Qin Yining thought that Master Wang the Philanthropist must harbor some guilt toward Sakurai in his heart. Without such guilt, he wouldn’t have saved them all for Sakurai’s sake that day, nor would he have told her the truth.

However, this guilt was far too little to outweigh his hatred. It couldn’t overcome his malicious desire to have all the people of Danfu County accompany him in death. When Sakurai killed over a hundred people in Danfu County because of his idea, didn’t Master Wang the Philanthropist feel even a little secret joy?

When Sakurai died, didn’t he feel any guilt or remorse?

Now it was useless to say anything. For someone as despicable as Master Wang the Philanthropist to be called a philanthropist by everyone was truly ironic.

Two days later, news from Huichuan County had yet to arrive, but someone unexpected returned to the manor.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Yining immediately went to the front hall.

She saw Liao Zhibing and Meng Qin with two other Azure Sky Alliance brothers, along with Elite Tiger Guards arranged by Pang Xiao, all sitting in the front hall. They looked extremely bedraggled and seemed to all be wounded.

Qin Yining asked in shock: “Master Liao, everyone, what happened to you? Didn’t you make it to the Wo country? What happened along the way?”

Liao Zhibing waved his hand and pointed to a wooden box placed on a side table.

It contained Sakurai’s ashes, still wrapped as Qin Yining had packed them when they departed.

“Alliance Leader, we departed from Jingang and quickly reached the Wo country. I had previously thought the Wo country was very far from us, but having gone there now, I know that to reach the Wo country’s nearest landfall to us, our tower ship needed only a few days at sea to arrive.”

“Since you found the Wo country, why did things turn out like this? Did you encounter water bandits?”

Qin Yining picked up a white porcelain teapot to refill Liao Zhibing’s cup.

Liao Zhibing hurriedly stood and received it with both hands. After expressing thanks and drinking it all in one gulp, he shook his head: “Actually, things went smoothly enough. We originally thought that investigating news about Sakurai would take at least a year and a half, but who knew that after arriving in the Wo country, we got results with just a little inquiry. Sakurai was indeed exiled from the Mizusawa Domain where we landed.”

“Mizusawa Domain? Exiled?” Qin Yining sat in the place of honor.

Meng Qin was young and impatient, speaking quickly: “Alliance Leader doesn’t know—the Wo country is in complete chaos right now. We don’t know how they managed it, but everywhere there are numerous ‘feudal lords’ they call ‘daimyo’ and ‘generals.’ A few hundred people form a big village and dare call themselves a country. Dozens of Wo people wearing loincloths, gathering together with bamboo sticks to have a fight, have the nerve to call that a battle.”

Seeing Meng Qin speaking inappropriately, Liao Zhibing coughed and said: “Alliance Leader, the situation is indeed like this. This Mizusawa Domain is near the coast, exactly where we landed. That village is even smaller than Danfu County, with only one main thoroughfare. The people mainly make their living fishing and farming, supporting about two hundred local warriors. Those warriors are all loyal to the local daimyo, named Ishikawa Saneo. Sakurai was a ninja loyal to Daimyo Ishikawa.”

“When we arrived locally and inquired for information from the people, we discovered the local people’s evaluation of Sakurai was extremely poor. Supposedly Sakurai betrayed Daimyo Ishikawa. The daimyo was merciful and didn’t immediately have him killed, but those who betray the daimyo don’t even have the qualification to commit seppuku.”

Qin Yining asked puzzledly: “Did you investigate clearly how Sakurai came to our territory?”

“Supposedly, Sakurai was ordered by Daimyo Ishikawa to be tied to a plank and thrown directly into the sea. I suspect Sakurai was fortunate and drifted over, or perhaps encountered kind people halfway who rescued him.” Liao Zhibing shook his head and sighed.

“When they heard we brought Sakurai’s ashes back wanting to bury him in his homeland, the local people were very opposed and greatly despised those who betray their daimyo. They attacked us with random sticks. We couldn’t very well actually kill people,” an Elite Tiger Guard said aggrievedly.

Meng Qin also said: “But perhaps because the commotion was big, while we were camping at night, we actually waited for a Wo person to come. What was that person called?” Meng Qin shrugged and nudged the brother beside him.

That was an Azure Sky Alliance member who understood the Wo language, named Gao Delai. He was in his early thirties, dark-skinned, with thick, sturdy hands and feet, very robust.

Gao Delai smiled bashfully: “Alliance Leader, that person was called Hirasawa Na, Sakurai’s former best friend. He also serves under Daimyo Ishikawa, supposedly a ninja with an excellent reputation.”

Qin Yining was puzzled: “Ninja?”

“They’re somewhat like the Silver-Faced Dark Scouts around the Alliance Leader—mostly people with superior martial arts who excel at reconnaissance, assassination, intelligence gathering, and disrupting enemies. Sakurai was formerly a very famous ninja under Daimyo Ishikawa.” Liao Zhibing supplemented: “That Hirasawa Na said Sakurai was actually framed by Daimyo Ishikawa. Back then they had a battle with some country, Sakurai was sent to assassinate some important figure, but Daimyo Ishikawa changed sides at the last minute. Sakurai was blamed for destroying friendly relations between the two countries and was completely exiled.”

