A foreigner's journey

"Heather?"

Qihua spelled out the Chinese pronunciation of Heather in a somewhat convoluted way.

"People say that if it were during the Warring States Period, both Heather and Qiang Baibing would be the most outstanding heroic swordsmen. Heather does not pursue fame, fortune and money, and likes to wander around the world and travel to mountains and rivers, and he will encounter injustice wherever he goes. He will draw his sword to help, and he will also give generously to those who are in trouble. He is a strange man who carries [Ren Xia] and [Romance] to the extreme."

Jiuer recalled:

"Because he has one arm, and because he is always alone, people call him [Sekiro]."

Nanami asked doubtfully: "He is also a swordsman, right? Wouldn't he be tempted by Shikizaki Kiki's sword?"

Jiu'er shook his head: "No, in fact he is an 'all-rounder'. Any weapon in his hands will be 120% powerful. Even if he holds a tree branch, he can swing it like a blade." Sharp slashing. In the past two years, some people have been debating who is the [strongest in the country], Heather or Qiang Baibing."

"Why would such a powerful person become one-armed?" Shichika crossed her arms and tilted her head, wondering: "I mean, the person who can hurt him must be very powerful, right?"

Jiuer glanced at Qihua: "Someone has indeed asked this question. He only said that it was an injury sustained during a life-and-death fight with a compatriot. If he asked further questions, he would laugh and change the topic. Wait a minute! We are here How come the discussion about the Void Sword Style's conquest of twelve Shikizakiki variant swords for the shogunate ended up involving that guy!"

Looking at the angry Jiu'er, Qishi covered her mouth and smiled slightly: "Miss Jiu'er, it seems that you have a good relationship with Mr. Heather."

Jiu'er was furious and just about to retort, but he dropped his fists that he was waving randomly and was silent for a while before saying:

"Although he rejected my solicitation and spoke rudely. But... Heather is indeed a strange guy who is hard to hate. Maybe one day I will meet him again somewhere?"

After saying that, she turned to look at Shichika and said seriously: "Shichika, please give me a helping hand and collect all twelve Shikizaki Kiki variant swords to end the possibility of rebellion for the shogunate and even the entire world. !”

"How troublesome, why did you jump to such a formal topic all of a sudden?"

Nanhua scratched her head and looked at her sister Nanami out of habit.

Qi Shi's cold voice sounded: "Qi Hua, you are the head of Xu Dao Liu, and this matter should be decided by you."

"Even if my sister says so, I can't decide. I still have to let my sister make the final decision..."

At this time, Jiu'er interrupted the two siblings' blaming behavior.

"People who do things for money are not good, nor are people who fight for reputation. People who act according to their hearts with chivalry and romance are not trustworthy. There is only one reason left - that is love! People who act for love can be trusted of."

Jiu'er looked at Rong Qihua. She has a good figure and decent looks. Although she is stupid, I can tolerate it, okay!

"Ruan Qihua, I allow you to fall in love with me!"

The scene fell into stagnation for a moment, and at this moment, Rong Qishi suddenly moved.

She raised her knees from a sitting position and silently pushed Jiu'er and Qihua's shoulders away with her palms. The two lost their balance and fell backwards.

And at the same moment, the wall was blown away!

Qihua reacted immediately, stretched out her arm and hooked Jiu'er's gorgeous belt with a swish, and moved Jiu'er and herself back together, while Qi'an used the reaction force of pushing the two of them to jump to the other side of the room.

boom--! !

The wooden wall was smashed to pieces from the outside, and a large number of iron pieces mixed with the broken wood pieces penetrated into the opposite wall. If you look closely, you will see that they are not pieces of iron at all, but cross shurikens and kunai. There are forty-five in total, and the wall opposite is riddled with holes.

This can no longer be considered a throwing or sniping attack, but an artillery attack level.

If Qishi hadn't pushed the two of them away immediately to warn them, they might have been trapped in a hornet's nest.

"Asshole! Are you kidding? This is the house built by my father!"

Nanami yelled angrily, and Nanami didn't even have time to stop Nanami. She could only watch as Nanami rushed out of the hut with bare feet and chased towards the forest.

Jiu'er rubbed the shoulder he bumped when he fell down: "Correct judgment, if you continue to be dazed, the second wave of attacks will come in, but running out without even wearing straw sandals would be a bit..."

"Straw sandals and gloves are 'sheaths' for that child. Qihua doesn't need those kinds of things when fighting." Nanami shook her head.

Jiu'er walked to the wall and pulled out a kunai: "It's the style that the real Ninja Army likes to use. Are they chasing me here?"

"How many people are here?"

"It should be one person, because the Shinwa Ninja Army hates group operations, and there is no need to act in groups."

Jiu'er tapped the palm of her hand with the kunai handle and said in deep thought: "But how did they know about this place? When I came here, I paid special attention to see if I was being followed, and I never mentioned my destination to anyone -"

"Miss Jiu'er."

Qishi's somewhat tired and feeble voice interrupted Jiu'er's soliloquy. It seemed that the strenuous activity just now had exhausted her energy, but her eyes were very serious:

"As for your proposal, I agree."

"I thought you would object."

