Chapter 175

On the bustling streets of Sunpu Castle, crowds surged with liveliness.

"Say, isn't this 'Toru' an Onmyoji? The one who publicly slew a demon with thunder at the Genpuku Ceremony a few days ago?"

"Yeah, that's right. This matter has spread like wildfire these past days, drawing many from outside to Sunpu Castle just to catch a glimpse of that person's bearing."

"But since he's an Onmyoji, what does he intend by going to the Trial Cutting Ground now?"

"Putting it that way... indeed, that person isn't a samurai who cultivates Breathing Techniques."

The surging crowd stagnated, each seeing doubt and confusion in the other's eyes.

Right, Toru is a Great Onmyoji who commands thunder, drives mysterious Shikigami, and is famed across much of the Tokaido; why would he now learn from samurai and do trial cutting?

Could he simply want to try something novel?

But since he's an Onmyoji, his physique surely can't compare to those samurai who train with swords every day, even killing enemies on the battlefield.

So wouldn't that Onmyoji Toru embarrass himself at the Trial Cutting Ground...

...?

—The Adult Ni-shaku, eating a steaming hot pancake, felt gazes from all directions carrying various emotions and elements, and somewhat uncomfortably shrugged his shoulders.

She followed behind Uesugi Toru and asked softly,

"Toru-sama, why are there so many people watching us this time?"

Because clearly last time when they went out with that Imagawa Yoshimoto, no one paid them much attention.

"Clothes."

Uesugi Toru tugged at his extremely conspicuous Chief Priest Robe, plucking the heartstring: "And this time I didn't 'modify my face,' plus this height naturally makes me stand out in the crowd."

"But one of my purposes for coming out this time was to further increase fame, so I'm afraid this kind of being watched will happen often in the future."

"You have to get used to it."

The girl nodded thoughtfully.

He pointed to Shiraishi behind, walking with a pace that ignored all kin, completely unaffected: "In this regard, learning from Shiraishi is quite good."

Uesugi Toru patted the little white hat on the girl's head: "After all, Ni-shaku, you will often appear as Onmyoji Toru's Shikigami in the future."

"Po!" Adult Ni-shaku clenched her small fist: "I will do my best, Toru-sama!"

Uesugi Toru said no more, walking slowly toward the direction of the Trial Cutting Ground.

And on this not short road, naturally those who knew of Onmyoji Toru and the Trial Cutting Ground followed behind the main crowd with expectation and curiosity.

Of course, a large number of meddlers who didn't understand much also came to join in.

Joining the fun, especially watching harmless but topical liveliness, has always been human nature.

After a short while, Uesugi Toru, who had deliberately slowed his pace, entered the area of the "Trial Cutting Ground" designated by Imagawa Yoshimoto.

The Trial Cutting Ground was a fairly spacious open-air venue constructed by Imagawa Yoshimoto with his samurai Zanmetsumaru as the core.

And the entire Trial Cutting Ground was divided into three major areas: the "Trial Cutting Area," the "Waiting Area," and the "Spectator Area."

Usually, there were two ways to enter the Trial Cutting Ground.

First, samurai and ronin who heard the news and wanted to trial cut only needed to register at the recorder at the entrance, then turn back and start lining up in a long queue.

The other was those curious about trial cutting who wanted to watch from the side.

But spectators wanting to enter and watch once had to pay a full thirty wen, to drive off troublemakers and prevent too many spectators in the Trial Cutting Ground.

But even so, the Trial Cutting Ground had been overcrowded these past few days, with even the outer area packed with curious passersby.

This made Imagawa Yoshimoto feel he should have raised the "ticket price" to fifty wen or even higher—because now quite a few samurai had been sent just to maintain order.

Beside the silent and stern Black Armor Samurai, the recorder, sweating profusely from exhaustion, shouted at the top of his lungs,

"Adults visiting for the first time! Please register one by one, please line up along this path!"

The recorder thought that at least the Head of Family had sent two fully armed Hatamoto by his side, otherwise he estimated he would have been kicked flying by those muscle-bound samurai long ago.

