The Blade and Sword

CHAPTER 26-THE TRAILS

It's just like looking for a needle in a haystack. About a year later, some of the Unkensō’s disciples saw someone who looked like Koten appeared in a town with some mysterious figures that was not far from Unkensō location. A few of them went after him and the remaining went back to Unkensō for a report. Then Koshō and Kosei lead some of the disciples to catch up. When they reach that town, the track of the bunch of disciples that follow them, where none to be found. They search the whole area, still can't find any of their comrades. Suddenly, someone appears that is not far from their current location by walking unsteadily. It looks like one of their comrades. Koshō and Kosei quickly went to take a look and indeed, it was Unkensō’s disciple. Before the wounded disciple went unconscious, he told Koshō and Kosei them; that few of them went to follow those mysterious men and when they realized they were already outside of that town through the secret passage in that town. Not far from there, there is a cave ahead and those mysterious men went inside. So they decided to go to take a look inside the cave, to find out what those mysterious men were doing. Turns out, there were some people who were kept inside the cage. It looks like those mysterious men were kidnapping young boys and young girls but they don't know what those men are going to do with those captives. When the Unkensō’s disciples decided to get out of the cave, they were ambushed. Some of the mysterious men are already waiting for them outside the cave. A fight between them occurred there as the Unkensō’s disciples tried to fight a way out so they could return to Unkensō to report about this matter. However, the Unkensō disciples were no match to those mysterious men and not to mention those mysterious men were outnumbered as well. That's why only one of them managed to escape from the battle even with a lot of wounds on his body. Koshō and Kosei tell that wounded disciple to show them the way to that secret passage. After reaching that passage, some of the Unkensō’s disciples will escort him back to Unkensō for treatment. Then Koshō and Kosei, together with the other four of their comrades go into the passage to find the cave that has been mentioned before. Indeed, after getting out from the passage, they really left the town already like it was mentioned before. Now they only need to find that cave. After walking for a while, they finally found it. However, they couldn't get close as some of the mysterious men were travelling back and forth as they were busy doing something. Just like what the wounded comrade said, they really kidnapped some innocent people. Not only that, they are also moving those people into the wagon one by one, and it seems like they’re going to transfer those people to a designated location. Afterwards, a bunch of the mysterious men together with the wagon left the place. However some of them still remained inside the cave as they still had something to take care of. Koshō and Kosei knew they couldn't chase the wagon with their feet. So the only choice is to catch those mysterious men that remain inside the cave and interrogate them. Then the fight between them can't be avoided. Those mysterious men were no match for Koshō and Kosei. They managed to kill those mysterious men as they were resistant to being caught. Only one survived, then Koshō and Kosei interrogated that guy. However, that masked guy's mouth is so tight as he doesn't want to betray his companions so he doesn't want to reveal any information to them. Koshō was a very temperamental person compared to Koten. He has no patience to wait for too long for that masked guy to speak. So he tortured that masked guy for a while, and finally that masked guy spoke up. He said that his companions were to bring those young captives to the designated location which is an abandoned mine in the middle of the forest, about fifty kilometers southwest of here. They also asked that masked guy if someone from Unkensō joined them. However, that masked guy said he doesn't know anything. He was just a low figure inside the organization. They also asked him if their sect was called Dōgonkyō and he answered yes. Since they still have some questions, Koshō and Kosei decide to take these masked men back to Unkensō for further interrogation. However, when they just reach outside the cave, suddenly a flying dagger stabs on that masked guy's body and he falls to the ground and dies. Koshō and Kosei saw two masked men standing at the top of the tree across not far from their location. Then after killing their companion, those two masked men run away and disappear from the scene. Koshō and Kosei told their comrades not to chase them, afraid there might be an ambush there.