Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Though her cultivation base hadn't fully recovered, the onset of Spring mandated that Yui seriously consider returning to the Yoshitsune Clan. If she delayed things any further, someone from the clan would invariably be sent to retrieve her. That would be an absolute worst-case scenario, as, not only would she fail her mission, but the person sent to retrieve her would undoubtedly belong to one of the factions attempting to suppress her.As much as she would like to pretend Nobu's words had no basis in reality, Yui was the most aware of her current situation. After all, it was her fear of being treated as a sacrificial pawn that led to her pursuing the path of a warrior in the first place. She hadn't minded it when she was born to serve a specific lord, but, from the moment her fiance died, effectively invalidating the very meaning of her existence, any desire she had to marry into the Oda Clan faded away.It would be one thing if she was asked to serve the current Daimyo, Oda Senken. She could have accepted this, as, when deconstructed to its most basic form, her purpose in life had been serving the leader of the Oda Clan. Lord Senken was also a righteous and dignified ruler who cared deeply for his people. He had garnered the respect of every family serving under the Oda, and, were it not for his lack of ambition, many in the surrounding provinces would have enthusiastically welcomed his rule.Unfortunately, despite a considerable amount of censure from members of his Clan, Senken's heart had always belonged to his First Wife, Suzuki Nana. The only reason he had multiple wives was due to the traditions that had been passed down through the Oda Clan for generations. This included a member of the Yoshitsune Family, but, according to rumors, he had never once laid a hand on her, even in his youth.Since Lord Senken had no intention of taking in any additional wives or Concubines, Yui's best bet would have been pledging herself to one of his two sons. Unfortunately, just as she had been born to serve the first son of the Oda Clan, two other members of the Yoshitsune Clan had been sired to serve alongside the second and third sons. They were reared together from a young age, so, even if she wanted to pledge herself to them, neither the Oda nor the Yoshitsune Clan would accept it. She was simply too old, and, like many things in Nian, tradition dictated that the female in a relationship be younger than the men they served.Simply put, the status and position she had literally been birthed to bear had been stripped away from her before she ever had a chance to fulfill her duty. This put the Elders into a difficult situation, as, prior to this development, they had showered her with praise and affection while affording her a number of privileges that other members could only covet. After all, once her husband matured and became the next leader of the Oda Clan, Yui's status and authority within the Yoshitsune Clan would have been second to none.With the death of her fiance, Yui became a massive liability in the eyes of the senior members of the Yoshitsune Clan. Her previous status had also earned her a considerable amount of envy, so, on the very day her fiance was declared dead, virtually every member of the family turned against her. This included Elders who had doted on her ever since she was an infant, so, for a while, Yui had suffered from an extreme case of depression. It was only when she found out that the Elders were conspiring to marry her off the Sixth Elder of the Oda Clan that she bounced back and resolved herself to take control of her own destiny...Recalling these memories, Yui found herself delaying their departure much longer than she should have. Nobu's words had resonated with something slumbering deep within her subconscious, and, the more she thought about it, the less it seemed that taking him back to the Yoshitsune Clan was the best option. It just didn't seem right to take him against his will, and, even if he had consumed some kind of Heavenly Treasure, that was an opportunity afforded to him by the Heavens. Who was she, or anyone else for that matter, to decide how his gift should be used?It would be different if Nobu had some grand ambitions like unifying the archipelago, seizing the throne, or taking over the world. Instead, he just wanted to be left alone. As for his ambitions, the closest thing he had to a dream was reuniting with his family. Beyond that, his only desire seemed to be settling down, living a comfortable life, and starting a family. He was basically the antithesis of everyone aspiring to reach the pinnacle of cultivation, as, based on his words and