Shang walked along as he thought to himself

Shang’s thoughts: Island, Trees, Japanese gravestone. Which anime was it?

????: Hey, you.

Shang’s thoughts: hmm..??

As Shang looks back, he saw a half-clothed man carrying a huge wooden basin.

????: It’s rare to see outsiders or strangers here but your clothing looks kinda different from others. (Japanese)

Shang’s thoughts: Japanese?

Shang was unable to speak Japanese with the half-clothed man in his mid twenties but he could understand what the half-clothed man with leaf-shaped hair is saying.

Shang: Ming. Chugoku. Maigo. Umi.

Shang tried to communicate with his half-assed Japanese language.

????: Wow, your language is really bad. I take it that you’re from Ming and you got lost from traveling the seas.

Shang: Seikai!

Shang smiled and gave the man a thumbs up.

????: I don’t mind guiding you back but I have a errad to do first. You don’t mind following me?

The man said while pointing his thumb back at the huge wooden basin he is carrying.

Shang nodded in response.

Shang: Shang, Shang Yinchao.

Shang pointed to himself saying and then pointed to the man.

????: Seventh head of the Kyotouryuu School, Yasuri Shichika.

Shang nodded to the answer before his eyes went wide open.

Shang’s thoughts: Kyotouryuu? Yasuri? This is the world of Katanagatari!

Shichika move away to continue his errad.

Shang’s thoughts: If I am correct, he should be meeting Togame by the water point. Well, no plans for now. Let’s see how it goes.

Shang followed Shichika along while thinking to himself.

Watching the question and answer session between Togame and Shichika, Shang was starting to feel bored before Togame started to put her hand on her katana.

Shichika immediately put up a battle stance in response.

Before the long white-haired girl could test out Shichika’s abilities, she slipped and fell flat on her face, knocking herself out.

Shichika: How troublesome….

Shichika looked at Togame and then looked a Shang.

Shang showed hand signs that he would help to carry Togame.

Shichika: Thanks for the trouble.

As Shang piggy-backed Togame, his ability was activated.

System: Added: Hida Yousha’s Diary

System: Added: Japanese Language.

System: Added: Kenjutsu.

System: Added: Togame’s Katana.

System: Added: Togame’s….

There is no need to mention further on about what Shang had collected from here.

Shang’s thoughts: System, Buy: Japanese Language

System: Personal, Storage or Business?

Shang’s thoughts: Personal.

Something started to flow into Shang’s head which made him felt slightly dizzy that he hold on to a nearby tree.

Shichika: Are you alright?

Shichika walked to Shang when he noticed Shang’s movements had stopped.

Shang: Yes, just give me a few minutes, I should be able to continue on.

Shichika: Hmm….Eh? your language..

Shang: Actually I could speak properly but I tend to mix them up with other similar languages. That’s why i had to speak to you like that.

Shichika: I see.. Just follow my tracks if you’re done resting. My home is not far from here.

Shang: Not a problem.

Shichika then walked off with his huge wooden basin of water.

Shang’s thoughts: I totally forgotten the side effect of personal use. Well, have to remember it from now.

Shang thought to himself before following Shichika’s tracks.

Inside the wooden house, a girl with long dark green hair was done with questioning Togame;s reason to come here.

Nanami: Before we listen to what you have to say, I like to hear the reason of our second guest.

Yasuri Nanami turned to Shang and spoke.

Shang: Hmm..? Ah yes, I am a traveller from the Great Ming Dynasty and I lost all my stuff in the sea before finding myself ashore on this island.

Nanami: Traveller? I suppose if you need a way home, our other guest here should be able to help you.

Nanami said while looking at Togame.

Togame: of course. With my connections, I have no problems arranging your transport to home.

Shang: Allow me to think about it.

Togame: No problem.

Shang’s thoughts: Connections you say….Your only connection is that princess of Yanari Shogunate, Shikizaki Hitei.

Shang’s thoughts: The problem here now is whether I should follow Shichikai and Togame or stay here with Nanami.

The item that Shang wanted would be Nanami’s technique, Higi: Migeika. A sight technique that allows one to copy and master any techniques and abilities with one or two glances. It also includes body and blood-lines which the person has trained to have. The technique does not work if user is blindfolded or blinded by darkness. This also applies to natural body abilities and abilities from natural blood-lines.

If he left Nanami alone here, she would leave the island to obtain more skills in order to become weaker.

Going with the duo allowed him to get more skills from corpses that duo had defeated.

If he stays with Nanami, he might have to face the duo in combat once he and Nanami leaves the island.

Leaving Shang immersing in his thoughts, Togame tried to convince the Shichika in assisting her to gain recognition in the shogunate. Recognition was only a tool to Togame. What she was really after was to complete her revenge against Yanari Shogunate for the execution of her entire family.

Things weren’t working out for Togame as Shichika is perfectly fine with what he has and he has not concept of how having riches and reputation could benefit him.

Togame’s second attempt in trying to convince Shichika was later interrupted by the kunai attacks from Maniwa Komori. Shichika ran after Tomori in anger while Togame who was more concerned about the deviant blade, also ran out, hoping the deviant blade was still on the boat.

This leaves only Shang and Nanami alone in the wooden house.

There was a moment of silence between Shang and Nanami. Nanami broke the silence by saying she needs to clean up the mess before Shichika comes back.

Shang: Nanami

Nanami: Yes?

ShangL Your little brother will be leaving soon. Is it alright with you?

Nanami: A bird has to leave its nest sooner or later. There’s no way I can stop him from leaving.

Shang: What about you?

Nanami: Me? I suppose I have to protect the nest for the bird to return.

Shang: If things really look that simple….

Nanami: Shouldn’t it be that simple?

Shang: Concluding from what Togame has said, Kyotouryuu has taken countless of lives in battlefields. I wonder how many people can stop that kind of blade from advancing?

Nanami: I get what you mean. In other words, I am considered as a bargaining tool to stop Shichika from advancing?

Shang: Correct but tool or not, it doesn’t really matter.

Nanami: What makes you say that?

Shang: Because things are going to change from here.

Nanami: ?

Shang: Yasuri Nanami, I have a request.

Shang started to speak in a serious tone.

Nanami: Yes?

Shang: Will you become my blade?

Nanami dropped whatever she was holding in response to Shang’s request.