Trafford's Trading Club

709: Chapter 122: In This Male-Dominated Society 709: Chapter 122: In This Male-Dominated Society First Sign of the Upper Nine: The Hidden Dragon should not act.

Nine Four: Perhaps leaping in the abyss, no blame.

The Hidden Dragon in the abyss.

As spring passes and fall arrives, Nagato Saburo has dedicated himself to cultivating swordsmanship for fifteen years.

His aim is to catch up to his elder brother, who is twelve years older than him and became a samurai at the age of seventeen.

Now, as his brother ages, Saburo is in his prime for improvement.

The young Nagato Saburo believes he can surpass his brother’s achievements…

The Hidden Dragon in the abyss, ready to soar with a stunning display! “A marriage?”

Upon returning from practice, Saburo’s brother came to where he lived.

Saburo was quite surprised by his brother’s suggestion.

Nagato Saburo subconsciously thought that at his age, his brother, Nagato Munachika, was indeed already married.

Now, his nephew Shinji is almost seven and can start learning swordsmanship next year.

The nearly forty-year-old Nagato Munachika appeared somewhat older than Saburo remembered, with gray hair at his temples…

When did this happen?

Saburo felt a bit dazed, looking at his brother’s gray temples. “Her name is Narukami Haru, the successor of the next Shrine Miko.” Munachika said indifferently, “I have already discussed with the current Lady Miko.

Narukami Haru is not really suited to succeed as Miko, and Lady Miko plans to choose another suitable candidate.

Narukami Haru has grown up and should consider marriage.

And as you are also of marrying age, I decided on this marriage for you.”

Having inherited the Nagato House business, Nagato Munachika held undisputed authority in the Nagato House.

Nagato Saburo, engrossed in swordsmanship training, had little thought of marriage for himself.

But with his elder brother like a father, Saburo didn’t reject Munachika’s arrangement, nor did he anticipate it. “I will follow brother’s arrangements!” Nagato Saburo nodded directly.

Narukami Haru— a child adopted by the Miko—had attended the yearly festivals at Zaodao Village many times.

Saburo had seen her and knew she was an exceptional woman, so he didn’t resist his brother’s arrangement.

But his greater hope lay elsewhere. “Brother, the Nagato House’s secret techniques… please allow me to train in them!

I feel my strength can progress no further!”

The secret techniques’ essence was the foundation of the Nagato House’s establishment.

The ancestors of the Nagato House survived the battle against the powerful fox that plagued the Zaodao Village area because they rested with the secret techniques’ essence.

They were rewarded with Zaodao Village as a fief.

However, only the heir could practice and be granted these techniques.

Even as Munachika’s brother, Saburo was not qualified to train.

Munachika regarded Saburo for a long time, with indifference, finally leaving behind one phrase, “We’ll talk about this after your marriage.”

Saburo had to abandon further questioning.

Watching Munachika’s departing figure, Saburo murmured, “Brother, are you so afraid I might surpass you?

The future of the Nagato House…” …

News of the marriage spread quickly, and people talked enthusiastically about it.

Everywhere Saburo went, he heard words of praise.

This left him feeling inexplicably restless.

He decided that before the wedding, he would secretly visit the mountain to see his fiancée, Narukami Haru.

The Shrine used for worship was familiar to Zaodao Village.

When Saburo arrived, he didn’t find the witch presiding over it.

He waited outside the Shrine for some while yet still didn’t see Narukami Haru.

But the mountain’s splendid scenery mesmerized him.

Years ago, when Saburo traveled, he visited many places.

Though more beautiful places existed, at that moment, he felt none could compare – perhaps due to the rare peace he sensed.

Behind the Shrine led a path to the rear; unknowingly, Saburo walked it and found himself before a cave.

Maybe village children had explored here when they were young?

But Saburo, focused on his goals from an early age, dedicated himself to self-improvement and never relaxed for a single day.

At the cave entrance behind Shrine, the Shrine had hung bans, which stirred Saburo’s curiosity.

With youthful impulse, he ignored these and ventured in, vaguely hearing the sound of water, indicating a water source inside the cave.

A natural water source existed there—a pool.

Seeing it, Saburo thought the pool’s water must be icy.

Was the person washing her body feeling cold too?

The woman with long hair in the water had her head lowered; illuminated by the oil lamp, she was like a painting.

