Swallow Return

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun sensed something was amiss: "Why do you ask that? Hasn't Lord Takenaka returned? Didn't he escape using the Emptiness Technique? No, if he hasn't returned, how do you know he went to Suzuka Mountain?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro paused for a moment upon hearing this, then sighed and said, "Indeed, he has returned. But after seeing me, he only said, 'I have slain the demon at Suzuka Mountain, but unfortunately encountered the legendary great demon. Lord Ryuun may not be able to return safely,' and then he fainted."

"Fainted? Still not awake?" Liu Yun was greatly surprised.

I thought Takenaka Shigeharu would be the easiest to escape!

Kinoshita Tokichiro said with a bitter face, "You just said that Lord Takenaka escaped using the 'Empty Cicada Technique.' That's right. This technique consumes too much energy. Every time he uses it, he falls into a deep sleep, which can last anywhere from three to five days to more than half a month..."

"I see……"

Liu Yun felt better at this point and even felt a little sorry for Takenaka Shigeharu.

Who would have thought that the seemingly carefree and elegant Onmyoji would actually suffer like this?

That makes sense. If one could use the "Empty Cicada Technique" indefinitely, wouldn't one become immortal?

Kinoshita Tokichiro hurriedly asked again, "Excuse me, what exactly did you and he encounter? Was the monster that committed the crime at Kosho-ji Temple really that terrifying?"

Liu Yun replied, "The green-haired mountain demon that killed dozens of monks was not difficult to deal with. However, when we tracked it deep into Suzuka Mountain, we encountered an old monster who called himself 'King Ōtakemaru'."

"The Great King Ōtakemaru of Suzuka Mountain!" Kinoshita Tokichiro stared in disbelief, his jaw nearly dropping. "Legend has it that this is one of the strongest yokai in Japan, ranking among the top ten most famous yokai in history! And he actually walks on the ground? And you actually encountered him? If this great yokai were to reappear, it would be... a great disaster!"

Was that bisexual monster with a taste for both men and women originally this famous?

Liu Yun felt that he should brush up on his knowledge of mysticism and religion.

Why didn't Zen Master Shunshan teach him back then?

Seeing that Maeno Nagayasu next to him looked blank and obviously hadn't heard of it either, he felt a little better.

It seems that it wasn't because I lacked common sense.

At the same time, Liu Yun replied, "There's no need to worry. This Ōtakemaru claims that after losing to the holy monk Jianzhen, he no longer actively appears in the world and lives in seclusion in some 'secret realm of the inner world.' In my opinion, he is a man of his word, so this statement should be true."

Kinoshita Tokichiro finally breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. We all have to thank the Holy Monk Jianzhen! If he hadn't come from Tang China to suppress all the rampant demons, humans would only be able to occupy half of the country in Japan at most."

Liu Yun received new information and couldn't help but nod, saying, "So the Holy Monk Jianzhen actually had such great achievements."

“Yes! We Japanese should all be grateful for the kindness of Tang.” Kinoshita Tokichiro said with emotion, then his expression turned disgusted: “But I have heard from scholars that the current Great Meng Dynasty is extremely decadent and incompetent, and is completely unworthy to be the successor of the glorious Tang Dynasty.”

"This..." Liu Yun felt that the above statement was full of flaws, but he didn't know how to respond. He could only say seriously, "Hearing is not necessarily believing. Since the Great Meng Dynasty unified the Tang Dynasty, it naturally has its merits."

"Yes, seeing is believing." Kinoshita Tokichiro's words were full of fighting spirit: "That's why I decided long ago that I must cross Korea and go to the Great Meng Kingdom in the future!"

"..."

Recalling what he knew about the "Wanli's Aid to Korea" in his previous life, Liu Yun's mind was in turmoil, and he didn't know what to say for a moment.

However, Kinoshita Tokichiro didn't continue the topic. Instead, he immediately pulled himself back to reality and asked curiously, "You just said that Suzuka Mt. Ōtakemaru came out, and then what happened?"

So Liu Yun briefly recounted what happened last night, omitting certain details she didn't want to mention.

The key point was that "he could escape by standing after taking three swords from Ōtakemaru".

Then, Kinoshita Tokichiro was shocked once again—

"Lord Ryuun, you actually managed to withstand three sword strikes from Ōtakemaru? That's the legendary great demon who fought the holy monk Jianzhen for three hours before being defeated! This...this...I always thought you were on par with Lord Takikawa and Lord Mori. Now it seems that even Lord Shibata might not be your match."

"Actually... it was just taking advantage of a loophole."

For the first time in his life, Liu Yun spoke words of humility with genuine sincerity.

Because he did indeed find a loophole and escaped through some factors that are not known to outsiders. He did not truly possess the strength to fight Ōtakemaru.

But Kinoshita Tokichiro had a different idea.