behavior, the only reason he desired strength was to avoid trouble, not cause it.Were it not for the face her Grandmother was the one who had assigned her the task of escorting Nobu back to the Yoshitsune Clan, Yui wouldn't be having these doubts. Her actual mission didn't have anything to do with him. Instead, her official task was merely to ascertain what had happened to Nanananananananamori Natsu, and, if she couldn't handle it herself, she was supposed to report back so that her Clan could send a team to conduct an official audit of the Clans governing Owari-Asai. In other words, the only reason she had for forcing Nobu to return was that her Grandmother had asked her to.While this might make things seem relatively straightforward, the fact of the matter was that Yui's Grandmother was none other than the current Matriarch of the Yoshitsune Clan. She was also the Concubine of the former Daimyo, so, while her status and authority had been reduced significantly over the past couple of years, her words still carried tremendous weight in the family. Were this not the case, she never would have been able to protect Yui from the other Elders' machinations.Yui, quite literally, owed her life to her Grandmother. She never would have been able to pursue the path of a warrior without her support. Instead, she would have been forced to either marry the Sixth Elder or take her own life. Thus, while a part of her wanted to support Nobu's pursuit of freedom, a much larger part didn't want to betray one of the only two people who had consistently supported her throughout every hardship she had ever faced........."It's time for us to leave. The period between late Winter and early Spring is the best time to travel. I've already secured passage with a merchant caravan so we'll be spending the evening in a lodge near the city exit. Gather your things."Though he had been anticipating this for several days, Nobu didn't immediately respond to Yui's words. Instead, he allowed his body to become limp where he lay, groaning, "Don't wanna..." with a disinterested and defiant look on his face.With her brow twitching ever-so-slightly, Yui manifested a golden rope in her right hand, saying, "I told them we were traveling to the capital in order to receive the blessings of the Lord. However, if you would rather spend the journey bound like a common criminal, that could be arranged..."Craning his head to the side, Nobu asked, "Blessing? I don't recall hearing anything about the Lord of Owari becoming a Priest..."Exhaling a sigh, Yui resisted the urge to rub her temples as she explained, "Though it isn't necessary for commoners, marriages can only be officiated by the Lord of the region. As such, it has become a custom among young and married couples to conduct a pilgrimage to the capital near the onset of Spring. Confessing your love beneath the capital's blossoming sakura trees is said to strengthen the bonds between men and women, and, so long as you can afford the fee, it is possible to have your union officially recognized by Lord Senken himself."Though he was tempted to call it another bullshit tradition designed to make the rich even richer, Nobu rolled to a seated position, a mocking smile on his face as he asked, "So you're going around and telling people we're engaged? And here I thought you were just a cold and heartless sadist. If you fell in love with my dick, you could have just fessed up and told me. I prefer women with bigger tits but I don't mind keeping you company."Glowering in response to Nobu's unbelievably crass accusation, Yui had to forcibly restrain herself from attacking him. She knew he was just trying to egg her on, not because he didn't fear pain, but because he had gradually come to realize she felt guilty about forcing him to accompany her. Since then, he had been taunting her at every available opportunity, confident that she would either give up or, at the very least, feel guilty about striking him.Understanding this, Yui forced herself to remain calm as she adopted a cold and judgmental gaze, stating, "Only a fool would fall in love with you. Not only are you pathetically weak, but, even with a sizeable member at your disposal, your prowess is nonexistent. Even a prostitute would have a hard time pretending you provide anything more than pain..