"No, to be honest, I don't care about your matter itself. Like Shichika, I am not interested in money, nor in fame, shogunate, or Shikisakiki's sword. Although the child seems to be obsessed with Shikisakiki Ji slightly piqued his interest, but after all, I am not the master of the Xu Dao style."

Qishi held on to the wall, took a breath, and then said:

"However, I agree with the child going to the outside world. It has been twenty years since he came to this island. It would be really sad if the skills that the child has accumulated cannot bear fruit."

"Although it may be inappropriate for me to say this, Mr. Rokuge is the one who was exiled. Now that Mr. Rokuge is deceased, you and Shichika can definitely..."

"My body cannot support me to live outside. Although it is my intention not to get involved with the world, my physical condition is also limited. And that child is worried about me... He is really nosy."

Although Qishi looks weak and fragile, her tone is unreasonable and decisive:

"I have no intention of living under my brother's protection, let alone becoming his shackles. Miss Jiu'er, if you complete this task for the shogunate, will the Void Sword style be able to return to the world?"

Jiu'er nodded hurriedly and said: "This is natural. I originally thought it was unreasonable to lock the heroes of chaos here. I originally planned to restore Mr. Liuzhi's reputation."

"In this case, I have no reason to object."

Qishi covered her mouth and coughed twice, then straightened her posture and lowered her head deeply:

"My brother-in-law will leave it to you, Miss Jiu'er."

Jiu'er's face suddenly turned red: "This is so serious... I, I, I don't want to be entrusted like this! By the way, how on earth did this Shinobi ninja follow you here!"

She was changing the subject.

Qishi followed Jiu'er's topic and said, "How did you come to this island?"

"Of course it's by boat."

"Did you rock the boat yourself?"

"How can I have such physical strength...wait, boatman?"

Jiu'er was horrified, thinking of the smiling boatman who could change into someone else at will... Oh no, it's him!

"No! Go chase Nanka. I know who that Shinwa Ninja Army is. He has Shikisaki Kiki's sword [Zeukate 铇] in his hand! Nanaka will be in danger!"

Compared with Jiuer who was eager to chase him out, Qishi was not panicked:

"I can see that you are still worried about the upcoming journey to conquer the sword. It's just right, take this opportunity to see the technique of the virtual sword style. That child will be the sharpest [sword] in your hand."

That is absolute confidence in Shichika and Kyūto Ryu.

Seeing Qi Shi being so calm, Jiu'er gradually became calmer.

Yes, you have to believe in your [Knife], this is what that guy once said to himself.

Heather, will I meet you again in the future on my journey to conquer the sword?

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Izumo, as an autonomous region that even the shogunate cannot intervene in, often appears in Japanese mythology.

Zheng Shun Gong of the Ming Dynasty recorded the following in "Japanese Ichim" - [In October, there is no moon in the gods, and it is said that the gods gather together in this way. But Izumo said that the god has the moon].

Japanese people believe that eight million gods gather in Izumo in October. Except for Izumo, there are no gods in all parts of Japan, so October is called "Kanna Moon", that is, the month when the gods leave. Only Izumo calls the month of October ‘Kamiyutsuki’.

According to legend, this place has been a place where gods gather since ancient times.

No matter what the history and era, there will always be a land custom that matches the name of the holy land.

And right in the center of Izumo, on top of the highest Izumo Mountain, is the [Santo Shrine] majestically built.

The village at the foot of the mountain is peaceful and peaceful, and a light mist lingers in the fields and countryside.

Different from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, this place seems to be dominated by 'silence' and 'peace', which has been the case since ancient times.

But today, the calm is destined to be broken.

A village man working in the field leaned on his hoe and stared blankly at the dirt road beside the field.

It was a figure whose "weird" meaning was immediately apparent at first sight, and whose style was incompatible with today's Japanese.

He is 6 feet 4 inches (185cm) taller than any contemporary Japanese man. His face is hidden under a bamboo hat and cannot be seen clearly due to the fog. On his right waist is a long knife that is in tatters from the handle to the scabbard. , wearing a large ocher red cloak that had been weathered but carefully patched, and his right arm was obviously empty and shortened.

This man was striding along the country road. He could vaguely see a piece of weed hanging from the corner of his mouth, and he was humming a strange tune that no one had ever heard before.

Seemingly noticing the village man's gaze, the man stopped and raised his left hand to touch the front of the bamboo hat: "Hey, is the Izumo Mountain behind you?"

"Huh? Uh... um! Ah! Yes!" The village man finally woke up from his dull eyes and nodded hurriedly in response to the inquiry of the 'giant' in front of him.

Seeing this unusually tall ronin stroking his chin and taking a leisurely look at the Izumo Mountains covered in clouds and mist, the village man bravely asked:

"Sir, are you going to Izumo Mountain? There is nothing noteworthy there except the Santu Shrine. If you ask me, don't go! The Santu Shrine is a rare armed shrine, and the black shrine maidens are all... "

"uh-huh?"

The ronin tilted his head, took off his bamboo hat and knocked the water droplets condensed on the surface due to the mist, revealing a bearded face that could not hide its rare beauty in the world:

"Miko? I'm looking for the miko!"

PS: It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the original work of “Whisper of the Sword”. I tried my best to write the background and related settings clearly without being rudimentary, so that readers can basically understand it.