Liang Jian: I have a canteen

The moonlight was hazy, and the cold wind was bleak.

Huanji took out her shakuhachi and was about to play it when she suddenly remembered what the tune played when a great swordsman made his entrance was.

She doesn't know how to do this, nor does she understand it.

Moreover, she had never heard of a great swordsman being accompanied by music when he appeared.

“Xu Sang, Huan Ji has never played this kind of tune before,” Huan Ji said truthfully.

"I don't have the sheet music, but I can hum it for you," Xu San said, and began to hum.

The piece is from Samurai Shodown 4's "Amakusa's Descent," but Xu San has long forgotten who wrote it.

However, this piece is mainly played by the shakuhachi and shamisen, and its long, melancholic melody makes it sound eerie and somber.

Xu San didn't remember everything; he could only recall about half a minute of it.

After several adjustments, Huanji finally managed to blow the song quite well.

After playing it once, Huanji raised an eyebrow slightly. The tune was too strange and didn't seem to match the identity of a great swordsman.

"Just play along with me!" Xu San nodded, thinking the piece was pretty good. He'd have Huan Ji play it when he was killing people in Japan. If Huan Ji wasn't around, he'd have Miyako play it.

Although the music was somewhat eerie, it was actually quite pleasant to listen to, especially since she was a ninja and could even detect a hidden killing intent in the music.

After playing it twice, Huanji spoke up, "This piece is incomplete. Where is the complete score?"

"I only heard my teacher play it a few times, that's all I remember." Xu San said with reminiscence and melancholy. It was good enough that he could remember these things, and besides, he really didn't remember who the background music was, but it was the villain.

This time when he went to the island nation, he played the villain.

"What a pity!" Princess Huan played the shakuhachi again, trying to complete the task.

Xu San listened quietly for a while, then said, "Not bad, it's starting to have some flavor. Actually, it would be even better if we added a sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument). When we get to the mainland, I'll call Miyako over, and you two can work together to provide the music."

"Dream on. Once I get to the mainland, I'll have to go back and hand in my mission." "I'll stay at the Yagyu family's place for a few days. I reckon someone will cause trouble as soon as I get there." Xu San looked at the stars and imagined what his life would be like after arriving in the island nation.

"I'll think about it," Huan Ji replied absentmindedly, continuing to compose and complete the song. Her idea differed from Xu San's; she envisioned herself under the moon, dressed in black, hidden in the shadows, preparing to assassinate some important figure.

The sky grew a little darker, and Xu San exhaled, as white mist rose up with the help of the moonlight.

"Your mind is in turmoil, and your murderous intent has been exposed."

"Huh?~" Huanji was taken aback by Xu San's words, thinking that Xu San had misunderstood, but she quickly realized that Xu San was talking about the music.

"I didn't know you were knowledgeable about music?"

"I don't understand!" Xu San said honestly. "I can only listen, and as a great swordsman, I am still very sensitive to things like killing intent."

"Maybe so. I haven't done an assassination mission in a long time. I can't find that kind of inspiration for a while."

"It's almost dawn!" Xu San gazed into the distance, watching the first hint of light appear on the horizon.

Huanji turned around from behind and sat down next to Xu San. "It's been a long time since I've seen the sunrise."

"Just because the sun has risen, does that mean these ninjas should disappear?"

Huanji gave a wry smile. "In some ways, that's true."

The sun slowly rose, and a wisp of purple mist drifted from the east.

The city of Ping'an welcomed the dawn of the new year, and then a rooster began to crow.

A loud rooster crow awakens the sleeping city of Ping'an!
A new day begins.

A new year has begun. (End of Chapter)