Flame Array

Gao Lai's face was also sprayed with foul-smelling blood.
He took a step forward, and why did the head that had been writhing between his legs suddenly feel so heavy? It was completely unrecognizable as the body that had once been as beautiful as a fairy; it was like an ugly rock.
It had lost all its allure.
Its warm, foul stench of blood only fueled Gao Lai's anger. His slightly parted, luscious lips were like those of a bloodless slug, and he angrily threw them to the ground.
(Was this an illusion?...)
Gao Lai stared wide-eyed, as if in a dream.
It was almost unbelievable.
When the guard called him, Kosaburo was still alive.
Kosaburo was still giving him unparalleled ecstasy with his serpentine tongue.
Those slender hands, those warm lips, were still alive.
And after he returned, when they started again, those lips still worked—they must still be alive! In an instant, Gao Lai felt as if he were in a dream, bewildered and unable to understand.
Moreover, his physiological reactions must have been genuine.
Could this be related to the stiffness of a dead person?
The murderer must have killed Kosaburo while he was talking to the guard.
So, where is the murderer hiding now? It's impossible for them to escape so quickly. Even if the intruder is highly skilled in martial arts and has excellent agility, they couldn't…
(Where are they hiding?)
Takayori suddenly became clear-headed.
He was no longer confused, staring intently at the room with his bright, piercing eyes.
The lamp wick beside the bed flickered gently in the breeze.
The corners of the room were dark, the continuous patterns on the walls were dim and indistinct, and a Tang-style cabinet stood next to the armor cabinet.
If the murderer had truly infiltrated, they should be nearby.
(Yes! That's right! They must be inside!)
Upon realizing this, he immediately held his breath and observed intently.
"Are you the general's lackey?"
Besides the wealthy and powerful, Takayori also employed many Koga ninja.
At that time, Koga ninja were divided into three ranks and seven families. All subsequent Koga 53 families originated from this.
Takayori used five of the seven families.
However, he had two vices. First, stinginess; second, lechery. He had defiled the wives and daughters of every servant employed in his household.
Servants could tolerate this, but ninjas could not.
Especially when he targeted beautiful female ninjas, he faced criticism and resistance.
With half of Jiangnan under the shogun's control, Takayori's finances became increasingly impoverished, making him even more stingy. Therefore, many ninjas refused to serve him, hindering his plans to open up the war.
"You scoundrel! Come here and let me have my way!"
Takayori reached for his sword!
It was a heavy Kurita sword.
The moment his fingers touched the hilt, his hand trembled with pain!
"Ah..."
He turned halfway and fell!
He saw a dark figure holding a cross-shaped shuriken.
"Bastard... come out if you dare! Don't cower!"
Takayori roared, rolling on the mattress.
Suddenly, several dark figures leaped forward! Almost simultaneously, they attacked Takayori.
"You scoundrel! Show your true colors!"
His right hand was numb, and Takayori forcefully kicked Kosaburo's head away.
The head rolled to the enemy's feet.
But the dark figure showed no panic, instead fearlessly cradling it in its arms.
This person was none other than Genzo, a subordinate of Kogenyasai.
Only two rows of snow-white teeth were visible in the darkness.
A fierce white blade pierced the ita-do (wooden door), which was made of thick cedar planks.
Perhaps the force was too great, as it could not be pulled out immediately.
But Genzo's movements were incredibly swift; he turned around, holding the head in his arms, and rolled over the ita-do.
The sound of wood cracking was heard.
The ita-do was broken, and the blade was pulled upwards.
At this moment, Takayori shouted loudly, calling for his guards to rush in and help.
Genzo, having missed his attack, immediately fled to the next room!
However, he could no longer escape the inescapable net of encirclement. The mansion was filled with elite soldiers, both inside and out.
They were already preparing for a surprise attack, their fighting spirit soaring.
Every soldier brandished their weapons.
"You choose the path to hell, not heaven!"
"Kill him immediately!"
