The icy current seizes them the instant they plunge, coiling around their bodies like frigid chains. Merin feels the river's cold claws tear at his limbs, dragging him into blind, freezing depths. The moonless night amplifies the terror—he can't see, can't distinguish up from down, only the crushing weight of the water and the girl's arm slipping from his desperate grip.
She writhes, struggling to break free. Perhaps from sheer panic, or an attempt to swim alone. Merin growls under his breath, jerking her closer, releasing her wrist to wrap an arm tightly around her waist. He kicks powerfully, his muscular legs churning the water. His strength, forged by years of martial discipline, cuts through the river's merciless pull, and they burst to the surface, gasping for cold air.
The current remains relentless, pulling them away from the bank, sweeping them through the black water like leaves caught in a storm. But Merin doesn't resist it—not yet. The distant shouts and the flickering dance of torches along the far bank confirm the pursuit continues. Firelight bounces in chaotic flashes, silhouettes racing along the water's edge, straining to track them from land.
"What are we going to do?!" the girl screams over the roar of the water.
He can't see her face, but he turns towards her voice. "You had no plan when you dragged me into this."
"But you took me and jumped!" she retorts.
"I faced two terrible choices. I chose the one that offered a chance."
A brief silence stretches between them, broken only by the rush of water around their heads.
Merin narrows his eyes. "We cannot go ashore on this side. They're waiting for us."
"Then we swim to the other side," she declares.
They waste no more breath.
Their bodies move in perfect unison, slicing across the river like twin arrows. The current attempts to impede them, but they are not ordinary people. They are Middle-Ranking Samurai. Their muscles function like machines, fueled by inner energy and discipline. Every kick, every powerful pull of their arms propels them forward.
The opposite shore looms into view—a shadowed line of rock and dirt, distant but within reach.
Minutes pass in grim silence, only the sound of water, their ragged breaths, and the fading echoes of their pursuers. Then, finally, their hands scrape against cold stone and soft earth. They haul themselves out, gasping, drenched, and shivering to the bone.
From across the river, the flickering torches still move. Firelight dances across the water's surface. And then, with a distinct splash that shatters the quiet, one of the black-clad figures leaps into the river.
Merin's breath slows. He needs no words. The girl doesn't either.
Even in the darkness, even without seeing each other's faces, they understand.
The enemy isn't giving up.
They glance at the forest beyond the riverbank—shadows thick and deep. It's the only cover they possess.
They remain silent.
They run.
Away from the water. Away from the torches and firelight. Into the silence of the trees, where the cold wind whistles between the branches and the ground muffles their steps. They need distance. They need darkness. They need a place to hide—and fast.
While Merin, with his eyes, circulates the inner energy around his body to warm his body. He is a middle-ranking Samurai, and his body is far stronger than an ordinary person, but even strength has limits. Moreover, sickness doesn't depend on strength but on the body's vitality. His body vitality is twice that of an ordinary person.
His clothes remain soaked, clinging to Merin's body, cold and heavy. An ordinary person would be dead or suffering from hypothermia after last night's ordeal. Not him. Even after emerging from the freezing river on a cold autumn night, he ran for a straight couple of hours, wet clothes clinging to his skin. The sharp wind bit at him the whole way, cutting through fabric and flesh alike.
Still now, Merin's clothes are slightly damp. He, with his internal energy, tried to dry the cloth, but he reached his limit. The fabric cannot get any drier than it is now. If he tries harder, he can, but he doesn't forget he is still in danger, and the only way for him now is to distance himself from the girl.
He is still calling her "the girl," even though, without knowing her name, he got into such trouble. And what trouble he would come across knowing her name, he cannot fathom.
The sudden chirping of birds makes him open his eyes. Dawn creeps into his vision, painting faint strokes of grey and silver across the sky, and he sees the girl's hazel eyes staring at him. Her hair is also amber.
Merin wonders, "Did she colour her hair and wear lenses?" In fourteen years in this world, he has only encountered black hair, black pupils, or dark brown pupils. She is the first. But Merin doesn't have time for such thoughts.
Merin shifts, branches creaking beneath him. Getting into position, he leaps down from the tree, landing softly on the ground.
"Where are you going?" Merin hears the girl ask as he starts walking.
