Flashback
Don't light the torches yet." Shou Bun Kun said. "It looks like everything is going according to plan for now. But don't let your guard down yet my king."
Then he notices it out of the corner of his eye.
Left wing shields!" Shou Bun Kun commands just before a volume of arrows hits the left side of his forces.
"What is this?" Ouki said.
"General Ouki." Shou Bun Kun thinks.
"Where are you off to Shou Bun Kun? The party inside the castle has just started." Ouki said.
Flashback end
Jie Shi was staring down from a balcony when the staff officer and advisor Shi Shi arrived.
"And we have received word from the village. The king has managed to survive and slip through our defenses." Shi Shi said.
"Dammit he's resourceful. Well however, The real problem, Shou Bun Kun, is dead. That man was the real threat to me. He easily slipped right through the defensive line I set up and got outside the castle walls." Jie Shi said. "He even prepared a body double of the king. Because of him I nearly ended up losing everything that night."
"He's a man that was well known on the battlefield, we should've been more wary of him. So who on earth got him?" Shi Shi said.
"That man." Jie said pointing to Ouki.
"General Ouki." Shi Shi said shocked.
He knew we were going to mess up things so he had his man waiting outside for an ambush." Jie said.
Does that mean The Mons…, The Great General Ouki is on your side?" Shi Shi asked. " He and the other had absolutely no interest whatsoever in the fights for political power up until now and, so why would he bother now of all times?"
Land." Jie said.
Excuse me?" Shi Shi said.
His condition for taking our side was to gain all of Shou's land." Jie said.
Shou Bun Kun land?" Shi Shi thought.
"If all it takes to get that man on our side is a parcel of land I made a killer deal." Jie Shi said. "Now all I need to do is bring the other to heel, by force if necessary."
"No one knows much of the general, if you put too much faith in him you'll end up in a world of pain." Shi Shi said cautiously. "As for the other man, bring him to you with open arms, one even if they did inherit most of their influence, one still can't not just be called Lord of the Warring States for no reason. He would not take kindly to you trying to force him to submit with all the influence he has and would probably just leave and take all his opportunities with him. And if you were trying to use power to stop him from leaving he just wait until we were dealing with Lu Buwei and there's no way we can handle both."
"A world of pain hpmh, we'll ignore the other one for now, but do you truly think you're in a position to worry about others?" Jie Shi said.
"Leave the king to me, I have an assassin with a good nose after him." Shi Shi said.
"I've heard one of the Vicious Scarlet assassins we sent after him was killed and the other disappeared mostly dead as well. And I hope you'll do a better job this time." Jie Shi said.
There's nothing to worry about, the one after him is Muta." Shi Shi said.
"You mean that savage Hunter? I almost feel sorry for the king." Jie Shi said.
with muta
A tiger was stalking Muta, and as he passed by the tiger decided to jump out of the bush and kill him. But Moute just shot something through his blow dart and the tiger immediately spit blood and couldn't attack anymore. Muta didn't even bother killing the tiger; he just continued on his way.
With the group
Shin woke up and saw the sky was clear and it was daytime. When he looked around him he saw Sei resting against the tree.
"Moron." Ten said.
"What!?" Shin said.
"And we're on this green earth would you find a hood rat that makes a king give them a quick piggyback. Are you a noble or something important for him to carry you all the way out here." Ten said.
Ten there are things, best left in the time being, piggyback." Shin said, confused.
He avoided the question completely, and turned it to a different topic. He's a high noble and the girls getting closer to revealing just who he is. She only needs to ask the right question. How do you know everything that you know?" Sei thought.
"After you lost consciousness the king carried you on his back all the way here! It's been a night and half a day. Wait a second you didn't answer. My first question." Ten said.
"What are you serious!?" Shin said, shocked.
"Let's go." Sei said getting up and heading out, thinking. "He's completely ignoring it now. He isn't going to give up anything this way."
"You should rest a little more, you just sat down." Ten said.
