Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Though they had tried to get him to stay elsewhere, Nobu ended up staying in the infirmary until Yui awoke more than seven and a half hours later. It would take days for her to fully recover, but, seeing her Lord lazing about atop a futon at her side, Yui was able to summon the strength to sit properly.Noticing the former's movements, Nobu immediately tossed aside the stone tablet as he forced himself to a seated position and asked, "How are you feeling? The doctors said you exhausted your aura and collapsed. Try not to move too much."Staring at Nobu with a look of incredulity on her face, Yui's eyes briefly lingered on the bandages around his body before staring into his eyes and saying, "I should be the one asking you that...how bad are your injuries...?"Recalling that he was, in fact, injured, a somewhat silly smile developed across Nobu's face as he scratched the back of his head and explained, "I asked the doctors for something to deal with the pain. They gave me a herbal tea made from a herb called Sage's Ginseng. My mind is strangely clear but I'm higher than a kite right now."Recognizing the name of the herb, Yui's eyes widened in disbelief before the realization that they must have uncovered Nobu's identity set in. Sage's Ginseng was several times more valuable than Dragon's Vigor, and, more often than not, it was reserved for use on the battlefield. Generals would take a small dose before leading their armies into battle as it provided tremendous clarity while also inhibiting pain and diminishing the effects of fatigue. It was an extremely rare and valuable herb."It seems my eyes weren't playing tricks on me...this must be Hirate-dono's estate, yes...?"Before Nobu could answer, the door to the infirmary promptly slid open as Masahide, with a casual yet creepy smile on his face, replied, "That is correct. You always were a very astute young lady, Yui-chan."Though she wasn't naked, Yui pulled up the blankets to cover her body as she glared at the smiling Masahide. This caused Nobu's expression to darken, his tone severe as he asked, "What the fuck do you want?"Surprised by Nobu's hostility, Masahide paused mid-step as he shifted his gaze between the duo. He was well aware of Yui's status as a member of the Yoshitsune Clan as he was originally tasked with training both her and Nobu. She shouldn't be the type of woman who was afraid to have her form observed by others. It would be one thing if she was naked, but, due to Nobu's insistence, she was currently wearing a thin blue yukata..."Oho...I see how it is...you weren't exaggerating when you referred to Yui-chan as your fiancee, were you? That's going to make things 'very' interesting in the future..."Caressing his chin, various thoughts crossed Masahide's mind until Nobu forced himself to his feet, his form blocking Yui as he growled, "I asked you a question..."Returning a smile, Masahide half-turned so that he was facing away from Yui before explaining, "I'm here to deliver a message. Your father, Lord Senken, has commanded that I escort the two of you to the Oda Clan's main estate..."Furrowing his brows even further, Nobu's expression shifted from anger to frustration as he mulled over his choices. He still felt it was too early to get involved with the Oda Clan and its affairs, but, at the same time, he didn't want to jeopardize both his and Yui's life by being obstinate. If Masahide hadn't shown up when he did, the best-case scenario would be their deaths. As for the worst-case scenario...he didn't even want to think about it...Unclenching his fists, a feeling of exasperation washed over Nobu as he muttered, "Fine...when do we leave...?"Nodding his head in approval, Masahide risked offending Nobu by looking directly at him, smiling cheekily as he said, "As soon as Lady Yui has slipped into something more appropriate..."......With an escort consisting of seven warriors, more than a dozen skilled servants, and a platoon of soldiers, Nobu and Yui were carried via palanquin to the massive Japanese-style castle located at the center of the city. It made the castles Nobu had toured in his previous life look pathetic, but, considering he was in a world where people could burst through reinforced walls, move around at supersonic speeds, and lift several thousand kilograms with ease, it wasn't too surprising that their castles would be colossal and heavily guarded."Holy shit..."Though she had visited the Oda Clan's main estate numerous times in the past, Yui couldn't help nodding in response to Nobu's utterance. The castle, named Inuyama Shiro, could easily house the entire provincial army, and, based on rumors, had