“Common people naturally fear war. Sakurai privately went to assassinate another country’s important figure, destroying peace. The people all despised him greatly. Only a few knew the truth, but none were willing to speak up for Sakurai. Hirasawa Na, as Sakurai’s good friend, hesitated and cowered at the time. By the time he regretted it, it was too late.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining lowered her eyes and fell silent.

She hadn’t expected things to be like this.

Sakurai was betrayed by his former master, drifted here and was saved by Master Wang the Philanthropist, only to suffer betrayal again, finally sacrificing himself to save her life.

“Alliance Leader doesn’t know. Looking at that Hirasawa Na, I felt he was very similar to Sakurai. These ninjas probably all have stubborn temperaments, very set in their principles. That Hirasawa Na also said he failed to clear Sakurai’s name and wasn’t even qualified to commit seppuku. He didn’t stand up to speak a fair word for Sakurai at the time, nor did he accompany Sakurai into exile. He blamed himself greatly and had been living in regret.” Meng Qin also sighed: “I just felt that their people seem to particularly value promises, emphasize loyalty, and are persistent in their feelings.”

Qin Yining now understood even more clearly why Sakurai had been so dejected for so many years after being betrayed by Master Wang the Philanthropist, willing to let people destroy one of his arms and one leg. It was truly as she had initially guessed—his faith had collapsed and he had no goals.

Later, when he fought desperately to protect her, perhaps he had also thought of repaying her kindness with a meal and acknowledging her as his master?

Otherwise, Qin Yining couldn’t think of any reason why a ninja would sacrifice his life for an unrelated person.

The scene of that dark night filled with bloody light appeared before her eyes once again. Sakurai’s thin body persistently blocked her way, bearing injury after injury for her, preferring to use his own body to block knives rather than let her suffer the slightest harm.

Thinking of these things, Qin Yining’s heart burst with intense anger—hate for Tao Hanshan’s planned ambush, hate for Master Wang the Philanthropist’s betrayal of Sakurai, and even more hate for that Daimyo Ishikawa she’d never met who let his subordinates take the blame!

Watching Qin Yining’s expression change repeatedly, her willow brows standing upright and her eyes containing authority, everyone knew the Princess was truly angry.

Even Meng Qin, who loved to talk most, was now silent as a cicada in winter.

Qin Yining asked: “That Daimyo Ishikawa spread Sakurai’s crimes everywhere, causing the people of Mizusawa Domain to refuse to accept him, even unwilling to let him be buried in his homeland? And they drove you out?”

“Yes.” Liao Zhibing nodded.

Qin Yining gritted her teeth, and after a long moment heavily slapped the table: “This is truly going too far!”

“Alliance Leader, please calm your anger.”

“Princess, please calm your anger.”

Everyone stood up and remained standing with lowered heads.

Qin Yining took several deep breaths, feeling she had gone too far. She shouldn’t let her emotional fluctuations affect these people before her. She couldn’t help but stand and apologetically say: “I’m sorry. Everyone braved the seas and endured hardships this time, and I’m truly grateful. Just now I was too angry and couldn’t control my emotions.”

Originally, their statuses were different—Qin Yining as Princess could even blame them for poor performance, but unexpectedly she would apologize for this.

Everyone was somewhat moved and hurriedly bowed.

“Princess speaks incorrectly.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader is a person of true feeling. Getting angry over this matter is only natural.”

After exchanging courtesies, Liao Zhibing said: “Alliance Leader, since we couldn’t bury Sakurai this time, how do you plan to handle his ashes? Perhaps this subordinate should find a place with good feng shui to let Sakurai rest in peace. Such wandering is truly too difficult.”

Qin Yining nodded: “First find a good place and bury him temporarily. In the future, I will definitely seek an explanation from that Daimyo Ishikawa. There’s no reason he can harm people and still continue being the daimyo of that Mizusawa Domain! There’s no such principle under Heaven.”

Hearing this, everyone’s hearts immediately filled with heroic spirit. They never would have imagined that across an entire sea, Qin Yining would seek justice for someone who sacrificed himself for her. They felt even more fortunate about their decision to follow Qin Yining. For Sakurai, whom she’d known only a few days, Qin Yining was so loyal—how much more so for alliance brothers who had fought alongside her through life and death.

Several people nodded repeatedly, and even the Elite Tiger Guards were fired up with enthusiasm. They all expressed that if they ever went to settle accounts with that Daimyo Ishikawa in the future, they must bring the brothers along.

Qin Yining thanked them courteously, arranged lodging for them, and found a physician to treat their wounds. Fortunately, they only had external injuries and nothing serious.

Sakurai’s ashes were temporarily placed by Qin Yining in an empty room, with incense offered morning and evening.

Three thousand cavalry raced swiftly along the official road, horses’ hooves flying, raising clouds of dust behind them.

On the leading jujube-red steed, Li Qitian, dressed in dark riding clothes and wearing a bright yellow cloak, was whipping his horse and turning back to urge those behind to keep up.

Li Qitian was currently burning with anxiety.

Qian Ying had fought alongside him to establish the realm, later received the title of Earl and managed Ministry of Works affairs, always loyal and devoted to him. So the message he sent must be correct.

Unthinkable, truly unthinkable—that wretch Lu Heng actually dared to be so audacious as to want to monopolize the treasure!

“Your Majesty, we can already see Huichuan County’s city walls.”

Li Qitian shouted loudly: “Immediately surround Huichuan County!”