Female Swordsman Training Dojo

“That’s not enough.” Yamawaro-o, hunched over, strained to look up at Orochi and said, “I’ve studied your blueprints. You have too many weaknesses, your movements are too slow, and the construction time is too long. You can’t deal with Taira no Harunobu and Amaterasu!”

"Amaterasu...?" Surprise flashed in the sixteen eyes of the Yamata no Orochi. "You mean Amaterasu has been revived from her divine disappearance?"

"Yes, she seems to be at odds with that man now, which is why we had a chance to escape." Yamawaro was far more frank and direct than the Tengu clan chief. "After the news of the destruction of Mount Ooe spread, everyone from that sly fox Tamamo-no-Mae to the most stupid zombie king fled immediately. That's when the three of us met. We didn't want to wander for the rest of our lives, living in fear under the shadow of Taira no Harunobu. So we wanted something that could deter that man, and after thinking it over, only you, the One Hearts, had that ability."

At least, the Tongxin Society was the first organization to keep most of its high-ranking members alive and even maintain its operations after provoking that man, and it was also the only organization that made that man suffer several tough battles.

It can be said that the more badly other monsters are beaten by that person, the more renowned the Tongxin Society will become!

Phoenix Fire felt strange after figuring all this out.

However, Orochi was prepared. Upon learning of the destruction of Mount Ooe, his eight heads had already grasped this point. Although it was regrettable that his old friend had died so tragically, he would make good use of the legacy his friend had left him!

"I understand. I have plenty of the technology you want, and I can share it with you." The eight heads and sixteen eyes of the Yamata no Orochi swept past the Yama-warashi King, the Tengu Clan Chief, and the Hibiki of the Valley, conveying his icy voice. "However, you cannot come here again, lest you expose our location; furthermore, we must share all the data and results from these technologies. In exchange, we will send people to personally guide you in using and learning these technologies, but they have the right not to participate in your battles; additionally, to ensure the updating and research of these technologies, I need you to provide sufficient equipment and materials..."

Orochi made a long list of demands, which even Phoenix Fire felt was a bit extreme. What if he scared away the suckers who were offering themselves up?

However, Orochi was not satisfied and continued, "In order to ensure the smooth progress of the above cooperation, I hope that you can build a suitable magic circle in your territory to ensure the convenience of information transmission and personnel exchanges; of course, control should be handed over to our Tongxin Association."

No, no, no, this will definitely not pass! Phoenix Fire internally complained, but outwardly remained tense.

Then something happened that made her unable to hold back any longer.

The Mountain Child King and the Tengu Clan Chief both nodded in agreement, saying, "No problem, as long as we can deal with that man!"

Phoenix Fire, who had never faced Hiraharunobu directly, finally couldn't maintain her poker face and revealed a look of utter disbelief. She then received the same look of utter disbelief in return.

“That man’s power and cruelty far exceed your imagination, little bird.” The Tengu clan chief’s voice was deep. “If we don’t find a way to stop that guy, one day he will kill all the monsters. Compared to this calamity, the temporary loss of benefits is completely acceptable.”

The Mountain Child King was even more direct: "Anyway, if you disagree, you'll definitely die; if you agree, you might live, and maybe..."

Chapter 522

Our research is progressing much faster than yours!

"Then let's sign the contract." Orochi smiled and tossed out a ball of light as soft as a crescent moon. "This is a contract left by Tsukuyomi. Its strength should be sufficient, right?"

Thus, the contract was established.

The Tongxin Society's revenge is creeping in the shadows, about to invade the whole of Japan.

Taira no Harunobu! Look! The Unity Society is immortal! Technological progress cannot be stopped!!

Chapter 485: The Kitten's Ingenious Missionary Plan

In Shizuoka, a newly developed industrial city located between Osaka and Tokyo, stands a brand-new dojo that is quite different from the surrounding "historical relics"—this is the Shizuoka branch of the Aozorakan.

"Why are they all these weaklings? Can't they find anyone who can actually fight?"