"Hey!" Shin said, bowing a little. "It's not like I asked you to carry me here, but thanks to that I'm fully recovered. Now I'm going to return the favor, all you need to do is call and we'll be there before you know it."
A while later the four were running through a stream area crossing.
"How much further do we have to go?" Shin asked, jumping over the brook.
"Just a little farther." Sei said.
"Sei what is the rendezvous point like?" Ten asked.
"There isn't anyone who knows about it because it was a summer getaway made by Qin's king 400 years ago." Sei said.
"He made this summer getaway this deep in the mountains, what a benevolent king." Ten said.
"It's not like I'm getting tired or anything, but when in the hell will we actually get there? Didn't you say it was close? Well lets just say... I…" Shin said but stop.
Sei just kept running, looking around.
He's not comfortable now versus ealier it could be the time he spent unconscious not knowing where we were heading to, but he didn't seem to like the direction we were heading in when I announced it on the matter. This must be unknown territory to him at least the way we're traveling. So he's comfortable in the region we just came from Aspen if I remember the studies correct. what am I missing? The Lord is not left the city since his parents died, so why would he be sending out young kids to befriend a commoner? Why wouldn't he just a minute take me off to his home after we got out of the cave if it was closer. What was in the direction of the place he was heading towards before we got put in the tunnels?" Sei thought.
"He's looking for a landmark of some kind he hasn't been out here before so that's all he's going by." Ju Kun said next to Shin.
"It must be a really unique one, if he can't describe it to us so we can all look for it." Shin said.
They continued for a few more minutes until Sei stopped abruptly after noticing something out of the corner of his eye. After Shin yelled at Ten for not stopping in time and the nose of her costume giving him the Thousand Year of Death treatment. Then they noticed Sei at the edge of a cliff that had a cave in it, they went through the cave and they came out at a beautiful getaway inside. It was forest around a clearing which had a pond in the middle of the pond was a rock formation and on the top of it was a villa small but nicely built and taken care of.
We made it!" Ten yelled.
Inside was a nice little Corredor that led to a couple different rooms and one big room in the middle. It had all the things you need to live there for a bit but there was no one there.
"There isn't anyone here." Shin said, while thinking. "I hope Ji So is as good of tracker as he always bragged. I going to call a meeting of everyone and force them to give me the truth they been hiding when I get back. I know I couldn't of mention that I am a high, noble or whatcity I am from, but somethings, not right here, and I intend to get to the bottom of it when I get back.
You're right we just arrived first that's all. Rest in whatever room you feel like." Sei said.
Shin and Ju Kun took two rooms next to each other and Ju Kun came into Shin's room after a minute.
"What do you want me to do while we're here?" Ju Kun asked Shin.
"For now just get some rest and do whatever you need to do to get your wounds healed. If no one's here by mid afternoon you and I are going to head out of the cave and cover up any other things that we couldn't on our way here, to make it harder for any trackers to find us. If no one's here by dark or set up a shift between the four of us so we don't get caught with your pants down. My vassals and military officers should be here within the next couple days so we need to do is keep her hands down and not reveal too much. Just get some rest. I'm pretty sure I can smell Ten cooking because Sei wouldn't be." Shin said and with a nod Ju Kun left and went back to his room.
Shin cleaned himself and then laid down and looked at his sword for a while thinking about thinking about Hyou, before just laying there until the food was ready and Ten called everyone. When he came in he found a crap ton of food laid out on the table ready to be eaten and eat they did.
"Just out of morbid curiosity where did all this food come from." Shin asked after a bit.
"Shou Bun Kun must have had it all prepared before the start of things," Sei said.
"That explains a lot." Shin said think about the furnishings he found in his room.
"That still doesn't explain this place. You said this was the summer house of a king from 400 years ago and it's also his burial ground and that no one even remembers it exists. If that's the case then why is this place in such good shape?" Ten asked.
The king from 400 years ago, Mu Gong, was one of the rare Benevolent Lord's." Sei said.
