Book 4: Chapter 11: Ashamed to Meet

s.h.i.+mizu saw Kiyos.h.i.+s resolute and das.h.i.+ng face brew in agony within the dark room. He hadnt felt such pain even when his arm had been cut off just prior.

s.h.i.+mizu felt it hard to rationalize the feelings she felt in this moment. As two different-gendered people who loved the same woman, s.h.i.+mizu didnt really wish to see others liking Lily, but she didnt feel jealous of him at the same time.

Why not warn her personally? s.h.i.+mizu asked.

I dont have the means to protect her and even got wounded like this by the scheming murderers conspiring to kill her. Im ashamed to see her, Kiyos.h.i.+ answered.

Kiyos.h.i.+ judged that the other side had no reason to scheme like that if they possessed overwhelming strength, or that their objective wasnt as simple as killing Lily and to administer that concoction down to her. Although he didnt know whether that was really the case, Kiyos.h.i.+ felt utterly powerless against these circ.u.mstances and was too ashamed to meet Lily, the second-most powerful woman of the East, like this.

I will inform her about this. Do you want me to tell her about you? s.h.i.+mizu asked.

If possible, please dont tell Miss Kagami about it I was enchanted by her at first sight half-a-year ago and she was just a budding samurai woman new to the sword back then. However, she has grown far powerful than I couldve ever imagined by now. A man like me is unqualified to see her, and I also dont want her to direct pity at me. I still havent given up though and will reappear to protect her boldly when Ive regained enough of my self-confidence so that I can woo her again! Kiyos.h.i.+ declared while shuddering with a lowered head.

I hope such a day really comes for you1. Do you want me to escort you back to the camp? s.h.i.+mizu asked calmly.

No! I wont have any chances of catching up with Miss Kagamis footsteps in this lifetime if Im unable to even cross these trivial wastelands! Ill trouble you to inform Miss Kagami about the matter then, Miss s.h.i.+mizu. Although shes quite powerful, shes too nave, kindhearted and innocent Im afraid that she will fall for some vicious trap during this journey to Kansai and am hoping that you can protect her.

Heh! This is the second-time someone whos deeply in love with her has said these words to me, s.h.i.+mizu stated wryly.

The tatteredly-dressed Kiyos.h.i.+ had an empty-sleeve on one side held the hilt of his katana and left the house just like that in the vast and windy dark night with the dimly-lit lanterns of Kiyosu Castles streets reflecting in his eyes.

Return to the camp? No! Im going to pa.s.s the position of the clans heir to my little brother and devote my time to training.

Although Oda n.o.butora was an honest and righteous man, he was no fool. He sighed in relief after hearing people yell that Lily had escaped and began running around all over the castle.

His Oda clan was located in a desolate jungle of Kiyosu, and his hidden village also had hundreds of inhabitants who were protected by his loyal follower, Hirate.

Oda had warned Lily during the banquet and wasnt sure whether anyone had noticed that. He believed that he would fall under the suspicion of informing Lily about the ambush in advance if an investigation were conducted about it later on despite the fact that he had witnessed Lilys strength later on, which made the chances of it happening quite less.

Oda felt threatened and resolved to leave the city immediately. He made for the west gate along with his samurai and servants of his clan and fled Kiyosu.

Lord Oda.

Oda planned to go down south and return to his hidden village, but he was stopped by a mesmeric voice after gaining some distance post his escape.

Oda looked back in fright, and sighed relievedly after seeing that it was Lily who called out to him.

Lily smiled in appreciation, I really didnt misjudge you, Lord Oda. Youre more courageous, honest, and wiser than I imagined you to be. You have my grat.i.tude for the warning, Lord Oda!

Lily bowed deeply, not for how big a role he played in her own safety, but for the respect she felt for his righteous actions even though the chaotic times had weathered him.

Please You wouldnt have gotten injured by them even without my warning with the divine methods you possess, Lady Lyn-hime.

Lily chuckled softly and fished out a few aged books, These are the first to sixth books of the Genji Swordstyle, Lord Oda. Although the Genji prohibit their disciples from pa.s.sing them down to others secretly, I believe that the creator of this swordstyle, Lord Yos.h.i.+tsune, would want a man like you to obtain higher strength as well. Please accept them, Lord Oda.

It was possible to obtain a threefold power boost by perfecting all six books of the Genji Swordstyle!

Although such an art wasnt that uncommon in Kamakura, it was a treasure valuable enough to change the destiny of a whole clan in Owari where there werent any esoteric power enhancement arts.

Oda dropped to his knees with a slam immediately. It was simply impossible for him to decline such an item that could change the future destiny of a clan, so he received the books in a bold fas.h.i.+on with a gratuitous heart.

If a day comes when my Oda clan becomes the ruler of these lands like you said, it would all be thanks to the favor youve shown my clan today, Lady Lyn-hime!

It wasnt much, Lord Oda. I didnt think that far and just thought that a man of unusual caliber like you deserves higher power, Lily smiled gently as her hair fluttered in the wind.

The back of her curvaceous and sashaying figure was reflected by the moons illumination from above as she left.

