Chapter 584: Criticizing the Knife

Until the last day, Zhang Heng still couldn't make a decision whether to return to reality with that knife.

Zhang Heng thought for a while, and it really is better to consult professionals for professional questions.

So he held Kikuichi Monsomune and Suzumaru Koji in his arms, and by the way, he also took the nameless Taidao that Akane Koyama gave him, and came to the most famous sword house in Kyoto.

Because he has been coming to look at knives before, and he specifically confessed that all the famous knives are reserved for him, so the shop owner (the store manager) and Xiaoseng (the shop waiter) already know him.

Seeing him, he immediately showed a smile, "Abe-sama, today is not the day to buy goods, so I am interested in coming to play anyway."

Zhang Heng casually gave five cents to the little monk who opened the door, causing the latter's mouth to almost go to the back of his head.

"Ah, I'm not here to buy knives today. I have a few knives that I want someone to appraise."

Bantou and Teyo (senior manager) looked at each other and laughed.

"What?" Zhang Heng asked.

"It's a coincidence that you came today. The boss is not usually in the store. I don't know why today. I came here early. This is a good opportunity. There is no sword in this world that the boss doesn't know. Come on!" From the works of famous masters to the weapons made by ordinary blacksmiths, he can tell the history at a glance."

"Is it so powerful?" Zhang Heng was a little surprised.

"So no matter what questions you have about knives, just ask him. Of course, your knives should be able to get into his eyes." Fantou said with a smile.

"Only don't worry about this, please introduce me." Zhang Heng said.

"Come with me." Fantou took Zhang Heng to a tea room behind the knife house.

A thin old man was making tea there.

"This guest wants you to judge the knife for him." Fantou bowed and reminded.

"Thanks for your hard work." The old man replied, nodding his thanks.

Fantou then exited the room. The old man pointed to the tatami mats on the floor. Seeing this, Zhang Heng saluted and sat down. He had stayed in Japan for a copy of Tokyo Drift before, but he didn't emphasize etiquette as much as it is now. He can basically sit however he wants.

Now I am doing as the Romans do, and I have also learned a little about the traditional Japanese sitting. Stretch the head joints as much as possible, keep the instep and calf on the same plane, stick it on the mat, and use the inner side of the heel and toes as support...Of course it is not very comfortable. It is said that this This kind of sitting posture that looks like corporal punishment also seems to have been introduced from China.

But in the subsequent history of China, it seems that few people sit like this anymore.

The boss didn't open his mouth to help Zhang Heng evaluate the knife, and Zhang Heng was not in a hurry. Anyway, it was still early, and there was still half a day before the end of the dungeon. He just sat there and watched the boss make tea.

Japanese tea ceremony is divided into two major families, matcha and sencha, but in fact they all originated from China. The former was passed down from the Tang Dynasty, while the latter originated from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Of course, they developed in Japan. It is said that the earliest Tea seeds were brought back by Saicheng who studied in China during the Nara period.

And Sen Rikyu is a master, and his thought of Jing Qingji has a great influence on later generations.

The boss obviously knows this way quite well. He burns charcoal and boils water in one go, then warms the bowl, puts the tea powder he made by himself in the bowl, mixes the cream and makes some tea, and stirs it continuously with a tea whisk until thick foam is produced (here You can make up the pot by yourself), the movement is full of rhythm, and finally pour the tea into two bowls, this is matcha.

Zhang Heng took one of the tea bowls from the boss, and pointed the pattern on the bowl to the other party to express his gratitude.

Then took a sip.

Well, he can't drink much difference.

"Patience is good." A smile appeared on the boss's skinny face, as if he could see what Zhang Heng was thinking, he shook his head, "Forget it, let's talk about swords."

Zhang Heng took out the first knife and handed it over.

"Shuzhuwan Hengji." Sure enough, the boss only glanced at it, and said, "In the Heian period, Qingjiang Hengji cast it. The sword is inscribed Hengji, and the blade is two feet five inches long. The bracelet on the knife is from the former owner. Master Nichiren, in order to break the hostility of this knife, this is a famous Buddha knife, but it fell into the hands of the executioner later, it can be said that it was not entrusted to people, and the hostility that had disappeared has returned a lot, so we have to find someone The Buddhist temple will be raised for a while longer."

"The boss is indeed a person who knows knives." Zhang Heng handed over the second knife.

"Heh, the chrysanthemum is one character, and you have a lot of good knives." The boss stroked the blade, "do you see the quenching marks on it, it is deeper than ordinary swords, this technique is called a character T, it is a character The author of this work is Ichimonji Nozomune and Dao Ming Zezong from the Kamakura period. The blade is two feet four inches long and the most famous owner is Okita Souji. Unfortunately, this famous sword finally found its destiny. , but it is a short-lived ghost, and if you listen carefully, you can still hear its wailing, a sentimental man with a sentimental knife, in the end, is nothing more than being misled by love.”

After listening to the boss's comments, Zhang Heng fell into silence. After a while, he raised his head, "What I want to ask is which of these two knives is more suitable for me."

The boss didn't answer immediately when he heard the words, but instead said, "Don't you still have a knife, why don't you take it out."

"That knife was just a gift from a friend. Although it means a lot to me, I'm afraid it won't catch your eye." Zhang Heng said.

The boss didn't take back his hand, and said, "It's up to me to decide whether I can get into my eyes, not you, but you should judge or not."

"As you wish." Zhang Heng finally handed over the ordinary sword that Akane Xiaoshan gave him.

"Well, this knife is really so-so. The people who made the knife are so-so, and the original owner is so-so. It doesn't even have a name, and the inscription on the knife is blank. Maybe it's because I feel too embarrassed. I can't find a single word about it in the history books. Its records are not even comparable to those in my shop."

Zhang Heng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had already said that the knife was average, but the old man in front of him still insisted on giving a review. In the end, when he got the knife, he was criticized severely.

"Anyway, this knife was given to me by a friend. After all, it was a good intention." Zhang Heng stretched out his hand, wanting to take the knife back.

However, the boss did not let go immediately, but said, "In that case, choose this one."

"Um?"

"I said, let's choose this one." The boss said lightly, "Suzumaru Kōji is the sword of Master Nichiren, and Kikuichimonji Nomune belongs to Okita Souji. Both of them stamped on the sword in their own ways. It is their own brand, so this is their knife, and it is only their knife."

Zhang Heng's heart seemed to be moved when he heard the words.

"Knife is famous because of people after all. It doesn't matter if it doesn't have a name. You can give it a name. It doesn't matter if it doesn't have a history. Just write it yourself. Writing your history is also its history, not to mention this knife. There are people's feelings about you in the knife, this is your knife." The boss is like a devil, constantly tempting and tempting Zhang Heng's ears.

"You just don't want me to take these two famous knives out of the dungeon?" Zhang Heng said. He had already vaguely guessed the identity of the other party, so he simply showed his cards.

The boss took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "This is your choice. I'm only responsible for providing advice. Buy it and leave it. Don't regret it."

"But you have said so much, but you can't cover up the flaws of this knife itself." Zhang Heng said speechlessly.

"You yourself don't know very well that there is no such thing as perfect in this world," the boss said leisurely, "Knife is like a person. When no one is down and down, don't emperors and generals often start from recklessness? Gentleman, give me a hand."

"So... I wondered what you meant to say that I was the one who took advantage of it?"

"Hey." The boss smiled terribly, he had long since lost the charm he had when he was making tea, "I said, the choice is yours, maybe it will give you a hand at any time."