novelraw Chapter 219-2: The Otaki Estate, Karasu Tengu (2)
Chapter 219-2: The Otaki Estate, Karasu Tengu (2)
[The Otaki Estate is located in the center of Fukoka Castle. The grounds are vast and the security extremely tight.]
[From a distance, you could see a squad of heavily armored samurai patrolling before the main gate.]
[Your gaze indifferent, you rested your hand on the sword at your waist and strode forward…]
[The samurai all bowed when they saw you, respectfully addressing you as Master Instructor.]
[One quick-witted samurai hurried forward to guide you, leading you deeper into the estate…]
[The compound was full of guards, and you knew there were hidden sentries in every corner. Such strict security was because the Otaki family’s eldest son had made many enemies with his rampant violence.]
[In just the past month, there had already been two ninja assassination attempts…]
[After many twists and turns, you finally arrived at a secluded building.]
[The samurai carefully reminded you that the second young master had been summoned by the heir last night and had been relocated to this remote dwelling early this morning.]
[When he finished speaking, the samurai withdrew cautiously.][Will you enter the building ahead?]
[You stepped forward. There were no guards at the entrance. You gently pushed open the door and stepped inside.]
[The windows were all sealed, no sunlight entered, only a few scattered candles casting a dim glow.]
[A small, thin figure sat staring blankly into the flames, the black pupils reflecting a flicker of waning warmth.]
[When you opened the door, the light from outside flooded in. You walked through the golden sunlight to stand before the small figure.]
[The Fire-Worshipping Otaki Clan Second Son looked up at you. The brilliant sunlight filled the room and lit his dull gaze. He bowed low until his forehead touched the floor, his voice choked as he began to speak…]
[Last night, his spies stationed in the Underground Arena reported that the swordsman you had dispatched had been defeated. Afterward, he received a summons from his elder brother.]
[His brother claimed he normally wouldn’t bother with such petty intrigues. But he accused the second son of secretly colluding with ‘Evil God remnants’ to stage the incident in order to frame him. Then he had all the second son’s guards and servants removed and confined him here…]
[When one wishes to condemn, any pretext will do… Now, the Master Instructor is his only hope. He begged you to act once more.]
[The Fire-Worshipping Otaki Clan Second Son repeatedly knocked his forehead against the floor, placing all his hope in you.]
[Will you help the Otaki Clan Second Son?]
[You slowly shook your head and said plainly that there was no longer any chance of reclaiming the clan head’s position. At this point, there was only one option left… the token the old clan head had entrusted.]
[Hearing this, the second son froze for a long while, tears gradually welling in his eyes. He couldn’t believe it and asked you again for confirmation.]
[Your gaze remained indifferent, and you nodded firmly.]
[After a long silence, he slowly drew a golden token from his robe…]
[You have obtained the Absolute Barrier Token (Key)]
[Absolute Barrier Token (Key): A heavy golden token etched with blood-colored tadpole script. This is the key to a secret Absolute Barrier. Holding this item allows you to freely enter the Absolute Barrier of the Ten Directions. Once inside, you can use this token to lift the seal.]
[The Otaki Clan Second Son handed you the Absolute Barrier Token, then slumped weakly to the floor, sobbing softly.]
[You knew the entrance to the underground beneath the estate was hidden inside the old clan head’s sleeping chamber. But you also knew you were not the only one confined…]
[The old clan head lay in a coma. Samurai stood guard around the chamber, sealed so tightly not even a mosquito could slip in…]
[Will you leave the side building and proceed to the old clan head’s sleeping chamber?]
[You patted the Otaki Clan Second Son’s shoulder, a silent gesture of comfort, then turned and left…]
[…]
[Guided by memory, you gradually approached the depths of the estate.]
[As you advanced, the patrolling samurai eyed you with growing suspicion.]
[Judging by their armor, their swords, and the aura they exuded as they guarded the corridors, you sensed these samurai were far stronger than the ones you had passed at the main gate. These were the eldest son’s elite forces.]
[You arrived at the grand entrance to the sleeping chamber. The old clan head lay unconscious within.]
[A squad of armored samurai barred your way, refusing to let you pass.]
[You barked a command, but the samurai remained unmoved. Though you hadn’t turned around, you could sense many more samurai converging on your position.]
[Will you force your way into the sleeping chamber, or retreat for now?]
“Tch… It looks like the Master Instructor’s identity badge doesn’t work anymore.”
Lin Xun thought for a moment, then chose the latter option.