Hanazawa Nana yawned, sheathed her sword, and complained to Saten Yoko beside her. Saten Yoko, who hadn't even made a move, looked at the pile of rolling gourds in front of her and shook her head: "Stop complaining. There weren't any good samurai here in Shizuoka to begin with, not to mention that the Ueno explosion took away so many strong people."

“But if we do that, our achievements will be overshadowed by the others.” Hanazawa Nana pouted in dissatisfaction.

"It's no use acting cute. The rules set by the instructor will not help you." Unlike Hanazawa Nana, who is lazy, Saten Yoko, the task expert, never questioned Harunobu's words, let alone tried to get away with acting cute.

However, the two of them habitually perform a duo stand-up comedy routine here, which makes the local Shizuoka samurai, who is beaten to the ground and only fit to eat dirt, feel quite uncomfortable.

As a relatively remote city, Shizuoka has always had a conservative and traditional atmosphere; therefore, the locals are very resistant to women, especially common women, learning swordsmanship. So when the Shizuoka branch of the Aozorakan opened, local samurai kept causing trouble, using everything from administrative measures to force—but to no avail.

The local bullies attempted to suppress the authorities, but the little cat leading the group immediately issued a warning from the Special Higher Police and the Anti-Demon Division. Regardless of rank, if anyone wanted to be imprisoned in a dark cell and subjected to a mental injection, or even have their entire family killed for colluding with monsters, they could continue to cause trouble.

Then, attempting to exert financial pressure, without even needing Tachibana Seiko to investigate, Uo Na Kiyoshi, who had finally seized a great opportunity to make a name for himself, directly turned the tables and dumped several local companies in Shizuoka with products of better quality, in greater quantity, and at lower prices, successfully strengthening the Shizuoka branch of the Aozora Group.

Finally, there's the matter of martial prowess, but to be honest, this is the part that least interests the cats and the others. Previously, due to the Tenran Trials, all the strong samurai from various regions went to Tokyo, and apart from the "lucky ones" who were eliminated before the finals and didn't stay to watch the finals, the rest of the samurai were all sent away by Yakumo Kurenai in one fell swoop.

What's left in Shizuoka is just a bunch of utterly unchallenging oddballs.

Having mastered the mind control technique, Hanazawa Nana didn't even need to use breathing techniques; she could defeat them all with just her Flying Sword Style.

However, this kind of "stomping" of weaker opponents doesn't make Hanazawa Nana and her friends happy, because it doesn't earn them points and prevents them from ranking up within the Aozorakan. In fact, because they're only defeating low-level monsters, they might even be overtaken by other competitors who have triggered the challenger mechanism. Besides, their primary purpose in coming to Shizuoka wasn't to challenge the dojo; it was to help spread their teachings at the Amaterasu no Meishi Shrine!

Contrary to the decline of the Shizuoka samurai, local religions, especially Shintoism, were quite influential, to the point that Ame-no-Mikoto's new doctrines could hardly attract any followers.

—Especially when other shrines have already started distributing Izanagi-style Zanpakuto.

"This is such a hassle..." Hanazawa Nana scratched her head. "Why don't we just go and tear down those shrines together?"

Hanazawa Nana's outrageous words silenced the local samurai who were groaning on the ground: "These samurai from out of town are too crazy!"

"Are you an idiot! Do you even think you can beat them?" Saten Yoko tapped Hanazawa Nana on the head. "Or are you planning to ask the instructor for help—just so you know, that'll deduct points from your score."

Although Harunobu and Amaterasu have signed a contract, it's not entirely legally binding on either party. Even if it were, Harunobu couldn't possibly ignore his wives' pleas for help. However, due to the internal competition within the Aozorakan, Harunobu's wives are unlikely to seek his help unless absolutely necessary—because losing 500 points for each request would mean instantly becoming the bottom-ranked student!

Being at the bottom of the class means that unless there's a huge party, she won't have a chance to have a whole day of the teacher's college to herself until the end of the year—and usually there will be jerks trying to seduce her—but it's better than having to seduce someone herself!

Hanazawa Nana angrily stopped harassing Saten Yoko and lost interest in continuing to beat up the local samurai. She turned to go back, but bumped into Koneko. The impact made her soft breasts sway, and Koneko, the only witness, almost gritted her teeth.