enough resources to sustain them for upwards of three years. It wasn't the most impressive fortress in Nian, but, ever since its renovations nearly six thousand years ago, it had never fallen into enemy hands."And I thought the estate atop the mountain was massive. Just how many people live here...?"Smiling wryly in response to Nobu's question, Yui answered, "You would have to ask your parents, Lady Suzune, or my Grandmother. Details regarding the castle, its permanent residents, and its staff are a state secret. If such information was made public, the enemies of the Oda Clan would willfully take advantage of it."Nodding his head in understanding, Nobu ceased staring through the palanquin's wooden blinders before looking directly at Yui and asking, "How are you feeling? You're looking a little pale..."Restraining the urge to sigh, a slight smile developed across Yui's face as she answered, "I'm fine. I was worried about the baby but you already confirmed there weren't any issues. I just need a bit of rest...we both do..."As Pregnancy was, unsurprisingly, a status effect, Nobu was able to click the little (+) icon next to it to confirm the developmental state of the fetus and how far along Yui was in her pregnancy. At the present moment, the fetus was only around the size of a grain of rice, so, while she had suffered a number of minor injuries, Yui wasn't at risk of a miscarriage.Offering what he hoped to be a comforting smile, Nobu grasped Yui's hand with his own. He had the distinct impression she was hiding something from him. Her Anxiety status made that pretty obvious, but, instead of pressing her for answers, he just massaged her hand with his thumb. He knew she wouldn't keep something from him if it was important, so, while he was fully capable of clicking on the status to find out what was troubling her, Nobu decided he would simply trust her. She had literally passed out on her feet while trying to protect him...if he couldn't trust her, who the fuck could he trust...?Though she was a little taken aback by Nobu's sudden display of affection, Yui didn't resist. Instead, she offered a smile of her own before resting her head against his shoulder. As for what she was so worried about? It was the fact Nobu was going around telling everyone she was his fiancee. It made her happy, but, at the same time, she knew it was going to cause a lot of problems. After all, Nobu's actual fiancee was one of the permanent residents of Inuyama Shiro.........By the time the procession reached Inuyama Shiro, it was already well past midnight. Despite this, there were still dozens of guards dutifully lined up outside the front gate, each outfitted in neatly maintained armor and armed to the teeth with pikes, swords, and crossbows.When the procession reached the platform at the base of the stairs leading into the castle, even more soldiers came out to surround the group escorting Nobu. In response, everyone except for Masahide and his fellow warriors dropped their weapons before kneeling on the ground. Then, for the better part of half an hour, they checked each and every person's identity to confirm they were who they said they were.While this may have seemed a little excessive, this was standard protocol to prevent assassins from breaching the castle under the guise of an escort. The only people spared from the inspection were Nobu, Yui, Masahide, and his fellow warriors. Their inspection would take place behind closed doors as the guards outside, despite their status, simply weren't qualified to order around the registered warriors of the Oda Clan. If they tried, they could be accused of publically shaming a member of the warrior class, and, depending on the severity of their actions, execution was the lightest punishment they could expect.After praising the soldiers for their hard work, Masahide directed the procession up the final set of stairs leading into the massive castle complex. Then, after setting up a series of banner-like curtains along the path, Masahide personally opened the door of the palanquin before respectfully lowering his head and musing, "Welcome home, Young Master..."Though he briefly scrunched his nose, Nobu resisted the urge to tell Masahide to fuck off. Instead, he stepped out of the palanquin, briefly eyeing the strange banners before helping Yui down. This earned him an amused chuckle from Masahide, who, noticing the look Nobu had given the purple banners, explained, "Though it is late in the evening, the number of people paying attention to this event is not small. These banners obstruct ocular devices and possess an effect that allows them to inhibit long-distance clairvoyance. Your father, Lord Senken, ordered