At the edge of western China, a traveling merchant, named Tayako, traveled the land by river.
The traveler sold various weapons as he moved from village to village.
Tayako was quite petite, his arm held small muscles.
He carried himself in a strange manner. Tayako was silent and his face was shadowed
Due to the straw hat he wore. Aside from when he sold, his face rarely showed
Emotions. The merchant wore loosened clothing
And no shoes.
After a day or two going up river,
Tayako stopped and started to travel through the bamboo forest.
There was a day’s walk to reach the nearest village.
The young traveler stopped to rest. He gather wood and started a fire.
Morning came and the young male gathered his things and continued onward.
Around midday he arrived to the village of Shindou.
Tayako had been to this village before many years ago.
The village was once beautiful with rich fields and was known for its beautiful woman.
But now the village had lost its beauty and the fields were barren.
The houses were in ruins. Shingles were missing from the roofs and there were
Holes in the wall. The air reeked of rotting flesh. Tayako scrunched his nose as he
Scanned every house. People were inside but the roads shared no one.
He walked up to a house. A friend had lived here the last time the traveler was here.
The young man knocked on the tattered wooden door.
A small woman answered. She looked older than she was.
Her hair was combed back and a rag held it in place.
Her clothes were old and worn. Her bruised feet held no shoes.
Takayo had noticed the woman’s bruised dainty hands trembling as she held
The door.
“Is Lin Sao home,” the merchant asked.
The woman’s eyes never left the ground, but Tayako knew they were filled with fear.
The woman’s shoulders started to tense before she fell to her knees sobbing.
Tayako knelt down.
“Rinalin...what is the matter?” He spoke in a soft and kind voice.
The woman only shook her head and pointed.
The merchant stood and turned his body to face the direction she was pointing.
He gave the weeping the weeping woman a small bow before leaving.
As he drew near, the smell grew stronger.
Under a willow tree hung countless bodies.
The ground was covered like a blanket. A murder hung around the bodies,
Crying their songs, picking and eating the flesh of the dead.
Tayako took off his hat, his long tied black flowed in the wind.
He closed his eyes and prayed.
He opened his blackened eyes and let out a heavy sigh.
“Who could’ve….”
He placed his hat back over his head.
He spotted the village’s shrine just beyond the tree.
He headed there.
He walked up the long stairs.
The shrine was barren aside from a monk who swept at the stone floor.
The monk looked up and gave the young traveler a small bow.
Tayako bowed in return before walking up to the old monk.
“Are you a traveler,” the old monk asked with a toothy smile.
Tayako gave him a small nod.
“I’m Tayako, a weapon’s merchant.”
The smile faded slightly. The wrinkled man turned and walked to the massive
Buddha statue that sat in the middle of the stone pathway.
Tayako followed behind.
“I am afraid you won’t find anyone here willing to buy.
You see, the people here are too scared to even leave their homes.”
“Why is that?”
The monk placed his hands together, a jade bead bracelet between them,
And prayed.
“There is a curse on our village. Our chief has become corrupt and at his side
And at his side is a terrifying dragon. We can do nothing to stop him.”
“A dragon?”
Dragons were celestial creatures of the heavens. Why would one be at the side of a chief?
Tayako rubbed his chin. “Why do you say he’s evil?”
The monk gave out a sorrow laugh, “Haven’t you seen the willow tree?
Innocent people are being slaughtered for only missing one coin in tax,
Women are disappearing day by day and all the food is kept by the chief and he shares none.
People are growing sick and dying.”
“And no one has even tried doing anything about it?”
The monk shook his head, “They all died to that beast. All we can do is pray that the Gods
Will forgives us for whatever sins we’ve committed.”
“Is that why the shrine is in one piece?”
The monk closed his tired eyes, “Hope.
This shrine is the last hope this village has.
By giving them hope, he gives them despair. For he can take this
Shrine any time he wanted and destroy it.”
His eyes opened and he looked to the sky.
“But even if that was the case, I don’t think Lord Sae Wong would be foolish
Enough to anger the Gods himself.” Tayako stared at the monk.
A thought had occurred to the old monk.
“Young man, what did you say your name was?”
