On the west side of Lake Biwa, there was an inconspicuous island cloaked in the beauty of pale blue mountains and winsome greenery.
The lake rippled with the reflection of the light blue sky, and the shining sun added a touch of shimmer to the gentle waves. The huge old pines stood tall, their roots laden with many strange rocks. Unlike the magnificent landscapes of the East, the rivers and trees here seemed to contain a primitive, tranquil charm.
In the depths of the island, a faint purple mist pervaded the air, and a pair of small eyes gleamed from the shadows of the surrounding trees. They were looking at the palish shore of the lake with surprise and curiosity.
The many years of sustained silence on the isolated island were disturbed by the arrival of people who roused the island in a lively atmosphere.
Ships from various countries in Kansai traveled between the island and Port Otsu, some anchoring near the shore of the island.
The small demons peeking from the pine forest all lived in seclusion for many generations. Little did they know that, in a few days, a duel will be hosted on their home island.
Regardless of the duel’s outcome, this unknown Ryu Island would be remembered by numerous Kansai samurai.
Although Tamurakonoe had yet to arrive, he had informed the dojo through a jade stone and the news somehow spread. Tamurakonoe was the son of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, the master of Western swordplay, and he was known as the fastest sword among experts of the same realm. He was regarded as a role model of the younger generation and was admired by many noble ladies in the Western land. Such a man was going to fight a genius samurai from the East. The news exploded throughout Yamashiro Province, the Land of Yamato, and was gradually spreading to neighboring countries.
At this time, only ten days had passed since Tamurakonoe and Lily agreed on the battle.
Tamurakonoe was a man who knew how to use events to gain fame. He may not be the strongest among the younger generation of annihilation dojos, but his reputation was so great that he was considered as a model for the new generation of dojo samurai.
This time, he got rid of the bird demon’s chase and even disregarded finding Ui, instead prioritizing the delivery of the news to the dojo.
In water, the situation was volatile and unfavorable, but on land, he had full assurance in winning against Lily!
If he defeats Kagami Lily, who is known as the number one genius in the East, not only would he be able to take the credit for killing the Mirror Girl, he would also become famous in both Kansai and Kanto! How could Tamurakonoe allow such an opportunity to slip him by? Of course, he was very smart and didn’t reveal much. He only released the news to some people in the dojo, and the rest happened naturally.
For a time, this became a major event that was widely spread among the samurai of Western land.
Currently, a group of samurai, practitioners, and their entourage, who were dressed in gorgeous, simple, and relatively strange clothes, disembarked from their vessels one after another.
During this period, some onmyojis dressed in high hats and black or white robes also came to spectate the battle. Samurai and omnyoji were distinguishable at a glance. Although some onmyojis were fitted with swords, most of them were tall and elegant with fair skin. Their aloof natures, postures, and mannerisms were telltale signs of their vocation.
Samurai, on the other hand, were mostly rugged, battle-hardened warriors with dark and sturdy figures. However, they were a bit less candid and more sinister than the Kanto samurai.
On the island, groups of people set up tents and camps under the oddly-shaped pine trees while waiting for the duel to begin.
Some people even went as far as cutting wood to set up a temporary high platform for eminent figures to spectate the battle.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Please visit Re:Library to show the translators your appreciation and stop supporting the content thief!)
The cumulative noise from all the arriving people scared the small demons into hiding. These demons were fairly weak, so even when they were discovered snooping around, the samurai didn’t mind them too much.
Although this wasn’t a fight between peak experts of the East and West, the battle was seen as a confrontation between the younger generation of the respective regions, thus attracting a lot of attention and interest.
A few samurai garbed in straw raincoats stood in a corner of the island. Their accents revealed their identities as southern samurai as they spoke and gestured at the festive camps.
“Do you guys know the opponent that Tamurakonoe will fight against?”
“I heard that it’s the number one genius from Eastern land?”
“A genius from the East? Not many Eastern warriors come all the way to the West, but each one is tough and brave. They are brutal and cruel people who aren’t afraid of death!”
“I wonder who this genius is? What does he look like?”
“The genius of Eastern Land must be a champion— he should be a rough and fierce guy with a big black beard!”
“Yes, yes, Eastern warriors are rough! It’s said that three Western warriors are not the match of a single Eastern warrior of the same level. It is not a matter of strength; those guys just refuse to give up easily!”
“I heard that Eastern samurai have the blood of the demon god within them! They are extremely bloodthirsty!”
“Hey, I think you’re going a bit too far. Although the men of Eastern land are tough and resolute, they are still human like us!”
“Let’s make a bet on whether the beard of the Eastern genius is more than a foot long!”
“How can we bet on that? Your chance of winning is too big, right?”
Among the crowd of samurai lounging about, a group of samurai wearing red and white dojo uniforms stood out. They were one of the focal points of the upcoming duel— members from Tamurakonoe’s Maro dojo.
Although Tamuramaro himself didn’t come, his dojo was one of the more famous ones in the Sinless Domain. Most people tried to keep their distance and didn’t dare to disturb them.
“There has been some news. The express ship we sent to approach Master Tamurakonoe will arrive tomorrow!” One of the Maro dojo samurai with a crow on his arm informed the group.
