Swallow Return

Secondly, two people were responsible for carrying things, including essential supplies such as dry food, water bags, gauze, and wound medicine, as well as cloth bags to hold heads and spoils of war.

Liu Yun's selection criteria for these people were: they knew the way and were in good health.

Even Eguchi Sukezaemon felt it was a bit embarrassing for such a small group to go out, but since Ryuun had already made his decision, he didn't dare to question it and could only sigh in silence.

Lady Iori greeted him with a smile and said to the servants and villagers who were watching the commotion, "Although Lord Ryuun only brought a few attendants, his martial prowess alone is enough to defeat hundreds or thousands of people, so there is no need to worry."

She was highly respected in the territory, and the audience believed her words as soon as she said them.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yun smiled and said, "That's right, if anyone questions us later, just answer like this!"

It was supposed to be a half-joking remark, but Qing Tianfang took it to heart and nodded repeatedly.

Today, the Sasaki family's army consists of just one samurai and five foot soldiers.

As for Ryuun himself, with the help of Iori and the other servants, he put on the black armor from the warehouse, which barely fit him. He rode the only remaining horse in the village, put on the nakuta gauntlets, and tied his sword to his waist, thus becoming a dashing samurai.

In truth, the great armor was bulky and its defensive capabilities were not particularly outstanding; it was a relatively outdated type of armor that had gradually been replaced by contemporary suits of armor. However, the Sasaki family was currently in a difficult period and couldn't afford to buy new equipment, so they could only clean up the things their ancestors had used and continue using them.

Liu Yun didn't care; he treated it as role-playing and was quite satisfied with the chuunibyou spirit hidden in his heart.

As for performance, there's absolutely no hope.

It doesn't matter how strong the defense is, since I'm unlikely to get cut anyway. Being clumsy is only a concern for ordinary people; with enough martial arts skills, it can be easily overcome.

Horse riding is a bit difficult; I have no experience in both my lives combined.

Of course, I'm embarrassed to say it, but with my superb body control, I can maintain my balance on the saddle and manage at slow speeds.

The little monk Suifeng muttered, "I don't think I've ever seen my senior brother ride a horse before."

But nobody cared.

Just now, Lady Iori said that Ryuun's "martial prowess is enough to defeat hundreds or thousands of people," and everyone believed it.

Since he is so powerful that he can fight against hundreds or thousands of people, how could he not know how to ride a horse?

And so, with Lady Iori smiling and waving goodbye, he embarked on his first journey leading troops into battle.

The road to Yokoyama Castle is about 140 cho (approximately 18 kilometers) long, and it takes about two hours to walk there.

Along the banks of the Nagase River is a fairly wide avenue.

But along the way, we hardly saw anyone else walking.

They encountered only two caravans, both with large groups of bodyguards who surrounded several carriages as they slowly moved forward, their formation resembling a military army.

They were very wary when they met, and wouldn't greet anyone.

There were almost no vendors along the roadside. The only somewhat lively place was a temple dedicated to the Jodo Shinshu sect. (When people say it's the Ikko-shu sect, they usually mean that.)

There were a large number of monk soldiers stationed there, and the place was built as solidly as a fortress, ready to be closed and defended at any time. As a result, many merchants gathered there and opened various shops, including lodgings, taverns, gambling dens and other business establishments.

Liu Yun went inside to rest for a while and found the prices to be exorbitant and the service rather mediocre. Even when faced with Liu Yun, a warrior clad in armor, carrying a sword, and accompanied by entourage, the service was merely perfunctory and indifferent. Perhaps because they held a monopoly and had powerful backers, they weren't worried about a lack of customers.

It is evident that the region of Omi Province was indeed ravaged by war, and the people's livelihood was devastated.

After the Oda clan pacifies the Kinai region, things may improve over time.

During the break, Liu Yun sent five peasant soldiers to fetch water to feed the horses, but he went to Qing Tianfang, who was using the alias "A Qing," and struck up a conversation with him.

