That day, Ryushiki and Tiansha Dou came to the summit of Mount Hiba.
Beyond the mountain lay the Head Family's territory.
From the Heaven-Piercing River to Mount Hiba was the full extent of the area Branch Family members were allowed to roam. If they crossed that boundary, the Head Family had the right to punish them.
Crack! Crack!
Tiansha Dou flexed his hands and said, "Ryushiki, let's spar today!"
"Spar? You mean... fight?" Confusion filled Ryushiki's fair, boyish face. "But I've never fought before."
Tiansha Dou was speechless. "Hey, hey, with eyes and chakra as powerful as yours, isn't refusing to fight a waste of your talents?"
Ryushiki shook his head. "I have no desire to fight. Rather than all that killing, I prefer making things to pass the time..."
Tiansha Dou quipped, "So that's why you've stuffed Dragon Palace City full of treasures..."
"Yes." Ryushiki nodded solemnly.
Tiansha Dou shook his head helplessly.
Ryushiki usually seemed aloof and unapproachable, but once someone got to know him, they would realize he was not aloof at all. He was simply oblivious.
Tiansha Dou tried to teach him by word and example. "Listen, Ryushiki, fighting is instinctive for the strong. You need to recognize that you're one of them!"
But Ryushiki replied as though it were obvious, "But I don't want to be strong."
"This guy..." Tiansha Dou tried another approach. "Then tell me, what would you do if someone wanted to take your things...?"
Ryushiki answered without hesitation. "I'd just give them to him..."
Tiansha Dou continued, "What if he wanted your eyes?"
Ryushiki gave that some serious thought. "Without eyes, I couldn't see. Both would be too many, but giving him one and keeping the other would be fine."
Tiansha Dou's temper flared. "What if he insisted on taking both?"