“Excellent! After this battle, Tamurakonoe will definitely be able to overpower those few people and become the number one young samurai in our Sinless Domain’s annihilation dojo!” A tall, gray-haired samurai with eagle-like eyes affirmed.
This person was the number two figure among the ranks of the Maro dojo. He was also the uncle of Tamurakonoe, Sakanoue no Tamuramura.
At this moment, another large ship lumbered across the lake not far away. The ship was towering and majestic, with thick and mottled walls. Its sturdy outer frame was even marred with some menacingly huge claw marks.
“Look, what a big ship!
“Ah, this isn’t a ship from Lake Biwa. That must be an assault warship coming from the sea!”
A few southern samurai also exclaimed.
The big ship was moored not far away from the island and was unable to dock. Instead, several small boats were lowered, carrying a group of august samurai dressed in blue and white robes to shore.
Each samurai in the group wore grim expressions.
Sakanoue no Tamuramura wrinkled his grey eyebrows, “Unexpectedly, even they have come?”
…
…
At present, on the turquoise waters of Lake Biwa, Lily, dressed in a white and red kimono, stood on the bow of the canoe as she sailed westward. Since Lily was unfamiliar with the lake, she didn’t take the usual route. She only focused on adjusting her direction towards the west, inadvertently avoiding any potential obstacles along the way.
From the perspective of those who planned ambushes for Lily, this woman seemed to ‘disappear’ from Lake Biwa.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(If you are reading this from other sites, that means this content is stolen. Please support us by visiting our site.)
Water splashed behind the canoe as a few sakura blossoms danced at the stern. Lily used a small extension of her domain to propel the canoe forward so she didn’t have to paddle all the time. Although the speed was slower compared to full-blown paddling, she didn’t have to exert herself too much.
Lily wasn’t in a hurry anyway. Although the promised date was fifteen days later, it wasn’t easy to cross such a long distance, and the journey itself was dangerous. As long as it wasn’t deliberate, a few day’s worths of tardiness shouldn’t be a severe breach of contract.
This was a very common occurrence among battles between vagrants. After all, this era was dangerous and infested with demons so it wasn’t possible for people to be punctual all the time.
The sky soon darkened. It seemed that Lily would spend yet another lonely night on the lake.
Though she was unable to determine her position, Lily’s female intuition hinted that she was getting closer to Kansai.
The blowing wind stirred small waves on the surface of the water and caressed Lily’s long hair, invoking certain emotions in her heart. She developed to the point where she could travel to the Heian Dynasty by herself. From the time when she encountered the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons in Kamakura, to the point where she met Saionji Kotoka and Sakiko early on, her destiny was always aligned with Heian-kyō. Although she considered the East as her home, there wasn’t a way to awaken her senior sister’s soul there. Lily couldn’t help but think that the mission of the mirror girls had some sort of connection to the sleeping soul of her senior sister; this was her only clue.
“Kansai, that incredible place that I once distantly imagined— an incomparably dangerous place that encompasses thousands of kilometers of desolate land… I’m really about to reach Kansai!”
“Senior Sister, Lily found a way to wake you up! I’m finally one step closer to reviving you, aren’t I?”
At this time, rolling thunderclouds eclipsed the sky and the waves grew increasingly turbulent, surging as if to reach the clouds. From time to time, the gloomy clouds roiled with flashes of lightning and growling thunder.
Amidst the raging waters and billowing winds, Lily’s small boat meandered around the crashing waves and pushed onward.
Lily displayed excellent control as she used her two legs to steer the canoe. She focused on maintaining proper angle and balance in order to surf the waves.
In the distance, a lone samurai on horseback dashed across the lake while accompanied by thunder and lightning.
“Huh?” Lily blinked her eyes. Was it because she was too tired? She concentrated her spiritual vision and looked again…
She wasn’t hallucinating. There was indeed a figure of a samurai not too far away. The samurai sported an exaggerated helmet and rode a horse across the undulating lake as if it was flat ground.
A samurai riding a horse on the lake? What is this?!
Lily was dumbfounded, but the samurai on horseback seemed so real even after using her spiritual vision.
Moreover, the distance wasn’t very far so she obviously didn’t mistake what she saw. When she used her spiritual vision to study more closely, she realized that the samurai’s speed was amazingly fast!
Suddenly, Lily felt the gaze of the distant samurai as if the other party was looking back at her.
For some reason, she felt a chill run up her spine as she shivered involuntarily.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Say no to content thief!)
Rumble—! The sound of roaring thunder echoed.
The samurai galloped her horse across the lake and circled in her direction without losing any speed.
The silhouette of the approaching samurai grew bigger and bigger, allowing Lily to see her figure clearly. The closer she got, the more Lily admired the fast speed of the samurai.
Boom! Water splashed high into the air.
Almost instantly, the horse rushed to the front of Lily. Its four legs plowed through the water and it huffed out a soul-stirring neigh.1
Tomoe Gozen’s long hair drifted in the wind as she glared eastward with bitter hatred and sadness. A hint of powerlessness shadowed her face, but she soon turned to Lily, “Girl, you going to Heian-kyō, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alas, how many heroes and talented warriors have made their graves in Heian-kyō…”
“Eh? But isn’t Heian-kyō the capital of the whole world? Why is it so dangerous?”