What Ryuun said about Suzuka-yama Ōtakemaru was clearly not fabricated. Otherwise, Takenaka Shigeharu could have easily exposed it upon waking, making it pointless.

Moreover, it is an indisputable fact that an Onmyoji of Takenaka Shigeharu's extraordinary level was forced to use the "Empty Cicada Technique" last night.

So regardless of whether it was exploiting loopholes or taking shortcuts, it's true that Liu Yun has the ability to escape from a super strong opponent.

Kinoshita Tokichiro hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering, before solemnly bowing to Ryuun and saying, "Lord Sasaki, I must tell you the truth! I have always tried to win you over and make you my right-hand man. But now that I think about it carefully, such thoughts are too disrespectful to you. I should recommend you to Lord Danjo (Oda Nobunaga), only he is qualified to have you serve him!"

Upon hearing this, before Liu Yun could even ponder it, she suddenly felt the red jade pendant in her arms begin to throb violently. She quickly reached out and gripped it tightly to prevent any noise.

Moreover, as he grasped the magatama, he realized that Kinoshita Tokichiro's words naturally possessed a mysterious power that could manipulate people's hearts.

The red magatama in his arms was very similar to this power, and thus resonated with it.

With both factors canceling each other out, Liu Yun realized that she no longer subconsciously felt a sense of warmth and trust towards Kinoshita Tokichiro's words, as she had during their last meeting.

Now we can analyze the other person's words rationally, and think about which sentence is true and which is false, and how much of it is true and how much of it is false.

Of course, being unfriendly or distrustful does not necessarily mean being hostile.

So far, our interactions have been very pleasant, and we can continue to cooperate with each other, even if it's based on mutual benefit.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Illness Strikes Like a Landslide

Hearing Kinoshita Tokichiro say he would "recommend him to the lord," Ryuyun felt a sense of accomplishment. After all, it meant his abilities had been acknowledged.

But it doesn't give you too much of a sense of accomplishment.

Deep down, he felt that by riding on the coattails of the Oda clan, achieving fame and success and realizing "freedom of the monks' quarters" was only a matter of time, and there was no need to rush it.

Therefore, Liu Yun displayed a reserved attitude and calmly replied, "I have heard that an awl placed in a cloth bag will eventually stand out; gold mixed with stones will soon reveal its brilliance. Why would someone with truly outstanding talent need to be specially recommended? Only those who are merely pretending to be talented would try so hard to climb the social ladder."

Upon hearing this, Kinoshita Tokichiro paused for a moment.

They probably haven't seen anyone put on airs so effortlessly and subtly.

But he maintained a good attitude and quickly recovered, bowing and smiling obsequiously, saying, "You're right! With your abilities, your name has probably already reached Lord Danjo's (Oda Nobunaga's) ears, so why should I bother recommending you? Hehe, hehe..."

With the red magatama he had obtained from Suzuka Mountain's Ōtakemaru tucked in his arms, Liu Yun was already able to block out the supernatural abilities implied in Kinoshita Tokichiro's words.

But setting aside his superpowers, Kinoshita Tokichiro is still a very sociable and likable person.

His words were eloquent and succinct, yet also substantial, without being completely detached from reality.

His pointed face, monkey-like features, short stature, and ugly appearance were not problems. In fact, they were, to some extent, his strengths.

After all, in the workplace, you mainly deal with men. Men generally don't reject women who are less attractive than themselves; on the contrary, they may be hostile to women who are good-looking.

If cameras existed in this era, everyone would love to take a picture with Kinoshita Tokichiro, without needing any Photoshop magic to make themselves look tall and handsome.

However, the warm and friendly atmosphere of the dialogue did not last.

After recounting his experiences exorcising demons with Takenaka Shigeharu, and then discussing recent conflicts with certain temples and shrines, Kinoshita Tokichiro's expression turned quite grim.

He said worriedly, "Although it was determined that the green-haired demon was responsible for the deaths of dozens of monks at Kosho-ji Temple, it still has something to do with you... and us. If those people from Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei use this as a pretext, that could cause some trouble..."

Liu Yun replied, “It’s not just a possibility, it’s already happened. I met a merchant named Imai Munehisa on the road, and he told me that there are rumors circulating that I was instructed by you to kill the monks of Kosho-ji Temple.”

"So fast?" Kinoshita Tokichiro's expression grew increasingly serious. He scratched his sparsely bearded chin in distress and muttered to himself, "Since it was Imai Munehisa who said it, then it must be true. In that case, what will Lord Danjo (Oda Nobunaga) do? This is complicated, very complicated..."

Liu Yun didn't want to say anything, but he wasn't very shrewd and couldn't help himself. So he asked seriously, "Lord Kinoshita, with your understanding of Lord Danjo, can't you guess at all the signs? In my opinion, it's very clear how the Oda clan will ultimately treat Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei."

