Ichikawa Noboru was at a loss for words.
Ichikawa Haru didn't know whether to be angry or regretful. After all, it was because he didn't love Sanjo enough. If he could have let go of his love for Uesugi and cherished Sanjo in front of him, then perhaps none of this would have happened.
Upon hearing this news Ichikawa In immediately asked, "Mother!? What about me?!"
"Of course you are my and Ichikawa Haru's child. It's because seeing you makes me unable to bring myself to harm him that I've completely avoided you in everything I do," Sanjo said, panting and pale.
"Sheng'er, Yin'er, and Ichiki Toshio, I'll go first. Don't forget to spare Sheng'er's life." Then the Lady Sanjo breathed their last.
"Mother! Mother!"
Both Ichikawa In and Ichikawa Noboru rushed towards Sanjo, after all, Sanjo was their mother.
Ichikawa Haru, at a loss for words, looked at the utterly bewildered Ichiki Toshio, then at Shiyu, and asked, "Lord Shiyu, what's going on?"
Shiyu immediately replied, "Daimyo, this guy knows Genjutsu. He used Genjutsu to attack me, but I countered, and that's how he ended up like this. What? Do you want him to return to normal?"
Ichikawa Haru considered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Could you help me restore his sanity? Please."
Now that the truth has come out, Shiyu is no longer afraid of any tricks Ichiki Toshio might play, and thus relieves Ichiki Toshio's dazed state.
"W-What's going on? Where is this? Lord Ichikawa Haru. This is Ichiki Toshio. He looked around and found that Lady Sanjo was dead, and Kagami and Noboru were crying loudly there."
"Sanjo! Sanjo is dead?!" Ichiki Toshio rushed over immediately, cradling Sanjo in his arms, tears streaming down his face like a spring.
"You... you have no right to touch her!" Yin harbored intense hatred for Ichiki Toshio. In the end, Yin felt that Ichiki Toshio was the culprit who caused all of this.
"You... you're my biological father?" Sheng looked at Ichiki Toshio in disbelief.
"Impossible! Impossible! I am the son of Ichikawa Haru! Even if I am not a daimyo, I would not be the son of someone like you!" Ichikawa Noboru was on the verge of collapse. He drew his sword and tried to kill Ichiki Toshio.
"Ha, of course I hoped so too. But that's how it happened. Ichiki Toshio, whether out of regret or guilt, offered no resistance to Ichikawa Noboru's attack."
Shiyu felt a pang of reluctance, but everyone has their own choices. Shiyu chose to respect the original course of events, and as a result, Ichiki Toshio was stabbed in the abdomen by Ichikawa Noboru.
"Why didn't you dodge? Don't you know Ninjutsu?! You bastard! You lowly servant!" Ichikawa Noboru was also stunned, and then he also started cursing, but it was clear that pain and tears were gushing out at the same time in his voice.
Ichiki Toshio smiled faintly.
"Sanjo is gone. I have no reason to live in this world anymore. You're right, I'm not your father at all. You, Ichikawa Noboru, are surnamed Yi Chuan, while I am surnamed Yi Mu."
"Just as you said, I am nothing but a lowly servant. I can only blame myself for falling in love with someone I shouldn't have, but I don't regret it. I'm already extremely satisfied with all the little things we shared! Hahahaha!" Ichiki Toshio laughed loudly, then slowly crawled to Sanjo's side.
"Lord Yichuan, I know I have made many irreparable mistakes, but I hope that in consideration of my decades of hard work, you will grant me one last request."
"Please let Noboru live! Please! Please!" Ichiki Toshio knelt on the ground and said "please" three times, kowtowing three times. On the last time, Ichiki Toshio never got up again.
"At this moment, Ichikawa Haru was in a state of utter confusion. His most valued minister had died in order to save Ichikawa Noboru's life, and his wife had also died in order to save their child's life."
At this Shiyu, Shiyu was also filled with shock.
"It turns out that even the worst people in this world have people and things they cherish. Ichiki Toshio must have loved Sanjo very much, and he was willing to become a major villain for her sake. In turn, Sanjo was willing to give up her own life so that her child could live on."
"There are too many stories like this in the world: justice and evil, should we be rational or emotional? When faced with a choice, we always lose something."
"That's life, isn't it?" Shiyu couldn't help but sigh.
Ichikawa Haru eventually buried Sanjo and Ichiki Toshio in a nearby location as well.
Ichikawa Haru released his eldest son Ichikawa Yu, without charge and made him his sole heir.
Of course, in the end, Ichikawa Haru still couldn't bring himself to harm Ichikawa Noboru. After Shiyu used the system's blood comparison, he discovered that Sanjo had indeed not lied. Ichikawa Noboru was the son of Ichiki Toshio. After Shiyu informed him, Ichikawa Noboru finally changed his name to Ichiki Toshio.
Jun-seung ultimately relinquished his identity as the son of Yi-chuan and left the Land of Water forever.
Surprisingly, Ichikawa In made a decision: to return to the Shinobi Village with Shiyu.
"Ichikawa In sister? Are you really sure you want to come back to Shinobi Village with me?" Shiyu asked.
"Of course! Didn't you say that Shinobi Village has beautiful mountains, clear water, and fresh air? And you also said that it's very prosperous and the best place in the world! Of course I want to go and see for myself!" Ichikawa In said.
"Then come back after you've seen it all. After all, you're the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Water! It's no good for you to just stay in our little village all the time! The village is full of ninjas who are always on missions!" Shiyu repeatedly advised.
"Hmph! Don't underestimate me! Don't forget! I know Ninjutsu, and I mastered an advanced Earth Release technique that even Iwagakure ninjas couldn't master in just one afternoon! Am I that talented? If you don't want me, wouldn't that be your loss?" Ichikawa In pleaded repeatedly, and in the end, Shiyu had nothing more to say.
"Alright! Since you really want to join the Shinobi Village, you must abide by our Shinobi Village's rules and regulations, otherwise I won't be able to protect you," Shiyu said seriously.
"I know! I know! Brother Shiyu, you're so long-winded! Haha!" Ichikawa In then bid farewell to Ichikawa Haru. Although Ichikawa Haru was very reluctant to part with him, he still entrusted Ichikawa In to Shiyu.
"Why do I feel like I'm entrusting my life to someone?" When Ichikawa Haru placed Hidden's hand into Shiyu's, both of their faces flushed.
"Alright, it's time for us to return to the Shinobi Village. There are still many things in the village that need my approval, and the cooperation with the Land of Water will also need to be actively carried out." Shiyu then quickly left the Daimyo City of the Land of Water with Ichikawa In.
"I don't know why, but I have a feeling that something is about to happen. Shiyu suddenly had a premonition."