Taishin
Episode 8
A surprising choice of subject matter.
I have no idea if I should be allowed to paint the woman I drove to her death...
But if there is no escape from what I see when I close my eyes,
I have no other choice.
Many who pursue mastery find themselves chasing certain motifs their entire lives.
You are simply one such person. I doubt it means more than that.
I am?
Taishin
If you need anything, simply speak to the master of that shop.
Is that what we set out for today?
Your pseudonym, "Taishin"... Did you come up with it?
Oh, that...
Tai
Taishin
I took a character from your name for it.
Should I not have done so?
Actually, I'm honored.
I suppose that makes this Taishin's retreat, starting today.
I used it when I was just starting out.
It's a bit of a walk from the city,
but I imagine you prefer it quiet, anyway.
This is for me?
I think you will soon be so in-demand, you'll struggle to find time to sleep and eat.
When that happens...
You can put the name and past of Kurima Raizo behind you,
and carry on as Taishin, the artist.
My name and past...
Can such selfishness truly be forgiven?
I do not think it is a question of whether it can be forgiven,
but whether or not you choose to do so.
The man who placed the vision of Saint Mary upon my back is dead.
That is why I must carry his frustration,
and that of all others who die in a similar fashion,
upon my back, as is appropriate.
The same goes for all of the revengers.
Both Teppa and Nio could never live in proper society.
But you're different,
as demonstrated by the fact that you are on the verge of creating a new life as Taishin.
That was never my intention.
The karma I have wrought by killing first my father-in-law, then my superior...
I cannot rest until this matter, with all its hidden depths, has been laid to rest.
But what about afterward?
Afterward?
When you have finally settled all the old scores,
what reason will you have to kill?
It would've been so much easier if he'd just said he was gonna quit.
How much did you hear?
You're the one who asked me to clean the place up.
I was thinking about how I could've killed him if he'd said he was going to quit.
Aw, was that a bad idea? But I thought trying to ditch was against the rules.
So why the heck did you even bring it up?
I'm trying to see whether or not he deserves to die.
Oh, is that all? So you really were testing him.
What's up? Another summons?
Likely regarding the excursion into Chinatown the other day...
I knew the Chapel would hear about it sooner or later.
Pub
Welcome.
May I enter?
Take a seat in the back.
Hello there. Will you be having your sake warmed up?
Oh, no sake for me.
Just something to eat, please.
Oh, my. You don't drink, mister samurai?
It's not that...
Actually, you are right. Please bring a bottle.
That's what I like to hear! Honey, one warm bottle of sake.
Sure thing.
Nah, there's no way!
You are on the verge of creating a new life as Taishin.
But what about afterward?
When you have finally settled all the old scores,
what reason will you have to kill?
Now that's the face of a troubled man, if ever I saw one.
Sorry about the need to share the table.
Here you are.
Hope you don't mind the imposition.
You are a priest?
Although it's plain to see, I'm not the most pious one you'll meet.
On the trail of the sins committed by all,
I travel around the 88 holy shrines of the nation...
That about covers it.
Can I ask a question?
Could one atone for the crime of murder by embarking on a religious pilgrimage?
For a samurai, you've got quite a sense of humor.
Is it that funny?
Well, of course it is.
I mean, if a priest's job is to perform funeral rites and say prayers for the dead,
isn't it a samurai's job to kill people?
That hardly sounds like something a priest should say.
If you ask me, condemning killing is just as much of a whimsical joke.
Life is sustained by taking the lives of others, just like we have for this meal.
Even for vegetarians, the facts remain the same.
If you clear a forest and turn it into a field, what happens to the plants and animals?
I'd say taking a life with a bow and arrow is more respectful than doing so with money.
What do you mean?
Well, it's true, isn't it?
Be it carpentry or merchantry, a calling has a lifespan of its own.
So by offering coin in exchange for labor,
you have, in essence, bought a portion of that life with money.
Whoever called it a "livelihood" was onto something. If money makes the world go 'round...
As such, a comparable amount of life is lost in the process.
By that logic, a samurai who kills someone by their own hand
and a young girl who buys a flower at a shop would be the same type of killer.
Samurai never disappoint. You are truly quick to grasp matters of life and death.
It's exactly as you say. In the same way that you kill with a sword,
the average person kills with coin.
That's the only real difference.
So please...
Don't worry so much over something as trivial as having killed someone.
Forgive me. I think I am drunk.
Ma'am, the money is on the table.
But mister samurai, this is too much!
I have paid for the priest, as well.
Well, well. You have my thanks.
Under ordinary circumstances, your exploits in Chinatown
are not the kind of thing that would be forgiven.
But I am willing to make a special exception now that we know the name of the true sinner.
If the wretched poison permeates deeper and deeper into this city,
it will likely fall into oblivion without the need for judgment from Deus.
And in spite of that, another man appears to be seeking opium.
Liu Wen-Lin of Chinatown.
He must be kept from the opium at all costs.
I must ask...
Where is the bitten koban coin?
Can you not sense the vendetta burnt into that oban coin?
Where do you think it was scorched so?
