Book 4: Chapter 62: Sinking

Kiuchidera flew over to the other ship, his figure cloaked in an ethereal glow. Specs of dark purple light condensed above his raised hand and pointed in Lily’s direction.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The purple spears of light shot towards Lily one after the other, prompting her to dodge back and forth.

Colorful explosions dotted the surface of the deck.

Ui added to the fray, sending her six jade b.a.l.l.s spiraling towards the retreating Lily. They twisted and coalesced into a thick, six-headed whip that split the surrounding air.

Lily shook off the approaching whip with fake movements, causing its heavy jade b.a.l.l.s to lash against the deck with a sonorous boom!

Lily knew that she wouldn’t be able to catch the agile Ui, especially when she was being supported by the onmyoji. She abruptly spun on her heels and curved a scarlet blade of light towards the floating Kiuchidera who was chanting incantations. Caught off guard, he could only dodge in a panic.

Boom—!

The crescent light dug into the side of the ship building and left a huge scar on its surface.

Although the enemy ship was as large as Lord Kato’s, the materials used in its construction were not as st.u.r.dy.

“How dare you damage Lord Tamurakonoe’s ship! I’ll kill you b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲!” Ui retracted the six jade b.a.l.l.s and spun them overhead, condensing a cyclone of spiritual energy.

“Take this: Six Pearls Spirit Blast!”

Light orange flames ignited on the rapidly spinning b.a.l.l.s, gradually forming a ring of fire.

Lily wouldn’t just sit around and wait for the attack. She unleashed a blade of crescent light to disrupt the move, but Ui still displayed absolute flexibility while suspended mid-air. The six fireb.a.l.l.s descended towards Lily, their spiritual fluctuations carrying hints of an ancient secret technique.

“This move isn’t ordinary!” Lily’s heart warned her that she would face a major crisis if hit by the attack.

The fireb.a.l.l.s continuously spun and stretched farther from each other.

Ui’s wrists were so dexterous that she manipulated each jade ball to attack Lily in turn.

Lily dodged from side to side and tumbled back and forth to dodge the oncoming fireb.a.l.l.s. She then jumped into a roll to avoid the last jade ball, its generated wind causing her skirt to flutter wildly. A spontaneous smile flashed across Lily’s face, “Hmph, is that all to your unique skill? Let me show you mine!”

Lily started to channel her crimson spirit power into her Crescent Moon.

However, Ui’s face still sported a playful grin, causing a sting of worry in her heart.

“What?!” Lily suddenly realized that something was off.

“Six Pearls · Mido Binding!”

The six jade b.a.l.l.s that were seemingly avoided by Lily flew around to her back under Ui’s control.

If observed from the top, one would notice that the spiritual trail left by the original trajectory and the return path patterned a loose but intricate twist. At that exact moment, Ui tightened the threads coursing with intense spiritual energy.

Ch-ch-ch—!

The silver threads wrapped Lily’s body and caused the heavy jade b.a.l.l.s to circle with her as the center due to the resistance.

“What?!”

In an instant, Lily’s entire body was entwined in the mesh of threads. They entangled her thighs, waist, hands, and constricted tightly around her supple b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

“Hahahaha! You fell for it! My kendama doesn’t specialize in attack, but capture instead! Big brother, I’ve captured the Mirror Girl alive!”

Ui laughed recklessly and forcefully tugged the kendamas’ handle.

“Hmmnn…” Lily choked out a bitter grunt as her body got tightly restricted by the silver threads. The firm squeeze caused parts of her full b.r.e.a.s.t.s to protrude through the small gaps.

Ui widened her grin at the sight. She jerked the silver threads which directly pulled Lily to the ground.

“Hahahaha! Hahahaha!” Ui blossomed into happy laughter and fell beside Lily. Her slender legs were adorned with only white stockings so as to maneuver freely on the silver threads. With a triumphant chuckle, she stepped on Lily’s plump b.u.t.tocks, “Do you dare to still be arrogant, you Eastern land b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲?!”

Lily struggled with all her might but couldn’t muster enough strength to break free.

