Swallow Return

Liu Yun nodded: "At least it will allow her to hold on for a longer period of time. During this time, I will find a way to solve the problem."

"Ah! That's wonderful!"

Upon hearing this, nun Huizhen was overjoyed and tears welled up in her eyes.

Liu Yun pointed a finger and emitted a faint ray, which was mainly silver-gray with a slight pink tinge.

When the strange rays of light rushed towards her, the nun Huizhen was somewhat alarmed. However, thinking that they were bestowed by the "Great Envoy," and that both thunder and rain were blessings, she dared not dodge them and knelt on the ground, motionless with unease.

Then she felt her strength surge, and her fatigue vanished. It was as if she had gained some strange ability. Only then did she feel at ease, and she prostrated herself again to pay her respects, her expression tender and affectionate: "Thank you for your reward, Your Excellency...ah..."

The last meaningless interjection was drawn out, implying an invitation.

But Liu Yun didn't respond. He only instructed, "The authority I just temporarily assigned to you is enough for you to firmly control the Izumo Taisha within a month. You must restrain everyone above and below you and try not to reveal recent events."

The nun Huizhen naturally obeyed without question, bowing her head to accept the order.

Liu Yun waved his hand, managing to wake up both the witch and the nun.

Suddenly, the room was filled with the sounds of a group of women talking.

The priestesses and nuns, naked and without time to tidy their clothes, rushed over to bow to Liuyun, their eyes filled with tender affection and overflowing with springtime desire. Few remembered to ask about "Her Highness the Mother Goddess" first; instead, they were only concerned with seeking more favor from "Your Excellency the Envoy."

This shows what makes Huizhen, the nun, different.

Liu Yun increasingly felt that choosing her as the manager of Izumo Taisha was the right decision.

After dismissing the witch and nun, I stepped out through two doors into the "worship hall," where more than a hundred priests and monks had been consistently providing entertainment—no, assisting with the ceremony.

These male believers appeared to have aged five or six years overnight, seemingly suffering from significant depletion.

Moreover, Liu Yun could vaguely sense that they seemed to have permanently lost an important physiological function during the ritual…2

Chapter 292 Unexpected Guest for Hideyoshi Hashiba

The sea breeze blows from south to north, bringing warm currents from the Seto Inland Sea. So, in this late autumn and early winter, the lonely, towering castle tower of Himeji Castle is not cold at all.

The temperature was pleasant, neither too cold nor too hot, with the stars and moon shining brightly and the candles flickering.

After nightfall, having finished a hard day's work, eaten and drunk your fill, and washed up, spending your bedtime here in a loose yukata seems like a quiet, elegant, and quite romantic experience.

However, Hideyoshi Hashiba was now sprawled out on the railing, completely lacking in decorum, chugging down cup after cup of sake, his brow furrowed, his expression displeased, looking as if he were on the verge of exploding at any moment. He had no intention of appreciating the night view at all.

He always felt a lingering sense of unease and worry, but he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

Why on earth?

From the son of a humble peasant soldier to a powerful and influential figure, he now commands 500,000 koku of land in Harima and northern Omi, directs the forces of Ukita Naoie of Bizen and Hōki Miyabe no Tsugujun, and even supports his younger brother to become the agent of Tajima province.

He wore the official rank of "Advanced Guardian of the Fifth Rank" and commanded 30,000 to 50,000 soldiers. His treasury contained a huge fortune of nearly 100,000 strings of cash.

Not to mention, once the Mori clan in the west is defeated, his status, power, and wealth will surely advance even further.

So, what more could one ask for than sitting in the castle tower of Himeji Castle?

Unless it is...

Thinking about the campaign against the Mori clan, Hideyoshi silently tossed the sake dish aside, a complex expression on his pointed, monkey-faced man.

Perhaps the hidden worries in my heart stem from this!

As the Oda clan continued to expand, the elders and veteran generals naturally enjoyed greater prestige than before, but at the same time, their work pressure also increased dramatically.

Leading resources from more than five provinces, totaling over a million koku, to attack a rival daimyo whose resources also exceed a million koku would have been unimaginable ten years ago—back then, being able to lead three to five thousand soldiers was already considered the pinnacle of a retainer's abilities.