“Sometimes, the real danger doesn’t lie in the formidable enemies in front of you.” Tomoe Gozen looked at Lily as if seeing her younger self. Admittedly, Lily was taller and more attractive than her past self, but beauty wouldn’t provide much protection in a place like Heian-kyō— perhaps it would even deepen the danger.
“Lily will remember Madam’s teachings… By the way, there is one more thing Lily would like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I have to go to Ryu Island before heading to Heian-kyō. I wonder if Madam can point Lily in the right direction?”
“Ryu Island? It seems to be an uninhabited island. If I remember correctly, it should be in that direction, about an hour away.” Tomoe Gozen pointed to the vast expanse of the lake behind her.
“Thank you for your advice, Madam.” Lily bowed respectfully.
“I’m leaving; do take care of yourself. Remember, if you and Minamoto no Yoritomo stand opposite each other one day, I will help you!”
Tomoe Gozen tugged the reins, causing the eerie warhorse to stand upright on its hind legs and sputter a resounding neigh. As it trod the lake, powerful spiritual energy effused from its hooves and seemed to compress the water surface. A vacuum-like zone was formed and vigorous waves thrashed about.
Splash!
Lily gazed at the beautiful, departing back of Tomoe Gozen as her steed galloped into the distance. Her ample buttocks were almost bare, and both sides of her thighs were covered by a dark green skirt armor inlaid with precious gems1.
The horse’s speed was many folds faster than Lord Kato’s ship at full power, leaving behind a gust of wind that wildly blew Lily’s hair and skirt.
“Lady Tomoe…” Lily looked at the trail of roiling waves on the lake, her heart filled with emotion.
Such a beautiful and powerful woman could only wander the desolate lake bordering the east and west while tormented by hatred.
That Tomoe Gozen is leagues stronger than myself, and I can’t grasp her exact realm at all. When I arrive at Heian-kyō, I have to be careful.
Half a day passed, but Lily didn’t encounter any form of land in the direction specified by Tomoe Gozen, only endless water.
She wasn’t worried, though. There was no need for Tomoe Gozen to deceive her for such a trivial thing.
“Hmm, perhaps the one-hour journey mentioned by Tomoe Gozen only applies when traveling at her spirit horse’s speed. In my case…it will take some time before I reach the island.”
Lily silently remembered the direction Tomoe Gozen pointed out, hoping not to get lost along the way.
She couldn’t help thinking of her Sister Uesugi at this time as the two women left similar impressions on her. They were both valiant female samurai who rode staunch mounts and possessed admirable strength.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Please visit Re:Library to show the translators your appreciation and stop supporting the content thief!)
Her smile was soon replaced by worry, Sister Uesugi, Sister Shimizu, where are you all now? Although Lily has to travel to Heian-kyō alone, I will definitely find you…
…
…
A fast ship with red decorations headed for Ryu Island.
At this time, a considerable number of samurai and various other spectators had gathered on the island.
“Look, that’s the ship of the Maro Dojo!”
The people waiting on the island couldn’t help staring at the impressive ship.
The ship slowly lurched onto the shore, and two samurai in red and white coats hopped onto the deck and laid a wooden plank.
Not long after, a tall and elegant young man with a long tachi strapped to his back sauntered out of the cabin.
Behind him, a petite girl in a flowery dress2 and a tall masked man followed.
“They’re coming!” Someone in the crowd would yell from time to time.
“The one walking in front— the tallest man carrying the long sword is Sakanoue no Tamuramura, the only son of Master Tamuramaro!”
“They call him Swallow Counter3. It is said that he used his tachi, that is as long as a clothesline, to cut the ghost swallow mid-flight!”
“The ghost swallow is extremely fast, like a phantom. When it flies, one can barely catch a glimpse of it. It goes around pecking at the eyes of children, and even local samurai are unable to rid it. By the time it was discovered, the ghost swallow had already attacked numerous children and flew away; there was no way to stop it at all. It’s a very hated demon in the suburbs of Heian-kyō!”
“However, even with the ghost swallow’s incredible speed, that man was actually able to cut it with such a long sword. Ah, he is truly worthy of being the sword master’s only son!”
“Lord Tamurakonoe is young and talented. He’s also pretty famous among the younger generation of the annihilation dojo!”
Tamurakonoe became the focus of everyone’s attention as he disembarked from the ship.
Listening to the feverous discussion of the crowd and basking in their gazes, he couldn’t help feeling a little proud.
“Hmph, this is the effect I want. In this battle, not only will I kill the Mirror Girl, but I will also let those in the annihilation dojo know my, Tamurakonoe’s, strength! If they think that I am a person who hides under my father’s halo, they’re sorely mistaken!” Tamurakonoe said in his heart.
At this moment, far from Tamurakonoe’s group, there were some tall, uniformly dressed samurai that exuded extraordinary auras.
These samurai seemed to be divided into two groups, one with long blue and white clothes and the other with deep navy blue robes, which looked extremely fierce.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(If you are reading this from other sites, that means this content is stolen. Please support us by visiting our site.)
