Mechanical Alchemist-Chapter 323 - 322: Met an Old Lady
Su Lun had taken out "Demon Hand" Ueno Sasaki and then fled into the mountains; naturally, it was very difficult for anyone to catch up with him.
Before long, word also came from Qiantiao that after a tough battle, she had been wounded, but had successfully escaped as well.
Su Lun breathed a sigh of relief.
He did not go to meet with the Princess or Qiantiao but disguised himself as a down-and-out samurai and headed to the docks of Izumo Castle, planning to take the water route to Edo.
Now that they had evaded the Takeda shogunate’s round of encirclement and assassination, the most dangerous moment had passed. However, the whole of Izumo, and even the neighboring fiefs, were likely under blockade. Now that they had been exposed, splitting up actually made each target less noticeable.
....
The Hii River is the largest river in Mountain Hermit Country, with tributaries covering the whole of Honshu Island like veins on a leaf. The river is hundreds of meters wide and can accommodate large ships, allowing seagoing vessels to sail upstream from the estuary directly to Edo Castle.
The docks of Izumo Castle were bustling with people early in the morning, a busy scene.
The dockworkers unloaded bundles of cargo from merchant ships—goods brought by foreign traders; they also loaded some heavy items onto the ships, with fine ironware and ores transported from here to various parts of Mountain Hermit Country and overseas.
Su Lun, in his shabby samurai clothes and wearing a bamboo hat, with a cheap iron sword at his side, was hardly noticeable among the crowd.
No one knew how the shogunate officials spread the news, but the bounty board at the docks had already listed the latest Bounty Orders. Su Lun, Qiantiao, and Lolo were all on the list. The Shinfuku Mitsuko was not, probably due to her special status.
As Su Lun passed by, he glanced at it and then shook his head and walked by.
Not to say his disguise was very clever and completely different from his original appearance. Even if he hadn’t disguised himself, the hastily drawn portraits with ink brush were unlikely to be recognized by anyone.
Although the guards conducting inspections would check household registration plaques, those household registration sheets without any anti-counterfeiting marks were all too easy to fake.
Moreover, his fluent local accent, which he had peeled off, also made it hard to doubt him.
Su Lun passed the inspection with ease.
He made his way to the docks where a bamboo and thatched hut stood, under which some people squatted with cloth bags on their backs, travelers preparing to take boats to other places, as well as peddlers who roamed around.
Cargo ships generally did not carry passengers, so Su Lun had to wait here for a passenger ship to pass by.
About once a week, several ships would pass by Izumo docks, but in this era, there were no schedules. One simply waited at the docks, and when a ship came to shore, one would ask if there was room, pay some ship fare, and board the ship.
Su Lun was not in a hurry, after all, there were nearly ten days until the "Black Sun Grand Festival," and there was still plenty of time. He sat on the ground, holding the broken sword in his lap, closed his eyes to rest, his mind going over various alchemical knowledge.
The battle the day before had yielded a lot, and he needed a lot of time to improve on his weaknesses.
After a long wait, people came and went under the hut, with twenty to thirty people gathered.
The wandering peddlers, who traveled from south to north, were well-informed and struck up conversations.
Most of the conversations were mundane, which Su Lun listened to, deliberately and indifferently.
Then, he heard news of the King of the North Sea’s fleet.
"Just yesterday, a lot of big ships passed by here, all loaded with cannons and armed men. I don’t know what they’re up to."
"That’s the ninth fleet of the King of the North Sea. I heard they are going to Edo. Are they coming to impose taxes on us in Mountain Hermit Country?"
"I’ve heard that those pirates are intending to invade and rule over us..."
"Our great and benevolent Emperor is a monarch granted by Amaterasu Omikami itself, how could we let outsiders rule over us? Those foreigners will surely be punished by the gods..."
"War is about to break out. Haven’t you seen? These past few days, the docks have been shipping lots of swords and bows to Edo? I heard various Daimyo have jointly petitioned, preparing for a decisive battle against those foreigners..."
"..."
While Su Lun absorbed alchemical knowledge in his mind, he also thought about these pieces of news.
He was also curious about whether a war would break out.
Oleg wanted to become the true "king" over the vast waters of the North Sea, and the four countries of the north were definitely his targets for conquest.
