Swallow Return

Liu Yun laughed and said, "Although it is classified, the Oda family must have obtained enough information, otherwise what they said above would have been for nothing."

Takenaka Shigeharu nodded and said, "Speaking of which, we must thank Lord Sasaki! The head of that black-clad anti-demon ninja you brought back last time was a great help. With the help of our mole in the temple, we have made some progress. However, even though we have some progress, we still need top-notch experts to complete the operation."

After pondering for a while, Liu Yun asked an unrelated question: "Just how many masters are there in Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei? Why don't they send monks who practice secret techniques, but instead dispatch 'Anti-Demon Ninjas' to fight?"

Takenaka Shigeharu said quietly, “If the imperial family and nobles hadn’t neglected the art of Yin and Yang, the samurai of the Genpei and Taira clans might not have been able to govern the country. Similarly, if the Tendai sect hadn’t neglected its secret arts and martial arts, its prestige wouldn’t have gradually declined. Nowadays, in Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, highly accomplished monks are extremely rare, while corrupt officials are as numerous as carp crossing a river. I think that the fact that they can still command the ‘Taimanin’ is already due to the legacy of their ancestors.”

Liu Yun nodded and said, "I see... Then just tell me, what do you need me to do this time?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro deliberately delayed for a moment before slowly saying, "To take action against the remaining four magical artifacts of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, we need at least four groups of people. One group consists of the ninjas directly under Lord Danjo (Oda Nobunaga), another group consists of Shibata and Takikawa each leading their own group, and for the remaining group, we don't have a suitable candidate yet. I've been hesitant, unsure whether I should recommend Brother Ryuun..."

Liu Yun, not wanting to beat around the bush, calmly replied, "Why don't you tell me?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro's face lit up with joy, and he immediately had Hachisuka Masakatsu present a roll of silk that he carried with him.

Upon opening it, I found it was a map of Mount Hiei.

The area is densely packed with more than a hundred clusters, all belonging to the halls and pagodas of Enryaku-ji Temple.

Kinoshita Tokichiro pointed to a spot on the map and said, "First, look at this courtyard, called 'Sōji-in.' Inside, there's a 'Scripture Repository' that houses many precious scriptures. On the roof is a white vase, the most famous of the four remaining Buddhist artifacts of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, so it's the most heavily guarded. It's probably the most difficult target, but if someone succeeds, Lord Danjō's (Oda Nobunaga's) reward will certainly be the greatest..."

Upon hearing about this most difficult target, Liu Yun became interested and, gazing at the Sutra Repository on the map, said, "I'd like to see this white bottle..."

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Before Setting Off

Kinoshita Tokichiro was stunned.

He had prepared a long speech to persuade and entice Liuyun to take on this "important task".

After all, the psychological pressure that a thousand-year-old temple like Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei brings to the people of Japan is enormous.

The esoteric Buddhism transmitted by the Tendai sect, known as "Taimi," is considered the most orthodox lineage of Buddhist esoteric arts. Although the "Eastern Esoteric Buddhism" of Nerai-ji Temple on Mount Koya has developed rapidly, it can only be ranked second.

At the same time, the martial arts culture of Mount Hiei is also quite prosperous. Legend has it that Musashibo Benkei, the strongest warrior in the land during the Genpei War, trained here.

Even if the monks have neglected their secret arts and martial arts in recent years, their ancestors were once wealthy, and who knows how many powerful things they have left behind!

However, Sasaki Ryuun is essentially a time traveler.

He was not very familiar with the past glory of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, and based on his own experience during this period, he did not think the monks were particularly remarkable.

If there were truly reliable esoteric monks or martial monks in charge, why would we need to keep having this muddle-headed female ninja, Igawa Asagi, running around doing all the work?

Furthermore, after hearing about the effects of the white bottle, Liu Yun immediately became covetous and frankly expressed his interest.

Kinoshita Tokichiro found his prepared remarks useless and didn't know how to respond.

Fortunately, Liu Yun immediately continued, saying, "Although I am not afraid of danger, I do value my life. I suppose you gentlemen already have a good plan for how to infiltrate and seize the treasure?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro quickly patted a stack of documents below the map and replied, "Yes, yes! First of all, you can rest assured about the intelligence, Brother Ryuyun. We have already covered the situation near the Zongji Temple's Sutra Repository and have written it down. You can look at it later. Secondly, regarding manpower, we mainly rely on you, but the support forces are definitely sufficient."

At this point, Takenaka Shigeharu took over the conversation, adding, "Lord Ryuun has already witnessed my Yin-Yang techniques. Lord Hachisuka is skilled in wading, traversing rivers and lakes as if they were flat ground. Lord Maeno is proficient in the Stone Fist technique, which allows him to harden his hands like stone by concentrating his energy. All the samurai of Yokoyama Castle, including those of us present here, are at your disposal, except for Lord Kinoshita who is unable to do so."

