Volume 2: Thick and Heavy Winds and Clouds Chapter 49: Serve the Great One

  The situation inside Kokufu Castle's tenshukaku has now reached a stalemate.

  Kobayakawa Hiromi's three younger brothers were taken hostage by Takeda Yoshinobu's vassals, while Takeda Yoshinobu was himself being held hostage by Kobayakawa Hiromi. At present neither side would give in an inch.

  Obata Yumi saw her younger sister being pressed to the ground by Takeda's samurai, and she couldn't help but speak out: "Takeda Yoshinobu, quickly order your subordinates to release my younger brother and sister. If not, I will really take action."

  Takeda Yoshinobu snorted and said, "I am a descendant of Minamoto no Shinra Saburō Yoshimito, I will not be coerced by anyone. Go ahead and kill me, see how your younger siblings will fare in the future? I guarantee they will suffer a hundred times more than death."

  At this time, one of the captured sons of Obata no Kotaori spoke out boldly: "Sister, do not worry about us, kill Takeda Yoshinobu and avenge our father, avenge the miserable death of the Obata clan outside the castle."

  As soon as the little boy finished speaking, his head was cut off by a samurai behind him with a sharp katana, and blood suddenly spurted out of his neck.

  Kobayashi Yumi let out a loud, blood-curdling scream: "Tarō!" At the same time, Kobayashi Yoshie, Yumi's younger sister, was again frightened into tears by this bloody scene.

  "Takechiyo-sama's life is in danger! If you don't let go of him, I'll kill your sister first!" shouted the samurai who led Takeda Yoshinobu's vanguard.

  The other side also saw that Kobayashi Yumi and her sister had a deep sisterly affection, so they chose her as the next person to be executed. When the samurai approached Kobayashi Yoshie's neck with his sword, Kobayashi Yumi shouted: "Don't!"

  The situation has once again become a stalemate, with Obata Yumi not daring to let go of Takeda Yoshinobu, while Takeda Yoshinobu on the other hand does not dare to kill another person, fearing that this would truly force Obata Yumi into extreme despair and anger.

  At the same time, Takeda Yoshinobu's forehead was also dripping with cold sweat, and his legs were slightly unstable.

  "Sir, will you step forward and save Lord Takeda Yoshinobu?"

  The situation may continue to deteriorate, Island Sheng said to Li Xiao with a stern expression.

  Li Xiao observed for a long time and now can see the resolute color in Kobayakawa Yumi's eyes gradually fading away, it is clear that her sister's life is extremely important to her, so it is 90% likely that she will not be able to kill Takeda Yoshinobu. Since she cannot kill Takeda Yoshinobu, if Li Xiao does nothing now, he will definitely be retaliated against by Takeda Yoshinobu in the future.

  Alright, Takeda Yoshinobu owes you one for sparing his life. Li Xiao secretly made up her mind.

  "Shi Gang leads a team of lightly armored troops to block the Tian Shou Gate, no one is allowed to enter."

  Li Xiao, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up. He first asked Shigekuni to seal off the Heavenly Guardian, as the current situation was extremely delicate for both sides. If someone else were to intrude, no one could guarantee that someone would not be stimulated and make an extreme move.

  After Taishi no Katsuragi descended the stairs, Li Xiao looked at Takeda Yoshinobu who was being held hostage by Obata Yumi and said: "Lord Yoshinobu, this Kokyuu Castle is captured by me, Li Xiao. By reason, I should be the one to dispose of these prisoners."

  Li Xiao said this and gave a wink to Takeda Yoshinobu, who naturally wasn't an idiot. Like a drowning person grabbing onto a straw, he would seize any opportunity. Moreover, Li Xiao's father, Takeda Shingen, had always given him high praise.

  So Takeda Yoshinobu decided that before his subordinates could intervene, he would place all his hopes of saving his own life on Li Xiao.

  "Lord Li Xiao, you're right, these captives will be handled by you."

  Li Xiao listened to Takada Yoshinobu's words, nodded and looked at the samurai who was holding a knife to threaten the two little sisters of Obata, saying sternly: "If that's the case, why don't you let them go? As a samurai, you use a knife to coerce two children. Where is your honor as a samurai?"

  These two direct vassals of Takeda Yoshinobu, having been scolded by Li Xiao and also hearing what Takeda Yoshinobu had said earlier, looked embarrassed as they sheathed their swords and released the siblings. The moment they were free, the siblings rushed to their sister's side.

  "Thank you, sir." Kobayashi Yumi looked at Li Xiao with gratitude.

  Li Xiao nodded, believing that his actions had already won the other party's trust. He said, "Since we have shown sufficient sincerity, I wonder if you can also release Yixin Gongzi. I can make Yixin Gongzi take an oath to never retaliate against you three siblings afterwards, and on my personal behalf, I can guarantee your safety."

