Episode 3 - Souki no Chigiri
Originally Aired: October 21, 2007
At the start of their travels, Taitou reprimands Laila and Ryuukou for walking so slowly, but they remind him that the General of the Army has nowhere to run to, and if they hurry at the start of their journey it will only wear them out. Instead, they take a break to bath in a nearby river. As they bathe Ryuukou tells Taitou about a new fighting style that Keirou is supposed to be the most skilled at presently. While Taitou tries it out, the same riverboat carrying the man with the mark of a star floats by them toward a port town.
When our trio arrives at the town Laila and Taitou remark about how unremarkable it seems, and Ryuukou tells them that government officials have been known to take advantage of the people's earnings, preventing the town from blossoming. Taitou hates the government because of the new young emperor that doesn't seem to have any power over those that work under him, and they do as they please. Laila quickly shushes him before he's overheard. They split up while Ryuukou finds them somewhere to spend the night, and Taitou and Laila run off to see the riverboat. When the arrive though, the man guarding the entrance refuses to let them in so they head back to town to meet up with Ryuukou, who has found them somewhere to stay.
As it begins raining we find the man with the mark of a star, who is said to be leader of a clan called the Kashindan, having a lavish dinner with some government officals aboard the riverboat, discussing Keirou as they eat. During the night, Taitou wakes and goes out into the back to try out the new technique Ryuukou showed him, but is having difficulty when suddenly Ryuukou is there to offer advice.
Elsewhere, a young man climbs into a tree to get a better look at Keirou's army, the Genroutou. And is set on stealing their weapons.
Back in the port town, it is still raining the next morning, which has caused the water level around the city to rise, making their departure impossible. While they drink tea, the old woman putting them up for the night comes in to look out the window and tell them about Seiyuu, a large rock located high above the town. She tells them that it is the village's guardian deity, but that the government has prohibited worship of things other than what the Empire approves and she fears something dreadful will happen as a result. All of a sudden, men from the village are at her door to tell her that the rain is aversly affecting the stone's strength, and that it seems it will fall onto the town. Our trio head to the riverboat to ask the man in charge to let the townspeople on so that they will not be harmed by the stone's fall, but the same man as before once again refuses them entry. He shoves Laila and causes Taitou to punch him demanding to see their boss. The man with the mark, Koyo, comes out to talk and listens as they explain about the rock. The goverment offical Koyou had dinner with the night before shows up with all his property and goes aboard the ship. He tells Taitou to forget about the villagers, that they aren't important enough, and Taitou runs off.
Inside the ship, Koyou is surveying the treasure brought onboard by the government official, and remarks that he doesn't see the Gem of Seiyuu, and the official runs home to dig it up. Koyou has obviously tricked him and tells Laila to hurry and get the villagers onboard. Taitou has gone up to the stone, and attempted to tie it off, but it still begins to slide. Luckily Ryuukou shows up just in time to help him. Their ropes look like they will hold, but unforuntately the grown beneath Ryuukou gives and Taitou grabs him, holding a tree at bay above him. He refuses to let Ryuukou go, telling him they're more than traveling companions, they're friends. Taitou is able to channel his ki and save them both, but the rock still falls over the edge and slides halfway into town, crushing the government officals under it.
Later, the rain has stopped and the villagers are all safe, though their town is partially destroyed. Koyou floats away on his ship, happy to have conned the government official out of all his treasure, promising he will remember Taitou's name as our trio heads off again on their way to the capital.