Chapter 479: Conditions

Twenty-sixth year of Jiajing, April 26, night.

Two hundred li from Izumo Taisha.

Li Miao tucked his hands in his sleeves, narrowed his eyes, tilted his head, and leaned against a giant rock. Nanako was carefully kneading his shoulders. Every time Li Miao moved, she shuddered like a frightened rabbit, and only after a long while did she dare to continue kneading Li Miao's shoulders timidly.

Lu Wushuang was sitting cross-legged on the side, practicing her internal energy.

Her age was about the same as An Ziyang's, her foundation was slightly better, and she had quietly cultivated her martial arts to the pinnacle. Apart from her talent, she naturally worked hard and practiced every day without rest, which was why she had her current realm.

Li Miao pointed out a few things to her casually, and she began to meditate with joy, even giving up the "beautiful job" of kneading Li Miao's shoulders to Nanako... only every ten breaths or so, she would open her eyes to observe, strictly guarding against Nanako.

"The confidantes the Lord has known since walking the Jianghu are, as far as I know, women of similar age and gentle personality... No, there is also Shen Xunni of the Huashan Sect; he doesn't care about age."

"Since age is not a problem, then I am at a disadvantage in terms of personality... Fortunately, the Lord seems to have some deep-rooted prejudice against Japanese people, but I can't take it lightly."

"Tsk, I only thought about leaving a good impression of being thoughtful on the Lord, so I chose such a noble girl. Now it seems I've found trouble for myself!"

Lu Wushuang opened her eyes again and swept a glance at Li Miao.

"At his speed, even if he goes to Hachiman-gu first and then returns to Kyoto, it won't exceed two months. I must take him down within two months! Otherwise, when we return to the Central Plains, it will be difficult to see him again!"

"I have already expressed my heart, and he did not resist, which means I have a chance... How about..."

Lu Wushuang's thoughts turned.

She was not one of those delicate women; coming from the Blood Garment Tower, she had plenty of strength and means. If aphrodisiacs were useful to Li Miao, the first thing she would have done upon meeting was to drug him, lock the door, make the bed, and strip. Why would she have waited until now?

Seeing Li Miao seemed to be asleep, she stopped her internal energy, was about to get up to drive Nanako away, and try to cook the raw rice into cooked rice directly!

But before she could get up, Li Miao suddenly spoke.

"Speaking of which."

"Little Lu, translate."

Nanako shuddered.

Li Miao continued with his eyes closed.

"Before, Matsuura Takanobu seemed to recognize you and wanted to use your identity to trade for his life from me. Little Lu said you have a Kyoto accent, yet you could be recognized by a Daimyo living in a remote corner... Your identity is not simple."

"Nothing to do, don't you want to talk about it?"

Lu Wushuang translated with a gloomy face.

Nanako didn't speak after hearing it, just shook her head at Li Miao, and was about to cry again.

She didn't want to say it, and didn't dare to say it.

Although Matsuura Takanobu's words were all in Central Plains official language, Japanese was derived from the Central Plains, and many pronunciations were similar, so she could vaguely understand many nouns.

Like Kyoto, like Ise Grand Shrine, like the Emperor.

With her identity, if she really said it, she was really afraid that Li Miao would use her as a bargaining chip to threaten her family... If so, she would rather die on that merchant ship.

She bit her lip and refused to answer, already prepared to be slapped to death by Li Miao.

But Li Miao was not as fierce as he was in Hirado City, just waving his hand.

"Forget it, if you don't want to say it, don't. I don't have much interest either. It's nothing more than whose daughter, whose sister, or whose fiancée ran away from home."

"However, since you don't say it, I won't ask again in the future. If you want to say it later, I won't listen. If one day I kill my way to the heads of your father, husband's family, friends, or relatives, don't regret it."

"Remember, from today on, the credit of you serving as my guide is only enough to trade for your own life."

Lu Wushuang translated happily.

So Nanako became even more tangled and silent, her two hands twisting her clothes, her brain in chaos.

The breeze shook the leaves, rustling.

The moonlight flowed over the giant rock, silent.

Time wore away bit by bit. Lu Wushuang finished her practice, got up and walked toward Li Miao, waved her hand to drive the sobbing Nanako aside, and was about to sleep directly against Li Miao's back.

But before she could get into the cloak, suddenly, a few footsteps came from the woods.

"Tsk!"

Lu Wushuang turned her head suddenly, murderous.

"Blind dog thing, coming to disturb my good deed!"

"Get out!"