Mountain Hermit, though small, would not be easy to subjugate.
At least in his previous communications with the Princess, Su Lun knew that the Shinfuku Imperial family’s stance was to never submit, preferring to be shattered jade rather than intact tile.
....
Due to the need to transport a large number of supplies to Edo, the usual passenger ships had been conscripted to carry cargo.
Su Lun waited at the docks until the afternoon but was unable to catch a ship.
Just as he was considering whether to inconvenience himself by taking the land route, a fleet of boats slowly made their way up the river.
The ships bore flags with white cherry blossom patterns on a black background, official merchant ships of Mountain Hermit Country. They came from Pirate City Hastelin. The great Daimyo of Mountain Hermit had many businesses abroad, and these ships were laden with various imported goods that would fetch huge profits after being sold.
Seven ships docked for resupply and unloaded a lot of cargo, keeping the dockworkers busy.
The itinerant peddlers seemed to be familiar with the ship’s stewards, went to ask, and soon came back with news.
"Hey! The folks on the ship say they can let us board!"
"Of course, given the special circumstances. There’s limited space on the ship. The tickets are going to be a bit more expensive than before..."
"..."
Su Lun heard this and understood that the peddler was also selling "channels".
He stood up and paid the fellow an extra fifty percent of the passage fee. His identity as a destitute samurai could still support such an expense.
He thought it was better to travel by a large sea vessel to avoid encountering any sea monsters or storms that could easily sink a smaller boat. Moreover, a big ship with many people and backgrounds was not easy to inspect. It saved a lot of trouble.
Su Lun and a dozen other travelers boarded the middle ship.
After perceiving his surroundings, there were no particularly troublesome presences on board.
He also didn’t mind squeezing into the cargo hold that had just been cleared out for them.
Before long, the merchant ship was resupplied and set sail again.
Su Lun stayed in the cabin for two days.
The large ship had a dining room, but it wasn’t provided for them, the temporary passengers who had jumped on at the last minute.
When he was hungry or thirsty, he ate some dry food and drank water he had brought with him, and he didn’t feel restless.
He spent his days in meditation and digesting knowledge.
Traveling with stops here and there, it would take about four to five days to reach Edo Castle from Izumo if all went well.
But on the third day, Su Lun suddenly opened his eyes from meditation.
He saw sunlight pouring in through the ventilation window, casting a golden beam. The fine dust in the rays of light was clearly visible.
Today was a rare day of good weather.
"The sun has come out..."
Su Lun suddenly had a feeling that he should go out for some fresh air.
But at the same time, he furrowed his brows.
It felt "strange" for him to have such a thought.
Being able to control his emotions meant that, under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t need some inexplicable relaxation just because he’d been enclosed in the cabin for two days like a normal person would.
After awakening the second stage of his Reaper talent, Su Lun had become more sensitive to many mysterious abilities and was less likely affected by them. After his professional ranking increased, this ability had strengthened considerably.
"Could it be that I’ve been influenced by some supernatural power?"
Su Lun thought about the time he and Mr. Jing had encountered the manipulation of fate in Gadronte Harbor.
Since then, he was extra cautious of similar situations.
Or was it just an illusion?
Su Lun pondered with a furrowed brow for a moment, but he still decided to go out and have a look.
....
Although this fleet was an official merchant ship of the Mountain Hermit, it was a motley crew.
In addition to the kimono-clad Mountain Hermit folks, there were also many blonde and blue-eyed people of various skin colors on the ship, career merchants who had been traveling to and from pirate ships to the Mountain Hermit domain.
Especially since war seemed imminent, the ship was also mixed with many who wanted to follow along and profit from the warfare.
Su Lun left the cargo hold and observed along the way. The upper deck was noisy with gambling and the enticing dances of the Singers, some of the few entertainment activities aboard, and the crew enjoyed themselves immensely.
Su Lun didn’t notice anyone special and went straight up to the deck.
After not coming out for two days, breathing a breath of fresh air rejuvenated him.
The inland river had no big waves, and the large ship traveled smoothly on the river surface.
On the deck, apart from the indolent sailors idle with card games, there were also a few travelers who had come up to bask in the sun. At the rear upper structure were the Captain’s quarters, the first mate’s room, and several luxury cabins for big merchants and their families.