Without replying, Merin walks to create distance between himself, the girl, and the trouble. He hears a thud and understands that the girl has also jumped down. Then he hears footsteps trailing behind him.
Merin halts, turns around, and stares at the girl. The first thought that comes to his mind she is beautiful, and then he admonishes himself. He cannot soften because of her face. And without saying a word, he kept on staring at her.
She also halted at a distance and, smiling at him, she says," Are you still angry about last night? The alley was dark, and I only saw your outline. So, I thought you were a member of my sect and called you out."
Merin believes her, but still." How were you able to tell I am a man? And you must have noticed after I came under the street lamps that I am not part of your sect."
She rolls her eyes and says," The way you were leaning against the wall. I was able to tell you were a man, and when I noticed that you were not part of my sect at the time, I did not have time to change direction, and I am not even from Susa City and felt running behind you was the better chance to get away from them."
Before he can respond, a subtle rustle reaches his ears—tree leaves shaking, unnaturally fast. His expression hardens. The girl notices, too. Her head snaps toward the sound.
Footsteps.
They both shift instinctively, backs tense, eyes searching.
From the southern tree line, five black-clad figures burst through the foliage with swords drawn. Their movements are coordinated, swift, and trained. Silent signals pass between them. In seconds, they fan out to surround.
Merin draws his breath and slides a foot back, weight shifting into stance. His eyes flick to Asuna. She's already lowered her stance, hand on her hilt, face grim.
So much for rest.
Two black-clad figures charge at him, and the other veers toward the girl. She draws her sword with a sharp metallic hiss and meets them head-on, her blade flashing in the dim morning light.
Merin clicks his tongue. He curses himself—last night, after killing those two black-clad attackers, he should've taken one of their swords. Now, barehanded, facing two armed enemies, he has no room for mistakes.
They come in fast.
Merin takes a deep breath and takes a few steps back. Because one of the black-clad figures coming at him swung his sword. At that distance, the sword would never touch him, but the figure is a Middle-Ranking Samurai like him.
So, the figure's inner energy from the sword tip forms an extended energy blade, and that would cut Merin's chest if he didn't step back.
Merin's eyes glance at the second figure charging at him and pray that the second figure is a Low-Ranking Samurai; otherwise, if the second figure is also a Middle-Ranking Samurai, then his situation would be dangerous. The danger is greater for him without any weapon.
Merin watches them coming for him, but he doesn't charge. Without finding the second figure, realm charging would be suicidal. He launches his inner energy toward his leg, running the movement technique- Wind leg.
His speed increases. He feels his inner energy start to consume, but as he mastered the technique fully and also made changes so that it fit his body perfectly, the energy consumed by running this technique, he can sustain for hours. Moreover, he is holding back for a perfect opportunity.
They also use their movement technique, but they still cannot land a hit on Merin. Merin controls his speed so that he always dodges their attack by a hair's breadth. After a few minutes, Merin started to keep an eye on the second figure, ready to strike any moment.
He discovers that the second figure is a Low-Ranking Samurai, and the opportunity to end the fight. And quickly. He has to end the fight quickly, as Merin knows only five wouldn't be chasing them. And the longer the fight continues, the greater the danger.
The first black-clad figure lunges, its sword arcing at Merin's neck. He ducks low, the blade hissing inches above his head. Even before the first swing's wind dissipates, the second attacker is already descending upon him with a brutal vertical slash.
Merin responds. This is the opportunity he was waiting for.
He channels his inner energy, his legs become a blur as his movement technique engages fully. In a blink, he disappears from where he stands.
The second figure's sword impacts the earth with a dull thud, and Merin materialises at his flank.
A fraction of a second later, a thunderous burst erupts. Merin's fist, glowing with raw energy, smashes into the attacker's chest, just beneath the heart. The black-clad figure recoils violently as ribs fracture beneath the fabric, a muffled crunch resonating from within his robes.
He flies through the air before he can even utter a scream.
As the man's body slams back into the forest floor, his sword clatters from his grasp.
Merin surges forward, intercepting the falling weapon midair in a single, fluid motion. Without breaking stride, he spins on his heel and lifts the blade—his gaze locking onto the first attacker, who has only just turned to face him once more.