The head of the first group was a teenager with short, pearly hair. This teenager wasn’t tall, about 1.6 meters in height. His neatly combed hair wrapped around his cheeks like a girl, and at the back of his head, his small ponytail was clipped by a golden hairpin. The young man’s big amber eyes were lined with clear eyebrows, reminiscent of a girl’s piquant charm. Two cyan bands were tied to his waist, and under his long crossed sleeves, he hid an exquisite short sword interlaced with golden patterns. He silently watched Tamurakonoe from a distance.
Next to the young man was a very tall, dark-skinned man with a bald head who stood like a door panel. He was wearing the same uniform as the teenager, but they were worlds apart. His ugly, masculine face and crude bearing sharply contrasted the teenager’s delicate appearance.
The dark-skinned man leaned forward and whispered in the boy’s ears, “Young Master, it looks like Tamurakonoe wants to hog all the limelight this time. What Eastern land genius? He’s probably just a boorish and reckless mountain man. Where’s the honor in fighting such an opponent?!”
“Tenkaiji, don’t think that the people of Eastern land are all savages. You must know that true legendary samurai like Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Kiso Yoshinaka are also from the east. There are a lot of people here so you should pay attention to your words.” The young man’s voice was crisp— a bit feminine, but his aura brimmed with arrogance.
“Young Master is right, but Minamoto no Yoshitsune is a figure immortalized by our samurai as the god of war! He was born in Heian-kyō and learned martial arts in a temple on the outskirts of the capital. It is said that Minamoto no Yoshitsune found a big Hachiman statue in the deep mountains which was extremely magical. After Yoshitsune’s daily comprehension, he achieved an extraordinary realm of strength! How can we compare the rough Kanto people to those born and raised in Kansai?” Tenkaiji replied.
“Tenkaiji, Kanto samurai may be wild, but they are brave and unyielding. They say that there is a force of Mikawa samurai that is extremely brave, but unfortunately, their secret techniques are very backward and their strength lags too far behind Kansai samurai. Hey, even if it’s the number one genius of the Kanto region, I’m afraid that this battle will end tragically. No matter how talented this genius is, he is fated to be defeated without any good secret methods or sword techniques. What a pity… Tenkaiji, I have little interest in watching this battle; let’s go back.”
“Ah, Young Master, let’s just take a quick look! Even if you already know the outcome of the duel, you might learn something from watching Tamurakonoe’s swordsmanship. After all, the Heian-kyō festival is about to begin.” Tenkaiji hurriedly discouraged.
Among the group of samurai in navy blue robes, there was a tall man4 with small eyes and brown hair which was tucked into a bun at the back of his head. He had a hawk nose, pale skin, and gave people a very cold and dangerous feeling. This man had a long and sturdy dark gold tachi on his waist. The arch of the sword seemed much smaller than average swords, almost looking like a straight blade.
“Master Makoto, Tamurakonoe looks really proud today.” A big-breasted woman beside the tall man commented. She had a purplish-red slanted ponytail and her lapel was unusually wide open, revealing her deep cleavage.
“Tamurakonoe came to this place before the Heian-kyō festival, apparently as a demonstration of our Sinless Domain’s skill and power. I would like to see the current level of the top geniuses of Eastern land, with whom we have had little contact for many years.” The sinister-looking Makoto Oniwa spoke hoarsely.
When Tamurakonoe walked ashore, it roused the screams of many noble women and young ladies hailing from rich backgrounds who came from Heian-kyō to watch the battle.
Tamurakonoe kept walking as if he didn’t care and his long robes cooly fluttered past, causing the bodies of many women to turn soft.
However, he was secretly pleased by the showers of admiration.
“Hmph, a bunch of f̲u̲c̲k̲i̲n̲g b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲e̲s̲!” Ui who walked beside Tamurakonoe was the target of many unprovoked envious eyes. She couldn’t help but whisper, “You vile fanatics are far worse than that big-breasted woman. You dare to be jealous of me? Soon, you’ll feel what true despair is and understand what it means to be sexy but not lewd; gorgeous but not vulgar.”
Tamurakonoe didn’t say much and walked directly into the spacious tent occupied by the Maro Dojo which was enclosed high up on the island.
“Tamurakonoe, you’re here!” His grey-haired uncle was sitting in the formation with a resolute countenance.
“Uncle!” Tamurakonoe respectfully greeted back. He then turned to the other people around him, “How long until the day of the duel?”
“Less than two days, Lord.”
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Say no to content thief!)
Tamuramura asked with a bit of doubt, “Tamurakonoe, that Eastern samurai will definitely come, right?”
“Eastern samurai value faith and honor very much; she will definitely come on time! However, whether she comes or not, the result will be the same, Uncle.” Tamurakonoe smirked coldly.
“Hahahaha, well said! How can those rabid eastern barbarians compare with the swordplay of our Maro Dojo? Your father simply regarded this competition as a guaranteed victory with no suspense and didn’t even bother to come. The Heian-kyō festival in early spring will be the stage for you to really show off your skills!”
“Well, that’s natural.” Tamurakonoe nodded, a hint of arrogance blooming between his brows.
“Tamurakonoe, I’m glad you’re so confident. Brother should be relieved, eh?” Tamuramura seemed to realize something. He paused and backtracked, “Wait, did you just say ‘she’?”