The Mori clan, possessing the "two rivers," is definitely not easy to deal with—but if it were just an enemy that is difficult to deal with, Hideyoshi Hashiba would not have too many concerns.

After all, he has always been an exceptionally bold person since childhood.

What Hideyoshi Hashiba truly feared was someone who was bolder and of higher status than himself.

Oda Nobunaga, who was known as "Lord Demon King".

In the eyes of the retainers, even a powerful enemy with thousands of troops was not as terrifying as a single glance from their lord.

Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't help but think about the situation of his two colleagues.

Sakuma Nobumori led an army of 60,000 to besiege Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple but failed, and was subsequently dismissed and exiled. Akechi Mitsuhide fought hard to capture Tanba and received great praise, but gradually showed signs of being promoted in name only and losing real power.

Now, what kind of situation will it be if he leads the troops of Harima, Tajima, Hōki, Bizen, and northern Ōmi provinces to confront the Mōri clan of the western provinces?

If he were to lose, his shame would be no less than that of Sakuma Nobumori; if he were to win, his achievement would surpass that of Akechi Mitsuhide.

The key is to find the most suitable way to demonstrate one's abilities without making them seem too impressive; striking that balance is incredibly difficult.

This is no ordinary trouble.

Moreover, there's no one around to discuss this with.

Takenaka Shigeharu is no longer alive, Hachisuka and his group are far from being wise enough, Kuroda is not trustworthy, and Koichiro is away on assignment. That leaves only Nene.

As for Ningning...

Hideyoshi Hashiba chuckled bitterly, reached out and picked up the wine dish that had been tossed aside, poured himself a full glass, and gulped it down.

When did it begin that couples who were once inseparable and could talk about anything gradually become indifferent partners who treat each other with mere formality?

It seems difficult to pinpoint a specific turning point.

Perhaps he couldn't help but complain that she, as the principal wife, couldn't bear to give birth to a son; perhaps he said she wasn't as "comfortable" as the other concubines and was overheard; or perhaps he yelled at her and slapped her while drunk to save face... Actually, it's not a big deal. Which family doesn't have these kinds of situations?

In addition, when Sasaki Ryuun, this "brother," was dealt with by the lord that day, he refused to stand up and offer any help, which should be one of the main reasons for offending Ningning.

Thinking of this, Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

That incident wasn't about being heartless; it was simply making the most rational judgment based on the actual situation!

Brother Liuyun is indeed capable and principled, but his unfounded stubbornness at the time was tantamount to courting death. Does he expect others to die with him to be considered virtuous?

After making those two remarks, Hideyoshi Hashiba suddenly realized that Lord Nobunaga was right: women are most adorable when they unconditionally obey orders, and become troublesome once they have their own ideas.

Tonight, right here in Himeji Castle, there are more than a hundred obedient women waiting day and night for the lord to visit them. Why bother with this old, faded, and nosy fellow?

In fact, this situation between Lord Nobunaga and his principal wife, Lady Kicho, has existed for many years.

Thinking of this, Hideyoshi Hashiba felt relieved of his psychological pressure.

He even suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with a good way to complete the mission without being too conspicuous when attacking the Mori clan.

"I can't be a complete idiot like Sakuma, nor can I be as self-righteous as Akechi... Instead, I should make the higher-ups feel that my stupidity is due to my own mistakes, and my cleverness comes from the guidance of my lord. I need to work hard to drive the Mori clan to their doom, but the final blow must be delivered by Lord Ufu himself."

Thinking of this, Hideyoshi Hashiba couldn't help but feel very proud. He threw down the wine dish, stood up, laughed loudly, and beamed with joy.

The family conflict he had just experienced only troubled him for a short time.

He's the kind of man who always puts his career first. You could say he's blinded by fame and fortune, or you could say he's ambitious and not bound by sentimentality—it all depends on your perspective.

Without further ado, Hideyoshi Hashiba immediately squatted down on the ground like an old farmer, picking his nose and carefully considering how to execute the plan without any mistakes.