"Use him as a sacrifice for our blades!"
The soldiers swarmed forward.
Xuanzang had nowhere to escape.
(Today I'll only get this head…)
Surrounded from all sides, like a forest of blades, Xuanzang was completely isolated.
(Today I fear I will perish here…)
Xuanzang had already resigned himself to his fate.
(Burn him alive!)
A roar echoed from the sky.
But the hexagonal guards didn't understand, as they hadn't heard any strange sounds. Just as they were about to turn back for orders, Xuanzang charged out like a madman.
In the next instant, weapons from all directions struck Xuanzang's back, wrists, abdomen, and waist—a chaotic barrage of blades relentlessly slashing at his body. Unable to bear the pain, Xuanzang struggled free and leaped forward through the corridor.
"Well done!"
Another lurking soldier, seeing their blade formation crumble, prepared everything, ready to unleash a burst of flames the moment the enemy arrived!
A fierce vortex of sparks formed, trapping Xuanzang in its center.
This time, Xuanzang had no chance of escape.
The flames nearly engulfed him.
However, at this most critical moment, a figure leaped into the ring of fire.
This figure had come from under the eaves.
Xuanzang, clutching his severed head, fled along a line of fire, and this figure seized the opportunity to enter.
In ninjutsu, this was called "Fire Crossing," and indeed, the figure was Jinroku; the thick smoke concealed his form! After a brief contact with Xuanzang, he transformed into a tiny black dot and vanished into the night sky.
Xuanzang wasn't immediately exhausted and suffering; even engulfed in flames, he was determined to kill to his heart's content. Finally, he rode the flames forward, and with his last breath, he slew five men—no! Only three.
"Shoot him! Shoot him!"
A thick, malevolent aura filled the earth, forcing the soldiers to retreat step by step. Yet, a hail of arrows continued to rain down on the man in the fire!
Xuanzang could no longer hold on. He lunged left and right, but dozens of arrows had already struck his body, rendering him immobile.
Flames ignited his clothes and hair, engulfing his swaying figure until finally, he came to a standstill in the flames.
The bolder ones approached to see—the man was dead, yet his massive body remained stubbornly upright.
Genzo's sacrifice wasn't without cost; at least Jinroku, who had used the fire to cross, had escaped safely.
Moreover, Jinroku had even fled the impregnable Kannonji Castle.
However, returning to Gouki Village was still a long journey.
Jinroku hired a small boat to cross the Hino River, daring not to take the main road, but instead proceeding in a circuitous route.
He arrived at a desolate, lifeless low-lying wetland, scattered with fields and swampy miasma.
Still clutching the head tightly, he used his lightness skill to move swiftly, soon reaching the edge of a deep, dark swamp.
(Where do you intend to go?)
Suddenly, a terrifying voice echoed through the desolate swamp.
"..."
Jinroku naturally slowed his pace.
The surroundings were so dark that the moon quietly revealed its bright face. The stars twinkled faintly, only the swamp reflecting a sparse light.
(You Koga lackey...)
"Ah! Who's there?"
(I am the devil of this swamp. If you meet me tonight, you will never return to Hook Village.)
"What did you say?"
(This swamp is your graveyard.)
"Shut up!"
Jinroku quickened his pace, trying to escape this gloomy area. He felt an ominous pressure in his chest.
He lit a torch in his hand, a conjured ninja technique called "Hook Flow Fire Technique." He carefully shone it on the lake, but there was no sign of the enemy on the black, foul-smelling swamp.
So he held onto Kosaburo's head and continued to move quickly.
However, a black snake coiled around his legs.
"Ah!"
Jinroku desperately tried to break free, but what was binding his feet was not a black snake, but a ninja's flying rope.
He could no longer escape.
(Hahahaha, today you will die here. Hehehehe!)
The enemy in the shadows continued to provoke Jinroku with words.
Jinroku roared angrily and threw the severed head in his hand towards the source of the voice.