It was already clear yesterday that Aotabo was bad at talking, while Kurotabo was eloquent, so I deliberately only brought the former along, while leaving the latter behind, to make it easier to find out his background.

As expected, Qing Tianfang was naive and, with a little prompting, honestly confessed what had happened over the years.

It turns out that both Aotabo and Kurotabo are yokai that evolved and were born in a Buddhist monastery. They are born in human form and look no different from ordinary people. The former possesses the supernatural ability of "hardness," which can harden the skin in certain areas, while the latter is skilled in concealment and throwing weapons.

However, the "yokai senior" who instructed them behind the scenes—that is, Iori's maternal grandfather—never dared to reveal his identity.

After hearing this, Liu Yun felt that there was nothing else to hide, and his wariness largely subsided, except for the person behind the scenes. He then smiled and reassured her, "It is fate that we have met. From now on, you will all be under my command, protecting Lady Iori as samurai. Do your best, and you will surely be rewarded."

Upon hearing this, Qing Tianfang scratched the back of his head and said sheepishly, "Actually, after all these years, I've long considered myself a member of the Sasaki family. During the war, I couldn't help but intervene a few times. But Ahei said that as long as Madam isn't in danger, we can't show ourselves, otherwise our identities will be exposed and we'll be in trouble..."

Liu Yun shook his head and said, "Actually, it doesn't matter if my identity is exposed. It's not uncommon for demons to serve in military families, is it?"

Completely unaware of the linguistic trap, Qing Tianfang innocently spoke the truth: "Lord Liuyun is right. However, the few friends I know are all just temporary guest generals under the daimyo; I haven't heard of many who have become official retainers..."

Liu Yun nodded without changing his expression, pretending that he knew everything about it, but in reality, he had gained a little more knowledge about the monsters.

……

Qingtianfang did indeed seem to be a very simple person. After chatting with him in a gentle and soft-spoken manner, he seemed to genuinely treat Liuyun as his lord.

After resting for a quarter of an hour and eating some simple food, the group spent 230 coins.

One of the attendants, who had traveled far from home, complained that 230 coins was enough for ten or so people to have a proper meal in Kyoto.

However, Liu Yun didn't pay attention to these minor details.

The social structure is what it is, and there are deep-seated reasons for this, which cannot be easily changed.

Continue on the road.

The roadsides remained deserted, with hardly anyone in sight. However, the ruins of several villages, which appeared to have been looted and burned, were a poignant sight.

Generally speaking, convenient transportation can bring positive feedback. However, in times of chaos, being near a main road may be the most vulnerable to war and therefore dangerous.

However, places like Oshu, where I used to live, were remote and impoverished, where monsters were often seen, and it was difficult for ordinary people to survive.

Around noon, Liu Yun looked up and saw a fortress between the mountains and rivers, blocking the vital passage between north and south. Above it, the Oda family's papaya-patterned flag was flying, and he could also vaguely see Kinoshita Tokichiro's gourd-shaped horse stamp. He knew that this was his destination.

Just then, Liu Yun suddenly heard a faint sound of hooves.

A moment later, a man on horseback slowly appeared from around the corner. The man was not armored or carrying a spear, but only wore a cloth robe and a saddlebag, so he probably meant no harm.

Taking two steps closer, I saw that the man on horseback was a sallow-faced warrior with a gloomy expression.

The yellow-faced warrior had obviously also noticed Liu Yun and his group. He paused for a moment, then raised his hand and asked, "Who are you?"

Liu Yun bowed and said, "I am Sasaki Liu Yun, and I have been ordered to come to Yokoyama Castle to participate in the battle."

Upon hearing this, the yellow-faced samurai's expression softened slightly. He bowed and returned the greeting, saying, "My name is Maeno Nagayasu, a retainer of Lord Kinoshita, the lord of Yokoyama Castle. I am currently patrolling the area."

