Evening Sword Care

A disciplined scout inspects his equipment before the night settles in. After returning from the garden outpost, I made my way onto the low tea table, where the lamplight cast a quiet glow across the dark grain. Beside a ceramic cup, I set a small celadon chopstick rest shaped like a curved willow leaf. With deliberate care, I loosened the cords at my sash and placed my sheathed blade horizontally across the porcelain stand. Taking the clean edge of a folded linen napkin, I smoothed away the stray dust from the lacquer until it shone in quiet order. Everything is prepared for the night watch.