Yama Rising

The winds swept across the surface of the waters.

At this point in time, there was a massive encirclement of red, black and white which had formed right above the pitch-black waters, and dark figures in the center of the encirclement would dissipate into wisps of Yin energy from time to time.

That said, Oda Nobunaga’s faction sustained great losses as well, and they numbered approximately only one thousand at this point in time.

The Umamawari horse guards moved swiftly and mercilessly, finding weaknesses in Nagamasa’s forces like deadly vipers and pursuing them relentlessly. Before long, Izanami’s forces had already dwindled so much that they were no longer battling on level playing fields. And when he finally realized what was happening around him, all that was left in front of his very eyes was a sea of valiant soldiers dressed in black and red.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t accept defeat. Rather, he simply couldn’t accept losing to the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven once again after four hundred long years.

Clatter… Just then, the Umamawari horse guards parted ways, allowing a massive skeletal war horse to canter in. The man who sat on its back was a person who Azai Nagamasa wanted to flay and skin alive, yet he knew he was completely helpless at this moment.

“As daimyos, we stake our lives with every battle we fight. And I’m afraid that this is the last we’re going to see of each other.”

“Oda Nobunaga…” He slowly lowered his head once more, and then stared intently at Oda Nobunaga with a raging scarlet flame in his eyes, “I’ll wait for you in Yomi-no-Kuni…”

Oda Nobunaga gently stroked his short black beard as he quipped with bemusement, “But that’s only if Izanami dares to venture into the depths of the Cathayan underworld.”

Azai Nagamasa found everything he had wanted to say suddenly lodged in his throat, and he simply stared at Oda Nobunaga and shuddered, “You’re… going to the Cathayan underworld?”

“What?” Azai Nagamasa responded reflexively with great despondence in the depths of his eyes.

Azai Nagamasa turned his head stiffly and gazed into the distance, only to notice the existence of an ancient seat in the horizon, approaching them with great magnificence amidst the boundless fog of Yin energy that covered the waters. Terrifying amounts of Yin energy flowed from the seat in a grand display of authority and power. This was undoubtedly a declaration of the arrival of a high official of Hell - all rabble shall disperse!

“Go.” Oda Nobunaga flicked the reins on his war horse gently, and rode towards the direction from which the majestic seat was approaching. Murai Sadakatsu, Mori Ranmaru, and Nohime followed closely behind him.

Neither bird nor fish dared traverse these parts that were now overwhelmed with Yin energy.

Arthis was completely in her element right now.

It was only when they came up close to Arthis that they truly appreciated the towering might of an Infernal Judge.

I would expect nothing less of Cathay.

“Pledging allegiance to Hell is going to be the best decision you’ve ever made in your life. So long as you don’t forsake Hell, Hell would never forsake you either.”

How naive…

“Despicable! Shameless!! Oda Nobunaga! How dare you even call yourself a daimyo of the Nipponese Warring States era!!” The bulging veins on Azai Nagamasa’s forehead throbbed uncontrollably as he watched the ridiculous scene pan out, and he couldn’t resist lambasting Oda Nobunaga for his traitorous action.

How far can your reaches possibly be?! Once this man enters the Cathayan underworld… I’ll no longer have any hopes for revenge in this entire life!

Yet, Oda Nobunaga remained unflappable, “I’ve made a fool of myself. Let me end things properly right now.”

Pshhk! Pshhk! Pshhk! Several spears stabbed into Azai Nagamasa’s side at the same time, yet he didn’t even let out a single cry of pain. Boundless Yin energy flowed out of his body, until finally… he transformed into an inferno of netherflames that blazed with great intensity as it grew higher and higher.

True death.

And Izanami chose to remain silent throughout all that had happened.

Oda Nobunaga laughed aloud, and then boomed with a deep voice, “I wouldn’t have pledged my allegiance to Hell had I truly been afraid of Izanami.”

It was over.

The entire Strait of Tsushima was shrouded in darkness, while a single cruise liner was left drifting over the waters in the wake of the massive battle. Not a single person was aware of exactly what happened this day.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Ten hours later, back in a hotel in Eastsea, Qin Ye found himself lying on the bed, wriggling about in a sea of comfort with an ecstatic expression on his face.

Qin Ye’s appeared somewhat teary-eyed. He grabbed hold of the sheets and bit down on his lower lips as he murmured, “I… want some hand-ground coffee…”

Qin Ye’s squeals echoed throughout the four corners of the room. Several seconds later, he panted heavily as he responded, “Damn you, unfilial daughter! Your father has been working his butt off in the East Cathay Sea, and he barely even made it back in one piece! And this is how you treat me? You’re not even going to make me a cup of coffee?”

Where do you get the nerve to come up with such ridiculous statements? Isn’t it part of the duty and responsibility of an Emissary to risk his life for Hell to begin with? Oh… it must have slipped my mind… You’re Qin Ye… Eh? Come to think of it, this is a great leap of improvement from your usual performance… It does seem somewhat praiseworthy, doesn’t it?

“Don’t worry.” Qin Ye snuggled into his pillow, “Hell’s development is soon going to take off for real, and soar on wings. I’ll get it sorted out as soon as we’re back. Speaking of which, what use is the Book of Life and Death good for?”

Ming Shiyin was in a semi-conscious state, and it didn’t apprise Arthis of the exact details of what had transpired out at the Strait of Tsushima.

Arthis: ???

Silence.

“... Can you get to the point?”

Qin Ye stared at Arthis as though he had seen a ghost. He stammered, “... Are you telling me that… you’ve been playing Heroes of Might and Magic these days?!”

“I was simply trying to put it in a manner in which you would understand. It sounds unbelievable, but it’s absolutely true! Take Oda Nobunaga’s Umamawari horse guards or the secret ninjas of Renpu for instance. Do you think Hell wouldn’t have its own set of unique special forces?”

“And the Book of Life and Death does much more than that! What I’ve told you is no more than one of its basic functions which taps on the boundless Yin energy contained within. As the three primordial treasures of Hell, each one of them comes with their own unique functions!”