Volume 5
Prologue
Guided by Destiny,
to the Land of Six Strides
Translator : PolterGlast
—Inland sea, Hakudō Province territorial waters.
—Slap, slap.
The sound of waves
gently crashing against the bow of the ship.
Kaneyoshi Sukekata,
the captain of the ship, raised one eyebrow at the calm of the sea breeze.
Beyond his field of
vision. He squinted his pale eyes at the black ridge that divided the vast blue
sea.
"It's a bit
close.
—Kamaji! Drop anchor and furl the sails!"
"The tidal
boundary is still far away, uncle."
"Aren't the
seagulls gathering?
It's so rough down
there, even the fish are getting restless."
Scolding his nephew,
who was the next captain, Kaneyoshi got up with his recently aching back.
Accompanied by the
well-built Kamaji, he went down to the stern.
"...But Hakudō
Province's port is nearby. If we're caught, it'll be a problem."
"Just ignore the
nobles.
They're all spineless
people who are tied to the land. —If necessary, we could just shut them up with
a pile of gold."
Kaneyoshi laughed
boldly at Kamaji's uneasy attitude, who was still young and inexperienced.
The sea visible was
vast and blue. Kaneyoshi held his hand out to the brazier set up at the stern,
as snow flickered from a few clouds.
"By the way.
—How was the state council of Kokuten Province going?
"...It's not
good.
Half a year ago, they
were on a roll, but when I contacted them recently, they were like a pear
thrown at a rock."
"Hmph. They
sucked the sweet juice and attracted the attention of the Gioin family, huh?
Well, it's a pity
about the Sangamisaki territory, but we'll abandon the north."
"Uncle, if we
withdraw our hands from the northern lands here, the gold we contributed to
Kokuten Province will be wasted."
—Indeed.
Nodding at Kamaji's
point, Kaneyoshi bit the mouthpiece of his smoking pipe.
Although trading ships
that sailed around the inland sea were valuable in Takamagahara, the ports of
call were limited, so there were only a few of them.
The construction of a
port of call to maintain the efficient operation of the ships was a long-cherished
dream of Kaneyoshi Sukekata.
If the construction
could be done in the Sangamisaki territory in the northern part of Kokuten
Province, a trading route that efficiently circulated around Takamagahara could
have been established.
"I had high
hopes, but Kokuten Province has recovered remarkably after completely
destroying the Ugetsu family.
Rather, it would be
easier to infiltrate Hakudō Province, which is fighting over the succession of
the Eight Families.
When you go ashore,
just pick out two or three of the leading figures in the Eight Families."
"Are you trying
to curry favor?"
"With everyone,
you know. It doesn't matter who wins or loses.
Once they get a taste
of the sweet juice we, the Kanekichi trading company, offer, they will chatter
arrogantly and throw away their rights."
In that sense, the
state council of Kokuten Province.
—Someone like Ijitsu did a good job of dancing.
The red charcoal
flickering in the brazier was unreliable. But its steady heat made Kaneyoshi's
old body sway with pleasure.
As a result of acting
as an intermediary with Yukoku (Uxsanst), the state council that had been
formed was just an ordinary council that only demanded money.
Although they often
boasted of being auditors (decorative positions), in the end, they didn't even
understand that the construction and operation of the port were all done by
Kaneyoshi Sukekata.
"It's about time.
Kamaji, is there any ship in sight?"
"No. It's
calm."
"Hmm. ...Well, if
they're crossing the tide, there might be some error.
—All hands, listen! We're going to stay here for a
while, so take turns resting!"
Anticipating a
temporary stop, Kaneyoshi shouted to the deck.
Perhaps out of a sense
of liberation, a chorus of voices responded. Smiling wryly at their bluntness,
Kaneyoshi sat down.
"Kamaji, stay
here and be on guard. If you see any ships, immediately alert the crew."
"Understood."
Leaving Kamaji behind,
Kaneyoshi put on a thick coat.
He brought the pipe
closer to the red charcoal and took a short puff after restoring the heat.
Kaneyoshi Sukekata was
in his late sixties this year.
All he thought about
was the security of the Kaneyoshi family for the next hundred years.
"I hate to admit
the glory of the Kuga family, but is it impossible to get involved in their
railway business?"
"The nobility has
monopolized the railway business.
—Perhaps the shipping business has a future."
"There's nothing
we can do. ...We can't let the inland market be taken away from us.
Even if we can
maneuver through trade with Shinkoku (Tsonma) and Yukoku (Uxsanst), our wealth
will rot if we can't circulate it inland."
Kaneyoshi slammed his
pipe into the brazier, irritated by Kamaji's soothing voice.
The ash of the tobacco
danced on top of the smoldering fire, scattering sparks.
