Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

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...)

After some of the worst sleep of his life, Nobu emerged from his room with the kind of expression typically reserved for mothers with quadruplets, code monkeys, and game developers adding the finishing touches on a project that had been delayed by several years. There were dark bags under his bloodshot eyes, as, even with a mask covering the lower half of his face, the putrid smell of piss and shit wafting in from the city streets was enough to drive lesser men insane.Surprised by the aura of gloom exuding from Nobu's entire being, Yui, despite having spent the last ten minutes knocking on his door, promptly decided against lecturing him. Instead, she pulled out a bottle of mint oil she had extracted during their stay in the mountains, asking, "Is it really that bad?" while applying the substance to a fresh cloth.Since even speaking allowed a foul aroma to rise up through the back of his throat, Nobu simply nodded in response to Yui's words. It was only after she had handed over the moderately cleaner cloth, the smell of fresh menthol invading his senses, that he deigned to speak, answering, "We're going to be traveling with a merchant caravan, right?"Nodding her head, Yui placed the old cloth into her satchel before explaining, "Due to the number of people traveling to the capital around this time of year, the merchant guilds and za traders have reached an agreement with the provincial army to act as escorts. Though travelers are expected to work, gather materials, and carry supplies, it is the safest way to travel without a permit."Noticing the confusion in Nobu's eyes, Yui restrained a sigh before gesturing towards the stairs and appending, "Nian has become increasingly unstable ever since the Ashikawa Clan acquired the title of Shogun from the dishonored Kamakura Clan. Though there have yet to be any large-scale wars, tensions between the various provinces and prefectures are at an all-time high. This has contributed to a growing number of people fleeing poor and impoverished territories in order to seek shelter in neighboring provinces. To combat this, the Ashikawa Shogunate introduced a law prohibiting travel between prefectures without a warrior, merchant, or travel permit. Very few Daimyo actually uphold this law, but, to prevent denunciations and accusations of treason, they have implemented policies similar to this one so that people can travel freely at certain times throughout the year.""Mmm..."Since he didn't really have anything to say, Nobu just hummed a simple response before stepping out of the relatively warm lodge and into the cold. Winter might have ended, but, due to its close proximity to the sea, a frigid and biting wind assailed Owari-Asai in the early mornings. It would get warmer as the sun emerged from over the horizon, but, as that was still more than three hours out, an icy sensation washed across the lower-half of Nobu's face due to the minty oil suffused through his makeshift mask...Though she was a little annoyed by Nobu's curt response, Yui managed to rein in her emotions as she gestured towards the distant city gate, explaining, "We need to hurry. The caravan is scheduled to depart the moment the sky begins to illuminate. If we're not checked in before the first call, our seats will go to someone else. It is a three-week journey if we end up having to walk. Traveling with a caravan isn't much faster but it allows us to rest in a carriage and seek shelter from the rain. Let's hurry."Without waiting for Nobu to answer in the affirmative, Yui grabbed his hand and began pulling him along at a running-jog. This gave the former the urge to pull his hand away but Yui had preempted this by manifesting a golden manacle around his wrist and fastening it to her own. Thus, even if he wanted to escape, doing so was easier said than done.........Thanks to his Breath Progression Technique, Nobu wasn't even remotely winded by the time he and Yui reached the gate. There, Yui signed both of their names in a migration registrar before dragging him to the bustling merchant caravan located a few hundred meters away.As one of the few caravans that benefitted from a military escort, more than a thousand people had gathered with the intention of purchasing inexpensive fare. This was far larger than the usual group that would gather at the beginning of the year, and, as a result, a dispute seemed to be taking place between a small group of uniformed people and a much larger group of soldiers.Though quite a number of people were drawn closer to this conflict, Yui ended up dragging Nobu towards one of the larger supply wagons located near the very front of the convoy. There, a middle-aged man with off-color blue hair could be seen barking orders at various younger men and women. His hair color, alone, would have been more than enough to draw attention back on Earth, but, as if he wasn't content with simply standing out, the backs of the man's ears were lined with a layer of fur that came to a point near the tips..."So beast-human hybrids really are a thing in this world..."Hearing Nobu mumble under his breath, Yui turned her head, asking, "Did you say something...?"Shaking his head, Nobu was about to say it was nothing before remembering they were still cuffed together. He also recalled the 'cover story' Yui had come up with, so, before she could drag him any further, he stopped his feet and said, "We're supposed to be a married couple. What are you going to say when people ask why we're handcuffed together?"Furrowing her brows, Yui began searching for an answer until Nobu exhaled an annoyed sigh and said, "Just take it off. I'm not going to run away. Besides, even if I tried, you would just catch up to me."While she was more than confident in her ability to track him down, Yui didn't immediately release the shackle around Nobu's wrist. There was a very real chance he would alert the provincial army or ask for help from