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees before replying, "As if a mosquito bite brat like you has any idea what the fuck she's talking about. You were a virgin just a few weeks ago. If I actually got serious, you wouldn't even be able to walk properly. Instead, you'd be hobbling around like a cat in heat, begging for more."Though his words were more than a little braggadocious, nobody liked hearing someone tell them they were inadequate in the bedroom. As someone who had received a number of compliments in his past life, Nobu wasn't going to just take Yui's words lying down. Rather, if it came down to it, he wouldn't mind dropping his trousers and proving his claims right there and then.Meeting Nobu's gaze with her own, Yui maintained her cold look despite not actually knowing how to move forward from their current situation. She had basically challenged his capabilities as a man, and, as could be expected, he had reacted with equal parts hostility and resolution. Her only viable options moving forward seemed to be accepting his challenge, ultimately shattering his confidence, or retracting her statement and implicitly admitting she was wrong.As much as she believed Nobu could benefit from some disciplining, Yui didn't believe he had done anything that merited having his ego irreversibly damaged. He was only in this situation due to her selfishness and unwillingness to fail the mission her Grandmother had assigned. If she took things a step further and 'broke' him, she would effectively be crushing a man who had never truly wronged her. Rather, despite the severe injuries she had inflicted upon him during their first encounter, Nobu had actually gone out of his way to save her when she had collapsed. She had already returned this favor by helping him deal with the excess Yang Energy in his body, but, in the end, the simple truth of the matter was that Nobu hadn't done anything to merit being forced into his present situation...Realizing this, Yui took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger before meeting his gaze and saying, "I apologize. I shouldn't have said something so insensitive. I'm certain that, once you find a woman you love, you will be more than capable of satisfying her needs. Until then, I implore you to remain patient. Once we have reached Owari-Shuto and met with my Grandmother, I swear I will do everything in my power to guarantee your freedom. I know you might find it difficult to believe me, but, as someone who aspires to become a warrior, I will stake my life on my promises..."Feeling as though the wind had just been taken out of his sails, an exhausted sigh escaped Nobu's throat as he habitually shook his head. This made Yui think he was refusing to cooperate, but, in the very next moment, he surprised her by casually replying, "Whatever...let's just get this over with so I can see what other bullshit fate has in store..."......(A/N: Yui is caught between her feeling of loyalty and her sense of right and wrong. Not an enviable position to be in. That's for sure...)

Demonstrating just how shitty his luck had been, Nobu saw neither hide nor hair of an Aura Beast while accompanying Yui back to the city. Such encounters were extremely uncommon this close to the center of the Archipelago, and, thanks to the tenacity of the provincial army, most of the more dangerous beasts were eliminated long before they became a threat to the populace.Simply put, Nobu's encounter with the Lightning Boar had been a freak accident. A person would need to travel much further north or receive permission from the local Daimyo to venture into one of the various training grounds prepared for young cultivators. There were exceptions to every rule, but, more often than not, the greatest danger on the road was other people.........Shortly after departing the forest near the base of the mountain, Nobu and Yui found themselves surrounded by a group of bandit-like individuals dressed in tattered rags. Make no mistake, these people were bandits, but, unlike the more seasoned variant found loitering on paths frequented by merchant caravans, this particular group clearly had no idea what they were doing. They were even carrying the types of hemp baskets frequently used when gathering herbs and harvesting crops, an obvious indication of their actual profession..."Listen up, brats. We ain't after yer bodies or yer lives. So long as ye drop yer purses on the groun', you're free ta go. In tha future, make sure to avoid venturin' out into the woods, ye' hear? Tha forest ain't no places for kids to be loiterin'."Despite the man's threatening words, neither he nor the seven individuals forming the encirclement made any attempt to draw closer. The biggest among them couldn't have weighed more than 54kg, and, despite her petite frame and youthful figure, Yui's samurai-like armor gave the men more than enough reason for pause. The only reason they even thought to block her path was because of the distinct lack of a sword at her hip. Only warriors and specifically authorized individuals were allowed to carry