Ui pressed her knee against Lily’s back and gently ruffled her silky hair, “Ah, your hair is so beautiful. Be honest, Mirror Girl. How did you become so famous in the East and where did you get your treasure from? Was it by seducing the magnates of East land?”

“Shut up!” Lily angrily shouted.

At this moment, the clouds thundered and a heavy downpour suddenly began.

The rain pattered against the wooden deck, scattering the remnants of black smoke drifting about.

Although Lily was bound and pressed firmly onto the ground by Ui’s foot, she could still see over to the other side of the deck. Among the splashes of rain, a delicate and soaked girl lay quietly on the deck. Her inky blue hair was scattered into the wetness of the deck, diffusing like ink in water.

“Sister Shimizu.” Lily froze.

Behind Shimizu, a tall and handsome man with messy hair stood in the rain. His two-colored eyeshadows highlighted a pair of cold eyes that gazed on the unconscious girl. A long tachi was strapped to his back but he only held a short bamboo knife in his hand.

Shimizu’s own Tranquil Bamboo was knocked to the side1.

She seemed to have fainted, her face pressed weakly against the waterlogged deck.

A wave of heartache a.s.saulted Lily, causing her to tremble.

“Let go of me!”

“Eh, what are you talking about? Let go of you? You silly Mirror Girl. It wasn’t easy to catch you so I have to humiliate and play around with you first. Even if Brother Tamurakonoe wants to kill you, he’ll have to wait until I’m done with you. Why would I let you go?” Ui spat derisively while sinking her small foot into Lily’s b.u.t.tocks, making sure to twist and circle in the softness.

“Ui, kill her! Kill the Mirror Girl!” Kiuchidera Tesshin yelled from a distance.

“But Brother Tamurakonoe hasn’t even given the order yet. Although I don’t mind killing such a beautiful woman, it would be a shame to kill her right now.” Ui said deliberately.

“Kill her! That Mirror Girl isn’t easy to deal with. Lord Tamurakonoe won’t kill someone who can’t resist! You’ll regret it if you don’t do it now!” Kiuchidera shouted.

“Hmph, this woman is tied up by my spiritual threads. She can’t possibly break free from them all at once! Watch me tear off her skirt!” Ui said confidently and lifted Lily’s skirt.

“I told you to let go. Didn’t you hear me, you little b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲?!” Lily growled.

“Huh, what did you say?! You still dare to scold me? Believe it or not, I’ll beat you up and make you cry for mercy. Just watch me…”

After seeing Shimizu’s unconscious figure, Lily’s ire was already ignited. However, at the same time, she was extremely calm. It was useless to rely on rage alone to escape her predicament. Instead of struggling, she thought of various ways to break free. Her Restraint Release technique was useless in this situation and the spiritual threads couldn’t be broken.

Lily clenched her teeth and suddenly erupted her spiritual energy. The crimson aura flared like the burning flowers in the dark night.

The spiritual energy surging through the silver threads clashed and conflicted with Lily’s own spiritual energy, directly canceling each other out— total annihilation!

The powerful shockwave directly impacted Ui who was stepping on Lily, sending her tumbling upside down. Because of the intense and sudden wind, her skirt lifted and exposed the silky underwear underneath.

“d.a.m.n it! How could this happen?!” The shocked Ui ignored her exposed lower regions and hurriedly swung the tip of her kendama at Lily’s b.u.t.tocks.

How could the freed Lily give her such a chance? With a flick of her sleeves, she rolled over and flipped Ui onto the ground. Just as she got up, she found that a binding spell entangled her feet. Ui quickly used the opportunity to escape into the distance.

Lily glowered at Kiuchidera who stood atop the ship building. If he continued to use his spells to aid his allies and interfere with her movements, her situation would grow increasingly dangerous.

Lily disregarded the spell binding her feet and gathered streams of spiritual energy into her cursed katana.

“Sakura-Clad Moon!”

Boom—!

A shimmering crescent light flooded the surroundings with a crimson glow and lumbered towards Kiuchidera. Although its speed left more to be desired, its sheer size comprised a great power.

