Chapter 76: The Red Oni and the Misty Stream

“Long…” Zhou Yan regarded the young woman before him, her calm and unyielding demeanor, and nodded slightly. “Drowsy and hard to awaken—a truly beautiful name.”

The phrase Zhou Yan casually murmured, once rendered into the local tongue, seemed to become a kind of elegant verse. This was evident from the way the girl’s expression softened almost instantly.

“You honor me, Lord Yan…” Long’s cheeks flushed slightly as she waved her hand modestly.

She hesitated for a moment, then issued an invitation: “If you don’t mind, my lord, would you care to stay at my home for the night?”

“It’s already late. Although I’ve never seen them myself, my father and mother always say that if one hasn’t returned to the village by nightfall, evil spirits and monsters will prey on them.”

Zhou Yan nodded politely. “That’s precisely my intention. I was just wondering how I might ask you for such a favor…”

At that moment, two elders emerged from the house behind the girl, laughing and chatting. When the elderly couple caught sight of Zhou Yan, they were clearly startled by his appearance.

“Father, Mother, this is Lord Yan. He has just arrived here,” Long introduced him smoothly, then asked, “He seems to have nowhere to stay. Could we take him in for the night?”

The couple looked up at the tall Zhou Yan and, somewhat intimidated, dared not refuse.

The clouds at the horizon shimmered with color in the setting sun.

Dressed in peculiar clothes, Zhou Yan followed the girl named Long back to the nearby village, drawing the attention of many villagers.

*

Evening, at dinner.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Zhou Yan had before him a simple low table, atop which a large bowl of rice and two side dishes had already been polished off by his appetite.

He now set down his chopsticks, listening with interest to the elderly couple as they spoke.

“So,” Zhou Yan summarized their words, “you found Long at the teahouse door in early spring, before the snow had melted?”

“That’s right,” the old man stroked his beard. “Long’s arrival was like the return of our daughter who passed away young. She brought new hope to our old age.”

The girl lowered her head slightly, her voice clear and melodious. “For taking in an amnesiac and wounded stranger, you became my parents anew. It is only right that I honor you as my own.”

The elderly couple burst into delighted laughter.

Long then turned to Zhou Yan. “Lord Yan, I do not know your circumstances. Is there anything our family might help you with?”

Her question stirred Zhou Yan’s thoughts. After a brief pause, he explained the story he had prepared: “My goal is Edo City in Musashi Province. But while crossing the mountains and forests, I was attacked by bandits. I lost not only my belongings and travel funds, but also my way. If you could point me in the right direction, I would be greatly indebted.”

“Edo in Musashi…” The old man involuntarily sighed. “That’s quite a distance from here.”

Zhou Yan straightened his posture. “Could you tell me more? About how long would it take to get there?”

“We’re in Atsumi District of Mikawa Province. To reach Musashi, you’d have to pass through Tōtōmi, Suruga, and Sagami Provinces. Unless you can cross the mountains, you’d have to detour along the coast, which is even farther. Even if you have the strength for such a journey, it would take at least half a month, under ideal conditions. But these days, the world is dangerous. Demons and monsters run rampant, and there are mountain bandits and robbers on the roads. I fear it won’t be easy…” The old man shook his head.

“I have reasons I cannot ignore,” Zhou Yan replied softly. “Elder, if you could show me the way tomorrow, I would be most grateful.”

“Very well, very well…” The old man sighed, foreseeing little hope for Zhou Yan’s journey.

The old woman interjected, stopping her husband from saying more. “Enough. Lord Yan is so tall and robust; ordinary monsters probably can’t harm him. As long as he doesn’t wander outside at night, he shouldn’t encounter any dreadful demons…”

Yet as she spoke, uncertainty crept into her voice, as if she too doubted Zhou Yan would reach his destination safely.

The couple sighed in unison.

Zhou Yan was unbothered, but seized the opportunity to ask, “Elders, forgive my ignorance. Though I’ve heard many tales of spirits and monsters, I’ve never seen one myself. You, with your years and wisdom, must have more knowledge. Could you tell me about these creatures?”

Hearing his question, the couple exchanged glances. The old man answered sheepishly, “To be honest, neither my wife nor I, nor anyone in this village, has ever truly seen such things with our own eyes, though we’ve heard the stories for years…”

“Never seen them for yourselves…” Zhou Yan mused.

“Though we haven’t seen them, we’ve heard many true accounts. There’s no doubt these monsters exist. Just recently, they say the neighboring village was attacked by a giant red demon. In only ten days, five women were taken… If the ‘Demon-Slaying Bureau’ hadn’t sent officials to guard and exterminate the fiend, that village might not exist anymore,” the old man declared with conviction.

A red demon… the Demon-Slaying Bureau…

Zhou Yan noted the old man's certainty and nodded to show he understood.

“They say the red demon is nearly ten feet tall, massive, with two horns on its head, hideous and terrifying, and of incredible strength,” the old man continued, recounting the hearsay. “If an ordinary person encountered it, they’d have no chance to resist—they’d be eaten alive…”

*

“In any case, Lord Yan, rest well tonight and set out tomorrow.”

Strangers are wary of growing too close too soon. After the meal, the old man brought Zhou Yan a bedding set and pillow, arranging for him to sleep in the cramped living room.

The elderly couple and the young girl each retired to their own small rooms.

*

Midnight, the house was wrapped in darkness.

Zhou Yan slowly opened his left eye, listening to the sounds outside. He sat up, pushed open the door, and stepped out.

Outside, the moon hung bright but distant, its clear light illuminating the yard enough for Zhou Yan to see.

There, in the yard, the girl named Long stood, her long hair drifting behind her as she wielded a real sword, flowing from stance to stance.

Each transition was seamless, as if ingrained in her very instincts—a fluid, unbroken dance.

With his now considerable experience, Zhou Yan could tell that, if put into actual combat, these sword forms would unleash truly formidable power.

This formidable swordsmanship was being performed by the girl, yet her own eyes were clouded and uncertain, as if she herself was bewildered by her own proficiency.

Zhou Yan stood quietly by the door, watching until she finished her sword dance and gradually came to a halt.

He stepped forward. “Long, I didn’t expect your sword skills to be so sharp. Where did you learn them?”

The girl lowered her head shyly, confusion in her voice. “I… I don’t know. My body seems to know these techniques by instinct.”

“What school is this swordsmanship from?” Zhou Yan asked, curious.

She froze for a moment, then answered almost unconsciously.

“Swordsmanship that can cut down gods and demons, the peerless style of the world—Long Style!”

***