Bronze door through time and space

Chapter 943 Recognizing the Ancestor and Returning to the Clan
Sagara Yoshihiro, Fuhime's younger brother, is no longer the foolish little boy he once was. He has transformed from an adorable young boy into a balding man with a balding forehead.

However, he did not waste his time in middle age. He married and had children in an orderly manner. After some effort, the number of people in the Sagara family has now recovered to double digits, which shows how hard he worked.

Moreover, with some tacit approval, Komizu Town has become the new territory of the Sagara family.

However, Yoshihiro Sagara still harbored an unfulfilled regret, so upon receiving the invitation and seeing the familiar surname, he decided to meet the person, even though he knew the person was an outsider with unclear intentions.

In fact, the other party's intentions were not important, because Sagara Yoshiyo knew very well how incredible that person's power was. Whether it was them or everything in this world, they were nothing more than the other party's game.

After a conversation that somewhat eased his regret, Sagara Yoshihiro, realizing that going too far was not good, had his guests seen off.

Still in shock, Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo left the Sagara residence, their hearts filled with both shock and fear. Sagara Ishitomo, in particular, had the most complex expression, because the sense of familiarity was undeniable.

"Hire a car and head to Fukushima Castle."

Leaving aside the two families who were extremely excited and eager to confirm something, Sagara Yoshihiro knelt in the tea room with a teacup in his hand and did not move for a long time.

The paper door of the tea room was half-open, and the autumn sunlight filtered through the bamboo curtain, casting dappled patterns of light onto the teacup between Sagara Yoshiyo's fingers. The tea had long since gone cold, but he was oblivious, his gaze fixed on the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard.

Those were his brother's favorite cherry blossoms, which he planted himself when he was young. He still remembers how complicated his feelings were at the time, including those for his brother, for himself, and for the long-vanished Sagara family.

Sagara Yoshihiro's fingertips unconsciously caressed the rim of the cup as he recalled his conversation with Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishiyu.

"The Sagara family in another world," he murmured, his voice filled with complex emotions, as well as the regrets buried deep in his heart from his early years.

The tea room was so quiet that you could hear the chirping of insects outside the window. Suddenly, Sagara Yoshiyo drank the tea in his cup, which had already gone cold, in one gulp.

The bitter taste spread across his tongue, but it calmed his chaotic mind.

When Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo go to Fukushima Castle, they will inevitably encounter the guardian spirit of the mountain. Whether they live or die depends on fate. They can only hope that these descendants of the other world can find the right path.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo were sitting in a carriage heading to Fukushima Castle, their expressions completely different.

Sagara Ishiyu clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with excitement, his fingertips even turning slightly white from the force. The mythical history he had heard at Sagara Mansion burned like a flame in his heart.

Shimazu Sai, standing to the side, looked grave. He leaned against the carriage wall, his brow furrowed, repeatedly recalling Sagara Yoshiyo's every word and action, because he felt that the other was hinting at something. However, he did not ask Sagara Ishiyu, who clearly had some understanding.

The two didn't know what to say to each other along the way, and remained silent until they arrived near Fukushima Castle.

The view outside the window gradually changed from farmland to houses scattered in a neat and orderly fashion. They were not the low-rise houses that were common along the way, but rather courtyards of a certain size. It was clear that the people living here were people of status, and the inscriptions with their surnames on the doors were proof of this.

However, the two had no interest in these things, because they could already see Fukushima Castle built on the mountain from here.

This city is unlike any other. Its walls are tall and white, and there are no residents inside, only tombstones of all sizes, as if it were the afterglow of history, exuding a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere.

Following Sagara Yoshiyo's advice, the two left everyone behind, tidied their clothes, and began walking up the mountain.

As soon as they stepped into the edge of the forest, a strong demonic aura rushed towards them, causing the two to shiver involuntarily.

Shimazu Sai instinctively stopped, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes, while Sagara Ishiyu, who was not young but had always maintained his swordsmanship training, gripped the sword at his waist and looked around warily.

Of course, Sagara Ishiyu knew very well that if he were really in danger, with his limited abilities, he would be completely useless. But at least it was some psychological comfort. Then he realized that comfort was nothing.

Just then, the earth suddenly began to tremble, the soil beneath their feet rustling, as if some enormous creature was awakening underground. Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo's expressions changed drastically. They suppressed the urge to turn and run, but instead, they both took a few steps back in unison—it was instinct, something they couldn't control.

Immediately afterwards, a crimson figure burst out of the mountainside with a howling gale, soaring into the sky like a high-speed train on a roller coaster. It then circled and hovered around the two people, bringing terrifying pressure, like two ants under a hydraulic press.

This is a gigantic centipede of indescribable size, with each segment of its body covered by a thick carapace comparable to the armor of a warship, gleaming with a cold metallic luster in the sunlight.

Most chillingly, a human head was embedded in the giant centipede's skull. It was the face of an old man, with deep wrinkles and sharp, piercing eyes.

He is the legendary daimyo of the Fukushima family, and now the guardian of Mount Fukushima, Fukushima Gisei.

The old man's gaze slowly swept over Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo. The two felt an invisible pressure coming at them, and cold sweat instantly soaked their backs, making their breathing rapid.

"The Shimazu and Sagara families are permitted to pass." After a moment, Fukushima Yoshiaki gave the two men a deep look before slowly retreating back into the mountainside.

If it weren't for the cold sweat and legs that made them feel like noodles, everything that had just happened would have seemed like an illusion. But both of them knew very well that it was not an illusion, because they had both passed the test and that they truly possessed the bloodlines of the Shimazu and Sagara families.

The two heads of the Shimazu and Sagara families almost celebrated their victory and were proud of their lineage. After all, they had originally planned to be dogs, but they never expected to be recognized as ancestors. Even if they could no longer be heads of the family, it was still a qualitative difference.

Shimazu Sai and Sagara Ishitomo, overwhelmed with surprise at the handover, stood there for a long time before recovering. They looked at each other and saw awe and longing in each other's eyes.

"Is this the guardian of Mount Fukushima? Such a great being, and he was human before." Shimazu Sai murmured to herself, her words filled with disbelief, and at the same time, a deep-seated longing.

Sagara Ishiyu took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in a deep voice.

"It seems we have passed the test and proven our lineage. Let's go up the mountain; perhaps we can find the answers we're looking for there."

Shimazu Sai nodded, and after regaining some strength, she began to walk up the mountain.

As they walked up the mountain path, their footsteps were particularly clear in the silent forest. The distracting thoughts in their minds gradually disappeared, leaving only a stronger longing for their ancestral roots.

The more I witness the wonder of this place, the more I feel a sense of belonging to it.

Even if they are not now members of the sub-island, they belong to the sub-island in spirit. If anyone says they are not, they will fight back, the kind of people who are willing to risk their lives.

This feeling reached its peak upon arriving in Fukushima Castle.

When the two finally arrived at the city entrance, the sight before them made them freeze in place.

The tall, white city walls, bathed in the autumn sunlight, appeared solemn and dignified, making the densely packed tombstones within the city appear less gloomy.

The two couldn't wait to enter the city. The tombstones were not neglected, as they were cleaned very well, and some even had offerings placed in front of them.

As expected, the previous visit was a test. If it were such a big commotion every time, even if I didn't get hurt, I'm afraid I would rarely dare to come.

Shimazu Zoi suddenly slowed his pace as a group of tombstones bearing the name Shimazu came into view.

Sagara Ishiyu also found the group of tombstones belonging to the Sagara family, and found one of the tombstones to be very strange, because it had no name on it, only cherry blossoms.

(End of this chapter)