Kinoshita Tokichiro smiled wryly upon hearing this, "To be honest, I also wanted to lead the operation personally, just like Shibata and Takikawa. Unfortunately, the 'Ape Mask' power on my body makes too much noise when I use it, so I really can't sneak into the temple quietly."

Hachisuka Masakatsu stroked his chin and chuckled, "If you're talking about serious combat, I'm not even a tenth as good as Lord Ryuun. The only thing worth mentioning is my swimming skills."

Maeno Nagayasu forced a self-deprecating smile, his face full of embarrassment: "I can't even defeat Lord Ryuun's retainer, Ao, so I'm afraid I can't be of any help..."

Liu Yun hummed in agreement, neither confirming nor denying, and reached for the stack of documents filled with intelligence, flipping through them one by one.

Kinoshita, Takenaka, Hachisuka, and Maeno all quieted down and waited patiently.

……

The stack of documents contained fragmented information, but the writing was quite good, posing no reading difficulties. Liu Yun easily skimmed through them.

First, it described the surrounding area of ​​the Zongchi Temple's Sutra Repository, including which halls and pagodas were nearby, who lived in each, and the routes for entering and exiting.

Secondly, the interior of the five-story scripture library was displayed, showing how many rooms and bookshelves were on each floor, and what Buddhist scriptures were stored there. Ordinary worshippers were not allowed to enter.

Secondly, it records the list of distinguished guests who have been allowed to visit the library over the past three years. They are mostly court nobles, monks, and cultural figures from Kyoto.

Finally, and most importantly, the temple's defensive measures were described. It is known that there were 300 monks stationed in the Zongchi Temple, of whom 60 were responsible for the Sutra Repository and patrolled in four shifts.

The key intelligence was that, according to an inside source, the monk soldiers were generally skilled in martial arts and carried a large number of cannons and powerful bows.

Whether there are any particularly powerful masters hiding nearby remains unknown.

Based on the detailed map above, Liu Yun imagined it for a moment and immediately understood why this white bottle was considered the most difficult magic weapon to obtain.

This main hall is a small, enclosed space. The scripture repository is a solitary tower built in the center of the courtyard, without any buildings, rocks, or trees for cover.

Anyone who tries to force their way in will inevitably be subjected to gunfire and powerful bows from hundreds of people coming from all directions. Anyone who is not strong enough will likely be seriously injured or killed immediately.

I just don't know how powerful those cannons and bows really are.

Liu Yun has limited battlefield experience and is not very clear about this.

It just so happens that Kinoshita Tokichiro brought five hundred elite soldiers with him today.

So Liu Yun asked the soldiers to conduct a shooting exercise outside Sasaki Village.

……

Upon arriving in the outskirts, watching the arrows and bullets whizzing through the air, Liu Yun asked, "According to your intelligence, how do the monks of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei compare to these people today?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro answered without hesitation, "With the temple's protective barrier, the monk soldiers are definitely much stronger than my men. Their arrows will be faster and more powerful, and their cannonballs will be more accurate."

Based on this deduction, Liu Yun considered it carefully.

In a courtyard that was only a few dozen steps in circumference, there wasn't much that could be used as cover. If two hundred monk soldiers concentrated their fire, even I wasn't confident that I could avoid them all, let alone the others.

Moreover, besides archers and arquebusiers, the possibility that there are other skilled individuals in the temple cannot be ruled out.

Liu Yun subconsciously asked, "Is there a way to become invisible, transform, fly, or burrow underground?" Then he immediately realized what he meant and shook his head, denying it himself: "If there were, there would be no need to come to me."

Shigeharu Takenaka nodded and said, "The four skills you mentioned are extremely difficult to master. The barrier of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei also has the effect of suppressing these types of techniques. Therefore, we cannot start from here."

Liu Yun then asked, "To what extent can an inside agent be of help?"

Kinoshita Tokichiro replied, "We have bribed a merchant who delivers food and water. That guy goes to Soji-in Temple every three or four days, but he can only get to the gate and can't go in."

After careful consideration, Liu Yun made a preliminary decision: "In this situation, having many people is useless; I can only try to sneak in alone."

Kinoshita Tokichiro was overjoyed upon hearing this: "If you can complete this task well, I guarantee that the Oda family will not treat you unfairly."

Liu Yun glanced sideways and smiled, "I don't expect any other reward for this trip, but I've heard that the white bottle contains some mystery, which makes me curious."

Kinoshita Tokichiro agreed without hesitation: "As long as the barrier of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei can be broken, whether the writing implement is destroyed or taken away is fine! Lord Danjo (Oda Nobunaga) won't care. What I meant was that, in addition to this, the Oda family has other rewards."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun's motivation grew even stronger. However, not wanting to speak too slowly, he replied, "I will try my best to sneak into the temple, but I cannot guarantee whether I will have the opportunity to make a move. It will depend on the timing and circumstances."

