During these peregrinations, Takeao meets Ririko. Haunted by the execution of her parents she participates in numerous tournaments in order to perfect her art of sword. The samurai decides to provide her with his help and together, they try to clarify the murder of a rich timber merchant and the disappearance of a statuette of high value... But, in the shadows, the "prodigy", the mysterious assassin poet awaits his hour...