Chapter 223: Seal

Hearing Lei Yin’s request, Naoko was startled, and the elderly woman looked at him with a curious expression.

“Lei, are you saying you want to see that blade?” Naoko clutched his arm tightly with both hands.

“Yes,” Lei Yin replied. He walked over to the elderly woman and said, “Could you allow me to see the blade inside the box?”

“Give me a reason,” the elderly woman said calmly.

“I have a friend whose family possessed a similarly ominous cursed blade. However, due to certain circumstances, the blade was lost. Before he passed away, he asked me to notify his family if I ever came across it. That’s why I want to confirm if this is the same blade.”

After considering for a moment, the elderly woman asked, “What is your friend’s name?”

“His name is Nagakawa Akiji, a member of the Yagyu sword school.” As Lei Yin mentioned the name, a flicker of sorrow crossed his eyes. Nagakawa Akiji was none other than Nagakawa Kyujirou’s real name, a name that evoked a flood of emotions in him.

The elderly woman shook her head. “I cannot agree to your request. This blade carries too many strange and dangerous associations. You are the most important person in Naoko’s life, and I cannot let you take that risk.”

Lei Yin spoke firmly, “When that old friend was alive, I let him down in some ways. Even though he is no longer with us, I want to make up for it in whatever way I can and fulfill his last wish. I hope you can understand.”

The look in Lei Yin’s eyes as he spoke was one Naoko had seen before—during their first-year high school trip to Okinawa. Seeing that gaze again now caused her heart to tremble slightly.

While the elderly woman was deep in thought, Naoko released her grip on Lei Yin’s arm, slowly walked to her grandmother’s side, and said, “Grandmother, please grant his request, I beg you.”

The elderly woman looked up at her. “Naoko, are you certain this is the right thing to do? Don’t forget, this blade is very dangerous.”

Naoko glanced back at Lei Yin before replying in a gentle yet resolute voice, “His wish is my wish. No matter what happens, I will face it with him. Please, grandmother, I’m begging you.”

After hearing her words, the elderly woman sighed lightly. “Very well. Since you insist, I will agree.”

“Thank you, grandmother.” Naoko bowed deeply to her.

Returning to Lei Yin’s side, Naoko rested her head against his chest and softly said, “Lei, be careful.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You and your grandmother should wait outside.” Lei Yin leaned down and kissed her forehead.

After giving him a long, meaningful look, Naoko left the room with her grandmother.

Once they were outside, Lei Yin approached the table. After briefly examining the box, he reached out to untie the braided cord holding the charms and protective materials—curved jade and mugwort—wrapped around it.

The bindings were tied tightly in dead knots. Unable to loosen them, Lei Yin pulled out a small blade and carefully cut the cords.

Once the protective items were removed, only the eerie talismans affixed to the surface of the box remained.

Using the blade, he made a slit in the seals near the box’s opening.

After putting the blade away, Lei Yin slowly lifted the lid of the box.

Outside the room, Naoko’s heart raced as she watched his every move. No one knew what might happen once the box was opened.

Finally, the lid was completely lifted.

At that moment, everything around them remained eerily calm and normal. Nothing happened. Naoko let out a small sigh of relief.

However, as Naoko gazed at Lei Yin’s back, she suddenly noticed something different about him.

It was an indescribable feeling. Although she couldn’t see his expression since his back was turned, Naoko could clearly sense the change from his demeanor alone.

Moments later, she saw Lei Yin reach out his right hand toward the handle of the blade.

Was he going to pick it up? Fear flashed in Naoko’s eyes.

Remembering her grandmother’s words about the fates of those two people earlier, Naoko couldn’t suppress her worry and cried out, “Lei, don’t…”

But before she could finish, the elderly woman gently grabbed her hand and whispered, “Don’t disturb him.”

Naoko didn’t dare speak further and could only watch Lei Yin with both worry and anxiety.

Finally, Lei Yin’s right hand gripped the handle of the blade, and he slowly lifted it upright.

After so many years, Naoko was able to see the full view of this blade that she only had vague impressions of.

It was a Japanese katana, slightly longer than the ones typically seen. It had no sheath, with a blade length nearing one meter, and its surface bore a strange dark brown hue.

For some reason, the moment Naoko laid eyes on the blade, she felt an overwhelming weakness in her entire body, as if she were about to faint from anemia. Sensing her condition, her grandmother, while holding her hand, also supported her waist with her other hand.

With the elderly woman’s help, Naoko barely managed to steady herself. Without time to thank her grandmother, she continued watching Lei Yin.

Lei Yin stood perfectly still, silently gazing at the blade in his hand, as motionless as a statue holding a blade.

That indescribable and peculiar feeling became increasingly clear. Naoko realized that Lei Yin was now emanating an intense aura of pressure.