that I prepare them. He seems intent on protecting your identity for as long as possible~."Feeling strangely touched by the revelation, Nobu's expression gradually relaxed as a very slight smile developed across his face. The parents he had been blessed with in this world really were amazing. Sure, they might never be able to replace his original parents, especially his mother, but they were quickly growing on him. Senken seemed like a real bro, and, while Nana was a bit of an airhead, the concern she showed for him made it impossible to hate her...As that thought crossed his mind, a lot of the inhibitions Nobu felt toward the impending meeting simply faded away. Yeah, it might be a pain in the ass to get involved with the Oda Clan, but, at the very least, he wouldn't be alone. He had two amazing parents, a busted cheat, and an entire clan of voracious kunoichi who were more than willing to support his every action. He had essentially been born into this world with several golden spoons shoved in his mouth. The only thing standing in his way was his pride..."Looks like things are going to get pretty busy..."Raising his brows in response to Nobu's utterance, Masahide briefly shifted his attention to Yui. In response, the latter just shrugged her shoulders, as, even after months at Nobu's side, she was still confused by half the things that came out of his mouth.........Though she was doing her best to stay calm, Nana couldn't help slowly pacing around her room with Nobuhime in her arms. The only thing preventing her from rushing over to meet Nobu at the gate was the fact that Senken and Senichi had basically confined her to quarters in order to prevent her from making a scene."My darling Nobu-chan...won't you please hurry? Your sister and I cannot bear this painful longing even a moment longer..."Hearing her mother's remark, Nobuhime, despite being a mere three and a half months old, rolled her eyes. Nana's concern for Nobu prevented her from taking notice of this, but, even if she had, she wouldn't have been surprised. After all, Nobuhime's peculiarities were one of the reasons she was so desperate to reunite with her most beloved, and biggest baby.........(A/N: Will the secrets of Nobuhime finally be revealed? Find out in the next exciting episode of Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience~!)

"I'll never understand how it's possible for buildings to appear larger on the inside than they do on the outside..."Though he knew full well that Nobu wasn't expecting a response, Masahide issued a light chuckle before explaining, "It's because it's easier to grasp the scope and size of an object from afar. When you are inside, much of the building is out of view. This creates a disparity in the mind because you have already rationalized that the space you are entering is expansive. As a result, everything within feels much larger than it actually is."Hearing Masahide's voice, Nobu ceased gawking at his surroundings, an annoyed look on his face as he remarked, "You like hearing the sound of your voice, don't you?"Without missing a beat, Masahide issued a soft chuckle before countering, "A curious thing to hear from someone who was just talking to themselves...""..."Deciding to simply ignore the man, Nobu continued observing his surroundings as Masahide led him and Yui through the estate. The interior of the castle really was massive, and, unlike the castles he had explored during his past life's trips to Japan, Inugama was largely comprised of stone and marble rather than wood and bamboo. The latter materials were still present, but, judging by how 'fresh' everything looked, they were a more recent addition to a pre-existing structure. If he had to guess, Nobu would assume they were one of the many ruins mentioned by Kumiko...a relic from the Age of the Gods..."With this, my duty has come to an end. I wish you both the best of luck."Breaking Nobu from his thoughts, Masahide gestured towards an adjacent bamboo door before offering a deferential bow and standing off to the side. At the same time, Yui moved away from Nobu's side, her head lowered in an uncharacteristically meek and servile manner that made him want to question her until the door spontaneously opened to reveal Senken."You certainly took your time..."Restraining the urge to call Nobu a brat, Senken stared up at his eldest son with arms crossed. In response, Nobu furrowed his brows, but, rather than mirror the man's actions, he cupped his hands in the way Kumiko had taught him, saying, "It's good to see you...father..."Blinking in surprise, Senken opened his mouth like he wanted to say something but nothing came out. Fortunately, just as he was beginning