"While the nobles
are paying attention to the ranking of the Eight Families, we will solidify our
connections with other countries.
This deal is just the
beginning, so be careful."
"Today's deal was
with Tsonma.
—Uncle, you're playing too broad a game. You might soon
attract the attention of the nobles."
Shipping companies
that couldn't venture into the open ocean beyond the tide were exempted from
many customs inspections.
That meant that as
long as they loaded cargo onto their ships, they could easily bring it into
Takamagahara.
—Sure, the ships couldn't go out into the open ocean.
But it didn't matter if it wasn't Kaneyoshi and his crew who crossed the tidal
flow.
The main source of
income for Kaneyoshi Sukekata, a shipping merchant, was the smuggling of goods
with Shinkoku (Tsonma) and Yukoku (Uxsanst), where there were no customs
duties.
"It doesn't
matter. I've laid all the groundwork. Bribing the nobles, and establishing
trade routes. —And Kamaji, with you, the Kaneyoshi family will control the
ocean of Takamagahara."
Kamaji, who was
standing guard nearby, nodded in response, and the hilt of his dagger swayed at
his waist.
The rule of
Takamagahara was controlled by the nobility.
But once you went out
into the open ocean, there was only endless expanse where the nobility's rule
didn't reach.
Neither the Three
Imperial Families nor the Kuga family, the gateway to Takamagahara.
It was the Kaneyoshi
family, founded by a commoner, that would become its king.
"—Hmph. They say
that it's better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion, but the
vulgarity of commoners sure is hard to cure."
"What did you
say!"
Kaneyoshi turned
around angrily at the mockery thrown at his aging back.
Their positions were
at the very back of the ship. In the line of sight where there should be no
one, a figure was standing there.
It was a handsome boy
with long hair that fluttered in the sea breeze, wearing a black robe over a
red garment, something he had never seen in Takamagahara.
Kamaji stepped forward
to protect Kaneyoshi Sukekata.
"—Who the hell
are you?"
"Who am I? You
should be greeting me first.
I am a forerunner of
the Ganjo Pan. Are you the head of this ship, Kaneyoshi—old man?"
Ignoring Kamaji's
questioning, the boy's thin lips twisted in provocation.
None of those present
understood the last words he uttered.
However, as Kamaji was
about to take a step forward due to the disdain that oozed out without being
concealed,
—Kaneyoshi raised his right hand and stopped him.
"Wait.
—You said you were a forerunner of the Ganjo Pan, do
you have any proof?"
"In the tide, on
the path of the wandering spirit."
"What?"
"Have you
forgotten because you're old? It's a linked poem, recite it back."
The fluently recited
verse was indeed proof of the secret agreement he had made with Ganjo Pan.
Betrayed by his
certainty that it would not be recited, Kaneyoshi returned a completely
dumbfounded expression.
Ignoring the panicked
expressions of those around him at the boy's mockery, Kaneyoshi cleared his
throat.
"...Hiding in the
shadows, into the darkness of the tidal wave."
"Very well. We've
confirmed each other, so I'll call for the main force in the rear"
"Before that,
there's something I want to ask."
Kaneyoshi carefully
chose his words, his jaw set, addressing the boy. If his assessment of the
boy's identity was correct, one wrong word could cost him his life.
"There's not a
single shadow of a ship around. —How did you get on the ship?"
"I walked, of
course."
The boy's unwavering
composure confirmed Kaneyoshi's worst fears.
"Walking on waves
as if on land. I remember hearing about martial arts like that.
—Was it called Tanran Wenru?"
"I'm surprised,
you're more knowledgeable than I thought."
"I haven't lived
this long for nothing.
Judging by your
martial arts and clothing, you must be a martial artist from Fangyu Province.
—When were you allowed to join the Ganjo Pan?"
Kaneyoshi asked vague
questions, stepping forward before Kamaji. The boy's attention focused on the
old man's aura, which was different from his appearance.
—Kaneyoshi Sukekata's death wasn't that important.
As long as his family
(his ambition) and organization (his foundation) were clearly protected. The
danger of an aging lump of flesh being exchanged for a monster dwelling in
martial arts could be considered a good deal.
"About a month
ago. —Is that so important?"
"Yes, it is.
—Chaoruoyecheng, Shuiyingyouyou,"
"…………What?"
The boy looked taken
aback by the old man's hardly fluent words.
He must have only
heard the linked poems of Takamagahara and not those of Shinkoku (Tsonma).
With no words to
reply, the boy tried to open his mouth in vain,
—and Kamaji, who had stepped forward sharply, grappled
with him.
"I've been dealing
with that guy named Liang for a while.
He's a die-hard
martial arts hater. —At least, he'll never admit that he's on our side."
"Tch"
"—Gotcha!"