On the west side of Lake Biwa, there was an inconspicuous island cloaked in the beauty of pale blue mountains and winsome greenery.
The lake rippled with the reflection of the light blue sky, and the shining sun added a touch of shimmer to the gentle waves. The huge old pines stood tall, their roots laden with many strange rocks. Unlike the magnificent landscapes of the East, the rivers and trees here seemed to contain a primitive, tranquil charm.
In the depths of the island, a faint purple mist pervaded the air, and a pair of small eyes gleamed from the shadows of the surrounding trees. They were looking at the palish shore of the lake with surprise and curiosity.
The many years of sustained silence on the isolated island were disturbed by the arrival of people who roused the island in a lively atmosphere.
Ships from various countries in Kansai traveled between the island and Port Otsu, some anchoring near the shore of the island.
The small demons peeking from the pine forest all lived in seclusion for many generations. Little did they know that, in a few days, a duel will be hosted on their home island.
Regardless of the duel’s outcome, this unknown Ryu Island would be remembered by numerous Kansai samurai.
Although Tamurakonoe had yet to arrive, he had informed the dojo through a jade stone and the news somehow spread. Tamurakonoe was the son of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, the master of Western swordplay, and he was known as the fastest sword among experts of the same realm. He was regarded as a role model of the younger generation and was admired by many noble ladies in the Western land. Such a man was going to fight a genius samurai from the East. The news exploded throughout Yamashiro Province, the Land of Yamato, and was gradually spreading to neighboring countries.
At this time, only ten days had passed since Tamurakonoe and Lily agreed on the battle.
Tamurakonoe was a man who knew how to use events to gain fame. He may not be the strongest among the younger generation of annihilation dojos, but his reputation was so great that he was considered as a model for the new generation of dojo samurai.
This time, he got rid of the bird demon’s chase and even disregarded finding Ui, instead prioritizing the delivery of the news to the dojo.
In water, the situation was volatile and unfavorable, but on land, he had full assurance in winning against Lily!
If he defeats Kagami Lily, who is known as the number one genius in the East, not only would he be able to take the credit for killing the Mirror Girl, he would also become famous in both Kansai and Kanto! How could Tamurakonoe allow such an opportunity to slip him by? Of course, he was very smart and didn’t reveal much. He only released the news to some people in the dojo, and the rest happened naturally.
For a time, this became a major event that was widely spread among the samurai of Western land.
Currently, a group of samurai, practitioners, and their entourage, who were dressed in gorgeous, simple, and relatively strange clothes, disembarked from their vessels one after another.
During this period, some onmyojis dressed in high hats and black or white robes also came to spectate the battle. Samurai and omnyoji were distinguishable at a glance. Although some onmyojis were fitted with swords, most of them were tall and elegant with fair skin. Their aloof natures, postures, and mannerisms were telltale signs of their vocation.
Samurai, on the other hand, were mostly rugged, battle-hardened warriors with dark and sturdy figures. However, they were a bit less candid and more sinister than the Kanto samurai.
On the island, groups of people set up tents and camps under the oddly-shaped pine trees while waiting for the duel to begin.
Some people even went as far as cutting wood to set up a temporary high platform for eminent figures to spectate the battle.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Please visit Re:Library to show the translators your appreciation and stop supporting the content thief!)
The cumulative noise from all the arriving people scared the small demons into hiding. These demons were fairly weak, so even when they were discovered snooping around, the samurai didn’t mind them too much.
Although this wasn’t a fight between peak experts of the East and West, the battle was seen as a confrontation between the younger generation of the respective regions, thus attracting a lot of attention and interest.
A few samurai garbed in straw raincoats stood in a corner of the island. Their accents revealed their identities as southern samurai as they spoke and gestured at the festive camps.
“Do you guys know the opponent that Tamurakonoe will fight against?”
“I heard that it’s the number one genius from Eastern land?”
“A genius from the East? Not many Eastern warriors come all the way to the West, but each one is tough and brave. They are brutal and cruel people who aren’t afraid of death!”
“I wonder who this genius is? What does he look like?”
“The genius of Eastern Land must be a champion— he should be a rough and fierce guy with a big black beard!”
“Yes, yes, Eastern warriors are rough! It’s said that three Western warriors are not the match of a single Eastern warrior of the same level. It is not a matter of strength; those guys just refuse to give up easily!”
“I heard that Eastern samurai have the blood of the demon god within them! They are extremely bloodthirsty!”
“Hey, I think you’re going a bit too far. Although the men of Eastern land are tough and resolute, they are still human like us!”
“Let’s make a bet on whether the beard of the Eastern genius is more than a foot long!”
“How can we bet on that? Your chance of winning is too big, right?”
Among the crowd of samurai lounging about, a group of samurai wearing red and white dojo uniforms stood out. They were one of the focal points of the upcoming duel— members from Tamurakonoe’s Maro dojo.
Although Tamuramaro himself didn’t come, his dojo was one of the more famous ones in the Sinless Domain. Most people tried to keep their distance and didn’t dare to disturb them.
“There has been some news. The express ship we sent to approach Master Tamurakonoe will arrive tomorrow!” One of the Maro dojo samurai with a crow on his arm informed the group.
