The poison of the Giant Salamander is nearly impossible to counter!
With the deadly mist sealing the gorge and thousands of hidden soldiers closing in from both directions, the Gorge of No became like a coffin open only to the sky — burying all thirty thousand troops of the Land of Birds within its walls…
"Giant Salamanders?!"
As Daimyō of the Land of Birds, which shared a border with the Land of Rain, Sagi was no stranger to these creatures and their near‑incurable venom.
But what filled him with shock and dread was a terrifying realization:
"Could it be… that this entire war was a trap from the very beginning?"
Had the Land of Rain never intended to split the lands of the Land of No and the Land of Wind with him, but instead set their sights on him all along?
A cold chill ran down Sagi's spine, and sweat poured from his body.
"Retreat! Fall back immediately!"
Convinced this was a plot by the Land of Rain, Sagi abandoned the thousands of men still trapped in the gorge and fled in panic, accompanied only by his personal guard.
"After him! Chase them down!"
The nobles and high officials of the Land of No flushed with excitement. When had they last tasted such a complete victory?
If they could kill Sagi here, their names would be remembered for generations to come!
Hearing the command, the soldiers surged forward through the gorge, ready to give chase…
"Halt!"
Aoi stepped forward slowly, his eyes narrowing as he stopped them in their tracks. "I order you — do not pursue!"
The troops froze, confused. Meanwhile, the nobles beside him erupted in outrage. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even understand what you are doing?!"
"I said — let Sagi and his men go!"
Aoi barely spared them a glance, speaking directly to the soldiers. "I give this order as Supreme Commander of this campaign!"
"Pursue them at once!"
The nobles squawked in fury, their voices shrill and desperate. "I command you as a member of the House of Sora, one of the oldest noble families of the Land of No —"
Now the soldiers found themselves torn between two conflicting orders.
"Hmph! Would you dare defy the great House of Sora just to help this fool let the enemy Daimyō escape?"
The nobles sneered, their tone turning threatening. "You know exactly where your loyalty lies!"
"..."
On one side stood the ancient, powerful nobility whose influence had shaped the nation for generations.
On the other, a wandering monk who had only recently risen to prominence. The choice seemed obvious.
Almost as one, the soldiers chose to ignore Aoi's command and moved to continue the chase.
"A nest of parasites…"
Aoi's eyes narrowed into slits. He had not expected his carefully laid plans to be derailed like this. Once this matter is settled…
The House of Sora, these arrogant nobles, and these weak‑witted soldiers — all of them will be purged from the root.
Seeing the soldiers move, the nobles exchanged smug, triumphant glances, as if to say: You think you can stand against us? You still have much to learn, boy.
But as they gloated, Aoi watched them with cold, indifferent silence.
"You old monk — it's that look of yours I hate most!"
A lord from the House of Sora leaned close to Aoi's ear, grinning maliciously.
"Mark my words — we are the true masters here. You are nothing more than a dog kept on a leash by the Daimyō's household!"
Aoi said nothing. He had no interest in trading insults with people who were already as good as dead.
As for the Daimyō?
If the late Nobumura could hear this from the grave, he would surely rise back up in anger and say: If you are so powerful, why don't you come down here and lie in my place for a while?!
But just as the soldiers were about to set off, a burly general with a firm, resolute face suddenly stepped forward and blocked their path.
"Everyone!" he roared, his voice booming like thunder. "I may not be a great hero, but I know one thing well — military orders are absolute!"
"Since the Supreme Commander has given his command, we must obey it!"
He raised his great blade high and shouted: "Whoever disobeys orders is no true soldier of the Land of No!"
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