Liu Yun vaguely remembered the name Maeno Nagayasu. He could only vaguely recall that in the Koei Tecmo game, he was a mediocre character, a second or third-rate figure. He couldn't recall any further details and didn't dwell on it.

The guy seemed to be all alone, looking depressed. He said he was "on patrol," but there must be some unknown reason behind it.

Upon their first meeting, regardless of any special circumstances the other person might have, Liu Yun didn't bother to inquire further and simply accompanied them silently.

We'll be arriving at Hengshan City in no time.

As they approached the city gate and could see the patrolling guards, the yellow-faced samurai waved his uninjured right arm as a greeting. The guards jogged over and bowed respectfully, addressing him as "Lord Maeno."

Immediately afterward, as Liu Yun was about to give his name and enter the city, the yellow-faced samurai suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, "I have a vague impression of the Sasaki family. I remember their territory is a fairly large village, so they should be able to mobilize at least fifty or sixty people! Why are there only a few here?"

Liu Yun was not surprised and answered directly, "It's because of the recent disasters and the hardship faced by the people."

The yellow-faced samurai frowned in displeasure upon hearing this: "You young man are truly ignorant! It is precisely because of the losses that you should gather more men and strive to make amends through merit and rewards! Bringing only six followers to the battle... what a joke! What use are so few men? Lord Kinoshita summoned the nearby samurai to Yokoyama Castle not for drinking and feasting, but to fight the Asai clan!"

Liu Yun didn't take it to heart and had no intention of arguing with the other party.

However, Qing Tianfang remembered what he had said when he set off that morning. He immediately took a big step forward and said with his head held high, "Although the Sasaki family does not have many soldiers, Lord Liuyun is highly skilled in martial arts and can fight against hundreds or thousands of people. He is more than capable of participating in the battle!"

Chapter Ten: Only You Can Oppose the Demon Ninja

Upon hearing this, the yellow-faced samurai paused for a moment, then his face showed disdain, and he scoffed, "Young man, you don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. You say you can take on a hundred people by yourself? I, Maeno Nagayasu, have made countless military achievements and taken countless heads, but I would never dare to say that I can defeat a hundred people. How dare you boast like this? You should know that this is Yokoyama Castle, the residence of Lord Kinoshita, not some rural place where you can just spout nonsense!"

Aotabo said confidently, "This is the truth, not boasting. Not to mention Lord Kinoshita, even in front of Lord Oda, or even in front of the Ashikaga Shogun, there is nothing I wouldn't dare to say."

"Ha!" The yellow-faced samurai became enraged, his tone growing increasingly hostile: "You big guy, do you think this is a joke? The enemy is formidable; even seasoned samurai can die at any moment! A few days ago, I led a dozen skilled brothers to transport supplies from Owari, and last night we were attacked by enemy ninjas. Not only did we lose our supplies, but we also suffered six dead and eight wounded before barely managing to escape! This kind of thing isn't something you can just talk about!"

Hearing this, I finally understood why this guy looked so depressed earlier.

This yellow-faced samurai, Maeno Nagayasu, probably didn't intentionally want to cause trouble for the Sasaki family. Rather, he was under too much pressure, in a bad mood, and urgently needed to vent, which is why he was so easily provoked.

Aotabo was simple-minded and didn't think much of it. When he was inexplicably scolded, he retorted defiantly, "You...you call me Lord Maeno, right? How can you say that our Lord Ryuun doesn't have the martial arts skills to defeat a hundred people?"

The sallow-faced samurai, Maeno Nagayasu, snorted and pointed, "Anyone in the know can tell from his riding posture that he's extremely clumsy! Not to mention the short tuft of hair that's just grown on his head; he's clearly a monk who hasn't been out of secular life for long. What part of him looks like a samurai? If you're talking about learning some kind of magical arts in the temple, that's one thing, but boasting about martial arts skills is just nonsense, isn't it?"

