Swallow Return

He felt like a third wheel standing next to them!

Fortunately, Lady Guidie asked questions very naturally as she walked, which eased the awkwardness.

"Lord Sasaki Ryuun, I've heard that you've recently been called the greatest warrior of the Oda clan, and even the greatest warrior in the land." That's how she began.

Liu Yun almost instinctively became modest again, but remembering that the person in front of him didn't like being tactful, he changed his tone and nodded frankly, saying, "Although I don't want to be arrogant, I have indeed not encountered anyone stronger than myself in the Oda family."

Gui Die smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and then asked, "When did this title of 'First Warrior' first come about?"

Liu Yun thought for a moment and replied, "A few months ago, I fought against Lord Hidemitsu, a subordinate of Lord Akechi Mitsuhide, in front of the Chancellor... ah, now I should say the Prime Minister (Oda Nobunaga), and I was lucky enough to win by one move. That's probably when my name started to spread."

Oda Nobunaga's original official rank was "Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade, Danjō Daisuke," which was shortened to "Danjō." He is now "Junior Fourth Rank, Upper Grade, Councilor," hence his nickname "..."

Gui Die nodded, and said with great interest, "When we get to the battlefield, we can see for ourselves. I am also a martial arts enthusiast."

Liu Yun politely replied, "Yes."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ningning letting Guidie hold her little hand in her palm, just like a little sister being led out by her older sister, obedient and docile.

The scene was very harmonious.

But upon closer inspection, it always seems that Gui Die is intentionally or unintentionally pulling towards her, while Ning Ning is always subtly trying to distance herself, creating a balance where the two maintain a constant distance.

Whether the current situation is good or bad remains to be seen.

It wasn't quite appropriate for him to keep glancing at the two ladies.

So Liu Yun only glanced at it twice at first, then immediately moved a little further away, maintaining her composure and politeness.

……

Before long, the group of sixty or seventy people had arrived at the entrance of the Cishou Temple on Guangde Mountain.

Perhaps because Ningning's escape in the first half of the night had attracted attention, there were now some keen and alert nuns patrolling outside.

However, the "bathhouse monsters" were truly formidable, working in perfect harmony and each displaying their unique skills to quickly eliminate these outsiders.

Some could detect traces hundreds of steps ahead, some could summon flying and crawling insects as eyes and ears, some were good at moving stealthily in the shadows, and some were powerful enough to launch surprise attacks and strike with a single blow, easily solving the problem without Liu Yun having to lift a finger.

Then four mud-like monsters ran to the four corners, making babbling noises, as if they had activated a magic circle or something similar, creating four walls of air that blocked the view and sound.

Then Lady Guidie waved her hand and gave orders to surround the nunnery.

She decisively drew her blade, rushed to the front, and with a single horizontal slash, turned the gate of the Cishou Temple on Guangde Mountain into ruins.

The knife in Guidie's hand still gleamed with a cold light, as if it were brand new.

Seeing this, Liu Yun thought to himself, "Even I might not be able to do those two moves. It's not that I lack strength, but rather that I don't have the right weapon..."

A katana forged by an ordinary blacksmith usually costs between one and two taels of silver. It is inevitably damaged every time it is used to chop through armor or to deal with monsters with naturally hard shells. After a while, it can only be replaced.

The nunnery's gate and walls collapsed with a single blow from Lady Guidie, making a loud "thud," and the violent noise quickly drew a response.

The room was already brightly lit, so it seems that Ningning's escape alerted the other party.

More than ten nuns, wielding swords and spears, stood ready for battle. The one in the lead looked very strong and exuded an alluring yet dangerous aura.

Upon closer observation, Liu Yun felt that most of the dozen or so people opposite him seemed to be ordinary humans, but the one in the lead exuded an imperceptible demonic aura, seemingly not of his kind.

Gui Die went straight to the point without hesitation, meeting the leading nun head-on.

Then more than sixty "bathhouse monsters" charged forward together, shouting slogans that outsiders couldn't understand as they launched their attack.

The dozen or so nuns didn't seem weak, but they were outnumbered and soon fell to the ground, some decapitated and lying in pools of blood, others stabbed and captured.

Other nuns, female monks, and servants who were huddled in the corners trembling or sleeping in their rooms were also captured by the "bathhouse monster" without explanation, tied up, gagged, and kept under close guard.