She drinks milk every day and even planted papayas in the garden at Qingkong Pavilion, so why is she still not as good as these lazy dogs?! How infuriating!

"Because kittens are born to be cute and petite~" Harunobu's voice echoed in the kitten's mind, carrying a teasing tone that both pleased and annoyed the kitten. "It's okay, kitten, being small is cute too~"

"Shut up!" the kitten huffed angrily. "You've been watching Gemini lately! Don't think I haven't noticed!"

Harunobu, far away at the Aozorakan, glanced at the two adorable loli twins beside him and changed the subject without hesitation: "Speaking of which, Koneko, what are you planning to do now? Are you really going to kill those gods who are so popular with the people of Shizuoka?"

Although she knew Harunobu was trying to change the subject, the little cat obediently replied, "That's pointless, and the three of us and the shrine maidens of Ame-no-Mikoto Shrine can't possibly defeat those great monsters."

"Furthermore, aren't we trying to unite in resisting Amaterasu right now? So I think it's better to choose a more amiable approach—you can see the teachers' college, can't you?"

"You little cat have too much stuff in your head," Harunobu teased the cat seriously, then changed the subject before the cat could bristle and act cute, "But you still need to be careful, you know more about the dangers of Eda than I do."

Although Harunobu was fully aware of the plan in the kitten's mind and its feasibility, he still couldn't help but worry about the kitten—not about its safety, but about its psychological well-being.

“But the number of Edo is large, and they are the group most likely to become fanatical believers. In the current situation, starting with them is the simplest and most effective way to break the deadlock.” Kitten pushed away Hanazawa Nana, who was trying to suffocate her, and continued to talk to Harunobu. “As for the danger, we just need to make those guys understand that being obedient is more promising than making a quick buck and leaving. Of course, this also requires some skill.”

As a child from Eta, the little cat was well aware of the disgusting nature of her "kind." Otherwise, why would she, a mere child, choose to start her own business? Was she tired of living too comfortably? It was simply because she was disgusted by them!

It can only be said that she was talented enough, clever enough, and especially lucky to have met Qingxin; otherwise... she doesn't know how long she could have lasted as an information broker.

To give another simple example, the original Yakuza were organizations formed by the Etas, but the Yakuza's actions were clearly not related to unity, friendship, kindness, or mutual assistance.

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye on you. Go ahead and do it.” Harunobu agreed to Kitten’s plan. “But remember, everything…”

"Our safety comes first, I know, where did you get this idiot dad from?"

The kitten's mind was filled with cheerful thoughts, but its face remained silent and calm as it glanced at the eavesdroppers in the distance before stepping into the alley.

Chapter 486: Igniting the Fire (3000 words)

Small cat

Chapter 523

Walking through the narrow streets, the emerging city gazed at the girl who had suddenly barged in, quiet and silent; the gazes it cast were all-encompassing, cautious and greedy, but even more so, fearful and panicked.

For these Eta, cowering in remote corners, with no future and no past, the arrival of such a delicate and beautiful girl often signifies deadly danger. This applies whether she is a monster or simply an innocent little girl.

Needless to say, monsters are also meat to them, and they like to eat as much as they want.

If it's just an innocent little girl, that's even more terrifying news. A girl who can grow up like that and dress like that must come from a family whose power and influence are beyond their reach! The monsters might even leave after they've eaten their fill, at most consuming a few dozen or a hundred people; but if those in power take their anger out on them, it won't be resolved by the deaths of just a few people. At the very least, they'll lose their place of refuge.

Of course, it's also possible that this innocent little girl wandered around here and nothing happened, and she happily went home—but that's impossible.

The Edo people wouldn't let something so valuable go to waste. Even if it wasn't kidnapping or extortion, the girl's clothes and jewelry alone would be worth a fortune. In fact, amidst many uneasy glances, several burly men had already approached; they were rubbing their fists together, brandishing steel rods and wooden clubs, and their tattered clothes and colorful tattoos made them look like no good.

"Ah, it's so comfortable at home, I've forgotten all about these bastards..." the kitten murmured softly, looking at the approaching scumbags who weren't even worthy of being called Yakuza.