He blinked, about to call the next person forward, when suddenly he heard a noisy commotion from not far away.

The recorder was stunned for a moment.

Originally, this side of the Trial Cutting Ground was noisy enough that his ears would hurt for a long time when he returned at night... how noisy must that side be?

The recorder tiptoed to peek his head out, opening his mouth in astonishment.

Because, on the street that could originally accommodate normal passage, now it was actually packed with heads!

And these people seemed to be following one person at the front...

The recorder lightly tapped the Hatamoto's shoulder armor with the back of his hand, gesturing for him to look over there.

The Hatamoto turned his head, and after seeing the situation clearly, his face immediately darkened.

He mobilized his Internal Qi and asked loudly,

"Hey! What do you want to do, bringing so many people..."

Not even two seconds had passed before the recorder saw the Hatamoto, who originally had a black face, reveal a stiff expression.

"What's wrong?" the recorder asked.

The Hatamoto didn't answer him, but immediately changed his expression, squeezing out a smile on his originally unsmiling face,

"Toru-sama! Why have you come to this place?"

Toru-sama?

The recorder blinked and hadn't reacted yet, but upon seeing the figure wearing the Chief Priest Robe, he immediately stood straight: "Toru-sama!"

"No need for that."

Uesugi Toru surveyed the slightly shabby sunshade canopy, and the recorder and Black Armor Hatamoto standing before him, thinking this was probably the entrance to the Trial Cutting Ground.

He shifted his gaze, catching sight of the not-long registration line and the other side's long dragon-like queue, each samurai surging with Internal Qi.

It seems I still need to wait in a very long line.

The recorder almost instantly understood what Uesugi Toru had noticed from those two shifts of his gaze, so he immediately said,

"If Lord Toru wishes to enter and watch, please follow this hatamoto directly."

Uesugi Toru shook his head: "No, I did not come to watch."

The samurai and recorder waiting in line nearby noticed this side and were stunned, then heard him say,

"I came to trial cut."

Instantly, the whole place fell silent.

——At this time, inside the trial cutting ground.

"Slash power, fourteen thousand eight hundred twenty-six kan——so it is said!"

For the first time in three days, the Samurai Zanmetsumaru with the greatest backward swing slowly announced the slash power figure.

On the trial cutting area covered with soft river sand.

The man who claimed this sword was just a warm-up carried the tachi on his shoulder, yawned, and had already closed his eyes, preparing to enjoy the cheers from around him.

But the man waited for quite a while, yet did not hear the surrounding sounds of shock as he had wished.

Only the recorder standing not far away held a slightly trembling pen shaft, slowly recording this five-digit figure at the very top of the ledger in his hand.

"Hmm? Why did it go quiet just as it was my turn?"

Who stole his limelight?

Shibata Katsuie raised his eyebrows, looked around, but discovered that the audience who should have been cheering for him were all looking at the same place.

The noise coming from that direction was simply enormous, shaking the ground slightly.

He listened for a moment and heard the three words "Lord Toru."

Lord Toru?

Who is this again?

It sounds somewhat familiar...

"Lord Shibata! Lord Shibata!"

Before Shibata Katsuie could swing his remaining two swords, a short figure crawled from under the wooden fence, hurriedly pulling him from in front of the Zanmetsumaru to outside the field.

Shibata Katsuie, forcibly pulled out of the trial cutting area and having sheathed his sword to mix into the crowd, frowned deeply.

But only after the person pulling him stopped did Shibata Katsuie use condensed energy to form a line, coldly asking toward this youth of one meter four height whose appearance was somewhat different from ordinary people,

"Monkey! What did you pull me out for? There are still two swords left; if we don't cut them soon, there will be no chance later!"

The youth called Monkey turned his head slightly, and after confirming no one was paying attention to them, took out a straw hat from his cloth bag, urgently saying,

"Lord Shibata, please put this on first."

Shibata Katsuie did not throw a tantrum.

He knew Monkey had a reason for pulling him out so urgently, and it was better to listen first.