to feel like a jackass for behaving haughtily in front of his son, a gruff voice immediately shattered the tensions, asking, "How long are the two of you going to keep pissing around at the threshold? Come inside or leave. Stop dawdling."Snorting through his nose, Senken stepped aside, saying, "Come in..." before shifting his gaze to Yui and adding, "Both of you..."Fully expecting to have to wait outside, Yui was genuinely surprised by Senken's words. In spite of this, she managed to appear as calm and placid as the surface of a lake as she cupper her hands as a sign of respect. Her Grandmother had stressed that she should never lower her head to anyone except Nobu. This included Senken, who, despite being the Lord and Master of the Yoshitsune Clan, had no authority over her.Rather than admonish Yui for her ostensibly rude behavior, Senken just nodded his head before following the duo with his eyes. Once they had passed him completely, he directed his fiery golden eyes towards Masahide, saying, "You've done well, Masa. When things have settled down, let's have a drink."A stark contrast to Yui, Masahide had no choice but to bow in the presence of his Lord. The latter might not care about such formalities but it would be quite the scandal if people learned he didn't afford their Lord the proper respect. Thus, while he ultimately smiled in response to his Lord's offer, Masahide kept his head lowered as he replied, "It would be my honor."Nodding his head in approval, Senken uttered a curt, "You're dismissed." before promptly closing the door. He understood better than most that there were eyes and ears even in the heart of the Clan, so, while Masahide's behavior annoyed him, he didn't blame the man for following protocol. Instead, he waited for Masahide's presence to disappear before shaking his head and saying, "I'm going to go and retrieve Nana. If we keep her waiting, she's bound to cause a ruckus..."Snorting in response to his son's words, Senichi waved his hand in a dismissive manner, stating, "Then go. What are you waiting for? Permission? You're the Lord of Owari. Stop acting like a fool just because your son is visiting."With his brow twitching, Senken resisted the urge to shout as he replied, "Stop saying things that might cause a misunderstanding you damned geezer..."Grinning savagely in response to Senken's remark, Senichi was about to tease him further when the bamboo partitions behind him were suddenly blasted open by a burst of crimsonAura. This caused several of the surrounding oil lamps to spill, but, unlike traditional tatami made from rice straw, the materials used in the castle's were coated in a waxy residue to made them flame retardant."Where is my baby...!?"Demonstrating that they were, in fact, grandfather, father, and son, Senichi, Senken, and Nobu all smiled wryly as Nana zeroed in on the latter."Nobu-chan~! Yui-chan~!"Seizing the momentum from everyone else in the room, Nana made her way over to where Nobu and Yui were seated before squatting down and presenting the bundle in her arm, a breathtaking smile on her face as she happily chimed, "Look, look~! Meet your sister~!"Returning an awkward smile, Nobu peered into the crimson bundle with the intention of offering a few polite words. What none of the people in the room expected was for the infant to immediately cry out, arms flailing excitedly as a continuous string of enthusiastic baby sounds escaped her still-developing throat."Hime-chan...?"Confused by her daughter's extremely uncharacteristic response, Nana struggled to keep the infant in her embrace as Nobuhime wiggled about and flailed her arms in the direction Nobu.("Well that ain't normal...")Remembering the reason he had come to the capital, Nobu promptly pulled out the stone tablet before snapping a pick of the admittedly adorably little girl in his mother's arms. This ended up being a mistake, as, the moment he saw the information presented therein, regret unlike anything he had ever experienced washed over him...------------------------------------Name: Oda Nobuhime, Elizabeth JohnsonAge: 97 daysGender: Female, H:51.9cm, W: 5.1kg, B: 42.4cm, W: 43.2cm, H: 42.3cmBlood Type: A+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 83/108Status: Divine Protection(+), Hungry(+), Sleepy(+), Excited(+)-Divine Protection: Blessed by the Goddess of the Six Paths. Drastically increases Luck so long as the recipient does not harm others. Removal Cost: Cannot be Removed-Hungry: She is hungry. Removal Cost: 1AU-Sleepy: She is sleepy. Removal Cost: 7AU-Excited: She is very, very excited. Removal Cost: Cannot be RemovedMain Hand: RightPreferred Weapon: Social MediaStrengths: Cute, Intelligent, Carnivorous, ReincarnatorWeaknesses: She is a babyOrientation: TrapsPreferences: Gap Moe, Big Dicks, Bareback, Softcore BDSM, Strangulation PlayFavorite Food: Friend Chicken, Cherry and Pistachio Ice Cream, Chicken Curry, Pickled Eggs......