"What are you saying, little sister? It's very dangerous here. Let your big brother protect you—"

Before the thugs could finish their lewd opening remarks, the terrifying pressure had already completely destroyed and shattered their spirits. Their previous arrogance seemed to have been frozen, and they were frozen in place along with their bodies.

"Wu... Samurai——"

A sound that sounded like a groan, or perhaps a wail, came from the side, breaking the oppressive atmosphere created by the kitten releasing its thoughts. The crowd scattered like rats, leaving only the foolish ringleaders trembling and kneeling on the ground.

"Please...please, spare me! I have children and—ugh!"

The kitten decapitated the person at the front, hot blood splattering and falling at her feet. Her bright eyes flickered slightly, and she sighed, "The skull tattoo means you've killed at least twenty people; the Ubume tattoo means you were a human trafficker, and a high-quality, trustworthy one at that; and then there are the Wheel of Fortune tattoo, the Medicine Buddha tattoo... Even if someone like you had children, you would have sold them for money long ago."

The kitten's voice was bright this time, echoing throughout the narrow alley: "And you people too, how can people like you be changed? I think, only death—"

Puff puff……

The sounds, like puncturing a water pipe or popping a balloon, rang out one after another until the last head and the steel rods that the thugs had secretly picked up fell to the ground, finally ending the commotion.

"Honestly, it's a good thing the teachers' college isn't here, otherwise, what if I don't think I'm cute anymore after seeing such a brutal scene?" The little cat, who had taken down more than twenty people in one go, muttered to herself, wiping her clean, fair face, which was free of any blood, and looked towards the end of the street.

As expected, all the Eda went into hiding, including those who had been so fierce and volatile just moments before. They weren't kept in the dark; they knew exactly what the female warrior represented—it was the invincible Aozorakan of Kyoto!

However, in the cat's eyes, their hiding methods were far too rudimentary. Even without her experience as an Eta, or her talent [Eye of Insight], her flow mind [Insightful Insight] could easily find the traces left by these Eta.

However, she did not limit herself to any particular hobby. Instead, she used all three abilities together, combining her talent and mental power with her experience, and dismantled several hidden Edo Refuges in just one hour.

The entrances and exits are covered with garbage, and the "rooms in between" are hidden between two walls; the most simple and unadorned Heian-kyo original sewers; and there are various crudely made huts that are not much different from garbage dumps—it might be more accurate to call them shacks.

In short, thanks to the cat's skillful capture, all the escaped Eta were caught. Of course, there are more Eta than this in the entire city of Kyoto; there are many more in Heian-kyo alone. But the cat can't possibly search for them all, so having this many people on site is sufficient.

She's just trying to spread the word and establish a good public image.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Although it's a bit late, let me introduce myself—I am Kitten, yes, yes, the same name as you, you, and you." Kitten casually pointed to a few little guys who were as thin and bony as she used to be. "I am Eta from Tokyo, but now I am Taira Harunobu, my teacher's wife; and as you can see, I am a swordsman."

There's something else going on. Originally, apart from Harunobu, Amu Hosho, and Yuki Sakura, no one from the Aozorakan had the right to carry a knife outside of Asakusa Ward. In fact, people used to use them to attack Harunobu and the others. But I don't know when it started, but no one has brought up this issue at all, even now that the disciples of the Aozorakan are going to other cities to take up knives and attack people.

They've probably all forgotten.

The cat's self-introduction elicited gasps from the Edo members she had forcibly dragged out, but mostly distrust. After all, the cat's clothing, appearance, and physique were worlds apart from theirs, not to mention the difference in their aura. Even when the cat was part of the Edo group, she was the female leader of the cat house, commanding a group of little brats, and a somewhat well-known information broker, unlike these homeless people who were constantly on the run.

"I know you probably don't believe me, but think about how I caught you just now? If I weren't Eta, how would I know so much about your hiding methods and habits?"

The kitten smiled, looking at its skeptical kind, and continued, "But whether you believe me or not is irrelevant to me. I'm not here to show off; I'm here to give you jobs and the opportunity to be normal people."