Shimabara?
Indeed.
The faithful who died as martyrs in that land
have surely been awaiting a revenge of great magnitude.
And to that end, they have entrusted this gold to us.
Is that not enough for you?
If they desire revenge, it would be against those who condemned them.
Why Liu?
This is a matter that must be dealt with swiftly!
If nothing is done, Liu's people will obtain Matsumine's opium.
And if that happens, all will be lost.
There are no revengers in Nagasaki that I can entrust this Shimabara gold to.
In the name of God, you will strike Liu down.
I've never even touched one of these big boys before!
The Chapel must be feeling generous!
I thought we were dead meat when I heard they'd found out about the other day,
but it's outta the frying pan and into the limelight!
But where are the teeth marks of a vendetta?
Hey, now that you mention it, there ain't any.
This is a direct request from the Chapel.
They want us to kill Liu as soon as possible.
Well, this definitely isn't the standard revenge.
Why would they go out of their way?
There's no telling why.
You think?
They probably forked over the big bucks because they knew it'd be a tough job.
Sounds like the right amount of compensation to me!
Especially considering I was expecting trouble after what happened.
But—
You gonna wring your hands about this, too?
You were gonna have to deal with that guy sooner or later
if we stayed on the trail of Matsumine's opium.
Sounds like the ideal opportunity.
Yuen-dono said something to me before.
Revenge is not about the money, but the depth of the grudge bitten into it.
But the folks who have been arranging the revenges say it's fine even without the bite.
That means we've gotta get it done. Ain't that right?
Besides, a grudge is a grudge, but not all of them are earned, y'know?
And what happens if we start sweating every job that comes in?
Ain't we just killing whoever we feel like at that point?
Am I right, boss?
Boss?
Then you'll have to kill Yuen first, Soji.
Huh? Why the hell would I?
Because Yuen always says we don't kill without bitten gold.
He's gonna kill you if you keep this up, Soji.
I'm not sure what I wanna do, though. Might be fun to go at it with Yuen.
Don't be stupid! What the hell is the point in us fighting each other?!
What else are we supposed to do? Yuen makes the rules.
What are you suggesting, then? We throw all this gold back in their faces?
I mean, if we do...
There's no way the Chapel lets us get away with it.
But they were the ones who transgressed first.
You're right about that. Wanna kill everyone from the Chapel, then?
You're really making jokes right now?!
Are you guys nuts?! We'd have to fight every other ribenji-ya in Nagasaki!
All the luck in the world wouldn't cover those kinds of odds!
Please don't say you're seriously thinking about this, boss.
If nothing else, we need to find out what the Chapel is really after.
We are ribenji-ya. We are not their lapdogs.
I could see them throwing that gold our way as a test
to see if we're willing to wag our tails.
What's the big idea?
We're outta options, so let's use that trick again. Head on over to Chinatown, Nio.
Aw, but why?
If this Liu guy's the kind of dirtbag that deserves to die,
you're bound to find folks willing to bite that thing.
Hurry up and get it done!
Boss, doc, samurai! You guys are cool with this, right?
I would also like to request you do that, Nio.
This could help us learn the Chapel's true intentions.
Ugh, this is a lot of extra work.
I could say the same thing!
How did we go from needing to kill Liu to doing all this other crap?!
It is true that this Liu is after the opium.
But we do not know why.
Thank you ever so much for coming all the way to Nagasaki.
Come now. We are just itinerant clergy who have no real destination in mind.
The call goes out, we head there, no matter where it is.
That said, I'd like to ask one thing.
Why us? Surely there are plenty of folks willing to take your gold around here.
Well, you see, the other options just aren't as trustworthy, sadly.
Really? I heard there was a pack of mad dogs in these parts
who would even go up against the magistrate for the right price.
That particular pack seems to be giving their owners a hard time lately.
Though it embarrasses me to admit that, as it paints a poor picture of the city.
Well, that does sound troublesome.
A dog that breaks its collar can, at times, be more dangerous than a wolf.
I suppose that explains why you called us.
Is it going to be a problem?
Of course not!
We'd come knocking on the door of our own family,
if that's what the bitten gold called for.
And with that being the case, could you go ahead and leave the mark of your vendetta?
I must say, I really appreciate how accommodating you are.
Oh, how I hate them.
All these people who stand in my way...
I hate them.
Well, that certainly is a very deep grudge.
Oh, look. Someone else with an unfulfilled vendetta.
Do you mind?
No, not at all.
Whoever makes the bite, bitten gold is all the same.
And one ribenji-ya is as good as another.
You're one of his people.
Hey! What's the big idea?!
Why has a rat snuck into my town?
What exactly are you planning to do?
You really have underestimated me. Draw your sword.
The opium bought by Satsuma's chief financial officer...
What do you plan to do with it?
How foolish can you people be?
If your idea of wisdom is letting innocent people suffer the effects of opium,
then I am glad to be a fool.
What?
This is addressed to the Qing Imperial Commissioner...
Lin Zexu.
Which would mean this guy is...
We've come for revenge.
Episode 8
Next time, Episode 9