If even the second son had such a powerful helper as the Master Instructor, there was no way the Otaki family’s eldest son wouldn’t have similar backing.
This was no place for a frontal assault, using strategy was the wiser course.
He could always come back to fight after exploring whatever was sealed in the underground Absolute Barrier.
[Your expression darkened. You turned in silence and left…]
[The samurai’s eyes remained locked on you until you rounded a corner and stepped into an empty courtyard…]
“How should I get into the sleeping chamber?”
Lin Xun’s first thought was to use the Chunin shell and slip in while invisible.
But since the Otaki family’s eldest son had survived repeated ninja assassination attempts unscathed, he was sure to have some kind of anti-stealth measures.
There was a significant chance that sneaking in would fail.
It had been a long time since Lin Xun encountered a situation where he was truly stuck, and for the moment, he couldn’t find any clues.
He opened his inventory and examined it for quite a while.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, locking onto one item.
[Otaki Clan Samurai Command (Item): A silver token engraved with the Otaki Clan’s three-tiered scale crest. It is a symbol of an honored samurai’s status. While carrying this item, you can access certain restricted areas.]
“This has to be it, more or less guaranteed!”
Lin Xun pondered a moment but didn’t rush out waving the command token.
Instead, he first decided to switch shells.
[You possessed the shell of the Fire-Worshipping Horseback Samurai!]
The Horseback Samurai were the Otaki eldest son’s personal retainers, essentially the estate’s guards and the heads of the samurai. With this identity plus the command token, it was double insurance.
[You strode out of the empty courtyard and made your way back to the sleeping chamber…]
[At the entrance, the samurai on guard bowed their heads to you. One, who looked like a captain, seemed about to step forward to question you.]
[You held the Otaki Clan Samurai Command out before his eyes and said in a low voice: “The master has ordered it. Who dares stand in the way?!”]
[The samurai captain quickly bowed and stepped aside…]
[You passed unhindered into the sleeping chamber and shut the door behind you.]
[The chamber was spacious, but the furnishings were sparse, typical of the old clan head’s style.]
[Inside was only one person: the old Otaki clan head, lying unconscious on the bed.]
[You walked slowly to the bedside. The old man’s hair was snow-white, his breathing shallow, as if he might die at any moment.]
[You began searching the room for the hidden mechanism leading underground…]
[Searching…]
[You discovered a booklet on the bookshelf.]
[You have obtained Ancient Book: The Pillow Book (Junk)]
[Searching…]
[You discovered an exquisite wine cup on the table.]
[You have obtained Celadon Snake-Eye Cup (Junk)]
[Searching…]
[You searched thoroughly but could not find anything that looked like a mechanism.]
Lin Xun slapped his forehead.
He quickly switched back into the Master Instructor shell and resumed the search.
[You went straight to the bedside and turned the vase by the pillow…]
[From beneath the floor came the faint sound of shifting mechanisms, so soft you had to hold your breath to hear it.]
[After a moment, a square stone tile in front of the bed opened, revealing a dark passage leading underground.]
[You were just about to step down when an old, feeble voice murmured from the bed…]
[“Masayuki… Has it really come to this?”]
Lin Xun raised an eyebrow. He knew that Hirakawa Masayuki was the Master Instructor’s true name.
He had intended to proceed straight underground but hadn’t expected the old clan head to suddenly awaken.
[You halted and stepped back to the bedside…]
[The dying old man’s gaze still held a faint glimmer of hope. You told him that the second son’s retainers and servants had all been removed.]
[You spoke plainly, the second son was now under house arrest, and there was no longer any chance to claim the position of clan head.]
[After a long silence, the old man slowly reached beneath his pillow and withdrew an item, handing it to you with trembling hands.]
[The Fire-Worshipping Otaki Clan Old Clan Head spoke his final words: “What is sealed within the barrier is unimaginably dangerous. You must protect my second son’s life…”]
[With that, his breathing stopped, and his gaze went vacant.]
[The Fire-Worshipping Otaki Clan Old Clan Head has died. You have not gained any experience.]
[You have obtained Demon-Subduing Crow Feather Talisman (Special Item)]
[Crow Feather Talisman (Special Item): A feather black as pitch, the length of a person’s forearm, densely inscribed with blood-red script. Carrying this item will cause the Karasu Tengu’s hostility toward you to drop to the lowest level. Using this item will weaken some of the Karasu Tengu’s strength.]
“Karasu Tengu… So that’s the big boss sealed in the underground barrier?”
Lin Xun studied the item’s description, deep in thought.