After a glance, there was nothing worth noting.
Su Lun walked to the ship’s rail, leaned against it, and murmured, "Was it really just an illusion?"
The sun’s rays felt warm and pleasant on his skin. He wasn’t in a hurry to return to his cabin, thinking it was nice to come out and get some air.
Su Lun gazed at the riverside scenery, his eyes slightly narrowed.
The green mountains and white snow were intermittently visible.
Just then, a "gurgle" sound arose, a silver coin rolled from behind on the deck and stopped by Su Lun’s foot.
He turned his head to look; it was a clumsy maid chasing after it.
Su Lun bent over to pick up the silver coin that had stopped by his feet and handed it over; the young girl thanked him with a "Thank you".
Su Lun smiled faintly, not lingering on the girl before him, but his gaze fell upon the old woman behind her.
The old woman was dressed in a well-fitting purple gown, with neatly combed silver hair, exuding an air of distinct elegance even while simply standing. Although she wore no dazzling jewelry, her bearing immediately revealed her exceptional upbringing. Even though age had etched deep lines upon her face, that one look suggested to Su Lun that: she must have been very beautiful in her youth.
However, what surprised Su Lun more was the fire of her soul that his Soul Perception detected.
```
Very faint.
Like the flickering candlelight in the wind, it could be extinguished at any moment.
Su Lun immediately realized that this was an old woman whose life had reached its end.
...
Suddenly encountering such a special old crone on the ship, Su Lun didn’t think it was a coincidence.
His expression showed no sign of surprise, nor did he make any move.
But it was that mere glance that seemed to alert the old woman, and she slowly walked over.
The deck was not long, and within a few steps, she was beside him.
The old woman took the initiative to speak, "I originally wanted to find an excuse to casually meet you. But it seems you’ve noticed I was waiting for you."
Upon hearing this, Su Lun immediately realized that his prior feeling was correct!
But he didn’t sense any hostility, and he cautiously asked, "Old madam, do we know each other?"
Addressing an elderly woman as "madam" is always correct.
"We’ve met once before."
The old woman gave Su Lun a look, and a glint of light flashed in the depths of her eyes before she retracted her gaze. Leaning against the railing just as Su Lun had, she added another phrase: "At ’San Torii’."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Su Lun immediately remembered.
In Pirate City there was a shop called "San Torii," which he had visited only once. He was there to buy materials and had encountered several cloaked figures. He remembered an old woman who had boldly bought up all the grand manuscripts of the great writer Fujiwara Hayato.
Clearly, it was the woman before him.
Moreover, Su Lun also knew that his disguise had been seen through. No, he had been recognized back in Pirate City already.
Su Lun’s brows furrowed slightly, "May I ask, madam, who you are?"
She was probably not an enemy.
If she was an enemy, this introduction would be a bit too gentle.
The old woman straightforwardly said, "I am Naqiusha’s great-grandmother."
"..."
Hearing this, Su Lun’s eyelids twitched fiercely.
This was truly a great surprise!
Naqiusha’s great-grandmother, what’s going on?
For some reason, Su Lun felt as if he had trifled with someone’s young lady and her elder had come knocking on his door.
Indeed, where would there be so many elegant old ladies.
Only the grandmother from a grand noble household could possess such an air.
So when he felt observed at San Torii, it wasn’t an illusion—was it that girl Naqiusha?
But how did she recognize him?
Was his disguise that bad?
Su Lun felt somewhat speechless inside but guessed it must be some special secret technique.
However, speaking of which.
The life before him had reached its end, and she had specifically come to find him?
As if guessing his thoughts, the old woman smiled, "I didn’t come especially for you. I just had some business with the Mountain Hermit. It was fate that let us meet."
Her smile deepened the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but it allowed one to see the kindness in her gaze.
Since she had already mentioned Naqiusha’s name, Su Lun naturally couldn’t feign ignorance. But he didn’t believe this was some twist of fate, so he directly asked, "You... How do you know I am here?"
The old woman spoke gently, "Meeting a capable person is a kind of fate. Magicians struggle against fate all their lives, but often do not realize that many times, fate is already decided."
It sounded like nonsense, but Su Lun understood something from it.