weapons, so, taking into consideration Yui's young age and the relatively pristine nature of her armor, they were hoping and praying she was either the daughter of a well-to-do merchant or a trainee belonging to a lesser clan.Furrowing her brows in response to the man's words, Yui adopted a stern tone as she stated, "You dishonor yourselves and your families by resorting to methods such as this. Even if the harvest was especially poor this year, the Lord of Owari is a good man. So long as you request the assistance of the local governor, you should be able to avoid having to pay taxes. There are also systems in place to support the families of farmers who are in need of assistance. All you will accomplish with this course of action is throwing away your lives. As men, it is your duty to protect and provide for your families. If you lose your lives committing banditry, they will be the ones to pay the price..."Though six of the eight men were cowed by Yui's words, the leader of the group managed to keep them in line, gesturing for them to remain calm as he said, "We wouldn't hafta resort ta this kind of thin' if it weren't for that bastard of a gov'ner. Them bastards 'er keepin' all the funds issued by the Lord an' still milkin' us pay taxes. Anyone who spoke out against 'em was labeled a criminal before havin' their heads, hands, or feet lopped off. Yer a good lass. Yer words make that apparen'. We just ain't got no options left."With that said, the haggard man gestured for the men at the back to use the lasso-like ropes and fishing nets they were carrying. They weren't foolish enough to carry actual weapons with them, as, the moment a warrior or a member of the provincial army found them, they would immediately be put to death. Even farming tools were kept in a locked warehouse and routinely inspected to make sure people weren't trying to melt them down into weapons or cultivation resources. Thus, unless they were supremely confident or remarkably desperate, most people dared not get caught with an unregistered weapon and no permit.Exhaling a sigh, Yui produced a paper-thin wall of gold to block the net cast by the duo standing at her back. This both stunned and terrified the would-be bandits, as, from the moment they attacked, it became her duty to either apprehend or execute them. Banditry could not be tolerated under any circumstances. They might have their reasons, but, the moment they decided to take advantage of the innocent, they became just as guilty as the people oppressing them.Flashing next to one of the men who had turned to flee, Yui smacked the side of his knee with a far scarier version of the truncheon she had used against Nobu. Then, before the others could do the same same, she manifested a crossbow and began firing bolts into their lower backs and legs until Nobu suddenly shouted, "What the fuck are you doing...!?"Though she looked towards Nobu with a confused and slightly annoyed expression on her face, Yui still managed to accurately impale the final man near the base of his spine. A sound reminiscent of a pig being slaughtered emanated from his throat, but, without so much as flinching, Yui asked, "Do you find fault with my methods? I issued a warning and even gave them the chance to change their minds. They acted with full knowledge of the consequences of their actions. If they were allowed to go away unpunished, they would resort to even more extreme acts in the future. When people form the conviction to force their burdens on the innocent, they have already deviated, irreversibly, from the path of righteousness.""Bullshit...!"Ignoring the fact Yui had a loaded crossbow in her hands, Nobu approached close enough to grip the collar of her leather overcoat before adding, "If you actually believed that self-righteous bullshit, you wouldn't be forcing me to accompany you! This is why I keep calling you a hypocrite! You only follow your code of honor when it's fucking convenient! Tell me, how is crippling these dumbasses and leaving them unable to work not punishing the innocent!? You're the one who pointed out that they have families to take care of!"Though she waited for Nobu to finish speaking, Yui immediately followed up by grabbing his wrist, twisting his arm, and forcing him to take a knee as she explained, "There is an order to everything. If a Lord, Governor, or Civil Official were punished every time someone accused them of committing a crime, the government would disappear in a week. Their allegations against the Governor of Owari-Asai will be investigated. If he is found guilty, he will be punished. As for these men, they are guilty of the crime of banditry, an offense that is punishable by death. They knew