Efa Fraser is holding pine oil and lighting a torch and is looking at the castle tower of Suwa Castle Honmaru in the highlands.

At the moment, there are three ashigaru corpses lying in the Honmaru, all of them loyal to the castle lord Eima Tokimori, who were killed by his men for disobeying Ema Teruimori's orders.

More than a dozen dead men loyal to Jiangma Huisheng stood aside, each holding torches, and His Excellency the castle tower was already piled with hay and wood.

Now in the castle tower, the originally fierce fighting and fighting suddenly stopped, but this did not prevent Edama Fraser from planning to burn the castle tower.

"It's really a group of stupid people, fighting around and killing each other, fighting with their surnames, and those who can laugh to the end are the most forbearant people, Li Xiao, who thinks he is smart, thinks he can play with everyone in the palm of his hand, but in fact it is just a knife in my hand to seize the position of the governor of the Jiangma family."

"I'm the one who has the last laugh. You will be the burial object of my ascension to the position of governor of the Jiangma family," Jiangma Huisheng smirked, and then said to his hand, "Light the fire." ”

In the midst of the blazing light on the torch, just as Jiangma Fraser was about to throw the torch into the firewood, he suddenly felt someone reach out and pat him on the shoulder.

"Who is it?"

Jiangma Huisheng was startled, and when he reached out to grab the knife, a small knife was already across his neck.

Jiangma Huisheng's face changed drastically, how did the other party approach him, he didn't feel it at all.

"Don't move."

Jiangma Fraser felt that this voice was familiar, as if it had been heard somewhere.

However, seeing that his subordinates seemed to be about to draw their swords to save them, Jiangma Huisheng hurriedly said loudly: "Don't come forward. ”

The dozen or so subordinates suddenly stopped.

The person holding the knife behind him said with a smile: "Your Highness Jiangma, you understand very quickly, it seems that you are a smart person, but you are too ambitious, and you are greedy for things that do not match your own strength, this is the dust of greed that blinds your wisdom mirror." ”

Jiangma Fraser kept his composure and tried to think about it: "Are you a member of the Xuanyuan people? Or Li Xiao's people? No, your voice sounds familiar, I understand, you are the ninja under Li Xiao, Yokotani Yukishige, the last time you were besieging the castle at Sister Xiaolu's house, you came here to see me and my father. ”

"Your Royal Highness Jiang Ma, you are right, it seems that the lord is also right to evaluate you, Your Excellency is a smart person, but you are too self-righteous and look down on everyone else."

"You didn't expect it, in fact, your every move is under the nose of the lord, and we already knew that you were going to set fire to the castle tower. Originally, I still expected you to turn back at the end, but you were too obsessed. ”

Jiangma Frasers vest broke out in a cold sweat, but he didn't expect that everything he was calculated by Li Xiao. The other party has long mastered a pervasive surveillance network composed of ninjas, and as Yokotani Yukishige said, his every move is clearly placed under Li Xiao's eyelids.

Jiangma Huisheng swallowed his saliva and said, "I know that my behavior this time is very unwise, but I also ask Lord Li Xiao to give me one more time, my father, I invited the Xuanyuan ninjas from the Uesugi family to ambush and kill Lord Li Xiao." Let's go in and rescue me now, and give me a chance to atone for my sins. ”

Yokotani Yushige laughed and said, "Do you think that Eima Shimori and the Uesugi family have secret dealings, and we won't know about it?" However, I didn't expect that Kato Duanzo would actually come out in person. ”

Jiangma Huisheng was taken aback, but he didn't expect that Li Xiao had already grasped the actions of the Uesugi family, and he felt a chill welling up on his vest, and he couldn't help but say in his heart: Oh my God, who am I doing right with.

Rao is Jiangma Huisheng has always been arrogant, and at this time, he couldn't help but lower his head and begged Yokotani Yushige softly.