Steel gleams between the trees. Merin and the black-clad figure lock eyes, neither moving for a breath.
Merin glances toward the girl and frowns. She's holding her ground—but barely. The three attackers pressing her move like wolves, each strike herding her deeper into the trees, cutting off escape routes, waiting for the moment she slips. If they pull her any farther, she'll be surrounded with no way out.
He shifts his focus back to his opponent. This is the moment.
His grip tightens around the stolen sword.
Let's see how far I've come.
Six days ago, he received the Cloud Sword technique from the Mori family. Not enough time to master it—but he'd pushed himself, reaching at least a level of proficiency. He hadn't tried it in real combat, not until now.
The black-clad figure charges.
Merin charges to meet him, feet blurring as he unleashes his full speed. His blade whirls in a fluid arc, the signature motion of the Cloud Sword—drifting yet precise, unpredictable yet controlled.
Clash.
The black-clad figure's strikes are heavy and fast, but Merin's movements flow like mist between them. The Cloud Sword dances in his hand. For every strike blocked, two openings appear. Merin exploits them mercilessly.
He feels time slipping.
Too slow—and the girl dies.
Taking the risk, he lets a slash graze his left shoulder. Pain flares—but his counter pierces through, the sword biting deep into the man's side, angled toward the liver. The figure jerks, gasping, then collapses.
Merin doesn't stop.
He turns and sprints toward the girl.
Two of her attackers—both low-ranking samurai—move to intercept him.
They never succeed.
His blade flashes, slashing clean across the first man's throat. Blood sprays. The second turns to block—too late. Merin steps in, thrusting deep into the man's chest, straight through the heart.
Only one remains.
A middle-ranking samurai—the final threat to the girl.
But now Merin is beside her.
With a swift nod, she adjusts her stance.
They move as one.
Steel clashes, feet slide across the dirt, synchronised like seasoned partners. A feint from the girl, a true strike from Merin, then another. The final attacker stumbles under the relentless barrage, and the girl finishes it with a swift, brutal slash across the neck.
Silence descends.
They don't speak.
They just run.
Before leaving, Merin snatches up a second sword from one of the fallen, gripping both as he follows close behind the girl. They sprint north, vanishing into the dense forest.
As they run through the forest, leaves brushing their faces, jumping over obstacles and always alert, the danger in the forest doesn't only come from their attackers, but also from the inhabitants of the forest.
While running, they spot a tiger, a Four-horned wild buffalo herd, foxes, and other beasts. So, while running, I looked at the marks on the tree, or other traces and took a wide breadth from that territory.
They halt as a stream flows in front of them. They glance at each other, and the girl says, looking around, " Let's rest here for some time."
Merin looks around and finds in large number of fish swimming in the stream. It is a perfect spot to rest and fill their stomach. Merin, with his swords, pierces two fish. " I will clean them. You start the fire."
After a few minutes, they sit on a large tree root and eat their fish. While eating, Merin's mind comes he doesn't know the girl's name. He looks at the girl and asks," What is your name?"
The girl halts from taking a bite from her fish. Her eyes widen." We experience so much together, we still don't know each other's names."
Her hazel eyes turn toward Merin's face. " Mine is Mori Asuna. And yours?"
He answered after swallowing a piece of fish. " Matsuda Kanoru."
Merin asks." Did you know who attacked your sect members?"
Asuna says." I don't know which forces the black-clad figures belong to, but one of the enemies is Seiko Kanturo."
Merin's eyes widen, and he freezes mid-way while chewing his fish. " Your surname is Mori. Is there any connection with the Mori family in Susa City?"
She says." We are part of the same family. My great-grandfather became a disciple of the Sky Sword sect, and then he started a family there."
Merin nods and goes back to eating, His mind starts thinking about the next step. He recalls the map of the kingdom and plans the next step. " What about we walk straight north till we reach near Mugenkai? Then spend some time there, and then start the final journey to Ryokuzan."
Asuna throws the fish bone back in the water and stands up. She nods," Good plan. In Mugenkai, my sect has a station. Reaching there, you didn't need to accompany me anymore. "
Merin also tosses his fish bone into the water. "Then let's start our journey." They erase their traces at the spot and cross the stream.