this before they decided on this course of action. I have already shown them considerable mercy by sparing their lives. Now, unless you have a more dependable solution locked away in the block of cork you call a brain...shut your fucking mouth...!"Punctuating her words, Yui pulled Nobu to his feet before leveraging his arm and flipping him onto his back. She was already frustrated by the fact she had been forced to take action. She didn't need him throwing around accusations and attempting to make her feel guilty every time she performed her duty. His persistent reminders that she was forcing him against his will were already skirting the line on what she could tolerate while they were alone. Now that they were about to venture in front of other people, she wouldn't just let him say whatever he wanted...Not expecting Yui to suddenly flip him onto his back, Nobu's mind momentarily blanked. This was quickly overcome by feelings of rage and indignation, but, before he could recover and lambast her with the righteous fury of a white girl who had just been denied a pumpkin spice latte in the middle of June, Yui covered his mouth with her hand, warning, "If the next words out of your mouth aren't a solution, don't blame me for what happens next..."Finished with her warning, Yui retracted her hand to hear what Nobu had to say. In response, the latter remained silent for several seconds, resentment visible in his eyes as he slowly mouthed the words fuck and you. This caused her right brow to twitch violently, but, as he hadn't actually said anything, she felt that using her aura to gag him would be a little excessive. Instead, she focused on treating the wounds of the would-be bandits so they would be able to walk back to the city of their own accord. Nian had long employed a criminal slavery system, so, while their futures weren't very bright, there was still a chance they could redeem themselves. She could also petition to have their sentences reduced if it turned out their words were true, but, until then, they were every ounce the criminals they had chosen to become.........Though their journey was delayed due to the injuries sustained by the would-be bandits, it was still early in the afternoon when Nobu and Yui reached the city. This soured the former's already terrible mood. The city smelled just as foul as he had anticipated. The poor hygiene of its inhabitants was a contributing factor to this, but, more than anything else, it was the refuse that could be found lining streets and stacked within alleys that overloaded his senses. There was also a powerful aroma of salt and fish wafting inland from the nearby so, so, even though he was tempted to make a break for it, Nobu had effectively locked himself in his room the moment they checked in.While it wasn't a drastic increase, Nobu's sense of smell had improved ever since he exceeded the 2,000 Aura mark. This had officially elevated him to Rank 2 Breath of the Mortal, and, based on this information, he could reasonably assume that he would reach the pinnacle of the First Realm once his clicks reached 10,000. From there, it seemed to require 10,000 Aura per increase in Rank, and, if the question marks of Yui's status were any indicator, the Third Realm required 100,000.Fortunately, ever since he had advanced to Rank 1, the value of Nobu's clicks had increased from a meager 0.001 to a 'commendable' 0.002. When he reached Rank 2, this number increased to 0.003, so, while the values seemed negligible, his clicking efficiency had basically increased by 200%. This was a marked improvement, as, rather than 60 Aura per day, he could now accrue upwards of 260.Assuming this trend continued, Nobu would be earning upwards of 864 Aura per day once he had managed to ascend to the Second Realm. He was hoping that higher Realms would provide a more substantial increase per Rank, but, even if they didn't, he would still be able to earn more than 1600 Aura a day once he reached the Third Realm. This was roughly 600,000 Aura per year, so, using Yui as a basis, it wasn't an exaggeration to say his cultivation speed was monstrous.At his current pace, it would only take a few years before Nobu reached a Realm that most people could only dream of achieving. His cultivation base would also never stagnate, so, unless he one day decided to stop clicking, it was only a matter of time before he became strong enough to tell the vast majority of people to fuck off. The only problem was reaching that point before someone either killed him or his sense of smell caused him to commit suicide.........(A/N: This is a difficult situation. On one hand, Yui isn't exactly wrong. Unfortunately, she isn't quite right either...)