But his legs were sinking...
sinking deeper into the soft mud.
"It's over!"
Jinroku realized that the ground beneath his feet was a bottomless pit.
His once resolute voice, now trembling with fear, betrayed his predicament.
The owner of the mysterious voice in the darkness finally appeared. Wasn't she a woman?
Her sword held no blade; she simply stood there, beautiful and charming, smiling, possessing an alluring beauty.
"How about it? Koga lackey? This is your final resting place."
"What, you are..."
"Fine! I'll let you die peacefully. I am the melon girl of the Hachiya..."
"The person I hate most in my life is Kōgenyasai, and now I'll unleash all my anger on you, hahaha!"
"You wicked woman!"
Jinroku used his ninjutsu to try and free himself, but with each movement, his legs sank deeper.
Soon, the mud had reached his body.
Jinroku felt his body slowly sinking towards the edge of hell. "Wow! Am I really going to fall straight into hell
today..." "Save me! Save me! Please, save me!" The mud had slowly risen from his knees to his waist, then his abdomen, his chest... There were no villages or houses around the swamp, so even if he roared and screamed until his throat was hoarse, no one would hear him. Only the sparse woods and fields on the hill in the night seemed to slowly melt into the boundless darkness in response to his cries. Even his heaving chest was buried in the mud. "How about the road to hell? I'll let you take a companion!" Eight Women grabbed Kosaburo's hair and threw it forcefully towards Jinroku. However, Jinroku's hands could no longer catch anything. Suddenly, a strange bird circling in the night sky swooped down and snatched it away before its head hit the ground. This kind of eagle was so fast that it had probably been lurking in the shadows for a long time before the melon woman noticed, and then struck successfully. Ordinary birds of prey do not fly in the night sky. It would take a long time for the fierce infant to carry Kosaburo's head back to Hook Village, as it was a heavy human skull. Not only that, but the poor visibility in the night sky also hindered its flight. It flew from treetop to treetop, stopping and starting, but never stopping. But just before that— a large group of people crowded towards Hook Village. They clamored to see Spider-Masama. Finally, they encountered Spider-Masama coming out and eagerly exclaimed, "A warrior named Jinroku is trapped under the Hino River, and he has asked us to come and ask for your help." This shouldn't be a lie! They were all local residents, and some were even familiar faces. So Spider-Masama dispatched five ninjas, below the rank of Kanai, to help the people in their rescue. But soon after, someone else came to see him. "A warrior who calls himself Genzo is fighting bravely against the Rokkaku on the Nozu River, battling them to the death!" This time, the person seeking an audience was a respected gentleman. It is said that this night battle also occurred within a hundred miles of his home. So the black marketeer, along with five female ninjas, left, leaving the master alone. Spider Maru wanted to hold him hostage, threatening to kill him if he uttered even the slightest lie. The poor master had no choice but to stay obediently in his mansion, not daring to make a move! "Keeping him here is a precaution; don't let him out of your sight." However, at this moment, Yoshihiro was indulging in sensual pleasures. Recently, he had summoned many beautiful girls from nearby villages to accompany him in his revelry. Things that had infuriated him during the day, like the "Ox-Splitting Punishment" and "Puppet Ninja Techniques," were now dissolved in the wine, women, and wealth of the night. The Koga ninjas whom Yoshihiro trusted wholeheartedly didn't even know what the "Puppet Ninja Techniques" were. Not only that, but even his beloved concubine had died tragically in the Ox-Splitting Punishment! "Though I didn't kill Bo Ren, Bo Ren died because of me." Wasn't Aman's death all Yoshihiro's fault? Moreover, the strange old man's unusual ninjutsu cast a shadow over Yoshihiro's heart. To dispel Yoshihiro's doubts, Spider Maru comforted him, saying, "That man's ninjutsu is truly divine, but it's just that each one has its own subtle differences." Then, in order to win the shogun's favor, he quickly went to various villages to find beautiful women, ranging from twelve or thirteen to fifteen or sixteen years old, and forcibly brought them into the palace.