“Hahahaha! Mirror Girl, have you gone mad with anger? You’re only wasting your spiritual energy. The power of your attack is great, but it’s too slow to hit me…” Kiuchidera Tesshin suddenly stopped mid-sentence, seeming to realize something.

The crescent light swept across the gloomy lake and stirred ma.s.sive waves in its wake, flying towards the other ship.

“Mirror Girl! You can’t deliberately attack ships during warfare at sea. This is a customary rule among the men of the West land2!” Kiuchidera didn’t dare to resist the terrifying wave-like light, so he could only retreat to the side.

“I’m a woman of the East3.” Lily said silently4.

The East land rarely fought in water, so of course, there weren’t codes governing this matter. Even if there were, she wouldn’t care since they dared to harm her Sister Shimizu.

Boom—! The huge boat rocked and creaked violently as if it hit a reef. Her Sakura-Clad Moon plowed through two-thirds of the hull and split it from the middle, sending pieces of wooden planks clattering about.

In an instant, the lake water gushed into the broken hull. The change in weight and the destruction of the hull pivot caused the ship to groan and break apart. Either end of the wrecked ship flipped upward, slowly swallowed by the raging lake below.

“B̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲ Mirror Girl!” Kiuchidera had no choice but to jump into the lake, followed by a large number of Western samurai who fell one after another.

Now that she had temporarily dispatched Kiuchidera, Lily turned to face Tamurakonoe.

They stood only a few meters apart, Shimizu lying unconscious near his feet.

Rumble—! Lightning split the firmament, accompanied by roars of thunder.

Strands of Lily’s long wet hair stuck to her cheeks and shoulders, and her beautiful face was occasionally illuminated by the brief flickers of lightning.

Even as the rainstorm raged, Lily’s heart was as calm as water. Her eyes were placid but reflected hints of an abominable will while staring at Tamurakonoe.

The tall and slender figure of Tamurakonoe stood unmoving in the rain, his eagle-like eyes meeting Lily’s own.

He was one of the few men who could stare at Lily without any distracting thoughts. However, unlike Tenba Goro, he viewed Lily with only hostility and killing intent.

“Mirror Girl, I am different from other people. I won’t be bewitched by your sultry beauty. I, Sakanoue no Tamurakonoe, have killed whoever my blade points to, and I have never failed. Today, I intend to kill you.”

“You’ve made the correct decision because if you don’t strike now, I’m afraid you won’t have another chance.” Lily replied coldly.

“Hmph, Kagami Lily, although you are also considered a genius among Spirit Jade experts, under the same realm in the Western land, no one is faster than my sword.”

“Genius of the West, I, Kagami Lily, will admit that I’m not the fastest. However, every time I strike my sword, someone has to die. I may not be faster than my opponent, but anyone who hurts those close to me will perish under my sword.”

Ui watched from a distance while waiting for the duel to begin. Tamurakonoe was extremely proud and definitely wouldn’t allow others to interfere in the battle.

“It’s useless to say more, come then.” Tamurakonoes eyes were as still and cold as an iceberg.

Lily tightly gripped her Crescent Moon which glinted under the flashes of lightning.

BOOM—!!

Suddenly, the deck between Lily and Tamurakonoe broke, pierced by a pillar of water that towered into the sky.

“What?!” Lily was shocked.

The torrent of water completely obstructed Lily’s vision, separating Tamurakonoe and Shimizu on the other side. The same went for Ui who so happened to be on the same section as Lily.

The whole ship was split in half and began violently tilting to either side.

“Mirror Girl! You dare to seize the heavenly treasure of Lake Biwa. Accompany me to the bottom of the lake for a while!” A heavy voice boomed like the crashing waves of an ocean. An extremely majestic, blue-black carp spirit emerged from the surging water. It brandished a long-handled sword as thick as a column that scattered the foaming spray of mist5.

1. Robinxen: Wow….Shimizu……
2. Robinxen: Why would she care or even know about your dumb rules?
3. Robinxen: h.e.l.l yeah! Screw the rules!
4. Robinxen: How do you say something silently?
5. Robinxen: I thought they’d actually win this fight but now Lily’s defeat and capture is inevitable.