Chapter 659: Temptation

Unlike the Uchino clan, who frequently interacted with Han people, the Yamana clan had seen almost no Han people over the years, except for envoys sent by Great Ming.

So when he heard that Han people from the Celestial Kingdom had come seeking him—and even brought the head of Naito Manao as a gift—he didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately taking his most trusted elder to the inn to request an audience.

Wang Cong: …

He wasn't afraid this was a trap to lure out the snake? Was Naito Manao's head merely a stone thrown to test the waters?

He knew full well the Uchino clan had frequent contact with Han people, making it easy to fake a Han identity—yet he came rushing to the inn to meet Young Lady Xiao without verifying a thing…

What audacity…

Or perhaps he's just stupid?

Wang Cong silently berated him in his mind, yet his face showed no trace of it as he warmly led them inside.

Pan Yun stood smiling at the entrance of the hall, while Xue Shao stood half a step behind her in silence.

Yamana Mototo's smile faltered slightly upon seeing Pan Yun; before he could react further, Wang Cong called out: "Young Lady Xiao, the head of the Yamana clan has arrived."

Yamana Mototo froze, blurted out: "This is your Young Lady Xiao? The one leading them?"

"Yes," Wang Cong said. "We are disciples of the Long Hushan Academy. This is my Young Lady Xiao, Pan Yun."

Yamana Mototo's enthusiasm faded, and he was reluctantly ushered into the hall.

Pan Yun sat properly on the main seat, gestured for Yamana Mototo to take a seat beside her, and asked: "Did you like the gift we sent?"

Yamana Mototo snapped back to himself. Regardless of her actual abilities, she had truly killed Naito Manao.

Yamana Mototo smiled again, nodding: "I very much liked it. Thank you, Young Lady Pan, for your gift. What reward would you like in return?"

Pan Yun: "A single head is not enough to warrant a formal exchange of gifts. Naito Manao's head is merely our letter of introduction."

Yamana Mototo, unfamiliar with Han customs, glanced at Odaigaki, wondering: Do Han people really give away their political enemies' heads so casually?

Giving a rival's head as a gift?

Odaigaki gave a slight nod, signaling him to accept, then took over: "Our Yamana clan has long-standing grievances with the Uchino clan. Naito Manao repeatedly disrespected our lord, so we offered a bounty for his head. Since Young Lady Pan declines any reward, she must have a greater request. Speak plainly—we have felt your goodwill, and if your request is reasonable, we will fulfill it."

Pan Yun smiled: "I wish to ally with you to jointly oppose the Uchino clan."

Yamana Mototo's eyes lit up: "Young Lady Pan, do you represent the imperial court of Great Ming?"

Pan Yun did not answer directly, but said: "The Uchino clan is too insignificant to warrant the intervention of our dynasty."

Yamana Mototo frowned: "Then what kind of cooperation do you propose?"

Pan Yun said: "I hear the Uchino clan has seized several of your territories. If you wish to reclaim them, we are willing to lend you our strength."

"The Uchino clan's warriors are formidable, and they've trained many shinobi…"

Before he could finish, Pan Yun rose to her feet: "The people I brought are training in another courtyard. If you're interested, why not come and watch?"

Yamana Mototo, eager to see their abilities, stood immediately: "Very well."

The group moved to the adjacent courtyard.

Xi Jin, who had been serving tea, slipped ahead the moment Pan Yun rose, instructing the heroes to display their skills.

Thus, as Yamana Mototo stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw Gao Zhiming and Song Xuan sparring—swordplay like falling stars, swift as lightning, leaving Yamana Mototo dazzled and awestruck…

As they fought, they leapt onto the roof, and in two swift bounds, vanished from sight.

He tiptoed to see better—when suddenly a blade sliced through the air toward his face. His heart leapt—he had no time to react before another blade intercepted it midair, caught the sword, then Qu Le raised his knife, flinging Hu Jing's blade away as the two began exchanging knife techniques.

Blade met blade, clang after clang, making Yamana Mototo's eyes gleam with excitement.

But before either could claim victory, a fireball shot through the air, chasing one of them—until the man sprinted to Yamana Mototo's side and vanished in a flash.

Yamana Mototo:!!!

He rubbed his eyes.

Even the ever-calm Odaigaki and Ide田 Shintaro couldn't help but widen their eyes.

The next instant—唰—a figure burst violently from the ground at the opposite corner of the courtyard: Zhang Weiliang.

Zhang Weiyi, expressionless, chanted a spell to recall the fireball, bowed respectfully from afar toward Pan Yun, and gritted his teeth: "Young Lady!"

Zhang Weiliang, face flushed, also bowed and said: "Young Lady."

Pan Yun nodded with evident satisfaction, waving them off: "Good. Your magic has improved. Go on, keep training."

Yamana Mototo's eyes were now full of stars—he no longer doubted her abilities because of her youth.

He hurriedly asked: "Young Lady Pan, can you truly help me reclaim the lands seized by the Uchino clan?"

Pan Yun: "If we work together, nothing in this world is impossible."

Yamana Mototo was about to agree, but Odaigaki, still rational, grabbed his arm and asked first: "May I ask, Young Lady Pan, why target the Uchino clan?"

He paused, then said: "From what I know, the Uchino clan has closer ties with Great Ming. For years, they alone handled the kan'go trade. Why, then, would you come to Japan and bypass them to seek us out?"

Pan Yun: "Since we are to cooperate, I will not hide the truth from you. I chose you over the Uchino clan for three reasons."

"First: all of us here hold grudges against the Uchino clan."

Yamana Mototo and Odaigaki Ide田 Shintaro turned to look at the group in the courtyard.

The group stared back silently.

Pan Yun said: "For years, the Uchino clan has monopolized the kan'go trade. But each time they arrived in Great Ming, paid tribute, and departed from Jingcheng, heading toward the southeast coast, they falsely claimed to have been attacked by bandits—looting villages along the way and seizing vast amounts of civilian wealth."

Pan Yun frowned: "Your Majesty deeply despises these acts. Yet our sovereign, magnanimous, has refrained from punishing Japan's king or shogun—only extended the kan'go trade period again."

But outside the kan'go trade season, the Uchino clan routinely masquerades as pirates, raiding our imperial ships and even landing to plunder civilians."

Pan Yun paused, then asked Yamana Mototo: "Others may not know these things—but surely you, Lord Yamana, are not unaware?"

Yamana Mototo was about to wave it off, claiming ignorance—but Odaigaki clamped a hand over his mouth and said solemnly: "Our lord knows. He has repeatedly petitioned the shogun to punish Dainai Jiaohong. But the Uchino clan is arrogant; even the shogun has yielded again and again. After the shogun's death, the bakufu's power lay vacant, and no one could control him."

Pan Yun's expression softened slightly: "So the Uchino clan's arrogance is the same abroad as at home."

She sneered: "Last winter, the Uchino clan organized a band of pirates to attack Quanzhou in Great Ming—not only looting the people, but massacring entire villages and clans. Such blood debt—we cannot tolerate."

Pan Yun said coldly: "Whoever violates Great Ming's borders, whoever kills our people—no matter how far, shall be exterminated!" (End of chapter)