They were all ten stunningly beautiful women, completely naked with flawless skin, who accompanied the general for a night of pleasure, indulging in the pleasures of the world within the light gauze curtains. They were forced to remove their clothes and were not allowed to protest, for after being summoned by the general, they had to be prepared to offer themselves.
Ten women on one dragon bed were rather crowded.
The chosen beauties varied in their figures—some voluptuous, some slender—each with a shapely figure that even a man accustomed to wine and women couldn't help but feel aroused, quite a sight.
"Each of you hold a cup of wine, let me taste it."
So the ten women, with their ample hips swaying, knelt at his knees with boundless allure.
Completely naked, their high, firm breasts and thick, revealing pubic hair were completely exposed.
Some had flushed faces, shy and bashful, while others trembled and paled.
Yixi drank from their cups one by one, savoring the unique flavor of each woman. With an expression of ecstatic joy, he drained their cups, then laid the beauties down in a trance, beginning a frenzied game…
He didn't stop.
Finally, everyone grew weary.
The irresistible allure of sleep enveloped both inside and outside the tent, and finally, they all succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep.
Although the bed was cramped, the naked female bodies still nestled together in a loving embrace.
Perhaps, in Yixi's twenty-five years of life, this was the sweetest sleep.
Ten beautiful, ethereal naked women surrounded him, slowly intoxicating him, slowly lulling him into a dream.
In his dream, one after another, it was a world of blissful flesh! Again and again, an endless cycle of sexual intercourse, the same peak of climax!
(This is not a dream. I am a mighty general, and no woman in the world dares to disobey my will...)
As he lay in his dream, half-asleep, half-awake, he suddenly heard someone answer him—
(Yes, this is not a dream... Enjoy it! To your heart's content...)
He didn't know who was answering him in his dream. But whoever it was, the other party was an extremely eerie figure, because they could penetrate the depths of his erotic dream...
Yi Xi smiled and nodded.
He was intoxicated by pleasure!
He embraced ten soft female bodies in his arms, but the female bodies were as smooth as snakes, and he needed to use even more strength...
The lust in his heart grew stronger with each thrust! He held the female bodies, yet felt as if his soul was wandering in the void! Finally, he ejaculated! Time and again, he squeezed out the root of his life!
In the midst of boundless pleasure, he suddenly saw colorful clouds, blooming like lotus flowers.
(—Where am I? Where am I?)
In the haze, it seemed as if someone was answering him.
(It's the underworld, come in! You've been afflicted by the Puppet Ninja Art "Dream Wetness," and the Grim Reaper is about to take you to the West...)
Yoshihiro could no longer hear the last few lines; his lower body released semen like flowing water. Thus, the ninth Ashikaga shogun, Yoshihiro, was sent to the underworld...
*
At the same time, Rokkaku Takayori's army, departing from Kannonji Castle, stealthily moved through the streets using unique ninja techniques.
A squad on the right wing—led by Hachifu—walked past the Bottomless Swamp. Unaware that just minutes before, this place had swallowed a ninja named Jinroku, they all strode forward expressionlessly.
Yoshihiro was alive and well.
At least, to the guards in the Hook Formation, he appeared alive.
The guards heard the bell ringing inside the shogun's tent and quickly entered.
"Send these women back!"
It was Yoshihiro's voice, unmistakably Yoshihiro's voice.
"Send them back to their parents..."
"Yes! As you command!"
Although they harbored some doubts, for they all knew Yixi's true nature; given his lustful nature, he wouldn't tire of ten women so quickly.
However, as a ruler, willful and domineering, his likes and dislikes were naturally very strong.
The guards slowly entered the tent, helping the naked women to sit in a corner.
In the eyes of the young guards, they were a naked tribe, vibrant and alluring.
Yixi, having satisfied himself, lay in the tent, fast asleep.
"—Is the lord asleep?"
The junior official nodded.