Only the leading nun, exuding an eerie aura, wielding a cross-shaped spear, fought Lady Guidie to a standstill.

One's swordsmanship was sharp, swift, and ruthless; the other's spearmanship was elegant, agile, and fluid. They were evenly matched, each with their own strengths, and for a time it was difficult to determine a winner.

The monsters were solely focused on a thorough search of the nunnery, carefully guarding their captives. Some stood by, cheering and shouting encouragement, but none offered any assistance. Was it overconfidence or something else...?

Liu Yun felt that if things continued this way, Lady Gui Die might suffer a loss, and it was not appropriate.

He then said to the tall, faceless monster who looked like the leader of the "Bathhouse Monsters," "Aren't you going to help your young lady fight?"

The faceless monster, with its incredibly thick fur, shook its head repeatedly: "Young Miss is having a great time right now! If we go up to help, it will spoil her fun, no, no..."

Liu Yun wondered how this domineering female CEO could have such a habit of embarrassing her subordinates.

Swords have no eyes. Lady Guidie and the nun seemed to be fighting fiercely. If there was any mishap, she might be injured or even killed.

Therefore, Liu Yun still decided to intervene.

He wasn't in a hurry to grab the kill; instead, he gripped the hilt of his sword, took three quick steps forward, and made a move to swing his blade and join the fight.

But just as it was about to be drawn, it abruptly stopped.

The head nun was also quite skilled in martial arts. She had already seen Liu Yun's actions and was forced to distract herself to block. Just then, Lady Gui Die seized the opportunity and slashed from her shoulder to her chest, leaving a long wound.

The head nun screamed in agony, throwing down her spear and wailing, "Spare me! Spare me!"

The "bathhouse monsters" immediately swarmed forward and captured him.

Lady Guidie sheathed her sword, glared at Liuyun, and said expressionlessly, "Do you think I will lose to the other party?"

Liu Yun chuckled noncommittally, then shook his head and said, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war."

Lady Guidie was immediately displeased, but she seemed to be reasonable enough to give a light snort and say nothing more.

Ningning quickly went up to express her gratitude.

When Lady Guidie saw Ningning, her expression immediately turned kind, and she said softly, "The people who hurt you should all be here. We will interrogate them one by one to see who is so bold."

Could the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan be behind Chapter 148?

Lady Guidie, along with more than sixty "oil house monsters" left by her father, quickly conquered the nunnery called "Guangdeshan Cishouyuan". Then, she took the initiative and began interrogating the prisoners on the spot overnight.

Among the monsters, there seemed to be some who were proficient in psychic abilities or skilled at intimidation, and they quickly completed the mission.

Before dawn, Lady Guidie had already reached a conclusion.

It turns out that the "Cishou Temple on Guangde Mountain" has been home to many noblewomen who, due to political reasons, became nuns but yearned for worldly life. Over the years, their affairs with young men have been sporadic, an open secret that everyone knows but no one dares to speak of.

Even when successive rulers of Kyoto learned of the scheme, they only helped cover it up, considering the potential repercussions, and did not seriously investigate.

Previously, violations of the rules were not particularly common, and it seemed that they were mainly "Platonic relationships," without many scandals involving desecration of the Buddhist temple or other immoral acts.

As for why it turned out this way...

It is said that a year or two ago, a female nun who claimed to be from Kanto entered the "Kōtokuzan Jishū-in" in Kyoto with a letter of recommendation from a local high monk and became a new nun staying there temporarily.

With the endorsement of a renowned monk, the nun's identity was beyond doubt. Her appearance was exceptionally striking, and she was also elegant in demeanor, knowledgeable, eloquent, and quick-witted. She quickly became a popular socialite, and the noblewomen in the monastery regarded her as a mentor, a friend, and even a role model.

Later, after establishing herself, the nun gradually seduced several handsome young men from noble families and literary figures in the capital, even occasionally bringing them back to spend the night. The other nuns considered it normal and did not stop her, though they privately harbored some resentment.

People who are both talented and beautiful are often romantic and passionate, a trait that is difficult to avoid for both men and women and is often understood.

Fans, especially those attracted by their idols' talent and looks, are often viewed through a filter-like lens.