------------------------------------"No fucking way..."Though the name secondary name and Status were dead giveaways, Nobu nearly passed out when he read the rest of the infant's information. If he hadn't been sitting down, he very well might have."Nobu-chan...?"Noticing how pale Nobu had become, a palpable anxiety spread through the room as Nana held Nobuhime in her arms and habitually looked towards Senken. He had been her emotional anchor for the past twenty years, so, whenever she felt worried or concerned, she always looked to him for support.Though he was just as confused and worried as his wife, Senken's expression became resolute the moment Nana directed her gaze his way. Then, despite feeling that Nobu needed time to process whatever he had just learned, Senken's tone became firm as he shouted, "Hey, kid! Snap out of it! Can't you see you're making your mother worried...!?"In response to Senken's shout, Nobuhime released an ear-piercing scream, almost as if she were trying to protest what he had just said. This left Nana feeling more fretful than ever, anxiety visible in her countenance as she looked down at the flailing infant and attempted to calm her down."Would you stop shouting? You're making a scene..."Furrowing his brows, Senken was about to chastise Nobu for speaking against him when a sudden silence descended upon the room. This was strange in and of itself, but, to make matters eve more inexplicable, an awkward laugh emanated from Nobuhime's throat as the infant covered her mouth in embarrassment...Noticing everyone's gazes shift from Nobuhime to himself, Nobu's body tensed as he tried to think of what to say. Before he could, the middle-aged man that had been observing him like a hawk ever since he arrived broke the silence, saying, "Out with it, boy. Don't even try to hide anything."Feeling a sudden pressure pressing down on him, a wave of panic washed over Nobu's body as the rage he had been doing his best to restrain began to bubble up. Fortunately, just as he was about to tell the old fart to fuck off, Nana adopted a venomous look and tone as she glared back at him and growled, "Senichi-sama..."Though he directed a stern gaze towards Nana, Senichi gradually retracted his aura. At the same time, however, his tone remained firm as he said, "Everyone in this room has an obligation towards the people of Nian and the world abroad. Our fates have been tied together since that fateful day more than nineteen years ago. If he can't even trust us with the truth, who can he trust...?"Directing the last statement towards Nobu himself, Senichi made it very clear he wasn't going to settle for a half-assed explanation. Prior to hearing the prophecy from Imina, he had never cared about such things. Now that everything she promised was slowly coming to pass, he feared for the future of the entire world, not just the Oda Clan...Seeing his father and son having a staring match, Senken was about to try and pacify the growing tensions when Nobuhime garnered all of their attention with a few baby sounds and a gesture that resembled an 'okay' sign. The latter was clearly directed towards Nobu, who, after exhaling one of the most profound sighs any of them had ever heard, raised his head to explain, "She's my mom...I have no idea how it fucking happened, but this little bra...baby has inherited the soul of my mother from a previous life..."Expecting them to ask what the hell he was talking about, Nobu was surprised when Nana simply looked down at Nobuhime and asked, "Is that true? Hime-chan is Nobu-chan's Okaa-chan...?"Demonstrating she knew exactly what they were talking about, Nobuhime nodded her head with a 'serious' expression that didn't match her childish appearance. In response, Nana adopted one of her characteristically breathtaking smiles as she practically sang, "How wonderful~! I can't wait to hear all the stories about Nobu-chan's previous life~!"Confused by his second mother's response, Nobu's mouth hung open for several seconds as he found himself at a loss for words. He wasn't the only one in such a state. Senken and Senichi also had helpless expressions on their faces while Yui, unaware of the prophecy related to her Lord and lover, just stared off into empty space as if the conversation had absolutely nothing to do with her.........(A/N: I kind of feel bad for our boy. Learning the truth about Nobuhime isn't that bad. Learning her previous life's preferences is traumatizing xD...)

