Episode 10

## Episode Chronology

**Yin and Yang** (陰と陽, *In to Yō*) is the tenth episode of the Jigokuraku anime series.

## Synopsis

Thanks to Mei's help, Gabimaru manages to escape from his predicament against the Tensen Zhu Jin and forms an alliance with Gantetsusai and Fuchi. Needing to figure out a way to defeat Lord Tensen, Mei informs them of the source of their power — Tao. Gabimaru and the others are then attacked by the Dōshi, subordinates of Lord Tensen who also have control over Tao.

## Plot

Gabimaru is confronted by Yamada Asaemon Fuchi and Tamiya Gantetsusai, who questions if he is about to die based on his bloody appearance. The two criminals then access each other's strengths if they were to engage in a fight until Fuchi interrupts them, telling them that what they were doing was pointless and unscientific to continue, and suggests to Gantetsusai that they should gather information from Gabimaru without killing him. Gabimaru determines that the ones in front of him are strong and changes tactics by bowing his head and requesting an alliance. Gantetsusai draws his sword on Gabimaru to see if any movement from him meant that he was trying to trick him and states disappointment for acting cowardly. After Fuchi asks Gabimaru why he made this request, the two learn from him the existence of Lord Tensen and become astound. Though Fuchi questions whether they should believe him, Gantetsusai agrees to partnering up with him to reach Hōrai and encounter Lord Tensen. After Fuchi brings up the fact that Gabimaru is his competitor on the mission, Gantetsusai states that he has no interest in the pardon and only wants to become "immortal" by going down in history as a legendary warrior and sets his eye on defeating Lord Tensen to accomplish this. Though he found Gantetsusai's ideals ridiculous, Fuchi became interested in encountering immortal beings as well and desired an opportunity to dissect them. With their goals aligned, Gabimaru, Gantetsusai, and Fuchi officially form their alliance.

To start, Gabimaru is suggested by Fuchi to provide them with additional information and prepares to tell them about Mei. After turning around to see her awake, Gabimaru becomes shocked to see her slightly grown and hears her speak his name, causing him to become eager in having her tell him if she knows Lord Tensen's secrets and if there is a way to defeat them. Mei tells Gabimaru that the power that can defeat Lord Tensen is known as Tao but gives one-word explanations; stating that Tao is "strong, weak, mind, body, and tanden". Gantetsusai and Fuchi becomes familiar with the term "tanden", explaining that it is the area located below the navel. The group is then approached by the Sōshin. Gantetsusai slashes at the Sōshin and believes that the best way to understand Tao is to battle against the monsters in front of them and carries Mei up to his shoulder to have her guide him. As the Sōshin get closer, Gabimaru notices in the distance a monster unlike the Sōshin.

During the trip to Hōrai, Senta comes to the conclusion, based off the information Hōko give him, that the island should not be confused with the real Shinsenkyō since it is comprised of a crude mixture of man-made religions and cultures, which he points out to Yuzuriha that it mirrors Moro Makiya's crime of fabricating a religion to overthrow the shogun. He also theorizes that the island's ruler's intentions are to have only humans who have transformed into flowers return to the mainland, which could be a clue to finding the elixir and an escape off the island. Senta then stops himself after realizing that he rambled on for too long but receives praise from Sagiri on his high knowledge. Going off Senta's theory, Yuzuriha wonders if it's possible for them to go up against their enemies since they continued this for 1,000 years and that it is possible that Gabimaru and Mei are already dead. Sagiri believes that Gabimaru is alive since he is driven to see his wife again.

Shortly after, Hōko tells the others about the power known as Tao, which is the energy that flows within all things in the world, and that Lord Tensen is in control of Tao. He explains to them that mastery of it can grant one powers of a god and that it can only be drawn out through the cycle of Yin-Yang, which could allow a person to overcome greater strength than their own or survive injuries that would normally be fatal.

Meanwhile, Nurugai attempts to attack Shion from behind with her sword but fails as he easily intercepts it, much to her amazement. Shion then tells her that he will still not train her to use a sword despite her desire to avenge Tenza. Nurugai begs Shion to teach her his way of fighting blind, stating that she does not want to see the people she cares about to die any longer. Shion tells Nurugai about his ability to sense the "waves" that resides in everything in the world around him, which is how he is able to distinguish things in clear detail, and explains to her that her spirit must be balanced in order to perceive it; such as simultaneously having both rage and calmness. Knowing that the skill cannot be acquired immediately, Nurugai insists that he teach her how to wield a sword. Shion tells her the errors he noticed from her using a sword and proceeds to demonstrate the proper way to wield one, much to Nurugai's confusion on whether or not he is teaching her on purpose. He then slices apart the Sōshin approaching them while still continuing on with his explanation, telling her that he won't be her master but that she is welcome to observe him as he fights, which prompts Nurugai to join him. Shion also tells himself that he needs to hone his skill with the time he has if he hopes to stand a chance against Lord Tensen.

While engaging in sexual intimacy, Ratna Taisei wonders to Mu Dan about the possibility of humans escaping the pit and hears from him that it would be impossible since they would be too weak to try and climb out of the deep pit and that the wall of assimilated humans would simply hinder them from escaping.

In light of this claim, Chōbei manages to climb his way out while carrying Tōma on his back. After escaping, Chōbei states to Tōma his plan to take revenge on the Tensens, which Tōma reluctantly agrees to go along with. Chōbei believes that the Tensens' weakness is somewhere around their lower bodies since that was where the regeneration took place when he sliced Ju Fa's body, which Tōma found impressive by how he was able to figure it out. The two brothers are then approached by a monster called a Dōshi who, along with his other colleagues, came to investigate the humans on the island under orders by Lord Tensen and asks that they return to the pit to become Tan. Chōbei attacks the Dōshi in refusal and plans to have him lead him and Tōma to Lord Tensen. The Dōshi sees that he has no other choice but to defend himself and summons the Sōshin. While having Tōma fight off the Sōshin, Chōbei focuses on fighting the Dōshi. The Dōshi believes that he possesses no threat to him since he cannot wield Tao and sees an opening to fatally wound Chōbei by striking his neck, causing Tōma to panic to see his brother lying down as he bleeds out.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Gabimaru
* Tamiya Gantetsusai
* Yamada Asaemon Fuchi
* Mei
* Zhu Jin (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Senta
* Hōko
* Yamada Asaemon Sagiri
* Yuzuriha
* Moro Makiya (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Shion
* Nurugai
* Yamada Asaemon Tenza (flashback)
* *Centipede Dōshi*
* Tao Fa
* Mu Dan
* Aza Chōbei
* Aza Tōma
* Ju Fa (flashback)