“Excellent! After this battle, Tamurakonoe will definitely be able to overpower those few people and become the number one young samurai in our Sinless Domain’s annihilation dojo!” A tall, gray-haired samurai with eagle-like eyes affirmed.
This person was the number two figure among the ranks of the Maro dojo. He was also the uncle of Tamurakonoe, Sakanoue no Tamuramura.
At this moment, another large ship lumbered across the lake not far away. The ship was towering and majestic, with thick and mottled walls. Its sturdy outer frame was even marred with some menacingly huge claw marks.
“Look, what a big ship!
“Ah, this isn’t a ship from Lake Biwa. That must be an assault warship coming from the sea!”
A few southern samurai also exclaimed.
The big ship was moored not far away from the island and was unable to dock. Instead, several small boats were lowered, carrying a group of august samurai dressed in blue and white robes to shore.
Each samurai in the group wore grim expressions.
Sakanoue no Tamuramura wrinkled his grey eyebrows, “Unexpectedly, even they have come?”
…
…
At present, on the turquoise waters of Lake Biwa, Lily, dressed in a white and red kimono, stood on the bow of the canoe as she sailed westward. Since Lily was unfamiliar with the lake, she didn’t take the usual route. She only focused on adjusting her direction towards the west, inadvertently avoiding any potential obstacles along the way.
From the perspective of those who planned ambushes for Lily, this woman seemed to ‘disappear’ from Lake Biwa.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(If you are reading this from other sites, that means this content is stolen. Please support us by visiting our site.)
Water splashed behind the canoe as a few sakura blossoms danced at the stern. Lily used a small extension of her domain to propel the canoe forward so she didn’t have to paddle all the time. Although the speed was slower compared to full-blown paddling, she didn’t have to exert herself too much.
Lily wasn’t in a hurry anyway. Although the promised date was fifteen days later, it wasn’t easy to cross such a long distance, and the journey itself was dangerous. As long as it wasn’t deliberate, a few day’s worths of tardiness shouldn’t be a severe breach of contract.
This was a very common occurrence among battles between vagrants. After all, this era was dangerous and infested with demons so it wasn’t possible for people to be punctual all the time.
The sky soon darkened. It seemed that Lily would spend yet another lonely night on the lake.
Though she was unable to determine her position, Lily’s female intuition hinted that she was getting closer to Kansai.
The blowing wind stirred small waves on the surface of the water and caressed Lily’s long hair, invoking certain emotions in her heart. She developed to the point where she could travel to the Heian Dynasty by herself. From the time when she encountered the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons in Kamakura, to the point where she met Saionji Kotoka and Sakiko early on, her destiny was always aligned with Heian-kyō. Although she considered the East as her home, there wasn’t a way to awaken her senior sister’s soul there. Lily couldn’t help but think that the mission of the mirror girls had some sort of connection to the sleeping soul of her senior sister; this was her only clue.
“Kansai, that incredible place that I once distantly imagined— an incomparably dangerous place that encompasses thousands of kilometers of desolate land… I’m really about to reach Kansai!”
“Senior Sister, Lily found a way to wake you up! I’m finally one step closer to reviving you, aren’t I?”
At this time, rolling thunderclouds eclipsed the sky and the waves grew increasingly turbulent, surging as if to reach the clouds. From time to time, the gloomy clouds roiled with flashes of lightning and growling thunder.
Amidst the raging waters and billowing winds, Lily’s small boat meandered around the crashing waves and pushed onward.
Lily displayed excellent control as she used her two legs to steer the canoe. She focused on maintaining proper angle and balance in order to surf the waves.
In the distance, a lone samurai on horseback dashed across the lake while accompanied by thunder and lightning.
“Huh?” Lily blinked her eyes. Was it because she was too tired? She concentrated her spiritual vision and looked again…
She wasn’t hallucinating. There was indeed a figure of a samurai not too far away. The samurai sported an exaggerated helmet and rode a horse across the undulating lake as if it was flat ground.
A samurai riding a horse on the lake? What is this?!
Lily was dumbfounded, but the samurai on horseback seemed so real even after using her spiritual vision.
Moreover, the distance wasn’t very far so she obviously didn’t mistake what she saw. When she used her spiritual vision to study more closely, she realized that the samurai’s speed was amazingly fast!
Suddenly, Lily felt the gaze of the distant samurai as if the other party was looking back at her.
For some reason, she felt a chill run up her spine as she shivered involuntarily.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Say no to content thief!)
Rumble—! The sound of roaring thunder echoed.
The samurai galloped her horse across the lake and circled in her direction without losing any speed.
The silhouette of the approaching samurai grew bigger and bigger, allowing Lily to see her figure clearly. The closer she got, the more Lily admired the fast speed of the samurai.
Boom! Water splashed high into the air.
Almost instantly, the horse rushed to the front of Lily. Its four legs plowed through the water and it huffed out a soul-stirring neigh.1
Tomoe Gozen’s long hair drifted in the wind as she glared eastward with bitter hatred and sadness. A hint of powerlessness shadowed her face, but she soon turned to Lily, “Girl, you going to Heian-kyō, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Alas, how many heroes and talented warriors have made their graves in Heian-kyō…”
“Eh? But isn’t Heian-kyō the capital of the whole world? Why is it so dangerous?”