So the guards ordered the naked women to put on clothes, take some rice and cloth, and return to their families' homes.
Some of the elderly parents, upon hearing that their daughters had been released from the palace, rushed to greet them through the night.
"These old foxes, when we ask them to pay taxes, they're either sore-backed or have failing eyesight, but now that we've got them to greet the young lady, they're flying faster!"
"Hahaha, afraid of you lecherous devils!"
Some of the guards joked amongst themselves, and in no time, everyone was gone.
"Alright, alright, finally over—"
A strange, hoarse voice came from the top of the bamboo grove, where a blurry shadow seemed to be.
It was an old man. His hair was white, but his long white beard reached his chest. The soldiers brought torches and carefully examined his wrinkled face.
"Hey! Old man. What are you still doing here so late? Did you come to bring your daughter? All ten of them are gone."
"Hahaha! My daughter is right here!"
He pointed to the wine ladle in his hand.
"Where did that Spider brat go?"
"Spider—"
"Tell him to come see me, and that this old man has arrived!"
"Spider—don't cause trouble here—"
"You fools, I want Spider Maru to come see me, do you understand? Tell him I am 'Hook'—" "
What? What a strange old man, alright! Go and ask Lord Spider Maru to teach him a lesson."
This was an old man with infinitely strange behavior. Was he a highly skilled ninja? Why did he dare to call Spider Maru by his name? The soldiers looked at each other, and finally went inside to report.
However, a great commotion broke out inside.
Duan Zang rushed over immediately, covered in sweat!
"Sorry to keep you waiting!"
In an instant, figures from the night gathered on the sand, under the bed, and on the ground.
Their attitude was so humble, even Spider Maru had a flustered face.
"Hmm! Hmm! Hmm..."
The old man squinted, looking at the shadows of men and women around him. Apart from the leader, Hook Gou Yasai, who else could have such a grand presence?
"Spider!"
"Yes!"
"I heard you were badly hurt by the Puppet Clan?"
"I'm ashamed... Their ninjutsu was so vicious that I couldn't defend against it all at once. And... only you, leader, could deal with a master like He Ma."
"That old bastard Hema... Hmph, I've wanted his head for ages. Fine, let me see the general!"
Spider-Maru whispered to the guard Kumejima. Kumejima wore a bitter expression, indicating that the general was still sleeping and they shouldn't disturb him.
However, the Koga ninja—Spider-Maru—was working day and night to guard against the puppet ninjas and Rokkaku Takarachi, and even their leader, Genyasai, was no exception.
Kumejima soon returned with a bitter face.
"We mustn't disturb the lord..." His lips trembled. "The general is about to lose his temper; he doesn't want to see you at all..."
"What? The general is like this..."
Not only Spider-Maru, but also Josuke and Kuroichi rolled their eyes and said indignantly, "He doesn't appreciate our hard work at all! Fine, if they don't want us here, there are plenty of other places that will!"
"It would be better..."
Amidst the discussion, Genyasai quietly said a few words.
"No wonder the general is so cold to you; your actions are far too sluggish, making you unreliable!"
"But it shouldn't be like this..."
"Let's go back to the Sarutobi clan! Besides, I'm injured and need time to recover. Originally, I never hoped to advance to the official ranks; I only harbored the desire to fight the Puppet Clan and the Hachiya..."
Genyasai resolutely stood up.
Kumejima presented them with three pieces of gold dust wrapped in cloth as their payment. Of course, Genyasai had no reason to refuse.
The Koga and Sarutobi clans had finally left the Hook's camp. Just then, the Rokkaku's night raid vanguard had already broken through the Kyose front.
Although the Koga clan had left in despair, it didn't mean they had given up the fight. Ninjas often didn't hesitate to expose others' secrets or be hired to kill in order to make a living. However, Hookyasai's lifelong wish was to eliminate the Puppet Clan led by Kama.
"Chief, what grudge did you have with Hema in the past?"