"He was a man that loved people from the bottom of his heart. Even if that person happened to be a slave from an enemy country, it's said that he would show the same level of respect to him. Oh there is also the story of when his war horse was killed and eaten by some savages that lived in the mountains. Instead of getting mad, he gave them some liquor, liquor that would taste good with horse meat." Sei said, shocking Shin and Ten. " That's just the kind of man he was, he loved his people whether they were his citizens or savages, he loved them all. His actions would bring great blessing to Qin, He opened up the hearts of the mountain dwellers. In China Qin lies furthest west of all the nations. But even further west lies the expensive world of the mountain dwellers. The world and the mountain dwellers was one The other statuses were never to come in contact with. He and the king of the mountain dwellers met face-to-face and shook hands. When fighting was really bad in China, And the death of a village of 10,000 were wiped out, he went to the west to open up the way to villages of hundreds of thousands."
This caused Shin to narrow his eyes a bit, remembering someone talking about what lay beyond the forest and this story was starting to sound familiar.
"But what about now? I've heard nothing of this country having any kind of good relationship with us mountain dwellers!" Ten shouted.
"Like I said he was a rare breed of man. In the end, Mu Gong was the only one who really cared for the mountain dwellers. So when he died the country cut all ties with them and they returned to their own world. This palace was built so he could easily talk with the mountain dwellers, but after he died people just forgot about it. Only royalty knows of this place for its historical value." Sei said.
"Then who keeps cleaning this place." Ten said.
"The mountain dwellers." Shin said, looking at Sei.
"Even after 400 long years they haven't forgotten about Mu Gong. They consider this holy land and come here to make sure the place stays in good condition. Without anyone knowing." Sei said, confirming.
The next day after Shin and Ju Kun had returned from covering up more signs of them heading in this direction the two were sparring. They had just finished when Shin noticed Ten just staring into the sky.
"Why are you just standing out here? You know you could get hit accidentally if you aren't watching your surroundings?" Shin asked.
"I was just moved by yesterday's story. for 400 years the mountain dwellers have kept this place in such good shape." Ten said.
"Yeah I was moved to, Mu Gong was certainly a one in a generation type of guy, it just proves that one can leave their mark in history in their name be praised without violence. Being the best general, loving your people to where you would move heaven and earth for them, are their all qualities of people who are heard of till the end of time. But I guess you're happy aren't you? Because if you stay here you'll eventually meet your people." Shin said looking around and then back down at Ten.
I guess so." Ten said.
"Man is that old man taking forever to get here. Maybe he's already dead." Shin said breaking any peace mood that had been reached before going back to training.
The next morning
Shin and Sei were asleep when.
"My lord." Ju Kun entering Shin's room.
Outside Ten was picking fruit off of one of the bushes talking to herself about her people. Then thinking about the money should be getting from helping out the king, complained about how the old man hadn't arrived yet. And questioning if she was still in it for the money or not, all while not recognizing someone walking up behind her.
Inside Shin's room as soon as he woke up he felt an eerie feeling coming from outside and Ju Kun immediately explained. He immediately drew his sword went outside and saw Ten picking fruit completely unaware of the hunter behind her just as he was about to use his poison on her. Shin threw the sheath of his sword at the guy, forcing him to jump back and Ten to come back to reality. It also has the side effect of making Shin the sole focus of Muta's attention.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Shin asked coldly.
Somewhere in the forest.
I found it," a soldier yelled before slipping and sliding down the hill on his back. " I can't believe that Savage moves so quickly. Who is he?"
I heard he's a warrior from a country that's farther west than Chu. When we attacked them, Muta and his men were scouting out the land they fought alongside us at the time. Those who saw him fight or awestruck so the commanders brought him back to Qin." A soldier with a beard said.
Is he really that good of a fighter?" The first soldier asked.
Don't know never seen him fight myself." The bearded an said.
"Captain we found his mark, but.." another soldier said while looking down.
Muta's Mark was on a twig at the bottom of the ravine and on one side of a brook crossing.
