Chapter 123: Kazahana Koyuki
A figure wearing a hood, their face obscured, stood on the street, distantly watching several Snow Ninja in conversation.
Due to the Land of Snow's cold weather, his strange attire didn't attract anyone's attention.
The hooded man glanced sideways. Seeing no one paying attention, he directly turned into a dark alley.
At the end of the alley was a slightly dilapidated house.
Even the doorway was meticulously blocked with bricks.
It was clear at a glance that no one had lived here for a long time.
But the hooded man fumbled around in the darkness until he touched an inconspicuous brick.
With a crisp "click," the brick was pressed inwards.
Click, clack, clack...
Following the sound of turning gears, the brick wall actually began to open upwards.
Under the faint moonlight, a staircase leading down into a bottomless, dark passage could be seen.
The hooded man descended continuously along the pitch-black passage.
After a minute, upon reaching the bottom, an iron door appeared before him.
Thump thump! Thump!
The hooded man stood before the door and lightly knocked a few times with a specific rhythm.
Click!
Without waiting too long, the iron door was opened a crack from the inside.
Light shone through the opening, happening to illuminate the hooded man's face.
It was an old man with round-rimmed glasses, his eyes slightly narrowed.
The person who peeked out from behind the door scrutinized the old man for a moment before their expression completely relaxed.
"Sandayū-sama, you've worked hard. Please come in."
The person behind the door opened it fully, directly letting the old man in.
And the person behind the door, surprisingly, wore the same blue and white armor as the Snow Ninja outside.
"No need to be polite. It's all to protect Princess Koyuki."
Asama Sandayū shook his head at the Snow Ninja, then said with a worried tone: "There are even more Snow Ninja responsible for patrolling and searching outside. I'm afraid Kazahana Dotō has completely seized all military power."
This meant Kazahana Dotō had essentially stabilized his position in the Land of Snow.
"It seems the situation is even more serious than expected."
The Snow Ninja couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this: "With just us, trying to retake the Land of Snow is no different from an egg striking a rock."
These Snow Ninja were Kazahana Sōsetsu's only remaining loyal retainers, but in the end, there were only about sixty of them.
Covering Kazahana Koyuki's escape from the Daimyō's residence, protecting her from being found by Kazahana Dotō – this was already their limit.
If no one was there to receive them on the outside, they wouldn't even know how to safely send Princess Koyuki out of the Land of Snow.
"Don't worry, I've already thought of a way."
Asama Sandayū shook his head, comforting the Snow Ninja.
Immediately, without explaining, he walked past the Snow Ninja and headed further inside.
...
Inside a rather small room, a girl dressed in fine clothes lay quietly on the bed, her eyes tightly shut.
But the fear on her face made it clear she was actually in the midst of a nightmare.
"Ah!"
The girl suddenly cried out and sat up. Her pair of blue pupils were wide, her small body trembling uncontrollably.
The vast palace engulfed in flames, Kazahana Dotō's ferocious face, and also...
Her father, Kazahana Sōsetsu, lying in a pool of blood.
Bang!
"Princess Koyuki! What's wrong?!"
The door was violently pushed open, and two Snow Ninja guarding outside rushed in, looking alarmed.
Upon seeing Kazahana Koyuki, who appeared to be fine, they let out a long sigh of relief.
"Princess, did you have a nightmare again?"
One Snow Ninja said with a guilty tone: "We are truly sorry. We will take you away from the Land of Snow as soon as possible and find a safer country."
Kazahana Koyuki also came back to her senses, forcing a smile: "It's already good enough. I should be the one thanking you."
Not long ago, she was still being protected by the Snow Ninja, fleeing from place to place.
It was only recently that she met Asama Sandayū, and now finally had a safe place to stay.
Although Kazahana Koyuki was accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, Kazahana Sōsetsu had raised her well; she hadn't developed a pampered nature.
It was just that staying in Snow City, where Kazahana Dotō was, made her extremely uneasy, always reminding her of that terrifying rebellion.
Just then.
"Princess."
Asama Sandayū trotted into the room, then knelt on one knee before Koyuki: "I have already found a way to leave the Land of Snow. Please prepare your luggage; we will depart immediately."
With that, an expression of wanting to say more but hesitating appeared on his face.
But in the end, he didn't say it.
Kazahana Koyuki was initially overjoyed upon hearing this, but seeing Sandayū's expression, her smile gradually faded.
"Please rise, Sandayū."
"Yes."
The two, with tacit understanding, did not mention the matter of retaking the Land of Snow.
Sandayū certainly wanted the legitimate Princess Koyuki to reclaim political power.
But it was too early to talk about these things now; the matter required careful long-term planning.
The officials and nobles loyal to Kazahana Sōsetsu had probably already been purged by Kazahana Dotō.
Most of the Snow Ninja also blindly obeyed Kazahana Dotō.
Currently, the most important thing was to send Princess Koyuki out of the Land of Snow first, to escape this calamity.
Sandayū stood up and looked at the Snow Ninja beside him: "We now need some people to attract the patrol team's attention. Then, I and the remaining men will take Princess Koyuki out of Snow City and escape the Land of Snow by ship from the port."
As long as they deliberately caused some chaos to attract the attention of Snow City's patrol teams,
That would be the best time to take Princess Koyuki out of Snow City.
Once out of Snow City, he was confident he could get Princess Koyuki out of the Land of Snow.
But this plan had a flaw.
"You all..."
Sandayū asked with a hesitant expression: "Is anyone willing..."
But before he could finish,
The several Snow Ninja present all knelt on one knee, their expressions firm as they said in unison: "Leave this mission to us!"
"We will definitely buy enough time for Princess Koyuki!"
These Snow Ninja knew very well.
With just their strength, facing the entire patrol team of Snow City, the outcome was almost certainly death.
Despite this, they still accepted this mission without hesitation.
Kazahana Sōsetsu was undoubtedly a very popular and wise ruler.
Not only in ruling the country but also in his conduct and actions.
The Snow Ninja present, including Sandayū, were almost all trusted aides personally cultivated by Kazahana Sōsetsu.
Now that it was time to repay his kindness, they would naturally not shirk from death.
"You..."
Looking at the Snow Ninja kneeling before her, their faces resolute, Kazahana Koyuki couldn't help but be stunned.
The fear of Kazahana Dotō in her heart also gradually dissipated, replaced more by feelings of gratitude and guilt.
Honestly, before this, she had no thoughts of retaking the Land of Snow.
She only wanted to get away from this place that terrified her, away from that Kazahana Dotō who terrified her.
But now...
"I understand."
Asama Sandayū looked at the several Snow Ninja, nodding solemnly.
He said no more.
These Snow Ninja directly left the room to attract the attention of the patrol teams outside together.
The room fell into silence again.
Not long after,
Bang!
A violent tremor broke the silence.
(End of Chapter)
---
Read up to 25 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*