"Well—that's a long time ago—"
Long before Yoshihiro was born. Yoshihiro's mother, Hino Tomiko, was a woman with an insatiable thirst for power and vanity. After giving birth to her first son, he died shortly after. Tomiko suspected her favorite concubine, A-Ima, of being responsible. She resolved to assassinate A-Ima and exile her to an island in Lake Biwa.
"Kill her, leave no survivors!"
Tomiko ordered Hema to carry out this secretly, offering a high reward and promising to free him from the miserable status of the puppet clan, making him a respected outsider. Enticed by the promise of reward, Hema went to the island and killed A-Ima with a single blow. A-Ima, exiled by Tomiko, was naturally filled with resentment.
However, after the deed was done, Tomiko began to worry about this highly skilled puppet ninja. How could she, the wife of a general who ruled the world, be involved with a wandering puppet group? This ruthless woman had another idea—she sent her retainers to assassinate Kama and silence him. Fearing failure, the retainers sought help from the Koga, whose top assassin was Kōgenyasai. It was
late autumn of the third year of Chōroku. Due to the intense summer sun, late autumn brought torrential rains, causing the rivers of ōmi to overflow and flood. Countless families near Biwa Island perished, and the surrounding area suffered natural disasters. At this time, Kōgenyasai and Hachiya Kama engaged in a bloody and earth-shattering battle.
Both sides had numerous followers, making it not merely a simple clash between Koga ninjutsu and puppet ninjutsu; their subordinates were also caught in the crossfire, suffering heavy casualties. The battle was evenly matched, but Kōgenyasai narrowly won due to his advantage of terrain.
Kama, severely wounded, fled alone to Izumo. Hachiya, the village of Izumo, was Kama's hometown. The puppet ninja, who had wandered their entire lives without a place to settle down, naturally couldn't live among ordinary people like everyone else. They lived like wild dogs, roaming the cliffs, valleys, and streamsides.
Of course, Kama, forced to return to his hometown, harbored a deep resentment towards Tomiko. This resentment burned fiercely in his chest, so he devoted himself to educating and nurturing his subordinates, hoping to exact revenge.
In the blink of an eye, thirty years had passed.
Kama had grown old, and so had Genya. Both sides had made astonishing progress in their ninjutsu, and their subordinates' influence had grown stronger day by day. Coupled with the Ashikaga shogun's involvement in the flames of battle, the bloody catastrophe of the past thirty years had only intensified, seemingly without end.
"—So there's such a deep-seated grudge."
"Kama hates me, and I will kill him without hesitation."
Genya raised his eyebrows and suddenly turned to look towards the village of Kōnosato.
Near the Yasu River in the distance, patches of fire were burning.
A cacophony of shouts shattered the tranquility of the plain.
"It's begun—"
"Ah—"
"Regardless of who wins or loses, the most important thing is Kōma—where is he hiding?"
The Koga troop halted.
Rokkaku Takarai launched his planned attack, the main force advancing from the streets, combined with the flanks on the left and right, forming an unstoppable, sweeping force.
The right flank advanced from the lakeside wetlands, while the left flank circled in from the mountains. The army of Kamiki Shōshō, defending a distance of three or four hundred meters from ōkami and Mikami, unaware of the night raid, mistook it for an avalanche and hastily retreated. The force
holding the lakeshore was led by Tomiyama Masanaga; though skilled in battle, they failed to notice the enemy navy approaching by boat from the lake. Kōnosato
was on the verge of becoming a sitting duck.
Yoshihiro received a constant stream of news of defeats and retreats in the palace. His senior retainers were frantic, but he remained as steady as a mountain.
"Don't panic, this is nothing!"
He still donned his general's armor.
The maids hurriedly helped him, but he didn't even button it, like a lifeless wooden figure, waiting to be served. He opened his sleepy eyes, a look of disgust on his face.
"My eyes are so sore!" he
said, ordering the women to move the lamps away.
In the dim light, he began to hastily deploy his troops.