Qing Tianfang paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Indeed, most monks only study Buddhist scriptures and don't practice martial arts much, but my lord Liuyun is an exception. You haven't seen him in person yet, but if you did, you would definitely take back what you just said."

For some reason, these words enraged Maeno Nagayasu. His eyes widened, and he sneered, saying disdainfully, "Fine! Let's have a match then, and let me see what you've got! If you win, I will not only take back what I just said, but I will also formally apologize! But if you can't withstand my attacks... Hmph, what I dislike most are people who only know how to boast!"

The gatekeepers of Yokoyama Castle didn't seem particularly surprised by the situation, nor did they try to stop them. Instead, one of them immediately rushed into the city, presumably to find a powerful figure to handle the matter. The others stood at a distance, not daring to approach.

Qing Tianfang was quite surprised by this and couldn't understand why the other party was angry.

Although he was a rough, muscular man (or rather, a rough monster), he wasn't actually that short-tempered. He had been honestly refuting the accusations without any intention of provoking anyone.

But perhaps Maeno Nagayasu was in a state of anxiety, like dry tinder ready to ignite at any moment.

Qing Tianfang turned around innocently, scratching the back of his head, and said, "Lord Liuyun, did I say something wrong and cause trouble, making this former lord so angry..."

Liu Yun remained calm and unaffected, shaking his head and saying, "It's no wonder you're upset. Given the coincidence of meeting today, it's likely we'll argue no matter what we say. Let's have a match!"

So he dismounted and prepared to attack.

Qing Tianfang looked ashamed, patted his chest, and said with a sigh, "Since I'm the one who angered this former 'Lord,' let me handle it!"

Liu Yun looked around, estimated the difference in strength, and thought it wasn't bad, so he calmly nodded: "Then you can have the match! Be careful not to cause any serious injury."

Qing Tianfang replied, "Yes, sir!", unloaded his weapon and set it aside, took a few steps forward, and stood in front of the yellow-faced warrior: "Before challenging Lord Liuyun, why don't you try it out with me first!"

Maeno Nagayasu was initially quite angry, but seeing that Aotabo was tall and strong with a fierce face, he calmed down a bit and looked him up and down before asking, "Are you a retainer of the Sasaki family? If you are a samurai, why aren't you wearing armor?"

Aotabo replied very honestly: "My name is Ao. I used to be a servant in the Sasaki family. I was just promoted to samurai, so I haven't had time to make a suit of armor yet."

This was clearly the truth, but Maeno Nagayasu took it as mockery. His expression changed instantly, his anger rising. He frowned and said, "Someone who dares to challenge me calls himself a menial servant? Is he deliberately trying to humiliate me?"

Aotabo shook his head frankly: "I'm not lying, I really am just a handyman."

"Whether it's true or not, since you dare to stand up, let's fight first!" Maeno Nagayasu said, and asked, "What weapon are you using?"

Qing Tianfang shook his head: "I've always been used to fighting bare-handed and don't use any weapons. Besides, Lord Liuyun just said that we can't hurt people..."

Seeing this, Maeno Nagayasu was furious but laughed: "It seems that I, Maeno Nagayasu, have been completely underestimated today! Fine, then let's try it with you empty-handed!"

Then Maeno Nagayasu threw down his wakizashi, let out a low shout, a blush flashed across his sallow face, and charged forward menacingly.

Qing Tianfang remained calm, bent over to gather his strength, and raised his fists, each the size of a sand bowl, to meet the attack.

At first glance, both men appeared to be robust, fat, and powerful figures. Maeno Nagayasu was more well-proportioned and agile, moving like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, while Aotabo was taller and heavier, like a giant bear blocking the way.

A direct confrontation between ferocious beasts, without any hesitation.

The two collided head-on, making a crisp "bang".

Fist against fist, they struck almost simultaneously.