  Obata Yumi hesitated for a moment, then replied: "Alright, if he is willing to swear an oath in the name of Takeda no Shinra Saburō Yoshitaka, I will let him go."

  Takeda Yoshinobu heard Li Xiao say this and knew it was the last resort for a negotiated settlement.

  Takeda Yoshinobu immediately swore an oath in the name of his ancestor, Shinra Saburō Yoshitaka. After Takeda Yoshinobu finished swearing, Obata Yumi also released him. Takeda Yoshinobu touched the wound on his neck that was still bleeding and thought about how the rumor of being held hostage by a woman from the Obata family had spread and greatly affected his reputation. In his heart, he wished to torture and kill the three siblings with a hundred different methods.

  However, recalling his own oath, Takeda Yoshinobu still suppressed it and turned to look at Li Xiao with a cold smile, saying: "Li Xiao, you're really something else. Since that's the case, I'll leave these three sisters in your care. Enjoy yourself." His tone didn't show any gratitude towards Li Xiao for saving his life, but instead revealed a hint of resentment.

  Takeda Yoshinobu stormed down the stairs with his samurai in tow.

  In the grand hall, only Li Xiao, Dao Sheng Meng and the soldiers he led were left. The three siblings of Xiaofei knelt down in front of their parents' bodies, wailing and crying for a while.

  "What about these three siblings, sir?" Island Sheng asked Li Xiao loudly.

  Since Takeda Yoshinobu has handed over these three people to himself, how can he deal with them? Of course, it's a sister double flight, plus a little loli cultivation, I like everything. Just thinking about it makes me feel super cool. As for that little boy, who cares about him, love doing what to go. Li Xiao thought so evilly in her heart.

  "I haven't figured this out yet." Li Xiao naturally couldn't reveal his inner thoughts in front of his subordinates.

  It seems that Li Xiao and Dao Sheng Meng's conversation was overheard, and Obata Yumi went forward and knelt down in front of Li Xiao, saying: "Sir, please let me serve you."

  Li Xiao was taken aback by Yumi's words, thinking to herself that she had agreed too quickly and was being too proactive. She felt embarrassed and wished Yumi would be more subtle in her approach. "Please, at least be a bit more reserved," Li Xiao thought, preferring someone who is more demure.

  "Well, haha, what can I say?"

  Kobata Yumi seemed to not understand Li Xiao's idea at all, and said firmly: "Sir, as a martial family child, I learned archery from a young age and mastered the art of shooting. So I want to serve you as a warrior."

  Skilled in archery? Not to warm my bed, okay, I admit I was thinking crookedly.

  Li Xiaoping calmed down and only then found out that Kobayakawa Yumi's archery skills were learned from the famous bow master, Ogasawara clan.

  The Shinano Ogasawara clan was, from the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, alongside the Takeda family, a prominent military house known for its mastery of archery and horsemanship. At that time, the head of the Ogasawara family, Ogasawara Nagakiyo, established the etiquette of the warrior class regarding archery and horsemanship. From then on, whenever there were large celebrations or ceremonies at the shogunate, it was usually the Shinano Ogasawara clan and the Kai Takeda clan that would preside over the ceremonies related to archery and horsemanship.

  Since then, the Ogasawara and Takeda families have long been appointed as instructors of the shogun's archery and horsemanship. As for the Shinano Ogasawara clan, successive generations such as Ogasawara Sadamune and the previous generation's head, Ogasawara Nagatada, were all renowned masters of archery at that time.

  Later, the Shingen Takeda family destroyed the Ko-Shinano-Shinano clan, and from then on, the Ogasawara school of archery gradually spread.

  For example, Ichinomiya Munetsune, a brave general of the Imagawa family, also known as Ichinomiya Zōha, the founder of the Ichinomiya Zōha school of archery, was also from the Ogasawara clan. There is also Kiyohisa Yoshida, the founder of modern Japanese archery's mainstream style, Heki-ryū, who learned Ogasawara-style archery in his youth.

  Li Xiao couldn't understand why this seemingly weak little girl in front of him also claimed to be a descendant of the Ogasawara school of archery, and whether her archery skills could compare to those of Ba Yuqian.

  Only Osugi Yumi spoke firmly: "Sir, if you sell my siblings and me as slaves, you can get at most a few dozen yen, but if I serve you as a samurai, I will definitely repay you with my life, so please grant my request."

  The little boy from the same village also rushed over and knelt beside his sister, saying loudly: "Sir, I can also serve you as a samurai, please don't sell my two sisters as slaves."

  No one had expected this turn of events. On the field, Li Xiao and Shima Katsuo exchanged a glance, both momentarily at a loss for what to do next. Meanwhile, the remaining sister, Obata Yuka, stopped crying, her face still wet with tears, but curiously blinked her eyes as she stared at Li Xiao.