"Using sharpshooters at night can demoralize the enemy; we should make good use of it.
"
"The most important thing is to strengthen the defenses of the Imperial Guard. We mustn't fall into the enemy's trap and disperse our forces."
Yoshihiro looked at the generals before him and said in a mocking tone, "Those bastards attacking the Imperial Guard will be terrified at the sight of me!"
"General, you are indeed a man of great talent and strategy, but this night raid is no ordinary one."
"Don't boost the enemy's morale while diminishing our own! In short, we will never allow the enemy to penetrate the Yasu River."
Yoshiteru left no soldiers as a rearguard, sending all his troops to the front lines to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
However, this strategy fell right into the trap of the Rokkaku forces, and it seemed Yoshihiro's chances of survival in this battle were slim.
Tens of thousands of soldiers charged towards the enemy on the opposite bank of the Yasu River.
"We will drive the Rokkaku forces out of the border—come on! A full-scale counterattack—"
Just as Yoshihiro and his generals were overjoyed, Rokkaku's surprise attack quietly appeared! The flank of the mountain road was led by the fierce general Kayano Ukon with 6,000 troops, while the flank on the lake was led by Okushima Daizen Daifu with 2,000 sailors, and together they attacked the Hook-no-Jin-ya.
The main force consisted only of the old, weak, and wounded, causing a terrifying chaos. Before the moon rose, crisscrossing rockets exploded in the night sky, and a bloody killing intent permeated the area around the Hook Formation.
News of the surprise attack on the main force quickly reached the ears of the generals.
"It's over! They're attacking the fortress head-on!"
Panic began to spread among the army.
Seeing the enemy's wavering resolve, the Hexagonal Army deliberately withdrew slowly, waiting until they had regrouped before launching a second wave of attack—a tactic known in military strategy as "returning the wave."
"Don't leave any of the people in Yoshihisa's mansion alive!"
"Exterminate them all and seize Jiangnan!"
The battle cries rose and fell. The imposing figure of Rokkaku Takayori stood in the center of the army. Riding a chestnut-haired divine steed, he wielded his massive naginata with valiant skill, his crescent blade striking with deadly precision, and heads falling like a tide.
Although Yoshihiro's army outnumbered Rokkaku Takayori's by several times, it was a disorganized rabble, trembling with fear at the sight of the enemy's valiant might. The title "Shogun" was not a permanent official post, but a temporary designation bestowed upon those who had rendered meritorious service in defeating the barbarians. It was a concurrent command determined by military circumstances.
Last autumn, Yoshihiro, heeding the advice of his inner ministers, used the title of "Shogun" to weaken the military power of the generals. His sycophantic advisors, such as Hosokawa, strongly urged the shogun to place the entire 60,000-strong army under his centralized command. Thus, the supreme commander became a figurehead. Consequently, many disloyal soldiers often abandoned their armor and fled during battles, all for the sake of self-preservation.
Rokkaku Takayori, launching a fierce attack, repeatedly shouted commands on the battlefield: "Anyone who abandons their armor and flees will be killed!"
The "armor" referred to the back of the soldier's armor. To have one's armor taken by the enemy was a disgrace to a samurai. Once they abandoned their allies, not only would they be unable to protect themselves, but even escape would be difficult. The hexagonal army, striking while the iron was hot, swept through the enemy lines with unstoppable force, killing indiscriminately.
However, those secretly lying in ambush in the sparse woods outside the battlements, quietly observing the massacre, were not Koga, but rather the puppet regime's faction.
He Ma squinted and said, "Burn! Burn! Burn the general's camp to the ground. Hahaha—it's best to leave no one alive. This is retribution! When that heartless woman, Tomiko, hears this news, she'll probably be eager to return to the capital!"
"Tomiko—should we burn down the Flower Palace too—?"
