暗闇に浮く「耳」だけを発見し、主君への証拠として芳一の両耳をちぎって持ち去った

That night, the ghostly samurai returned but could not see Hoichi's body due to the sutra's power. However, finding only two 'ears' floating in the darkness, the samurai muttered, 'Hoichi's body is gone, but his ears are here. I will take them back to my lord as proof of performance,' and ripped Hoichi's ears off. Although Hoichi's life was spared, he became known as 'Earless Hoichi,' and his bizarre fame spread throughout the land.