They met there.

The water-bound woman noticed Saburo’s arrival, her face flushed, hands covering her body, submerging fully except her face.

Saburo gazed, entranced.

He realized his brother’s marriage arrangement was excellent.

Saburo turned away.

Apologizing for the intrusion, he vowed never to forget this scene.

Under the woman’s astonished gaze, Saburo left the cave with the spring—though not without intent to meet her again.

The next day, Saburo returned but went nowhere else, standing silently before the Shrine until late at night when he left.

On another day, Saburo came again, almost at the same time, quietly standing until the moon set before leaving.

Day by day, whether in the drizzle or the scorching sun, he remained unchanged. “Lord Saburo, you need not do this… Haru will be your wife soon and won’t blame you.” One day, the Shrine’s door finally opened. “Finally, I’ve seen you.” Saburo smiled slightly and turned to leave, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

He came tomorrow, then the day after, unchanged by wind or rain.

Saburo began practicing with his wooden training sword before the Shrine, while Narukami Haru swept the courtyard.

In spring, flowers bloom; in summer, fish swim; in autumn, geese fly; and in winter, snow blankets the land.

Days passed by during the back and forth along the long stone steps leading to the Shrine.

The following year, Saburo married Narukami Haru as cherry blossoms bloomed.

The time of newlyweds passed swiftly.

Nagato House began constructing a new residence.

The head of Nagato House remained Munachika, and the school-aged Shinji commenced training with Nagato Clan’s secret swordsmanship techniques, under Munachika’s guidance. …

News of an outbreak of war, brought by passing traveling merchants, reached Zaodao Village.

Suddenly, Saburo faced Munachika again.

He studied his brother and noticed his brother’s gray hairs seemed fewer… was it an illusion?

His brother seemed otherwise unwell in spirit. “You intend to establish a military reputation?” Munachika was instructing Shinji when he waved the boy away upon hearing Saburo. “Indeed, only by gaining military honor on the battlefield can I become a true samurai.”

Munachika moved to where the weapons were kept, picked up a blade, and tossed it before Saburo.

The blade remained unsharpened, and simultaneously, Munachika picked up another katana equally blunted. “Defeat me, and I allow you to leave and fund you, letting you take family members into battle.” Munachika remained ever-cold, “But lose, and you must agree to one condition of mine.

Else let’s pretend this never happened.” “Brother, you can’t stay at your peak forever.” Saburo didn’t hesitate, grabbing the blade.

Despite the sweetness of new marriage, he never relaxed in swordsmanship practice, often training late and leaving Haru in solitude.

With one strike, Munachika, wielding a sword faster than Saburo imagined, almost made Saburo lose grip on his dull blade. “You cannot defeat me.” Munachika stood like an insurmountable peak.

For Saburo, it had always been so.

Just one move… can only block one move?

The years of hard training… is it really so cheap? “No!” Nagato Saburo picked up the katana again, willing to stake everything!

Two moves, this time, Nagato Saburo lasted two moves under Nagato Munachika’s hand… but it was not something to be happy about—his katana had been knocked to the ground, and at the same time, there was a bright red blood mark on his wrist.

Nagato Saburo clutched his wound in pain, looking terrified at his brother…

The unsharpened katana was so sharp! “You secretly learned the secret technique.” Nagato Munachika snorted coldly. “I…

I didn’t!”

Nagato Munachika sneered, “I teach Shinji every day.

Do you think I don’t know you’re hiding and learning secretly?

Saburo, if not for the fact that you are my brother, just for the crime of secretly learning the secret technique without permission, with that sword strike earlier, I would have cut off your hand, so you could never hold a sword again in your life!” “Brother, I…

I…” Nagato Saburo fell to his knees in terror, “Brother, I am more suitable than Shinji to learn the secret swordsmanship of the Nagato House!

Please let me become a true samurai!” “Bring Narukami Haru to me.” “What?!”

Nagato Munachika put down the sword and said calmly, “Bring your wife to me, and I can teach you the secret technique and fund you to go to the battlefield to earn merit, turning you into a samurai.” “Nagato Munachika!!!

How dare you!!” “Don’t forget what you’ve done.”

Nagato Munachika left indifferently, “Only tonight.” …

After the spring, Nagato Saburo, expressionless, led ten men to the battlefield to join the army amidst the villagers’ congratulations.