someone with a higher cultivation base if she allowed him to wander freely. From that moment onward, the only option she would have is revealing her identity or accusing him of a crime he didn't commit. Neither of these outcomes would be ideal, so, before removing the golden manacle, she adopted the most serious expression he had ever seen before saying, "I will remove it if you promise to stay close and not make a scene. There are far greater dangers in this world-"Before Yui could finish her mixed warning/threat, Nobu adopted a serious expression of his own, saying, "I already said I wasn't going to run away. Seriously, woman. You need to stop stressing out over everything. Nobody likes a clinger."Though she squinted her eyes in response to the unfamiliar expression, Yui knew better than to fret over everything that came out of Nobu's mouth. He was the type of person that could call someone every insult under the heavens without actually meaning any of them. This would lead most people to believe he was disingenuous, but, after spending nearly a month observing him, Yui had come to realize that he rarely deviated from the things he said he would or wouldn't do.Hoping she hadn't been wrong about him, Yui maintained a serious expression as she said, "I trust you..." in a delicate yet somber tone. This caused a deep frown to appear on Nobu's face, but, while others might interpret this as an expression of dissent, Yui interpreted it as something positive. He would never admit it, but, despite behaving as if everything was troublesome, Nobu had a relatively straight-forward and surprisingly earnest personality. If he cared as little as he pretended to, there's no way he would offer advice and question the flaws present in the existing system...Clicking his tongue, Nobu tore his gaze away from Yui's crystal clear eyes, muttering, "Whatever..." in an aloof tone.Had she been the more expressive type, Yui might have smiled in response to this. Instead, she replied with an approving nod before dissipating the shackle and saying, "I used the rest of my savings to secure our passage on one of the main supply coaches. They are transferring tea and spice to the capital so the smell shouldn't be unbearable unless you dislike the aroma of herbs. As for our individual duties: I explained that you sustained an injury that left you unable to speak and act normally. I'll have to defend the cargo during the evenings, but, so long as you don't draw too much attention to yourself, you should be able to relax until we reach the capital."Though he got the sinking suspicion he was somehow being looked down upon or manipulated, Nobu just grunted in response to Yui's explanation. They were still a fair distance from the actual convoy and he was already lamenting the journey to come. Animals and livestock weren't exactly fragrant, so, with a number of horses, oxen, and a few animals he didn't recognize making up the convoy's beasts of burden; the less he had to work, the better.Thinking Nobu was already beginning to play his part, Yui nodded in approval, saying, "Let's go." before leading the way to the dog-eared man. When he noticed them approaching, an even fiercer expression than the one he was already wearing developed across his face as he shouted, "Well! It's about damn time! A few minutes longer and I'd have sold yer spots off to some of those migrant bastards!"Crossing her right hand over her heart, Yui performed a curt yet respectful bow as she said, "You have my most sincere gratitude, Atarashi-dono. I will do everything in my power to ensure I do not inconvenience you a second time."Snorting through his nose, the furry-eared man, Atarashi Tsuneo, shifted his gaze from Yui to Nobu, asking, "This is the man you mentioned previously? Nanamori Nobu, was it? Quite the difference in your appearance..."Without missing a beat, Yui calmly and confidently explained, "My husband is a former Yamabushi Monk's Apprentice. He lost most of his faculties and cultivation after being attacked by a Demonic Spirit. Please do not draw attention to it a second time."Though his cover would be blown the moment Nobu opened his mouth, his appearance wasn't all that different from a Yamabushi Monk. They were ascetic mountain hermits who lived outdoors and spent most of their time communing with nature. Most wore little more than rags, and, due to their ascetic practices, they were inordinately thin and lanky. The only thing that distinguished Nobu and a conventional Yamabushi was his hairstyle, as, the moment they took their vows, most shaved their heads...Without tearing his eyes away from Nobu, Tsuneo issued a grunt of acknowledgment before saying, "Well, so long as he doesn't cause trouble for me and my men, I couldn't care less. Just keep him in line. If he wanders off into the woods, we ain't sending out a search party."Nodding her head in understanding, Yui pulled Nobu a little closer, naturally linking her arm with his as she said, "Worry not, Atarashi-dono. As a Golden Warrior, my words carry a similar weight. I promised we would not inconvenience you. If something happens, I will resolve it on my own."Since he couldn't really afford to just stand around and make idle chatter, Tsuneo just waved Yui off, saying, "Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. Just stow him away in coach three. We'll be departin' the moment the Governor's forces finish their pissing contest with the provincial army. Seriously, those louts have no sense of self-preservation..."Rather than responding to the comment, Yui performed another quick salute before guiding Nobu towards a massive cart pulled by a total of six inordinately large oxen. Her gentle behavior caught him by surprise, but, rather than appearing even remotely appreciative, Nobu's expression gradually darkened as the smell of cow feces grew stronger the closer they got to the coach..."Fucking bullshit..."......(A/N: Yes. Quite literally o_o...)

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...)

Chapter 24: Forced