As they fought, the ninja managed to land a blow on Cea, a blow that literally stripped her of her gangsinsul. Without parchment or incantation, he had managed to strip Cea of her noudo. The samurai couldn't believe it, it was like, for a moment that palm on his chest had taken him out of his body. Cea grounded himself a few yards from his opponent, vomiting a small amount of blood. The two fighters had fought a merciless fight, they were both in a pitiful state but that didn't prevent Cea from smiling.
– Hum! It's an Obioku palm, if I'm not mistaken. It is specific to the village of Asuza, I passed through this village during my journey. It is a fishing village, concealing its membership in the ninja legion. You were afraid of extermination, so you hid from other peoples. Cowards, amazing for ninjas.
– You say that... But if there are no more ninja clans, it's your clan's fault. We were wrongly accused by these samurai, and our clans perished.
Cea was surprised, her voice did not fit her build at all, she was almost singsong. But what surprised her more was the assertion of this young man, she had never talked about the massacre of ninja clans because of samurai.
– What are you talking about ?
– Mercenaries, informed by samurai, massacred my people because of the legendary Katana of the village of Yuni, Muteki. And if I face you today warrior, it is to avenge my blood.
"Let me laugh, a deserter who wants to avenge his people," Cea interrupted, giggling.
The doubt can be seen in his eyes, showing Cea that she had thought correctly when she said that he had been a ninja but that was no longer the case. He gripped the hilt of his weapon, a reddish, dense energy emanating from him.
– Do not dare to criticize me, because even if I left, my family was decimated because of your cruelty! You weren't just able to deliver that stupid katana to save us all, instead we're all in danger now! Because of you !
– Oh... So that's why! Cea emitted, delighted as though little alerted by the frightening spectacle in front of her. In fact, you didn't desert, you were banned because you use a negative noudo! That's why I doubted at first sight, now I understand why I couldn't identify these attacks. They come from a negative noudo, ah! That's not good, it's even forbidden!
Obviously, he was slowly giving way to anger. The gangsinsul of his weapon also grew, it became dangerous. Cea frowned, if her knot was negative, pissing her off made her power grow. He was probably going to lose control, and Cea would finally find her way out. His noudo was not exhausted because the resonance had not come to an end, he still had a little energy left.
– You... Miscreant!
He rushed at her, but at that moment Cea opened the door of the sanctuary letting Kaze out for the second time. The ninja stopped on the way, now a man dressed in white and a fan stood in front of him. It gave off a surprising, overpowering noudo. He turned around, and glared at the girl behind him.
"Again, and for a single assailant. You really take me for your father, don't you?
– Stop a bit, groaned Cea, you can't be my father. You're too pale and too ugly for that, so now hurry up and let's go.
– Imbecile...
He turned to the adversary, he took a step but he stepped back. The threat was much greater than he had imagined, this katana was quite capable of summoning elemental gods. Under his scarf, the fear of the ninja to lose his life there began to grow. Kaze could feel it, he was getting anxious. He swept wind across his face, his locks flying.
– Well, are you fighting or are you planning to stare at me for a long time?
No, he didn't intend to move on. No more attacking, no more breathing, he was now at an impasse. Suddenly, Kaze felt other noudo around him, but before he could warn Cea, the accomplices of their adversaries posted themselves at the top of the hills.
– Ah, Cea wondered, because there are many more of you?
"You, samurai! Our paths will cross again and believe me, my victory over you will be total!
– Hey! Who do you think you are to threaten me, you talk! It's me who's going to slap my fist on your deserter's face. Sick !
A thick cloud of smoke spread, it was too dense for Cea and Kaze to attack so they let their enemies retreat. Once the smoke was gone, Cea returned to the cart and took the boxes of cakes inside again, she couldn't think on an empty stomach. In the absence of alcohol, food did the trick.
– What's the matter ? Kaze asked.