A talent similar to [S-003-Fate Controller]?
And in that instant, thoughts began to race through his mind, connecting like lightning.
He suddenly had a bold thought: the "third party" behind Abe Yasukazu, could it be Naqiusha’s family?!
What the fuck...
This was the territory of the Four Countries of the North, under Oleg’s domain. Did the hand of the Ruying nobility reach so far?
```
Moreover, from the looks of it, this scheme wasn’t concocted on a whim; it might have been years, even decades in the making, with seeds sown long ago.
Sure enough, only those great families with centuries of heritage had the foundation and the finesse for such endeavors.
Indeed, what could a bunch of pirates know about spinning conspiracies? It was up to those seasoned professional politicians of the Luying faction!
Su Lun even felt that the Ninth Fleet’s arrival this time, to a greater or lesser extent, had the shadow of some conspiratorial puppet-master behind it.
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
....
But this elderly person’s life was nearing its end.
Su Lun really couldn’t guess, why did she come to Mountain Hermit?
Before he could sort out his thoughts, the old person took the initiative and said, "I am here to see an old friend."
"..."
Su Lun felt as if someone had peeked into his mind.
Just like when he first encountered Mr. Hei, there was something about the gaze of the wise that seemed to see through everything with a clear light.
The old person asked, "Young man, may I have a few words with you?"
Su Lun nodded, "Of course."
The old person’s benevolent smile was like the warm sun in winter, making it impossible to entertain thoughts of refusal.
"I mean you no harm. It just so happened that I ran into you, and I wanted to see for myself what kind of man could earn such high praise from that girl Naqiusha."
At this point, she paused and glanced sideways at Su Lun, "Now that I see you, you indeed seem quite special."
Listening to her, Su Lun found some of her words to be a bit cryptic and somewhat unusual, yet he responded with a polite smile, "You flatter me."
The old person chuckled and shook her head, "Among so many young talents in the empire, that girl Katyu Sha holds herself with pride, and she has never truly favored anyone. But you are the only one."
"..."
Su Lun felt even more puzzled.
Although he got along very well with Katyu Sha—somewhat like... there wasn’t that kind of implication, right?
The old person seemed to lack energy; after just a few sentences, she needed to rest.
Looking at the distant mountains and waters, she continued, "Katyu Sha was like an ugly duckling as a child, somewhat reclusive by nature. She liked to gaze at the stars in the garden by herself; she enjoyed spending entire days holed up in the study reading storybooks. Her heart is pure, kind, and understanding..."
People at the end of their lives would often reminisce about the beautiful people and events they had encountered.
Su Lun played the role of a quiet listener.
In that moment, it was as if through the passage of someone else’s years, he saw a reflection of his own future self.
At this, the old person seemed to remember something as a hint of a smile crossed her face, "But as she grows up, she will become quite beautiful."
"..."
With that comment, it felt like the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
Instantly, Su Lun’s thoughts turned to that freckled, pigtailed girl at the airport.
She was one of the few people he found to be exceptionally pleasant to be around.
But to say she was "quite beautiful" would indeed be stretching it.
He understood the old lady’s mindset of praising her own great-granddaughter and nodded in agreement, "Hmm."
As if seeing through his thoughts, the old person didn’t explain further. She looked up at the sky and said something profound, "I was young once too. Back then, someone said to me, ’If the world is a prison, then love is the key that unlocks it.’"
Su Lun listened, his brow slightly furrowing. Upon giving the words more thought, he felt there was something deeper implied.
The old person had no intention of clarifying further and continued, "In this life, it’s not easy to come across someone whose soul resonates with yours. When you do, you should cherish that person."
Su Lun felt those words were meant for him,
but could they also be about her own story?
He listened patiently, ultimately keeping his thoughts to himself, occasionally responding with a nod, "Hmm."
Standing for a long time seemed to take a toll on the old person; she remarked wistfully, "In old age, one’s energy isn’t what it used to be."
She didn’t seem inclined to continue the conversation and nodded as a signal, "Young man, thank you for humoring this old soul’s ramblings. I need to rest now."
"Take care."
Su Lun watched as the old woman was escorted back to her cabin by a maid.
A contemplative look appeared between his brows.
Was it just a chance encounter?
What a strange meeting.
