The Great Voyage Begins with the Celestial Dragons

A samurai with a braid sat in the corridor, chuckled as he poured wine into his mouth and asked a question.

"Denjiro, don't you think there's something wrong with Kaido and Orochi?"

Ashura Child glanced at him and pursed his lips; he didn't believe his colleague had no thoughts on the matter.

"It's no use."

Denjiro waved his hand and leaned against a wooden pillar in the corridor:

“Oden won’t believe you. He only believes what he sees.”

"Whether you believe it or not is Oden's business; whether I do it or not is my business."

Ashura Child spoke calmly, his eyes showing a slightly complicated expression.

He was a retainer of Kozuki Oden and was once a notorious bandit in Kuri. Later, he was impressed by Kozuki Oden's strength and became one of the "Nine Red Scabbards".

The time he spent with Kozuki Oden over the years truly filled him with immense excitement.

But everything changed after Kozuki Oden returned to Wano Country.

Kozuki Oden transformed into the very thing he hated and despised the most.

However, he had sworn allegiance to Kozuki Oden, and he would keep his promise until the very end.

"Sigh, never mind, you go ahead, but please give my regards to Cat Viper and the others."

Denjiro waved his hand listlessly upon seeing Ashura Doji's appearance.

Like Ashura Doji, he was one of Kozuki Oden's nine most trusted retainers, but now he has also become a figurehead.

If the ruler has lost his ideals, then he, as the subject, will naturally drift with the tide.

"I will."

Ashura Child nodded silently, his fat hand touching his bag, as if he could still feel the warmth of the letter.

In the early morning, Momonosuke found him.

He seemed to see a different future in Momonosuke.

Kozuki Oden is not worth looking forward to, but his son seems to have a promising future.

Shaking his head, Ashura Doji stopped thinking about it and embarked on the road to the Flower Capital.

It would take at least two days to get from Jiuli to Huazhidu, so he needed to hurry.

......

There are many ways to get to the Flower Capital from Kuri.

But generally speaking, they would look for a caravan and hitch a ride.

Ashura Doji chose this method.

He chose a large business association in Jiuli, which was the channel he usually used to travel to the Flower Capital.

When he arrived at the meeting point, he met three other people who were also going to the Flower Capital: a man, a woman, and a little girl, who looked like a family of three.

However, Ashura Doji's keen senses as a swordsman alerted him to something amiss.

He glanced at the woman instinctively, and his pupils contracted slightly when he saw the knife.

Famous sword - Kinpira!

Anyone who possesses a sword of this caliber, regardless of gender, is not to be trifled with.

Ashura Child had no intention of causing any trouble. He was on a mission when he went to the City of Flowers, so he quietly found a carriage and got in.

The caravan set off quickly.

To Ashura Doji's surprise, a family of three also boarded the carriage he was in.

However, since his carriage was quite empty, he wasn't too surprised.

However, the sudden appearance of two tall people, along with his over 5-meter-tall and stout body, took up most of the carriage.

Fortunately, the caravan carriages were open-top, so they weren't too crowded.

"Hello, you must be Ashura Doji."

Ashura Child frowned slightly upon hearing the woman's question, but still nodded:

"The wielder of this famous sword, do you recognize me?"

“My name is Gion. I heard that you were once the leader of the Touyama Bandit Gang and were known as the ‘strongest monster in Kuri’,” Gion asked with a smile.

"Those are all things of the past. I am now merely a retainer of the Kozuki family." Ashura Doji shook his head.

"Kozuki Oden, does someone like him really deserve to be the daimyo of Kuri?"

Gion's lips curled slightly, her words carrying undisguised mockery.

To be honest, she didn't think much of Kozuki Oden himself or his actions.

"If you remain quiet now, I can pretend you said nothing before."

Ashura Doji stared intently at Gion, his tone serious.

Gion's words had clearly offended him.

"Is not it?"

Gion completely disregarded Ashura Doji's threat and chuckled as she spoke:

"He dares to do it, but others aren't allowed to talk about it? Look at the living conditions people have now. If you say anything bad about Kurotan Orochi, you'll be arrested and forced to mine. He indulges in pleasure in the General's Mansion, while the people can't even get enough to eat."

"The people expected him to step forward, but instead, he became a joke."

"That's not the key point. As your retainers, don't you feel ashamed that he stripped and danced in public?"

"It doesn't feel good to be ridiculed every day, does it?"

"I don't know what he used to look like, but as he is now, don't you have even the slightest dissatisfaction?"

Gion's words were merciless, like a sharp sword piercing Ashura Doji's heart.

"Shut up!"

Ashura Doji wasn't exactly known for his good temper either; he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, ready to draw it.

He was fast, but Gion was faster.

As he placed his hand on the knife, Gion's Kinpira was already pressed against his neck.

Beads of sweat slid down Ashura Doji's cheeks as he stared in horror at the blade tip less than 1 cm from his neck.

Too fast!

This woman's sword is even faster than Kozuki Oden's...

Having reached this conclusion, Ashura Doji was even more surprised.

In his mind, Kozuki Oden was already a very strong person.

Now that any random woman is this strong, how can he not start to doubt himself?

Who exactly are you?

Looking at Gion, Ashura Doji spoke in a deep voice.

“I have no reason to deceive you, Gion, just an ordinary swordsman passing by.” Gion chuckled.

"Hmph, fine, don't tell me then."

Ashura Doji removed his fat hand from the hilt of the sword, crossed his arms, and moved to the side, looking as if he didn't want to say anything.

I can't beat them in a fight, and I can't talk to them anymore, so there's no need to communicate any further.

Upon seeing him like this, Gion let out a soft, bell-like laugh:

"You're quite amusing. Am I wrong about what I said? Following someone like Kozuki Oden, you'll inevitably meet a tragic end in the streets one day. Who knows, you might even be remembered for your infamy for eternity."

"Humph!"

Ashura Doji snorted and turned his head away, looking like he couldn't be bothered to refute.

If he weren't outmatched, he would have given the woman a good beating, even if she were a woman.

Upon seeing this, Gion revealed a meaningful smile.

The other person's heart is not as calm as it appears...

Thinking this, Gion gave Luther a strange look.

She had never imagined that using words to unsettle someone's mind would be such a satisfying thing.

No wonder Luther used words to sway others every day; it was indeed an irresistible feeling.

Unfortunately, she didn't have the talent for it; Luther taught her these words.

Thinking about it, Gion couldn't help but shake her head regretfully.

It's such a shame that I'm not good at doing something so joyful...

Chapter 71 Door-to-Door Visit

It took the caravan three days to reach the City of Flowers.

The moment Ashura Doji arrived in the Flower Capital, he displayed a speed disproportionate to his obese physique, disappearing from Luther and the others' sight in a flash.

For three whole days, he didn't know how he got through it.

Being unable to win an argument or a fight is an incredibly painful feeling.

If that woman continued talking, he suspected he might be betraying Kozuki Oden.

Even though he had only been baptized for three days, he still felt a sense of disdain for Kozuki Oden.

He didn't even want to report to Kozuki Oden this time. Instead, he took Momonosuke's letter and headed straight for Hyogoro's mansion.

Watching Ashura Doji's disappearing figure, Gion's eyes gleamed with amusement:

"Your Highness, so this is where the joy of words lies."

“You’d feel even happier if you thought all these things yourself,” Luther said with a light laugh.