings of gold lotus leaves.

“Show me your tea utensils. I want to admire them for a while,” said Sakiko.

Lily was a little embarrassed since her tea utensil was bought from a shop by the riverbank. She noticed that Nanako took out a tiny maroon teacup with white inner coating from an exquisite paper box.

“Sandmist?” Sakiko seemed to recognize the teacup immediately.

“Yes...” Nanako shyly answered and bowed to Sakiko. She was truly an embodiment of a tender and obedient little girl now.

“So this is the Saionji House’s Sandmist that Lord Fujiwara had bestowed the head of the Saionji Clan one hundred years ago. Could you let me look at it for a while?”

“Ah...” Lily opened her small mouth, looking a little absorbed with Sakiko’s lecture. She knew that horse riding and archery were the required subjects in samurai’s qualification, but she didn’t expect these outstanding techniques to be divided into levels. As Uesugi Rei could ride the Black Nioh, just what level of horse riding had she achieved...

She could understand why those techniques were fundamental to a samurai, but why was chado put on the same level with such lethal techniques?

“Miss Kagami, you don’t need to look at me skeptically like that. You like chado, don’t you? But this is more than just a hobby. The most fundamental function of chado to a samurai is to help them erase the demon in their hearts and enlighten their minds. After all, only a calm heart and a relaxed mind could benefit your training. Your inner state is also an important part of your training. If you don’t handle it well, your progress would be shackled and halted.”

“But it’s just the most primary function. Chado has more important functions to samurais and onmyojis!” Sakiko’s eyes brightened.

“And that is— the comprehension of the intent.”

“Intent?” Lily had some experience but it was still a vague concept to her.

“When your Kendo reaches a profound level, of course, you’ll start to pursue perfection. And, the intent focuses on the harmony between body and mind. Kendo trains your body and chado trains your mind. They are the foundation for mastering the Genji Swordstyle’s ultimate techniques.”

“Ultimate techniques?” Lily was startled. “Master Sakiko, the elegant chado is related to the ultimates somehow?”

“Cut it off,” Nanako snapped disdainfully, “You didn’t even know this. Without an intent, even if you have extreme resentment, hatred, or great ambition, you still wouldn’t be able to trigger your ultimate technique!”

“Hehe, although I have to comment something about Miss Saionji’s tone and manner, she’s right,” smiled Sakiko.

Lily was astonished. That was why the Genji Swordstyle didn’t lecture about ultimate techniques. It was because everybody had their own experiences, which led to different inner states, the intent they could perceive in this great wide world would be full of extraordinary things. Master Ieyoshi’s inner state wouldn’t be suitable to the later generations who wanted to learn his Swordstyle so he didn’t write it down.

One could only create and obtain an ultimate technique depending on the most profound intent that they could feel.

‘So what’s my intent?’ Lily thought.