The convoy entered the city and quickly settled into a courtyard.
This was Oda Heizo's property in Kyoto.
Although a Daimyo had his own territory, in a place like Kyoto, any Daimyo had to be restrained and act according to the rules; to get a place to live, he had to spend money to buy land and a house, it was impossible to sleep wherever he wanted as he would in his own territory.
"The news of Hori-koshi So's death should have reached Your Majesty's ears by now, and I might even be summoned today."
Zhou Ming's words clearly did not relax Oda Heizo, who remained worried and could not think of a proper way to resolve the matter.
In his opinion, Zhou Ming's reckless act of killing Hori-koshi So was practically putting him on a spit roast, and he had no way out.
Moreover, it happened in broad daylight at the city gate; everyone knew that Zhou Ming was his samurai, and the two of them were already bound together. Even if Oda Heizo wanted to distance himself from Zhou Ming, no one would believe him.
"It's just one Hori-koshi So. As a Daimyo, Your Majesty shouldn't do anything to me. I'm just afraid that those bastards will take advantage of the situation, kick me when I'm down, and stab me in the back. That would be troublesome."
The "those bastards" Oda Heizo spoke of, there was no need to guess who they were; besides other Daimyo, who else would Oda Heizo describe in such a way?
In stark contrast to Oda Heizo's reaction was the leisurely Zhou Ming, who unhurriedly cultivated and practiced his sword forms, while waiting for the news he desired to arrive.
Inside the Imperial Palace.
Hirakawa Masamasa passed through one gate after another and entered a spacious bed-chamber. A palace maid in thin gauze led him to the bed. On the three-meter-long solid wood bed, blue curtains swayed, and graceful figures appeared faintly.
"Your Majesty."
Hirakawa Masamasa knelt before the grand bed, bowing his head.
"Ah, Hirakawa-kun." An aged voice came from the bed, carrying a decaying, dusty Death Qi.
The heavy curtains were lifted layer by layer, revealing a skeletal old man with sunken eye sockets like a skull, emanating a strong Death Qi. He was supported by three palace maids as he sat up, his dim yellow eyes looking at Hirakawa Masamasa.
Nohara Momonosuke, the "Devil King" who unified Higashiteru Island Country and ushered in the Moonlight Era.
"Your Majesty, Hori-koshi So is dead." Hirakawa Masamasa remained motionless, still looking up, and said in a deep voice.
"I already know." Nohara Momonosuke took several labored breaths, saying with difficulty, "That young fellow, the one who killed Hori-koshi So, his name is Zhou Ming, right? A very interesting young fellow, cough, cough!"
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health." Hirakawa Masamasa took a few steps forward while still kneeling, saying with concern.
"I'm fine." Several palace maids patted his back and rubbed his chest, allowing Nohara Momonosuke's breathing to gradually calm down. He insisted, "That Oda Heizo, tell him to come see me, and bring that young fellow. I want to see him with my own eyes. I want... I want to bestow a reward upon him."
"Yes!" Hirakawa Masamasa accepted the order without hesitation.
Leaving the bed-chamber, Hirakawa Masamasa walked towards the outside of the palace, his mind still involuntarily recalling the comical sight of Hori-koshi So's headless body and his head placed beside it; it was truly very amusing.
Especially after seeing Nohara Momonosuke's reaction to Hori-koshi So's death, Hirakawa Masamasa wanted to burst out laughing even more.
"Hori-koshi So, that idiot, did you think Your Majesty truly favored you? Your death didn't even cause Your Majesty the slightest anger!"
"Idiot, the person Your Majesty trusts the most has always been me, Hirakawa Masamasa!"
As Nohara Momonosuke's personal bodyguard, Hirakawa Masamasa always firmly believed this. It was just that Nohara Momonosuke's favor towards Hori-koshi So some time ago had caused him to feel a sense of crisis.
He believed that these were feelings he shouldn't have. Your Majesty had always trusted him, this was an unquestionable fact, so why would he feel a sense of crisis because of a Hori-koshi So?
He had deeply blamed himself and felt anxious for this, but fortunately, with Hori-koshi So's death, all those inappropriate emotions vanished.
"Zhou Ming, to dare to kill Hori-koshi So at the Kyoto city gate, what kind of person are you?"
Hirakawa Masamasa's eyes narrowed slightly as he strode out of the main palace gate.
His loyalty to Your Majesty was unquestionable, and Your Majesty's trust in him was also unquestionable.
No one could shake it, no one!
..."Zhou-kun!"
In the courtyard, Zhou Ming was refining the True Qi within his body when Oda Heizo suddenly approached, his expression serious.
"Your Majesty has summoned me to the palace, and..." He stared at Zhou Ming, his serious face showing a hint of surprise, "Your Majesty specifically asked to see you."
"Then let's go." Zhou Ming smiled faintly and calmly stood up.
Zhou Ming's composure made Oda Heizo even more surprised.
"Why aren't you surprised at all, as if you knew beforehand that Your Majesty would want to see you?" Oda Heizo couldn't help but ask.
"I guessed."
"..." Oda Heizo felt that Zhou Ming was treating him like an idiot.
"Actually, the reason is very simple." Zhou Ming glanced back at Oda Heizo, smiled slightly, and walked on, casually explaining:
"Because I have enough strength to ensure that even if Nohara Momonosuke gets angry, whether he orders my arrest and execution, or sends troops to encircle and suppress me, I have the strength to survive, escape, counter-kill, or directly kill my way into the Imperial Palace."
"My strength is powerful enough, so I don't need to have so many qualms when doing things."
"Moreover, since Nohara Momonosuke can host The World's Greatest Warrior Tournament, how could he be willing to kill me before the tournament even begins?"
Oda Heizo listened, dumbfounded, only feeling that Zhou Ming's words were simply too audacious, unconventional, and incredibly arrogant, simply over the top!
So much so that he even completely overlooked Zhou Ming directly calling Nohara Momonosuke by his name.
"When are we going to see him, now?" After a few steps, Zhou Ming remembered this question and quickly asked.
"...No, two hours later, after Your Majesty has had his lunch."
"Oh right, it's noon, we should eat too." Zhou Ming suddenly realized, "Let's eat first, let's eat first. I'll see what specialty dishes Kyoto has, can you arrange something?"
"Alright, alright, alright." Oda Heizo nodded helplessly, suddenly feeling so tired.
At the same time, at the west gate of Kyoto.
A contingent of over three hundred people approached the city gate in a magnificent procession.
The two individuals guarded closely by the escorts in the middle were a middle-aged man riding a reddish-brown horse, with a square face and an ingrained air of authority; and a young man riding a black horse, with stern features, a tall and straight posture, and his entire being like a drawn sword, menacingly sharp.
The middle-aged man looked up at the city wall, his face filled with emotion, and he softly called out, "Kyoto... I'm back again."
After a moment of sentiment, he turned and fixed his gaze, full of admiration and anticipation, on the young man.
"Oishi-kun, from now on, this will be your stage to make a name for yourself!"