After listening to the words of Jiangma Huisheng's gambling curse and oath, Yokotani Yukizhong put down the small knife that was lying on Jiangma Huisheng's neck and said: "Okay, it is the lord's business to forgive you or not, but if you try your best to atone for your sins, you have some hope of living." ”

Jiangma Fraser was relieved, and after taking a few steps back, his eyes turned around, and his mind began to come alive again.

However, Yokotani Yukishige's next sentence directly exposed his thoughts: "Your Royal Highness Eima, are you going to regret it again?" ”

Jiangma Fraser turned his head to look at the purple-clothed ninja wearing a six-foot hand wipe covering his face, he knew how terrifying the other party's strength was, since the other party had already seen through all his plans, if he wanted to survive now, he had to follow the other party's instructions to do it, otherwise his surname would be buried here immediately.

Jiangma Huisheng smiled bitterly twice and said, "Yokotan-sama, please rest assured, I won't be wrong a second time, I know what to do." ”

Immediately, Efson Edama issued an order to his subordinates: "Pry open the gate of the castle tower, and we will rush in." ”

Kogen Suwa Castle, above the castle tower.

Li Xiao stared intently at the first ninja of Xuanyuan, Kato Duanzang.

To be precise, the reason why Li Xiao was able to recognize Kato Duanzo was because he had seen his portrait before.

Compared with Yokotani Yukishige, who is covered with a canopy, the other party is a ninja who is not low-key at all.

At the beginning, in order to get the appreciation of Uesugi Kenshin, he performed the illusion of swallowing cattle in public in the town of Castle in the spring mountain city, so it was not difficult for Li Xiao to get his face portrait.

Later, when Nagao Jinghu heard about this, he summoned Kato Duanzo to the spring mountain castle.

In order to test the other party, Uesugi Kenshin ordered him to go to Naoe Minotsuna's house to steal the famous sword "Murayu".

Before infiltrating the heavily guarded Naoe house, Kato Duanzo first used the "Dog Technique" to poison the Naoe family's guard dog with poisonous rice balls, and after getting the treasure knife, he also carried an 11-year-old maidservant girl from the Naoe house as a witness.

Therefore, Kato Duanzo was deeply reused by Uesugi Kenshin, and sat firmly in the Uesugi family, the first ninja of Xuanyuan Shinobi.

Facing Li Xiao's inquiry, Kato Duanzang nodded and said: "Li Xiao, what you have done in Hida Country has already threatened the safety of Echigo, His Royal Highness Jinghu, how could you allow you to develop your power here and threaten him." So Li Xiao, today is this castle tower, which is your burial place. ”

After speaking, Kato Duanzang waved his hand, and at this time, the abnormal changes on the field protruded.

The samurai of the Eima family, Ashigaru, who had originally retreated on both sides, suddenly there were twelve of them, all of whom stripped off their clothes and replaced them with ninja clothes.

Kato Duanzang smiled coldly and said, "Li Xiao, these twelve of my subordinates are all proficient in the art of killing among my Xuanyuan people. They have carried out a total of nineteen missions for our Xuanyuan people, and none of them have failed, and this is their twentieth mission, and it is your honor to die at their hands. ”

Li Xiao's pupils shrank, Xuanyuan ninjas have a great reputation, and they are not under the Takeda family hidden ninjas, since Kato Duanzang said that he is the ninja who is best at fighting, his fighting skills and ninjutsu will definitely not be bad.

These twelve Xuanyuan ninjas are in groups of three, and judging from their pace movement and position, they are obviously proficient in some kind of joint attack method, and they have a very tacit understanding of working together all year round.

At this moment, six of the dozen or so Xuanyuan ninjas under Kato Duanzo took out their lock sickles, holding the end of the lock sickle on the top of their heads like a horse rope, turning in a circle on the top of their heads, while the other six people were holding a ninja knife in one hand, and at the same time secretly grasping a sa Ling in the other hand.

However, these twelve people are still secondary, Li Xiao and they all know that the strength of these people Kato Duanzang is the highest, and they are also the opponents they must guard against the most.