He knew this potty girl well, he knew when something was on her mind, he recognized those rare moments when Cea used her gray matter, although she was very efficient for her appearance.
– There's something... This guy, he talked about a battalion of mercenaries attacking villages. But, in such a short time since my visit, men can't do it, especially if it's ninjas such as those of Asuza, it's unlikely.
Kaze stopped his fan.
"So you think it's... Would a militia hold him to wipe out villages?"
– Certainly, and not only. This guy, he had a very rare Omen sword. But now, the Omen clan was decimated centuries ago, how is it?
For a moment there was a heavy silence. Kaze turned over and over again the questions in his head. And for someone who had centuries and different wars, with different methods, only one thing could explain this phenomenon.
– Reincarnation.
The two looked at each other, flabbergasted by the terrifying design that formed in their eyes.
– If these ninjas are here, it's because they found something whose answer is on our way too. The villages are only a pretext, he lied to me, but why?
Suddenly, a sound of horses calling out to them, Cea motioned to Kaze to move away, thinking of villagers returning from the fields. But she perceived a noudo approaching, her idea changed.
Guards surrounded the samurai, but he didn't seem worried at all, it's as if he didn't even give importance to their presence. They were pointing their swords at him, but the warrior's eyes were away, as if he was in no danger at all.
– What kind of samurai are you then? Averting his eyes from the opponent, a big mistake.
"Perhaps it's because I judge you not to be an adversary," replied the warrior simply.
He kept looking over his shoulder, what was he looking for? Chungseong turned his head trying to figure out what was really going on, but he couldn't figure out the situation. Did he have other allies he was waiting for, or was this a way for him to try to distract his opponents in order to get away. However, his attitude was becoming more and more hurtful towards the lord in front of him, he was literally underestimating him. He, the greatest warrior in the eastern region.
– Enough! I've wasted enough time, ordered the lord, capture this brigand!
Truth be told, the guards didn't really want to mess with this warrior, seeing the state he had put the men in, but the squadron leader encouraged them to move on. They went on the attack, when a violent gust of wind, swirling the dead leaves on the ground, surrounded the guards. The lord, who remained at a distance, observed this unusual sight. The guards were trying to escape, but nothing helped, the wind was getting stronger. Then, without understanding why, one after another, the warriors fell to the ground.
– Rise, we must protect the lord!
But the chief also finally capitulated, he also sank in this strange sleep. When they were all asleep, the whirlwind ceased to blow around them. It was no coincidence, so this samurai was a Buddhist or a magician. The warrior was still standing, and still seemed to be waiting.
– So, do you have a meditative noudo, or do you use a basic noudo?
– Eh ?
– You are..., Chungseong sighed as he began to lose his footing, I ask if you use psychic powers or enchantments!
– Ah... No, it has nothing to do with it. In fact, I don't even really know how it works...
"From what I sense in him, both his noudo and his gangsinsul are incredible. I better keep mine as secret as possible, we don't know what to expect. Ah! My quest is going to be very complex here, say so!"
The samurai started babbling incomprehensible explanations that Chungseong couldn't understand, he was really crazy. And the lord began to understand that he could get nothing out of him, he decided to attack. He pulled out his saber and stepped forward, but his opponent put a hand in front of his face.
– Hold on !
Chungseong stopped, in a defensive position. The samurai turned to the left then to the right, then he nodded, looking at him.
"It's good," she says. Question: if you ask if I am a magician or a Buddhist, is it because your capacities are limited only to this kind of noudo?
Indeed, the noudo; either abilities of the mind, his abilities only extended to the gangsinsul; either spiritual powers, Buddhists and magicians. Thus, it is thanks to a certain noudo that our gangsinsul developed. Beyond that, his powers were useless or lower range.
"Unbeliever..." Chungseong growled, clutching the hilt of his saber.
Now that he was talking about it, Chungseong noted the strange character of this warrior's noudo, he was weak but for his gangsinsul, the thing was quite different. She didn't quite fit the person in front of him, he was impressive.