Kinoshita Tokichiro looked up in surprise upon hearing this, then chuckled twice, turned his gaze away, and hesitated before slowly saying, "It seems... Lord Sasaki Ryūun is not only outstanding in martial arts, but also has excellent judgment in other areas! Of course, Lord Danjō's (Oda Nobunaga's) attitude... I can roughly guess his attitude. But what if I'm wrong... what if I'm wrong..."

Seeing this, Liu Yun continued, "I've heard that you rose from humble beginnings to your current position by relying on decisiveness and courage. Have I misheard you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kinoshita Tokichiro paused for a moment, then slammed his fist on the wooden plank of the ground and nodded with a sigh, saying, "Brother, you're right! Back in Okehazama, I survived by the skin of my teeth, and even before my 'Ape Mask' power had awakened, I still dared to carry a spear into battle. Now that I have some foundation, why am I acting like a nagging, ignorant woman? Brother, you're right to remind me! I know what to do now!"

Liu Yun nodded, revealing a very approving and satisfied expression.

But in his heart he was thinking—what exactly is this “power of the ape-faced creature” that was mentioned earlier?

In this era of supernatural powers and mystical influences, those who are too weak in martial arts probably cannot rise to a position. Kinoshita Tokichiro, who looks short and frail, is likely quite formidable in a real fight!

……

Through this conversation, Liu Yun felt that he had achieved all his goals with Kinoshita Tokichiro.

A very suitable character image has been established.

He possesses exceptional martial arts skills and a resolute mind. He is ignorant of all military and political affairs, as well as etiquette and procedures, but he has a keen sense of the situation.

This way, one can share power and wealth without worrying about being simply used, while maintaining a flexible personal stance to avoid getting involved in complicated and deep workplace relationships.

This seems to be the most ideal approach at present.

After finishing their business, Kinoshita Tokichiro tentatively said, "Someone as capable as you, I truly wish I could always have you by my side to feel at ease. How about you stay and reside permanently at Yokoyama Castle from now on? You can entrust the management of the territory to a few retainers."

Liu Yun thought to himself, "Being surrounded by men all day long is nothing compared to being at home where I can do whatever I want with my beautiful wife."

So he said tactfully, "Please allow me to think this over."

Kinoshita Tokichiro nodded, not paying much attention.

Capable people usually have a temper and won't let themselves be arbitrarily driven by superiors. This principle applies universally.

Therefore, in the end, Ryuun was only invited to have a meal with Kinoshita Tokichiro in Yokoyama Castle, rested for one night, and left the next day.

This dinner must have been specially prepared, as the plates, bowls, and chopsticks used were all very colorful and vibrant.

But as for the food quality... Liu Yun didn't notice much difference in the taste.

White rice, miso soup, pickles, simmered vegetables, and sauce.

It's the same old thing.

It's just that they changed the white rice to something more refined, the miso soup to something more refined, the pickles to something more refined, the simmered vegetables to something more refined, and the sauce to something more refined.

The only thing worth mentioning is sea bream. It really does have a great texture and very few bones. It's delicious just by blanching it in water without any seasoning.

It was just too little. Even when Kinoshita Tokichiro, the lord of Yokoyama Castle, was hosting a dinner, each person only got half a palm-sized piece of meat.

I asked casually and learned that fresh sea bream is very expensive. A small one costs one or two hundred coins, which is dozens of times the price of ordinary freshwater fish. Ordinary people only buy a little when they have a happy occasion.

Only a samurai like Kinoshita Tokichiro, whose knowledge and skills exceeded ten thousand koku, could enjoy this regularly.

So, in addition to "freedom to drink in the monks' quarters," Liu Yun had another short-term goal in mind: to achieve "freedom to eat sea bream."

Coincidentally, during the meal, Kinoshita Tokichiro revealed that, in order to reward the merit of killing the black-clad anti-demon ninja and bringing back his head, he would bestow upon Ryuun a land grant of 1,000 koku. He only needed to send a letter to Nobunaga to go through the formalities before it would take effect.

This can be considered a solid step forward on the road to achieving the "small goal".

By the way, Ryuun asked, "Where is Lord Danjo (Oda Nobunaga) currently? I heard he wasn't at Gifu Castle in Mino last time I went there."

Kinoshita Tokichiro asked in confusion, "You haven't heard? Lord Danjo is leading the elite main force of the Oda clan in the Settsu area west of Kyoto, fighting against the remnants of traitors like the Miyoshi and Rokkaku. Besides that, there are three temporary legions. I'm monitoring the remaining forces of the Asai clan in Omi, another is keeping an eye on Asakura in Echizen, and another is keeping an eye on Kitabatake in Ise. I thought I had already told you about this..."

Liu Yun realized that he hadn't been paying enough attention.

It's been almost a month since we joined the Oda clan, and this is the first time I've learned about the overall strategy.

……