“Sometimes, the real danger doesn’t lie in the formidable enemies in front of you.” Tomoe Gozen looked at Lily as if seeing her younger self. Admittedly, Lily was taller and more attractive than her past self, but beauty wouldn’t provide much protection in a place like Heian-kyō— perhaps it would even deepen the danger.
“Lily will remember Madam’s teachings… By the way, there is one more thing Lily would like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I have to go to Ryu Island before heading to Heian-kyō. I wonder if Madam can point Lily in the right direction?”
“Ryu Island? It seems to be an uninhabited island. If I remember correctly, it should be in that direction, about an hour away.” Tomoe Gozen pointed to the vast expanse of the lake behind her.
“Thank you for your advice, Madam.” Lily bowed respectfully.
“I’m leaving; do take care of yourself. Remember, if you and Minamoto no Yoritomo stand opposite each other one day, I will help you!”
Tomoe Gozen tugged the reins, causing the eerie warhorse to stand upright on its hind legs and sputter a resounding neigh. As it trod the lake, powerful spiritual energy effused from its hooves and seemed to compress the water surface. A vacuum-like zone was formed and vigorous waves thrashed about.
Splash!
Lily gazed at the beautiful, departing back of Tomoe Gozen as her steed galloped into the distance. Her ample buttocks were almost bare, and both sides of her thighs were covered by a dark green skirt armor inlaid with precious gems1.
The horse’s speed was many folds faster than Lord Kato’s ship at full power, leaving behind a gust of wind that wildly blew Lily’s hair and skirt.
“Lady Tomoe…” Lily looked at the trail of roiling waves on the lake, her heart filled with emotion.
Such a beautiful and powerful woman could only wander the desolate lake bordering the east and west while tormented by hatred.
That Tomoe Gozen is leagues stronger than myself, and I can’t grasp her exact realm at all. When I arrive at Heian-kyō, I have to be careful.
Half a day passed, but Lily didn’t encounter any form of land in the direction specified by Tomoe Gozen, only endless water.
She wasn’t worried, though. There was no need for Tomoe Gozen to deceive her for such a trivial thing.
“Hmm, perhaps the one-hour journey mentioned by Tomoe Gozen only applies when traveling at her spirit horse’s speed. In my case…it will take some time before I reach the island.”
Lily silently remembered the direction Tomoe Gozen pointed out, hoping not to get lost along the way.
She couldn’t help thinking of her Sister Uesugi at this time as the two women left similar impressions on her. They were both valiant female samurai who rode staunch mounts and possessed admirable strength.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Please visit Re:Library to show the translators your appreciation and stop supporting the content thief!)
Her smile was soon replaced by worry, Sister Uesugi, Sister Shimizu, where are you all now? Although Lily has to travel to Heian-kyō alone, I will definitely find you…
…
…
A fast ship with red decorations headed for Ryu Island.
At this time, a considerable number of samurai and various other spectators had gathered on the island.
“Look, that’s the ship of the Maro Dojo!”
The people waiting on the island couldn’t help staring at the impressive ship.
The ship slowly lurched onto the shore, and two samurai in red and white coats hopped onto the deck and laid a wooden plank.
Not long after, a tall and elegant young man with a long tachi strapped to his back sauntered out of the cabin.
Behind him, a petite girl in a flowery dress2 and a tall masked man followed.
“They’re coming!” Someone in the crowd would yell from time to time.
“The one walking in front— the tallest man carrying the long sword is Sakanoue no Tamuramura, the only son of Master Tamuramaro!”
“They call him Swallow Counter3. It is said that he used his tachi, that is as long as a clothesline, to cut the ghost swallow mid-flight!”
“The ghost swallow is extremely fast, like a phantom. When it flies, one can barely catch a glimpse of it. It goes around pecking at the eyes of children, and even local samurai are unable to rid it. By the time it was discovered, the ghost swallow had already attacked numerous children and flew away; there was no way to stop it at all. It’s a very hated demon in the suburbs of Heian-kyō!”
“However, even with the ghost swallow’s incredible speed, that man was actually able to cut it with such a long sword. Ah, he is truly worthy of being the sword master’s only son!”
“Lord Tamurakonoe is young and talented. He’s also pretty famous among the younger generation of the annihilation dojo!”
Tamurakonoe became the focus of everyone’s attention as he disembarked from the ship.
Listening to the feverous discussion of the crowd and basking in their gazes, he couldn’t help feeling a little proud.
“Hmph, this is the effect I want. In this battle, not only will I kill the Mirror Girl, but I will also let those in the annihilation dojo know my, Tamurakonoe’s, strength! If they think that I am a person who hides under my father’s halo, they’re sorely mistaken!” Tamurakonoe said in his heart.
At this moment, far from Tamurakonoe’s group, there were some tall, uniformly dressed samurai that exuded extraordinary auras.
These samurai seemed to be divided into two groups, one with long blue and white clothes and the other with deep navy blue robes, which looked extremely fierce.
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(If you are reading this from other sites, that means this content is stolen. Please support us by visiting our site.)