Moreover, before leaving this time, Lord Nobunaga had specifically instructed him that when out and about, he should listen more to Monkey's words before doing things.

——This guy's strength is not great, but his mind is active and he has many clever ideas; though not as good as Sister Nagahide, he can still serve as a temporary military strategist.

What's more, they are now inside the enemy's main camp.

So Shibata Katsuie put on the straw hat first, then continued asking: "What happened?"

Monkey——the youth who would in the future be called Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but is now called Kinoshita Fujikichiro——lowered his voice and said softly,

"Toru."

"Toru?"

"Yes, that Onmyoji Toru who has become famous along the Tokaido in recent days!"

"Toru... fine."

Shibata Katsuie tightened his hand on the sword hilt, finally understanding what his earlier sense of familiarity was.

He took a deep breath, feeling a bit of lingering fear.

Damn! How could I have forgotten such an important matter just now!

If Monkey hadn't pulled me back into the crowd just now and given me the straw hat, I would definitely have caused trouble!

Because they were originally just passing through Sunpu Castle with a merchant caravan; it was Shibata Katsuie who heard there was a miraculous trial cutting ground here and entered the city, itching to take a look.

If they attracted attention, even if they returned safe and sound, they would inevitably be severely scolded by Lord Nobunaga.

Not to mention, if that Onmyoji Toru noticed him during the trial cutting, whether they could leave Sunpu Castle would be questionable!

Thinking of this, Shibata Katsuie immediately gave up the idea of showing off and nodded to Kinoshita Fujikichiro,

"Thank you just now, Monkey."

"It's just that Lord was momentarily immersed in trial cutting; at other times, I might not be needed."

Fujikichiro scratched the back of his head and smiled simply.

"Hmm, then we can also take this opportunity to see for Lord Nobunaga what kind of person this Onmyoji Toru really is..."

——Before lining up, Uesugi Toru first entered the trial cutting area, curiously asking the recorder who had suddenly discovered someone was missing and was somewhat stunned,

"May I ask, what is the highest slash power of the past few days?"

The recorder glanced at Uesugi Toru's clothing, combined with the noisy sounds still coming from now, and within a few seconds realized who was before him.

He hurriedly bowed and said,

"Replying to Lord Toru, it was just now that one slash, fourteen thousand eight hundred twenty-six kan."

Fourteen thousand kan?

That many?

Uesugi Toru felt somewhat surprised upon hearing this figure.

After a pause, the recorder added: "It is said that this was Lord Samurai's warm-up just now."

Still a warm-up?

Uesugi Toru laughed in surprise.

This really was a bit unexpected.

He asked curiously, "Who is it?"

The Samurai Cutting Test Recorder turned his head, and after failing to find anyone, swallowed his saliva and whispered, "That adult just now was still here... only he suddenly can't be found."

Uesugi Toru was not surprised either.

Because someone who could slash out over ten thousand kan of force was at least a Samurai who had completed the Qi Circulation, and usually they should have considerable fame.

Hiding just now was probably because they didn't want to directly run into him.

Moreover, nearly fifteen thousand kan for a warm-up.

This was almost as strong as Okabe Motonobu's slash power—because she went all out, she definitely had at least over twenty thousand kan of force.

Uesugi Toru exhaled lightly.

—But, I am stronger.

Now he had completed the Skin Tempering Stage of the Flesh Palace, further refined the Qi Circulation, the Five Thunder Technique: Kiai had reached proficiency, and he could also wear the Hannya Mask, wielding the Epic Level Kaga Kiyomitsu.

With all these stacked, slashing out a mere twenty thousand kan should be easy.

It was just that he didn't know where the upper limit was.

He politely nodded at the Samurai Cutting Test Recorder and asked, "I also want to trial cut here, so do I need to line up at the end of the team now?"

Onmyoji Toru wants to trial cut?!

Still asking him if he needs to queue?!?

The Samurai Cutting Test Recorder was greatly startled, almost unable to hold the pen in his hand.

He knew that a few nights ago, late at night, the Head of Family had caused a huge commotion, making the Imagawa Residence brightly lit at dawn, and even many shops in Sunpu Castle were knocked on.