After speaking, the kitten fell silent, simply looking at the Edo people before her. She knew very well how suspicious these people were; revealing her true purpose directly would only scare them away, because there's no such thing as a free lunch.

They need to feel they've paid a heavy price, that it's a reasonable job, before they'll dare to try. Of course, later they must realize they're actually getting a huge advantage! She, Little Cat, isn't some kind of anonymous good Samaritan; she's a greedy woman who's only interested in profit and has eyes for money.

Sure enough, under the cat's silent gaze, someone finally spoke up: "Um, samurai-sir, may I ask what kind of work it is?"

“As for men, I have construction and moving jobs that I need, so you don’t need to worry about anything. You’ve heard of Qingkong Department Store, right? That’s my husband’s business.”

Yes, it's just the right time to bring out the conglomerates that the Eitas understand and fear even more, lest some fools think they're clever and act recklessly.

"As for women, our dojo is in need of some housekeepers. If you have the qualifications, you can come and learn swordsmanship from me first... Well, we're all the same type, so I'll just be direct. Although they are called housekeepers and disciples, they are actually my husband's prospective mistresses. Although he is not in Kyoto now and may never come back, we should prepare some in case that barbaric man torments me every day."

"Hey, little cat, what kind of dirty rumors are you spreading about me now!" Qingxin, who had been silently watching the drama unfold, couldn't hold back any longer, but the little cat ignored him.

Chapter 524

Well, Harunobu's reputation for being a womanizer is already ruined, so it doesn't matter if he adds to it. Besides, finding women for Harunobu is obviously more reasonable and easier to accept than any other reason. Moreover, the Eitas won't feel that the price is too heavy; for most Eitas, selling their bodies for money is already a fairly worthwhile job.

Sure enough, after the kitten finished her "frank" talk, many female Edo began to get restless. For them, just selling their bodies to live a life like the kitten's... no, even just half or a tenth of hers was already a dream come true!

However, the Eitas had one last question: "But, Samurai-sama, would your husband really hire so many Eitas?"

"You're lucky. My husband is a kind-hearted man and a believer in the Heavenly Maiden Destiny; he advocates treating everyone equally—except for heinous criminals—anyway, I've delivered the message. Anyone who wants to come, report here tomorrow."

After the kitten finished speaking, it turned to leave, but suddenly stopped and turned back to say, "By the way, if any bastards dare to disturb my work, let them see those guys' corpses and decorate them up."

After saying that, Mad Cat swaggered out of the narrow alley and returned to the sight of the watchers. The timing was perfect; the watchers had no idea what Mad Cat had done inside, and simply assumed they had lost track of their target due to their poor skills.

"Little cat, are you sure this is okay?" Harunobu tried to salvage his reputation like a chattering gay man. "Besides the last little mention, there's absolutely nothing related to faith in what you've said!"

The kitten chuckled, "Who reveals their intentions from the very beginning? And husband, don't struggle anymore. Your reputation has already spread throughout Japan with everyone's whereabouts... Maybe those Knights of the Round Table have already told your story to England."

"Yame snail—"

The author says:

Author's Note: Update schedule: 74/30 - 14/30. I didn't expect to suddenly exceed the deadline, so I quickly wrote all night. In short, I've written 8600 words in three chapters today, which is two extra chapters in terms of word count! But with everyone's support, I'll try my best to continue with three chapters tomorrow to repay everyone. Mainly, I'm really too tired to write today, brothers! /_

Chapter 487: A Kitten's Assistance

The cat's plan went smoothly. She accurately grasped the psychology of the Eda members, making them act according to her wishes. In fact, before the next day even arrived, a long line had formed outside the Shizuoka branch of the Aozorakan, and they were all the same size as the cat—well, wanting to look like the cat was out of the question, but her figure was quite common among the Eda members.

"Pfft..." Hanazawa Nana couldn't hold it in any longer and could only turn her head to the side, starting to laugh softly. Her shoulders shook and her breasts heaved as she laughed, and even her fair and rosy face began to darken, giving the impression that she was about to unleash a massacre.

However, before the kitten could make a move, Saten Yoko had already hooked her arm around Hanazawa Nana's shoulder and said quietly, "What's so funny?"