The story takes place during Japan’s Edo period and centers around a renowned tea master who served a powerful noble. In Japan, the philosophy of “tea and Zen as one” was widely embraced — practicing the tea ceremony was considered not just a cultural art, but also a form of spiritual cultivation.

One day, the noble needed to travel to the capital and couldn’t bear to leave his trusted tea master behind. “Come with me,” he said, “so you can prepare my tea every day.” The tea master was hesitant. “I have no martial arts skills,” he replied. “What if something happens on the road?”

His master reassured him: “Just carry a sword and dress like a samurai. No one will trouble you.”

So reluctantly, the tea master donned samurai robes, strapped on a sword, and followed his master to the capital.

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