"I heard that his fighting style isn't that of a human, but we need to go around." The Captain said.
The villa
Shin and Muta stood opposite of each other staring each other down while Ju Kun was standing on the lower level of the rock formation watching the two. Each looking about the other's weaknesses.
"Well I know you didn't kill the first assassin back in the village. I wouldn't have been surprised if you had killed the second one except for his standing right over there. You're leaking your deadly aura which means that you have some control over it and have fighting experience outside of that man over there." Muta said.
This guy is an assassin too!?" Ten asked/yelled.
"Hey I thought I told you yesterday to watch your surroundings and what are you going to do if I do have a bit more battle experience than you expected." Shin said coldly.
I'll make you suffer as I kill you. You'd better be prepared for it." Muta said,
What's with this guy, he has weird clothes on, and is talking big, but has only shown a pension for attacking at a distance. He's small and is unarmed outside of a blow pipe he had earlier, unlike Ju Kun I don't feel any bit a fear towards him. Let's poke him a bit and see what he does." Shin thought, before saying. "Oh you're probably mad that I was able to escape from both of your friends and even bring one of them to my side, you know you can't beat me."
"You guys from his country are all stupid. And among them you seem to be the stupidest. For starters the assassins you have faced before were no friends of mine, oh and above that it's quite a simple matter for me to feel the likes of you." Muta said, pulling out his blowgun., putting Shun on full alert.
Ah, I see you were already on guard, You have the disposition of a fighter. Your body will naturally reacted to my poison darts. My poison is potent. One dart kills an elephant, so if it scratches you you're dead." Muta said.
Ten get inside, Ju Kun don't get involved unless I die, then just kill him." Shin said and Ju Kun nodded.
"You're wary of my darts aren't you, but you don't need to worry about them. I won't use them on you who's defeating an assassin. I really hated the one that died he said my dogs were cheap and would always make fun of me. He also didn't think I was a good fighter at all, the stars are well-known even in Yue as dangerous weapons. It's a warrior's job to defeat a lot of enemies and these darts are the tool to that end. I but people in Qin or stupid or or like you and just a different warrior at heart. But I'll show you in a way that you understand just how good I am. For you, who is better than assassins, I'll use these hatchets to chop you to pieces! I want to show you just how powerful I am." Muta said, releasing his aura and blitzing Shin.
Shin prepared himself for the first strike, which muta brought from below. He was able to block, and decided to test Muta's speed, when he struck back, Muta wasn't there. That crazy bastard jumped above Shin and swung at Shin's head, forcing Shin to dodge towards the ground, but as he was going down Shin spun sideways to try to slash Muta's body. He successfully cut Muta's arm and rolled away, getting up to reveal Muta had grazed his head.
"How surprising not only did you dodge my attack, you also injured me. For a warrior like me this cannot be overlooked. I swear on my pride as a warrior that you will hang by your guts." Muta said.
You can try." Shin said coldly.
Oh, all of my targets have gathered." Muta said, looking up to reveal Sei was standing above Ju Kun on the rock formation.
Sei we were followed. That's one of your brothers assassins! Why the hell are you just standing there? hurry up and help him, he's going to die." Ten said.
"Do you need my help?" Sei asked.
"Nope I'm good." Shin said.
What!? That weird old man is a really good fighter!" Ten said.
I know I was watching. But if you lose here no matter how many lives you might have it'll never be enough, Shin." Sei said.
"Got it." Shin said.
"Are you guys looking down on me? You're really pissing me off." Muta said, releasing his aura killing intent.
Ok, here he comes." Shin thought, as Muta launched at him.
Muta and Shin engaged in a very furious round of strikes. Shin received multiple wounds while trying to get a hold of Muta's style of fighting. After a few rounds muta jumped back.
I'm starting to get tired of this. Just die!" Muta said charging.
Shin don't retreat!" Sei said.
"Retreat, me?" Shin thought, then he released his aura, raising his sword to his shoulder preparing to strike.
