No big deal you may think, however, this was not the case in feudal Japan, where honour was important. For the Samurai caste if their master was killed or dishonoured the samurai was expected to show allegiance and commit ritual suicide. This was how samurai preserved their honour. It also served the society’s need to avoid revenge killings and vendettas, and to remove troublesome freelance warriors from circulation.
The masterless samurais who chose to ignore that tradition and continue living fell into disrepute. They still wore the two swords of a samurai, unless they had to sell them when they fell upon hard times. Within the strict feudal hierarchy and as members of the samurai class they were forbidden to take up a new career as a farmer, artisan, or merchant, (most would have disdained such work). As such they wandered the land, living as mercenaries and selling their skills to the highest bidder as bodyguards, soldiers and assassins.