With a gradual increase in the temperature outside, it wasn't long before the snow covering the mountain and forest began to fade away. The sounds of birdsongs could be heard with increasing frequency, and, in certain regions, the first flowers of spring had already started to bloom.By this point, more than a month had passed since Nobu's reincarnation. He had yet to fully adapt to his current situation, but, like most humans, the numerous traumas he had experienced since his arrival had gradually shaped his character into something 'more' than his previous self.Most people would call this maturing. Humans were surprisingly adaptable, and, so long as they weren't killed, they could eventually overcome, or, at the very least, accept the circumstances they had found themselves in.A stark contrast to the precedent that had been established by his fellow humans across countless generations, most of Nobu's development thus far had been the antithesis of maturation. He felt as though this world was proactively trying to break him, so, rather than accepting his circumstances, it wasn't an exaggeration to say he was becoming increasingly childish, temperamental, and jaded..."Get up, Nobu! I know you can keep going! Show some backbone! You're a man, aren't you...!?"Ignoring Yui's words, Nobu continued to lie with his half-veiled faced pressed to the emerald green grass she had previously planted him into. They had been 'training' every day since he advanced to Rank 1 Breath of the Mortal. In the beginning, he thought this would help him improve his control and teach him how to protect his nose. Instead, it had resulted in him receiving an ever-increasing number of bruises, and, in one instance, he had even broken a finger when he stubbed it in a bad landing.Though Yui had helped him to both set the bone and recover from the injury using the tried and true method of 'Yin Transference' method, Nobu's frustrations towards training had been mounting with each passing day. No amount of sex could convince him to let someone torture and treat his body like a ragdoll, so, even though Yui had called out to him numerous times, he just continued to lie there in silence.Realizing that Nobu was effectively throwing a tantrum, an exasperated sigh escaped Yui's mouth. Her impression that he was essentially a child in the body of an adult had been compounding with each passing day. This had caused her to seriously consider enticing him with nightly 'rewards', but, while he certainly appeared to enjoy it, he lacked the 'zeal' expected of a young man who had only recently learned the pleasures of the flesh. Rather, he was frustratingly casual about it, so much so that she thought her techniques were somehow flawed...After waiting for a full three minutes, Yui approached Nobu's side before squatting down next to him and saying, "You really are making a lot of progress, Nobu. I'm only being hard on you because you're far weaker than other cultivators your age. This wouldn't have been an issue if you remained a normal person, but, now that you have awakened this strange ability, a lot of people are going to target you. As difficult as it might be for you to believe, trust me when I say I've been relatively kind to you these past few weeks..."Since chastizing and taunting him didn't seem to work, at least not in the manner she would have hoped, Yui decided to try a gentler approach. Nobu had mentioned his mother numerous times in their conversations, so, while she lacked certain 'maternal traits', Yui wanted to see if you would try harder if she approached him as a mother worried about her son's future...Had he known what Yui was thinking, Nobu would have reacted with extreme hostility. Instead, he thought she was just trying to be nice. Thus, after remaining silent for several seconds, he exhaled a sigh of his own before rolling onto his back and saying, "All I need is time...if you really want to help me, find a way to get me as far away from Owari as possible. I don't know what the people who put you up to this are planning, but it can't be for my benefit. If they were that eager to help, I wouldn't have spent the last two years as a catatonic cripple relying on the mercy of complete strangers just to survive..."As this was the first time he had broached the subject of his past, Yui was extremely tempted to ask Nobu about his sudden change. There had to be some kind of impetus behind it, and, based on his words, he should be able to shed some light on things. If he really had consumed something along the lines of a Heavenly Treasure, it wasn't an exaggeration to say he could become one of the most significant people in all of Owari. Inversely, he could also become a threat to the entire archipelago, so, while she wanted to help, Yui's sense of duty and responsibility prevented her from making any rash decisions.With a conflicted look on her face, Yui sat on her bottom for the first time since she and Nobu had met, softly replying, "I can't pretend to understand what you had gone through. However, I can say with some degree of certainty that the person who sent me to retrieve you harbors no ill will. I can't say the same for the rest of my family, but, so long as I draw breath, I swear to do everything in my power to protect you from their influence..."Though he could tell she was being serious, Nobu couldn't help snorting in response to Yui's words, his tone crass and defiant as he retorted, "Everything except letting me go free..."On that note, Nobu climbed to his feet with a grunt before awkwardly hobbling towards the cave in the distance. There was a sharp pain in his lower back, and, though she had controlled her strength, Yui had struck the side of his knee with a makeshift golden