The two charged each other and swung. As they parted, Shin and Muta both received wounds on their sides.
What happened?" Ten asked.
"Muta's aura was a problem when Shin was trying to find a rhythm to his fighting style, but the Real problem was Muta's fighting style. Now that Shin can at least defend and send back strikes he will be able to put up an offensive battle as well. Add onto that shin releasing his aura and let's just say his first real fight has begun." Sei said as the two continued their battle.
The royal palace
The court room was filled with advisers and ministers, but the real focus was on one side, Shi Shi and the other General Ouki.
"I apologize for calling you here so early in the morning, but please understand that there was an urgent matter that needed you here. It's about the head that you sent us last night. As you can see it's so badly beaten we can't tell whether or not it is truly Shou Bun Kun or not. I'd love to hear exactly what kind of fight you had that his head turned out like this General Ouki." Shi Shi said.
What's this? Are you doubting the validity of my story?" Ouki said.
No, I'm not doubting you. But it is my duty to find out little details like this." Shi Shi said, trying not to piss off Ouki.
Whoever fights me usually ends up looking like that. And if you don't believe me, I'll be glad to show you, with one of those guys over there as a test subject." Ouki said be handed his glaive.
If I may ask something of you? Shi Shi said.
Go right ahead." Ouki says.
"What exactly are you after?" Shi Shi asked.
A world full of blood and guts!" Ouki says way too serious to be lying.(just go to chapter 11 of the manga, oh and I feel the need to point out to those who have read the manga that Ouki says some incredible Sus shit so when you read them know it coming from him not me) before laughing. " I was only joking, sucha world doesn't exist. However if A world like that or to come in the future I'd be besides myself with joy."
Some were in the forest
Are you sure of the direction they went in?" Gang Tong said as they rode through the forest.
Yes, from what I gathered they went into the cave systems and there were only four exits not in the village." Qu Ying said.
"Two headed towards the capital which was a no go, one exited near the city which was a no go unless they had permission or the young Lord revealed his identity, which only leaves the one we passed a bit back." Hou Bie finished.
If you correct then there is only one place that they can head to." Gang Tong said.
"Lord Gong Tong, there are some more bodies." A rider said.
"The Summer Palace." The two Generals said.
We must hurry, there are only a few groups that would be attacking soldiers, and we can't alert one without risking the others finding out we're here, and mistaking us for the others."
Further in the forest
I found it." A soldier said, spotting Muta's ribbon.
The soldiers continued walking down the hill towards the ribbon when the captain thought he heard something. After thinking that he heard something he turned around only to have a spear thrown through his back, shocked all the soldiers turned around they saw a group of people behind them on the cliff.
"Mountain dwellers?" A soldier said.
"No, they're wearing armor." Another said.
"There's no way we should've come across enemy soldiers out here, we shouldn't have any enemies left." The Captain said, then he recognized the leader.
At the villa
Shin and Muta were still going strong as Muta brought one of his axes down on Shin who blocks with his sword. Shin took the blow and then used all his strength to push muta back, cutting him a bit.
Hey Sei, what did you mean when you said it was his first real fight?" Ten said.
When he fought Ju Kun it didn't end with one of them dying, well it could have but didn't. This will be his first true fight where his life is at stake because neither of these two are going to surrender and step aside to the other; it's not in their nature. He and Hyou sparred over 1000 times, thanks to that he's good enough that he won't lose to most guys you come across. but there's one major thing you can't learn unless you're in a real fight: how to handle someone who's sole intent is to kill you and the aura that comes along with it most of the time. That guy is good but Shin is no slacker either." Sei said.
By now shin had realized he could not go cut for cut with Muta because he had better clothing on which helped prevent minor wounds. So Shin decided to play a defensive battle while making attempts to critically wound him or kill him in one blow.
This pup after all he's been through he's not giving up. The fact he keeps on coming at me and keeps getting faster. Either when he started going defensive I thought he was being a coward trying to get himself out of it but now he keeps going for critical hits when I am not paying attention." Muta thought as he was wounded above his knee, then realizing that he couldn't move back as Shin brought the sword down his chest. "He's an actual tiger in battle."