"Yes, but we must act quickly—"
"Don't let Akahiko do this again. He's already achieved a good result, and Yoshihiro's army is about to be completely annihilated... Besides, he should be back soon." Hibuki Toroku nodded thoughtfully: "Perhaps he still wants to keep the main camp ablaze."
"He's done enough. Staying any longer will make his situation extremely dangerous... He should stop while he's ahead..."
"I'll go lend him a hand, just in case!"
Hyakusai no Dan leaped away, Toroku following closely behind, and even Mozuki went along.
At this moment, the main camp was like a terrifying fiery hell. The magnificent palace was surrounded and devoured by tongues of red flames. The maids ran about frantically, their sleeves sparking. The soldiers, having broken through the ranks, raped and looted with lust, turning the palace into a midnight nightmare.
Amidst the chaos, a group of people, pulling a waterwheel, swiftly traversed the carnage and headed towards the inner palace.
There, Yoshihiro sat on the bed, a small naginata in his hand, lost in thought.
"He's there!"
Several figures leaped from the waterwheel, the inner palace floor becoming damp with the splashes.
The guards scattered in panic. Only
a drenched group remained—Kujimaru, Josuke… At that moment, a burst of wild laughter erupted from within the tent.
"Ah! The leader has the best eye! Look, he's not the general at all!"
"Huh?"
"Puppet ninja, why don't you reveal your true form?"
The general swayed back and forth, laughing alone.
"Hahahaha! Look closely! I am Akahiko of the Hachiya faction. How about it? Our puppet ninjutsu is terrifying, isn't it?"
The tent was filled with the stench of smoke, like a hellish world. The Koga ninjas relentlessly unleashed deadly arrows and shuriken! Although Akahiko wore armor and a mask, his exposed eyes and exposed body were riddled with sword wounds. The frantic barrage of hidden blades finally brought him to his knees, causing him to collapse onto the dragon bed.
The Koga ninjas waited until he was dead before slowly approaching his body. Spider-Maru reached out and removed the short hair disguised as horsehair.
"Ah!"
Wasn't this Yoshihiro? Moments ago—Yoshihiro had embraced ten beautiful women, indulging in pleasure, and finally succumbed to the puppet ninjutsu (nocturnal emission) and ascended to heaven in bliss. His semen was streaming down his face.
The Koga ninjas' flying swords had only struck Yoshihiro's corpse.
Meanwhile, the Hachiya ninja Akahiko had already escaped under the cover of thick smoke.
"It's over! He got away, you bunch of idiots!"
Spider-Maru felt as if he were in a burning hell, the beams above his head cracking from the flames.
"Attention! Run back to the leader's place immediately!"
Led by Spider-Maru, they began to rush out of the fire.
However, a hail of arrows flew through the air! Amidst the flames and thick smoke, the Koga ninjas were already dizzy and disoriented, and now, with the terrifying hail of arrows relentlessly pursuing them, they were caught off guard!
Many ninjas rushed out of the shrine, but were no match for the archers' ambush. Kuroshi was the first to be hit and fall to the ground, followed by Josuke, who also collapsed, wounded, in the moat in front of the shrine. Ke Nei, seeing the dire situation, devised a plan and leaped across on horseback, trying to break through this deadly line, but a blind arrow pierced his heart from behind—the other ninjas also fell dead beside the door.
Spider-Maru, severely wounded, fled further and further away, finally escaping the dangerous encirclement. But this hail of arrows came quickly and went quickly. It seemed to conceal some deeper intention. Did the Puppet Clan intentionally spare Spider-Maru's life, allowing him to lead the enemy to Genyasai's hidden secret location? Spider Maru arrived at the edge of the forest lake, his chest heaving with heavy breathing. But the ruthless leader, Genyasai, had long since vanished—was he submerged underwater, or disappeared into the night sky?
"Genyasai, your days are numbered..."
came the laughter of Hachiya Kamaga. It was as if he were urging tens of thousands of troops into battle. The camp resembled a fire-breathing dragon, a scene of ominous carnage shrouded in the hazy black smoke of the waning moon.

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