A G.o.ddess! She mustve been a G.o.ddess who descended to the mortal world to bestow my Oda clan with blessings and guidance! Oda n.o.butora and his clansmen kept kowtowing to Lilys back until she vanished into the woods at the horizon of the wasteland.

s.h.i.+mizu rushed through the city sometime after Lily had caused a commotion in Kiyosu Castle, but Lily had long left the city along with the treasures she took from s.h.i.+ba by now.

She had learned that Lily had been invited by s.h.i.+ba for a meeting along the way and even though she believed that s.h.i.+ba didnt have the strength to harm Lily, she still felt worried.

The gates of Kiyosu Castle were wide open and best described by the word chaos with soldiers going in and out of it. s.h.i.+mizu blocked the path of a soldier after going inside and inquired about the situation, What happened here?

W-We arent sure, but it seems like a battle took place in the lords tower! The soldier answered anxiously.

s.h.i.+mizu rushed up towards the castle tower immediately.

She found a vast number of soldiers and samurai stationed within the castle tower when she entered inside and realized that the situation had been pacified already.

None of them tried to stop s.h.i.+mizu even when they saw her, which allowed her to rush into the main hall, where Tanaka and the other samurai were present. The hall was in quite a mess too with the banquet items scattered in all directions.

Lady s.h.i.+mizu! Tanaka yelled.

Wheres Lily?! s.h.i.+mizu questioned back.

Tanaka was taken aback, You mean that mirror girl? Shes gone! She took Lord s.h.i.+ba captive and then robbed all his treasures before jumping out to the eaves and fleeing the tower. Weve already sent pursuers after her.

s.h.i.+mizu sighed in relief inwardly. It was hard for others to tell the changes in s.h.i.+mizus emotions unless she was in the presence of Lily.

Youre finally back, Lady s.h.i.+mizu! Catch up with that d.a.m.ned mirror girl and help me kill her quickly! s.h.i.+ba demanded as two attendants helped him walk out of his room, his body still in a limp state.

s.h.i.+mizus icy gaze targeted s.h.i.+ba, Do you know where she went?

Its probably north. She interrogated me about who ordered her a.s.sa.s.sination, but I didnt spill Lord Kibus name out. Neither did I take on the blame for it, as that would doom me forever. I told her that I was incited by Minos Viper and Momiji and that foolish woman actually believed my words. Shes probably looking for that Viper now! Hahaha! Itll be impossible for her to survive once she gets tormented by Viper after falling in his hands! Shes bound to get duped by that cunning old fellow if she got fooled by someone like me! Hahahahahaha! Although thats relieving enough, my treasures and gold would be lost forever in that case! Please help me get back the treasures and gold stolen by that bitch, Lady s.h.i.+mizu! s.h.i.+ba pleaded.

Tanaka, who stood to the side, blushed with shame after seeing the actions of his lord, who was the embarra.s.sment of all samurai. If it werent for the indecisive s.h.i.+ba diverging from the plan, they wouldve perhaps subdued Lily just now. At least thats what Tanaka believed. After all, no man was willing to admit that they were inferior to a woman.

s.h.i.+mizu revealed a gentle and icy smile as she looked down towards s.h.i.+ba, Rest a.s.sured. Ill definitely catch up with that mirror girl and get the treasures back. However, even if shes an enemy, you neednt call her a bitch now, right? Majestic men like you were all played by a woman and you are now begging another womans help in getting the stolen treasures back. If shes a foolish bitch, what are you all then?

What?! s.h.i.+ba was taken aback.

s.h.i.+mizu waved her black-gold sleeve and sent s.h.i.+ba and his two attendants wobbling to the floor before turning around to leave with an eerie smile on her face.

H-Halt! s.h.i.+ba pointed his finger at s.h.i.+mizu and slammed the floor as he ran his mouth out, H-How dare you disrespect me and treat me like this! Halt right there for me! Men, go stop her and make her apologize to me! Tanaka, go and bring her back! Go!

A powerful, black grudge oozed out from s.h.i.+mizus body with golden phantom b.u.t.terflies fluttering inside the dark mist visible intermittently.

The samurai near to this grudge were subjected to a powerful and gloomy pressure that rendered them immobile. This powerful suppression formed a layer of sweat on Tanakas forehead and made him turn a deaf ear to s.h.i.+bas screaming order, his body stiffening up in fear.

Just forget about it, milord Its enough for us to be able to defend ourselves in this unpredictable world. Theres no need to bring about our own destruction now the big-bearded Tanaka shuddered as he looked at the grudge-shrouded figure of s.h.i.+mizu from the back and fell to his knees2.

How could even you kneel down, Tanaka! s.h.i.+bas eyes opened wide as he screamed.

s.h.i.+mizu was shrouded in grudge all the time, so the soldiers didnt dare to stop her. Even if there were fools who tried to approach her, they got squashed down to the floor by the grudge immediately while the weak fainted on the spot.

s.h.i.+mizu exited the city from the west gate after leaving the castle tower.

Lil Lily Could that Viper really be as powerful and vicious as s.h.i.+ba said? The western samurai who sliced Kiyos.h.i.+s arm off are more of a concern, too. I feel quite restless, lil sis I must catch up with you as quickly as possible3

Robinxen: Is this the same girl?!

Robinxen: Intelligence in a man?!

Robinxen: Good luck best girl candidate!