After being hefted onto a vehicle that could best be described as a chair on a stretcher, Nobu was taken from a large manor to a much smaller residence located a good twenty minutes from where he had been staying. This caused him to become increasingly suspicious of the people who were supposedly helping him, but, once he saw Yui being treated by an elderly woman who smelled of medicine, most of his tensions gradually began to fade.In hindsight, Nobu realized he could have confirmed Yui's condition using the stone tablet. One of the cheatier aspects of the Heavenly Treasure was that it allowed him to spend a small amount of Aura to update the information of any people, places, or things he had scanned. This also allowed him to confirm that the doctors weren't trying to poison Yui in her sleep, so, after spending a solid half-hour just staring at her, Nobu eventually agreed to hear what Masahide had to say........."I was asked by a good friend of mine, Hyuudou Hiashi-dono, to look after a young man named Nanamori Nobu. While others may not recognize this name, Nananananananananamori-san and I go way back. Thus, the moment I received your father's orders through his missive, I immediately set out to search for you. I never could have imagined our paths would cross in the middle of an invasion crisis. I wonder how the soldiers will react once it comes to light they had attempted to apprehend and execute their future Lord~?"Snorting through his nose, Nobu surprised Masahide by stating, "Just drop it. If anyone should pay a price, it should be that asshat who came looking for trouble. He didn't even give his name before he started rambling on about the Oda Clan and acting like a fuckwit. That stupid cunt even wanted me to fucking press my head to the ground and beg for forgiveness while he had his way with my fiancee. The next time I see him, that bitch is dead."Processing everything Nobu had just revealed, Masahide's expression gradually turned serious as he said, "Please tell me you're embellishing things..."With an incredulous look on his face, Nobu stared directly at Masahide as he asked, "Why the fuck would you think I'm exaggerating? What, you think I attacked that piece of shit because he stopped me to say hello? I even apologized to that fucker and attempted to deescalate the situation but that pathetic piece of shit used it as an opportunity to force our hand just because he thought we didn't have any backers. He's lucky I didn't fucking kill him on the spot."Though a part of him was hoping that Nobu was simply exaggerating, the resolution contained in the latter's eyes made it pretty obvious he wasn't. Most people who lied couldn't keep eye contact, and, even if they did, their eyes would quiver as their minds raced to come up with a convincing lie. Nobu's eyes were crystal clear, and, while his choice of words left a lot to be desired, there wasn't even a trace of hesitation in his tone.Stroking his chin, Masahide's eyes glistened with a pale glow as he soft mused, "I see...this would certainly explain why Peng-sama was so hell-bent on killing the two of you..."Hearing this, the wind currents within the room became increasingly turbulent as Nobu practically growled, "That petty piece of shit...!"Restraining the urge to chastise Nobu for his choice of words, Masahide simply nodded his head as a sly and calculating smile spread across his face. This caused Nobu's skin to crawl as the man was just a few coats of makeup away from resembling a certain snake-inspired pedo.Noticing Nobu's discomfort, a light chuckle emanated from Masahide's throat before he lowered his head as an expression of politeness rather than servitude as he said, "I will need to inform your father of this development. If Senzo-sama chooses to act, there is only so much I can without your identity being known. I am willing to give my life to protect you but I would rather avoid sacrificing the lives of my people to protect someone they believe to be dead."Furrowing his brows, Nobu preempted Masahide's departure by asking, "Can't you just help the two of us escape the city? At this rate, all of my efforts and planning are going to be wasted. I'm still not ready to become entangled in the politics of the Clan, much less the country."Returning a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Masahide explained, "If that is your wish, I will do everything in my power to grant it. However, know there is a very high probability that I will be held accountable for letting you escape. Unless Lord Senken chooses to reveal your identity, I will most likely be accused of treason and executed. With that in mind, I must ask to be certain...are you sure you want to run away...?"Clenching the muscles of his jaw in indignation, Nobu glared daggered at the smiling Masahide as he processed everything the man had said. Then, in a grim tone that made it transparently clear he wasn't happy, he answered, "I don't like being manipulated..."Understanding the true meaning behind Nobu's words, Masahide regained his amused smile as he rose to his feet and said, "Then become stronger...strong enough that no one, not even the Gods in Heaven, can oppose you..."Punctuating his words with another polite bow, Masahide turned away from the still-glaring Nobu before promptly departing the room. Once he was outside, his figure immediately turned into a blur, as, contrary to his calm demeanor, he was actually quite nervous about how things were going to develop.........Though he had already heard about the incident in the city, obviously, it was only when he received Masahide's message that Senken understood just how close his son had been to death. This caused the rage and indignation he had been suppressing for more than a decade to surge forth, his eyes blazing like fiery suns as he growled, "You've really done it this time, Senzo! I