Unexpectedly, the situation quickly worsened.

This nun was not only romantic and passionate, but also incredibly generous and possessed a strong spirit of sharing. She had so many lovers that she couldn't possibly keep up with their schedules, so she proactively introduced them to other nuns and even female servants, allowing everyone to share in the blessings, ascend to bliss together, and experience the joy of "great harmony of life."

That's a bit out of line.

Throughout history, only a minority of members at the "Guangdeshan Cishouyuan" have been promiscuous and broken precepts. Most people actually adhere to the rules of secular etiquette and spend their remaining years in quiet contemplation of the Buddha.

Minor mishaps can be overlooked. But if things really escalate into a major mess, a reputation built over a century must be protected.

So the senior nuns agreed to go together to find the new nun and discuss her conduct.

I thought that even if the disease couldn't be eradicated, it could at least be contained to some extent.

But unexpectedly—

After the conversation, those nuns who were originally serious and detached from worldly desires each "took over" a handsome lover from the newly arrived nun, and gradually became addicted to a life of pleasure and debauchery.

The rest is self-explanatory.

As the saying goes, what goes up must come down. Even the elders who used to uphold discipline have succumbed to temptation. The young nuns below, who already lacked self-control, were not immune to the stirrings of lust and the blossoming of desire.

As for the maids and servants who served the nuns, they followed suit.

At first, she would simply find men outside and secretly bring them in once she took a liking to them.

Later, it escalated to the point that strangers were allowed to come to the house, enter through a side door, and be "selected" in the courtyard.

Nuns from wealthy and noble families would directly send their trusted maids to assess the nuns. Those who passed would be taken to their respective huts for a night of pleasure. If the experience was satisfactory, they would exchange contact information and arrange to meet again later. If they were not satisfied, they would part ways at dawn, not even bothering to ask each other's names.

At the same time, the criteria for choosing lovers among the ladies gradually shifted from "interesting souls" to "strong bodies".

As a result, the once-renowned nunnery gradually transformed into a very vulgar social venue.

The whole thing was disrupted by the arrival of Liu Yun and Ning Ning.

Unsurprisingly, the culprit, the "new female cultivator," was the one who had fought fiercely with Lady Guidie earlier, to a standstill.

At first, Liu Yun thought that guy must be a demon with malicious intentions, using filth to perform some evil ritual to increase his power. Although he had never sensed much strong demonic energy from the other party, he guessed that it was probably being concealed in some way.

However, after careful questioning and investigation, Lady Guidie concluded that the "newly arrived female cultivator" was merely a human being corrupted by demonic power, who had done such things due to changes in her mind and temperament.

After hearing this, Liu Yun couldn't help but sigh, "How could a mere mortal corrupted by demonic energy accomplish such an amazing feat? Is there some incredibly powerful demon behind him?"

Lady Guidie pondered for a moment, then speculated with a somewhat uncertain tone: "If someone is behind this, I think it is probably the work of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan."

For a domineering female CEO, using the ambiguous words "if" and "I'm afraid" suggests that she is somewhat wavering.

Even she's wavering, so things must be really serious...

Nine-tailed fox, that does sound pretty scary.

Liu Yun also inquired about Mrs. Kuroi, who had some grudges against the Hanakain family.

Then it was learned that, as expected, Mrs. Kuroi had repeatedly instructed her subordinates to commit evil deeds using underhanded methods.

Even the cursed salt grains sprinkled on the fields a couple of days ago were done by her trusted maid who sent someone to do it.

Ningning, who had been listening quietly, combined this with the statements she had been asked earlier and keenly noticed something else.

That is: the recent changes in the nuns from noble families in the Cishou Temple on Guangde Mountain, in addition to their lifestyle, are also reflected in their temperament.

Not only Mrs. Kuroi, but also many others, who were originally quite tolerant, have recently become extremely vengeful, trying every means to cause trouble for people with whom they had past grudges.

Lady Guidie commented, "The most well-known characteristic of the nine-tailed fox clan is their ability to bewitch and provoke lust. Secondly, many people are unaware that they also have a habit of holding grudges. However... there is a third characteristic: they disrupt the court. To merely cause trouble in a nunnery seems too petty."

Liu Yun was not familiar with this topic and had no way of judging it.