baton. Even the corrupt policemen back on Earth had the good sense to use rubber batons, yet, here in this world, it was apparently normal to unhesitantly beat the shit out of people with exponentially harder and heavier weapons. He was honestly sick of it, so, after hearing Yui's words, he was fed up and done for the day.Following Nobu's departure with her eyes, a conflicted look appeared on Yui's face as she silently muttered to herself, "It's for the best...even if I did let him go, it wouldn't be long before someone with a wicked heart set their sights on him. He is far too naive to survive in this world on his own..."Though she would have liked to explain these things to him, Yui knew Nobu wouldn't want to hear her excuses. In his mind, she was keeping him against his will. They had been able to cohabitate for the better part of a month, but, were it not for their extreme difference in strength, she could easily imagine him leaving the first chance he got. To that end, there was a very real chance that the only reason he even bothered listening to her at all was because he didn't really have a choice..."I really am becoming the very thing I detest more than anything else...forcing someone against their will just because I have the power to do so. Right or wrong, it doesn't change the fact I am making decisions for another person without their consent..."Exhaling a tired sigh, Yui was tempted to follow Nobu's example by lying down on the grass and just staring up at the heavens above. These last couple of weeks had caused her to doubt things she had never even questioned previously. Nobu's words also possessed a certain 'surety' to them that made them hard to outright refute. Thus, even after resolving herself to do carry out her duty countless times, she, once again, found herself considering other alternatives.........After dragging himself all the way back to the cave, Nobu plopped down near the edge of the pool of water before mentally preparing himself to remove his face mask. He was no longer able to hold his breath like a normal person as his pores seemed to exhale everything through his Aura. Thus, at least for the time being, the only way he could tolerate removing his mask was by shoving crushed mint up his nose and slowing his breathing to the point it was indiscernible to onlookers.("This technique is a serious pain in the ass...if it doesn't get better over the next few Ranks, I might lose my shit completely...")With 32 days having passed since his reincarnation, Nobu had managed to accumulate a little more than 1800 Aura. His actual earnings were closer to 1900, but, every now and then, he found himself using his Camera App to analyze various objects he had taken an interest in. It was going to be one of his most important tools in the future, so, while it might be smarter to preserve as much Aura as possible, Nobu didn't want to develop the mentality that it was untouchable.After investing thousands of hours on numerous Clicker Apps, Nobu was well acquainted with the fallacy that points should be hoarded. It was through accumulating Achievements and purchasing various upgrades that your clicks reached truly ludicrous levels, so, even if a 'reincarnation' function was unlocked in the future, effectively resetting his cultivation back to 0, he would only hesitate for a moment before making use of it. After all, in virtually every Clicker game, things like reincarnation, ascension, or whatever the developers wanted to call it, were essential if you wanted to unlock end game content and drastically increasing the efficacy of your clicks.("Let's just hope it doesn't force me to reach the Ninth Realm before giving me the option...")Shaking that thought from his mind, Nobu removed his face mask before carefully setting it to the side so that he could wash his face. The cool water helped to calm his nerves quite a bit, but, even though weeks had passed since the time he awoke to find Yui severely injured, a herbal aroma was still present within the crystal clear water. This caused a frown to develop across Nobu's face, but, having grown accustomed to subtler aromas, he didn't overreact as he had done several times in the past.("If even the water of a mountain spring smells this bad, I can't even imagine how bad things will be once I reach a city. I really shot myself in the foot on this one. I'll need to look into acquiring one of those masks Yui mentioned previously. If my sense of smell really does get stronger with each Rank, I'm fucked in a backwater place like feudal Japan. Most people only clean their bodies once a week and only Nobles can actually afford baths. Things might be a little better if I move someplace with a hot spring resort but then I'll have to contend with the smell of sulfur...")"This fucking sucks..."Unable to express himself adequately with thought alone, Nobu couldn't help speaking them aloud. Everything about this world had been a kick in the dick, and, thanks to his decision to reincarnate as an adult, he had missed out on the adaptation period afforded to most children. Now, he was being dragged off to god knows where, and, depending on the decisions of people exponentially stronger than him, he might be royally fucked the moment he arrived. As for Yui's promise, he was actually a little grateful, but, based on their previous conversation, it was pretty fucking obvious she wasn't in a position to protect others. She wasn't even allowed to pursue her dream freely yet, in spite of this, she believed she could protect him?"Ridiculous..."......(A/N: I feel like Nobu just needs to man up and convince Yui to elope. If you can't defeat a Tsundere with raw power, your only choice is to tame them...!)

Chapter 23: Circumstances