It was said that was all for Onmyoji Toru!

And there was also the incident with the Elder and the demon ghost before that...

This person was now a prominent figure of the Imagawa Clan!

But before he came, the Head of Family had specifically instructed him to strictly maintain order at the Trial Cutting Ground—even the dispatch authority of the Hatamoto stationed here was handed over to him.

How should he answer this life-threatening question?!

Uesugi Toru blinked, and just as he was about to turn around, he noticed the conflicted Samurai Cutting Test Recorder, so he spoke,

"I'll just line up at the end of the team."

He patted the Samurai Cutting Test Recorder's shoulder,

"I won't make things difficult for you."

The Samurai Cutting Test Recorder looked at the smiling Uesugi Toru, was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head and replied,

"Thank you, Toru-sama."

Only, this time the thanks were especially sincere.

After speaking, Uesugi Toru left the Trial Cutting Area and boldly lined up at the end of the long queue, once again causing a chorus of confused voices.

So many people feeling confused at the same time naturally made a huge commotion, causing dissatisfaction among many queuing Samurai.

But now in the main city of the Imagawa Clan, they would still have to trial cut for free at the Imagawa Clan's "Zanshigimaru" later.

Therefore, even Samurai who were very unhappy with this situation had to give the Imagawa Clan some face and couldn't fight in the street.

Uesugi Toru also frowned, turned back and spoke lightly, letting his calm voice fall precisely and clearly into everyone's ears,

"Everyone, since you came to watch me, please follow the rules here."

The originally extremely noisy environment suddenly went quiet at these words.

Then, those loud shouts all changed to whispering in unison.

—Because Onmyoji Toru could send sound to your ears, that meant he could also send lightning to your ears!

This casually shown trick shocked the vast majority of people.

Uesugi Toru nodded in satisfaction,

"Mm, this is about right."

Letting the two small ones wander around the shops not far away, Uesugi Toru also began his long queue.

Actually, queuing for a longer time was just what he wanted.

Because with this time, the news of Onmyoji Toru's trial cutting would spread wider and wider, and more and more people would come to watch him trial cut.

Only then could the effect after his trial cutting be better.

Whether it was shocking others or gaining fame.

And the facts were just as Uesugi Toru had expected.

With the passage of time, not only the passersby around, but even merchants and ronin from the Tokaido, and even from Kinki and the Tōsandō gathered around the Trial Cutting Ground.

At first, most people's attitude was anticipation, anticipating what amazing results Onmyoji Toru could slash out.

But after more and more half-knowledgeable people appeared, a voice of not fitting in—or rather, the voice of the masses—emerged.

A merchant from the mountain valleys of the Tōsandō scratched his head: "Onmyoji? You people of the Tokaido still believe in such an old legend?"

A local sighed: "Sigh, the classics don't believe in Onmyoji."

"Even if this rumor is true, an Onmyoji who only knows how to use Yin-Yang Technique in the legend probably can't even hold a sword!"

A sturdy Samurai with two swords at his waist rationally commented: "This Onmyoji Toru is quite famous in the Tokaido, so he's not so clumsy as to not be able to hold a sword, but slashing out two or three thousand kan is probably his limit."

At this time, the ronin who had gotten lost in Sunpu Castle on the way finally squeezed to the front row of the crowd with his fairly sturdy body.

He happened to see a Samurai in the Trial Cutting Ground with muscles even larger than his slowly sheathing his sword.

Then he heard someone whose appearance was like a big black egg, using a strange but irresistible tone announce the slash power,

"Slash power, five thousand six hundred twelve kan—so it is!"

The ronin panted twice, narrowed his eyes, and carefully sized up the samurai who had bowed to Zanshigimaru and left the field, discovering that he should be stronger than himself.

But not by much.

That is to say, his own strike could probably produce around four thousand to five thousand kan of force.

The ronin then looked at Uesugi Toru, who was very tall but whose long robe was not even filled out.

He thought:

This Onmyoji Toru looks even more frail than me; being able to slash out two thousand kan might already be too much!