Kinoshita Tokichiro was not disappointed at all, and nodded sincerely in agreement: "Of course, of course! Brother Ryuun, you must be careful on this trip. Don't make a move if you're not sure you can handle it. At most, we'll lose face if word gets out, but that's better than dying on Mount Hiei."

At this moment, Shigeharu Takenaka smiled and said, "Actually, I had already guessed that you would most likely choose to go alone, and ordinary people really don't have the ability to accompany you. Therefore, we have specially prepared three gifts. If they can be of any help on this trip, we would be very honored."

After saying that, he took out a wooden box from the bundle on his back.

Upon opening it, one finds a human-shaped wooden puppet, a glutinous rice ball, and a bright green scale inside.

The humanoid puppet is called "body substitute wood," a special tool used by Onmyoji (yin-yang masters). When a target is cursed or afflicted by evil magic, the puppet can shield the victim from the curse. Afterward, the puppet will shatter and become unusable.

The glutinous rice balls are said to be the Koga's top-grade "superior military rations." No matter how exhausted or listless one is, eating these balls can instantly restore all energy and strength, and they also have a certain effect on healing injuries and diseases.

The emerald green scales are known as the "Kappa Elder's Life Scales." When activated with a command, they grant the user the ability to breathe underwater. They are currently at full energy, and will turn blue after three hours. They require a special deep-water environment to recharge.

After Kinoshita Tokichiro finished his introduction, he couldn't wait to say, "These three items are worth at least two thousand kan to those in the know! We're bringing them out today to show our sincerity and to hope that Brother Ryuyun can do his best to ensure your safety."

Liu Yun nodded: "We have indeed received your sincerity."

Chapter Forty: At the foot of Mount Hiei, in front of Enryaku-ji Temple

In early September, the Autumn Equinox had passed, but the Cold Dew had not yet arrived.

The climate in the Kinki region of Japan is very varied at this time of year.

The daytime is still quite warm, even hot enough to feel sweltering when you're running around or working. But as the sun sets and darkness falls, the north wind howls, bringing a chilly, biting cold, as if it were already winter.

By this time, Sasaki Ryuun had changed his clothes and makeup, dressed like a weary traveler, and crossed Lake Biwa by boat to the west shore.

They were already at the foot of Mount Hiei.

They agreed that four groups would work together, and the treasure hunt would begin simultaneously at midnight five days later.

Liu Yun didn't consider himself a particularly conspicuous person, and having disguised himself thoroughly, he set off early, wanting to familiarize himself with the situation as much as possible.

After disembarking, the scene before him was both as expected and quite astonishing.

Scattered across a mountain range stretching for over ten kilometers are numerous houses, which upon closer inspection are all temples of varying sizes.

Liu Yun already knew that the tens of thousands of monks of Yanli Temple were not all gathered together, but were divided into dozens of halls and pagodas. Each hall or pagoda courtyard was composed of buildings ranging from three to five rooms to dozens of rooms.

The countless houses, along with the entire Mount Hiei, seemed to be shrouded in a layer of golden light.

This must be the barrier of Enryaku-ji Temple.

According to information Liu Yun heard from Takenaka Shigeharu, the more skilled a person is, the clearer they can see this barrier.

A master craftsman can spot a clear golden glow, but ordinary people are completely unaware of its existence.

Liu Yun strained his eyes to see, barely managing to make out a thin, dim halo, and could also vaguely sense the unfathomable power hidden beneath its fragile appearance.

But it's far from clear.

As expected, there was still a significant gap between his own strength and that of a peerless master.

Of course, on the bright side, it's also possible that the barrier is weaker and dimmer because three of the seven magical artifacts are missing. However, this line of thinking is rather shameless...

Liu Yun disembarked from the passenger ship and boarded the medium-sized dock.

There were few other boats traveling alongside, but quite a few cargo ships and fishing boats, all of which had been transported by water from Lake Biwa.

Ahead, from the lake shore to the foot of the mountain, lies a narrow flat area of ​​less than two kilometers in circumference, densely packed with houses, forming a commercial town.

Walking into the town, you'll see three horizontal and two vertical roads.

On both sides of the road, all you see are shops and warehouses; there are almost no residential houses.

Although located at the foot of Mount Hiei, it is a typical town that arose due to religious influence, but it is not only involved in Buddhist ritual items. It also deals in common trades such as grain, cloth, dyes, seafood, stationery, ceramics, copper and iron.

Of course, there were also lodgings for people to rest in.

There weren't many customers, at least not to the point of being shoulder-to-shoulder and bustling.

However, within sight, most of them were dressed in fine clothes, clearly indicating that they were either rich or noble, and were all people who did big business.

It took less than 25 minutes to travel from east to west, traversing the town.