– Ah, that means I was right! Good, then you can attack now.
"That's what I thought, he doesn't suspect anything. That explains his hesitation, normally he shouldn't if he knew he had what I feel."
Chungseong didn't move, it was getting more and more ridiculous for him. There was nothing dangerous about this warrior, he even seemed feverish. However, he was much smarter than he appeared. Chungseong let his guard down and glared at his opponent, leaving only the scrambled leaves between them.
– I'm only going to ask you once... Who are you?
– Oh... I am Cea, and you, who are you?
This samurai stared at him stupidly, waiting for his answer when he hadn't even formulated an adequate one.
– That's not what I want to know! I want you to tell me who you are, and where that katana you have came from.
The samurai seemed surprised at the question, he pointed to the box on his belt and then he smiled.
– Oh that ! As crazy as it is, it's Yuni's Legendary katana, Muteki.
– What ? The existence of this katana is only a legend told to children, it does not exist.
– What, he doesn't exist when he's in front of your eyes? Definitely the people here really have a problem, that's what happens when you live surrounded by spirits, you no longer distinguish the true from the false.
"Isolent," Chungseong growled, stepping forward.
But he was quickly slowed down by the sound of an explosion in the distance, it was so violent that it blew up to them. Cea frowned, she had been right. This attack was only a pure diversion towards the true goal of these attackers, they had come for something else. Crossing Cea at this moment killed two birds with one stone, they had a completely different aspiration in attacking this caravan, a greater goal than she could manage to pin down.
– Eunchong! cried the lord, horrified.
– Who is Eunchong?
Chungseong turned to him, a look burning with hatred. He raised his blade and when he lowered it, a rectilinear, bluish gust of violence pierced the samurai, who took off from the ground to fall about ten meters further. Leaning on his case, the samurai got up, his face distorted by pain. But what he didn't know was that the blow thrown by the lord had to be fatal to him, so when Chungseong saw him get up, he was stunned.
– Hold on ! Can't you see it's not the right time to fight, I'm not your enemy!
– So who are you?
– I already told you ! I too was attacked, so we need to unite and find the crux of this situation.
There was another explosion that blew into Chungseong's back, the smoke becoming denser and black. He looked at his opponent, wondering what to do, and after a while, Chungseong sliced.
"It's okay, I believe you. But, if I ever find out that you cheated on me, and anything happens to my sister, I will cut your head off without mercy.
The samurai rubbed his neck, uncertain, then he finally nodded vehemently then turned it around, and pouted.
– That's smart, Cea muttered under his breath, I've already risked my life twice in just a few hours, and here he is again in a mess because of a fake ninja.
Chungseong stared at her, then he mounted his horse, and beckoned the warrior to come forward but he refused.
– Don't worry about me, I know a shortcut!
Chungseong glared at him again, definitely it wasn't just his features that were severe with him. Cea made a face at him, but he preferred to ride away on the back of his horse, before killing this stupid warrior. Cea huffed, then she turned toward the small hill to her left.
– It's good, the way is clear! You can go out.
A man emerged from the top of the hill, distracted. He descended, gently and struck Cea on the head with his fan.
– Ouch! Why are you hitting me?
"A god like me," he replied, "hiding me from a man? It's such a shame I dare not believe it, why did you hide me from this human?
– Hum... Let's say that I sense something in him that perhaps he himself doesn't suspect at all.
– You mean that...
– Kaze, come on! Summon your magic leaf, we have to catch him.
"Be more polite to akinohana," Kaze begged, slapping his fan on the head again.
With his fan, Kaze raised his fan and when he lowered it, a gigantic bird beast similar to an autumn leaf appeared. This magic sheet, was an Akinohana celestial animal. All the celestial gods had their animal, but Akinohana was the one Cea didn't like because she always had trouble getting on Akinohana, despite the years the task was always complex. Kaze reluctantly resolved to help him, then they left.