—Shibata Katsuie thought the same way.

Others had never seen an Onmyoji before, so they couldn't quite grasp an Onmyoji's physical condition.

But Shibata Katsuie had seen one before.

Based solely on that Onmyoji's own frail little body, he couldn't even hold a normal tachi.

Although this Toru is relatively tall, he's just tall, that's all.

"In my opinion, even two thousand kan might be too much."

Shibata Katsuie shook his head: "An Onmyoji who pours all his mental power into Yin-Yang Technique cultivation might not even be able to slash out one thousand kan.

This Toru is completely messing around."

He thought for a moment, then asked the man beside him, Kichiro:

"Monkey, what do you think?"

—Because Lord Nobunaga often asked the monkey this when making decisions, Shibata Katsuie, who often stood nearby and saw it, had picked up this verbal tic.

Kichiro remained silent for a long time.

He stroked his chin and slowly voiced a viewpoint completely different from the vast majority present: "Shibata Adult, this Onmyoji Toru's slash power might be over twenty thousand kan."

Twenty... thousand kan?

Shibata Katsuie silently read it twice in his mind, and after confirming he hadn't misheard, poked Kichiro with his elbow: "Monkey, are you trying to make me laugh?"

He easily manipulated his Gang Qi, not letting a single sound leak out,

"If even an Onmyoji can slash out twenty thousand kan, then haven't all these samurai here except me lived in vain for so long?"

—Shibata Katsuie did not see the Gang Qi circulation on Uesugi Toru's body.

First, because to avoid the risk of being discovered, the distance he kept from Uesugi Toru was relatively far.

Second, Uesugi Toru was completing Skin Tempering Thickness, his control of Gang Qi circulation was more precise, able to gather all Gang Qi to the body surface and compress it.

Kichiro shook his head: "I am not making a guess from the angle of these emotional feelings, Shibata Adult."

The youth now merely called Monkey said seriously,

"But through observation, careful observation!

If Onmyoji Toru could only slash out one or two thousand kan, there would be absolutely no need to come to this Test Cutting Ground with such a grand display, and deliberately line up at the end of the team.

What he wants is to let so many people present spread his 'trial cutting results'!"

Kichiro closed his eyes, recalling the scenes just now: "Moreover, that Toru deliberately came in to ask about the highest slash power, and after learning your slash power, Shibata Adult, he showed a relaxed expression!"

"—All these prove that this Onmyoji Toru's strength must be powerful, and he came to trial cut with a very clear purpose!"

He clenched both fists and said word by word: "This is a great enemy of the Oda Clan, Shibata Adult. We must report to our lord when we return and suppress him early!"

Shibata Katsuie did not answer for a moment.

Because hearing it this way, he found that logically, what Monkey said did seem to make some sense.

But in the end, Shibata Katsuie still shook his head firmly: "So Monkey, your cultivation is still shallow, and your understanding of the Breathing Technique is still too crude!"

He reached out, displaying the knotted muscles on his palm and wrist, and those old calluses worn raw and deep dark red scars.

"Whether Yin-Yang Technique or Breathing Technique, both require a large amount of time, a large amount of sweat, a large amount of effort to get even a little bit of return!"

Shibata Katsuie: "I practiced martial arts from childhood, came into contact with the Breathing Technique at five years old; although always praised for extraordinary talent, I also went through countless hardships, only completing Gang Qi circulation six years ago."

He said,

"In my observation, completing Gang Qi circulation is the absolute minimum standard for being able to slash out ten thousand kan."

"—And I naturally believe this Toru is outstanding in Yin-Yang Technique, otherwise how could he be called 'Great Onmyoji'?"

"So Monkey, you think, how much time does this Onmyoji have left to cultivate the Breathing Technique?"

Shibata Katsuie withdrew his gaze from that young handsome face, sneered,

"Unless, he is already over fifty years old!"

After hearing this, Kichiro carefully raised his head and sized up that eye-catching face.

—How does it feel, that a different kind of gaze is looking at me?

Sensing something, Uesugi Toru abruptly turned his head.

End of Chapter