"Don't be underestimated." Rao is always conceited about his martial arts, and his eyes are too high, and he also said such cautious words at this time.

Li Xiao and Dao Shengmeng didn't dare to slack off, staring at these ninjas with all their attention.

"If it's useless, let you die here." Kato Duanzo snorted.

At this moment, a cold geodesic voice sounded under the stairs.

"Flying man Kato, you didn't ask me, but you dared to make a move on the lord below, it's too bold."

"Who is it? Don't hide behind your back, come out for me. Kato Duanzo snorted down the stairs.

"Flying Man Kato, I told you in the past, you have a superb ninjutsu, but your mind is not good, otherwise you won't show it everywhere, it seems that I really didn't say anything wrong, you really can't even recognize my old friend from the past?"

Immediately, Yukishige Yokotani, dressed as a ninja in his face, and Efsa Eiba and his men appeared in the castle tower.

Jiangma Shisheng was overjoyed at first, and said: "Huisheng is good, give me a front and back attack, and kill this Li Xiao together." ”

Jiangma Huisheng's expression was blank, he glanced at Jiangma Shisheng, turned to Li Xiao's side, and said respectfully: "It is really my responsibility to make Li Xiao fall into a heavy siege, please give me the opportunity to make up for my mistakes and show my loyalty to Xin Xuangong." ”

When Jiang Ma Shisheng heard his son say this, his body trembled suddenly, and his fingers trembled and pointed at Jiang Ma Hui Sheng and said, "Bastard, do you know what you're talking about?" ”

Jiangma Huisheng looked at Jiangma and said: "Father, I don't think you know, what are you talking about now, I have already persuaded the power of the Takeda family that our Jiangma family is irresistible." If you don't listen, forget it, and design an ambush to kill Lord Li Xiao, such a mediocre move is really not the due responsibility of the head of the Jiangma family. ”

After a pause, Jiang Ma Huisheng continued: "Father, your mediocre behavior has been unanimously opposed by all our retainers. I beg you to give up the position of the governor of the family now, and I will lead the Jiangma family to subdue the side of the Takeda family. ”

"You, you, you." Jiangma Shisheng was already so angry that he couldn't speak.

And Li Xiao laughed very happily at this time, stretched out his hand and patted Jiangma Huisheng's shoulder, and said: "Lord Jiangma, he is a smart person, you can rest assured, subduing the Takeda family is definitely the most correct choice in your life." Because of your wise actions, the Jiangma family will definitely occupy an important place in my Takeda family in the future. ”

Jiangma Huisheng was very happy to see Li Xiao's promise, and almost knelt down on the spot, but he still stopped this impulse, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Lord Li Xiao, my Jiangma family will serve the Takeda family to the death in the future, and will never betray." ”

After seeing Jiang Ma Huisheng's statement, more than a dozen of his loyal subordinates stepped forward to block Li Xiao together.

Under the sudden reversal of the situation, Kato Duanzang also changed a little, but he was more worried about the ninja standing behind Li Xiao.

"It turned out to be Yokotan-sama, and the last time we met in a family that I didn't know about my son, it's been three years since I was separated. I have great admiration for your ninjutsu, and I would like to ask Yokotan-sama for a lot of advice. ”

Kato Duanzo looked at Yokotani Yukishige, and his eyes showed a posture of vigilance as if he was facing a great enemy.

"I don't know my son", located at the junction of Echigo and Echichu, is a fault, the coastal terrain is very difficult, and it is the base of the Xuan Ape Ninja people.

Its name comes from the fact that Ping Yorisheng of the Hengwu Ping clan wrote a waka song, 'I don't know my son, I don't know my son, and the evil of crossing the road Pubo has made my wife lost.' ’

It is said that he passed by this place, and his wife and children fell into the sea, and there was no survivor.

Now Yokotani will face the challenge of Kanzo Kato.

(To be continued)