The head of the first group was a teenager with short, pearly hair. This teenager wasn’t tall, about 1.6 meters in height. His neatly combed hair wrapped around his cheeks like a girl, and at the back of his head, his small ponytail was clipped by a golden hairpin. The young man’s big amber eyes were lined with clear eyebrows, reminiscent of a girl’s piquant charm. Two cyan bands were tied to his waist, and under his long crossed sleeves, he hid an exquisite short sword interlaced with golden patterns. He silently watched Tamurakonoe from a distance.
Next to the young man was a very tall, dark-skinned man with a bald head who stood like a door panel. He was wearing the same uniform as the teenager, but they were worlds apart. His ugly, masculine face and crude bearing sharply contrasted the teenager’s delicate appearance.
The dark-skinned man leaned forward and whispered in the boy’s ears, “Young Master, it looks like Tamurakonoe wants to hog all the limelight this time. What Eastern land genius? He’s probably just a boorish and reckless mountain man. Where’s the honor in fighting such an opponent?!”
“Tenkaiji, don’t think that the people of Eastern land are all savages. You must know that true legendary samurai like Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Kiso Yoshinaka are also from the east. There are a lot of people here so you should pay attention to your words.” The young man’s voice was crisp— a bit feminine, but his aura brimmed with arrogance.
“Young Master is right, but Minamoto no Yoshitsune is a figure immortalized by our samurai as the god of war! He was born in Heian-kyō and learned martial arts in a temple on the outskirts of the capital. It is said that Minamoto no Yoshitsune found a big Hachiman statue in the deep mountains which was extremely magical. After Yoshitsune’s daily comprehension, he achieved an extraordinary realm of strength! How can we compare the rough Kanto people to those born and raised in Kansai?” Tenkaiji replied.
“Tenkaiji, Kanto samurai may be wild, but they are brave and unyielding. They say that there is a force of Mikawa samurai that is extremely brave, but unfortunately, their secret techniques are very backward and their strength lags too far behind Kansai samurai. Hey, even if it’s the number one genius of the Kanto region, I’m afraid that this battle will end tragically. No matter how talented this genius is, he is fated to be defeated without any good secret methods or sword techniques. What a pity… Tenkaiji, I have little interest in watching this battle; let’s go back.”
“Ah, Young Master, let’s just take a quick look! Even if you already know the outcome of the duel, you might learn something from watching Tamurakonoe’s swordsmanship. After all, the Heian-kyō festival is about to begin.” Tenkaiji hurriedly discouraged.
Among the group of samurai in navy blue robes, there was a tall man4 with small eyes and brown hair which was tucked into a bun at the back of his head. He had a hawk nose, pale skin, and gave people a very cold and dangerous feeling. This man had a long and sturdy dark gold tachi on his waist. The arch of the sword seemed much smaller than average swords, almost looking like a straight blade.
“Master Makoto, Tamurakonoe looks really proud today.” A big-breasted woman beside the tall man commented. She had a purplish-red slanted ponytail and her lapel was unusually wide open, revealing her deep cleavage.
“Tamurakonoe came to this place before the Heian-kyō festival, apparently as a demonstration of our Sinless Domain’s skill and power. I would like to see the current level of the top geniuses of Eastern land, with whom we have had little contact for many years.” The sinister-looking Makoto Oniwa spoke hoarsely.
When Tamurakonoe walked ashore, it roused the screams of many noble women and young ladies hailing from rich backgrounds who came from Heian-kyō to watch the battle.
Tamurakonoe kept walking as if he didn’t care and his long robes cooly fluttered past, causing the bodies of many women to turn soft.
However, he was secretly pleased by the showers of admiration.
“Hmph, a bunch of f̲u̲c̲k̲i̲n̲g b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲e̲s̲!” Ui who walked beside Tamurakonoe was the target of many unprovoked envious eyes. She couldn’t help but whisper, “You vile fanatics are far worse than that big-breasted woman. You dare to be jealous of me? Soon, you’ll feel what true despair is and understand what it means to be sexy but not lewd; gorgeous but not vulgar.”
Tamurakonoe didn’t say much and walked directly into the spacious tent occupied by the Maro Dojo which was enclosed high up on the island.
“Tamurakonoe, you’re here!” His grey-haired uncle was sitting in the formation with a resolute countenance.
“Uncle!” Tamurakonoe respectfully greeted back. He then turned to the other people around him, “How long until the day of the duel?”
“Less than two days, Lord.”
(This chapter is provided to you by Re:Library)
(Say no to content thief!)
Tamuramura asked with a bit of doubt, “Tamurakonoe, that Eastern samurai will definitely come, right?”
“Eastern samurai value faith and honor very much; she will definitely come on time! However, whether she comes or not, the result will be the same, Uncle.” Tamurakonoe smirked coldly.
“Hahahaha, well said! How can those rabid eastern barbarians compare with the swordplay of our Maro Dojo? Your father simply regarded this competition as a guaranteed victory with no suspense and didn’t even bother to come. The Heian-kyō festival in early spring will be the stage for you to really show off your skills!”
“Well, that’s natural.” Tamurakonoe nodded, a hint of arrogance blooming between his brows.
“Tamurakonoe, I’m glad you’re so confident. Brother should be relieved, eh?” Tamuramura seemed to realize something. He paused and backtracked, “Wait, did you just say ‘she’?”