Yes, it was pressure—she could finally vaguely describe this strange sensation. She had never seen Lei Yin like this before. Yet, paradoxically, despite the suffocating invisible weight in the air, she felt an inexplicable sense of safety, as if she were being held securely in his arms.

Slowly, Lei Yin turned the blade horizontally, then placed it back into the box, and finally closed the lid.

After completing this sequence of actions, Lei Yin turned around and walked out.

“Lei…” Naoko immediately rushed into his arms and hugged him tightly.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Lei Yin comforted her gently as he held her.

“Lei, I was so scared just now,” Naoko said, softly sobbing as she spoke.

Lei Yin tightened his embrace, his hand tenderly stroking the hair at the nape of her neck.

Naoko’s grandmother stood nearby, smiling as she watched them.

※※※

Back in the room where they had tea earlier, Naoko placed a freshly brewed cup of tea in front of Lei Yin and asked, “Lei, was that blade the one your friend told you about?”

Lei Yin shook his head. “Although it resembles the one my friend described, that blade didn’t have any inscriptions, so it’s not the one he mentioned.”

Typically, Japanese swords have inscriptions on the exterior, especially those crafted by renowned swordsmiths. However, this blade had none.

After putting down his teacup, Lei Yin looked at the elderly woman seated across from him and said, “This might sound abrupt, but I suggest you bury that blade as soon as possible.”

The elderly woman looked at him and said, “Actually, when Naoko’s grandfather was still alive, after that incident happened, I advised him to do just that. But he was a stubborn man. He believed that since the blade was an important possession entrusted to him by a good friend, he couldn’t treat it so carelessly. As his wife, it is my duty to honor his wishes and safeguard this ominous blade until the day I leave this world.”

“Lei, what exactly happened just now?” Naoko asked, still deeply affected by the sensation she had experienced earlier.

Lei Yin replied in a low voice, “That blade is heavily imbued with death energy.”

“Death energy? What’s that?” Naoko asked, surprised.

Holding her delicate hand in his, Lei Yin explained, “Death energy, also known as corpse energy, is an ancient term. From a more scientific perspective, it refers to a type of substance—or perhaps energy—that may be released at the moment of death, especially in cases of unnatural death, such as murder. This energy can attach itself to the weapon used or even to the killer. Typically, death energy diminishes over time and eventually disappears. However, there are exceptions.

“When someone repeatedly uses the same weapon to kill, the accumulation of death energy can surpass its rate of dissipation. When it reaches a certain threshold, it undergoes a qualitative transformation, becoming a unique form of death energy that does not fade with time. Once this concentrated death energy accumulates to a significant degree, it can unpredictably affect the person wielding the weapon. The severity of the impact depends on how much death energy is attached to the weapon. The most common effect is a gradual change in the wielder’s personality, making them more aggressive or even bloodthirsty.

“But this blade is different. The death energy attached to it is extraordinarily intense. If an ordinary person were to pick it up, they could very likely go insane—or worse, experience other unpredictable outcomes.”

Hearing Lei Yin’s explanation, Naoko became anxious and gripped his hand tightly. “Will you be okay?”

Lei Yin gently patted her hand and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

Seeing the clarity in his eyes, as unchanged as ever, Naoko finally relaxed.

At that moment, Naoko’s grandmother suddenly spoke. “I once heard the original owner of that blade say that it had undergone something called a ‘soul seal.’ Do you know what that means?”

Lei Yin nodded. “So that’s it. No wonder this blade turned out like this. The term ‘soul seal’ is a Japanese expression, but its proper name should be Kenji (Sword Sacrifice). It refers to a process where, as a sword or blade is about to be forged, the swordsmith drips their own blood onto the blade, sharpening and tempering it.

“Over time, this practice became distorted, turning into a ritual where living people were thrown into the forge to let their vengeful spirits fuse with the blade, creating a true cursed weapon. Those who forged blades this way were usually madmen. You could say that swords or blades forged through such means were already murderous weapons even before they ever killed anyone. If such a blade is then used to kill, it becomes an evil weapon like this one.

“Also, it’s worth noting that what actually contains the death energy of this blade and prevents it from spreading isn’t the charms or the curved jade—it’s the peachwood box.”

The elderly woman sighed deeply and said, “So, in the end, those two people were indeed influenced by this blade. Our family indirectly caused their fate.”

Lei Yin didn’t know how to comfort her. After all, it was the truth. While accidental harm differs from intentional harm, the end result is the same.

“Grandmother, no one could have predicted something like this. Please don’t overthink it,” Naoko said as she walked over to console her.

“I’m a bit tired. I’d like to rest for a while. You two continue,” the elderly woman said as she stood up, supporting herself on the table.

Naoko immediately went to assist her, helping her to her bedroom.