Chapter 245: The Demon Groom

"I hear you possess a peerlessly beautiful maiden, pure and elegant, gentle and enchanting. At midnight tonight, I shall come under the moon to claim her. You are a man of refined discernment—you will not make me travel in vain!"

Yujiu Tōmasu was a master of Japan, and the Yagyū Shinkage-ryū of the Yagyū family was renowned throughout Japan; the entire Yagyū household diligently studied Classical Chinese and communicated seamlessly with the Central Lands, so Yujiu Tōmasu understood perfectly well what this letter contained.

"Is this an attempt to steal our daughter in marriage?"

Yujiu Tōmasu stared at the words.

In Japan, there exists a custom of bride-stealing: entering a woman's chamber at night to court her; if she consents, the union is sealed as a de facto marriage. Now, in the Sengoku era, a time of fierce struggle, samurai may violently abduct women, and common families often cannot resist.

But such bride-stealing could never be directed at the Yagyū household.

Surrounding the letter were Yujiu Tōmasu's two daughters: the elder, Yagyū Yuki-hime, nearly twenty, graceful and charming, whose face gradually flushed as she gazed at the letter.

In Japanese culture, bride-stealing is romanticized as a "romantic conquest"—being taken away signifies the abductor's heroic spirit, like Kagemasa, the pirate king, who stole women from the city yet remained beloved by all of Kōzuke.

The higher the status of the woman stolen, the greater the proof of the abductor's prowess.

In "The Grandson of the Slippery Demon," the first Slippery Demon carried off Sakura-hime—that was Japan's classic "demon groom" tale—but modern manga emphasizes mutual love, not forceful abduction.

"In the Central Lands, this is a flower-plucking thief!"

Yujiu Tōmasu's son roared: "A flower-plucking thief dares to come to our door!"

Sending prior notice and issuing a challenge—this is no ordinary flower-plucking thief!

"We'll chop him to pieces!"

Yujiu Jūbei slammed the letter down, snarling.

Yagyū Yuki-hime nodded. Yagyū Piaoxu, only twelve, plain-faced, stared at the letter without reaction; she gazed at her sister's beauty and felt none of this concerned her.

Yujiu Tōmasu rose and said: "Whether bride-stealing or flower-plucking, he has chosen the wrong house if he thinks he can come to the Yagyū family."

Yujiu Tōmasu stepped forward, his killing aura sharp as frost.

"Japan is very conservative, very closed."

Duan Tianya sighed: "We're outsiders—we're already under scrutiny. You won't even change into Japanese clothing. If the Yagyū family decides to investigate, we won't escape."

Duan Tianya regretted it. On the ship, he'd thought Gu Qing unfathomable; after speaking with him, he realized Gu Qing was a peerless strategist—but Gu Qing had his pride, refusing to don Japanese attire, striding about in Ming robes, flaunting his Celestial Kingdom identity, drawing sidelong glances wherever he went.

Yet the things he did were just as attention-grabbing.

Duan Tianya grimaced, feeling that once Gu Qing sent that letter, they were finished.

"Just focus on your sword. Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up."

Gu Qing barked.

The ancient system held many Japanese martial arts, and during his time in the Lu Xiaofeng world, Gu Qing had swept through Japan, collecting and cataloging every style—Mōga, Iga, Katsura, Kōrai, Kuro, Takeda, Akiba, Shinkage-ryū—he knew them all.

Now, what he taught Duan Tianya were precisely these arts.

Duan Tianya, chastised by Gu Qing, stilled his mind, practiced two sword forms, then asked: "If you steal one of the Yagyū daughters, what will you do with her?"

Duan Tianya first asked whether Gu Qing would succeed.

"Of course I'll marry her!" Gu Qing said matter-of-factly.

"Marry her?"

Duan Tianya blinked. "Won't they hunt you down?"

"If I marry her, she becomes family—they won't hunt me. But if I abduct her and then abandon her, returning her unclaimed, then it becomes a feud to the death."

Gu Qing said: "Both Yagyū daughters will feel dishonored."

Duan Tianya nodded, continuing his sword practice. He saw nothing wrong with it: if Gu Qing stole one of the Yagyū daughters, he'd already won.

Gu Qing watched his rigid, precise movements, satisfied, and said: "Actually, your face suits the Dugu Nine Swords… One day, when you master the Illusionary Sword, I'll teach it to you."

Duan Tianya didn't understand why the Dugu Nine Swords required a certain face—but he sensed Gu Qing's intent to nurture him, and felt grateful.

Gu Qing reclined, head propped, cultivating his spirit: "Tianya, train hard. When you grow strong enough, I'll get you more mistress-wives."

Duan Tianya's heart warmed, swung his sword a few times, then suddenly realized—how many mistress-wives had anything to do with him?

Unaware, night drew near.

Gu Qing suddenly opened his eyes, his figure flickering, leaping across rooftops in straight lines toward the Yagyū household. When he arrived, the moon hung high, silver light blanketing the ground; every pavilion and house brimmed with hidden sentries, several stood guard at doors, and Yagyū Yuki-hime had already retired to her chamber.

!

All the Yagyū household's preparations resembled bride-stealing—waiting for Gu Qing, the "demon groom," to arrive.

In Japanese terms, this was called "yaya."

Gu Qing's figure glided gracefully, circling the Yagyū estate several times. Though swift, his shadow was visible under the moon, and the many hidden watchers sensed something amiss—signals flared in rapid succession.

"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"

Gu Qing pinched several leaves and hurled them against a wall, striking it with dull thuds, instantly drawing many eyes.

"Shhh…"

Gu Qing fully activated his Free-and-Easy Wind-riding, pushing his lightness arts to their peak; at this moment, he seemed fused with the wind, his faint shadow blurring, leaping effortlessly to a maiden's chamber, pushing open the window, and leaping inside.

Inside the room stood a girl of eleven or twelve; seeing Gu Qing enter in Ming attire, her gaze was clear, yet she remained silent.

"Shhh…"

Gu Qing wrapped his arm around the girl, whispering: "Got one." He kissed her cheek and said: "Grow up quickly."

Yagyū Piaoxu was dazed, her senses spinning; she felt weightless, soaring—when she came to, she was already in the man's arms, soaring over rooftops into the air, gazing at faint white mist rising all around, the breeze gentle, until he set her down gently on the roof.

"Watch how I steal your sister."

Gu Qing tapped Yagyū Piaoxu's cheek, then leapt straight toward Yagyū Tōmasu before the chamber.

The world of the First Under Heaven generally has high numerical values.

Iron-Dan Divine Marquis's mountain-lifting, his palace-toppling strike in the final battle, and his dragon-controlling clash with Cheng Shifei—these were feats Gu Qing could not replicate.

Fortunately, Gu Qing had visited the Celestial Prison and spoken with Gu Santong, thoroughly grasping this world's energy mechanics—he would not be at a disadvantage in battle.

Yagyū Tōmasu saw his opponent and slashed with his blade!

At that moment, Gu Qing seemed to freeze mid-air, his descent slowing; he twisted like a willow fluff caught in wind, evading the blade's aura, his toe tapping the blade's edge, using its recoil to burst straight into the chamber!

Second one!

(End of Chapter)