The Blade-Wielding Legend

So they were after the little girl...

Li Yan discreetly shifted to block Ah Shi.

Tanui Nagashige chuckled bitterly, "There’s no need for vigilance, everyone. If I had ill intentions, I wouldn’t have spoken just now."

Saying this, he took out a jade pendant from his chest.

The pendant was etched with the Oda family’s Five and Three Plum Blossoms, identical to the one Ah Shi had drawn in the cabin.

"This jade pendant was a token given by Lord Hideyoshi to the Tanui clan years ago. I can sense that this girl carries the blood of the Oda family."

Ah Shi peeked out from behind Long Yan’er, timidly looking at the pendant and then at Tanui Nagashige.

She hesitated, her eyes full of confusion.

Clearly, she couldn’t remember the man in front of her.

Tanui Nagashige trembled, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Indeed... there is still Oda blood in the world..." he breathed deeply, suppressing his emotions, speaking to Li Yan, "We shouldn’t stay here long. The factions within Chuyun Grand Shrine are complex, some are colluding with Jianmu, and some intend to use this as an opportunity to eliminate dissidents. News may have already spread by now, I will escort you all out immediately."

He turned to the old Shen Guan and said, "Fujiwara God Master, these are acquaintances of mine, today’s incident is a misunderstanding. I am willing to use my Shen Guan position as a guarantee to escort them out of Tanba and ensure they don’t step here again in Chuyun Territory."

The old Shen Guan stared at Tanui Nagashige for a long moment before nodding slowly, "Since Lord Tanui vouches for them... Very well, but you must personally explain to the others."

Tanui Nagashige clasped his hands in gratitude, then whispered to Li Yan, "Follow me."

The group followed Tanui Nagashige, hastily walking along the coast for half a mile, entering an obscure sea cave erosion.

The cave was winding and deep; after walking for about fifteen minutes, they were suddenly greeted by a secret passage leading into the mountains.

The stone walls along the secret passage were carved with ancient Shinto spells, some already indistinct.

"This is one of the secret passages constructed by Chuyun Grand Shrine during the Warring States Period to avoid conflict."

Tanui Nagashige walked ahead with a torch, "Not many know of this place, even the current Grand Shrine Divine Lord might not know its entirety."

Li Yan asked as they walked, "You mentioned earlier that there’s collusion between people inside Chuyun Grand Shrine and Jianmu?"

Though the Jianmu Organization is rooted in Japan, it still remains hidden.

Since arriving on the island, it’s the first time he’s encountered someone who could name it.

Tanui Nagashige paused for a moment and sighed, "It’s not just Chuyun Grand Shrine. Jianmu’s influence extends into the Yin Yang Hall in the Capital City, various shrines, and even some Daimyo Mansions. They use ’Immortality Secret Technique’ and ’Method of raising Shikigami’ as bait to lure the nobles and cultivators in Japan."

He glanced back at Ah Shi, "I’ve been undercover for years to uncover Jianmu’s true intentions. And to find a way to resurrect Lord Hideyoshi."

Wang Daoxuan frowned, "Resurrecting the dead violates the Heavenly Dao."

"I know."

Tanui Nagashige’s voice was somber, "But Lord Hideyoshi’s death altered the entire fate of Japan. If he could be revived, perhaps we could stop Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s madness and prevent this war."

He paused, "More importantly, Jianmu holds a Forbidden Technique of ’Artificial Shikigami’ that uses Demonic Qi to transform living humans into weapons. I suspect... they want to use this technology to revive and control Lord Hideyoshi."

Li Yan and his companions exchanged looks but did not speak.

Tanui Nagashige paused his steps and glanced at the coffin Wu Ba was carrying:

"The one inside, could it be..."

"He’s our friend, poisoned severely."

Li Yan replied, "We came here to find a cure."

Tanui Nagashige was no fool, nodded, and asked no further.

After walking for almost another hour, the group stopped along the secret passage.

The torchlight flickered, illuminating tense faces.

Tanui Nagashige spoke first, "I have a proposal. You all are heading to the Capital City to save someone, I’m heading there to search for clues on resurrection—while our goals differ, our paths converge."

"Shall we cooperate temporarily? I’ll help you avoid pursuit from the Divine Path, provide intelligence and cover in the Capital City; you help me protect Ah Shi and, if necessary, disrupt Jianmu’s control over Lord Hideyoshi."

He looked at Ah Shi, his eyes filled with warmth and pain, "This child is the last bloodline of Lord Hideyoshi and one of the ’keys’ to the resurrection technique. Jianmu’s people have always been looking for her."

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged a look.

Kong Shangzhao nodded slightly, Sha Lifei shrugged, showing no objection.

"We can cooperate," Li Yan said, "but one thing, if there’s danger, we won’t hold back."

Tanui Nagashige acknowledged with a solemn bow, "As it should be."

The secret passage’s exit lay in the mountainous area at the junction between Tanba and Danma.

Tanui Nagashige handed a hand-drawn route map to Li Yan, "Follow this road north, bypass the influence of Chuyun Grand Shrine, and head to the Capital City via Inaba Country. You’ll pass the site of the ’White Rabbit of Inaba’ legend, be wary as it has been unstable recently."

He paused and then took out a wooden talisman from his chest, "This is the ’God Avoiding Talisman’ from Chuyun Grand Shrine, which can temporarily mask the aura of Divine State cultivators from your body. Usable three times, up to six hours each."

Li Yan took the wooden talisman and thanked him.

Tanui Nagashige gave Ah Shi a lingering look, turning to vanish deep into the secret passage. His voice drifted with the wind: "See you in the Capital City... May the gods protect you."

Following the map’s guidance, Li Yan and his companions traversed the Tanba mountainous region, entering Inaba Country territory three days later.

This is a famous legendary site in Japan, with the ’White Rabbit of Inaba’ tale spreading for hundreds of years.

It narrates how a white rabbit deceived sharks to ride across the sea on their backs but was skinned, later cured with the help of the Great Country Lord God, ultimately aiding the god in winning a beautiful woman’s heart.

...

At Tanba Turtle Mountain Castle grounds, the mountain terrain suddenly became perilous.

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