As soon as Muta fell on the ground, Shin wavered, he had won but the lead up to it was anything but clean. When Ten started to come down to help fix his wounds, Muta rose up.
With my pride as a warrior I'm not going out like this." He said bringing his blow dart to his mouth. " even if it is just the king I'll take someone with me."
"Ju Kun." Shin said.
But a hand snatched the The blow dart out of Muta's hand, and when everyone looked to see who it was, it Shou Bun Kun who had a face of calm fury.
"What the hell do you think you're doing to my king?" He said slashing Muta's back effectively killing him.
"Ju Kun, you no longer need to protect him, go make sure that we will not have any more visitors today." Shin said, which caused Ju Kun to jump away and go searching.
So that's Shou Bun Kun The guy who took Shin's friend to.." Ten thoughts were erased as said man approached the king.
He walked right by Shin . Right through the water like it didn't even matter and then once he was on the rock formation he knelt down and clasped his hands which all the soldiers followed.
After saying that I planned all things out perfectly this happened. You're foolish retainer takes full responsibility for this if you wish it. I'll smash my skull against this rock right now. But before any of that I am so glad that you're safe!" Shou said.
"Same here." Sei said.
After a few seconds of shock, Shin remembered a very tiny little not even major problem he had with the man.
"It's nice that you're all happy and all but, I think there a very little problem with this whole situation, and you know that just the fact that Hyou my friend is dead." Shin said coldly, causing Shou Bun Kun to turn around and for a split second be shocked before returning to his original face.
Hyou isn't the only the one who died, this is war lives will be lost." Shou Bun Kun said.
"Well let's just treat this as you telling someone that you got their family killed which you're going to have to do at the end of this anyway. Your first will be me." Shin said, beginning to walk towards them all too kindly, telling everyone that this would not end well.
Just as he was about to cross the little moat everyone heard a voice.
"Now I am against killing people the first time I meet them but boy if you drop that hilt on My Lord's head I will kill you." Gan Tong said from his horse just as his group and Ju Kun reached the clearing allowing everyone to see them.
Heki step back." Shou Bun Kun said urgently.
Shin looked behind him to see a man behind with his sword hilt ready to knock him out. But the man seemed frozen, then he stepped back way from him.
Gan Tong, you should be in a castle being laz.. your lord!" Shou Bun Kun said, looking behind Gan Tong then at Shin then realizing. "He hasn't been in the castle... he wouldn't come if he was not here, dammit I should have realized when one of the direct Generals threatened me after I approached those two, I'm sorry for bringing him into this Gan Tong, I apologize for putting your life in danger Lord Shi Ba."
Your lucky your plan went as well as it did or I'd be hunting you down." Gang Tong said.
"I knew I'd seen those eyes before. That boy had a look in his face I've only seen in one other person." Shou Bun Kun thought while looking at Shin. "His father had that exact same look him had when three of his vassals were killed in a peaceful meeting. Then he and the other vassals proceeded to strip Han down to only four dependable major cities."
Gan Tong. What the hell… (breath)…is going on?" Shin said, releasing his full aura martial, governance, political proving just how serious he was.
While I can't explain everything, what I can say is the 12 Zodiacs are truly sorry that we let this happen on our watch." Gan Tong eyes wide said.
Everyone took a step back socked by the authority that he was showing. Everyone now truly realized just how much of a threat he was. Gan Tong and the generals got off their horses and walked over to Shin before kneeling, bowing their heads deeply and clasping their hands.
I apologize, we had standing order from your grandfather to not tell you the truth to keep you safe from threats that would rise if you took that family name so soon after you were born and the tragedy happened. Your full name is Shi Ba Shin, you're the son of Shi Ba Shaku, grandson of Shi Ba Shan, lord of Aspen, and the Third of the Four Lords of the Warring States."