The boy's exhaled
breath crossed with Kamaji's.
As the boy tried to
regain his distance, Kamaji swiftly drew his spirit weapon, a dagger, from his
waist.
Jinroin-style Spirit
Technique, Shoden, ―Enretsu.
Kamaji, Kaneyoshi's
trump card and a protector not registered with the Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs, unleashed a flying slash with overwhelming range.
The violent flying
slash struck the boy. With a roar, steam obscured the vision.
"Did you see
that?"
"You fool. —If
you had even managed to inflict a single wound on him, it would have been a
miracle.
While I'm being
killed, you should escape as quickly as possible."
"—You've done it
now. I apologize for underestimating you, even thinking that your 'losing
control' was merely an act of immaturity."
Kaneyoshi replied
bitterly to Kamaji, who was full of expectation. As if to affirm his murmur, a gust
of wind blew away the steam.
A boy who jumped out
from the other side was about to throw a talisman he was holding, but—
"—Fengjun!"
A clear and cool voice
stopped the commotion.
The boy named Fengjun,
who was about to step in, took a step back and bowed.
"Good grief. I
asked you to go ahead, but you didn't come back for so long."
"But Senior
Sister Lingying, such a small fry..."
Fengjun protested, but
a small girl's back overtook him.
A fragile smile
reflected in the immature beauty, which didn't seem to belong to the mortal
world, just like the boy.
Kaneyoshi's hostility
immediately dissipated upon hearing the boy's tone, which was now appropriate
for his age.
"We were the ones
who were rude by lying first.
—I apologize for the rudeness of my junior brother. I
believe you are Mr. Kaneyoshi?"
"...Yes. So, how
is the Ganjo Pan?
Honestly, I didn't
think Liang would submit to the Wǔlín (martial world)."
Lingying's cherry-red
lips smiled pleasantly at Kaneyoshi's inquiring murmur.
Even if their actions
were illegal, the firmness of the trust they had formed across the tides was
worthy of respect.
"It was
unfortunate that we met under these circumstances, but Mr. Liang is also in
good health.
He sent a message to you
after Fengjun went ahead."
—A solitary boat adrift silently in the sea of clouds.
Hearing the
unexpectedly elegant poem, Kaneyoshi finally relaxed.
The song, which was
said to sing of the future of the Ganjo Pan and the Kaneyoshi shipping company,
was undoubtedly from Liang Dinghai, the leader of the Ganjo Pan.
Recognizing his
friend's shadow in the poem, the old man sighed and sat down.
"If you know the
linked verse, then there’s no reason to refuse.
―What business do martial artists from the Tsonma have
with us, who are merely merchants?"
"Of course, it’s
business. I would like you to transport some cargo to Takamagahara."
Hm. Kaneyoshi stroked
his chin thoughtfully at Lingying's words. The request itself wasn’t so
unusual. However, without knowing what the cargo was, Kaneyoshi couldn’t simply
accept it.
"Transporting a
cargo is fine. It will cost a bit, and I can transport it anywhere in
Takamagahara.
—But I’ll have to inspect the contents. I’ve never
accepted anything that could harm my homeland."
"Yes, of course.
—Once you let us pass the port, we’ll just walk, so
please don’t mind us."
"What?"
Clasping her hand on
her still-developing chest, the girl in a qipao returned a faint smile. Her
indigo-black hair swayed as she bowed gracefully.
"The cargo I’m
asking Mr. Kaneyoshi to transport is Fengjun, who is my bodyguard, and myself.
I am Lingying, the
heir of the Dai Tian family."
♢
—Half a month later.
Cheers erupted, and
sharp flashes of swords filled the air as the contestants clashed. The boy
tried to create distance with a retreating step, but Akira stepped in just as
much.
"Why?!"
"Seeeii~!"
The attack and defense
were instantaneous. Akira had followed the boy even as he jumped back. From the
opponent's perspective, it was likely he had fallen into the illusion that he
hadn't moved.
A cry of protest
arose, but it was silenced by the announcement of the result a moment later.
"—The winner is, Yotsurugi Akira!!"
Even louder cheers
celebrated Akira's victory. People of all ages and social statuses cheered. The
radio, introduced this year, broadcast the first round of the tournament to
every corner of the distant Takamagahara.
Akira returned his
sword to its scabbard and bowed. As Akira bows his head, the participants for
the next match step up to the stage. In front of Akira was Kuga Ryouta. He had
heard that Nakiri Jin had won without any difficulty.
While chatting with
his friends, Akira took a sip of water from a bamboo tube. He looked up
nostalgically at the sky of the Central Capital, which he hadn't visited in a
while.
—It was the first day of the first month of the 4000th
year of Toki. The Central Capital was buzzing with excitement over the first
Imperial Tournament in three years.
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