But then, low footsteps suddenly sounded from the corridor behind him, disrupting his thoughts.

I couldn't sense any martial arts skills or magical abilities from him; he was probably just an ordinary servant.

So... how dare an ordinary servant come over without reporting or asking permission?

Hideyoshi Hashiba was furious.

Although he still retains many habits from his peasant days, he has lost his former cheerful and kind nature. He is even more prone to anger than someone like Akechi Mitsuhide.

"Didn't I give the order? No one is allowed to disturb us tonight without a directive! I think you're finding it too boring to serve in the city and want to switch to mining at the Ikuno Silver Mine in the north, is that it?"

After giving a stern reprimand, Hideyoshi Hashiba stood up, threw down the sake dish, put his hands behind his back, and turned around to reveal a pair of angry brows.

however--

Upon seeing the newcomer, he was stunned and his breath caught in his throat.

They were not the ordinary servants as speculated.

But it was someone I never expected.

“Brother Liuyun? Brother Liuyun! You…you…”

Hideyoshi Hashiba was overwhelmed with emotion and had no idea what to say.

Chapter 293 Guess how I got in?

Hideyoshi Hashiba's expression shifted several times in an instant, from astonishment and fear to solemnity and worry, which was quite remarkable.

At first, he thought it was an illusion or a mimicry.

But he quickly realized that the strength to have silently and single-handedly ascended Himeji Castle, the aura that had been hidden so well before but was now radiating outwards as imposing and extraordinary, and the demeanor that was exactly the same as before, must be Sasaki Ryuun himself.

Therefore, Hideyoshi Hashiba was immediately speechless and dumbfounded.

After all, what appeared before him was a person who was generally considered dead.

Moreover, it was Oda Nobunaga who personally killed him—at least that's what the official announcement said.

Everyone believed that this was just another minor episode in His Highness the Demon King's invincible career.

If it were discovered at this moment that Sasaki Ryuun was not dead, but still alive, then there would be a huge problem.

Did Oda Nobunaga resort to lies to save face after his defeat?

Such a disrespectful thought arose in Hideyoshi Hashiba's mind, making him uneasy and extremely wavering.

He vaguely knew that Oda Nobunaga was bound to a strange magic that would make him stronger due to external fear and weaker due to external suspicion.

The Oda clan is currently in a state of great prosperity, but there are hidden dangers. If it weakens, it may face a cataclysmic collapse.

At that time, everyone in this system may have a hard time...

Shocked, Hideyoshi Hashiba was filled with intense worry for his future. At the same time, a secret, even unacknowledged, thought surfaced in his mind: "So, Lord U-fu (Oda Nobunaga) isn't truly omnipotent after all!"

That makes his expression complicated.

Hideyoshi Hashiba was preoccupied with weighing the pros and cons, and didn't pay much attention to the feelings of reuniting with old friends and surviving a disaster.

Having seen it all, he quickly composed himself, feigning surprise and relief, and exclaimed excitedly, "Brother Liuyun, you're still alive? That's wonderful! What happened back then has always been a thorn in my side, but as a retainer, I simply couldn't oppose Lord Ufu's decision... Ah, you probably don't know that Lord Nobunaga has been promoted to Minister of the Right." (The Tang Dynasty name for Minister of the Right is Ufu.)

This monkey brother is still trying to pretend to have an old relationship.

Upon hearing this, Ryuun showed no emotion whatsoever, only a disdainful smile on his lips, and coldly replied, "Not only was he promoted to the rank of Junior Second Rank Minister of the Right, but you were also appointed as Junior Fifth Rank Governor of Chikuzen. I am deeply honored that Lord Hashiba Chikuzen still remembers me."

Upon hearing this, Hideyoshi Hashiba's arms trembled slightly, and his face immediately stiffened.

He glanced furtively to both sides, seemingly considering the success rate of calling for protection, but ultimately gave up. Then, adopting a sorrowful and dejected expression, he sighed, "It's normal for you to have grievances. I really wasn't loyal enough back then, I didn't help much, and Ningning even blames me for it... She's the one who deserves to continue our friendship, while I... I really acted awfully."