ignored you these last few years because I felt guilty about crippling your arm. Now, not only have you attempted to gain a hold over my other children, you sent your swine of a son to assassinate my eldest!? Let's see how you scheme when I have your head on a pike...!"Unable to contain his fury, Senken's mithril aura manifested around his body as he stormed through the halls of the Oda Clan's main estate. If it wasn't for his father appearing moments after he began releasing his aura, he might have blazed a trail directly through the surrounding walls."Calm yourself, Senken. Your brother has spent the last twenty years scheming against you. Do you really believe he had a hand in this? I understand why you're upset but hasty action will only cause greater harm to the Clan. For now, the highest priority is recovering your son and guaranteeing his safety. Once his identity has been made known, Senzo will have no choice but to bide his time until an opportunity arises. By then, your son should be more than capable of protecting himself."In a manner remarkably similar to Nobu, Senken flexed the muscles of his jaw a few times before slowly retracting his aura. His younger brother, Oda Senzo, was the Elder responsible for overseeing the Clan's businesses. He wasn't in direct control of their finances but more than seventy percent of the Clan's income flowed in from the branch families. Eliminating Senzo wouldn't completely cripple them but it would make managing the territory a lot harder."Fine...I will trust in your wisdom. However, if something like this happens in the near future, I will not hesitate to cut that man's neck. The Oda Clan has never needed multiple factions. If Nobu is to unify the archipelago in the future, we must first start with the Clan."Surprised by Senken's well-thought-out statement, a massive grin replaced the gruff and battle-hardened expression of Senichi. It was pretty rare for Senken to reach such conclusions on his own so he was genuinely surprised that his brashest of children had managed to strike upon the heart of the matter without help. Fortunately for Senken, Senichi didn't say this out loud. Instead, he just clapped his eldest son on the shoulder and said, "We should prepare drinks. If your son is going to visit, there's no way in hell we're letting him leave sober."Amused by the thought of drinking his son into unconsciousness, an expectant grin spread across the face of Senken as he elbowed his father in the ribs and said, "Try not to embarrass yourself too much, old man."Snorting through his nose, Senichi attempted to hook his arm around Senken's neck by the latter managed to dodge using one of the movement techniques passed down from their ancestors. This caused the smile on the middle-aged man's face to fade, but, moments later, his figure flared with a mithril aura as he proceeded to chase his son around the compound.........While Senken and Senichi were engaged in an impromptu game of tag, Senzo, a dark-haired man with a perpetually grim yet handsome face was staring into the contents of his teacup. He had a long mane of hair that extended well past his shoulders, a lean yet muscular build, and the same shimmering golden eyes possessed by his two brothers. Most people who set their sights on him would immediately assume he was a warrior, but, ever since his elder brother severed the tendons of his left hand, Senzo's path as a swordsman had ended.Ever since that faithful night, Senzo had done everything in his power to demonstrate he was a far more capable ruler than his brother. He had increased their profits by more than 400%, and, thanks to his efforts in the Imperial Court, the influence of the Clan had increased exponentially.Unfortunately, no matter how hard he worked, Senzo's ambitions were limited by the traditions of their nation. To make matters even worse, many of his accomplishments were directly attributed to his brother since the latter was the person who placed him in charge. This had become the primary source of Senzo's frustration over the years, but, no matter how bad things got, he refused to act in the same barbaric fashion as his older brother. Thus, when he heard the report regarding what had taken place in the city, his expression darkened to the point that everything around him seemed to dim along with it..."I want you to repeat everything you just said. This time, however, you will tell the truth. If you lie or embellish the facts in any way, I will sever the tips of your fingers..."Swallowing hard in response to his father's words, a bead of sweat formed at the tip of Peng's nose as he kept his head lowered to the point his forehead periodically touched the tatami mats beneath him. He had absolutely no doubts regarding the severity of his father's threat, as, several years ago, the man had literally severed the hand of his younger sister after she stole the heirloom of a vassal family."Father...please...everything I said was the truth. That man, Nanamori Nobu, was the first to attack. I had no choice but to pop the flare after that wench defeated Yanfei. I thought they were going to kill me..."Without losing his glare, Senzo replied, "If they wanted to kill you, you would be dead. You, a mere Silver Adept, attempted to take on two Golden Warriors. To make matters worse, you were the one to instigate the altercation. Now, despite being given the chance to come clean, you prioritize your pride over the truth. Put your hand forward.""Fath-"Fearing for the tips of his fingers, Peng raised his head with the intention to protest. The moment he did so, a silvery-green wave smashed into his body with the force of a charging Aura Beast. As a result, he was sent smashing through three layers of walls as his father, showing no remorse, walked over with a sword in hand.........(A/N: O_O...)

Chapter 113: Procession