The young man crooked his neck to the side.
“Tayako.”
The monk turned and stared at the traveler. His fingers grasped around his chin.
He stroked his beard as he thought.
“There was once a noble samurai,” the monk started.
He walked over and entered a sub-shrine. He entered and Tayako followed.
“He answered to no lord but the Gods themselves. He went from village to village,
Saving those who were in need. He was strong and noble.
Never turning down someone who was in need of him.”
The monk picked up a sword and turned to the young man. “He died in battle. But his sword Remains.”
The monk held the sword out towards Tayako. The traveler took the sword and took a look at it.
It was beautifully crafted, symbols carved into the hilt and there were gold engravings along it,
“His name was Tayako as well.”
The young man looked up at the monk and a brow was raised.
“If all possible, could you be his reincarnation?”
The traveler’s lips parted slightly and he shook his head.
“I highly doubt so.”
The monk frowned when Tayako tried to give the sword back. He refused it.
“Keep it.”
The traveler nodded and turned to leave.
He left the shrine and was about to leave the village itself,
But something made him stop.
He couldn’t leave this village how it was.
He remembered how lively and beautiful it was all those years ago.
He’d seen too much and now he is pitting these poor folks.
A heavy sigh left his lips. He turned, Tayako’s sword in hand.
He headed back into the village and towards this Lord Sae Wong’s castle.
He snuck past the guards and headed down the halls.
The sneaky young man found himself in the throne room and entered it.
As expected the chief was sitting there.
He wore beautiful silk fabrics and jewels.
Something behind the throne withered in the darkness.
Shadows covered it so the traveler couldn't see what it was.
“And who has come to greet me on this day?”
Tayako got to his knees and bowed.
“I am but a mere merchant traveling through.
I have once seen the beauties of this village
And I have seen the troubles the people of this village are going through.”
The chief merely raised a brow, cheek resting against his upright fist.
“and who are you to come to me for this?”
“you are their leader. Only you can help and save these people.”
Sae Wong tilted his head upwards and laughed.
“Save these people? There's peasants are in no need of saving.
They are well taken care of, I assure you.”
A frown formed on the young man's face.
“Then why are there countless bodies in the streets?
Why are people so scared to even leave their homes?
Why are the lands so barren?”
This made the chief frown. His hands clenched the arms of his throne.
“Who are you to say such things!”
Sae Wong roared. He glared down at Tayako, his teeth clenched tightly.
“I am the lord of this land! I will see fit to how it is ran!
You, a mere traveling peasant has no right to talk to me so!”
Tayako shook his head and placed a hand to his chest.
“Even so, I stand here asking for you to change your ways and this village.
If this keeps on you will have no people to rule!
This village is already a wasteland, it bares no food,
Do not rid it of its’ people.”
The traveler begged.
But Sae Wong only turned his head.
He refused to accept advice and being told what to do by a mere peasant.
Tayako’s eyes turned sorrowful and he gave out a defeated sigh.
Even so, he still couldn’t turn his back on the village.
Something deep inside of him refused to let him do so.
“Then I challenge you.”
The chief turned his widened eyes to the young man and let out another laugh.
“You? Challenge me? I must be hearing things.”
Tayako shook his head.
“I’m afraid not.
I challenge you Lord Sae Wong. If you do not accept than you are nothing but a
Coward.”
The man scoffed at the travelers words. He leaned forward, eyes narrowed.
“Very well. At sunset, we will duel by the willow tree.”
“But there are countless bodies there, how will we even fight?”
The chief sat back, smirking as he did so,
“My soldiers will clean up the filth. They shall stand watch and make sure none of the
Less fortunate interfere.”
Tayako bowed then,
“Then I will hold your words till then.”
With that, the young man turned and left the way he had come.
By the time he had arrived back in the village, talk of the duel had already spread.
The people who were once shut behind doors,
Now surrounded Takayo.
They’re faces now young with the sense of hope.
Talk filled the air and Takayo said nothing in return.
He simply returned to the shrine to meet with the old monk.
“I will battle with the lord. If what you said about me is true,
I hope to win.
I will pray to the gods and my past self to guide me in this battle.”