That same year, Nagato Tsuruko was born.

Over the years, Nagato Saburo only returned a few times before leaving hurriedly again.

Nagato Tsuruko was already six years old when Narukami Haru passed away due to illness, and after that, Nagato Saburo returned alone to the Nagato House to recuperate. “Sure enough, just a coward.” Nagato Munachika seemed to know everything, “From now on, stay here like a lost dog, with your identity as a deserter, there’s nowhere you can go.” “…

Yes.” … …

In front of him, Nagato Saburo seemed to think he was in a dream, watching Narukami Haru in the cage, repenting little by little for what he had done. “Death… is too terrifying.” His face was pale, recalling the battlefield, “Some people’s intestines hung on me, some people’s heads flew towards me.

I was once buried among the corpses until night fell, feeling as if countless resentful spirits were beside me…

I felt no warmth at all.

After returning to the Nagato House, I never picked up the sword even once, not once…” “I dare not face you even more…” Nagato Saburo said in pain, “Haru…

I exchanged you for something from my brother but failed to achieve any merit, ultimately only able to escape back to this place.

Perhaps I should die, yet I lack even the courage for death.”

The words were not loud, but in the quiet dungeon, they were clear enough for Zi Xing and Mo Xiaofei, who were hiding, to hear—Narukami Haru, who was imprisoned here under the guise of having died from illness, because she suddenly went mad and intended to reveal the dealings between Nagato Saburo and Nagato Munachika.

Perhaps everyone already knew those secrets, yet no one spoke of them, and though everyone was aware of the domestic and external affairs of the family, it couldn’t accommodate such straightforwardness. “Brother said, he wouldn’t kill you, but he wouldn’t let you see anyone again…

I, I don’t even have the courage to resist.” Nagato Saburo closed his eyes, “Even just once, even if only in a dream, let me have courage…

Ah!!!”

Nagato Saburo roared angrily. “Nagato Munachika!

I am not a coward!”

He deeply looked at Narukami Haru one last time, “Haru!

I will bring Nagato Munachika’s head to you!”

Turning around, running, this man, who thought he was still in a drunken dream, finally gained courage.

Long before Nagato Saburo went insane, Zi Xing pulled Mo Xiaofei aside to hide again, not letting Nagato Saburo discover them until he had left the dungeon.

Mo Xiaofei and Zi Xing were silent.

After a long time, Zi Xing calmly said, “This time, the time doesn’t seem to have reset.”

Mo Xiaofei glanced sadly at Nagato Tsuruko, feeling that what Nagato Saburo had done was infuriating and hardly deserving to be called a man.

Yet such things, even outside of film and in the real world, are plentiful.

Even in this civilized society, it seems… “She should have resisted Nagato Saburo…” Mo Xiaofei said softly. “In your male-dominated society?” Zi Xing sneered coldly.

Mo Xiaofei took a deep breath and silently recited the scripture that Zi Xing had taught him. “Nagato Saburo thinks he’s still within a drunken dream…

He’s too agitated.

Perhaps he really will go after Nagato Munachika.” Zi Xing suddenly furrowed his brows.

At this moment, Mo Xiaofei suddenly raised his head, extending his hand towards the wall beside him, grasping into the Void and pulling a torch directly into his hand, “My power… is back!” … …

Petals from the Sakura Tree dropped rapidly, countless cherry blossoms falling from the sky like a floral rain. “Boss!”

Da Zhe appeared on a hilltop.

At this time, Boss Luo was gazing into the distance alone.

Upon hearing Da Zhe’s voice, he turned around.

Da Zhe tugged at his clothes, sniffed at them, then took two steps forward as if recalling something, and took two steps back again. “What’s the matter?” Luo Qiu looked at Da Zhe’s actions with curiosity. “Nothing…

I’m dirty!”

Luo Qiu was momentarily stunned and then nodded, “What about You Ye?” “She should be back soon.

Said she needed to handle something.” Da Zhe dared not speak of Maid’s matters concerning changing clothes.

Luo Qiu shook his head and chuckled, then suddenly said, “Da Zhe, let me ask you a question.” “Alright, ask away!”

Boss Luo gazed at the Sakura Tree and softly asked, “Do you think women have always been merely men’s appendages?”