The tired old fool gave out a soft laugh.
“I pray that you will only make it out alive in this fated battle.
Nothing more.”
With this, Tayako gave the old monk a smile.
During the rest of the day,
The young man went out of his way to providing the villagers with weapons.
He told them,
“In case I do not make it. These will at least give you all a fighting chance.”
Even though they had no experience with swords it was at least better than old, rusting hoes,
And Axes.
He did the best he could to give them at least a little amount of practice.
But even he knew, this may never be enough.
Soon enough, when the sun started to lay her sleepy head down to rest,
Sae Wong and his soldiers arrived.
Tayako stood at the willow tree and took in a heavy breath.
The villagers stood behind him, all scaredly waiting.
The chief got off his horse, dressed in the highest grades of armor and a fancy sword.
He smiled, confident, as he strutted over to the young man.
Takayo held the sword the monk had given him, unsheathed, tightly in his hand.
Sae Wong drew his sword as well,
And the two men danced in a circle.
A single cow echoed aloud and the battle began.
Sae Wong attacked first, lunging and swinging his sword up high.
He went for Takayo’s head but the young man lifted his sword to block.
He pushed the chief back and attacked this time.
He swung the sword to the side, attacking the side.
Tayako only hit his armor by doing so.
They continued to exchange blows.
Each one slowly chipping away at what each one was wearing.
Sae Wong’s armor was now dented and Takayo’s was torn and cut.
Tayako had begun to grow weary. Not because he was losing.
Sae Wong saw this and took this opportunity.
He slashed across Tayako’s chest, but the young man dodged just in time.
A big hole in the shirt of his clothes now sat there.
The chief’s eyes widened when he saw the bracer around the traveler’s chest.
“You’re a girl?”
The people gasped.
A growl escaped Tayako’s lips and she too took this opportunity.
She dashed forward and managed to cut off Sae Wong’s hand.
It flopped to the flood and Sae Wong was left screaming out in agony.
Takayo picked up the hand and held it high.
“See? A mere traveler, no! A mere woman has taken the great Sae Wong’s hand!”
She threw it to the ground.
“And there is no dragon to come to his aid!
None of you have any reason to fear him!”
As she was making her speech, she had noticed Sae Wong’s screams had gone silent.
She turned but it was too late, a sword entered her side.
Tayako cried out and fell to her knees.
She coughed up blood as the blade was ripped out from her body.
She glared up at the vile man and held a hand to her wound.
She took a stand and grabbed her fallen sword.
The blade danced in the air as she attacked the man.
A stone was thrown.
It had hit Sae Wong’s head and he cried out,
“Who did that?! It is against the rules for interference!”
He turned to his soldiers and commanded them to attack.
They raised their swords and charged after the villagers.
They too raised their swords and attacked.
Sae Wong turned his attention back towards Tayako.
“You did this! You vile wench! I’ll kill you and put your body on display!”
He charged towards Tayako.
Everything spun quickly as the two engaged battle,
In the end, Tayako made one lucky swung and the chief’s head fell from his shoulders.
Everyone stopped.
Once they had seen that Sae Wong was dead, weapons fell to the floor.
Even the soldiers had stopped fighting.
There was no need to continue when they know they had lost.
The villagers cheered and cried out Takayo’s name.
By the time morning came, they all had marched towards the castle and burned it to the ground.
They all watched, they all listened.
From inside, a loud horrid cry came from inside.
What they had thought to be a dragon was no more than an overgrown snake.
The villagers begged Takayo to stay and become their new lord,
But she refused.
She was a woman and no one outside of this village would accept a female ruler.
Besides that point,
She made it clear that her life was meant for traveling.
It was her greatest joy selling the weapons she had.
The villagers understood and saw her off.
Many, many years later a young traveler came to the village of Shindou.
The village once again regained its beauty.
The fields grew wonderous plants and people walked the streets again.
There were no more run down houses, no more missing singles.
The village did fine without a lord to rule over them.
Where the old willow tree once stood, a statue of a strange woman wearing men’s clothing and Holding a sword stood.
They now tell of her tale of how she slayed the vile Sae Wong and vile dragon.
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